McKinney's debut novel is set in the insular small town of Hope, Texas where evangelical megachurch pastor Luke Nolan is both revered pastor and local celebrity. But this is really the story of his daughters, Abigail and Caroline, who find themselves at a crossroads when information about their father comes to light and throws their core beliefs into question. Part coming of age story, part family drama, this modern story of community and identity completely drew me in.

This is not what I expected but I LOVED it. Normal Gossip podcast co-creator McKinney delivers a wide-ranging treatise on our complicated relationship with gossip. In a tone at once scholarly-adjacent and extremely chatty, she spools out both personal stories and research about gossip’s role in society as a whole. Her examples range from oral storytelling traditions and The Epic of Gilgamesh to contemporary touchstones like Elena Ferrante’s unmasking and the Mean Girls Burn Book. Along the way she explores what makes gossip gossip exactly, its intersection with religion, the way it can be used as a means to power for marginalized groups, and its role as a social bond. And more! Smart, discussable, and extremely funny—I laughed out loud multiple times while reading.