One for the Books

There have been a raft of bestselling autobiographies hitting bookshops in the past few years - Britney, Prince Harry, Michelle Obama anyone? So we’ve done the hard work for you and read some of the most popular (and the ones that you should be!) to work out if they’re actually worth the hype. BOOK RECS: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears Strong Female Character by Fern Brady Spare by Prince Harry OTHER RECS: Fern Brady's Instagram Taskmaster TV Show Joy Ride Movie Happy Reading!

In the wake of Valentine's Day this year, we decided to dust of a couple of our favourite romance and love stories (historical fiction and romcoms included!). This episode we want to share the love along with these heart-warming tales with you as well... BOOK RECS: A Long Petal of the Sea by Isabel Allende Book Lovers by Emily Henry Love Stories by Trent Dalton OTHER RECS: Happiness for Beginners on Netflix Happiness for Beginners Book Deadloch TV Show Happy Reading!

It's our favourite episode of the year! Join us as we embark on a literary journey through the pages of our favourite books from the year 2023. From captivating novels to thought-provoking non-fiction, we've curated a list that we hope has something for every kind of reader. Whether you're an avid reader looking for your next favourite book or someone seeking an informed list of the most noteworthy releases, listen as we reminisce about the unforgettable stories that made 2023 a remarkable year in literature. Emma’s top 5 books for 2023: Wifedom: Mrs Orwell’s Invisible Life by Anna Funder The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Babel by RF Kuang Jacinta’s top 5 books for 2023: Still Life by Sarah Winman Sugar, Baby by Celine St Clare Indelible City: Dispossession and Defiance in Hong Kong by Louisa Lim Flux by Jinwoo Chong Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Happy Reading!

It's almost Christmas and Halloween was months ago??? Do not fear (or maybe do)! We have a bunch of our favourite thrillers - covering crime, historical, psychological, even ecological - from this year to keep you on the edge of your seat... BOOK RECS: The Guest by Emma Cline Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy OTHER RECS: Mrs. Davis TV Show on Binge Spirited Film Happy Reading!

In a belated book club pick, we're tackling books by marginalised authors we don't usually see and experience in the mainstream media as often as we should. Our bookcases (and minds!) were very much expanded - we hope yours will be too. BOOK RECS: Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola Sand Talk by Tyson Yunkaporta Black Girl, Call Home by Jasmine Mans OTHER RECS: Where Should We Begin Podcast with Esther Perel The Cut’s guide to where to begin with Esther Perel Spotify free audiobooks if you have a premium account Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza on Instagram 20 Palestinian Writers in Their Own Words Ballads of Defiance: Powerful Poetry by Palestinian Poets Five Palestinian artists who enrich the Arab Culture Scene Happy Reading! Emma and Jacinta xx

There's a reason YA Novels are so popular - coming-of-age is a universal experience that can take whatever form imaginable. So, this ep we're celebrating that awkward, bemusing time between childhood and adulthood, and here are are absolute favourite YA novels from an expert and novice... BOOK RECS: The House by the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros They Both Die at the End by Adam Silvera OTHER RECS: The Bear Season 2 Hello Sunshine Newsletter (scroll to bottom to sign up) Happy Reading! Emma and Jacinta xx

We're doing things a little different this episode. We're using our respective birth years as the jumping off point for some new book recommendations. It proves very interesting! Take a listen to what what happening in the late 80s and early 90s, and celebrate the books that were also born in the same year as us... BOOK RECS: Black Swans: Stories by Eve Babitz The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho OTHER RECS: Vice’s series ‘The Story Of’ - It Wasn’t Me by Shaggy The Story Of Series The Barbie Movie Happy Reading!

This episode we're shining a light on our favourite books that have been unfairly subjected to censorship throughout modern history. Beyond the cliché classics that have been banned, we have also picked some more recent recommendations that have made the blacklist in a bid to silence these authors... You might be surprised at some of the titles that have been challenged over the years! BOOK RECS: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M Johnson Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe OTHER RECS: How many of these banned books have you read? by The Canberra Times Banned in Australia - Federal Book Censorship (1900-1973) on AustLit  Beef on Netflix Queen Charlotte on Netflix Happy Reading!

