Being Bookish

Welcome to the latest episode of The Stephen King Thing, a special spin-off series from the Being Bookish podcast. In this part of the show, Lorraine and I are dedicating our time to exploring the extensive bibliography of the master of horror, and this time, both Lorraine and I will be somewhat reluctantly and definitely nervously checking into the Overlook Hotel to dissect his 1977 masterpiece,...

In this episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of Starside, the 2026 fantasy novel by Alex Aster. This book marks her first step into more adult romantasy after her original foray into the genre with the YA Lightlark series. While there's plenty of talk online about the deadly competition framework and the familiar tropes in this book, I'm much more interested in tackling the online...

Welcome back to another episode of Being Bookish. I'm not quite sure how it happened, but we're almost halfway through 2026, so it's time for a bit of an update, and I am doing it differently this year! In this wrap-up, I am focusing a lot on expectation versus reality in my personal reading experience. I'm going to share my thoughts on the standout books I cannot stop thinking about, the ones tha...

In this week's episode of Being Bookish, I'm digging into the layers of The Ever King , the 2023 fantasy novel by LJ Andrews that made the transition from indie favourite to traditional publication in 2025. While there's plenty of talk online about the relationships and the sea fae romance elements in this book, I'm much more interested in pulling apart the high-seas intrigue and evaluating the ge...

In the second episode of the Being Bookish spin-off where I am reading my way through Stephen King’s novels, joined by my friend and fellow podcaster, Lorraine, we’re taking a look at Cujo, his 1981 novel, the second to feature Castle Rock. As previously mentioned, these episodes are approximately 6 weeks apart as there is a lot to cover. Cujo is the story of a friendly St Bernard, beloved family...

In this episode of Being Bookish, I am digging into the layers of Blood of Hercules, the 2024 urban fantasy novel with hints of dark romance written by author Jasmine Mas. While there is plenty of talk online about the relationships and the reverse harem elements in this book, I am much more interested in looking at how the character dynamics and Greek mythology connections hold up, as this is tru...

In this episode of Being Bookish, I’m digging into the layers of Dire Bound, the atmospheric 2025 debut by Sable Sorensen. While there is plenty of talk online about the relationships in this book (and I have my thoughts on its categorisation), I’m much more interested in the high fantasy intrigue and the genuine mystery at the heart of the story. I’ll be exploring the complexities of the magic sy...

In this episode, I’m looking at a locked-room mystery with subtle digs at the publishing world in the debut by an author who remained a mystery for 6 months following the well-marketed announcement, The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke. If you haven’t heard about it yet, this book is a collaboration between V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke. The story follows six struggling, midlist authors who are...

This week, I've been reading a lot of fantasy, and my episode is going to lean into that as I'm reviewing a story that takes a really clever approach to the fantasy genre. I’m talking about This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews, a novel with an Isekai (or portal fantasy) premise that could be an absolute disaster, or a joy! The novel follows a protagonist, Maggie, who wakes up inside the...

Described as The Day of the Triffids crossed with Little Shop of Horrors, this week, I’m looking at a story that certainly presents an unusual scenario. I’m talking about Overgrowth by Mira Grant, a book with a botanical horror premise that's hard to ignore once you've heard it. If you haven't come across this sci-fi horror novel yet, this episode’s a good place to start. It’s a bit of a genre-shi...

In this brand new spin-off to my podcast, Being Bookish, I am reading my way through Stephen King's novels, specifically those where characters reside, or experience something, in Castle Rock. These episodes will be every 6 weeks, as there is a lot to cover, and I am reading them with my friend, and fellow podcaster, Lorraine. In this episode, we're looking at the novel, The Dead Zone. Released in...

This week, I'm venturing into the chaotic and sometimes hilarious world of the LitRPG phenomenon that's taken the book world by storm. I'm talking about Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman, the first book in a (currently) 7-book series that's grown from a self-published cult favourite into a global bestseller. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, then this episode is a great place to star...

Join me this week for the third in my 2026 author interviews. This time I'm talking with Venetia Constantine about her captivating debut fantasy novel, The Last Starborn Seer . Released by Aria on the 5th of March, it is a sweeping, high-stakes journey through a world of ancient prophecies and celestial magic. It follows Leilani, a young woman whose volatile magic grants her visions of the future...

