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PODCAST

Being Bookish

UK-based avid reader and big book lover. I talk about books and reading. In addition to recommending books across genres, including science fiction, fantasy, romantasy, cosy mystery, and speculative fiction, I never spoil the ending. I also have the incredible opportunity to speak with authors at different stages of their writing careers, from their debut to their 20th book! Episodes are released every other Tuesday, with bonus author interviews and episodes about Stephen King novels.

arts books

All Episodes

56:58

An Interview with Author Sloane Brooks

Being Bookish ·

2026/10/11

In another bonus episode, I am joined by author Sloane Brooks to talk about what happens when sci-fi, fantasy, and romance collide in her latest novel, Written in Starlight, a bold genre mashup that follows Della, Ansel, and a layered mystery stretching between the world of Lumeria and a mysterious library that may hold the key to everything. Sloane talks about how she wove three distinct storylines into one propulsive narrative, how Ansel's unforgettable found-family crew came together, and what it

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50:38

An Interview with Author Charlotte B. Plumb

Being Bookish ·

2026/10/06

In this week's bonus episode, I'm joined by author Charlotte B. Plumb to talk about her debut, Reap and Sow, a gothic fantasy duology about Eda, a young girl whose father placed her and her two older brothers in an untenable position, bargaining with a demon! In order to rescue her brothers from death, she strikes a dangerous pact despite knowing such bargains always end badly. We dig into the inherited debt that shapes Ida and her siblings, the life-trading magic system at the story's heart, and

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01:19:31

An Interview with Author Martha Waters

Being Bookish ·

2026/09/30

In the second episode of this week, I am joined by author Martha Waters to talk about her brand-new novel, Spellstruck. The story is set in a magical 1920s Britain where spellcasting is outlawed and the class lines cut just as deep as the magic. We talk about the interwar history Martha wove into the world-building, the opposites-attract chemistry between Vesper and Max, and the family drama and mystery threads that keep the romance from ever feeling small. Martha also opens up on the craft: whether

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47:10

An Interview with Author JR Ward

Being Bookish ·

2026/09/28

This week, in the first of two episodes (a rarity since my early Not Before Coffee Days), I am joined by bestselling author J.R. Ward to talk about the latest instalment in her massive Black Dagger Brotherhood series, Lover Enthroned. Why she jumped the timeline, how the series became a TV adaptation, and what it's like building a fictional universe fans have lived in for two decades.We talked about everything from dark romance, vampires, and paranormal fantasy, and she makes an unflinching case for

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29:51

Sugar and Spite by MC Beaton and RW Green

Being Bookish ·

2026/09/14

Welcome to my sixth anniversary episode. I thought long and hard about what I should talk about, and when I looked at my bookcase and realised I had yet to read the latest instalment of the Agatha Raisin series, Sugar and Spite, I knew that this was the perfect opportunity.The many books in the Agatha Raisin series, including the inaugural instalment, The Quiche of Death, have played a very important role in Being Bookish over the years, so what better way to celebrate an important anniversary than

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01:32:01

An Interview with Author Simon Wroe

Being Bookish ·

2026/08/31

In this week’s episode of Being Bookish, I am joined by novelist Simon Wroe to discuss his new novel, Ghost Month (released in hardback on the 27th of August). The novel is set in a London where the dead return to Earth for a single month (September) every year. During our conversation, we explore the book's interlocking cast and the events that connect them. We have Jane and the husband she rents to help hide a secret from her returning mother. Her sister, Angie, is caught between her living

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01:11:33

An Interview with Author Rachel Peterson

Being Bookish ·

2026/08/17

YA Thrillers are living their best moment right now, and if you ever wanted to attend a barn party, or wondered what it would be like to be questioned by the police when your best friend is murdered, then this book is for you. Killing Sadie is Rachel Peterson's debut novel, published by SimonTeen. Here’s what we do know: there was another infamous barn party at the McClain family farm last night, and things went horribly wrong. By the end of the night, there were two dead bodies in the old barn:

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01:11:20

An Interview with Author Grace Viall

Being Bookish ·

2026/08/05

If you ever long for the days when Syfy was making and airing their monster-of-the-week shows, or miss the early seasons of The X-Files, then the book I have this week is definitely one for you. (Mostly) Human Resources is the debut novel from American author Grace Viall. An urban fantasy that blends the world of monsters, monster hunters and the modern world together. In the first in her Entity Case Files trilogy, we meet the employees of Entity, an organisation which hunts and destroys the

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58:57

An Interview with Author Kristina Thornton

Being Bookish ·

2026/07/20

Join me this week as I have a special guest, author Kristina Thornton. Her second novel is due to be released on the 28th July, published by Harpeth Road Press, and is titled Forty Going on Nineteen. As you may guess from the title, it has a little bit of a time travel vibe, though there is no de-ageing or battling with school bullies. Instead, our main character is about to turn forty (and for anyone who has experienced this, you'll know it's a mental hurdle), and her best friend encourages her to

