Booksmart

What are these intentions Jessy speaks about, and are they good? Well that is what we are here today to find out. Welcome to Booksmart’s August Book Club episode! This month, we’re diving into Good Intentions , the buzzy debut novel from Sydney-based author and entrepreneur Jessy Wu. Jessy describes the book as a college coming-of-age story meets corporate thriller - and honestly, it’s every bit as juicy as that sounds. In this very special Book Club episode, Sunny and Allie spend the first half doing what they do best: unpacking the book. In the second half, we’re joined by Jessy herself for a Q&A, where she gives us the inside scoop on the book, its characters and the intentions behind it all. So, grab your copy, settle in and let’s get into it. Warning: this episode contains spoilers for the book. You can purchase Good Intentions by Jessy Wu online with QBD Books using the following link: ⁠https://www.qbd.com.au/good-intentions/jessy-wu/9781761776694/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPBooksmartgoodintentions&utm_id=Booksmartgoodintentions⁠ Use code BOOKSMART for 5% off your purchase

In this instalment of Booksmart , hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King travel 125 years back in time to 1901 for Netflix’s adaptation of My Brilliant Career , the landmark Australian novel by literary icon Stella Maria Sarah Miles Franklin, better known as Miles Franklin. A foundational feminist work in the Australian literary canon, My Brilliant Career first made its way to the big screen in 1979 in Gillian Armstrong’s acclaimed adaptation, now regarded as a defining film of the Australian New Wave. In this episode, Sunny and Allie delve into Netflix’s hotly anticipated new adaptation, joined by a stellar line-up of cast and creatives. They speak with Philippa Northeast (Sybylla), Miah Madden (Betty), Kate Mulvany (Augusta), showrunner and writer Liz Doran, and author and Miles Franklin expert Alexandra Lapierre. From Franklin’s enduring legacy to the challenges of bringing Sybylla’s story to a new generation, this episode explores what makes My Brilliant Career such a vital and resonant Australian story. We hope you enjoy the episode—and the adaptation! Warning: this episode contains spoilers for all six episodes. You can purchase My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin online with QBD Books using the following links: qbd.com.au/clothbound-classic-my-brilliant-career/miles-franklin/9780241699584 qbd.com.au/my-brilliant-career/miles-franklin/9780143105053 Use code BOOKSMART for 5% off your purchase

In this bonus episode of Booksmart, host Allie Daisy King sits down with Australian romance author Tierney Page, known online as TierneyReads. Page is the author of the 'London Hearts' trilogy, known for their swoony male love interests, relatable heroines, and taboo romances. But she's also beloved for her viral, unfiltered, and NSFW TikTok reviews of dark romance novels. Listen to hear Allie, "an asexual woman and avid romance reader", and Tierney, "a venerated smut lover," unpack the many overlooked ways in which explicit scenes in romance often serve as a vehicle for character growth, allowing characters to communicate needs on a deeper level while building the tension that readers crave. You can buy any of Tierney's books at QBD with 5% off using the code 'BOOKSMART' online or at the checkout: https://www.qbd.com.au/search/?q=Tierney+Page&utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPBooksmartTierneypage&utm_id=BooksmartTierney

In this book club episode, Sunny and Allie review Muñeca by author Cynthia Gómez. The short novel comes in at under 200 pages and promises a Gothic queer love story featuring witchcraft and revenge. Listen to hear the Booksmart girls unpack whether Muñeca's stunning cover matches the book's content & debate whether a novel set in the 1960s can be properly considered Gothic. They delve into the power imbalances present in this book, from body-swapping to patient x carer romances in fiction, with plenty of laughs along the way. One thing the girls are sure of? GIVE US MORE WITCHCRAFT IN WOMEN'S FICTION!!!

In this episode of Booksmart, hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King sit down with Sydney-based professional fangirl Cazzie Ahmed (@filmgirlcazzie). Ahmed tells us how harnessing her long-standing affinity for pop culture has helped her build a loyal network of more than 12k followers and a side hustle that is swiftly becoming a 5-9 outside of her already full-time 9-5 career. The girls discuss the value of building your own digital platforms and the challenges that arise when you wish to be taken seriously as a creator with growing access to opportunities, especially if you're a fangirl with a predominantly female audience. Ahmed also shares how she's learnt to establish boundaries and protect her space as an emerging public figure in the book and film world. Plus, she gives her input on the girls' ongoing discussion about how much say fans should have in the casting of book adaptations and how fandoms play a large role in making these adaptations possible.

