The Bibliofilles

Hosted by Sophie and Chaya

The Bibliofilles 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 @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast. Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between. The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations. There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).

  1. há 11 h

    The Best Books of 2026 So Far (WE CRIED!)

    In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya round up the best books of the year so far and it's not just their own picks. They've spent hours combing through every major "best of" list from Goodreads, The New York Times and NPR, then added their own favourites, submissions from Bibliofilles Insiders, and an exclusive segment from senior editors across Spotify Audiobooks worldwide. From the most talked-about book of the year to a lit RPG series flying completely under the radar, a devastating non-fiction deep dive, and the sports romance nobody saw coming, this episode covers new releases, overlooked backlist gems, and the books they simply can't stop thinking about. 📖 In this episode: The most talked-about book of the year so far and why it's dividing readers The lit RPG series outselling literary fiction that nobody's talking about Non-fiction picks spanning true crime, memoir and modern history Sophie and Chaya's personal favourite reads of the year (including one not even out yet) Exclusive best books recommendations from senior editors at Spotify Audiobooks (US, UK, Canada and Australia) Insider picks from Bibliofilles Substack subscribers A recommendation from the National Year of Reading campaign Independent bookshop bestsellers from The Wandering Chapter The books they're most excited to read before the year is out Whether you're searching for the best books of 2026, new book releases, literary fiction, book club recommendations, or your next unputdownable read, this episode has something for every reader. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke 👉 https://link.amazon/B05FZnSS2 Strangers by Belle Burden 👉 https://link.amazon/B08UUmiA7 Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash 👉 https://link.amazon/B0fC4AwVj Vigil by George Saunders 👉 https://link.amazon/B0aqKSm1Z The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett 👉 https://link.amazon/B0gUhlQrv The Palm House by Gwendoline Riley 👉 https://link.amazon/B0aaHd5kG London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe 👉 https://link.amazon/B05yqno0R Empire of Pain by Patrick Radden Keefe 👉 https://link.amazon/B0aSVsxyD A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bzP9UYm Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick 👉 https://link.amazon/B02liHBM5 Whistler by Ann Patchett 👉 https://link.amazon/B0hSM2YrE The Dutch House by Ann Patchett 👉 https://link.amazon/B06kWomYD John of John by Douglas Stuart 👉 https://link.amazon/B01tbDnoE Transcription by Ben Lerner 👉 https://link.amazon/B00hzS8lk This is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal Mueenuddin 👉 https://link.amazon/B01gLxEoj I Want You to be Happy by Jem Calder 👉 https://link.amazon/B01oYdh9a Famesick by Lena Dunham 👉 https://link.amazon/B0fx92u7y Lovelight series by BK Borison 👉 https://link.amazon/B0fx92u7y This Kingdom will not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews 👉 https://link.amazon/B03KOKKRr American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee 👉 https://link.amazon/B0e2TAAvB The Pretender by Jo Harkin 👉 https://link.amazon/B0h8HMY57 Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann 👉 https://link.amazon/B0hjI6qCS Buckeye by Patrick Ryan 👉 https://link.amazon/B09Qtnh4G A Private Man by Stephanie Sy-Quia 👉 https://link.amazon/B03Ngrey9 When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Rizden 👉 https://link.amazon/B02w4XMYM The Girls by Emma Cline 👉 https://link.amazon/B0gLIDWMI The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout 👉 https://link.amazon/B0hIvqyde Country People by Daniel Mason 👉 https://link.amazon/B0dzDqSiL Empire of the Vampire by Jay Kristoff 👉 https://link.amazon/B0awQ3ksK Cathedrals by Claudia Piñeiro 👉 https://link.amazon/B05runErC Seek the Traitor's Sun by Veronica Roth 👉 https://link.amazon/B0a8VSPaN Fieldwork as a Sex Object by Meena Kandasamy 👉 https://link.amazon/B0gNbL3bc A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan 👉 https://link.amazon/B0j7Oazqf The Winged Game by Sophie Kim 👉 https://link.amazon/B0ifcOSpu Piranesi by Susanna Clarke 👉 https://link.amazon/B0dbl63If Life of Pi by Yann Martel 👉 https://link.amazon/B0dbZKMzL Munichs by David Peace 👉 https://link.amazon/B00VBaS89 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 👉 https://link.amazon/B0cUEf1VN Doom Painting by AK Blakemore 👉 https://link.amazon/B0iF1Hulv We Go Way Back by Niamh Connolly 👉 https://link.amazon/B09lbWKXj 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya. 🎧 Subscribe on Substack for extended essays and exclusive bonus content. #BestBooksOfTheYear #BookRecommendations #BooksToRead #BestBooks2026 #MustReadBooks #BookTok #BookTube #BookClub #LiteraryFiction #ReadingList #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #Bookstagram #TheBibliofilles #BookCommunity #NewBooks2026 #BookPodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 10 de ago.

