The Bibliofilles began, as all great modern love stories do, on Facebook during Lockdown. Sophie asked for a recommendation. Chaya prescribed The Song of Achilles. A DM became a dialogue; a dialogue became @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast. Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between. The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations. There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).
In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya challenge the idea of the traditional summer read and explore whether the best books for summer are really the ones topping every bestseller list. From literary fiction, Greek mythology retellings, and dystopian classics to romance, thrillers, BookTok favourites, and underrated novels, we share the books we genuinely believe deserve a place on your summer reading list—whether you're relaxing on the beach, by the pool, or curled up at home. We also dive into the surprising research behind the "summer slide," why children should keep reading during the school holidays, and share some of our favourite books for young readers. 📖 In this episode: - The biggest summer reading trends of 2026 - Why there is no such thing as the perfect "summer read" - The most underrated books everyone should read - Literary fiction worth taking on holiday - Greek mythology retellings we love - Romance, thrillers and hidden gems beyond BookTok - Why summer reading is so important for children - Our personal Summer TBR (To Be Read) lists Whether you're searching for summer book recommendations, beach reads, literary fiction, BookTok books, classic novels, or the best books to read in 2026, this episode has something for every reader. 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya. #BookPodcast #BookRecommendations #SummerReads #SummerReading #BooksToRead #BestBooks2026 #MustReadBooks #BeachReads #BookTok #BookTube #BookClub #LiteraryFiction #ReadingRecommendations #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #GreekMythology #ClassicBooks #DystopianBooks #RomanceBooks #ThrillerBooks #Books2026 #TheBibliofilles #BookCommunity #ReadingList #Bookstagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Claire Daverley: Why Her Second Novel Nearly Broke Her
Do you have a Bren? 💔📖 This month's Bibliofilles Book Club pick is Claire Daverley's hugely anticipated second novel, People in Love the follow-up to the word-of-mouth phenomenon Talking at Night. Chaya and Sophie sit down with Claire to talk about writing a love triangle with no villain, why the ending had to be both "inevitable and surprising," and the pressure of following up a debut that outgrew every expectation. They get into grief and secondary grief, writing a mother's mental illness with real tenderness, the narrative device readers are going to want to fight Claire over, and the difference between longing for a person and longing for a version of your own life. Plus, before the interview, they revisit their older book club pick, Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower, and why a novel written in the '90s and set in 2024–2027 feels less like dystopian fiction and more like a documentary. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 People in Love by Claire Daverley 👉 https://amzn.to/4hsXNeI Talking at Night by Claire Daverley 👉 https://amzn.to/45jhtuk Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler 👉 https://amzn.to/3RueHPx The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4wSMLE3 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #contemporaryfiction #bookclub #clairedaverley #peopleinlove #talkingatnight #authorinterview #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What The Movie Didn't Tell You... | The Odyssey
Why has The Odyssey survived for over 3,000 years? ⚔️📚 This week, Chaya and Sophie dive into Homer's The Odyssey to explore why it's considered one of the greatest stories ever told. From the hero's journey and Greek mythology to translation debates, feminism, trauma, hospitality, and the enduring question of what makes someone a hero, they unpack the epic that shaped Western literature. They debate one of literature's most divisive protagonists, explore the women at the heart of the story - including Penelope, Athena, Circe and Calypso - and discuss why The Odyssey continues to inspire readers, writers and filmmakers thousands of years after it was first written. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Odyssey by Homer (Emily Wilson Translation) 👉 https://amzn.to/3RFScav Circe by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/4vFSCf3 The Voyage Home by Pat Barker 👉 https://amzn.to/4wQWdYM The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler 👉 https://amzn.to/4waEDPu Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 👉 https://amzn.to/4vznuOg The Iliad by Homer 👉 https://amzn.to/44CXNRV The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/44z1QyK 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #classicliterature #greekmythology #theodyssey #homer #booklover #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
What Really Happens Inside Cults?
