Booksellers Olivia, Rachel and Laura talk about what they've been reading over the summer, including some awesome books that are coming out over the next couple of months. Some titles are alreading vying for their favourite book of  2024 and  the year has only just begun!

Books mentioned in this episode:

The Storm We Made by Vanessa Chan

Anna O by Matthew Blake

Because All Fades by Freddie Gillies

Piglet by Lottie Hazell

Divine Rivals and Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross

What You are Looking for is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama

Feijoa by Kate Evans

North Woods by Daniel Mason

The Women by Kristen Hannah

Silver Linings by Katrina Nannestad

The Spy Coast by Tess Gerritsen

The Girl Who Fell by Eileen Merriman

The Search Party by Hannah Richell

Golden Hill by Francis Spufford

Come And Get It by Kiley Reid

Whenever You're Ready by Trish Bolton

Days of Innocence and Wonder by Lucy Treloar

Olivia interviews fabulous NZ author Fiona Sussman. This episode is so interesting you won't want to miss it. Fiona talks about growing up in South Africa, moving to NZ, the importance of writing about what matters to you, and so much more!

You can find out more about Fiona and her books by visiting her website:

www.fionasussman.co.nz

Books Fiona Sussman mentions:

Better the Blood by Michael Bennett

His Bloody Project by Graeme Macrae Burnet

A Beautiful Place to Die by Malla Nunn

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

Small Things like These by Claire Keegan

In Part 2 of 2023 wrapped we talk about all the things that happened in the Bookshop world this year, including Rachel's trip to Ireland, we chat about exciting plans for next year, plus we have a long and heated discussion about getting a bookstore pet. Prepare to laugh along with us!

Liv, Rach and Laura get together to wrap up the year and have SO much to chat about that the episode has to be split into two!

In this episode (Part 1) we talk about the books of the year, our favourites, our customers' favourites, and our top recommendations for Christmas. This is PACKED full of books! Check out the HUGE list of books we mention:

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

Axeman's Carnival and Pet by Catherine Chidgey

The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner

Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro

The Deck by Fiona Farrell

The Bone Tree by Airana Ngarewa

The Last Days of Joy by Anne Tiernan

Home before Night by JP Pomare

Adventures with Emilie by Victoria Bruce

Bookshop Dogs by Ruth Shaw

Kawai by Monty Soutar

Laughing in the Dark by Barbara Else

PS Come to Italy by Nicky Pellegrino

Golden Days by Caroline Barron

Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes

Tom Lake by Anne Patchett

Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton

Return to Valetto by Dominic Smith

Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano

Darling by India Knight

Richard Osman's Thursday Murder Club Series

If I Survive You by Jonathan Escoffery

The Bee Sting by Paul Murray

Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

Water by John Boyne

North Woods by Daniel Mason

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Good Material by Dolly Alderton

Skandar and the Unicorn Thief by AF Steadman

Crookhaven by JJ Arcanjo

Hedgewich by Skye McKenna

The Observologist by Giselle Clarkson

At The Bach by Joy Cowley

Leeva at Last by Sara Pennypacker

Thieves' Gambit by Kayvion Lewis

Five Survive by Holly Jackson

PHEW!!

Author Interview with Eileen Merriman

Meet NZ author Eileen Merriman and find out what inspires her to write, how she writes, and which books she has read and enjoyed lately. Eileen also offers some excellent advice for aspiring writers.

EileenMerriman's website where you can find out about her books: https://eileenmerriman.co.nz/

Books mentioned by Eileen:

Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts by Josie Shapiro

American Psycho by Brett Easton Ellis

Olivia would talk about another author's books all day long, but finds it hard to talk about her own! Today Laura and Rach ask Olivia all about her new historical novel The Girl From London out this week - why did she write it, what was her process, and why on earth does talking about her writing makes her so uncomfortable?

Plus we talk about what has been happening in the bookshop this week.

Books mentioned:

The Girl from London by Olivia Spooner

Bookshop Dogs by Ruth Shaw

Listen to our panel of experts as we discuss the sobering truth: Children are reading less and less for fun. Why is this happening and what can we do to try and fix it?

Books mentioned in this episode:

Hidden Potential by Adam Grant

The Booklover Banter team (Liv, Rach. and Laura) are together for the first time for a good old banter. Wahoo! Rach and Laura get to interview Liv this time and ask how she came to own The Booklover Bookshop and how she combines running a bookshop with writing novels! Plus we share some amusing anecdotes about what happened in the bookshop this week - never a dull moment! Settle in and prepare for a laugh or two.

Books mentioned in this podcast:

Lola in the Mirror by Trent Dalton

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

North Woods by Daniel Mason

The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken

The Bone Tree by Airana Ngarewa

Naked Ambition by Robert Gott

Introduction to The Booklover Banter Podcast

Meet the team at The Booklover Bookshop and learn how they became booksellers, what they love to read, and what they think of the world of bookselling! Plus there's a few great book recommendations if you're after something to read.

Books mentioned by Rachel:

Tomorrow & Tomorrow & Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

Crookhaven series by JJ Arcanjo

Skandar series by AF Steadman

Tell Me Lies and Home Before Night by JP Pomare

The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery

The Outsiders by SE Hinton

Books mentioned by Laura:

The Dinner by Herman Koch

Wavewalker by Suzanne Heywood

Educated by Tara Westover

Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton

PS Come to Italy by Nicky Pellegrino

Old Babes in the Wood by Margaret Atwood