    Inside Publishings AI Panic

    We've spoken to authors, journalists, teachers, data privacy lawyers, and sources inside publishing who've asked to remain anonymous and we're bringing you the inside scoop on what's actually being discussed behind closed doors. In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya step away from book recommendations to tackle something bigger: what AI is actually doing to books, authors, and the publishing industry right now. From a warehouse guillotine slicing book spines for AI training data to a $1.5 billion court settlement, we unpack the legal, ethical, and deeply human stakes of the AI-and-books collision and why it's not going away any time soon. 📖 In this episode: - Inside Anthropic's book-scanning operation and the machines behind it - Bartz v. Anthropic: the piracy case and the $1.5 billion author payout - Why owning a book legally doesn't erase an author's IP rights - Authors accused of using AI with zero concrete proof and the reversal of the burden of proof - A former Anthropic security researcher on AI agents that rewrite their own shutdown code - OpenAI's AI agent that hacked Hugging Face undetected for a week - Why "leaving in mistakes" might become the only proof a book is human-written - Fahrenheit 451, Hans Zimmer, and what we lose when creativity gets automated Whether you're searching for the Anthropic AI lawsuit, AI and copyright law, the future of publishing, or how AI is changing books in 2026, this episode has something for every reader who cares where their stories come from. 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya. #TheBibliofilles #AIandBooks #Anthropic #AIvsCreativity #CopyrightLaw #PublishingIndustry #BookPodcast #BookTok #BookTube #WritersOfYouTube #AIethics #BookCommunity #Bookstagram #FutureOfPublishing #ArtificialIntelligence Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 3 de ago.

    Your Summer Reading List Needs This

    In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya challenge the idea of the traditional summer read and explore whether the best books for summer are really the ones topping every bestseller list. From literary fiction, Greek mythology retellings, and dystopian classics to romance, thrillers, BookTok favourites, and underrated novels, we share the books we genuinely believe deserve a place on your summer reading list—whether you're relaxing on the beach, by the pool, or curled up at home. We also dive into the surprising research behind the "summer slide," why children should keep reading during the school holidays, and share some of our favourite books for young readers. 📖 In this episode: - The biggest summer reading trends of 2026 - Why there is no such thing as the perfect "summer read" - The most underrated books everyone should read - Literary fiction worth taking on holiday - Greek mythology retellings we love - Romance, thrillers and hidden gems beyond BookTok - Why summer reading is so important for children - Our personal Summer TBR (To Be Read) lists Whether you're searching for summer book recommendations, beach reads, literary fiction, BookTok books, classic novels, or the best books to read in 2026, this episode has something for every reader. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Children of Men 👉 https://link.amazon/B0hMNVNqN Call Me By Your Name 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bNzpLtk My Sister, The Serial Killer 👉 https://link.amazon/B07rO0md0 The Neapolitan Novels 👉 https://link.amazon/B0hgHiCPP You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty 👉 https://link.amazon/B09apRAuW Alias Grace 👉 https://link.amazon/B06zIB6ei The Remains of the Day 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bBJ2Gm3 Ariadne 👉 https://link.amazon/B0bg48WnC Welcome to Glorious Tuga 👉 https://link.amazon/B03t1yEaQ 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya. 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Sophie & Chaya. #BookPodcast #BookRecommendations #SummerReads #SummerReading #BooksToRead #BestBooks2026 #MustReadBooks #BeachReads #BookTok #BookTube #BookClub #LiteraryFiction #ReadingRecommendations #BookLovers #ReadersOfInstagram #GreekMythology #ClassicBooks #DystopianBooks #RomanceBooks #ThrillerBooks #Books2026 #TheBibliofilles #BookCommunity #ReadingList #Bookstagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. 27 de jul.

    Claire Daverley: Why Her Second Novel Nearly Broke Her

    Do you have a Bren? 💔📖 This month's Bibliofilles Book Club pick is Claire Daverley's hugely anticipated second novel, People in Love the follow-up to the word-of-mouth phenomenon Talking at Night. Chaya and Sophie sit down with Claire to talk about writing a love triangle with no villain, why the ending had to be both "inevitable and surprising," and the pressure of following up a debut that outgrew every expectation. They get into grief and secondary grief, writing a mother's mental illness with real tenderness, the narrative device readers are going to want to fight Claire over, and the difference between longing for a person and longing for a version of your own life. Plus, before the interview, they revisit their older book club pick, Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower, and why a novel written in the '90s and set in 2024–2027 feels less like dystopian fiction and more like a documentary. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 People in Love by Claire Daverley 👉 https://amzn.to/4hsXNeI Talking at Night by Claire Daverley 👉 https://amzn.to/45jhtuk Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler 👉 https://amzn.to/3RueHPx The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/4wSMLE3 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #contemporaryfiction #bookclub #clairedaverley #peopleinlove #talkingatnight #authorinterview #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. 20 de jul.