One of the joys of reading is being able to travel to some dream destinations via the book you’re bingeing. This ep, we’re taking you on an epic world adventure to some of our bucket list travel spots thanks to some amazing books! BOOK RECS: San Francisco/Hong Kong/China - Counterfeit by Kirstin Chen Hydra, Greece - A Theatre for Dreamers by Polly Samson Alberta, Canada - The Erratics by Vicki Laveau-Harvie OTHER RECS: Kleo TV Series on Netflix Ted Lasso Season 3 on Apple TV Happy Reading!

This year is set to be a huge one for TV show and movie releases... And a ton of these are based on some absolutely incredible books! So this ep, it's a recommendation extravaganza as we’re giving you our top three books you have to read before getting stuck into these very exciting upcoming television shows, movie or music too. BOOK RECS: Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Rearranged Life of Oona Lockhart (Oona Out of Order) by Margarita Montimore Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus OTHER RECS: Daisy Jones and the Six TV Show First look at the Lessons in Chemistry TV adaptation Daisy Jones and the Six album ‘Aurora’ labour by Paris Paloma boygenius’ album ‘The Record’ The Comfort Bake by Sally Wise Happy Reading! Love Emma & Jacinta xxx

This ep, we’re bringing the laughs and chatting about our favourite satire or comedy books to make you laugh. We debate the ever popular My Year of Rest & Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh and both fall on very different sides of this dark satire. Where do you land? Strap in for all the LOLs and great recommendations. P.S. We get into My Rest & Relaxation spoilers from 10.10 to 11.28, so skip ahead if you need to! BOOK RECS: My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh Less by Andrew Sean Greer This Is Going to Hurt: Secret Diaries of a Junior Doctor by Adam Kay OTHER RECS: This is Going to Hurt TV Show Bandsplain Podcast If cats had a podcast on Youtube Happy Reading!

We're so excited to kick off this year with a different kind of theme - this episode we're recommending you books based on your specific zodiac sign! For thousands of years, people have looked to the night sky for life's biggest (…and most inconsequential) questions and now we're using it to chart what book you should pick up next. Whether you're a newbie or make every important decision according to the position of the stars and planets, we've got a recommendation for you from your trusty Sagittarius Sun, Virgo Moon (Emma) and Virgo Sun, Libra Moon (Jacinta) book-obsessed friends. We've got links below too if you don't know your astrological chart off by heart and remember you can refer to your either Sun, Moon or Ascendant sign for the best books for you!  ZODIAC BOOK RECS: Aries: The Power by Naomi Alderman Taurus: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald Gemini: Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams Cancer: A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman Leo: The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis Virgo: Atomic Habits by James Clear Libra: No Friend but the Mountain by Behrouz Boochani Scorpio: The Guest List by Lucy Foley Sagittarius: The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien Capricorn: The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins Aquarius: Dune by Frank Hebert Pisces: 100 Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez OTHER LINKS: Find your Astrological Chart: we love Co-Star, The Pattern and this free online Birth Chart Report Regret Me from Honeycomb by Daisy Jones & the Six Tarot Deck by Adam JK Happy Reading!

To honour Mental Health Awareness Month (October), we’re sitting down to chat about our must-reads on wellbeing, mental health and self-help.  BOOK RECS: It Didn’t Start With You: How Inherited Family Trauma Shapes Who We Are and How to End the Cycle by Mark Wolynn Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression and the Unexpected Solutions by Johann Hari Five Minute Therapy: Mental Notes for Everyday Happiness, Confidence, and Calm by Sarah Crosby Daring Greatly: How the Courage to be Vulnerable Transforms the Way We Live, Love, Parent, and Lead by Brene Brown OTHER RECS: The Imperfects podcast The Imperfects with Johann Hari Part 1 How to Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast How to Fail with Elizabeth Day Brene Brown episode Brene Brown Unlocking Us podcast Brene Brown podcast episode with Sonya Renee Taylor Rosaline Movie Happy Reading! 

