Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah

Bijal Shah

Hi, my name is Bijal Shah and I am a bibliotherapist and founder of Book Therapy (a bibliotherapy and literary curation practice: www.booktherapy.io). I'm also the author of the book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (https://bit.ly/bibliotherapybook).  I curate book prescriptions and provide online training in bibliotherapy, more detail of this can be found on my website, www.booktherapy.ioIn this podcast, I share my knowledge and research on bibliotherapy, including the latest developments, science and book recommendations. Join me every week where we take a deep dive into Bibliotherapy. We release two episodes a week:1.  Voicenotes fom Me, Your Resident Bibliotherapist.2.  Ask the Bibliotherapist: Book Recommendations for What's On Your MindJoin our member-only  subscription here to listen to all episodes for free. To get access to corresponding transcripts: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/subscribeI hope you enjoy the show and if you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (https://bit.ly/bibliotherapybook) a helpful companion.Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like the transcripts to all episodes,  you can join our member-only subscription on Substack: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/subscribeAnd as always, I love hearing from listeners so if you'd like to get in touch, share any book recommendations or thoughts on bibliotherapy, you can do so at bijal@booktherapy.io

  1. NOV 22

    My Most Anticipated Books of 2026

    In this episode, we dive into the most buzzworthy and anticipated books shaping the literary landscape this year — a vibrant mix of fiction, nonfiction, history, philosophy, and genre-bending storytelling that reflects our cultural fascinations and anxieties. Join us as we explore towering new releases from acclaimed authors like Mario Vargas Llosa, Amitav Ghosh, Kate Quinn, and Sara Stridsberg, alongside bold, conversation-starting works from emerging and innovative voices. We highlight gripping narratives that confront identity, mental health, colonial legacies, and the mysteries of memory. Across these books, we uncover the themes driving the year’s literary momentum: the quest for belonging, the retelling of overlooked histories, the interplay of science and the soul, and the balancing act between escapism and hard truth. Whether you’re building your reading list, keeping up with literary trends, or searching for your next transformative book, this episode offers a curated, insightful journey through the stories everyone will be talking about. Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack. If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion. ****************************************************************************************** Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following: Online Bibliotherapy Courses Personalised Book Prescriptions Bibliotherapy Sessions You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below: Instagram Facebook

    22 min
  2. NOV 12

    40 Books from 2025 You Need to Read in 2026

    In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah I reflect on the most powerful, inspiring, and thought-provoking books of 2025 — the ones you’ll want to carry with you into 2026. From breakout literary fiction and moving memoirs to transformative nonfiction and hidden indie gems. I explore how these books can both entertain, and inspire personal growth for the year ahead. Whether you’re looking for comfort reads, bold new voices, or stories that challenge and heal, this episode is your reading prescription for the months to come. Tune in for an insightful, heartfelt conversation about why these books really stood out this year — and discover your next favorite book for 2026. If you'd prefer to read this, you can do so here: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/p/40-books-from-2025-you-need-to-read Hope you enjoy the listen! Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack. If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion. ****************************************************************************************** Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following: Online Bibliotherapy Courses Personalised Book Prescriptions Bibliotherapy Sessions You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below: Instagram Facebook

    1h 5m
  3. NOV 4

    The Romantic Comedy and Bibliotherapy

    In this week’s episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, we turn our attention to one of the most joyful yet underestimated genres in literature — the romantic comedy. So often dismissed as light or escapist, the rom-com is in fact one of the most powerful forms of emotional storytelling, offering laughter, tenderness, and deep psychological insight. We’ll explore how romantic comedy functions as a form of bibliotherapy — a way of healing through reading and emotional reflection. From Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice to modern favourites like The Flatshare and Bridget Jones’s Diary, these stories trace the journey from chaos to clarity, self-doubt to self-acceptance, and loneliness to connection. I’ll also be unpacking the role of the romantic hero — from the proud, emotionally guarded Mr. Darcy to today’s more vulnerable and emotionally intelligent figures — and how their transformation mirrors our own healing journeys. Along the way, we’ll discuss how humour, hope, and the rhythm of love stories can help us recover from stress, heartbreak, or burnout, teaching us that joy is not frivolous but restorative. Join me as we rediscover the romantic comedy and the role of humour as a therapeutic intervention in bibliotherapy. Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack. If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion. ****************************************************************************************** Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following: Online Bibliotherapy Courses Personalised Book Prescriptions Bibliotherapy Sessions You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below: Instagram Facebook

