The Bookcast Club

april 2026: welcome back, what we're reading and podcast plans

Tue, 21 Apr 2026 16:30:00 GMT

In our very first episode of the year, Jenny, Belle and Sarah are back and we’re kicking things off with a big update! We’re moving away from seasons and switching to a monthly episode format, and in this episode we chat through why the change felt right for us (and hopefully for you too).

Alongside that, it’s a proper catch-up - what we’ve been reading, what we’ve been loving, and how our reading year is shaping up so far. Expect plenty of bookish tangents, honest thoughts, and the usual cosy, conversational vibes as we ease into a new year of the podcast.

We’ll also be sharing more over on our Patreon each month, alongside the main episodes, if you’d like to support the show and get extra content, you can join us here: https://www.patreon.com/c/bookcastclub

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Fate of Mary Rose — Caroline O’Donoghue
The Correspondent — Virginia Evans
Memorial Day — Geraldine Brooks
Wild Dark Shore — Charlotte McConaghy
The Rose Field — Philip Pullman
Always Home, Always Homesick — Hannah Kent
Audition — Katie Kitamura
Elegy, Southwest — Madeleine Watts
Love, Sex and Frankenstein — Caroline Lea
Death in Her Hands — Ottessa Moshfegh

Get in touch

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#4.10 read these first: best books of 2025

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 00:23:00 GMT

Jenny and Sarah chat about their favourite reads of 2025, along with some great recommendations from listeners

What have your standout reads of 2025 been? Are any of these on your TBR?

Books mentioned:

Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott
Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix
All the Lovers in the Night by Mieko Kawakam
A Room Above a Shop by Anthony Shapland
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
The Good People by Hannah Kent
The Dance Tree by Kiran Milwood Hargrave
Muckle Flugga by Michael Pedersen
Ripeness by Sarah Moss
My Good Bright Wolf by Sarah Moss
Bunny by Mona Awad
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad
Almost Life by Kiran Milwood Hargrave
I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy
The Book of Dust trilogy by Philip Pullman
Seascraper by Benjamin Wood
As Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.9 wicked for good: book vs film

Mon, 15 Dec 2025 10:24:55 GMT

Sarah and Jenny discuss the recent release of Wicked: For Good and how it compares to the book. The book is dark and complex, a strong contrast to the book. They discuss what they loved and hated about the film, and what was gained or lost in the translation from Gregory Maguire's Wicked.

Have you read the book and/or seen the film? What did you think?

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
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#4.8 patreon book club: the lamb by lucy rose

Mon, 08 Dec 2025 20:20:40 GMT

This is our LIVE recording of our Patreon Book Club, so apologies for sound gremlins. We discuss The Lamb by Lucy Rose with our Patreons. If you would like to join us next time you can sign up here for as little as £2 a month.

Books mentioned:

Things We Say in the Dark by Kirsty Logan
Folk by Zoe Gilbert
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.7 a laurie gilmore: dream harbour special. dipping our toes into spicy romance

Mon, 01 Dec 2025 20:23:30 GMT

Who'd have believed it!? A Laurie Gilmore, Dream Harbour special. Millie joins Jenny to discuss the Dream Harbour series as well as the rise in spicy romance.

Books mentioned:

Book Lovers by Emily Henry
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandana
You Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi
The Winternight Trilogy by Katherine Arden
Once Upon a Broken Heart Series by Stephanie Garber
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
Flawless by Elsie Silver
Playing the Witch Card by KJ Dell'Antonia

Podcast mentioned:

The Conversation with Laurie Gilmore

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
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A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.6 frankenstein book v movie

Mon, 24 Nov 2025 19:51:12 GMT

Today Jenny and her sister Katie take on the epic challenge of comparing the Mary Shelley classic, Frankenstein with Guillermo Del Toro's new movie. We answer all the important questions - did the creature have a brain? Who the f*ck is Catherine? Mia Goth is British!? And what was the milk count?

