A Pair of Bookends

Sorry for the delay on this one but it's worth the wait we promise! For our October Book Club episode Hannah chats to author, actor & musician Joey Batey about his debut novel It's Not A Cult which you can buy here. They discuss how Joey 'meets' his characters before writing about them, how he stays motivated to write throughout his other projects, his experience of his first book tour, new music & the show that made him tear up a book he was working on. 
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Joey via Instagram, follow The Amazing Devil here: https://theamazingdevil.com/ & you can listen to their music here. 

Books & other mentions in this episode: 
The Lamb by Lucy Rose
Vanishing World by Sayaka Murata
Earthlings by Sayaka Murata
Pluribus (Apple TV)

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

(PSA: Sound on this ep improves 5/10 mins in, apologies!) For today's episode Hannah was joined by author Lucas Oakeley to discuss his debut novel Nearly Departed which you can buy here.
They discuss Lucas's social media campaign to get men reading fiction, love stories, food and lots more. 
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Lucas via Instagram, Twitter/X & Tik Tok. 

Books & other mentions in this episode: 
Flesh by David Szalay
All That Man Is by David Szalay
The Trees by Percival Everett
Any Human Heart by William Boyd
Imogen by Jilly Cooper
Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney
https://www.service95.com/why-more-men-need-to-read-about-love
David Nicholls
Bobby Palmer
Mike Gayle
Wuthering Heights (2026)
Frankenstein (2025)
Saltburn (2023)
The Narrow Road To The Deep North (2025)
The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Richard Flanagan
Nora Ephron
Mad Men (2007)
Game of Thrones
Breaking Bad (2008)
Succession (2018)

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

For today's Debut Spotlight episode Hannah chats to author Viola van de Sandt about her debut novel The Dinner Party, they discuss their favourite dinner party scenes, writing about trauma, how Viola's debut was actually her 4th novel & much more. 
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can buy The Dinner Party here (UK) & here (US)
You can follow Viola via Instagram

Books & other mentions in this episode: 
All Fours by Miranda July
The First Bad Man by Miranda July
Virginia Woolf: Biography by Hermione Lee
The Party (2017)
The Bear: Fishes
Fleabag: S2 E1
The Dry Heart by Natalia Ginzburg
Happiness, As Such by Natalia Ginzburg

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

On today's episode Hannah chats to writer & co-host of the A Pod of Smut and Wingspan podcast B.A Pepper about her debut novel Daughter of Stone. They discuss what drew B into the world of Romantasy, how her friend and co-host Sam encouraged her to pursue writing, Welsh mythology & language and of course all of the Romantasy book recs. If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can buy Daughter of Stone here.
You can also follow B & her work via Instagram, Tik Tok and www.bapepperauthor.com
Listen to A Pod of Smut and Wingspan here.

Books & other mentions in this episode:
Bonded by Thorns by Elizabeth Helen
The Bridge Kingdom by Danielle L. Jensen
The Tempest Blade by Danielle L. Jensen
A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J.Maas
A Court of Mist and Fury by Sarah J.Maas
Daughter of No Worlds by Carissa Broadbent
The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare
The Mabinogi
One Piece
Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout
The Serpent and the Wings of Night by Carissa Broadbent
Spark of the Everflame by Penn Cole
The Plated Prisoner series by Raven Kennedy
The Sacred Stones series by Kate Golden
The Cruel Prince by Holly Black
Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

On today's episode in our Debut Spotlight series, Hannah was joined by writer Chloe de Lullington to discuss her debut novel Cacoethes. 
They discuss the 11 year writing process of this book, celebrity deaths, being an 'old soul', Class & lots more. 
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Chloe via Instagram & Bluesky. 

