Better Words

Welcome to the second of our 3-part series celebrating the iconic Australian feminist novel My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. In this episode, Caitlin and Michelle are discussing the novel, originally published in 1901. 

About the book:

Growing up on her parents’ outback farm, Sybylla is desperate to read, write, sing and achieve great things. 

Yet her aspirations for a ‘brilliant career’ are persisten...

Welcome to the first of our three-part series celebrating the iconic Australian feminist novel My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin. In this first part, Michelle is taking inspiration from Just the Gist (our favourite podcast) to tell Caitlin the incredible life of Stella Miles Franklin. We promise you’ll also be obsessed with her by the end of this episode. 

Sources: 

• ‘My Brilliant Career’ by the Nat...

The Heartstopper series reaches its conclusion, with Volume 6 in Alice Oseman's beautiful YA graphic novel series and a Netflix movie. We're discussing both the graphic novel and our reactions to the Heartstopper Forever film.

Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with a bookish friend to help spread the word. Make sure you're following the podcast so new episodes appear in your feed as soon as they're available.

We've ⁠got a Substa...

This episode Michelle is giving a round-up of crime book recommendations, especially for people who don’t think they’re fans of crime as a genre. Before we get into that, she shares a fun fact about a connection between The Book Thief and Heated Rivalry. 

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Caitlin’s amazing knitted vest!
• Garden Yourself Happy by Jonny Hincks
• Follow John...

This episode we’re sharing reviews of recent reads. Michelle discusses The Long Haul by Hannah Doyle and Logging Off by Adele Zeynep Walton. Caitlin talks about George Kemp’s debut novel Soft Serve.

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Mhairi McFarlane
• Groundhog Day (film)
• Palm Springs (film)
• A Smart Girl’s Guide to Second Chances by Steph Vizard
• Prima Facie by Suzi Miller
• Big Sm...

In this episode, we’re discussing why book to screen adaptations are so vital for the publishing industry and the incredible stats that show just how many people are starting to read because of what they see on screen. Our main source is the Publisher’s Association report on screen adaptations, released earlier this year.

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• National Year of...

This episode we’re sharing some reviews of recent reads. Caitlin discusses two graphic novel retellings of Anne of Green Gables: Dan in Green Gables by Rex Ogle and Anne by Kathleen Gros. While Michelle chats about one of her most-anticipated books of 2026, Fruit Fly, by friend of the podcast Josh Silver. 

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Clueless (film)
• 10 Things I Hate About Y...

This episode is an extra special one as we welcome Matt Cain back to the podcast to talk about his new venture: he and husband Harry have launched an independent publishing company to get queer voices to mainstream readers. Pansy Books is a brilliant concept, and we are so excited for what Matt and Harry are doing in this space. 

We chat about Matt’s publishing journey from crowdfunding to indie publisher, his new novel T...

In this episode, we're discussing Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. Unlike review episodes, book club chats will include some spoilers, although we will give ample warning before we switch from a general chat into spoiler territory.

About the book:

Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle – and has the social media accounts to prove it. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome co...

In this episode we’re deep diving into the adaptation of Emily Henry’s The People We Meet on Vacation. Caitlin explains the mysterious changes between the UK and US versions, and we discuss the film. 

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Hoppers (film)
• Zootopia 2 (film)
• Hannah Ferguson on kids being inspiring
• Man on the Run (film)
• What Went Wrong (podcast)

Enjoyed this episo...

In this episode, we’re reviewing Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy and Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash. Both were provided by publishers for review! 

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Operation Mincemeat musical
• Come From Away musical 
• I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy
• Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth
• The Bee Sting by Paul Murray
• The Greatest Possible Good by Ben Brooks

E...

In this episode we’re reviewing Bad Publicity by Bianca Gillam and Esther is Now Following You by Tanya Sweeny. 

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Red Flags by Sophie Jo
• Heated Rivalry
• The Mushroom Tapes by Helen Garner, Chloe Hooper and Sarah Krasnostein

Enjoyed this episode? Please share it with a bookish friend to help spread the word.

We've ⁠got a Substack publication⁠. At ...

In this episode we’re discussing things we watched together in January: The Traitors UK, Heated Rivalry and musicals Hercules, and Just For One Day. Caitlin also talks about The Devil Wears Prada and The Mousetrap.

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Smart Girl’s Guide to Second Chances and The Love Contract by Steph Vizard
• Caitlin’s rom-com recommendations 
• The Work and...

We were lucky enough to record this episode together in a studio at Vanishing Point Records in Chesterfield. 

In this episode, we’re discussing Future Boy by Michael J Fox, which explores how the iconic Back to the Future film was made. 

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Anne of Green Gables (1980s version)
• Confessions of a Shopaholic
• What Went Wrong podcast

Enjoyed this e...

We were lucky enough to record this episode together in a studio at Vanishing Point Records in Chesterfield. 

We kick off with a wrap-up of our reading stats for the year: how many books and pages, the moods and re-reads.

*Accessed through our work/from the publisher

2024 debut book:

Caitlin: The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage*

Michelle: Confessions by Catherine Airey*

Non-fiction:

Michelle: John and Paul: A Love story in Songs by...

In this episode, Caitlin gives you dozens of recommendations for brilliant Aussie rom-coms. While Michelle chats briefly about Paul McCartney's new book, Wings: The Story of a Band on the Run.

For your convenience, here's everything else we mentioned in this episode:

• Man on the Run (upcoming Amazon documentary)
• Wings Deluxe Collection on vinyl (also available to stream on Spotify)
• Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
• That...

In this episode, we're chatting about:

• The secret skill of book signings
• Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake*
• Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh*
• The Americans (TV series)
• The Buccaneers (TV series)

*Accessed through our work/from the publisher

But for your convenience, here's everything we mentioned in this episode:

• Lucy Worsley (British historian and author) – we didn't mention but you can listen to her brilliant BBC podcast Lady...

In this episode, we're discussing The Names by Florence Knapp. Unlike review episodes, book club chats will include some spoilers (although we'll still try to keep things vague).

About the book:

It is 1987, and in the aftermath of a great storm, Cora sets out with her nine-year-old daughter to register the birth of her son. Her husband intends her to follow a long-standing family tradition and call the boy after him. But faced with ...

In this episode, we're chatting about seasonal reading: what we're looking for and what it means to us. Then we share some recommendations for the summer ahead in the Southern Hemisphere and autumn vibes for our Northern Hemisphere pals. Enjoy!

For your convenience, here's everything we mentioned in this episode:

• Australia's Top 100 books countdown
• Boy Swallows Universe by Trent Dalton
• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
• The Hottest 100...