In this hotly anticipated book club episode, Sunny and Allie review the most talked-about book of the year: 'Yesteryear' by Caro Claire Burke. This debut fiction novel draws on our growing cultural fascination with "tradwife" influencers, the alarming rise of conservative values among young women, and the "angry women" who can't bring themselves to look away from them — no matter how hard they try. 'Yesteryear's protagonist (and villain), Natalie, who has been compared to 'Gone Girl's Amy Dunne and 'American Psycho's Patrick Bateman, is as divisive as the book's plot-twist ending, and the girls are not seeing eye to eye. The book's high-concept premise promises great mystery and suspense, but does it deliver? Listen to this episode to be a part of a conversation that has taken the internet by storm. You can purchase 'Yesteryear' by Caro Claire Burke online with QBD Books using the following link: https://www.qbd.com.au/yesteryear/caro-claire-burke/9780008742775/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPBooksmartYesteryear&utm_id=BooksmartYesteryear

In this bonus episode of Booksmart , hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King react to Prime Video's television adaptation of Carley Fortune's popular young adult romance novel, 'Every Summer After'. The show, titled 'Every Year After' , dropped this week, hot on the heels of the streamer's very successful adaptation of Elle Kennedy's 'Off Campus' series, but the girls are divided on whether it'll satisfy existing fans of the novel or have enough impact to draw in new viewers. From major changes to the novel's characters and storyline to large age gaps among the central cast, there's certainly a lot to talk about (but don't worry, it's not all bad). Proceed with caution as this episode contains spoilers for the television series and the novel it's based on. *CORRECTION: In this episode, Sunny incorrectly criticises the casting of a Black character she misremembered as being described by the author as having "dark skin". Chantal is not described as such and we would like to apologise to actress Aurora Perrineau for the misinformation. You can purchase Carley Fortune's romance novels online with QBD Books using the following link: https://www.qbd.com.au/search/?q=Carley+Fortune&utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPCarlyFortune&utm_id=BooksmartCarlyFortune

In this episode of Booksmart, hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King sit down with seasoned Australian journalist and television presenter Georgie Tunny on the launch day of her debut novel, Over to You . Over to You follows three best friends — Carter, Naya, and Greta — as they navigate the competitive Australian media industry while trying to hold their friendship together. Tunny draws on her more than a decade-long career in media to faithfully depict the complexities of the newsroom. In this episode, the girls also bond over their shared love of Taylor Swift and their unyielding adoration of the way shared interests create immediate, authentic connections between strangers. Get your copy now at QBD Books with this link; https://www.qbd.com.au/over-to-you/georgie-tunny/9781761471803/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPOverToYou&utm_id=BooksmartOverToYou

In this very special mini episode of Booksmart , Sunny is joined by the brains behind Netflix’s adaptation of 'Remarkably Bright Creatures', author and executive producer Shelby Van Pelt and Director and writer Olivia Newman. This conversation sees Sunny talk to these incredible minds about the book-to-screen adaptation process, the difficulty of grounding a story about an octopus in reality, and so many more wonderful insights. This was such a wonderful chat that we just knew we had to share it in its entirety with our audience. Head to Netflix to watch this amazing film now, you will not be disappointed.

In their fourth book club episode, Sunny and Allie review 'My Dear You' by Rachel Khong. The book is a collection of ten short stories, written in as many years, exploring race, connection, transformation, and grief. Khong's protagonists compel us to confront some of life's biggest questions, hidden beneath the veil of unusual, paranormal scenarios. Here, Sunny and Allie reconsider their bias against the short story format, discuss which animal they'd choose to be reborn into, whether they'd keep their current appearance in the afterlife if given a choice, and much more. You can purchase 'My Dear You' by Rachel Khong online with QBD Books using the following link: https://www.qbd.com.au/my-dear-you/rachel-khong/9781529155365/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPMyDearYou&utm_id=BooksmartMyDearYou

The original hockey romance has finally gotten its own TV adaptation. In this episode, Sunny and Allie review episodes 1-7 of Prime Video's new 'Off Campus' series, based on the best-selling novels by Elle Kennedy. But unlike their prior discussions on book adaptations, only Allie has read the books the adaptation is based on (and trust me, she's read them enough for the both of us). How does this adaptation stack up for a fan who has read the series back to front more times than she should admit, versus a booklover who hasn't yet entered the world of 'Off Campus' and is learning about its characters for the first time through the TV show? Together, they attempt to answer the age-old question: Is it preferable to read the book before or after watching its screen adaptation? Proceed with caution as this episode contains minor spoilers for the television series. You can purchase Elle Kennedy’s sports romances online with QBD Books using the following link: https://www.qbd.com.au/search/?q=Elle+Kennedy&utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPElleKennedy&utm_id=BooksmartElleKennedy

