Mamamia Book Club

After being inundated with requests for this topic, we’re here to share the books that are guaranteed to get you out of a reading slump. No matter how dire the circumstances are… From the ultimate modern romance novel, to a sweeping family drama that will have you in tears and a decadent series that will make you want to ignore your family and friends, these are the titles you need to have on your bookshelf. Plus, we dive deep into some romantasy recommendations, including one series we’re sure you’ve never heard of before but is guaranteed to make your heart beat a little bit faster.THE END BITSListen:A Brutally Honest Review Of Apple Cider Vinegar What REALLY Happened When I Confronted Belle Gibson - Interview with whistleblowerA Brutally Honest Review Of BabygirlEm Vernem is co-hosting a new Mamamia podcast. BIZ is rewriting the rules of work with no zero generic advice - just real strategies from women who've actually been there. Listen here.Subscribe to The Spill N

Dropping into your feed in 2021 with a bonus ep from Mamamia Out Loud. After a year many of us struggled to find the energy and attention span for a lot of reading, Holly, Jessie and Mia are here with the page-turners you won't be able to put down in 2021... From big hits to an old classic, and even one from our very own, here is your definitive list of book recommendations to read this summer, into the rest of 2021 and beyond. THE END BITS  Books mentioned: The Good Sister by Sally Hepworth Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld  Three Hours by Rosamund Lupton I Give My Marriage a Year by Holly Wainwright  Below Deck by Sophie Hardcastle  My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell  Phosphorescence by Julia Baird A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers Untamed by Glennon Doyle Darkness Visible by William Styron Follow us on Instagram @MamamiaOutLoud  CREDITS Hosts: Mia Freedman, Holly Wainwright and Jessie Stephens Producer: Emma Gillespie  CONTACT US Via our PodPhone on 02 8999 9386

Hey! We're just popping into your feed to share an awesome episode of Lady Startup Stories with you - the podcast where Mia Freedman interviews female founders about the highs and lows of running their own business. This episode features Sally Hepworth. Sally is an author, a mother, a wife, and the primary breadwinner for her family. From the outside, Sally’s business is successful. Amy Poehler has even optioned the rights to turn one of her books into a TV show.  But last year, Sally was told that the book she was writing wasn’t good enough, which meant she had no income for a year.  So she had to adapt and this is how she did it.  This episode of Lady Startup Stories is brought to you by GoDaddy. The place to go to get your business idea online. Are you busting to start your own business but you don’t know where to start? Get info about The Lady Startup Activation Plan here... https://www.ladystartup.com/pages/waitlist/ Want insider tips and tricks for your business direct from Mia Freedman each week

It was Gloria Steinem who said, “The truth will set you free… but first it will piss you off.” Now, 62 years since she wrote her first book, ‘The Thousand Indias’, Steinem has published a book of her most iconic quotes. “Without leaps of imagination” she once wrote, “or dreaming, we lose the excitement of possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form of planning.” And then there was, “Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry.” Now 85, Steinem is the author of eight books, and best known as one of the most effective and admired spokespeople of the American feminist movement.  So, what is she currently pissed off about? And has the world actually changed that much since feminism challenged everything? Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.&nb

Ask a woman to name her favourite book of all time, and many, without skipping a beat, will tell you it’s The Bronze Horseman.  Often referred to as one of the greatest love stories of all time, The Bronze Horseman is set in Leningrad, upon the backdrop of World War II. As Hitler’s armies encroach on the Russian city, Tatiana, nearly 17, meets, Alexander, and their relationship begins to develop.  When Paullina Simons was writing the novel, she prayed that someone else would feel just half of what she felt while writing it. No doubt, they did. Selling more than 400,000 copies in Australia alone, Simons’ book, and the subsequent series, have become a cult classic.  So where did the idea for The Bronze Horseman come from? And is Tatiana based on anyone specifically? And, as corny as it sounds, how do you write a book that finds its way into the hearts of people all over the world?  Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.&nb

Peter FitzSimons is one of Australia’s best selling non-fiction authors of the last 20 years. With no less than 36 published works to his name, FitzSimons is also one of the countries most popular columnists and after-dinner speakers.  In 2011, FitzSimons was named a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to literature, and his significant community contributions to conservation, disability care, social welfare and sport.  But despite how busy he is, FitzSimons endeavours to write a book a year - something he has managed to do for at least the last decade.  Host Jessie Stephens chats to FitzSimons about what makes a great story, why he’d never write fiction and how he manages to write a book a year.  Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you

