Friday Night Readers: Gilmore Girls-Inspired Book Club

Today at Friday Night Readers, we’ll be breaking down January’s reading prompt to read a children’s book from Gilmore Girls: all the options, how I rate them, and reading tips.

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Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 14, "That Damn Donna Reed": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Lorelai convinces Luke to repaint the Diner with her help. Lorelai, Rory, and Dean watch The Donna Reed Show, which causes tension with Dean, who likes the traditional wife aesthetic that Lorelai and Rory mock. While watching Babette’s and Morey’s new kitten, Rory cosplays as Donna Reed and cooks for Dean, while they discuss the issue further. Meanwhile, Luke helps Lorelai find the escaped baby chick Rory is watching for school in t...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 13, "Concert Interruptus": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Stars Hollow has a Rummage Sale, and Lorelai, Rory, Sookie, Paris, Madeline, and Louise go to The Bangles concert.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a p...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 12, "Double Date": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Lorelai and Rory go on separate double dates, Rory with Dean, Lane, and Todd; and Lorelai with Rune, Sookie, and Jackson.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade t...

Welcome to Announcing the 2026 (6th Annual) Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge! ! In this podcast episode, I share how our Gilmore Girls inspired book club works, and how you can read with us in 2026.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Hi Friday night readers,

As you know, this is a big holiday week in the United States, especially in Stars Hollow— Thanksgiving! Or, as Lorelai Gilmore says: our destiny, our finest hour.

I thought it didn’t make sense to have a regular podcast episode this week, given that it would fall right after Thanksgiving and right on Black Friday. That said, I did think it would be fun to interrupt our regularly scheduled programming with a bonus episode! 

I don’t know about you, but this holiday season, more than ever, I’...

Welcome to All 8 Gilmore Girls Christmas Episodes Ranked ! The best way to spread holiday cheer is… rewatching the Christmas episodes of Gilmore Girls! Some ooze Christmas spirit, and some are just Christmas-ish, but they are all festive in ways as quirky and charming as the show we so love. Of all the 157 episodes, these are the ones I rewatch most, so I’m both listing and ranking them for you.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 11, "Paris is Burning": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Parents’ Day approaches at Chilton. Lorelai is anxious about it because she’s getting cold feet with Max, while Rory begins to fit in at Chilton. That is, until Lorelai and Max kiss in his classroom, and Paris sees it. Rory confronts Paris, and Lorelai and Max decide to take a break.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me c...

Welcome to 24 Best Christmas Books For Readers Like the Gilmore Girls ! In this podcast episode, I share the 24 best Christmas books I've read (out of 122) as a reader like the Gilmore Girls

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 10, "Forgiveness and Stuff": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Richard collapses at Emily's Christmas party and goes to the hospital. Luke also famously makes Lorelai a Santa burger.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 9, "Rory's Dance": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Rory and Dean attend Chilton's Winter Formal Dance... and stay out all night.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our fu...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 8, "Love & War & Snow": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Lorelai first smelled snow.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Books, Po...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 7, "Kiss and Tell": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Dean kisses Rory in Doose's Market, and she, Dean, and Lorelai have a movie night together.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

Sponsors:

Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual s...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 6, "Rory's Birthday Parties": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Rory celebrates her Sweet 16 in Hartford and Stars Hollow.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

Sponsors:

Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club co...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 5, "Cinnamon's Wake": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Cinnamon dies, and the town of Stars Hollow attends the wake. Max Medina and Lorelai also have their first date.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a...

Welcome to 15 Aesthetic Fall Books For Fans of Gilmore Girls ! In this podcast episode, I share Fall books on the Gilmore Girls reading list, that feel like Gilmore Girls, that Rory should read, and that Lorelai should read.

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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy ou...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 4, "The Deer Hunters": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Rory gets hit by a deer and misses her Shakespeare test.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full bo...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls Season 1, Episode 3, "Kill Me Now": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Rory went golfing with Richard.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

Sponsors:

Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Bo...

Welcome to Gilmore Girls S1, E2, "The Lorelais' First Day at Chilton": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Rory started at Chilton.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive a discount when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Welcome to Gilmore Girls S1, E1, "Pilot": Pop Culture Rewatch ! In this podcast episode, I share the books and pop culture referenced when Gilmore Girls started.

Disclosure:

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links that earn me commissions at no extra cost to you.

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Subscribe to the Friday Night Readers' free email newsletter on Substack. New subscribers receive 20% off when you upgrade to a paid annual subscription to enjoy our full book club community benefits.

Books, Pop Culture, and Other Me...

Hi Friday night readers,

It’s finally time to share something big — The Friday Night Readers podcast trailer!

This is a short-form podcast that helps Gilmore Girls fans understand the books and other pop culture that Lorelai, Rory, and the gang talk so fast about.

It’s meant to help you have more fun with our Rory Gilmore reading challenge and your rewatches.

A bit of behind-the-scenes scoop: This has been a huge, and very humbling, learning curve for me, and it is not perfect! For example, even my husban...