
The Shameless Book Club
95 episodes — Page 2 of 2

S1 Ep 45Sally Hepworth on dysfunctional families
G’day, book clubbers! Today, we are bringing you an interview with domestic thriller novelist, Sally Hepworth. Sally is a NYT bestselling author who has sold over one million books worldwide. She’s written eight novels including The Good Sister, The Younger Wife, and The Mother-In-Law - the latter has very excitingly been optioned for a TV show by Amy Poehler. Sally’s latest novel, Darling Girls, comes out today, and it follows three women who are drawn back to their past - and the foster mother they ran away from decades ago - after bones are discovered under the farmhouse from their childhood. In this chat, Sally speaks about deciding to transition from HR to writing a book during maternity leave, what inspires Sally to include such a wide spectrum of neurodiverse characters in her books, and what she makes sure to end every chapter with. To grab yourself of copy of Darling Girls, head here. Your host today was Sohani Goonetillake and this episode was audio produced by Annabelle Lee. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Download the Audible app to browse and listen to their audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Join us for all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 44The author who was fact-checked live on air
EHello, everyone! Today on Stranger Than Fiction, Eilish Gilligan and Shameless Media co-founder Michelle Andrews are talking about Naomi Wolf, author of ‘The Beauty Myth’ and feminist icon turned… anti-vaxxer. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Download the app to browse their audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals and start listening today. This episode was audio produced by Eilish Gilligan. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 43Review: The Rachel Incident
EHappy first of the month, book clubbers! This month, we read ‘The Rachel Incident’ by Caroline O’Donoghue. Rachel is a student working at a bookstore when she meets James, and it’s love at first sight. James soon invites Rachel to be his roommate and the two begin a friendship that changes their lives forever. When Rachel falls in love with her married professor, Dr. Fred Byrne, James helps her devise a reading at their local bookstore, with the goal that she might seduce him afterward. But Fred has other desires. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. If you want to listen to ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes, a Hunger Games ’ novel or want to check out more audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible originals, download the Audible app and start listening today. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 42R.F. Kuang on appropriation
Hello, book clubbers! Today, we are bringing you an interview with New York Times bestselling author R.F. Kuang. At the very beginning of this month, we dropped a review episode of Rebecca’s latest and arguably buzziest book Yellowface, so this interview couldn’t have come at a better time. In this conversation, Rebecca talks about the ways the book is reflective of her own experience in the publishing industry, why writing from the perspective of June was actually kind of cathartic, and of course, she updates us on her exciting upcoming projects. Join us for all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Download the Audible app to browse and listen to their audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Your host today was Sohani Goonetillake and this episode was audio produced by Annabelle Lee. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 41The writer who faked her own death
EHello, everyone! Today on Stranger Than Fiction, we’re talking about Susan Meachen, a self-published romance author who has caused quite a stir within the romance community recently. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Download the app to browse their audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals, and start listening today. This episode was audio produced by Eilish Gilligan. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 40Review: Yellowface
Hello, book clubbers! Welcome to our first book review episode in The Shameless Book Club’s cosy new nook. This month, we read ‘Yellowface’ by New York Times bestselling author, R.F Kuang. Yellowface is told through the lens of our unreliable narrator - a white author named June Hayward. At the very beginning of the book, she steals the book manuscript of her friend in the industry, Chinese-American author Athena Liu, moments after Athena suddenly passes away. June’s act of unthinkable deceit kicks off a series of events that see June desperately trying to dodge the truth being exposed. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Check out memoirs, fictional audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals via their app. This episode was audio produced by Eilish Gilligan. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 39The man who fooled Oprah