Jane Harper is the author of international bestsellers The Dry, Force of Nature and The Lost Man, and is inarguably one of the biggest names in Australian fiction.  Harper, a former journalist, has a formula for writing a book that’s now been shared all over the world. She knows better than just about anyone, how to build intrigue, mystery and suspense, upon the backdrop of Australia’s harsh and unforgiving landscape.  So, how does she make sure that the reader is entirely unable to put her book down? And where does she get her ideas from?  In this episode, Jessie Stephens and Harper explore the processes behind Jane’s much-loved novels that have resonated deeply with more than one million people.  Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. Y

Trent Dalton’s childhood was filled with dark people, underground rooms and strange secrets. In his critically-acclaimed debut book Boy Swallows Universe, memoir meets fiction, as Dalton explores suburban Australia, brotherhood and the most unlikely of friendships.  All the questions you had after reading Boy Swallows Universe are answered as Jessie Stephens interviews Trent Dalton about what is widely considered one of the best Australian novels of the last decade. Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Trent Dalton's book Boy Swallows Universe on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Listen to Season 3’s episode on Boy Swallows Universe with Jessie Stevens and Holly Wainwright here. Your host is Jessie Stephen

Can you love and dislike a character at the same time? Does a story about of two being good to each other enough to make it a good book? Is this book an accurate description of loneliness? And what the hell is a jerkin? On our final episode, we’re going to be discussing Gail Honeyman's book Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine.   Described as ‘up lit’, Gail Honeyman created the character of Eleanor in response to an article she read about loneliness, and now it’s being made into a movie by Reese Witherspoon’s production company. But what is it about this book that some people loved and others hated? Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine on Appl

It’s not every day you pick up a book about people having sex with a fish. But if you’re listening to this podcast you’ve probably read Melissa Broder's book The Pisces, and you’re probably here because, well, you need to talk about the fact that a woman had sex with a merman. On this episode, Jessie is joined by her twin sister Clare and they have a lot of questions... What do you do when you fall in love with a merman? How many metaphors were there in this book and did we understand them all? How do you actually have sex with a merman? Why oh why did they have to kill the dog? And should there have even been a merman in this storyline? Let's find out... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can

What's it like doing a book club on your bosses book? Let's find out. This week Jessie & Rachel Corbett sit down to discuss Holly Wainwright's latest novel How To Be Perfect. And we're not going to lie, they get honest. From how, How To Be Perfect compares to Holly's first book, The Mummy Bloggers, who the characters are based on and whether Frances REALLY pressed record when she was in the room with Dr Darling, the ladies have a lot to say... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Holly Wainwrights 'How To Be Perfect' on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Rachel Corbett. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessi

What do you call a book that's part memoir, part diary, part recipes? Are female friendships the ultimate love story? And can you write a memoir when you don’t have that much to say? Jessie Stephens and Polly Taylor are talking about Dolly Alderton's Everything I Know About Love, and they have a lot to say... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Dolly Alderton's 'Everything I Know About Love' on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Polly Taylor. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to y

Jane Harper rose to fame in 2015 when her manuscript The Dry won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards. Three years and two books later, Harper has positioned herself as one of Australia’s best novelist. But is her third book 'The Lost Man' all it’s cracked up to be? Producer Lize joins Jessie to discuss... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Jane Harper's 'The Lost Man' on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Elissa Ratliff, who also produced the show.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https://www.mamamia.com.au/subscribe/ to get this and all our pods delivered straight to your inbox.

