The Bibliofilles
The Bibliofilles is a book podcast hosted by Sophie and Chaya, who met on Facebook during lockdown and bonded over a shared love of reading. They discuss books across all genres, from classics and non-fiction to contemporary fiction and romantasy, offering thematic episodes, academic deep dives, and a book club with a twist.
Episodes
Books That Will Make You ADDICTED To Reading
Struggling to get into reading? Think you’re just not a book person? You might simply not have found the right book yet. In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Chaya and Sophie share the books they believe can turn even the most reluctant reader into someone who can’t put a book down.
From gripping true crime and psychological thrillers to epic fantasy, historical fiction, romance and literary cl
The Truth About East of Eden
Is Netflix’s East of Eden getting Cathy Ames completely wrong?
Sophie and Chaya discuss John Steinbeck’s East of Eden, the new Netflix series starring Florence Pugh, and the huge controversy surrounding its interpretation of Cathy Ames.
Is Netflix’s East of Eden faithful to the book? Why has Cathy Ames been rewritten as a more sympathetic character? And what does Steinbeck actually say about
Undercover With The Far Right
What happens when you go undercover inside the far right and discover how easily dangerous ideas can become normalised?
In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya dive into Harry Shukman’s The Year of the Rat, a gripping work of investigative nonfiction that follows Shukman as he spends more than a year undercover inside far-right groups using a hidden camera and the alias “Chris.”
You Won’t Believe These Are Real Books
Is fiction getting weirder?
This week on Bibliofilles, Chaya and Sophie dive into the wonderfully strange world of weird books, exploring some of the most bizarre, surreal and completely unexpected stories they’ve come across.
From women falling in love with bears, planes and even a front door, to characters transforming into insects, dogs and other creatures, there are some books where the prem
You Know the Book. You Don't Know Its Real Name.
Why are some of the most famous books in history called what they are? And what if they had kept their original titles?
In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya dive into the fascinating world of book titles, literary titles and the stories behind them including famous novels that were almost given completely different names.
From The Secret History originally being considered a
The Syllabus Exposed: Who’s Really Behind It?
In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya are back from their summer holidays with their September Book Club picks — The Year of the Rat by Harry Shukman and The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde — before diving into a much bigger question: who actually decides what we read?
Inspired by new developments in Texas, where a mandatory school reading list includes more than 200 texts a
Luke Kennard: His Big Chance To Do Absolutely Nothing
We sat down with Professor Luke Kennard to talk about Black Bag, our July Book Club pick, and honestly we're still thinking about it. 🖤📚
Luke is a poet, novelist and critic. His collection Cane was shortlisted for the International Dylan Thomas Prize, Notes on the Sonnets won the Forward Prize for Best Collection in 2021, and his debut novel The Transition was a BBC Radio 4 Book at Bedtime pick.
Adaptations: The Ones We Loved, The Ones We Hated
What makes a great book adaptation and what happens when Hollywood gets it completely wrong? 📚🎬
In this episode of The Bibliofilles, Sophie and Chaya dive into the biggest book-to-film and book-to-TV adaptations, from the adaptations they absolutely loved to the ones that completely missed the point.
Plus, they get into the hugely anticipated The Odyssey adaptation, discussing Christopher Nolan’
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
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 t
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
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 ou
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 de
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
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.
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-tu
Looksmaxxing | Has Wellness Gone Too Far?
When does wellness become a problem? This week on The Bibliofilles, we're diving into one of the most urgent cultural conversations of the moment looks maxing and optimisation culture and exploring it through the lens of literature.
From viral influencers using extreme methods to "engineer" attractiveness, to the Fitbit-ification of reading via Goodreads targets, we unpack how the obsession wit
Sarah A Parker: I Risked Everything
Chaya sits down with the author of the moment New York Times, Sunday Times, Australian and New Zealand bestseller Sarah A. Parker for the most emotional, raw and revelatory interview The Bibliofilles has ever recorded.
We're diving into When the Moon Hatched and the newly released sequel The Ballad of Falling Dragons in a completely spoiler-free deep dive that will leave you absolutely wrecked
The Truth About the Off Campus Obsession
Off Campus has become one of the biggest TV sensations of 2026, taking over streaming charts, BookTok and social media feeds around the world.
In this episode we discuss the hit adaptation of Elle Kennedy's bestselling romance series and why audiences have become completely obsessed with Garrett, Hannah, Dean and the Briar University crew. We explore the show's addictive storytelling, its portr
How Do You Follow a Global Phenomenon Like Hamnet? | Maggie O'Farrell
Maggie O'Farrell joins The Bibliofilles to discuss her extraordinary new novel, Land.
In this wide-ranging conversation, Maggie explores the Irish history, mythology and landscape that inspired the book, the lasting legacy of the Great Hunger, and why the land itself becomes a living character in her fiction. We also discuss historical research, writing authentic historical novels, family, memo
We Read The Most Unhinged Reviews Of Our Favourite Books
When was the last time you read a book… without checking the reviews first?
In this episode, we read the funniest, harshest, and most unhinged one-star reviews including brutal takedowns of classic books we love.
It’s hilarious… until it isn’t.
Because beneath the chaos, there’s a bigger question:
Are we still thinking for ourselves or letting the internet decide what we like?
👇 All b
Governments Don’t Want You Reading These Books
What happens when society decides certain books are too dangerous to read?
In this episode of the Bibliofilles Podcast, we explore the shocking history of banned books, censorship, moral panic, and the stories that powerful institutions have tried to silence.
