The Bookcast Club

Jenny, Belle and Sarah try to predict the winner of this year's Women's Prize for Fiction. We share our thoughts on each of the shortlisted books and give you our favourites and winning predictions. We've got this episode out ahead of time for once, so will we be right? We also want to give away a Bookcast Club exclusive hoodie to one lucky listener. Listen to April's episode for the answer and fill in this entry form for your chance to win.Get in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include 'close friends' feed on Instagram, book club, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

In our very first episode of the year, Jenny, Belle and Sarah are back and we’re kicking things off with a big update! We’re moving away from seasons and switching to a monthly episode format, and in this episode we chat through why the change felt right for us (and hopefully for you too).Alongside that, it’s a proper catch-up - what we’ve been reading, what we’ve been loving, and how our reading year is shaping up so far. Expect plenty of bookish tangents, honest thoughts, and the usual cosy, conversational vibes as we ease into a new year of the podcast.We’ll also be sharing more over on our Patreon each month, alongside the main episodes, if you’d like to support the show and get extra content, you can join us here: https://www.patreon.com/c/bookcastclubBooks mentioned in this episode:The Fate of Mary Rose — Caroline O’DonoghueThe Correspondent — Virginia EvansMemorial Day — Geraldine BrooksWild Dark Shore — Charlotte McConaghyThe Rose Field — Philip PullmanAlways Home, Always Homesick — Hannah KentAudition — Katie KitamuraElegy, Southwest — Madeleine WattsLove, Sex and Frankenstein — Caroline LeaDeath in Her Hands — Ottessa MoshfeghGet in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

Jenny and Sarah chat about their favourite reads of 2025, along with some great recommendations from listeners What have your standout reads of 2025 been? Are any of these on your TBR? Books mentioned:Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady HendrixAll the Lovers in the Night by Mieko KawakamA Room Above a Shop by Anthony ShaplandThe Safekeep by Yael van der WoudenThe Good People by Hannah KentThe Dance Tree by Kiran Milwood HargraveMuckle Flugga by Michael PedersenRipeness by Sarah MossMy Good Bright Wolf by Sarah MossBunny by Mona AwadWe Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad Almost Life by Kiran Milwood Hargrave I'm Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdyThe Book of Dust trilogy by Philip Pullman Seascraper by Benjamin WoodAs Psalm for the Wild Built by Becky Chambers Get in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

Sarah and Jenny discuss the recent release of Wicked: For Good and how it compares to the book. The book is dark and complex, a strong contrast to the book. They discuss what they loved and hated about the film, and what was gained or lost in the translation from Gregory Maguire's Wicked. Have you read the book and/or seen the film? What did you think? Get in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

This is our LIVE recording of our Patreon Book Club, so apologies for sound gremlins. We discuss The Lamb by Lucy Rose with our Patreons. If you would like to join us next time you can sign up here for as little as £2 a month.Books mentioned:Things We Say in the Dark by Kirsty LoganFolk by Zoe GilbertEarthlings by Sayaka MurataGet in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

Who'd have believed it!? A Laurie Gilmore, Dream Harbour special. Millie joins Jenny to discuss the Dream Harbour series as well as the rise in spicy romance.Books mentioned:Book Lovers by Emily HenryThe Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu MandanaYou Made a Fool of Death With Your Beauty by Akwaeke EmeziThe Winternight Trilogy by Katherine ArdenOnce Upon a Broken Heart Series by Stephanie GarberTipping the Velvet by Sarah WatersFlawless by Elsie SilverPlaying the Witch Card by KJ Dell'AntoniaPodcast mentioned:The Conversation with Laurie GilmoreGet in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

Today Jenny and her sister Katie take on the epic challenge of comparing the Mary Shelley classic, Frankenstein with Guillermo Del Toro's new movie. We answer all the important questions - did the creature have a brain? Who the f*ck is Catherine? Mia Goth is British!? And what was the milk count?Books mentioned:Poor Things by Alasdair GreyMonstrilio by Gerardo Sámano CórdovaDo Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Phillip K. DickLove, Sex and Frankenstein by Caroline LeaA Botanical Daughter by Noah MedlockMovies/TV mentioned:The Fly (1986)Tim Burton - The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissor Hands, FrankenweenieBlade RunnerJurassic ParkPenny Dreadful (TV)The Frankenstein Chronicles (TV)Wuthering Heights (2026)Get in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news. 

Belle catches up with fellow Naarm resident and Bookstagrammer, @paulineisreading. They talk bookstagram, ARCs, and some of their favourite Australian authors. Books mentioned:coming soon! Get in touchInstagram | TikTok | Substack | Patreon | Ko-fi | Email | YouTubeSupport The Bookcast ClubYou can support the podcast on Patreon. Our tiers start at £2 a month. Rewards include early access to the podcast, 'close friends' feed on Instagram, monthly bonus episodes, tailored book recommendations and books in the post. You can now try our Patreon FREE for 7 days. If you would like to make a one-off donation you can do so on Ko-fi. A free way to show your support is to mention us on social media, rate us on Spotify or review us on Apple Podcasts.NewsletterSign up to our newsletter on Substack for more book recommendations, reviews, new releases, podcast recommendations and the latest podcast news.