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56:23

The Stephen King Thing - The Shining

Being Bookish ·

2026/07/08

Welcome to the latest episode of The Stephen King Thing, a special spin-off series from the Being Bookish podcast. In this part of the show, Lorraine and I are dedicating our time to exploring the extensive bibliography of the master of horror, and this time, both Lorraine and I will be somewhat reluctantly and definitely nervously checking into the Overlook Hotel to dissect his 1977 masterpiece, The Shining.Because we're taking a deep dive into the chilling isolation of the Torrance family and the

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44:04

Starside by Alex Aster

Being Bookish ·

2026/07/06

In this episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of Starside, the 2026 fantasy novel by Alex Aster. This book marks her first step into more adult romantasy after her original foray into the genre with the YA Lightlark series. While there's plenty of talk online about the deadly competition framework and the familiar tropes in this book, I'm much more interested in tackling the online discourse and evaluating how well these elements are actually executed. I'll be exploring whether the

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26:33

2026 Mid-Year Reading Wrap-Up

Being Bookish ·

2026/06/22

Welcome back to another episode of Being Bookish. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but we're almost halfway through 2026, so it's time for a bit of an update, and I am doing it differently this year! In this wrap-up, I am focusing a lot on expectation versus reality in my personal reading experience. I'm going to share my thoughts on the standout books I cannot stop thinking about, the ones that didn't quite hit the spot, and the upcoming releases I am looking forward to later this year. 2026 has

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50:21

The Stephen King Thing - Cujo

Being Bookish ·

2026/05/27

In the second episode of the Being Bookish spin-off where I am reading my way through Stephen King’s novels, joined by my friend and fellow podcaster, Lorraine, we’re taking a look at Cujo, his 1981 novel, the second to feature Castle Rock.As previously mentioned, these episodes are approximately 6 weeks apart as there is a lot to cover.Cujo is the story of a friendly St Bernard, beloved family pet and best friend of Brett Camber, who, one day, is unfortunately the victim of a bat bite. What happens

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47:41

Blood of Hercules by Jasmine Mas

Being Bookish ·

2026/05/25

In this episode of Being Bookish, I am digging into the layers of Blood of Hercules, the 2024 urban fantasy novel with hints of dark romance written by author Jasmine Mas.While there is plenty of talk online about the relationships and the reverse harem elements in this book, I am much more interested in looking at how the character dynamics and Greek mythology connections hold up, as this is truly where my personal passion lies!Somehow, this has become another slightly longer episode, as I really

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51:18

This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

Being Bookish ·

2026/04/13

This week, I've been reading a lot of fantasy, and my episode is going to lean into that as I'm reviewing a story that takes a really clever approach to the fantasy genre. I’m talking about This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews, a novel with an Isekai (or portal fantasy) premise that could be an absolute disaster, or a joy!The novel follows a protagonist, Maggie, who wakes up inside the world of her favourite unfinished book series. It’s a place where she isn't a powerful warrior, but she

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34:30

Overgrowth by Mira Grant

Being Bookish ·

2026/03/30

Described as The Day of the Triffids crossed with Little Shop of Horrors, this week, I’m looking at a story that certainly presents an unusual scenario. I’m talking about Overgrowth by Mira Grant, a book with a botanical horror premise that's hard to ignore once you've heard it. If you haven't come across this sci-fi horror novel yet, this episode’s a good place to start. It’s a bit of a genre-shifter that’s quite difficult to categorise, following a woman who’s spent thirty years trying to warn

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46:15

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

Being Bookish ·

2026/03/17

This week, I'm venturing into the chaotic and sometimes hilarious world of the LitRPG phenomenon that's taken the book world by storm. I'm talking about Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, the first book in a (currently) 7-book series that's grown from a self-published cult favourite into a global bestseller. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then this episode is a great place to start (as until a few months ago I didn't have a clue either). Dungeon Crawler Carl is genre-bending fiction

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37:30

The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert...

Being Bookish ·

2026/01/27

In this episode of Being Bookish, I am heading to the tranquil banks of the Thames to visit with Judith, Becks and Suzie as they investigate two unfortunate deaths in Marlow while dealing with personal issues in The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood. As the creator of the hit TV show Death in Paradise, Thorogood knows exactly how to craft a brilliant mystery. This latest release, which hit shelves on January 15th, 2026, marks the fifth book in the popular Marlow Murder Club

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01:02:04

2025: A Reading Year in Review

Being Bookish ·

2025/12/30

In the final episode of the year, I'm reflecting on my reading (in general), sharing my top 10 favourite reads of 2025, as well as five books that didn't quite work for me. None of these are ranked in any particular order as I talk through them, until we reach the read I loved the most, a novel I feel has been ignored by many and is massively underrated. It's been a year of highs and lows, with numerous books that captured my attention and reminded me why I love reading so much. At the same time,

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44:04

The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman

Being Bookish ·

2025/12/16

In my last book review of 2025, I'm taking a look at one of the newer Romantasy releases of the year, The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman. It's an exciting blend of highland romance and dangerous fantasy. Dangerous court politics, rival kingdoms, and a princess caught in the middle of it all. A story full of intrigue, heat, and all the popular fantasy tropes that keep people reading! As always, I am going to share my personal thoughts on the book; the world, the characters, the themes, and what I

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