We’re welcoming in a new year of reading with not one but two books, Writers & Lovers by Lily King, and Early Work by Andrew Martin. Two aspiring writers, two messy love lives, two very different books that each take the craft of writing as their main theme, one from the female perspective and one from the male. How did they compare? What did Laura’s book club make of them? Should they be on your TBR? Listen in to find out. Plus a maximalist recommendations session at the end partly because we love ‘em, and partly because we had so many great books on the subject to share.

BOOKLIST: The Wonder Boys by Michael Chabon, The Possessed and The Idiot by Elif Batuman, Bleaker House by Nell Stevens, Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney, Exciting Times by Naoise Dolan and Rainbow Milk by Paul Mendez

Browse our complete archive of episodes at thebookclubreview.co.uk, from blockbusting bestseller Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens to life-changing non-fiction like Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker. You can also follow us for daily book reviews and recommendations on Instagram or Facebook @BookClubReview podcast, on Twitter @bookclubrvwpod or email [email protected].