What are we reading this month? Which books have surprised us, disappointed us and completely taken over our lives? In this episode, we're chatting current reads, theatre trips, summer holidays, and looking back at the highs and lows of our buddy reads.

Before we get to the books, we catch up on life. Hannah shares the juggle of working through the school summer holidays while trying to create memorable experiences for her daughter, while Nikki is looking forward to seeing My Neighbour Totoro on stage. We discuss whether it's better to watch the Studio Ghibli film before the theatre production and Nikki also gives her thoughts on The Odyssey, including some of the criticism surrounding the film.

⚠️ Spoiler warning: We discuss plot twists and endings throughout this episode.

Hannah reviews Emily Henry's latest novel, discussing why she feels the author's writing continues to mature, with richer characters and more layered storytelling. If you enjoy emotional contemporary romance, dual timelines and books such as The Summer I Turned Pretty or Every Summer After, this one's worth a look.

Nikki also recommends The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid for readers wanting another compelling character-driven novel.

A compulsive page-turner that Hannah devoured in just two sittings. We discuss the novel's emotional love story, courtroom drama and thriller elements, while also debating whether withholding information from readers makes for great storytelling, or simply feels manipulative. Perfect for book clubs and holiday reading.

One of the most talked-about books of the year so far. We discuss why twist endings are such a risky business, what makes a satisfying reveal and whether every novel really needs a huge final twist.

After seeing Operation Mincemeat in the West End, Nikki picked up Finding Hester, the remarkable true story behind one of the Second World War's most fascinating intelligence operations. We explore the real woman behind the famous forged love letters and why this forgotten piece of history continues to captivate readers.

A fantasy romance spanning multiple lifetimes, in which Evelyn remembers every past life—and every murder. Nikki shares her thoughts on whether the ending delivered, prompting a wider discussion about plot reveals, pacing and when authors should reveal their biggest secrets.

A quick update on our upcoming buddy read...

The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce has been postponed until September because of something very exciting happening behind the scenes (more on that soon!).

Our next buddy read is now:

A Room Above a Shop by Anthony Shapland.

We're revisiting all of our previous buddy reads to date and handing out some very unofficial awards.

Books featured include:

• Hamnet – Maggie O'Farrell

• A Walk in the Park – Jill Mansell

• The Lamb – Lucy Rose

• H is for Hawk – Helen Macdonald

• The Measure – Nikki Erlick

• Feel Free – Zadie Smith

• Land – Simon Winchester

Categories include:

• Best female character

• Best male character

• Most infuriating plot point

• Which book needed an edit?

• Saddest moment

• Happiest moment

• Most uplifting moment

Whether you're looking for your next great read, love hearing honest book discussions, or simply enjoy chatting all things books, we'd love you to join us.

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review and let us know what you're reading this month!

Our Current ReadsGreat Big Beautiful Life – Emily HenryBroken Country – Claire Leslie HallYesteryear – Caro Claire BurkeFinding Hester (multiple authors)Our Infinite Fates – Laura StevenBuddy Read Update Buddy Read Awards

This week we're discussing Maggie O'Farrell's Land. Spoiler warning – we delve into the novel in detail, so save this episode until you've finished reading if you'd rather avoid spoilers!

Before we get stuck in, Hannah shares the highlight of her holiday in Cornwall, where she was lucky enough to spot a basking shark off Lizard Point, while Nikki recounts another of her epic Canterbury Tales pilgrim walks – a 14-mile trek on one of the hottest days of the year – before heading off to see The Odyssey this weekend.

In this episode we discuss:

• Our first impressions of Land and why it felt like a departure from Maggie O'Farrell's previous novels.

• Why Hannah considers it a modern masterpiece, despite finding it slow to get into and why Nikki struggled to connect emotionally with the story.

• The emotional impact of the novel, family sagas versus single-character narratives and how different readers experience the same book in completely different ways.

• The history of the 19th-century Ordnance Survey of Ireland, its significance within the novel and the connections to Maggie O'Farrell's own family history.

• Themes of land, ownership, power, suppression, violence and whether we ever truly own the places we inhabit.

• Why we think the book's blurb doesn't quite capture what the novel is really about.

• Literary comparisons with Brian Friel's Translations and Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude.

• Magical realism, folklore, mythology, symbolism and the rich recurring motifs woven throughout the novel.

• Migration, belonging, loss, legacy, reclamation and what it really means to call somewhere home.

• O'Farrell's portrayal of a neurodivergent character and whether we felt it rang true.

• How our own life experiences shape the way we read and respond to literature.

• The novel's dense, lyrical prose, its minimal dialogue, pacing and whether slower books reward patient readers.

We'll also reveal our next Buddy Read: The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce.

Next episode, we'll be catching up on everything we've been reading recently and sharing the books currently sitting on our ever-growing TBR piles.

In this episode of our book podcast, we dive into our recent reads and a lively discussion on romance fiction tropes, male leads, and what makes us swoon - or cringe - in contemporary romance novels.

We catch up on life lately, from school-related mental load and the UK heatwave, to Nikki recovering from a busy work event (and an attempted game of The Traitors that quickly got too complicated over white wine spritzers).

Our upcoming buddy read is Land by Maggie O’Farrell, and we share first impressions of its lyrical, folkloric, atmospheric writing style.

Recent reads include The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce (set in Lake Orta, Italy), which Hannah describes as a standout book of the year following her recent author interview. We also discuss Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry and its familiar romance tropes.

Nikki has been reading The Hating Game by Sally Thorne and Yellowface by Rebecca F. Kuang, sparking two major conversations: modern romance fiction and issues of authorship, plagiarism, race, and cultural appropriation in publishing.

Our romance fiction discussion explores:

• Romance tropes and the “male lead” archetype

• Height difference tropes and why they appear so often

• What gives us the “ick” in romantic fiction

• Consent, tension, and emotional safety in romance narratives

• Character development, jealousy, intimidation, and believable relationships

• What makes a compelling romantic hero beyond clichés

• Love languages in fiction (Gary Chapman)

• Whether romance novels need a future beyond “Happily Ever After”

We also discuss when to DNF (do not finish) a book and how readers decide when to put a book down.

A funny, honest, and thoughtful conversation for readers who love romance fiction, book discussions, and contemporary literary debates.