This week, I had the pleasure of talking with author and Guardian Columnist Rhiannon Lucy Cosslett about her latest brilliant novel, Female, Nude. Released on the 12th of February by Tinder Press, it is an exploration of the female gaze, set against a stunning Grecian backdrop. Sophie, an artist, is contemplating her life when she spends time with university friends in the run-up to a wedding. In...

This week is the first of my author interviews for 2026, and I am chatting with Hannah Brohm about her debut STEM romance, Love and Other Brain Experiments. Released by Head of Zeus on the 12th February, this novel is the ideal read if you love Ali Hazelwood. The story is one of fake dating, forced proximity, a great deal of chemistry and academic enmity! We talked about everything from inspiratio...

In this episode of Being Bookish, I am heading to the tranquil banks of the Thames to visit with Judith, Becks and Suzie as they investigate two unfortunate deaths in Marlow while dealing with personal issues in The Mysterious Affair of Judith Potts by Robert Thorogood . As the creator of the hit TV show Death in Paradise , Thorogood knows exactly how to craft a brilliant mystery. This latest rele...

In the first episode of 2026, I'm visiting the dark romantasy world of Solanis, where the stars have been pulled from the sky, and humans battle for survival against a ruthless king and vampire armies in The Stars are Dying by Chloe C. Penaranda. As always, I'll be sharing my personal thoughts as well as looking to other reviews to provide a balanced perspective - because we can't all like everyth...

In the final episode of the year, I'm reflecting on my reading (in general), sharing my top 10 favourite reads of 2025, as well as five books that didn't quite work for me. None of these are ranked in any particular order as I talk through them, until we reach the read I loved the most, a novel I feel has been ignored by many and is massively underrated. It's been a year of highs and lows, with nu...

In my last book review of 2025, I'm taking a look at one of the newer Romantasy releases of the year, The Wolf King by Lauren Palphreyman. It's an exciting blend of highland romance and dangerous fantasy. Dangerous court politics, rival kingdoms, and a princess caught in the middle of it all. A story full of intrigue, heat, and all the popular fantasy tropes that keep people reading! As always, I...

This week, I’m joined by author Victoria Prince to talk about her gloriously escapist debut novel, The Chalet Girl , which is released on 4th December 2025 by Penguin. It's a sparkling, sexy, snow-dusted romp that channels the glamour, drama, and irresistible excess of classic 80s bonkbusters. Set in a luxury Alpine resort where secrets simmer beneath the snow, and desire is as dangerous as a blac...

This week, I am joined by regular visitor Lorraine, and we tend to do, we're talking horror. This time it's the tension and fear induced by Stephen King’s 1980 novella The Mist, a claustrophobic tale of survival, fear, and the monsters both outside and within. When a strange storm rolls into a small Maine town and an otherworldly mist swallows everything in sight, a supermarket becomes ground zero...

This week I’m diving into Daughter of the Moon Goddess , a 2022 fantasy tale inspired by Chinese mythology, rich with celestial intrigue, forbidden love, and the journey of a young woman determined to challenge the gods themselves. Forced to flee her home on the moon, where she lived in exile with her mother, Xingyin must navigate the perilous world of immortals, uncover her family’s secrets, and...

This week I’m diving into If Tomorrow Comes by Sidney Sheldon, a sweeping tale of betrayal, reinvention, and 1980s glamour. It follows Tracy Whitney, a young woman whose perfect life unravels after a devastating betrayal, forcing her to rebuild herself from the ground up. From a prison cell to glittering European cities, she transforms into a woman of wit, charm, and courage, making a new life for...

This week I’m diving into Metal Slinger by Rachel Schneider, a relatively recent romantasy release set in a world divided by sea and shore, where magic, loyalty, and love collide. Political intrigue, magical powers, manipulation and a lost princess have important roles to play. As always, these are just my personal thoughts. I’ll be taking a look at how the world-building, pacing and romance contr...

What do you do as a reader when things change in your life that you have no control over? You pick yourself up, of course, and head to the bookshelf for something to read to get you through it. At least that's the plan. So, when my life took a bit of a meh turn this week, I did exactly that, but what books did I pick up? The episode is a little shorter, but still, books are at the core, so join me...