What's the difference between a community and a cult? According to researchers and survivors not as much as you'd think. In this episode of The Bibliofilles, we're going deep on one of the most fascinating, disturbing and frankly addictive topics out there: cults. We cover the psychology of why ordinary, intelligent people join them, the language that keeps them in, and why the world we live in now has made all of us more vulnerable than ever. We discuss: • Hannah Murray's (Skins, Game of Thrones) memoir The Make Believe — and how a Reiki healer in LA sent her down a rabbit hole she nearly didn't come back from • Ruby Frankie, Eight Passengers and the cult of influencer culture and how it ended with her in prison • Cultish by Amanda Montell — how the language of cults is already inside your Instagram feed, your fitness studio and your political news feed • The BITE model — the framework built to explain exactly how cults control behaviour, information, thought and emotion • Cult fiction: The Girls (Emma Cline), The Heart Goes Last (Margaret Atwood), Station 11, Arcadia and more • One of our hosts' own family connection to EST — the therapy cult John Denver helped make famous The uncomfortable argument at the centre of all of this? It's already happened to you. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📚 Join our Substack for exclusive bonus content ⭐ Like, comment, subscribe it genuinely makes a difference #Cults #TrueCrime #BookTok #Psychology #HannahMurray #CultPodcast #BookRecommendations #AuthorInterview #Memoir Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jodie Harsh: The Story I Couldn't Keep Inside
She's been sober for 16 years. Before that, she was deep in London's club scene, doing d*ugs with celebrities, DJing alongside Alexander McQueen, and watching people around her not make it out alive. In this episode, DJ, producer and author Jodie joins us to talk about her debut memoir "You Had to Be There: An Odyssey Through Noughties London, One Night at a Time" and she does not hold back. We talk about: • Sneaking into the London Astoria at 15 with a fake ID and finding her "tribe" • Falling into a*diction on the dance floor and getting sober at 25 • Losing friends to a*diction, including Amy Winehouse a year after she got clean • Structuring her entire memoir around the clubs that raised her Astoria, Turnmills, Fabric, Pasha • Why she refused to read any other memoirs while writing her own • Getting "discovered" by a literary agent she didn't even know she had Plus a rapid-fire book recommendations round covering Elena Ferrante, Donna Tartt, Barbara Kingsolver and Sarah Waters. This is glamour, grief, queerness, addiction and recovery no filter, no spin. 📚 Subscribe to our Substack for the bonus tier from this episode she's spilling things we can't put on YouTube Jodies Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Had-Be-There-Noughties-ebook/dp/B0F6TM7XST/ref 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #BookClub #BookTok #BookRecommendations #Memoir #Addiction #Sobriety #LondonNightlife #BookTok #PodcastClips #AuthorInterview #RecoveryJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why Are We All Obsessed With Unhinged Women
We sat down with the incredible Imani Thompson to talk about her debut novel Honey and wow, did it deliver! 🍯📚 We talked about how she crafted Yrsa as a loveable, relatable, yet terrifying protagonist (think Villanelle from Killing Eve), why she leaned so heavily into humour to explore such dark themes, and how she wove critical race theory and Afropessimism naturally into a propulsive, page-turning plot. We also get into the real world inspirations behind the book from incel culture and the manosphere to Audre Lorde's landmark essays on anger and the influence of Jamaica Kincaid's writing. Imani also opens up about her experience working at Daunt Books while editing the manuscript, her late night writing process, and gives us a very exciting first look at her second novel, set in Dorset and inspired by the Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker barge. Before the interview, Sophie and Chaya also sit down to discuss this month's classic pairing Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and why its themes of race, colonialism, and female identity connect so powerfully with Honey. In this episode we chat about: 📖 What inspired Honey & the creative process behind it 😤 Female rage, the manosphere & incel culture in fiction 🎓 Cambridge as a setting & intersectionality in literature 🌊 Why we paired it with Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ✍️ Imani's late night writing habits & what's coming next 🗓️ Next Month's Book Club Picks: - People in Love by Claire Daverley - Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler 📌 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave us a review it really helps! 🎧 Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #BookClub #ImaniThompson #Honey #FemaleRage #BookTok #BookRecommendations #CampusNovel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Looksmaxxing | Has Wellness Gone Too Far?