Liane Moriarty is one of the most successful authors on the planet and it's fair to say we love everything she does here at Mamamia. Which is why on this episode we're going deep on her latest novel Nine Perfect Strangers. There's so much to discuss, like did it need a trigger warning? Were nine characters the perfect amount or too many? Was the plot a little far-fetched or just right? And how does it compare to her other books? Polly Taylor joins Jessie Stephens to discuss... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Liane Moriarty's Nine Perfect Strangers on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to Polly Taylor.  Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.&nbs

Should you always stand up straight with your shoulders back? Can you really bother children when they are skateboarding? Does life REALLY only need 12 Rules?  Jordan Peterson is one of the most divisive public intellectuals on the planet. And his 12 rules are just as divisive. So much so that Rachel Corbett didn't even finish it.  But what did Jessie Stephens think? Lets find out... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! Come join our Book Club Facebook group here. You can buy Jordan Peterson's 12 Rules For Life on Apple Books at apple.co/mamamia Your host is Jessie Stephens.  With thanks to great insight from Rachel Corbett. Elissa Ratliff is the producer of Mamamia Book Club.  You can call Jessie and Lize on 02 8999 9386.  Head to https:

Trent Dalton's Boy Swallows Universe has been labelled one of the must-read books of the year so what better way to kick off this summer season of Book Club.  And joining Jessie Stephens to discuss it is writer and self-confessed Trent Dalton fangirl, Holly Wainwright. So did this book live up to all the hype? Did the fantasy element make or break it? Can a book so heavy with drugs and abuse really be all about love? And how important is the title? Let's find out... Remember, this is a Book Club, so we're assuming if you're listening you've read the book too.  That means there will be spoilers, so if you haven't read it, grab a copy, get reading and join us after you've turned the last page.  We'll be right here waiting for you! About the Book Brisbane, 1983: A lost father, a mute brother, a mum in jail, a heroin dealer for a stepfather and a notorious crim for a babysitter. It's not as if Eli's life isn't complicated enough already. He's just trying to follow his heart, learning w

This summer we are bringing back the Mamamia Book Club. Over 8 weeks we'll be discussing 8 of the biggest books of the year. We’re kicking it off on the 16th of December with Trent Dalton’s Boy Swallows Universe. Then every Sunday after that a new episode will drop. There will be Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules For Life, Liane Moriarty’s Nine Perfect Strangers, Jane Harper’s The Lost Man, Dolly Alderton’s Everything I Know About Love, Holly Wainwright’s How To Be Perfect, Melissa Broder’s The Pisces and Gayle Honeyman's Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine. If you want to be a part of our book club subscribe to the Mamamia Book Club in iTunes now and join our Mamamia Book Club Facebook group. The Mamamia Book Club, forming on December 16.  

Mamamia Out Loud host Holly Wainwright's first novel focused on the complicated lives of three blogging mum's desperate for their blog to win the coveted Blog-ahhs.  In the sequel, How To Be Perfect, the focus shifts to the world of wellness. Fellow Outlouders, Mia Freedman and Jessie Stephens sit down to talk about Holly’s new book with Holly and give you a sneak peek of what you'll find inside... Buy Holly's book How To Be Perfect here.

For our final book of the season, we're taking on the cult of Michelle Bridges. Whether you're a cynic or a self-help devotee, Make It Happen is about breaking down the barriers that might be blocking your path to achieving your goals. But can it break the mould of cliched, woo-woo self-help books? The book shares a glimpse of what the health and fitness entrepreneur has learnt on her own journey, provides real solutions to everyday challenges, and helps you achieve your goals, whether they be related to jobs, employment, relationships or body image. We talk about the good (and the bad) bits that got a post-it note, the advice we're actually going to follow, and call bullshit on the points that weren't so convincing. So, did it inspire us? And could we stick to Michelle's positive thinking challenge? Listen in, then get out there and just freaking DO IT! Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Lucy Rivers. Make It Happen, by Michelle Bridges is published by Penguin. Join the conversation on fac

Art theft. A femme fatale. Wealth and status, class and sexxxxx. Labelled the "most shocking thriller of the year", this is a book sold for a SEVEN figure advance, that already has a Hollywood script in development. But is this sexy crime thriller just Fifty Shades of Grey meets The Goldfinch, and not in a good way? Does it live up to the hype? We talk self-serving female characters and why they rile so many readers up, whether the graphic sex in this novel was completely pointless, how Judith Rashleigh challenges conventional expectations for women, and of course, the perve factor of the lifestyles of the rich and famous. Your hosts are Monique Bowley and Jacqueline Lunn with Zoe Rochford Maestra, By LS Hilton is published by Allen and Unwin Join the conversation on facebook Tell us what you thought via twitter @mamamiapodcasts Or email podcast@mamamia.com.au This show is part of the Mamamia Podcast Network