Books mentioned:

Poor Things by Alasdair Grey
Monstrilio by Gerardo Sámano Córdova
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. Dick
Love, Sex and Frankenstein by Caroline Lea
A Botanical Daughter by Noah Medlock

Movies/TV mentioned:

The Fly (1986)
Tim Burton - The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissor Hands, Frankenweenie
Blade Runner
Jurassic Park
Penny Dreadful (TV)
The Frankenstein Chronicles (TV)
Wuthering Heights (2026)

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.5 aussie reads with paulineisreading

Tue, 18 Nov 2025 12:05:13 GMT

Belle catches up with fellow Naarm resident and Bookstagrammer, @paulineisreading. They talk bookstagram, ARCs, and some of their favourite Australian authors.

Books mentioned:

coming soon!

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
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#4.4 spooky reads for halloween

Sat, 01 Nov 2025 22:38:59 GMT

One of our favourite episodes of the year - spooky reads! Belle and Jenny share their latest horror reads, spooky TBRs, quick fire horror genres and tv/movie recs. It's a bumper ep, packed full of horror recs. Happy Halloween!

Books mentioned:

Hungerstone by Kat Dunn
The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell
House of Splinters by Laura Purcell
Children of Paradise by Camilla Grudova
The Hotel by Daisy Johnson
Play Nice by Rachel Harrison
The September House by Carissa Orlando
Itch by Gemma Amor
A Sunny Place for Shady People by Mariana Enriquez
Don't Go to Sleep in the Dark by Celia Fremlin
We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
NIghtbitch by Rachel Yoder
Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
Woman, Eating by Claire Kohda
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMere
Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez
Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito
Incidents Around the House by Josh Malerman

Movies/TV/Radio mentioned:

The Hotel BBC Radio 4
The Others
The Awakening
The Substance
Monsters: Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed Gein, Eric & Lyle Menendez (TV)
The Long Walk
Weapons
Alice (1988)

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.3 current cosy reads

Sun, 26 Oct 2025 13:02:49 GMT

Sarah and Belle get together to talk about about cosy reads. They discuss what kinds of books they read more in Autumn and Winter, and share what they've been reading and watching lately.

Books mentioned:

The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry
Cursed Bread by Sophie Mackintosh
Helle & Death by Oskar Jensen
The Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman
The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood
The Wolf Border by Sarah Hall
She's Always Hungry by Eliza Clark
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfeld
The Centre by Ayesha Manazir Siddiqi
The Dance Tree by Kiran Milwood Hargrave
Emily Wilde's Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Forcett
The Fate of Mary Rose by Caroline Blackwood
The Lamb by Lucy Rose

Things mentioned:

Bookcast Club episode #102 - The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.2 reading challenges

Sat, 18 Oct 2025 05:30:00 GMT

We welcome Sarah from Your True Shelf to the pod today to discuss reading challenges and, specifically, #HRCYED - The Hardest Reading Challenge You'll Ever do, Jenny and Sarah take the opportunity to discuss their recent/current reads and TBR's for the challenge.

Books mentioned:

Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin
It Was Always You by Emma Cooper
The Things We Lost by Jyoti Patel
Pop Scars by ANTHONY Kavanagh (not Andrew!)
LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (Andy Serkis Audiobook)
Boudicca's Daughter by Elodie Harper
The Tarot Reader of Versailles by Anya Bergman
We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad

Things mentioned:

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#4.1 welcome back

Sat, 11 Oct 2025 05:30:00 GMT

We're back! Welcome to season 4 of The Bookcast Club. In this episode we share what we've been doing and reading over the last few months as well as teasing what's to come in this upcoming season.

Books mentioned:

Confessions by Catherine Airey
All Creatures Great and Small by James Herriot
The Dutch House by Ann Patchett
I'm Glad my Mom Died by Jeanette McCurdy
Rapture by Emily Maguire
A Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers

Things mentioned:

Emily Maguire on ABC - The epic mystery of a female pope and the birth that was her undoing

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.10 women's prize shortlist 2025: part 2

Mon, 07 Jul 2025 17:33:23 GMT

Sarah, Belle, and Jenny gather today to bring you the second of a two-part episode discussion the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist. Today, they discuss their thoughts on Fundamentally by Nassaibah Younis, The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji, and The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden.

Are you reading the Women's Prize shortlist this year?

