Reading Materials

We're going Beyond the Bookshelves! In the first instalment of our new Reading Materials interview series, we're joined by Caz, the founder of Roaming Reads Bookshop , to discover what happens when you combine a love of reading with a dream of bringing books directly to readers. We chat about the inspiration behind Roaming Reads, the plans for a bookshop on wheels, the realities of buildin...

This week on Reading Materials we dive into  Devour Me  by Emily Rath! We're unpacking the three main characters, debating whether the insta-lust had us hooked or reaching for the brakes, and sharing our thoughts on the magic system. But the conversation doesn't stop there! We also tackle a bigger question: how young is too young to be reading books with sexually explicit content, and wher...

This week on Reading Materials, we’re talking about  Porcupines  by Fran Fabriczki — a story that takes us through complicated mother-daughter relationships, school trips, and lives unfolding across different timelines. We chat about the messy realities of family relationships, how the past can shape the present, and whether jumping between timelines adds to a story or leaves us scrambling to keep...

It has bee a minute since we did a review episodes but in this week's episode, we dive into  The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives  by Elizabeth Arnott and explore the complicated women living in the shadows of some very dangerous men. We discuss marriage, murder, secrets, suspicion, and the uncomfortable question of just how much you can really know about the person beside you.

On this week's episode of the Reading Materials Podcast, we are joined by debut author N.J. Hatton to chat about his upcoming psychological thriller 'Truth Will Out', to be released on September 10th 2026. We had a great time hearing about how Nick went from creating children's content on Youtube to writing thrillers for adults, his advice for an author just starting out, and the c...

This week on the Reading Materials Podcast, we are so excited to be chatting with Simone Soltani, author of the Lights Out F1 series, whose newest book Crash Into You will be released on the 27th of August, 2026. Join us for this lovely chat and hear all about how Simone originally intended to self-publish before getting picked up by a traditional publishing house, about why sensitivity readers ar...

This week on the Reading Materials Podcast, we are very happy to welcome back bestselling author Emily Rath to talk about her newest release - 'Devour Me'. Join us to hear about why Zodiac signs are an important element of all her characters, how she is managing to juggle multiple writing projects, and her love of character art.

This week on Reading Materials we are chatting with debut author Hannah Bicknell, whose tennis rom-com 'Her Advantage' was released on July 2nd, 2026. Join us to hear how Hannah went from indie author to being picked up by Pan MacMillan, her experience of sitting in on the audiobook recording, and how her love of tennis and luxury hotels and F1 inspired her story.

This week on Reading Materials, we are joined by Gill Perdue, author of the psychological thriller 'All of Them Lied'. Join us for a lovely chat about the unique challenges that come from writing books for adults versus books for younger audiences, the difference between Scandinavian and other crime novels, and how a hike with her husband formed part of the inspiration for her newest release!

This week on the Reading Materials Podcast we are chatting with debut author Cassandra Neyenesch, whose book 'A Little Bit Bad' was released in June 2026. Join us to hear what inspired Cassandra to write this book, how psychedelic therapy helped with her writing, and how it's never too late to follow your dream.

This week on Reading Materials, we are so excited to be joined by author Nikki Smith, whose newest destination thriller ' The Last Place You Look ' will be released on July 2nd, 2026. We had a lovely time chatting with Nikki about her experience of becoming a debut author during the Covid lockdown, why some people prefer romantasy to thrillers, and how to keep things fresh when under contr...

This week on the Reading Materials Podcast, Lucia is flying solo as she interviews debut author Eden McKenzie-Goddard. Join us to hear about the political and personal inspirations behind Eden's book 'Smallie', how an emotional punch and unexpected ending can elevate a book in our eyes, and what exactly a degree in English Literature and Creative Writing is about.

This week on the podcast, we chat with Irish author Kathleen MacMahon whose fifth novel Other People's Lives was released on May 7th. Join us to hear why it took Kathleen so long to write this book, how important it is for authors to read, and how her next book will overlap with Other People's Lives .