Hello! Welcome to the first episode of our new monthly series, Stranger Than Fiction. On the 15th of every month, host Eilish Gilligan will recap the most bizarre stories to rock the lit world. Today, we’re going to be talking about an author named James Frey and his interesting little book, A Million Little Pieces. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Download the app to browse audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals, and start listening today. This episode was audio produced by Eilish Gilligan. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 38Gabrielle Zevin on success
Welcome, book clubbers! To The Shameless Book Club’s very own nook. We are so excited to kick off our re-launch by bringing you a special chat between New York Times bestselling author Gabrielle Zevin and book clubber Sohani Goonetillake. We actually reviewed Gabrielle’s 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow' in our January episode of The Shameless Book Club, so we were incredibly stoked to be able to make this interview happen. We hope you enjoy this wide-ranging chat between Gabrielle and Sohani. Join us for all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. Big thanks to Audible for making this episode possible. Download the Audible app to browse and listen to their audiobooks, podcasts, and Audible Originals. Your host today was Sohani Goonetillake and this episode was audio produced by Annabelle Lee. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 37Review: Really Good, Actually
Hello, book clubbers! This month, we read Monica Heisey’s debut novel: Really Good, Actually. The book is told through the eyes of Maggie - a 29-year-old whose marriage ended just 608 days after it started. Sure, she’s alone for the first time in her life, can’t afford her rent and her obscure PhD is going nowhere, but she’s reaaaally good. As Maggie throws herself headlong into the chaos of her first year of divorce, she finds herself questioning absolutely everything. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 36Review: Pineapple Street
G’day, book clubbers! This month, we read Jenny Jackson’s debut novel, Pineapple Street. Pineapple Street follows three women in an old money Brooklyn Heights family: one was born with money, one who married into it, and one who wants to give it all away. Over the course of the novel we learn about the intricacies of the Stockton family’s dynamic, how they each feel about their relationship with wealth, and whether or not you can ever really break out of a mold your parents created for you. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 35Review: Vladimir
Happy Saturday, book clubbers! This month, we read ‘Vladimir’ by Julia May Jonas. This novel is told from the perspective of a deliciously incisive narrator: a popular English professor whose husband, a charismatic teacher at the same small liberal arts college, is under investigation for his inappropriate relationships with his former students. The couple has long had a mutual understanding when it comes to their extramarital pursuits, but with these new allegations, life has become far less comfortable for them both. And when our narrator becomes increasingly infatuated with Vladimir, a celebrated, married young novelist who’s just arrived on campus, their tinder-box world comes dangerously close to exploding. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 34Review: Alone With You in the Ether
Happy Saturday, book clubbers! This month, we read ‘Alone With You in the Ether’ by Olivie Blake. The book follows our two main characters, Regan and Aldo, who meet by chance at the Art Institute. Prior to the meeting, he is a doctoral student who manages his destructive thoughts with compulsive calculations about time travel; she is a bipolar counterfeit artist, undergoing court-ordered psychotherapy. And then, well, they fall in love. But, like all good romance books, their love story is complicated, and we’re taken on the ride. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 33Review: The Thursday Murder Club
Hello, book club friends! This month, we read ‘The Thursday Murder Club’ by Richard Osman. This number one best-seller takes place in a peaceful retirement village, where four unlikely friends meet up once a week to investigate unsolved murders. But when a brutal killing takes place on their very doorstep, the Thursday Murder Club find themselves in the middle of their first live case. Elizabeth, Joyce, Ibrahim and Ron might be pushing eighty but they still have a few tricks up their sleeves. Can this unorthodox but brilliant gang catch the killer before it's too late? Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 32Review: Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow
Happy Saturday, bookworms! This month, we read ‘Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow’ by best-selling author Gabrielle Zevin. The novel is, at its core, a love story between two brilliant gamers, but not a love story in the way you’d expect. Sadie and Sam form a friendship as children in a hospital gaming room and re-kindle as 25-year-olds years later at a train station. The natural connection that bonded them as kids instantly resumes, and, strengthened by their shared interest in video games, they become intrinsically linked as business partners, collaborators, and best friends. Together with the help of Sam’s housemate Marx and Sadie’s ex-professor slash lover Dov, they create the blockbuster hit, Ichigo, catapulting Sadie and Sam into great gaming success. With the wins though, came the losses - losses that shook their friendship and world entirely. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 31Review: You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty
Hiya, book clubbers! This month, we read You Made a Fool of Death with Your Beauty by Akwaeke Emezi. This is a book that flips the romance genre utterly on its head. It’s been five years since protagonist Feyi lost her husband in a car accident. Feyi isn’t ready for anything serious, but a steamy encounter at a rooftop party cascades into a whirlwind summer she could have never imagined: a luxury trip to a tropical island, decadent meals in the glamorous home of a celebrity chef, and a major curator who wants to launch her art career. She’s even started dating the perfect guy, but there’s a bit of a problem: Feyi feels a deep thrill every time she locks eyes with the one person in the house who is most definitely off-limits. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 30Review: Cleopatra and Frankenstein
Happy Saturday, book club friends! This month, we read Coco Mellors’s best-selling debut novel, Cleopatra and Frankenstein. The book follows 24-year-old British artist Cleo, whose chance meeting with a man called Frank (who is some 20 years older than her), changes the course of both of their lives. In Frank, Cleo finds a future where she can paint, be happy and, well, land a green card. When the darkest parts of each of them meet each other, Frank and Cleo are forced to reckon with their demons, what it means to be their best selves and what it is they actually want out of their future. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 29Review: Seeing Other People
Hello, book clubbers! This month, we read Aussie author Diana Reid’s second novel, Seeing Other People. Seeing Other People follows two sisters, Eleanor and Charlie, living two very different lifestyles in Sydney after lockdown. When the novel begins, Eleanor has a corporate job and is in a relationship with Mark, Charlie is an actress living in a sharehouse with friends (namely, her long-time crush Helen). Then, all these characters suddenly collide, and Eleanor and Charlie’s seemingly sturdy bond is put to the ultimate test. Annabelle got to interview the very clever Diana Reid for this one - we will play that chat in the second half of this episode. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 28Review: Black Cake
Hey there, book clubbers! This month, we read the debut novel from author Charmaine Wilkerson, Black Cake. Black Cake is a novel that spans 60 years in the life of one Caribbean-American family. Byron and Benny’s mum, Eleanor Bennett, has died. She has left them a voice recording in which everything Byron and Benny ever knew about their family is upended. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 27Review: In Love
Happy Saturday, book club fam! This month, we read the incredible memoir from writer Amy Bloom, called In Love. In January 2020, Amy traveled to Switzerland with her husband Brian where he was helped by Dignitas to end his life after a diagnosis of Alzheimer's. The book details their love story, Brian’s slow decline, and Amy’s doggedness in ensuring her husband died with dignity. It’s a book about love, agency, and grief and encourages the reader to think a lot about what it means to live, and what it means to die. It was a heavy one, but a beautiful one. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 26Review: The Island of Missing Trees
Oh haaaaiiiii, book clubbers! This month, we read ‘The Island of Missing Trees’ by award-winning Turkish-British author Elif Shafak. The book follows the love story between two teenagers, Kostas (a Greek Cypriot) and Defne (a Turkish Cypriot), whose forbidden romance means they can only meet at a taverna on the island between their homes. Witnessing their relationship through its ebbs and flows over the many years this story encompasses, is the fig tree that lives inside the taverna - the place of safety for Kostas and Defne. Shortlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction, ‘The Island of Missing Trees’ is an intergenerational story about past pain, tradition, and enduring love. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 25Review: The Wedding Party
Happy Saturday, book club pals! This month we read ‘The Wedding Party’ by New York Times bestselling novelist Jasmine Guillory. The book follows characters Maddie and Theo, who have two things in common: they share a best friend called Alexa, and they hate each other. Yet, underneath the sharp barbs they toss at one another is a simmering attraction that builds until they can’t resist sneaking off together when Alexa isn’t looking. This book is full of love, lust, and sex, which gives us oh so much to talk about. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 24Review: Small Joys of Real Life