When does wellness become a problem? This week on The Bibliofilles, we're diving into one of the most urgent cultural conversations of the moment looks maxing and optimisation culture and exploring it through the lens of literature. From viral influencers using extreme methods to "engineer" attractiveness, to the Fitbit-ification of reading via Goodreads targets, we unpack how the obsession with maximising every aspect of life is quietly making us miserable and why fiction saw it all coming. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Rouge by Mona Awad 👉 https://amzn.to/4uBKo73 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 👉 https://amzn.to/44gkf2Z The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 👉 https://amzn.to/4fOQddP Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro 👉 https://amzn.to/4ozSWdn Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4ovIFPe Bridget Jones' Diary by Helen Fielding 👉 https://amzn.to/4oAQ9At Female Chauvinist Pigs by Ariel Levy 👉 https://amzn.to/4uOMOiV We also discuss the backlash to Steven Bartlett optimisation obsession, the incel-to-mainstream pipeline of looks culture, and why reading itself has been infected by optimisation thinking. Perfect for: fans of feminist literary criticism, cultural commentary, book recommendations, and anyone who's ever felt exhausted by the pressure to self-optimise. 🎧 Subscribe on Substack for extended essays and exclusive bonus content including our viral extra with Maggie O'Farrell! 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Notropics https://londonnootropics.com #looksmaxing #looksmaxxing #beautystandards #malegaze #botox #glowup #manosphere #podcast #trending #bookish #books #filler #lipfiller Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sarah A Parker: I Risked Everything
Chaya sits down with the author of the moment New York Times, Sunday Times, Australian and New Zealand bestseller Sarah A. Parker for the most emotional, raw and revelatory interview The Bibliofilles has ever recorded. We're diving into When the Moon Hatched and the newly released sequel The Ballad of Falling Dragons in a completely spoiler-free deep dive that will leave you absolutely wrecked (in the best way). In this episode, Sarah opens up about: - The real man who inspired Kahn yes, he exists, and yes, he gave up his entire career for her - Why she built her entire world behind closed eyelids before writing a single word - The devastating personal grief that gave birth to the dragon moon concept - Her powerful stance on female rage, suppressed identity, and protecting your creative bubble - Why she refuses to look at Goodreads and why you probably shouldn't either Super fans join live with burning questions, including: - What is Kaydence actually an allegory for? - Does Elwyn share Raven's complicated relationship with rain? - Will we ever get side character books set in this world? - How many books are left and is book three already written? This is not just a fantasy podcast episode. This is a masterclass in storytelling, trauma, creativity, and what it means to write a legacy. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 When the Moon Hatched by Sarah A. Parker 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/0008710333/ The Ballad of Falling Dragons by Sarah A. Parker 👉https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ballad-Falling-Dragons-romantasy-bestselling-ebook/dp/B0DB3GT6YL #moonfall #romantasy #fantasybooks #booktok #bookpodcast #podcastrecommendations #newpodcastepisode #podcastersofinstagram #bookrecommendations #currentlyreading #bookobsessed #bookishcommunity #bookboyfriend #books #reading #bookworm #newrelease Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Truth About the Off Campus Obsession
Off Campus has become one of the biggest TV sensations of 2026, taking over streaming charts, BookTok and social media feeds around the world. In this episode we discuss the hit adaptation of Elle Kennedy's bestselling romance series and why audiences have become completely obsessed with Garrett, Hannah, Dean and the Briar University crew. We explore the show's addictive storytelling, its portrayal of consent and healthy relationships, the representation of sexual assault and trauma, and why so many viewers are calling it a cultural turning point for romance on screen. Key topics: • Off Campus review and reaction • Consent and healthy masculinity • Sexual assault representation in television • Romance books vs romance adaptations • The rise of New Adult fiction • Elle Kennedy's publishing journey • BookTok and the romance boom • Why Off Campus has become a global phenomenon • Our favourite characters and storylines Articles discussed: https://www.refinery29.com/en-us/2026/05/11984138/off-campus-sexual-assault https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clypz87rqy1o https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/off-campus-sexual-assault-rom-com/ https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2026/may/29/off-campus-tv-show-series-prime-video-global-hit #OffCampus #ElleKennedy #BookTok #RomanceBooks #PrimeVideo #BookPodcast #TheBibliophiles #NewAdultRomance Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