From 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Bluest Eye by Toni Mo
The Most Performative Book on The Internet?
What happens when one of the internet’s most aesthetic books is actually read properly?
In this deep dive episode, we unpack The Stranger by Albert Camus the slim philosophical classic that has become a cultural obsession online.
From performative reading culture and celebrity book clubs to absurdism, existentialism, alienation, mental health, internet culture, and modern emotional burnout,
Is Yesteryear Trashing Us All
Why is everyone obsessed with Yesteryear right now? 👀
This week we unpack the book everyone seems to be reading from trad-wife culture and influencer motherhood to religion, feminism, identity, and the dark reality behind perfectly curated online lives.
We debate one of the most divisive female protagonists we’ve read in years, discuss the ending that split readers, and explore why this deb
Books We Would Sell Our Souls To Read Again For The First Time?
What’s the one book you wish you could read again for the very first time?
In this episode, we dive into the books that completely consumed us the stories that altered our brains, broke our hearts, changed how we see the world, and left us chasing the feeling long after the final page.
From surreal labyrinths and devastating literary epics to obsessive dark academia, emotional masterpieces,
Are We All in Denial About Who We Are?
In this episode, we dive into two unforgettable reads that explore love, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves.
We sit down with Madeleine Gray, author of Chosen Family, to unpack the emotional complexity behind her novel from queer identity and self-loathing to the power of chosen relationships and modern motherhood.
Then we turn to a true classic: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin a n
Is The Secret History Actually That Good? A Deep Dive
A Deep Dive into Possibly the Best Book Ever Written? 👀
Few novels inspire obsession like The Secret History and this time, we went all in.
After a close reread, we break down the characters, key moments, and the deeper themes that make this book so enduring from elitism and morality to its chilling sense of complicity.
We explore the novel’s classical and philosophical influences, unpack diffe
Why Is No One Talking About These Books?
There are so many good books out there but this week we’re diving into the ones you’ve probably never even heard of and absolutely should have.
From underrated backlist gems to quiet contemporary masterpieces these are the books we can’t stop thinking about, the ones that deserve way more hype than they get.
We’re talking authors you might recognise like Gabrielle Zevin, Margaret Atwood and
This Book Should Never Have Been Published
A book scandal has exploded and it’s raising serious questions about the future of publishing.
In this episode, we dive into the controversy surrounding a viral novel accused of being largely written by AI… a story that went from self-published success to being pulled from shelves almost overnight.
But this isn’t just about one book.
We explore how AI is quietly reshaping the literary world fro
This Episode Will Make You See Life Differently | Patrick Ryan Book Club Special
This week we are so honoured and delighted to be joined by a Patrick Ryan, the author of our inaugural book club new pick Buckeye.
Buckeye was released to huge international acclaim last year, which isn’t surprising given the literary credentials of its author, a NY based editor.
Whether or not you have read this, Patrick has so much to (very eloquently say) about life and resilience.
Would You Survive These Friendships?
Friendships… but make them messy, obsessive, and unforgettable 👀
From The Kite Runner to The Secret History, we’re breaking down the friendships that shaped us and the ones that completely destroyed people.
Campus obsession. Fake identities. Chosen family. Lifelong bonds.
Some of these friendships feel real… others feel a little too real.
So the question is which ones would you actually
The JFK Jr Love Story Should Be Cancelled
“Just watch one episode…”
That’s how it starts.
This viral series has completely taken over but while one of us is obsessed, the other refuses to watch it on principle.
So… is it brilliant TV or morally questionable?
We get into the psychology, the obsession, and the bigger question:
who owns a story?
Let us know your thoughts in the comments 👇
👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for
We Read the Most Viral Books… To See If They’re Worth the Hype
Some books go viral everywhere but are they actually worth the hype? 📚👀
In this episode, we’re putting some of the internet’s most talked-about books to the test. From romantasy blockbusters to literary favourites and thrillers, we’re asking the big question: overhyped… or totally deserved?
We’re sharing the viral books we loved, the ones that surprised us, and the ones we think didn’t live up
The Books That Scared Us… but Not the Way You Think
What if the scariest books aren’t just horror?
In this episode of The Bibliofilles, we’re diving into the stories that genuinely unsettled us for a whole plethora of reasons — and some of these choices will definitely surprise you.
We’re talking obvious nightmare fuel like We Need to Talk About Kevin and Tender Is the Flesh — books that confront brutality, moral collapse and the darkest edg
High Functioning but Barely Holding it Together: Books and Mental Health
This week we’re diving headfirst into books & mental health.
Over the years we have received many messages asking for books for when life feels wobbly, overwhelming, or is unravelling at the seams, & we wanted to create a resource to help anyone who may need it.
We’ve organised our recommendations into three groups, the self help & non fiction books (from candid memoirs to practical, perspec
These Books Made Us Insufferable
Welcome to the very first episode of our new book podcast 🎧📚
We’re Chaya & Sophie, two readers who love talking about books the hype, the heartbreak, and the ones that stay with you long after the last page.
In this episode, we share our Book Club Picks and Episode Choices, covering everything from literary fiction and memoir to fantasy and nonfiction. Whether you’re building your TBR or looki
Welcome to The Bibliofilles!
The Bibliofiles 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 an Instagram ( @thebibliofiles); and now, finally, a podcast.
Each week, Sophie and Chaya dive into the books they love, the ones they disagree on, and the stories that stay with us long after t
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