In this episode of Yap Trap, I’m breaking down the best books I read in 2025.From emotionally devastating literary fiction and swoony romance to cosy mysteries, romantasy, and books that surprised me when I least expected it, these reads didn’t just pass the time — they left a mark. I’m talking about books with unforgettable characters, stories that made me feel something, and writing that kept me thinking long after I turned the final page.This is not a hype list. This is not a BookTok echo chamber. This is a deeply personal, slightly analytical, very honest breakdown of the books that earned their spot on my 2025 favourites list.And don’t worry — the worst books of the year absolutely deserve their own conversation… that reckoning is coming in a separate episode.So grab a coffee, your TBR, and let’s talk about the books that truly made 2025 a great reading year.

Buckle up, because Season 3 of Secret Lives of Mormon Wives delivered some of the wildest reality TV we’ve ever seen. In this mega-recap episode, I walk you through every twist, every feud, and every jaw-dropping moment — from the initial fallouts to the messy reconciliations, the contract drama, the intimate reveals, and the cheating scandal that rocked the Mormon wives. We’re talking Demi tears, Jessi confessions, Marciano’s never-ending involvement, Dakota’s implosion, and Whitney and the Dancing With the Stars saga, and no storyline is too messy to unpack. If you watched the season and need a breakdown that actually makes sense, or if you just want to relive the drama with commentary — this is the episode.

This week on The Yap Trap, we’re stepping inside Australia’s most infamous house — where strangers became celebrities, scandals made headlines, and the nation collectively asked, “Did that just happen on live TV?”

With Big Brother Australia’s 2025 revival on the horizon, we’re rewinding through every chaotic era: from the bum dances and eviction riots of the early 2000s, to the turkey slap scandal that shocked the nation, the Merlin “Free the Refugees” protest, and the iconic love triangles that had everyone glued to their screens.

We’ll revisit Gretel Killeen’s golden era at Dreamworld, the glossy family-friendly reboot on Nine, the strategic Survivor-style shake-up on Seven — and the brand-new return home to Network Ten.

It’s the ultimate nostalgia trip through two decades of drama, controversy, and cultural chaos. Because love it or hate it, Big Brother didn’t just change reality TV — it changed us.

🎧 Tune in for the highs, the lows, and the housemates who made Big Brother Australia unforgettable.

Molly-Mae Hague is back — but things aren’t as glossy as they look.

In this episode, we deep-dive into Season 2 of Molly-Mae: Behind It All — Amazon Prime’s beautifully shot, beige-toned docu-series that follows influencer, entrepreneur, and Love Island alum Molly-Mae Hague. From toddler tantrums and luxury office renovations to resurfaced controversies and serious relationship tension with Tommy Fury, this season raised more questions than it answered.

We’ll unpack: ✨ Who Molly-Mae really is and how she became one of Britain’s most polarising influencers 📺 A recap of Season 1 — the breakup, the brand, and the rebrand 🎬 Season 2 episode-by-episode breakdown — the highs, the lows, and the L’Oréal meltdown 💬 How the internet reacted — from praise for her vulnerability to backlash over her parenting choices 💔 And the big question — is Molly-Mae’s perfect life actually making her miserable?

Whether you think she’s an inspiring business mogul or a walking PR crisis, Behind It All proves that even the most curated lives can unravel in front of the camera.

🎧 Tune in for a full recap, pop culture commentary, and a little bit of tea — because Molly-Mae might not be okay… but it makes for fascinating television.

The Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show wasn’t just a runway — it was a cultural moment that defined what “sexy” looked like for an entire generation.But behind the glitter, angel wings, and fantasy bras worth millions was a darker story — one tangled up in toxic beauty standards, outdated ideals, and scandal at the very top. From Les Wexner’s empire-building to Ed Razek’s “fantasy” gone wrong, and even ties to Jeffrey Epstein, the Victoria’s Secret story is as complicated as it is fascinating.In this episode, we’re unpacking how the brand went from billion-dollar icon to cultural cautionary tale — and whether its glossy rebrand can ever truly escape its past.✨ Expect nostalgia, controversy, and a few “did they really do that?” moments — because it’s messier than a backstage dressing room in 2013.Listen for: 👙 The origins of the brand and the creation of the “Angel” myth 💅 The peak 2000s spectacle that shaped pop culture 🔥 The scandals that brought it crashing down 🌈 The rebrand and return The New York Times article about Jeffrey Epstein and Wexner - https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/25/business/jeffrey-epstein-wexner-victorias-secret.html

Victoria Beckham has spent nearly three decades being one of pop culture’s greatest mysteries — the Spice Girl who never smiled, the ultimate WAG, and now, the chicest fashion designer in the game. But Netflix’s new Victoria Beckham documentary promises to finally show us the woman behind the myth… or does it?

In this episode of The Yap Trap, we’re unpacking everything from her Spice Girls past to her Paris Fashion Week present — the trauma, the tabloids, the eating disorder honesty, and yes, the $70,000 plant budget. We’ll talk about how she built an empire, what the documentary gets wrong (and right), and why she might just be the most fascinatingly controlled woman in celebrity history.