Oh haaaiiii, book clubbers! This month, we read the debut novel from Aussie author Allee Richards called Small Joys of Real Life. The book follows Eva, a pretty successful local actor, who accidentally falls pregnant to a guy called Pat who she had met just a handful of times, but really, really liked. It’s just that by the time she realises she is pregnant, Pat has died, and she is forced to reckon with a world where she raises a baby to a father she misses but also never really knew. Flanked by her loyal but equally flawed best friends Sarah and Annie, Eva begins to question her career, her future, and even the people she surrounds herself with. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 23Review: An American Marriage
Happy Saturday, book club besties! This month, we read An American Marriage by Tayari Jones. The book follows newlyweds, Celestial and Roy. She’s an artist on the rise, he’s a young executive. They’re as happy as ever, until Roy is wrongfully imprisoned for a reprehensible crime. Celestial knows he is innocent, and their families and wider community trust that he is too, but Roy is still sentenced to twelve years in prison. After serving five years behind bars, Roy is unexpectedly set free, but things are not as he’d hoped back home in Atlanta. You see, in Roy’s absence, Celestial turned to find comfort in her childhood best friend, Andre. To read that Tayari Jones interview in The Paris Review, head here. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 22Review: Violeta
Good morning, lovely book clubbers! This month, we read Violeta by New York Times bestselling author Isabel Allende. This novel tells the epic story of Violeta del Valle, a woman whose life spans one hundred years and bears witness to the greatest upheavals of the twentieth century - the dissolution of a family fortune, a tempestuous marriage interspersed with love affairs, the machinations of family and friends over a century, all set against political upheaval in her homeland, an unnamed Latin American country. Today on the show, Mich, Zara and Annabelle chat about Isabel Allende’s legacy, standout characters, and the question on Mich’s mind: Is Violeta a good person? Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 21Review: If I Had Your Face
Happy Saturday, book club fam! This month, we read If I Had Your Face by Frances Cha. The novel is set in contemporary Seoul, Korea, and follows four young women making their way in a world defined by impossibly high standards of beauty, secret room salons catering to wealthy men, strict social hierarchies, and K-pop fan mania. Today on the show, we chat about the world of plastic surgery in South Korea, standout characters, and the book’s strengths and weaknesses. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 20Review: Love Stories
Hellooooo, book clubbers! This month, we read the non-fiction book from bestselling Aussie author Trent Dalton called Love Stories. For about two months, Trent sat on a busy Brisbane street corner, asking more than 150 strangers for their best love stories. What sparked this idea? After the passing of his best mate’s mother and, well, a global pandemic, Trent felt like we all needed to hear some love stories. Today on the show, we chat about our favourite stories and main takeaways from the book, and then! Annabelle interviews Trent Dalton himself at the very end of this episode. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 19Review: The Paper Palace
Hiya, book club besties! This month, we read the New York Times Number One Best Seller: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller. The story’s protagonist is Elle Bishop, a 50-something woman in love with two men - her husband, and her childhood best friend. As the blurb tells us, “so begins a story that unfolds over twenty-four hours and across fifty years.” What is Elle’s big secret - the one that has kept her tethered to, but arm's distance from, her best friend Jonas? And which man will she choose in the end? Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle go everywhere: from standout characters, to the theme of intergenerational trauma, before a big chat about that ending. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 18Review: In Order To Live
Happy Saturday, bookworms! This month, we took on our first non-fiction book, a memoir from the now 28-year-old North Korean defector and activist, Yeonmi Park. Published in 2015, Yeonmi tells the story of the first 22 years of her life - from her first 13 years growing up in North Korea as it was consumed by famine, to fleeing over the border to China where she and her mother fell into the hands of human traffickers, and finally, to escaping to South Korea by traversing through the Gobi desert through the night in search of a better life. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle chat about all that Yeonmi so generously shared with her readers: Her childhood, the adversities faced in China, and the heartbreaking reality of life with newfound freedom. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 17Review: The Henna Artist