How Do You Follow a Global Phenomenon Like Hamnet? | Maggie O'Farrell
Maggie O'Farrell joins The Bibliofilles to discuss her extraordinary new novel, Land. In this wide-ranging conversation, Maggie explores the Irish history, mythology and landscape that inspired the book, the lasting legacy of the Great Hunger, and why the land itself becomes a living character in her fiction. We also discuss historical research, writing authentic historical novels, family, memory, grief, parenthood, and the stories of ordinary people caught inside major historical events. Maggie shares insights into her bestselling novels Hamnet and The Marriage Portrait, reveals how Irish myths shaped her storytelling, and explains the fascinating real-world history behind Ireland's sacred wells and folklore. We also go behind the scenes of adapting Hamnet for the screen, writing a screenplay, collaborating with filmmakers, and experiencing the journey from novel to Oscar-winning adaptation. Topics covered: Land by Maggie O'Farrell Historical fiction writing The Irish Great Hunger Irish mythology and folklore Hamnet adaptation The Marriage Portrait Researching historical novels Family, memory and trauma Writing process and creativity Novel writing vs screenwriting If you enjoy conversations about books, literature, writing, historical fiction and storytelling, subscribe to The Bibliofilles for more author interviews and literary discussions. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Land by Maggie O'Farrell 👉 https://amzn.to/4x5CeGF Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 👉 https://amzn.to/4vo2hHj Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell 👉 https://amzn.to/4vlCuj2 The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell 👉 https://amzn.to/4x2nF6N 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com #MaggieOFarrell #Land #Hamnet #TheMarriagePortrait #DemonCopperhead #BarbaraKingsolver #HistoricalFiction #LiteraryFiction #BookPodcast #AuthorInterview #BookTube #BookTok #ReadingCommunity #BooksBooksBooks #FictionBooks #IrishHistory #IrishLiterature #WritersLife #BookLovers #TheBibliofilles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
We Read The Most Unhinged Reviews Of Our Favourite Books
When was the last time you read a book… without checking the reviews first? In this episode, we read the funniest, harshest, and most unhinged one-star reviews including brutal takedowns of classic books we love. It’s hilarious… until it isn’t. Because beneath the chaos, there’s a bigger question: Are we still thinking for ourselves or letting the internet decide what we like? 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Pride and Prejudice 👉 https://amzn.to/4eKSxSn The Great Gatsby 👉 https://amzn.to/4eILoSE Frankenstein 👉 https://amzn.to/4efizx6 Crime and Punishment 👉 https://amzn.to/4n1AbyS Wuthering Heights 👉 https://amzn.to/3R79kVS The Divine Comedy 👉 https://amzn.to/3OGUPaJ 1984 👉 https://amzn.to/48vrC9j Everything’s Fine 👉 https://amzn.to/4cB4Orf A Prayer for Owen Meany 👉 https://amzn.to/4vTHJrc Never Let Me Go 👉 https://amzn.to/48Y62dK Wolf Hall 👉 https://amzn.to/4ud7UaL The Bell Jar 👉 https://amzn.to/3OM9KAs A Little Life 👉 https://amzn.to/4mZm3Gf A Discovery of Witches 👉 https://amzn.to/4wbQFsm Empire of Pain 👉 https://amzn.to/4mTBOyx Still Life 👉 https://amzn.to/4tNDJXV The Song of Achilles 👉 https://amzn.to/4cTfMr0 Penance 👉 https://amzn.to/4ueNNZF 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15: https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs £15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Governments Don’t Want You Reading These Books
What happens when society decides certain books are too dangerous to read? In this episode of the Bibliofilles Podcast, we explore the shocking history of banned books, censorship, moral panic, and the stories that powerful institutions have tried to silence. From 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, we discuss the novels that sparked outrage, political fear, religious backlash, and cultural controversy across generations. We unpack why books continue to be banned in schools and libraries, how censorship reflects societal anxieties, and why literature remains one of the most powerful forms of rebellion. Along the way, we explore dystopian fiction, authoritarianism, surveillance culture, feminism, LGBTQ+ book bans, freedom of speech, and the growing debates around what children should and should not be allowed to read. