Louise Cooney's Open Book

In this veritable chat-athon, Louise and her producer Sarah bawk at the pace of life post-pandemic, talk creating community and making Santa lists way too soon and even discuss what they want done with their bodies after they die… all the light stuff! The two also take some time to reflect on the podcast, share their highlights and standout moments so far and brainstorm dream guests for episodes of the future. If you have any book recommendations, feedback or questions you'd like to ask, do email the podcast at [email protected]. Join the book club and read along with the latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow the girls while you're there at @louisecooney_ and @sarahmaddening. Happy Reading, Listeners!

Book List:

The Road Less Stupid, Keith J. Cunningham

The Hearts Invisible Furies, John Boyne

Forever Home, Graham Norton

What I Know for Sure, Oprah Winfrey

Louise sits down with Actress, Entrepreneur and now Author Aoibhín Garrihy on the launch of her new poetry book, Every Day is a Fresh Beginning: Meaningful Poems for Life. In comforting and calming chat the mom of three reflects on her life in literature, discussing growing pains and unexpected plot twists, how she’s now happily countrified and making her mark in business and why the pandemic reignited her passion for poetry. If you have any feedback, questions or book recommendations you can email the podcast at [email protected]. Remember to join the book club and read along with our latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow Louise and Aoibhín at @louisecooney_ and @aoibhingarrihy as well while you’re there. Happy reading, everyone!

Book List:

Every Day is a Fresh Beginning: Meaningful Poems for Life, Aoibhín Garrihy

Ann and Barry Primary School Series

Ross O’Carroll Kelly Series, Paul Howard

Flannan Isle, Wilfrid Wilson Gibson

Raising Girls, Steve Biddulph

Questions Children Ask, Dr. Miriam Stoppard

The Notebook, Nicholas Spark

The Adventures of Pinocchio, Carlo Collodi

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

What do questionable Calamari and Moon worship have in common? Nothing, but they’re both up for discussion on this week’s episode of Open Book anyway. Louise rates West Clare, Sarah slates the book club read and they both equally appreciate the importance of wild women. If you have any book recommendations, feedback or questions, you can email the podcast at [email protected]. Join the book club and read along with the latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow the girls while you're there at @louisecooney_ and @sarahmaddening.

Book List:

Crying in H Mart, Michelle Zauner

Women who run with the wolves - Clarissa Pinkola Estés

The Artist’s Way – Julia Cameron

Book Lovers - Emily Henry

Forever Home – Grahame Norton

This week, Louise sits down with Sunday Times and Irish Times Top Ten bestselling author, Andrea Mara. The former Financier turned crime writer reveals how she started writing “what if” stories to alleviate her anxiety. She admits that being made redundant was the plot twist her story needed and discusses why learning to shun comparisons is the greatest lesson a book never taught her. If you have any feedback, questions or book recommendations you can email the podcast at [email protected]. Remember to join the book club and read along with our latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow Louise and Andrea at @louisecooney_ and @andreamaraauthor as well while you’re there. Happy reading, everyone!

Book List:

American Dirt, Jeanine Cummins

Where the Crawdads Sing, Delia Owens

The Push, Ashley Audrain

The Aisling Series, Emer McLysaght and Sarah Breen

Book Lovers, Emily Henry

Breaking, Amanda Cassidy

Hide and Seek, Andrea Mara

Rick Riordan series

Noddy Books, Enid Blyton

Aesop’s Fables

The Famous Five, Enid Blyton

Big Magic, Elizabeth Gilbert

The Last to Disappear, Jo Spain

Harry Wild (RTE), Jo Spain and Dave Logan

The Ruth Rendell Mysteries

Jeffrey Deaver Series

Agatha Christie Series

Rachel, Marian Keynes

The Secret History, Donna Tartt

Louise gives an inside insight into her thirtieth birthday bash as she sits down with producer Sarah for their bi-weekly, book-related catch up.

The Queen’s death is in both of their bad books though they’re divided on the latest book club read and the benefits of vegetarian dating. PLUS the cosmic reading you might be surprised to find on Sarah’s bookshelf… If you have any book recommendations, feedback or questions, you can email the podcast at [email protected].

Join the book club and read along with the latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow the girls while you're there at @louisecooney_ and @sarahmaddening.

