The Bookish Psychologist

About The Bookish Psychologist

Reading can be a gateway to new worlds and experiences, allowing us to slip into someone else's perspective for a moment. That's what makes books the perfect vehicle for all things psychology! Join Dr. Grace Fowler as she reviews books and uses their stories to illustrate psychological theories. All genres welcome, she'll explore horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and non-fiction. Start brewing some tea, grab your coziest blanket, and listen in! *All opinions are my own, and nothing in this show constitutes psychological treatment or advice

Publisher

Grace Fowler PhD

Category

arts

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

27 Sept 2025

Latest episode

30 Sept 2026

Latest episodes

11 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   30 Sept 2026

   Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu

   CW: discusisons of sexual assualt, violence The show is back! With a new twist! Welcome to the pod, our new co-host, Emily McGreevy! She joins Grace in this discussion of Heavenly Bodies, the first book in the romantsy series by Imani Erriu. We cover tropes common to the genre, trauma responses, and what our FMC could benefit from in therapy.

2. 

   31 Mar 2026

   Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

   CW: suicidal ideation, suicide In this episode, I review the first dark academia vampire book in the Immortal Dark series. This is my first episode where I don't recommend this book, but I do think it sparks an interesting conversation about mental health and suicide prevention. There was so much potential in the ideas for this book, which is what made it so disappointing when the execution wasn't there. If you or a loved one are struggling with suicidal thoughts, please contact 988 or use their website (https://988lifeline.org/) to access a chat. National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention (https://theactionalliance.org/messaging/entertainment-messaging/national-recommendations) Carmichael, V. & Whitley, R. (2018) Suicide portrayal in the Canadian media: examining newspaper coverage of the popular Netflix series ‘13 Reasons Why.’ BMC Public Health, 18, 1086. Https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5987-3 (https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5987-3) Niederkrotenthaler, T., Kitchener, S., Till, B., Sinyor, M., Tran, U.S., Perkins, J., & Spittal, M.J. (2021). Systematic review and meta-analyses of suicidal outcomes following fictional portrayals of suicide and suicide attempt in entertainment media. EClinicalMedicine, 36. Https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100922 (https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100922) ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ (https://drgracefowler.com/) ⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

3. 

   4 Mar 2026

   I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy

   CW: eating disorders, OCD, addiction In this episode, I review the 2022 memoir by former child star, Jennette McCurdy. It's a great read and I highly recommend it. McCurdy talks a lot about her mental health, so it makes for a launch pad for a conversation about these topics. I spend most of the episode discussing OCD and the myth that people living with OCD are just "neat freaks." International OCD Foundation (https://iocdf.org/about-ocd/) ⁠Website⁠⁠⁠ (https://drgracefowler.com/) ⁠⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

4. 

   4 Jan 2026

   Bonus: My 2025 in Books

   Happy New Year! I took some time to reflect on all that I read in 2025 and present my best and worst reads of the year. Thankful for everyone who has listened and read along with me in the past year. Here's to many more reads and reviews in 2026! Anti-brain rot challenge by thestoryaintover (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHpHKM_EQxk) Website⁠⁠ (https://drgracefowler.com/) ⁠⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

5. 

   10 Dec 2025

   James by Percival Everett

   CW: enslavement, sexual assault In this episode, I review the multi-award-winning novel, James by Percival Everett. This book is a loose retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, but told from the perspective of Jim, an enslaved man owned by Huck Finn's guardian. James becomes a fully realized character in this novel, and there is a lot to discuss from a psychological perspective. I use Gestalt theory to explore James and his character development. ⁠Website⁠ (https://drgracefowler.com/) ⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

6. 

   26 Nov 2025

   Bonus: Guillermo del Toro's Frankenstein

   First bonus episode! Bonus eps will be focused on book adaptations, so it's fitting that the first one is the newest version of Mary Shelley's novel, Frankenstein. There are some great examples of defense mechanisms and unconscious drives from this movie. I really enjoyed it and hope you will enjoy my review as well! ⁠Website⁠ (https://drgracefowler.com/) ⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

7. 

   19 Nov 2025

   The Doctor Who Fooled the World: Science, Deception, and the War on Vaccines by Brian Deer

   Note: this episode will discuss the anti-vaccine movement and political misinformation. Ever heard of Andrew Wakefield? He's infamous in the anti-vaxx movement, mostly for a now debunked study that suggested the measles vaccine caused developmental disorders in children. Deer chronicles Wakefield's life, his initial studies, and his descent into infamy, no matter the consequences. In my review, I discuss some takeaways from the book and some psychological factors that contribute to why we, as humans, engage in misinformation. Article used in episode: Pennycook, G., & Rand, D. G. (2021). The psychology of fake news. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 25(5), 388–402. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.007 (https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1016/j.tics.2021.02.007) ⁠Website⁠ (https://drgracefowler.com/) ⁠Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

8. 

   5 Nov 2025

   Babel by R.F. Kuang

   CW: discussions of suicide This week's review is for the dark academic epic by R.F. Kuang. I discuss how intersectionality applies to the main characters, give some advice that might have helped them out, and rate the book on my two scales. Website (https://drgracefowler.com/) Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/the_bookish_psychologist/)

9. 

   15 Oct 2025

   The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

   CW: death of a child Barbara Van Laar is a neglected 12-year-old girl, living in the shadow of her brother who disappeared before she was born. Now she is finally allowed to attend the summer camp run on her rich parent’s sprawling Adirondack preserve. However, when she also goes missing, everyone becomes a suspect. Set between several different converging timelines, this book uncovers dark family secrets, complicated romances, and the harsh reality of living as a woman in the late 20th century. Through this book, I discuss feminist psychology, the way that capitalism and patriarchy impact people's development, and give some advice to some of my favorite characters in the book.

10. 

    1 Oct 2025

    Book Review: Make Sure You Die Screaming by Zee Carlstrom

    CW: discussions of suicide, domestic violence Carlstrom's debut novel follows a nameless, genderqueer corporate burnout on an increasingly unhinged road trip to Arkansas. In my review, I'll discuss diagnostic considerations for two of the main characters, how psychodynamic theory best fits this book, and provide some recommendations for HG and Yivi to navigate their next steps. Overall, I enjoyed this book and will be looking out for Carlstrom's next offering. *All opinions are my own. This podcast does not constitute therapy or mental health treatment Resources: NAMI HelpLine: 1-800-950-NAMI (6264) or info@nami.org Suicide Hotline: 988 Trans Lifeline: US (877) 565-8860 Follow me on Instagram Visit me at drgracefowler.com

11. 

    27 Sept 2025

    Trailer: The Bookish Psychologist

    Welcome to my new show! Subscribe now to get all future episodes. New episode premieres October 1, 2025.

Reach and audience

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

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

3 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

1 ratings