Prose before bros

We are so back, baby. In our first episode of 2026, Ems and Elizabeth guide you through their top tips on how to read more in 2026. Whether you’re seasoned readers or just starting out, we hope you find this advice useful. Together they talk about phone addiction, celebrating New Years Eve, Denis Johnson, and retiring their hater behaviour on the podcast. Elizabeth recommends TJ Power on Jamie Lai...

Elizabeth and Ems have made it to the end of the year and to celebrate, bring you their Top 5 books of the year (and some extra bonuses). Together, they beg for a sponsorship from Dead Ink books (not sponsored), getting into post hardcore band Thursday, and Elizabeth’s very earnest love of romcoms.  One of Ems’ recommendations is a book that was very kindly sent to her by Dead Ink Books in exchang...

In our final book club of the year, Ems and Elizabeth delve into Mary Shelley’s seminal horror-sci-fi spectacular Frankenstein. Ems, a long time fan and Frankenfreak guides Elizabeth, a novice, through this classic and its impact on pop culture. Together they talk about visiting Mary Shelley’s grave when they were 17, building your boyfriend, and whether Jacob Elordi is babygirl.  Ems recommends T...

We continue the non-fiction November celebrations by inviting long-time friend of the podcast Chloe to share some non-fiction love and answer the devilish 8 questions. Together they talk about organ donation, Matilda by Roald Dahl, the Women’s Non-Fiction Prize and praying on the downfall of George Orwell.  Chloe recommends The Woman Who Poked the Leopard Elizabeth recommends I Poured My Blood, Sw...

Step into Christmas! It’s ho-ho-ho’s before bros and we are giving you our best books to gift this year. Whether you’re searching for a mum, a dad, a child or even an illiterate boyfriend, Ems and Elizabeth put on their santa hats and help you out. Together they also discuss Catholicism, Anthony Bourdain and The London Eye Mystery by Siobhan Dowd.  Elizabeth recommends The Hack on ITV Ems recommen...

This week, we continue with the unbearably chic non-fiction November by offering you our non-fiction book recommendations. We try to offer some books that you may not have heard of or may have forgotten that will help you learn more about the world. Together, Ems and Elizabeth also discuss Catholic mysticism and 90 minute films. Get in touch! Pod: @prosebeforebrospod  Elizabeth: @reads.elizabeth...

Celebrating the unbearably chic non-fiction November, Elizabeth and Ems delve into their first non-fiction book club pick, Shon Faye’s Love In Exile. Recommended by not one, but two former guests of the podcast Ross and Georgie, will it meet their high expectations? Together they discuss love, heterosexuality, Catholic mysticism and a bunch more as they unpack what love and this book is to them. ...

A belated spooky season celebration awaits as Elizabeth and Ems interview Adam, Ems’ first bookstagram friend and favourite horror fiend. Together they unpack the 8 fiendish questions and discuss uncanny literary fiction, Deafheaven, Steven King, the opioid crisis and why they hate Butter by Asako Yuzuki.  Get in touch! Adam: @chaosofcold   Pod: @prosebeforebrospod Ems: @brattyreads Elizabeth: @re...

Returning from their musical hiatus, Ems and Elizabeth delve into the drama of this year's literary prizes. Together they discuss the prizes they love, the prizes that they miss and the prizes that have let them down. They also discuss Adam Leslie’s Lost In The Garden, Tess Gunty’s The Rabbit Hutch, 2 hour podcast episodes and how much £50,000 would change their lives.  Listen to make us liter...

On this week’s episode, the Prose Before Bros team step into the spotlight and transform into a music podcast to review Taylor Swift’s Life of A Showgirl. Both Elizabeth and Ems are avid swifties, but how does the album and discourse around it stack up? Fashionably late, they bring hot takes, in depth musical analysis (what else) and ultimately unpack what Taylor Swift means to them as young women...

It’s hoa hoa hoa season at Prose Before Bros, and coinciding with its 20th Anniversary, Ems and Elizabeth delve into the misty world of Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. Together they return to this staple of teenage girlhood and ask: Is Charlie Swan the only good cop? Why does the film adaptation’s soundtrack slap so hard? Why is Mormonism like that? And of course, does Twilight hold up to readers in...

Elizabeth and Ems open up their studio and are joined by Elizabeth’s partner in crime, podcasting extraordinaire and 365 party girl Yasmin Mills to answer the devilish eight questions. Together, they chat about Malory Towers, Lady Jane Grey, World War II evacuation and the Bridgerton Brothers. Listen to make us literary hot girls.  Get in touch! Yasmin - @yasminl.mills Ems - @brattyreads Elizabeth...