In this very chaotic Booksmart special, Allie holds Sunny hostage to explain all thirteen books in the ever-expanding 'Off Campus' universe by Canadian author Elle Kennedy ahead of season one of the screen adaptation dropping on Prime Video on May 12. Elle Kennedy is one of the pioneers of the contemporary sports romance novel. Her first hockey romance novel, ‘The Deal’, was released in 2015, years before the success of other beloved series like ‘Heated Rivalry’ and ‘Icebreaker’, which are also known for spending a great deal of time on the ice and in the bedroom. Proceed with caution as this episode contains huge spoilers for novels in the ‘Off Campus’, ‘Briar U’, and ‘Campus Diaries’ series, as well as the standalone novel ‘Love Song’. You can purchase Elle Kennedy’s sports romances online with QBD Books using the following link: https://www.qbd.com.au/search/?q=Elle+Kennedy&utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPElleKennedy&utm_id=BooksmartElleKennedy

Move over Sylvia Plath, a new foundational feminist author has entered the chat. Dee Salmin, esteemed radio presenter and modern dating, sex, and love expert, has released her debut book, ‘It’s Not Love, Actually’. From ‘Boy Sober’ to ‘Femcels’ and the timeless question of ‘are the straights okay?, she tackles myriad topics present in the lives of young folk in 2026. In this episode of Booksmart, hosts Sunny & Allie sit down with Dee to unpack her powerful book, her “reputation” as a “gonad stealing feminist witch”, and her storied career as a radio presenter. Get your copy of 'It's Not Love, Actually' by Dee Salmin here .

This is not a drill. Gus Everett has been found (DEAD). Sunny and Allie have convened interstate for an emergency Booksmart recording in response to the news that Patrick Schwarzenegger will be the leading man in 20th Century Studios’ adaptation of Beach Read by beloved author Emily Henry. Spoiler: like the rest of the internet, they’re not happy. Listen to find out why.

In their third book club episode, Sunny and Allie review ‘If I Ruled the World’ by Amy DuBois Barnett. The book, which has been compared to ‘Devil Wears Prada’ and ‘Empire’, takes readers on a wild and immersive journey through cut-throat NYC in the late 90s based on DuBois Barnett’s real-life experiences working as a Black editor at major American magazines. It’s a messy, honest love letter to the trailblazing Black women and men who shaped the pop culture, fashion, and hip-hop landscape we know and love today. Sunny and Allie talk representation, the politics of power, and get excited for the book’s upcoming Hulu adaptation.

What happens when a devoted reader and book content creator gets a book deal? Hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King explore this and more with their first guest, new author Lily Crozier, who released her gothic Beauty & The Beast retelling 'Vow of Eternal Night' earlier this month. Join them as they discuss working in publishing, writing redeemable yet convincing villains, and debate who is pop culture's hottest vampire. Get a copy of your own here; https://www.qbd.com.au/vow-of-eternal-night/lily-crozier/9781761354571/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MissingPerspectives&utm_campaign=BSMPLilyCrozier&utm_id=BookSmartLilyCrozier

What makes a good romance novel? What turns it from a read that that simply fills your time, into something occupying your mind, day and night, eliciting giggling and the kicking of one's feet? THAT is the question that Booksmart sets out to answer in today's episode, using B.K. Borison's And Now, Back to You as a case study. This episode is brought to you by QBD Books, bringing books to readers for 150 years. Buy a copy of the book here ⁠⁠https://www.qbd.com.au/and-now-back-to-you/bk-borison/9781035073917/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPBKBorison&utm_id=BookSmartBKBorisonAndNowBackToYou⁠

Does depicting taboo relationships automatically mean endorsing them? Does having an interesting personal story automatically make you a good storyteller? And further, how does an author follow up a seminal debut? These are the central questions that Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King set out to answer in today's episode of Booksmart, using writer and former child actor Jennette McCurdy's fiction debut, 'Half His Age', and her best-selling memoir, 'I'm Glad My Mom Died', as their case studies. You can buy 'Half His Age' at the following link: https://bit.ly/4u5sL0v

Welcome to our first book club episode, where we delve into the wonderful and traumatic world of Yulin Kuang and How to End a Love Story. Kuang is an author, director, and screenwriter, known for the adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation. Today’s episode sees hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King discuss all things trauma bonds, pretty privilege, and if this book is actually a love story.

What do book-to-screen adaptations owe their readers? And further, what makes a good adaptation? Should the goal of any adaptation be to appease existing fandoms or attract new ones? These are the central questions that Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King set out to answer in today’s episode of Booksmart, using Emily Henry’s 'People We Meet on Vacation', recently released on Netflix, as their case study.