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
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A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.9 women's prize shortlist 2025: part 1

Mon, 23 Jun 2025 18:03:10 GMT

Sarah, Belle, and Jenny gather today to bring you the first of a two-part episode disucssing the 2025 Women's Prize for Fiction Shortlist. Today, they discuss their thoughts on Good Girl by Aria Aber and All Fours by Amanda July, with a sort of half-discussion about Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout.

Are you reading the Women's Prize shortlist this year?

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
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A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.8 the problems with jane eyre // discussing wide sargasso sea

Tue, 17 Jun 2025 19:11:12 GMT

We welcome back the delightful Shawn Mooney from the Youtube channel Shawn Breathes Books. He and Sarah discuss Jean Rhys' Wide Sargasso Sea, which was published in 1966 as a response to Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre. They chat about the book's origins, its role and relationship with the canon, and how they feel about it in isolation plus as a conversational piece with Jane Eyre.

Things mentioned:

Sarah on Shawn's channel: Zooming In: Sarah and Shawn on so-called 'unlikeable' female characters in literature
Shawn on the Bookcast Club: Episode 64 (My Life in Books) and Episode 97 (Three Short Stories)

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.7 author spotlight // claire keegan

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 08:19:30 GMT

Belle and Sarah chat through the wonderful back catalogue of Irish writer Claire Keegan, a Bookcast Club fave. If you have any suggestions for future author spotlights please let us know by contacting us on Instagram or email.

Books mentioned:

Antarctica
Foster
Small Things Like These
So Late in the Day
Walk the Blue Fields

Things mentioned:

Claire Keegan on ABC Podcast

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.6 a catchup with chris!

Mon, 26 May 2025 08:08:07 GMT

Sarah catches up with former cohost of the Bookcast Club, the fabulous Chris. They chat all things Women's Prize, grief memoirs, and other stuff they've been reading. Will Sarah ever read ACOTAR, or will she just continue to mention it?

Also mentioned: Episode #87 - Books about Grief and Death

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.5 if you liked this one, try this one

Wed, 21 May 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Cannot think of a better title! Big thank you to Patreon supporter Millie for coming on the pod with Jenny to share some recommendations. Jenny's choice was Grady Hendrix's My Best Friend's Exorcism and Millie's choice was Briefly, A Delicious Life by Nell Stephens - but what were our bookish pairings? We also did some recommendations for listeners based on Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers and What Moves the Dead by T. Kingfisher. Let us know what you would have recommended based on these titles.

P.S. If you can think of a catchier title, please help!

Books mentioned:

The Ballad of Never After by Stephanie Garber
My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Otessa Moshfegh
Sunburn by Chloe Michelle Howarth
Chocolat by Joanne Harris
Vianne by Joanne Harris
I Am, I Am, I Am by Maggie O'Farrell
Hamnet by Maggie O'Farrell
The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O'Farrell
A House with Good Bones by T. Kingfisher
Watching Women & GIrls by Danielle Pender
What She's Having: Stories of Women & Food by Dear Damsels
Let the Bad Times Roll by Alice Slater
French Braid by Anne Tyler
Back When We Were Grown Ups by Anne Tyler
Excellent Women by Barbara Pym
A Whole Life by Robert Seethaler
Life Among the Savages by Shirley Jackson
Follow Me to Ground by Sue Rainsford

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
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A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.4 book vs film: the talented mr ripley

Mon, 12 May 2025 01:42:05 GMT

In this episode, Sarah welcomes Cobby back to the podcast! They dive into The Talented Mr. Ripley, comparing Patricia Highsmith’s chilling 1955 novel with Anthony Minghella’s 1999 film adaptation. How does the psychological tension of the book translate to the screen? What changes in character, tone, and setting shift our understanding of Tom Ripley?

We hope you enjoy the episode!

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.3 non fiction

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 12:33:24 GMT

It's a non-fiction special! Sarah and Jenny dive into non-fiction, we chat The Women's Prize for Non Fiction and share some of our recent fave reads.