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 1984 by George Orwell 👉 https://amzn.to/4dD4KaY The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/3RVSwSd Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4ubP6rT Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury 👉 https://amzn.to/4vlrZwf Julia by Sandra Newman 👉 https://amzn.to/3Qdw06T A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley 👉 https://amzn.to/4vqAndX The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison 👉 https://amzn.to/4dX8Vx6 Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison 👉 https://amzn.to/4ee0UoN I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 👉 https://amzn.to/4e3jrTQ The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck 👉 https://amzn.to/3RVT2Q9 The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie 👉 https://amzn.to/4xj6FJJ The Red Tent by Anita Diamant 👉 https://amzn.to/4fSGq6l Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi 👉 https://amzn.to/4uOnzOG Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov 👉 https://amzn.to/4dYYZ6s A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess 👉 https://amzn.to/4uI57Hr Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/3REVLxq Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling 👉 https://amzn.to/4399AXr Charlotte's Web by E.B. White and Garth Williams 👉 https://amzn.to/49ytoXX Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe 👉 https://amzn.to/3RFZNpg All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson 👉 https://amzn.to/4fiRtpo This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson 👉 https://amzn.to/4anvXMD Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison 👉 https://amzn.to/4dHx5Nq Educated by Tara Westover 👉 https://amzn.to/4nZIbAN If you love literary analysis, classic books, dystopian fiction, banned books history, political literature, and conversations about culture through literature, this episode is for you. 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com #BannedBooks #BookTok #BibliophilesPodcast #BooksPodcast #LiteraturePodcast #BookLovers #ClassicLiterature #DystopianBooks #1984 #Fahrenheit451 #TheHandmaidsTale #GeorgeOrwell #MargaretAtwood #ToniMorrison #BookDiscussion #ReadingCommunity #BookRecommendations #FreedomToRead #Censorship #BookCensorship #LiteraryPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
The Most Performative Book on The Internet?
What happens when one of the internet’s most aesthetic books is actually read properly? In this deep dive episode, we unpack The Stranger by Albert Camus the slim philosophical classic that has become a cultural obsession online. From performative reading culture and celebrity book clubs to absurdism, existentialism, alienation, mental health, internet culture, and modern emotional burnout, this episode explores why The Stranger still feels terrifyingly relevant today. If you’ve ever seen someone reading The Stranger on the train and wondered what it actually means this is the episode for you. Perfect for fans of literary analysis, classic literature, philosophy, dark academia, booktok, existential fiction, and deep-dive book podcasts. 📚 Books & authors discussed: 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Stranger 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The+Stranger The Myth of Sisyphus 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The+Myth+of+Sisyphus The Secret History 👉 https://amzn.to/48MawUD Assembly 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Assembly&crid Waiting for Godot 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Waiting+for+Godot&crid Nausea 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Nausea&crid Notes from Underground 👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Notes+from+Underground&crid 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com #AlbertCamus #TheStranger #BookPodcast #DarkAcademia #Philosophy #Existentialism #Absurdism #ClassicBooks #BookTok #LiteraryPodcast #FranzKafka #Dostoevsky #BookTube #Literature #DeepDivePodcast #TheBiblioFiles Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is Yesteryear Trashing Us All
Why is everyone obsessed with Yesteryear right now? 👀 This week we unpack the book everyone seems to be reading from trad-wife culture and influencer motherhood to religion, feminism, identity, and the dark reality behind perfectly curated online lives. We debate one of the most divisive female protagonists we’ve read in years, discuss the ending that split readers, and explore why this debut has sparked such a huge cultural conversation. 📚🎙️ 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke 👉 https://amzn.to/3P7DHv4 True Grit by Charles Portis 👉 https://amzn.to/4nvJtDq Strangers by Belle Burden 👉 https://amzn.to/4wvp3yh Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by Bell Hooks 👉 https://amzn.to/4eIubJ8 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15: https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs £15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Books We Would Sell Our Souls To Read Again For The First Time?
