Figs & Fiction

About Figs & Fiction

A biweekly chit chat with your zillenial book buddies! pick up a book (or don’t) and join Valeria and Gabby to talk about all things fiction and navigating life as new adults. Life, according to Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, is a fig tree: each fig representing a different path you can take. It’s up to you to pick which fig to eat. No pressure.

Publisher

Valeria De Choudens & Gabriella Anita Mestman

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

8 Feb 2024

Latest episode

24 Oct 2024

Latest episodes

19 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   24 Oct 2024

   an important update (and a little extra)

   Important update! We're moving to monthly book club episode releases for the time being. Also listen in for a catch up on Dancing With the Stars, Valeria's progress on Throne of Glass, and more.

2. 

   10 Oct 2024

   Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

   Today we’re book clubbing Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors! Listen for all our takeaways, analyses, and ratings (plus a little catch up on Dancing With The Stars).

3. 

   25 Sept 2024

   spooky season reads for your fall tbr

   BOO! Gotcha (or maybe not) 👻 come along for this hayride as we give you our autumnal recommendations and whimsical TBRs. Our recs: Ninth House (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43263680-ninth-house?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=e9IglMNJ1P&rank=1)by Leigh Bardugo The Silent Patient (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/40097951-the-silent-patient?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_13) by Alex Michaelides A Court of Thorns and Roses (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/50659467-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_8) by Sarah J. Maas Sharp Objects (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18045891-sharp-objects?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_12) by Gillian Flynn On our TBR: The Familiar (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/133286777-the-familiar?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=sFCCy0jPFm&rank=1) by Leigh Bardugo In the Company of Witches (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56552949-in-the-company-of-witches?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14) by Auralee Wallace Pet Sematary (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/33124137-pet-sematary?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_10) by Stephen King The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60018635-the-very-secret-society-of-irregular-witches?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_15) by Sangu Mandanna We Have Always Lived in the Castle (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/89724.We_Have_Always_Lived_in_the_Castle?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_18) by Shirley Jackson

4. 

   12 Sept 2024

   yapping and reading funny book reviews

   Today we yap about our latest obsessions—TV shows, books, and others—and read some funny (mostly 1-star) Goodreads reviews.P.S. for our episode on October 10th, we’ll be book clubbing Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors! If you haven’t already, grab a copy and get ready for it :) Stay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram and TikTok @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman Valeria De Choudens

5. 

   29 Aug 2024

   absurd novel ideas (game edition)

   Today we’re playing a little game where we throw together random genres and adjectives to come up with novel ideas—or see if they already exist. Warning: the following ideas are completely unhinged. Stay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram and TikTok @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman Valeria De Choudens

6. 

   17 Aug 2024

   the It Ends With Us controversy

   Today we’re discussing the It Ends With Us controversy, dishing out our opinions and speculations. Plus, we get a glimpse into where Gabby is in her writing journey!What we’re currently reading:The Great Alone by Kristin HannahCrown of Midnight by Sarah J. MaasStay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram and TikTok @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman Valeria De Choudens

7. 

   1 Aug 2024

   vacation reads, book of the month, & gabby getting ripped

   Today we are catching up on what we read while on vacation, hashing out our Book of the Month loves and gripes, talking about recent social media politics, and finding out how Gabby got so dang ripped! What we read on vacation: Gabby read Circe by Madeline Miller (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35959740-circe?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=AMQl3c8gQk&rank=1) Valeria read Real Americans by Rachel Khong (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62929342-real-americans?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_15) and Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63241104-tom-lake?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_8) Stay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/figsandfictionpod/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@figsandfictionpod) @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

8. 

   4 Jul 2024

   summer reading recs based on your summer

   Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/figsandfictionpod/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@figsandfictionpod) @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens) Books mentioned: The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman Song of Achilles/Circe by Madeline Miller Still Life by Sarah Winman Happy Place by Emily Henry The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand This Summer Will be Different by Carley Fortune The Wedding People by Alison Espach Carrie Soto is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid Furia by Yamille Saied Mendez The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney Stay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/figsandfictionpod/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@figsandfictionpod) @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

9. 

   6 Jun 2024

   adulthood is boring.

   Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/figsandfictionpod/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@figsandfictionpod) @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens) Stay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/figsandfictionpod/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@figsandfictionpod) @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

10. 

    16 May 2024

    rabbit holes, sequel slumps, and audiobook controversy

    We’ve got a slew of topics today! Book rebinding, book sequels, the spring season, audiobooks, and what makes for  a juicy read. Read this week and currently reading: A Conjuring of Light (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939230-a-conjuring-of-light) by V.E. Schwab Fourth Wing (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61431922-fourth-wing?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_11)by Rebecca Yarros The Rachel Incident (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63094957-the-rachel-incident?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=bf2d5w5cbn&rank=1)by Caroline O’Donoghue The Assassin’s Blade (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/126062562-the-assassin-s-blade?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ermNUGfO95&rank=1) by Sarah J. Maas The Unhoneymooners (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/42201431-the-unhoneymooners?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_14) by Christina Lauren Stay up to date with everything Figs & Fiction by following us on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/figsandfictionpod/) and TikTok (https://www.tiktok.com/@figsandfictionpod) @figsandfictionpod Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

11. 