Books & other mentions in this episode: 
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors
I Was Monty's Double by M. E. Clifton James
Tarot Interviews Podcast - Chloe's Episode
The Old Man and Me by Elaine Dundy

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

On today's episode Hannah was joined by author Hattie Williams to discuss her debut novel Bitter Sweet. They discuss grief, power dynamics in relationships, those friends that get you through the worst of times and the writers we seek solace in + lots more!
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Hattie via Instagram, Substack & https://www.hattiewilliams.com/

Books & other mentions in this episode: 
Ordinary Saints by Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin
BBC Radio 2 Book Club podcast - Niamh Ni Mhaoileoin
The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey
https://www.writelikeagrrrl.org/category/courses
https://www.amiemcnee.com/
Women's Prize: Where I Write: Hattie Williams
https://www.theparisreview.org/
https://www.thetimes.com/life-style/parenting/article/grief-motherhood-experience-hattie-williams-llm9jn8cn
Rachel's Holiday by Marian Keyes
Grown Ups by Marian Keyes
Max Porter
Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
Judy Blume
Philip Larkin
Ted Hughes
Seamus Heaney
Emma Hinds
https://interalia.ntlive.com/
The Leftovers (HBO)
The Split (BBC)
Such Brave Girls

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

On today's episode Hannah was joined by the inimitable Lily King to talk about her latest novel Heart the Lover. Aswell as a spoiler free book chat, they discuss love as a form of hope, navigating a creative career whilst working in hospitality, grief & Lily gives you her ultimate list of writers to read! 
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Lily via Instagram, Facebook & https://lilykingbooks.com/
To book tickets for Lily's upcoming events: https://lilykingbooks.com/events

Books & other mentions in this episode: 
Our Evenings by Alan Hollinghurst
Writers & Lovers by Lily King
Euphoria by Lily King
Virginia Woolf
Toni Morrison
The Evening Of The Holiday by Shirley Hazzard
Tessa Hadley
Doris Lessing
Jane Austen
Marilynne Robinson
Loved and Missed by Susie Boyt
Elizabeth Strout
Jenny Erpenbeck
Sigrid Nunez
It's Not the End of the World by Judy Blume
Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret by Judy Blume
J.D Salinger
Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. (2023)
https://www.booksbeachandbeyond.com/2182618/episodes/17677255-lily-king
My Friends by Hisham Matar

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

On today's episode Hannah was joined by author Malika Nekhla to discuss her debut novel Hold on to Your Heart. They discuss her journey to self-publishing, bittersweet love stories & her love for Andrew Garfield & Emma Stone. 
A list of links to buy your copy is available here.
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Malika & her work via https://www.malikanekhla.com/, Instagram & Substack.

Books & other mentions in this episode:
Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane
The Split (BBC)
https://www.hodgesfiggis.ie/
https://www.dezondvloed.be/
Waterstones Piccadilly
Foyles
https://www.bookbaruk.com/
Talking at Night by Claire Daverley
One Day by David Nicholls
Normal People by Sally Rooney
La La Land (2016)
Fleabag (BBC)
Rivals
Bugonia (2025)
Kinds of Kindness (2024)
Poor Things (2023)
The Favourite (2018)
Heart the Lover by Lily King
Writers & Lovers by Lily King

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

On today's episode Hannah was joined by Susan Choi, author of Booker Prize shortlisted novel Flashlight. Aswell as discussing her book (spoiler free), they chat about language, writing process, inspiration, the books she's been enjoying recently & lots more!
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Susan & her work via her website or Instagram.

Books & other mentions in this episode:
My Education by Susan Choi
Endling by Maria Reva
When The Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2020/09/07/flashlight
Trust Exercise by Susan Choi
Daughters Of The Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!

For today's episode Hannah was joined by author of Booktok sensation The Pumpkin Spice Café, Laurie Gilmore to discuss the latest in her Dream Harbor series The Gingerbread Bakery. 
They discuss why this book might resonate with so many readers, what it's like living a double author life, all things romance & lots more! 
If you enjoy this episode please do rate, review & subscribe, for more content you can find us over on Patreon. You can follow us via Instagram, X & Tik Tok. 
You can follow Laurie via Instagram, Tik Tok and her website.

Books & other mentions in this episode:
Dream Girl Drama by Tessa Bailey
It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
Melissa McTernan
https://www.idlehandscoffee.com/
10 Things I Hate About You (1999)
Carley Fortune
The Daisy Chain Flower Shop (Pre-order)
Chestnut Springs series by Elsie Silver

Let us know your thoughts by emailing us [email protected] or you can DM us @apairofbookendspod on Instagram. Until next time, happy reading!