    What The Movie Didn't Tell You... | The Odyssey

    Why has The Odyssey survived for over 3,000 years? ⚔️📚 This week, Chaya and Sophie dive into Homer's The Odyssey to explore why it's considered one of the greatest stories ever told. From the hero's journey and Greek mythology to translation debates, feminism, trauma, hospitality, and the enduring question of what makes someone a hero, they unpack the epic that shaped Western literature. They debate one of literature's most divisive protagonists, explore the women at the heart of the story - including Penelope, Athena, Circe and Calypso - and discuss why The Odyssey continues to inspire readers, writers and filmmakers thousands of years after it was first written. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Odyssey by Homer (Emily Wilson Translation) 👉 https://amzn.to/3RFScav Circe by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/4vFSCf3 The Voyage Home by Pat Barker 👉 https://amzn.to/4wQWdYM The Parable of the Sower by Octavia E. Butler 👉 https://amzn.to/4waEDPu Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie 👉 https://amzn.to/4vznuOg The Iliad by Homer 👉 https://amzn.to/44CXNRV The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood 👉 https://amzn.to/44z1QyK 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #classicliterature #greekmythology #theodyssey #homer #booklover #bookrecommendations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. 13 de jul.

    What Really Happens Inside Cults?

    What's the difference between a community and a cult? According to researchers and survivors not as much as you'd think. In this episode of The Bibliofilles, we're going deep on one of the most fascinating, disturbing and frankly addictive topics out there: cults. We cover the psychology of why ordinary, intelligent people join them, the language that keeps them in, and why the world we live in now has made all of us more vulnerable than ever. We discuss: •⁠  ⁠Hannah Murray's (Skins, Game of Thrones) memoir The Make Believe — and how a Reiki healer in LA sent her down a rabbit hole she nearly didn't come back from •⁠  ⁠Ruby Frankie, Eight Passengers and the cult of influencer culture and how it ended with her in prison •⁠  ⁠Cultish by Amanda Montell — how the language of cults is already inside your Instagram feed, your fitness studio and your political news feed •⁠  ⁠The BITE model — the framework built to explain exactly how cults control behaviour, information, thought and emotion •⁠  ⁠Cult fiction: The Girls (Emma Cline), The Heart Goes Last (Margaret Atwood), Station 11, Arcadia and more •⁠  ⁠One of our hosts' own family connection to EST — the therapy cult John Denver helped make famous The uncomfortable argument at the centre of all of this? It's already happened to you. 🎧 Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts 📚 Join our Substack for exclusive bonus content ⭐ Like, comment, subscribe it genuinely makes a difference #Cults #TrueCrime #BookTok #Psychology #HannahMurray #CultPodcast #BookRecommendations #AuthorInterview #Memoir Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. 6 de jul.

    Jodie Harsh: The Story I Couldn't Keep Inside

    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 talk about: •⁠ ⁠Sneaking into the London Astoria at 15 with a fake ID and finding her "tribe" •⁠ ⁠Falling into a*diction on the dance floor and getting sober at 25 •⁠ ⁠Losing friends to a*diction, including Amy Winehouse a year after she got clean •⁠ ⁠Structuring her entire memoir around the clubs that raised her Astoria, Turnmills, Fabric, Pasha •⁠ ⁠Why she refused to read any other memoirs while writing her own •⁠ ⁠Getting "discovered" by a literary agent she didn't even know she had Plus a rapid-fire book recommendations round covering Elena Ferrante, Donna Tartt, Barbara Kingsolver and Sarah Waters. This is glamour, grief, queerness, addiction and recovery no filter, no spin. 📚 Subscribe to our Substack for the bonus tier from this episode she's spilling things we can't put on YouTube Jodies Book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/You-Had-Be-There-Noughties-ebook/dp/B0F6TM7XST/ref 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #BookClub #BookTok #BookRecommendations #Memoir #Addiction #Sobriety #LondonNightlife #BookTok #PodcastClips #AuthorInterview #RecoveryJourney Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. 29 de jun.

    Why Are We All Obsessed With Unhinged Women

    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-turning plot. We also get into the real world inspirations behind the book from incel culture and the manosphere to Audre Lorde's landmark essays on anger and the influence of Jamaica Kincaid's writing. Imani also opens up about her experience working at Daunt Books while editing the manuscript, her late night writing process, and gives us a very exciting first look at her second novel, set in Dorset and inspired by the Bibby Stockholm asylum seeker barge. Before the interview, Sophie and Chaya also sit down to discuss this month's classic pairing Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys and why its themes of race, colonialism, and female identity connect so powerfully with Honey. In this episode we chat about: 📖 What inspired Honey & the creative process behind it 😤 Female rage, the manosphere & incel culture in fiction 🎓 Cambridge as a setting & intersectionality in literature 🌊 Why we paired it with Wide Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys ✍️ Imani's late night writing habits & what's coming next 🗓️ Next Month's Book Club Picks: - People in Love by Claire Daverley - Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler 📌 If you enjoyed this episode, please like, subscribe and leave us a review it really helps! 🎧 Find us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts & YouTube 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. #BookClub #ImaniThompson #Honey #FemaleRage #BookTok #BookRecommendations #CampusNovel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sobre

The Bibliofilles 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 @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast. Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between. The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations. There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).

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