S8 Ep11: Bookshelfie: Joanne McNally

Queen of Irish comedy Joanne McNally kicks off the second instalment of Bookshelfie series eight talking about her love for Bridget Jones, and why she’s drawn to stories about break-ups and revenge.

Joanne is known for her sharp wit and self-deprecating humour, and her hotly-anticipated new show Pinotphile, which is selling out venues across the UK and Ireland, tackles everything from dating disasters to the wild journey of being single in her 40s. She’s also a primetime TV regular and one of podcasting’s best loved names, co-hosting the award-winning My Therapist Ghosted Me alongside her best friend Vogue Williams, and the hugely popular BBC Sounds format Joanne McNally Investigates. Joanne’s debut book, Femme Feral, a raucously funny and brutally honest blend of memoir and cultural commentary exploring modern womanhood, will be published in 2027. 

Joanne’s book choices are:
** Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding
** The Female Brain by Dr Louann Brizendine
** All Fours by Miranda July
** Heartburn by Nora Ephron
** Acts of Desperation by Megan Nolan

Vick Hope, multi-award winning TV and BBC Radio 1 presenter, author and journalist, is the host of season eight of the Women’s Prize for Fiction Podcast. Every week, Vick will be joined by another inspirational woman to discuss the work of incredible female authors. The Women’s Prize is one of the most prestigious literary awards in the world, and continues to champion the very best books written by women.

Don’t want to miss the rest of season eight? Listen and subscribe now!

You can buy all books mentioned from our dedicated shelf on Bookshop.org – every purchase supports the work of the Women's Prize Trust and independent bookshops. 

Recorded May 2025. This podcast is sponsored by Baileys and produced by Bird Lime Media.