The Bibliofilles

She's been sober for 16 years. Before that, she was deep in London's club scene, doing d*ugs with celebrities, DJing alongside Alexander McQueen, and watching people around her not make it out alive. In this episode, DJ, producer and author Jodie joins us to talk about her debut memoir "You Had to Be There: An Odyssey Through Noughties London, One Night at a Time" and she does not hold back. We ta...

We sat down with the incredible Imani Thompson to talk about her debut novel Honey and wow, did it deliver! 🍯📚 We talked about how she crafted Yrsa as a loveable, relatable, yet terrifying protagonist (think Villanelle from Killing Eve), why she leaned so heavily into humour to explore such dark themes, and how she wove critical race theory and Afropessimism naturally into a propulsive, page-tur...

When does wellness become a problem? This week on The Bibliofilles, we're diving into one of the most urgent cultural conversations of the moment looks maxing and optimisation culture and exploring it through the lens of literature. From viral influencers using extreme methods to "engineer" attractiveness, to the Fitbit-ification of reading via Goodreads targets, we unpack how the obsession with m...

Chaya sits down with the author of the moment New York Times, Sunday Times, Australian and New Zealand bestseller Sarah A. Parker for the most emotional, raw and revelatory interview The Bibliofilles has ever recorded. We're diving into When the Moon Hatched and the newly released sequel The Ballad of Falling Dragons in a completely spoiler-free deep dive that will leave you absolutely wrecked (in...

Off Campus has become one of the biggest TV sensations of 2026, taking over streaming charts, BookTok and social media feeds around the world. In this episode we discuss the hit adaptation of Elle Kennedy's bestselling romance series and why audiences have become completely obsessed with Garrett, Hannah, Dean and the Briar University crew. We explore the show's addictive storytelling, its portraya...

Maggie O'Farrell joins The Bibliofilles to discuss her extraordinary new novel, Land. In this wide-ranging conversation, Maggie explores the Irish history, mythology and landscape that inspired the book, the lasting legacy of the Great Hunger, and why the land itself becomes a living character in her fiction. We also discuss historical research, writing authentic historical novels, family, memory,...

When was the last time you read a book… without checking the reviews first? In this episode, we read the funniest, harshest, and most unhinged one-star reviews including brutal takedowns of classic books we love. It’s hilarious… until it isn’t. Because beneath the chaos, there’s a bigger question: Are we still thinking for ourselves or letting the internet decide what we like? 👇 All books mention...

What happens when society decides certain books are too dangerous to read?  In this episode of the Bibliofilles Podcast, we explore the shocking history of banned books, censorship, moral panic, and the stories that powerful institutions have tried to silence. From 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison...

What happens when one of the internet’s most aesthetic books is actually read properly? In this deep dive episode,  we unpack The Stranger by Albert Camus the slim philosophical classic that has become a cultural obsession online. From performative reading culture and celebrity book clubs to absurdism, existentialism, alienation, mental health, internet culture, and modern emotional burnout, this...

Why is everyone obsessed with Yesteryear right now? 👀 This week we unpack the book everyone seems to be reading from trad-wife culture and influencer motherhood to religion, feminism, identity, and the dark reality behind perfectly curated online lives.  We debate one of the most divisive female protagonists we’ve read in years, discuss the ending that split readers, and explore why this debut ha...

What’s the one book you wish you could read again for the very first time? In this episode, we dive into the books that completely consumed us the stories that altered our brains, broke our hearts, changed how we see the world, and left us chasing the feeling long after the final page. From surreal labyrinths and devastating literary epics to obsessive dark academia, emotional masterpieces, and bo...

In this episode, we dive into two unforgettable reads that explore love, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves. We sit down with Madeleine Gray, author of Chosen Family, to unpack the emotional complexity behind her novel from queer identity and self-loathing to the power of chosen relationships and modern motherhood. Then we turn to a true classic: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin a novel t...

A Deep Dive into Possibly the Best Book Ever Written? 👀 Few novels inspire obsession like The Secret History and this time, we went all in. After a close reread, we break down the characters, key moments, and the deeper themes that make this book so enduring from elitism and morality to its chilling sense of complicity. We explore the novel’s classical and philosophical influences, unpack differe...

There are so many good books out there but this week we’re diving into the ones you’ve probably never even heard of and absolutely should have. From underrated backlist gems to quiet contemporary masterpieces these are the books we can’t stop thinking about, the ones that deserve way more hype than they get. We’re talking authors you might recognise like Gabrielle Zevin, Margaret Atwood and Hilary...

A book scandal has exploded and it’s raising serious questions about the future of publishing. In this episode, we dive into the controversy surrounding a viral novel accused of being largely written by AI… a story that went from self-published success to being pulled from shelves almost overnight. But this isn’t just about one book. We explore how AI is quietly reshaping the literary world from s...

This week we are so honoured and delighted to be joined by a Patrick Ryan, the author of our inaugural book club new pick Buckeye. Buckeye was released to huge international acclaim last year, which isn’t surprising given the literary credentials of its author, a NY based editor. Whether or not you have read this, Patrick has so much to (very eloquently say) about life and resilience. If you’ve ev...

Friendships… but make them messy, obsessive, and unforgettable 👀 From The Kite Runner to The Secret History, we’re breaking down the friendships that shaped us and the ones that completely destroyed people. Campus obsession. Fake identities. Chosen family. Lifelong bonds. Some of these friendships feel real… others feel a little too real. So the question is which ones would you actually want in y...

“Just watch one episode…” That’s how it starts. This viral series has completely taken over but while one of us is obsessed, the other refuses to watch it on principle. So… is it brilliant TV or morally questionable? We get into the psychology, the obsession, and the bigger question: who owns a story? Let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for mo...

Some books go viral everywhere but are they actually worth the hype? 📚👀 In this episode, we’re putting some of the internet’s most talked-about books to the test. From romantasy blockbusters to literary favourites and thrillers, we’re asking the big question: overhyped… or totally deserved? We’re sharing the viral books we loved, the ones that surprised us, and the ones we think didn’t live up t...

What if the scariest books aren’t just horror? In this episode of The Bibliofilles, we’re diving into the stories that genuinely unsettled us for a whole plethora of reasons — and some of these choices will definitely surprise you. We’re talking obvious nightmare fuel like We Need to Talk About Kevin and Tender Is the Flesh — books that confront brutality, moral collapse and the darkest edges of h...

This week we’re diving headfirst into books & mental health. Over the years we have received many messages asking for books for when life feels wobbly, overwhelming, or is unravelling at the seams, & we wanted to create a resource to help anyone who may need it. We’ve organised our recommendations into three groups, the self help & non fiction books (from candid memoirs to practical, perspective-s...

Welcome to the very first episode of our new book podcast 🎧📚 We’re Chaya & Sophie, two readers who love talking about books the hype, the heartbreak, and the ones that stay with you long after the last page. In this episode, we share our Book Club Picks and Episode Choices, covering everything from literary fiction and memoir to fantasy and nonfiction. Whether you’re building your TBR or looking...

The Bibliofiles began, as all great modern love stories do, on Facebook during Lockdown. Sophie asked for a recommendation. Chaya prescribed The Song of Achilles. A DM became a dialogue; a dialogue became an Instagram ( @thebibliofiles); and now, finally, a podcast. Each week, Sophie and Chaya dive into the books they love, the ones they disagree on, and the stories that stay with us long after th...