    2 May 2024

    starting a business when you're young (with Lauren Hope Photography)

    Today we have special guest Lauren Hope Photography talking about her journey of starting a business at a young age, the mental and societal hurdles she's faced along the way, and advice for anyone thinking of starting their own business. You can find Lauren at laurenhope.photography (https://www.laurenhope.photography/) and on Instagram @laurenhope.photography (https://www.instagram.com/laurenhope.photography/?hl=en) Lauren's Book Recs: The Creative Act: A Way of Being (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/60965426) by Rick Rubin The Power of One More (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60698178-the-power-of-one-more?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_19) by Ed Myeltt The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36072.The_7_Habits_of_Highly_Effective_People?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=qghtSAggDT&rank=1) by Stephen R. Covey The Perfectionists Guide to Losing Control (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60880794-the-perfectionist-s-guide-to-losing-control?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=ZvNeJq3dam&rank=1) by Catherine Morgan Schafler What we're currently reading: Gabby: The Secret History (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29044.The_Secret_History?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_18) by Donna Tart and A Conjuring of Light (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29939230-a-conjuring-of-light?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_20) by V.E. Schwab Valeria: Hell Bent (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60652997-hell-bent?ref=nav_sb_ss_1_9) by Leigh Bardugo Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

12. 

    18 Apr 2024

    book swap: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

    We're book swapping! a.k.a, we've assigned each other books to read and this episode focuses on Valeria's pick for Gabby: The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides. Tune in for our full discussion of the book. Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

13. 

    18 Apr 2024

    book swap: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

    We're book swapping! a.k.a, we've assigned each other books to read and this episode focuses on Gabby's pick for Valeria: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo. Tune in for our full discussion of the book. Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

14. 

    4 Apr 2024

    this is not financial advice

    Navigating budgeting and finances for the first time? SAME! Join us this week as we discuss our methods for balancing life, expenses, and books on our heads! Resources mentioned: Girls That Invest (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/61324281) by Simran Kaur Deeper Than Money (https://www.deeperthanmoney.com/) by Chloe Elise Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

15. 

    21 Mar 2024

    book to screen: nostalgia picks

    Introducing our new mini series: book to screen! We've picked three book to show/movie adaptations to discuss, and for this episode we've chosen some nostalgia picks from our childhoods. Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

16. 

    7 Mar 2024

    spilling the goodreads tea

    Let’s dive into the social media platform that has a chokehold on us—Goodreads! Today we give our rating system, spill the tea, and catch up on our shelves. Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

17. 

    22 Feb 2024

    chaotic friendship advice from three non-experts

    Did you read the title? Clearly you should take our advice. Special guest Naomi Mestman (yes, Gabby’s sister) joins us to chat about making friends as an adult, how to maintain long-distance friendships, and our favorite friendship-centric books. Books Mentioned: Gabby’s Rec: Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/58784475-tomorrow-and-tomorrow-and-tomorrow?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=F3G8xKqrWn&rank=1) by Gabrielle Zevin TBR: The Neapolitan Novels (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/35036409-my-brilliant-friend?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=L0TUCxjDy5&rank=1) by Elena Ferrante Naomi’s Rec: Harbor Me (https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/37584983) by Jacqueline Woodson Valeria’s Recs: The People We Keep (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/55711726-the-people-we-keep?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=kOu6sWaEyW&rank=1) by Allison Larkin These Impossible Things (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59228196-these-impossible-things?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=236ydJFCHr&rank=1) by Salma El-Wardany Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/59836844-iona-iverson-s-rules-for-commuting?from_search=true&from_srp=true&qid=g4kHVt65P2&rank=1) by Clare Pooley Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

18. 

    15 Feb 2024

    reading & other drugs (cheap hobbies)

    Today we're talking free and affordable ways to access books plus some other ideas for occupying your time without breaking the bank! Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

19. 

    8 Feb 2024

    meet your zillennial book buddies

    Meet your new best friends Gabby and Valeria. Discover what you can expect from this podcast (other than the time of your life), and dive into our best and worst fiction reads of 2023. Stay up to date with new episodes by following us on Instagram @figspodcast (https://www.instagram.com/figspodcast/) Add us on Goodreads! Gabriella Anita Mestman (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/155127954-gabriella-anita-mestman) Valeria De Choudens (https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/135904631-valeria-de-choudens)

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

2 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

15 ratings

Contact Figs & Fiction

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.