On this week's episode of the Reading Materials Podcast we sit down to chat with author Claire Fuller, whose newest novel ' Hunger and Thirst ' was published on May 7th. We had an amazing time hearing Claire compare the art of sculpting to the art of writing, why her novels end in ambiguity, how writing is really hard work, and how the only thing that ties Claire Fuller books together is that noth...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by author Sasha Preston to talk about her novel  The Sweetest Getaway , published last year. Sasha shares how she went from writing short stories for fun with a friend to becoming a published author, the importance of female friendships in both life and fiction, and her excitement around the release of the audiobook.

In this episode of the Reading Materials Podcast we are joined by the lovely Elizabeth Arnott, whose newest book The Secret Lives of Murderers' Wives comes out on April 9th. We chatted about how her long-time fascination with true crime led to writing about serial killers, how to make the muse your bitch, and giving voice to the people who have suffered for the violent crimes of men.

This week on the Reading Materials Podcast we are excited to be chatting with Fran Fabrizcki, debut author of Porcupines which will be published on April 16th. Join us to hear how Fran wove in elements of her own experience growing up at the tail-end of the Cold War into the book, what podcasts she listens to in her free time, and how becoming a mother influenced her writing.

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by author E. K. Wise to discuss her novel  Debilis Rising , released last year.  We chat about how her love of travel and geology shapes her storytelling, why it was important for her to include a character with ADHD, and her journey through the world of independent publishing.  It’s an insightful and engaging conversation about representation, ...

In this episode of the  Reading Materials Podcast , we dive into  The Bodyguard Affair  by Amy Lea (published February 2026) and unpack this trope-filled romance. We share our thoughts on the fake dating dynamic—does it still work for us?—debate whether the steamy scenes hit the mark, and highlight the plot elements that felt genuinely fresh. From classic romance beats to surprising twists, this o...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by bestselling romance author Amy Lea for a warm and candid conversation about life as a writer. Amy's newest book, The Bodyguard Affair, will be released on the 26th of February, 2026! We chat about the importance of finding and nurturing an author community, her favourite (and least favourite!) romance tropes, and her ambition to branch out in...

In this week's episode we dive into  Hemlock & Silver  by T. Kingfisher (released August 19th, 2025). Join us as we share why Anja quickly became one of our favourite heroines, dig into what makes a retelling succeed (or stumble), and chat about why we’d happily return to this darkly magical world for more. Thank you to Tor for sending us an advanced reader copy of this book! Episode Timepoint...

In this episode of the  Reading Materials Podcast , we step into Cinder House  by Freya Marske and unpack what makes this a genuinely enjoyable Cinderella retelling. We talk about how impressively well-developed the characters are for such a short book, and we dig into a bigger conversation about queerness in publishing — where representation feels authentic, and where it risks being used as a mar...

In this special wrap-up episode of the  Reading Materials Podcast , we look back on our 2025 in books and podcasting. We break down our reading stats, revisit our favorite books, characters, and standout podcast moments, and chat about what surprised us most along the way. Plus, we look ahead to what 2026 has in store for our TBRs, the podcast, and the stories we can’t wait to dive into next. Epis...

In this episode of Reading Materials, we dive into  The Treasures  by Harriet Evans (released June 12, 2025), exploring its richly drawn dual settings in 1950s London and 1960s New York. We unpack our love/hate relationship with cliffhangers, chat about how surprisingly dark the story becomes, and reflect on how these layered timelines reshape the family drama at its core. Thank you for Viking for...

In this episode of  Reading Materials , we’re joined by author H. R. Cole to discuss her debut adult fantasy novel  Daughter of the Void , published in August 2025. H. R. shares her thoughts on the bias women face in the fantasy genre, what it takes to craft a truly captivating enemies-to-lovers romance, and how her background in medical journalism shaped her approach to writing. It’s an engaging...