Book List:

You’ll Never See Daylight Again, Michaella mccollum

SAS Survival Guide: The Ultimate Guide to Surviving Anywhere, John Wiseman

Attached, Amir Levine and Rachel Heller

Astrology for Real Relationships, Jessica Lanyadoo and T. Greenaway

Book Lovers, Emily Henry

Cassandra at the Wedding, Dorothy Baker

There’s Been a Little Incident, Alice Ryan

Hide and Seek, Andrea Mara

In this food focused episode, Louise chats to social media sensation Nathan Anthony, better known as @boredoflunch! As well as cookbook recommendations and recipe tips, Nathan shares with Louise the plot twist that brought him from a career in finance to online fame with food, how he's finally closed the book on self-doubt and why personal growth is a page worth turning.

If you have any book recommendations, questions or feedback you can email the podcast at [email protected].

Join the book club and read along with our latest selection at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow Louise and Nathan at @louisecooney_ and @boredoflunch.

Book List:

Bored of Lunch: Slowcooker, Nathan Anthony

James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl

Matilda, Roald Dahl

The Witches, Roald Dahl

You'll Never See Daylight Again, Michaella McCollum

I am Malala: The Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban, Malala Yousafzai

In this episode, Louise Cooney and her producer Sarah Madden catch up on Louise's whirlwind trip to Venice, chat about why they're done with toxic dieting and "horrid" festivals and also swap their favourite recent reads.

If you have any book recommendations, feedback or questions, you can email the podcast at [email protected].

Join the book club and read along with the latest selection "Book Lovers" by Emily Henry at @louisesbookclub on Instagram and follow the girls as well while you're there at @louisecooney_ and @sarahmaddening.

Book List:

The Female Factor, Hazel Wallace

The Promise, Damon Galgut

Book Lovers, Emily Henry

Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

The God of Small Things, Arundathi Roy

Louise chats to Melanie Murphy this week as the author and YouTube star launches her new book, Glasshouses. Between onion ring engagements, ditching the drink, and happiness being life's greatest plot twist - this is a not to be missed conversation, where online followers become IRL friends.

Book List:

Glass Houses, Melanie Murphy

Matilda, Roald Dahl

Moby Dick, Herman Melville

On Writing, Stephen King

Lost Connections, Johann Harri

The Secret, Rhonda Byrne

One Day, David Nicholls

Me Before You, Jojo Moyes

Harry Potter Series, J.K. Rowling

Lord of the Rings Series, J. R. R. Tolkien

12 Rules For Life, Jordan Peterson

Again Rachel, Marian Keyes

Rachel’s Holiday, Marian Keyes

It’s back to school for Louise and Sarah this week as they remember their teen book loves, share a tough review of the latest book club read and make time for a natter about the housing crisis, table manners and the best of Irish TV too.

Book List:

This week Louise and Sarah

Playing Nice, by J.P. Delaney

The Murder Rule, Dervla McTiernan

Sorrow and Bliss, Meg Mason

Tuesdays with Morrie, Mitch Albom

It ends with us, Colleen Hoover

It starts with us, Colleen Hoover

Verity, Colleen Hoover

Book Lovers, Emily Henry

Beach Read, Emily Henry

You and Me on Vacation, Emily Henry

L.A. Candy, Lauren Conrad

Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen

Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer

Hunger Games series, Suzanne Collins

Fifty Shades of Grey, E. L. James

Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging, Louise Rennison

Glass Houses, Melanie Murphy

The Secret, Rhonda Byrne

@mista_osullivan

Louise is joined this week by someone she admires greatly, Former Miss World and "When Dreams Come True" author, Rosanna Davison.

In this chat, Rosanna gets vulnerable about her struggle with fertility and miscarriage, opens up about her strong relationship with husband Wes and wows Louise with the enormous efforts she's going to to help her Ukrainian former surrogate find a safe home.

Book List:

When dreams come true, Rosanna Davison

Eat yourself fit, Rosanna Davison

Eat yourself beautiful, Rosanna Davison

Spot the dog, Eric Hill

Enduring love, Ian McEwan

Snow, John Banville

Perfume, Patrick Süskind

House of Leaves, Mark Z. Danielewski

Romeo and Juliet, William Shakespeare