We grew up in the era of Gilmore Girls, and whether you stan Rory or not, you can’t argue that she had impeccable and nerdy taste in most things, including literature. So this ep we’re taking a look at books Rory recommended throughout the seasons of one of the 2000s' most iconic shows. Plus, we’ve got a special treat for you this episode! We’re joined by podcast bestie Yas who is here to chat all things Gilmore Girls! BOOK RECS: Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Please Kill Me: The Uncensored Oral History of Punk by Legs McNeil and Gillian McCain The Odyssey by Homer Beloved by Toni Morrison OTHER RECS: Rory Gilmore's book list Gilmore Girls Rogues by Patrick Redden Keefe Travelin’ Band documentary Bling Empire Season 3 Abbott Elementary Happy Reading!

This ep, we’re upending the stereotypical ‘under 30’ list and giving you our compilation of fave books by authors over 55! Age is definitely no barrier to writing a banging novel, so dive in and get reading (and listening). BOOK RECS: The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney Untold Resilience: Stories of Courage, Survival and Love from Women Who Have Gone Before by Future Women Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus The Road by Cormac McCarthy OTHER RECS: Uncoupled TV Show: https://www.netflix.com/title/81465093  The Bear TV Show: https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-bear/52m6nx7HoP5F  Happy Reading!

There’s nothing quite like escaping into a book to give yourself a break from reality. Although these days, dystopian novels feel like they should probably be filed in the non-fiction section of the library instead. So, come on a journey with us this ep to alternative universes and societies as we chat about our fave epic dystopias.  BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: The Power by Naomi Alderman How High We Go In the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu The End We Start From by Megan Hunter The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: The film Everything, Everywhere All At Once The TV Show Call My Agent Happy Reading!

It’s not easy to write a great book... Let alone to come out of the gate with a brilliant one from the get go. Today’s ep is paying tribute to that exact rare beast: incredible debut novels. Stay tuned for some recent gems.    BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: Pizza Girl by Jean Kyoung Frazier What a Shame by Abigail Bergstrom Raven Smith’s Trivial Pursuit by Raven Smith Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: The Bear TV Show Everything I Know About Love TV Show Raven Smith's Instagram The Best Debut Novels of All Time List Happy Reading!

It’s no secret that we love a good poetry collection here at One for the Books... So, we decided to dedicate this entire episode to picking our favourite poetry collections or anthologies for your reading pleasure - whether you're a lifelong devotee, a recent convert, or have never picked one up before. We've got something for you! BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: The Poetry Pharmacy: Tried-and-True Prescriptions for the Heart, Mind and Soul by William Sieghart Homecoming by Elfie Shiosaki Bless the Daughter Raised by a Voice in Her Head by Warsan Shire  Love is Strong As Death: Poems chosen by Paul Kelly OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: Dropbear by Evelyn Araluen Home by Warsan Shire Lemonade by Beyonce The Poetry Foundation Newsletter To the Woman Crying Uncontrollably in the Next Stall by Kim Addonizio Preppers on ABC iView  Happy Reading!

To celebrate Ramadan, we’re chatting about our favourite books by Muslim authors. Ramadan Kareem to everyone who celebrates! BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS: The Startup Wife by Tahmima Anam We Hunt the Flame by Hafsah Faizal A Case of Exploding Mangoes by Mohammed Hanif Salt Houses by Hala Alyan OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: Slow Horses TV Show We Are Lady Parts TV Show Happy Reading!

Never judge a book by its cover right? Wrong! This ep, we’re taking a deep dive into the book covers we think are the absolute best. From classics to the latest releases, book covers are such a big part of what we choose to read. MENTIONS: The Five: The Untold Lives of the Women Killed by Jack the Ripper by Hallie Rubenhold I Didn’t Do The Thing Today: On letting go of productivity guilt by Madeleine Dore Extraordinary Routines Website Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner Japanese Breakfast Music Na Kim Graphic Designer How A Book is Made by the New York Times  Somebody’s Daughter: A Memoir by Ashley C Ford OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS Hit Parade - Killing me Softly Part 1 Hit Parade - Killing me Softly Part 2 Brene Brown’s TV show - Atlas of the Heart: Connection Through Language Happy Reading!