Books mentioned:

Autocracy Inc: The Dictators Who Want to Run the World by Anne Applebaum
Code Dependant: Living in the Shadow of AI by Madhumita Murgia
The Wager by David Grann
See What You Made Me Do by Jess Hill
From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.2 book vs film: wicked

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 04:12:05 GMT

Sarah and Jenny journey beyond the yellow brick road to compare Gregory Maguire’s novel Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West with its recent film adaptation. They discuss how the film reinterprets key characters, themes, and the moral grey areas of Oz. Have you seen the film/read the book? What did you think of the adaptation?

Get in touch

Instagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#3.1 welcome back to a new season

Sun, 13 Apr 2025 05:30:00 GMT

Welcome to a new season of The Bookcast Club. Jenny, Belle and Sarah battle time zones to bring you their recent and current reads, plans for the season ahead, YOUR recent 5 star bangers and just the general chaos we like to bless your ears with. Welcome back, we've missed you!

Books mentioned:

Raising Hare by Chloe Dalton
The Party by Tessa Hadley
Strange Flowers by Donal Ryan
Normal Women by Ainsley Hogarth
The Hotel by Daisy Johnson
The Sandcastle by Iris Murdoch
Orbital by Samantha Harvey
I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman
How to Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone
In Memorial by Alice Winn
Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola
Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
Nesting by Roisin O’Donell
If Only by Vigdis Hijorth
Once Upon a Broken Heart by Stephanie Garber
Talking to the Dead by Helen Dunmore
Nettle and Bone by T. Kingfisher
Everyone in this Room will Someday be Dead by Emily Austin
Dog by Rob Perry

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

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#2.10 best books of the year

Sun, 22 Dec 2024 01:43:23 GMT

Belle, Sarah, and Jenny get together to round out the year! They chat through their best books of the year and share their thoughts. This is the final episode of the season; we will be back early next year for Season 3! Let us know if you enjoy the episode, and what you thought of the books!

Books mentioned:

Motherthing by Ainslie Hogarth
Vladimir by Julia May Jonas
Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield
Splinters by Leslie Jamison
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
Feast by Emily O'Grady
Foster by Clare Keegan
Cackle by Rachel Harrison
James by Percival Everett
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Kala by Colin Walsh
The Third Gilmore Girl by Kelly Bishop

Get in touch

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#2.9 sophie mackintosh: cursed bread, the water cure, & blue ticket

Mon, 09 Dec 2024 08:00:48 GMT

In the second last episode of the season, Sarah and Belle get together to discuss all three of Sophie Mackintosh's novels: The Water Cure, Blue Ticket, and Cursed Bread.

Have you read any of her novels? What did you think?

Get in touch

Instagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

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#2.8 book v movie: small things like these

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 16:00:00 GMT

Sarah and Jenny discuss Small Things Like These and how the book compares to the 2024 movie starring Cillian Murphy.

Other things mentioned

The Magdalene Sisters (2002)

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

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Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.7 2024 booker shortlist discussion

Mon, 25 Nov 2024 23:07:47 GMT

Sarah invites her friend Cobby onto the podcast this week! They chat through most of the books on the Booker shortlist, including the winner, Orbital by Samantha Harvey. They share their thoughts on the books they've read on the shortlist and talk about the best Ralph Fiennes film to lift your mood.

Books mentioned:

Booker shortlist
The Weekend by Charlotte Wood
The Submerged Cathedral by Charlotte Wood
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje
The Trees by Percival Everett
James by Percival Everett
Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Woods
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Orbital by Samantha Harvey

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.6 memoirs

Mon, 18 Nov 2024 21:07:40 GMT

Sarah from Your True Shelf joins Jenny to share their pick of great memoirs. We cover some 'sensible' memoirs and also (our fave) celeb memoirs.

Books mentioned

Bread and Wine by Shauna Niequist
Strong Female Character by Fern Brady
Waterfall of Stars by Rosanne Alexander
Unfamiliar by Kirsty Logan
Do They Hear You When You Cry by Fauziya Kassindja
Why Did You Stay? by Rebecca Humphries
Mighty Be Our Powers by Carol Lynn Mithers and Leymah Gbowee
Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes
This I Know: Notes in Unravelling the Heart by Susannah Conway
Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson
Open Book by Jessica Simpson
More Myself by Alicia Keys
The Woman in Me by Britney Spears
Paris by Paris Hilton
Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
This Much Is True by Miriam Margolyes
Taste by Stanley Tucci
Me by Elton John
Lady in Waiting by Anne Glenconner

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.5 book club: fourth wing by rebecca yarros

Mon, 04 Nov 2024 21:19:13 GMT

Author Abigail Mann joins Jenny to discuss the TikTok favourite Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros.