Hey, book club besties! This month, we read the incredible debut novel by Alka Joshi titled, The Henna Artist. Following protagonist Lakshmi - one of Jaipur’s most in-demand Henna Artists - the novel tells the story of a woman running away from her past in 1950s India in order to forge her own path. But of course, there’s only so far she can run before her ex-husband and a sister she didn’t know existed turn up on her doorstep. So, does their arrival mark the beginning of the end for Lakshmi’s new life? It’s a story about freedom of choice, domestic abuse, and arranged marriage, and boy was it a riveting read. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle chat about the book’s exploration of the female experience in India during the 1950s, standout characters, and plot twist execution. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 16Review: You and Me on Vacation
Why hello there, book clubbers! This month, we read ‘You and Me on Vacation’ by Emily Henry, and boy oh boy did it deliver on its promise to be a sugary, frothy read. Protagonists Alex and Poppy have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car-share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they go on holiday together. It’s a story of girl meets boy, girl befriends boy, girl falls in love with boy, girl loses boy, and then, finally, girl gets boy back. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle discuss the book’s structure, believability, ending, and eeeverything in between. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 15Review: Fault Lines
Yaaaayyyyy! It’s book club day! This month, we read the debut novel from Emily Itami called Fault Lines. Fault Lines follows the story of Mizuki, a Japanese housewife with two adorable children and an extremely hardworking husband. She has everything anyone could ever want, so why does the book open with her wanting to throw herself off a high-rise balcony rather than spend another evening folding laundry or being ignored by her husband? Then, Mizuki meets Kiyoshi, a successful restaurateur. He understands her, listens to her - hell, he even looks her in the eye when he is speaking. So, what is a woman like Mizuki to do when she finds herself at such a fork in the road? Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle discuss the intersection between motherhood, subservience, and the affair threaded throughout this novel, as well as what the ending said about the meaning of happiness. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 14Review: Malibu Rising
Happy Saturday, friends! This month we read ‘Malibu Rising’ by Taylor Jenkins Reid - the same author of our most popular book club pick yet, Daisy Jones and The Six. Malibu Rising follows four famous siblings as they throw an epic party to celebrate the end of summer in 1983. But over the course of twenty-four hours, their lives will change forever. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle talk all things characters, that chaotic Riva party, and the recurring generational patterns of family ties. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 13Review: New Animal
Hello, book clubbers! This month, we read the debut novel ‘New Animal’ by Australian author Ella Baxter. This book, set initially in the Northern Rivers of New South Wales, then later in suburban Tasmania, follows the life of Amelia Aurelia; an embalmer who spends her days in funeral homes, painting the faces of the dead, and nights sleeping with strangers via the dating apps on her phone. More than anything, though, this is a novel of grief - by chapter four Amelia’s beloved mother dies by falling down the stairs, and the reader joins the protagonist as she wades through the all-consuming pain of loss. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 12Review: Swing Time
Happy Saturday, book clubbers! This month, we tucked into Swing Time by Zadie Smith, a novel that tells the story of two girls growing up on the wrong side of London. They meet at a community dance class and dream of being dancers, but only one of them has the talent. The blurb told us it was a tale of “friendships that anchor us, define us and change us forever”, but do we feel that line adequately explained what the book was about? As with any Zadie Smith novel, this one came with hype: her clever observations, the depth of her characters, the nuance in her words. There is simply so. Much. To. Unpack. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle discuss Swing Time’s structure, the standout characters, and the bits in the book that didn’t quite land. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 11Review: It Ends With Us