For one episode and one episode only, Ems and Elizabeth talk about one hit wonders in the literary world. Whether it’s an author who has only written one book or we have only enjoyed one book by them, controversial takes ensue. Together, they chat about the discarded Nick Clegg Carly Rae Jepsen parody video, the Fratellis, the Oceangate submersible incident and not fancying Andrew Garfield.  Liste...

Haters rise up. This week Elizabeth and Ems release their professional haters and discuss the things in books that really irk them and grind their bookish gears. Armed with five grievances each, they also chat about Knoops, browsing for perfume in Space NK, their writing projects, doing drugs, The Mountain Goats and ghost writers.  Get in touch! Ems - @brattyreads Elizabeth - @reads.elizabeth Pod...

On a hotly anticipated episode of Prose Before Bros, Elizabeth and Ems dissect Sally Rooney’s debut novel for bisexual awareness week. Together they chat about Joe Alwyn and the phenomenon of blonde men, Marxism, board games, Nine Inch Nails and whether all we really are is the relationships we make (one may say, the friends we made along the way).  Listen to make us literary hot girls!  Get in to...

This week, Ems and Elizabeth are joined by bookstagram royalty Ross Kelly (readsbyross) to ask him our fiendish questions about his reading habits. Together, they discuss The Kings Norton Stop Lock, Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events, Meryl Streep, Rachel Berry from Glee, books about the AIDS crisis, their public beef with authors, and Atticus Finch ruining their relationship with capit...

In this episode, we detour away from books and take you on a journey to where we buy them. Elizabeth and Ems take you through their Top 5 bookshops and discuss James Daunt, the tallest bookshelf in the UK and the importance of a gorgeous, gorgeous cathedral. Listen to make us literary hot girls.  Get in touch! Pod - instagram.com/prosebeforebrospod Elizabeth - instagram.com/reads.elizabeth Ems - i...

Elizabeth and Ems expose themselves over the books that are both important to the culture yet remain unread in their libraries. 10 books total. Scandals and serious chats ensue.  Listen to make us literary hot girls. Get in touch! Ems: instagram.com/brattyreads Elizabeth: instagram.com/reads.elizabeth

This week we delve into the world of peace-making, nationbuilding and questions on who deserves second chances by reading and discussing Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis. Ems and Elizabeth also reveal their parasocial rivals, discuss Hayley William’s solo project and announce Elizabeth’s workplace’s podcast.  Listen to make us literary hot girls.  PODCAST INSTA!!!! instagram.com/prosebeforeprospo...

This week, the girlies are joined by your favourite bookfluencer’s favourite bookfluencer, Georgie Day (reading.georgie) to answer our 8 unhinged book themed questions and put Ems and Elizabeth to shame over what they have not read. Together they discuss the film adaptation of Angus Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging, Eve Babitz, Caroline Calloway, ACOTAR, and borrowing books from friends whenever t...

In what can only be described as poor planning on our part, we sit down to discuss our summer reading. Elizabeth brings five tried and tested summer reads, while Ems discusses her upcoming summer tbr. Together, they also touch on pretending to read Wolf Hall, wanting to be Dua Lipa, Ozzy Osbourne and their mums reading Tom Lake by Ann Patchett. Tune in to find inspiration for your summer reading a...

What’s up, 365 Party Girls. This week on the prose before bros podcast Ems and Elizabeth discuss the brat green phenomenon in publishing and whether brat is leaving a legacy in the books we read. They also discuss the Oasis reunion, Ems’ bratwurst girl summer and how hedonism is here to stay.  We’re just living that life, Von Dutch. Subscribe to help us become literary hot girls.  Get in touch! Em...

In our first ever book club ep, Ems and Elizabeth discuss Kaveh Akbar's debut novel 'Martyr' - settle in for our hot takes + a bunch of spoilers as we discuss the lovable and flawed characters, a mega plot twist, and whether it has a happy ending. Listen to make us literary hot girls! Pls get in touch x Elizabeth: instagram.com/reads.elizabeth Ems: instagram.com/brattyreads

In the very first Prose Before Bros Guest Episode we are joined by BESTIE of the podcast, Amy Gaskin and ask her some fun bookish questions. Together, we chat about Jerry Spinelli’s Stargirl, our shared dislike of Matt Haig’s The Midnight Library, Fern Brady, and adding a 400 year old ghost to your nightmare blunt rotation. Listen to make us literary hot girls! Pls get in touch! Elizabeth: instagr...

In this episode of Pros Before Bros, your favourite haters, Ems and Elizabeth explore the Women’s Prize shortlist, longlist and snubs. Elizabeth also discusses her love of books with main characters called “Elizabeth” and Ems discusses her academic love of terrorism; please do not put her on a Prevent watchlist.  Listen to make us literary, hot, media girlies. Get in touch! Ems - www.instagram.com...