In this episode of Bound by Books, we catch up on our latest adventures. Hannah shares her experience of attending the Green Man Festival and losing her festival virginity, while Nikki looks ahead to her upcoming theatre trips, including As You Like It and My Neighbour Totoro, as well as a visit to the Duxford Airshow.

Then it’s time for our buddy read: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Full spoilers ahead!

Natalie seems to have the perfect traditional life: a beautiful farmhouse, a handsome cowboy husband, children and enviable homemade sourdough. But when she wakes up in a disturbing version of her reality, everything familiar feels wrong. As she searches for a way out, the novel explores tradition, fame, faith and the performance of womanhood.

We discuss the book’s fascinating premise and its take on the trad wife movement, including the appeal of the aesthetic, the romanticising of traditional gender roles and the contradictions behind the polished social-media image. We also explore connections to influencers such as Hannah Neeleman’s Ballerina Farm and Nara Smith, as well as wider ideas around consent, submission and female liberation.

Other topics include Natalie as an unlikeable female protagonist, whether readers judge unlikeable women more harshly than men, the lack of female friendship and community in the novel, Caleb’s role and motivations, and the mystery surrounding Shannon.

And, of course, we get into the twist: whether it worked for us, whether it felt earned, and whether the characters’ motivations made the ending believable.

What did you think of Yesteryear? Did the twist work for you? Let us know!

Welcome back to Current Reads! This week we’re talking music festivals, steamy romance, unsettling short stories, forbidden love, representation in publishing — and introducing our brand-new Book Prescriptions.

A Little Catch-Up

Hannah has been visiting her parents in Wiltshire, enjoying a lovely lunch and a shopping trip to Bath. She’s also preparing for The Green Man Festival — despite being a complete festival virgin!

Nikki shares her festival experiences and tells us about a rather unusual BBQ prompted by the government’s wildfire warnings.

We also reveal our next buddy read: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke, and discuss whether all the hype surrounding it will affect our expectations.

Hannah’s Reads

Fever Dream — Elsie Silver

Things get spicy, sassy and steamy as Hannah discusses Elsie Silver’s small-town romance.

We chat about the comfort of predictable romance, the similarities between romance novels and Hallmark-style TV, third-act misunderstandings, two-dimensional characters and the male gaze.

We also tackle first versus third person, writing sex scenes and the difference between erotica and a steamy romance.

Odd Body — Rose Keating

A collection of ten bold and unsettling short stories exploring desire, fear, shame and the human body.

We focus on the wonderfully strange titular story about a woman living alongside a ghost, and discuss how Keating uses humour to explore depression and mental health.

Nikki’s Reads

My Policeman — Bethan Roberts

Set in 1950s Brighton, this story of forbidden love, homosexuality and marriage follows Marion, Tom and Patrick as they navigate a complicated love triangle.

We compare it with our previous buddy read, A Room Above a Shop, and discuss historical context, social class, unreliable narrators and why Tom — the policeman at the centre of the story — never gets a voice of his own.

We also discuss the film adaptation and whether we think it can be successful from page to screen.

The Beekeeper of Aleppo — Christy Lefteri

Christy Lefteri’s powerful novel about love, loss and survival during the Syrian war leads us into a much bigger discussion about who gets to tell whose stories.

We explore representation, marginalised voices, diversity in publishing and whether writers should tell stories from perspectives different from their own. And ultimately, does the quality of the writing change that debate?

Book Prescriptions

Our new feature is here!

We’re prescribing books for life's literary ailments — including an antidote to hot weather, a cure for ennui and a book for anyone suffering from a fear of making bad decisions.

Because sometimes the best medicine is a really good book.

Listen to Episode 16 of Current Reads for book reviews, reading recommendations, romance, short stories, literary discussion and plenty of opinions along the way.

In this episode of Bound By Books, we’re taking a closer look at Anthony Shapland’s debut novel A Room Above a Shop — a tender, atmospheric story of love, secrecy and two men trying to build a life together in South Wales during a time when their relationship could not safely be lived in public.

But first, we catch up on what we’ve been reading, watching and getting up to this summer. Hannah has embraced the English countryside with picnics and hiking, but has also discovered a surprising love of battle re-enactments, falconry and archery. Perhaps there’s a secret fantasy nerd lurking beneath the surface after all… We also find time to discuss the undeniable appeal of hot men jousting. Naturally.

Nikki has a full programme of culture to look forward to including: As You Like It, the Duxford Airshow and My Neighbour Totoro on her summer agenda!

We’re delighted to announce that Rachel Joyce, author of The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry, will be joining us during September to talk about her novel, The Homemade God. We’ll announce the exact date very soon, so keep an eye out.

And if you have a question you’d love us to ask Rachel, send it to hello@bounbybooks.co.uk and we’ll put it to her on the podcast!

Set in the South Wales valleys against the backdrop of Section 28, the age of consent debate, and the HIV and AIDS crisis, A Room Above a Shop follows two quiet men whose tentative friendship develops into something deeper.

M has inherited his family’s ironmongery business. B, eleven years younger, sees little future in the place where he grew up. When M offers him a job and somewhere to live, the two begin working side by side and sharing a room above the shop — quietly creating a life together that feels both precious and precarious.

We both had different reactions to the novel, which makes for plenty to discuss.

Hannah was moved by the book’s tenderness, its striking imagery and, particularly, what Shapland leaves unsaid. She loved the emotional restraint and the sense of frustration created by a relationship that could not be openly lived. But she also struggled to distinguish the characters at times, found some elements of the style repetitive, and wasn’t convinced by the ending.