Hiya! Happy Saturday! This month, we tucked into the heart-shattering 2016 novel, It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover. It Ends With Us tells the story of an unusual love triangle between protagonist Lily, her first high school romance Atlas, and neurosurgeon Ryle. It’s a page-turning bestseller that explores the dynamics of physically abusive relationships, and how the cycle of violence needs to be broken despite the crushing heartbreak that inevitably flows. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle chat about whether or not the first half of the book landed for them, their favourite characters, and how the domestic violence storyline unfolded. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 10Review: The Shadow Box
Halloooooo, fellow book clubbers! This month, we are looking at best-selling author Luanne Rice’s pacey thriller, The Shadow Box. This book jumps before and after the day artist Claire Chase was brutally attacked, to explain just what happened to her. Claire survives before going into hiding and has her suspicions on who her attacker likely was - her admired husband and state attorney, Griffin Chase, who is also running for governor. On the day of Claire’s attack, she was about to launch a shadow box at her art exhibition, inspired by an unforgivable act she was convinced her husband was responsible for years ago. On that same day, one of Claire’s neighbours was also killed. Throughout this novel, as both investigations unfold, we learn exactly how both incidents overlap, and the extent of Griffin Chase’s power over the circle that surrounds him. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle ask allllll ze questions: Did Rice’s thriller keep us on our toes? What did we love about the book? And finally, were we satisfied with the ending? Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 9Review: Just Like You
G’day, book club friends! This month, we read best-selling author Nick Hornby’s eighth novel, Just Like You. The book follows two protagonists, 22-year-old Joseph and 42-year-old Lucy, who fall in love despite coming from two different worlds. Joseph is a young Black DJ trying to find his place in the world, while Lucy is a white English teacher and mum of two, who has recently separated from her addict ex-husband. This isn’t just the story of a juicy love affair though: after all, the book is set in 2016 and Brexit is the backdrop of their union, meaning conversations about politics and race relations are littered throughout. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle talk about it all: Did Nick Hornby pull off his eighth book? Can a white man write about the experience of a Black man? And, were we pulled towards the romance of Lucy and Joseph? Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 8Review: Daisy Jones & The Six
Happy Saturday, book club pals! This month, we tore through Daisy Jones & The Six - the sixth novel from bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid that looks at the whirlwind rise of a fictional, iconic 1970s rock group and their beautiful lead singer, revealing the mystery behind their infamous breakup. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle talk about the love-hate relationship between Daisy and Billy, the book's interview format, and what the story said about love, monogamy, drugs, loneliness, and fame. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 7Review: Transcendent Kingdom
It's the last book club for 2020, friends! This month, we read Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi - a novel that centres around Gifty, a neuroscientist at Stanford who studies addiction and depression neural circuits through experimenting with mice. This, we come to learn, is no coincidence. Transcendent Kingdom deals with grief, mental illness, and religion, and also takes us back through Gifty’s life: From her brother’s opioid addiction to a disappearing father to being sent to Ghana to live with her Aunt while her mother battles depression at home. Transcendent Kingdom was a NYT bestseller and is Yaa Jessie’s second published work. Mich sat down for an interview with Yaa about her novel, which we will play in the second half of this episode. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 6Review: Ghosts
A very happy Saturday to you, book club friends! This month, we’re delving into bestselling author Dolly Alderton’s fiction debut: the warm, funny, tender novel, Ghosts. Ghosts tells the story of food writer Nina Dean who enters her thirties with a successful career under her belt and strong friendships around her. And then, well... then she meets Max - a tall, clever, evasive man who told her on their first date that he will marry her. She loves him, he loves her. For five months, they’re entwined in each other’s lives and then he just… disappears. Ghosts tells the story of how friendship changes over the decades and how terminal illness in a family can sometimes splinter the relationships of those who are hurting. Just over a month after release, Ghosts is already a Sunday Times bestselling novel. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle discuss the hype around this book, the magnificent character that is Lola, and the plot lines that didn’t quite land (we’re looking at you, Angelo). Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 5Review: A Man Called Ove