Books mentioned

Constanza by Rachael Blackmore
Experienced by Kate Young
All Fours by Miranda July
So Thrilled For You by Holly Borne
A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.4 horror recs for halloween

Fri, 25 Oct 2024 05:30:14 GMT

Belle and Jenny chat all things spooooooky in this weeks episode. Belle is on a mission to read a really scary book (spoiler - we're struggling to find one!) We share our spookiest book recs along with some (not all that spooky) movie recommendations.

We'd love to know the scariest book you've ever, drop us a comment over on Instagram.

Books mentioned

We Solve Murder by Richard Osmond
Children of Paradise by Camilla Grudova
Our Wives Under the Sea and Salt Slow by Julia Armfield
The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters
Verity by Colleen Hoover
The Whistling by Rebecca Netley
Thin Air and Dark Matter by Michelle Paver
Sharp Objects andThe Grown Up by Gillian Flynn
The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
Dark Tales andThe Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson
Things We Lost in the Fire by Marianna Enriquez
The Last House on Needless Street by Catriona Ward
Cursed Bunny by Bora Chung
Things We Say in the Dark by Kirsty Logan
Something Wicked This Way Comes by Ray Bradbury
Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
Rachel Harrison and Grady Hendrix's books

Movies & TV mentioned

Hereditary
Black Christmas
Anna and the Apocalypse
One Cut of the Dead
The Shining
The Blair Witch Project
The Voices
Mr Mercedes (TV)

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.3 cosy reads with millie

Fri, 18 Oct 2024 05:30:32 GMT

Millie from @saltonshine joins Jenny to chat all things cosy reading. We share some of our favourite cosy reads and movies and also chat recent and current reads. Jenny completely forgot to talk about Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree, even though her notes were right in front of her, so stick that on your TBR too.

Books mentioned

The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle
Tipping the Velvet by Sarah Waters
The Gloaming by Kirsty Logan
The Night Watch by Sarah Waters
The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore
Absolutely and Forever by Rose Tremain
Cackle by Rachel Harrison
The Unfortunate Side Effects of Heartbreak and Magic by Breanne Randall
Diary of a Provincial Lady by E. M. Delafield
The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Clune
Talking As Fast As I Can by Lauren Graham
The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna
Spells for Forgetting by Adrienne Young
A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness
Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman
Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Movies & TV mentioned

Everything I Know About Love (TV)
Lost in Austen (TV)
Far From the Madding Crowd (TV)
You've Got Mail
The Truth About Cats and Dogs
Lost in Translation
All Creatures Great and Small (Channel 5)(TV)

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.2 book club: the bee sting by paul murray

Fri, 11 Oct 2024 19:50:22 GMT

It's the first book club of the season! Belle and Sarah chat about the Booker shortlisted book The Bee Sting by Paul Murray. Join in the conversation over on our Instagram.

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#2.1 welcome back and welcome belle

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 20:46:25 GMT

We're back! It's season 2 and we're excited! In this episode we welcome Belle to the podcast as an official co-host. We chat about our plans for the season ahead, what we're reading, new releases we're excited for and loads more. Let us know what you think and come say hi over on Instagram.

Books mentioned

Woo Woo by Ella Baxter
New Animal by Ella Baxter
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
The Woodland at Midwinter by Susannah Clarke
Motherhood by Sheila Heti
Splinters by Leslie Jamison
Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore (not self published!)
The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Other bits

The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge episode

Get in touch

Support The Bookcast Club

You can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days.
If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi.
A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.