What’s the one book you wish you could read again for the very first time? In this episode, we dive into the books that completely consumed us the stories that altered our brains, broke our hearts, changed how we see the world, and left us chasing the feeling long after the final page. From surreal labyrinths and devastating literary epics to obsessive dark academia, emotional masterpieces, and books with twists that genuinely left us breathless… these are the books we would do anything to experience again. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Star Side by Alex Aster 👉 https://amzn.to/49eYfII Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/48P1pmh Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/4wgxSfp The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien 👉 https://amzn.to/4d8y8EB A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles 👉 https://amzn.to/4tpOBuf Pachinko by Min Jin Lee 👉 https://amzn.to/42lyGBV I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou 👉 https://amzn.to/48NYI4u A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth 👉 https://amzn.to/48MnE Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 👉 https://amzn.to/4cV3Y8T The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/3P3lleC Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver 👉 https://amzn.to/4trtbwF Alchemised by SenLinYu 👉 https://amzn.to/4d9UdTb Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder 👉 https://amzn.to/3QUD1cS What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt 👉 https://amzn.to/4uwc918 A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G Summers 👉 https://amzn.to/4duyt5K Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu 👉 https://amzn.to/4wlO13o Matrix by Lauren Groff 👉 https://amzn.to/4tXZlAQ The Testaments by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4uySUUS Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall 👉 https://amzn.to/3QQ3SqB In Cold Blood by Truman Capote 👉 https://amzn.to/4etAi3S We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver 👉 https://amzn.to/3QLjBHv The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides 👉 https://amzn.to/3P0pP5H 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15: https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs £15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Are We All in Denial About Who We Are?
In this episode, we dive into two unforgettable reads that explore love, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves. We sit down with Madeleine Gray, author of Chosen Family, to unpack the emotional complexity behind her novel from queer identity and self-loathing to the power of chosen relationships and modern motherhood. Then we turn to a true classic: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin a novel that left us completely shaken. We explore its themes of shame, desire, and emotional conflict, and why it still feels so relevant today. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Chosen Family 👉 https://amzn.to/4mIvARQ Giovanni’s Room 👉 https://amzn.to/3OI98eZ Yesteryear 👉 https://amzn.to/3OFvHRt True Grit 👉 https://amzn.to/4sMbF5N 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Is The Secret History Actually That Good? A Deep Dive
A Deep Dive into Possibly the Best Book Ever Written? 👀 Few novels inspire obsession like The Secret History and this time, we went all in. After a close reread, we break down the characters, key moments, and the deeper themes that make this book so enduring from elitism and morality to its chilling sense of complicity. We explore the novel’s classical and philosophical influences, unpack different interpretations, and ask the big question… why are we still so obsessed? Whether you’ve read it five times or not at all, this episode will change the way you see it. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Secret History by Donna Tartt 👉 https://amzn.to/48MawUD If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio 👉 https://amzn.to/4sCu4ly Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity 👉 https://amzn.to/42c6Ojv Circe by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/4cwGbLa Mythos by Stephen Fry 👉 https://amzn.to/4tgUqL0 Heroes by Stephen Fry 👉 https://amzn.to/4cgLpLZ Penance by Eliza Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/4tfBTP7 The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake 👉 https://amzn.to/3Oo3cI8 Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 👉 https://amzn.to/4cfIhjw Babel by R.F. Kuang👉 https://amzn.to/3QdRY9E 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Why Is No One Talking About These Books?