So grab your oversized sunglasses and prepare to deep dive into the world of Victoria Beckham — where perfection is the brand, control is the message, and smiling is entirely optional.

This week, I’m diving headfirst into Taylor Swift’s The Life of a Showgirl, the glittery, chaotic, and deeply self-aware pop era that’s already being called her most confident yet.

I break down everything from the critical reception and fan theories to a full track-by-track analysis. We’re talking lyrical Easter eggs, Shakespeare references, and the absolute serotonin rush that is Actually Romantic.

💫 In this episode, I chat about:

✨ Why critics are calling Showgirl “a fresh echelon of superstardom”

💋 The hidden meaning behind songs like CANCELLED! and Actually Romantic amid rumoured fueds with Blake Lively and Charli XCX

🎭 The emotional gut-punch of Track Five (because of course)

🎧 Her reunion with Max Martin and what that means for this era

So grab your coffee, put on your sparkliest outfit, and come spiral with me over The Life of a Showgirl.

🗣️ Got thoughts? A hot take? DM or voice note us at ⁠⁠⁠@YapTrapThePodcast⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram or TikTok.

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This week on The Yap Trap’s Weekly Yap, we’re diving into all things pop culture, chaos, and comfort. Kicking off with a little life update — Italy honeymoon planning, booking my Rome stay, and the early stages of planning my glittery 29th birthday bash.

Then it’s time to unpack the week in celebrity news and internet drama: ✨ Taylor Swift’s new album, The Life of a Showgirl — why critics are calling it her most joyful, confident era yet, and how she just broke another mind-blowing record. 💃 Dancing With the Stars’ Gen Z takeover — from TikTok nights to viral routines, how the long-running show just became cool again. 🤖 Meet Tilly Norwood, the AI actress that has Hollywood panicking — with Emily Blunt calling her “really scary” and publicists already preparing to sign AI talent. 🎤 Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson’s emotional reunion — the former One Direction members hit the road for a Netflix docuseries, reflecting on grief, friendship, and their full-circle journey since the band’s heyday.

Plus, I shares my weekly recommendations — the historical drama House of Guinness, the sharp literary satire Yellowface by R.F. Kuang, and a handy new shopping app, Carted, that might just save your bank account.

It’s your weekly dose of pop culture, nostalgia, and hot takes — grab a coffee (or a savvy b) and let’s yap.

🗣️ Got thoughts? A hot take? DM or voice note us at ⁠⁠⁠@YapTrapThePodcast⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram or TikTok.

📩 New yaps drop weekly — subscribe, rate us 5 stars (pls 🥺), and share with your most unhinged group chat.

📺 ⁠⁠⁠Watch on YouTube for the full yap experience⁠⁠⁠.

Before TikTok couples and Instagram husband reveals, there was Zalfie. In today’s episode of The Yap Trap, we’re rewinding to 2013 – the era of Tumblr flower crowns, pastel skinny jeans, and British YouTube royalty.

Zoella and Alfie Deyes weren’t just a couple; they were the internet’s couple. From a sneaky laptop screensaver reveal that set fandoms on fire, to moving in together, weathering controversies, and now raising two daughters, their story is basically the blueprint for influencer love in the digital age.

We’ll dive into:
✨ Zoella’s rise from blogger to beauty mogul and best-selling author.
✨ Alfie’s PointlessBlog era, quirky Guinness World Records, and that £1 challenge disaster.
✨ The timeline of their relationship — from Valentine’s collabs to baby announcements.
✨ How “Zalfie” shaped early YouTube fandoms and parasocial culture.
✨ Where they are now, and why their comeback feels like the end of an era.

So grab your Tumblr login and dust off your flower crown, because it’s time to revisit the YouTube love story that defined a generation.

This week on The Yap Trap’s Weekly Yap, we’ve got a pop culture buffet you won’t want to miss. Rihanna and A$AP Rocky just welcomed baby number three — Rocki Irish Mayers. Dance Moms alum Kalani Hilliker threw the Lake Como wedding of the century (12 bridesmaids, three dresses, and JoJo Siwa), while Selena Gomez and Benny Blanco surprised fans with their Santa Barbara “I do’s” alongside Taylor Swift, Paul Rudd, and Paris Hilton.

In book world, Manacled fans rejoice: SenLinYu’s viral Draco x Hermione fanfic has been reimagined as a brand-new novel, Alchemised. We’re also talking Taylor Swift’s upcoming album The Life of a Showgirl (and the 89-minute cinema release party), plus Doja Cat’s 80s-inspired new record Vie.

To wrap it up, I’m sharing what to listen to next: Shameless Media’s origin story on the Female Founder World podcast, and Mamamia’s juicy new series Everyone Has an Ex.

If you love celebrity weddings, TikTok-famous fanfic, and a little Swiftie speculation, this episode is for you.

🗣️ Got thoughts? A hot take? DM or voice note us at ⁠⁠⁠@YapTrapThePodcast⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram or TikTok.

📩 New yaps drop weekly — subscribe, rate us 5 stars (pls 🥺), and share with your most unhinged group chat.
📺 ⁠⁠⁠Watch on YouTube for the full yap experience⁠⁠⁠.