Newsletter

Sign up to our monthly newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. Come and chat to us in the comments.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

#1.9 Stella Prize 2024 Shortlist, Part 2

Sun, 23 Jun 2024 12:00:00 GMT

The Bookcast Club

april 2026: welcome back, what we're reading and podcast plans

#4.10 read these first: best books of 2025

#4.9 wicked for good: book vs film

#4.8 patreon book club: the lamb by lucy rose

#4.7 a laurie gilmore: dream harbour special. dipping our toes into spicy romance

#4.6 frankenstein book v movie

#4.5 aussie reads with paulineisreading

#4.4 spooky reads for halloween

#4.3 current cosy reads

#4.2 reading challenges

#4.1 welcome back

#3.10 women's prize shortlist 2025: part 2

#3.9 women's prize shortlist 2025: part 1

#3.8 the problems with jane eyre // discussing wide sargasso sea

#3.7 author spotlight // claire keegan

#3.6 a catchup with chris!

#3.5 if you liked this one, try this one

#3.4 book vs film: the talented mr ripley

#3.3 non fiction

#3.2 book vs film: wicked

#3.1 welcome back to a new season

#2.10 best books of the year

#2.9 sophie mackintosh: cursed bread, the water cure, & blue ticket

#2.8 book v movie: small things like these

#2.7 2024 booker shortlist discussion

#2.6 memoirs

#2.5 book club: fourth wing by rebecca yarros

#2.4 horror recs for halloween

#2.3 cosy reads with millie

#2.2 book club: the bee sting by paul murray

#2.1 welcome back and welcome belle

#1.9 Stella Prize 2024 Shortlist, Part 2

#1.8 Women's Prize 2024

#1.7 Stella Prize 2024 Shortlist, Part 1

#1.6 Recent 5 Star Reads and the Influence of Social Media on Reading

#1.5 Three Short Stories: The Paper Menagerie by Ken Liu, Recitatif by Toni Morrison and A Temporary Matter by Jhumpa Lahiri

#1.4 Hannah Kent: Burial Rites, The Good People, and Devotion

#1.3 Unlikeable Female Characters

#1.2 Book Club: The North Woods

#1.1 Welcome Back!

#104 some books, some chat and BIG NEWS!

#103 Spooky reads! The Yellow Wallpaper and The Monkey's Paw

#102 The Rory Gilmore Reading Challenge and The Virgin Suicides Book Club

#101 Haunted Houses

#100! Book Club: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

#99 Upcoming Book to Movie Adaptations 2023/24

#98 Booker Prize Longlist & Our Past Year in Fantasy

#97 Three Short Stories with Shawn the Book Maniac

#96 Reading Chris' Favourite Books: Wicked by Gregory Maguire and Self-Portrait With Boy by Rachel Lyon

#95 Our 2023 Mid-Year Favourite Books

#94 'Palette Cleansers' and a Catch Up With Alice

#93 Women's Prize for Fiction 2023

#92 Stella Prize Winner and Shortlist Discussion

#91 Vegetarian Cookbook Recommendations with Lauren and the Books

#90 Book Club: Pod by Laline Paull

#89 Memoir Recommendations (with Belle!)

#88 All the Longlists: Stella Prize, Women's Prize, and the Carol Shields Prize with Shawn the Book Maniac

#87 Books About Grief & Death

#86 Historical Fiction Recommendations with Russell of Ink and Paper Blog

#85 Most Anticipated New Releases 2023

#84 Favourite Books of 2022

#83 Reading Jenny's Favourite Books - We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson and Tiny, Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed

#82 Our Winter Reading Plans

#81 Spooky Reads

#80 Who will win Booker 2022? [with Sarah Freshly & KD Books]

#79 Listener Q&A Special

#78 Book Club: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

#77 Fantasy Recommendations 2022

#76 Books We Love With a Strong Sense of Place

#75 What makes a good 'book club' book? [with Kate from The Book Club Review podcast]

#74 Mid-year Favourites 2022

#73 My Life in Books with Sarah Freshly

#72 Book Club: The Sentence by Louise Erdrich

#71 Breaking Romantic Tropes

#70 International Booker Shortlist Discussion

#69 Reading Alice's Favourite Books

#68 Non-Fiction Special with Mercy's Bookish Musings

#67 Short Story Recommendations

#66 The Excitement of Longlists