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In this bonus episode of Booksmart, hosts Sunny and Allie meet with Canadian author Bal Khabra, of the beloved hockey romance series Off the Ice — which includes Collide, Spiral, Revolve, and Embrace. Khabra rarely does on-camera interviews and is notoriously private, but in this exclusive interview, the author shares her observations on the growing appeal of the sports romance sub-genre. The trio discuss how romance authors are leading the charge for diverse representation in literature, and why Hollywood adaptations of popular fiction often tend to lag behind real-time reader preferences. Khabra also reveals details about her upcoming cowboy, second-chance romance Last Call, her unique strategy for recruiting beta readers directly from Goodreads, and what inspired her transition from a faceless author persona to front-facing book tours and reader events. You can buy any of Bal Khabra’s books at QBD with 5% off using the code ‘BOOKSMART’ online or at the checkout: https://www.qbd.com.au/embrace/bal-khabra/9781037201554/?utm_source=booksmart&utm_medium=booksmart&utm_campaign=booksmart&utm_id=booksmart&utm_term=booksmart&utm_content=booksmart

In this very special episode of Booksmart, co-host Sunny had the sublime opportunity to interview English actress Daisy Edgar-Jones for the Sense and Sensibility junket held in Sydney last week.Edgar-Jones plays Jane Austen's beloved Elinor Dashwood, the sensible older sister of Marianne and Margaret Dashwood, whose emotional restraint is tested when she grows attached to Edward Ferrars. The actress is no newcomer to book-to-screen adaptations, having risen to prominence for her roles as Marianne Sheridan in Normal People and Kya in Where the Crawdads Sing. She is also set to star in the upcoming production of Gabrielle Zevin's novel Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.Listen to hear the stars' thoughts on adapting classic literature, maintaining your sensibility, curating the perfect angsty playlist, working with Australian author and screenwriter Diana Reid, and reading Sarah J Maas's Throne of Glass and ACOTAR series.Sense and Sensibility arrives in cinemas across Australia on October 15th, 2026.

Welcome back to book club friends! Things are heating up down under, hence our desire to choose Jenny Jackson's New England set contemporary novel 'The Shampoo Effect' as our September book club pick.The hype surrounding this book has been hard to ignore, with VOGUE calling it one of the "best books of 2026".  Many readers have likened the reading experience to overhearing juicy gossip about a friend group you know only tangentially. But does the story, focused on one accidental pregnancy and a tight-knit group of dysfunctional friends in their 30s, live up to the buzz? Fortunately, the answer lies in this loving diss (about a book that would have been a far better television show).Warning: this episode contains spoilers for the book's central plot twist.You can purchase The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson online from QBD Books using the following link: https://www.qbd.com.au/the-shampoo-effect/jenny-jackson/9781529155235/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPBooksmartshampooeffect&utm_id=BooksmartshampooeffectUse code BOOKSMART for 5% off your purchase with QBD Books in-store or online.

The BookTok girlies have been blessed with yet another book-to-screen adaptation with Ali Hazelwood's 'The Love Hypothesis' dropping on Prime Video. But the real question is, does this adaptation and its stars Lili Reinhart and Tom Bateman have chemistry? This is one of the many questions we answer in this podcast review of the buzzy adaptation, discussing the changes made from the book to the screen, the unexpected but immensely exciting asexual representation, and the infamous 16th chapter. We hope that you enjoy this episode and conversation divas. Warning: this episode contains spoilers for the book & film.You can purchase The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood online with QBD Books. https://www.qbd.com.au/the-love-hypothesis-film-tie-in-edition/ali-hazelwood/9781408738474/?utm_source=Booksmartpod&utm_medium=MPPodcast&utm_campaign=BSMPBooksmartLoveHyp&utm_id=BooksmartLoveHyp Use code BOOKSMART for 5% off your purchase

In this episode of Booksmart, hosts Sunny Adcock and Allie Daisy King take on the current romantic fiction boom and share which new love stories you should be reading. Print sales of romantic fiction have reached an all-time high worldwide, but the genre (and its many sub-genres) isn't just outselling mystery or sci-fi; it's expanding the market with its more inclusive and diverse stories. These "light-hearted" stories challenge how audiences see themselves and the world around them, while putting protagonists often ignored in the literary world at the centre of the narrative. But what happens when the film and television industry, which continues to capitalise on built-in audiences by adapting popular books rather than investing in original stories, appears to have zero interest in maintaining that diversity in its casting decisions, even when it's a foundational part of the source material? Warning: this episode features discussion of overused book tropes, whitewashed musical theatre productions, and calls back to the days of dark Harry Styles fan fiction.

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