    25 min
  4. OCT 31

    Life Imitates Art: AI, Relationships, and the Insights of Utopian & Dystopian Fiction

    In this episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, I explore how contemporary fiction and nonfiction depict love and relationships between humans and artificial intelligence.  Blending utopian and dystopian perspectives, I examine novels such as Klara and the Sun, Machines Like Me, and Frankissstein, alongside nonfiction works by thinkers like Sherry Turkle and Susan Schneider.  Utopian stories portray AI as capable of empathy and moral growth, offering new forms of connection, while dystopian visions warn of emotional automation and the commodification of intimacy. Nonfiction writers echo these tensions, questioning whether real affection is possible with machines and what our longing for digital companionship reveals about human loneliness.  Is AI both our mirror and our muse? Join me as we explore all this and more! Hope you enjoy the listen.  Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack. If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion. ****************************************************************************************** Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following: Online Bibliotherapy Courses Personalised Book Prescriptions Bibliotherapy Sessions You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below: Instagram Facebook

    23 min
  5. OCT 26

    The Role of Romantic Storytelling in Bibliotherapy

    In this week’s episode of Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah, we explore the quiet, transformative power of love stories — and how the romance genre can become a profound tool for emotional healing. From the classic worlds of Jane Austen to the modern intimacy of Sally Rooney, and from the wisdom of Bell Hooks and Erich Fromm to the poetic tenderness of Alain de Botton, we look at how stories of love — in all their beauty and heartbreak — help us understand ourselves and others. Through the lens of bibliotherapy, I’ll unpack how reading about love can validate our experiences, repair our emotional wounds, and remind us that connection and hope are still possible - even in an age of disconnection. I hope you enjoy the episode and as always, all thoughts/reflections welcome! x Email us at bijal@booktherapy.io Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like access to the transcripts, do subscribe to my substack: Bibliotherapy with Bijal Shah - Transcripts on Substack. If you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading a helpful companion. ****************************************************************************************** Get 10% off with code PODCAST on the following: Online Bibliotherapy Courses Personalised Book Prescriptions Bibliotherapy Sessions You can also follow us on your preferred platform using the links below: Instagram Facebook

    23 min

Trailers

About

Hi, my name is Bijal Shah and I am a bibliotherapist and founder of Book Therapy (a bibliotherapy and literary curation practice: www.booktherapy.io). I'm also the author of the book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (https://bit.ly/bibliotherapybook).  I curate book prescriptions and provide online training in bibliotherapy, more detail of this can be found on my website, www.booktherapy.ioIn this podcast, I share my knowledge and research on bibliotherapy, including the latest developments, science and book recommendations. Join me every week where we take a deep dive into Bibliotherapy. We release two episodes a week:1.  Voicenotes fom Me, Your Resident Bibliotherapist.2.  Ask the Bibliotherapist: Book Recommendations for What's On Your MindJoin our member-only  subscription here to listen to all episodes for free. To get access to corresponding transcripts: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/subscribeI hope you enjoy the show and if you'd like a bibliotherapist in your pocket then you might find my book, Bibliotherapy: The Healing Power of Reading (https://bit.ly/bibliotherapybook) a helpful companion.Don't forget to subscribe wherever you listen to podcasts and get new episodes as they are released. If you'd like the transcripts to all episodes,  you can join our member-only subscription on Substack: https://bibliotherapywithbijal.substack.com/subscribeAnd as always, I love hearing from listeners so if you'd like to get in touch, share any book recommendations or thoughts on bibliotherapy, you can do so at bijal@booktherapy.io

You Might Also Like