There are so many good books out there but this week we’re diving into the ones you’ve probably never even heard of and absolutely should have. From underrated backlist gems to quiet contemporary masterpieces these are the books we can’t stop thinking about, the ones that deserve way more hype than they get. We’re talking authors you might recognise like Gabrielle Zevin, Margaret Atwood and Hilary Mantel alongside incredible writers who haven’t hit your radar yet. Fiction, non fiction, literary fiction, Romantasy, forgotten classics and cutting edge ideas there’s something here for everyone. If you’re looking for your next obsession this is it. Trust us 👀📚 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin 👉 https://amzn.to/4vvrOPZ Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin 👉 https://amzn.to/4cql9yO Giving Up the Ghost by Hilary Mantel 👉 https://amzn.to/3Onqmy7 Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4sftR7C Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee 👉 https://amzn.to/4vhZAIg Bellies by Nicola Dinan 👉 https://amzn.to/4meHMts Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson 👉 https://amzn.to/4dw2D9o All the Living by C.E. Morgan 👉 https://amzn.to/4sXPpae The Poet by Louisa Reid 👉 https://amzn.to/3PVKZC0 Homesick by Jennifer Croft 👉 https://amzn.to/4c6Zfiz Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka 👉 https://amzn.to/4c3LT6N Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski 👉 https://amzn.to/4vdRgcr The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See 👉 https://amzn.to/4v7pXjT When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman 👉 https://amzn.to/4v7q2Ed Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/4sa74dn The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff 👉 https://amzn.to/3PJy0n0 The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore 👉 https://amzn.to/47HiVs9 The New Life by Tom Crewe 👉 https://amzn.to/4c97PgX The Forgotten Girls by Monica Potts 👉 https://amzn.to/4bRXGX8 The Sleeping Beauties by Suzanne O’Sullivan 👉 https://amzn.to/4dwpRMq The Premonitions Bureau by Sam Knight 👉 https://amzn.to/4ct6in6 Know My Name by Chanel Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/3NJwFMo The Last Man by Mary Shelley 👉 https://amzn.to/4e5aBGz Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman 👉 https://amzn.to/4dw3Tt8 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This Book Should Never Have Been Published
A book scandal has exploded and it’s raising serious questions about the future of publishing. In this episode, we dive into the controversy surrounding a viral novel accused of being largely written by AI… a story that went from self-published success to being pulled from shelves almost overnight. But this isn’t just about one book. We explore how AI is quietly reshaping the literary world from self-publishing trends to major publishers missing the warning signs and ask the bigger question: Can we still trust what we’re reading? This is a conversation about creativity, authenticity, and where we draw the line. Let us know your thoughts in the comments Would you read a book written by AI? 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
This Episode Will Make You See Life Differently | Patrick Ryan Book Club Special
This week we are so honoured and delighted to be joined by a Patrick Ryan, the author of our inaugural book club new pick Buckeye. Buckeye was released to huge international acclaim last year, which isn’t surprising given the literary credentials of its author, a NY based editor. Whether or not you have read this, Patrick has so much to (very eloquently say) about life and resilience. If you’ve ever felt behind, doubted yourself, or questioned your path… this episode will change how you see everything. He also shares an astonishingly strange coincidence that left our jaws on the floor. We also discuss our older book club pick - by the inimitable Mel Robbins, the High Five Habit which hugely surprised us and leads to a conversation about that endless loop of self critique and confidence. In this episode we also reveal our picks for Aprils book club, which we are giddy with excitement to discuss: Chosen Family - the new release everyone is talking about Giovannis Room - the classic everyone needs to read Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin 👉 https://amzn.to/4rZ2Jd1 Chosen Family by Green Dot 👉 https://amzn.to/4ryxOE1 Buckeye by Patrick Ryan 👉 https://amzn.to/3NC8mzE The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins 👉 https://amzn.to/470AbIB 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Producer's note
Steal the structure. Not the show.
Keep the useful structure, then change the audience, point of view, and voice until the idea is unmistakably yours.