Nikki was less convinced overall, although she admired the lyrical, poetic quality of Shapland’s writing. For her, the beautiful language sometimes came at the expense of the story itself, leaving her unsure about what was happening and wanting more character development.

From there, we get into the bigger questions raised by the novel:

• How does the South Wales landscape and setting shape the story?

• How effectively does the novel convey the historical reality of Section 28 and the AIDS crisis?

• Should historical fiction teach us about the period it depicts, or can it assume that readers will fill in the gaps themselves?

• What happens when a novel introduces ideas that are never fully explored or resolved?

• How does Shapland convey the experience of living a secret life?

• When does a character become a cipher rather than a fully realised person?

• Does the novel’s poetic, almost prose-poem-like style enhance the story — or get in its way?

• Why does Shapland choose to reveal certain events and information when he does?

• And, most importantly… what on earth did we make of that ending?

Was it a cop-out? An easy way out? Or was it actually an honest reflection of the messiness and unpredictability of life?

We also reference The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin, The Facts of Life by Patrick Gale, My Policeman by Bethan Roberts, and the 2014 film Pride.

Have you read A Room Above a Shop? We’d love to know what you made of the writing, the characters and — yes — that ending. Let us know!

Exciting news! We’re chatting to Rachel Joyce!This episode’s Buddy Read: A Room Above a Shop by Anthony ShaplandBooks and films mentioned

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.

This week, Nikki and Hannah discuss Feel Free by Zadie Smith, a collection of essays exploring culture, politics, art, identity and what it means to be free in an increasingly divided world.

Before diving into the book, there's a long-overdue real-life catch-up, Hannah shares details of her trip to London to celebrate her dad's 80th birthday (and an unexpected crush), and Nikki recounts a work event involving fire alarms and some questionable emergency priorities.

In This Episode

• What makes a collection of essays work – and whether Feel Free works as a cohesive book

• The challenges and pleasures of reading essays compared to reading novels

• Whether "freedom" is a sufficiently strong theme to unite the collection

• Zadie Smith's unique perspective, shaped by experiences across class, culture and academia

• Whether these essays belong in a book or are better suited to newspapers and magazines

Essays Discussed

North West London Blues

• The demolition of Willesden Green Library and the loss of communal spaces

• Libraries, local identity and civic responsibility

• Public funding, austerity and community engagement

Fences: A Brexit Diary

• Smith's immediate response to the 2016 Brexit referendum

• The fence as a metaphor for division, isolation and polarisation

• Echo chambers, privilege, responsibility and the consequences of democratic choice

The Bathroom

• Class, culture and family life through the lens of a childhood bathroom

• Social mobility, nostalgia and identity

• Parenting, expectations and the "retrospective swirl"

Joy

• The distinction between pleasure and joy

• Whether joy requires vulnerability, risk and uncertainty

• How we cultivate joy in our own lives

• The relationship between joy, privilege and freedom

Next Time

We'll be discussing our current reads and revealing our next buddy read.

In this episode, we’re diving into our recent and current reads, plus the inevitable pile of books building up on our TBRs. Alongside the reading chat, there are chickens, knitting projects, a very sweaty pilgrim walk and plenty of literary detours.

Life UpdatesHannah has added real-life chickens to her garden, including one very confidently named George Michael. There’s ongoing excitement (and vigilance) on egg watch as the flock settles in.

Nikki has been busy with knitting projects, including more socks (as ever) and a rainbow crocheted cardigan. She’s also started walking the Canterbury Pilgrims’ Way with Tom, beginning with the stretch taking in Deptford and Shooter’s Hill. It involved unexpected hills, a heatwave and some mildly questionable optimism about pacing.

Buddy Read Update

The Wheel of Reading Fortune landed on Essays, so our next buddy read is Feel Free by Zadie Smith.

We’ll be focusing on four essays in Episode 11: North West Blues, Fences: A Brexit Diary, The Bathroom, and Joy. Since neither of us reads essays often, we talk through how we might approach it - whether to read it straight through or dip in and out. Either way, we’re both curious to see how we get on.

Hannah’s ReadsAll Fours by Miranda July follows a semi-famous artist who sets off on a cross-country road trip, only to abandon it almost immediately for a very different kind of journey. We talk about the title, the polarising reactions it’s provoked in book group and the challenge of sitting with such an unlikable but compelling protagonist. Themes of midlife reinvention, menopause, impermanence and self-discovery come up throughout.

In Hooked by Asako Yuzuki, Hannah reflects on struggling with the corporate setting often found in contemporary Japanese fiction and wonders whether there’s cultural context she’s missing. It’s a slower, more atmospheric opening that hasn’t fully clicked yet.

On the TBR is Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors, which has us slightly hesitant due to mixed online reactions, but still interested in its focus on messy, imperfect female lives in midlife.

Nikki’s Reads

Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo continues Alex Stern’s story as she tries to rescue Darlington from hell while darker forces gather around Yale and Lethe. Nikki talks about her preference for urban fantasy over high fantasy and enjoys the blend of supernatural elements with a recognisable university setting. The discussion also veers into journalling and collecting ideas for learning.

She’s also recently attended a webinar with Alan Moore, who discussed his Long London series, his evolving writing career and his belief that he doesn’t experience writer’s block.

Finally, The Names by Florence Knapp is discussed as a bit of shared read as Hannah’s read it too. It follows three possible lives shaped by a single naming decision. We both found it deeply moving and heartbreaking, particularly in its handling of domestic abuse. The structure is beautifully balanced, though Nikki wished for slightly more time with the characters.

On the TBR: The Hating Game by Sally Thorne.