HEY THERE, BOOK CLUB FRIENDS! This month, we’re talking all about the critically acclaimed, worldwide bestseller from Swedish columnist and blogger Fredrik Backman - A Man Called Ove. Ove is the kind of man who points at people he dislikes as if they were burglars caught outside his bedroom window. He has staunch principles, strict routines, and a short fuse. He’s also deep in the grips of grief after losing his beloved wife, Sonja. He doesn’t know it yet, but when a boisterous young family moves in next door, his life is about to change. A Man Called Ove was published in English in 2014 and has sold more than 2.8 million copies internationally. In 2015 it was even made into a movie. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle break down why this book made them chuckle and cry in equal measure, as well as the standout characters and main takeaways from the book. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 4Review: A Lonely Girl is a Dangerous Thing
Hiiiiya pals! This month, we’re talking all about Jessie Tu’s debut novel, A Lonely Girl Is A Dangerous Thing. It’s a novel about a young Taiwanese-Australian woman named Jena Lin, who - after being recognised as a prodigy throughout childhood - has re-introduced classical violin back into her life as a 20-something Syndey-sider. We see Jena navigate relationships of all kinds in this book, and how those relationships affect the way she views and treats herself. The novel explores themes like sex, power, desire, and of course, the loneliness Jena can’t quite shake. Today on the show, Mich, Zara, and Annabelle discuss it all: From whether you need to like a main character to like a book, to those graphic sex scenes and mysterious, unresolved plotlines. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 3Review: The Yield
HELLOOOOO BOOK CLUB PALS! This month, we’re discussing the 2020 Miles Franklin Literary Award winner, The Yield, by Tara June Winch. The novel tells the story of a woman who has returned home after the passing of her Poppy, Albert Gondiwindi, and felt like her life had passed her by ever since her sister, Jedda, vanished as a child. August’s perspective is interspersed with that of Albert, via his almost diary-like Wiradjuri dictionary entries, and a letter from 1915, written by the German reverend Ferdinand Greenleaf, who established a mission in Massacre Plains. Today on the show, Mich, Zara and Annabelle talk about the characters they adored, the scenes most vivid for them, and the importance of the Wiradjuri language. Correction: An earlier edit of this episode said the fictional town of Massacre Plains was based in the Northern Territory of Australia. This is incorrect - the town is based in New South Wales. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 2Review: Red, White & Royal Blue
A very happy Saturday to you, Shameless book clubbers! This month, we’re talking all about Casey McQuiston’s debut, multiple award-winning novel, ‘Red, White & Royal Blue’. McQuiston’s book centres on Alex Claremont Diaz, the son of the first Female President of the United States. The story follows Alex and his love-hate relationship with a British Prince called Henry, and how their love affair threatens to derail American and British relations. Today on the show, Mich, Zara and Annabelle discuss the book’s slow start, its youthful writing style, the characters we just couldn’t picture, and that veeerrry predictable ending. Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.

S1 Ep 1Review: Girl, Woman, Other
Shameless book nerds! How are ya!? Us? We are absolutely thrilled to bring you our very first Shameless Book Club chat of many, with a book we so adored. This month, we’re talking all about ‘Girl, Woman, Other’ by Bernardine Evaristo. As the joint winner of the 2019 Booker Prize, this book is a love song to Black womanhood in Britain, and follows the lives of twelve disparate characters. Today on the show, Mich, Zara and Annabelle discuss the book’s absence of syntax and punctuation, our favourite characters, and juicy plot twists (we’re looking at you, Winsome). Join us in the all the book chat over on our Insta, @theshamelessbookclub, and our TikTok, @theshamelessbookclub. Or, if you’re after some variety, here’s a link to record a voice message via our website, too. You can browse the eBook and audiobook versions of past book club picks in our room on Apple Books! Have a look-see right here. (You might spot our little baby, The Space Between, in the mix there, too.) Want to support our show? We are sending air kisses, air tea, and air hugs (too far?) to anyone who clicks ‘subscribe’ on Apple (bonus hugs for anyone who leaves a five-star review, too) or ‘follow’ on Spotify. Still not enough? Well! Our hearts! See below for everything else. Click here to subscribe to ShameMore: http://apple.co/shamelesspod Subscribe to the weekly ‘ASK SHAMELESS’ newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gFbYLT Join our book club: https://www.instagram.com/theshamelessbookclub/ Check out our website: https://shamelessmediaco.com/ Thanks for listening! We are very big fans of yours.