Bestsellers

Our final episode of Season 7 is a cookbook special. But TENDERHEART is so much more than just a cook book. It's Hetty Lui McKinnon's way of processing the loss of her father aged just 15. He was the fruit n veg man, the father who left crates of exciting fresh produce in the hallway for his children to investigate. And now a parent herself to teenage boys, Hetty uses her brand new vegetarian and vegan recipes combined with an autobiographical narrative, to share her love of vegetables with us alongside the legacy of family dishes cooked at home.

This is a labour of love and for once Phil agrees with Natalie: This is a cookbook you can also read as a book!

This week's episode is the multi best selling Irish writer, John Boyne. You will almost certainly have read The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas or The Heart's Invisible Furies and the latest venture for John is a quarter of books which he's been releasing every six months. Next year, he'll release them in one compendium called The Elements. But hot on the heels of Water and Earth, comes Fire: a disturbing novella which looks at child sexual exploitation from the point of view of a female abuser of young boys.

During our conversation, John explains that the idea for this quarter of books came after he himself was inspired to report his own abuse at the hands of one of his teachers to Police, following a high profile trial of a different abuser in Ireland.

He hopes this book - whilst a work of fiction - might help others to come forward and report their abuse.

Trigger Warning: Whilst this episode does not talk in detail about sexual abuse, there is conversation about John's first hand experience of abuse and the reporting process he went through. But there's no description of the abuse that took place and neither is there any description of the abuse depicted in the novel.

Here are Phil and Natalie's Books of the Year for 2024.

This episode has it all - writing yourself into fiction, being inspired by classic literature, the joy and benefits of being a bit spiky, oh, and there is a fair amount of swearing in this. As an added bonus - depending on your point of view - Nat and Phil also divulge their favourite swear words at the end of the ep... This Motherless Land is Nikki May's story inspired by Jane Austen's Mansfield Park, but takes it to a totally different place and time and feeling. It's a joy to read and Nikki is a joy to spend time with!

Find out more about this season and Nikki's recommendations at www.bestsellerspodcast.co

This episode is devoted to Nat and Phil's recommendations of additional books they've been loving, or that are at the top of their to-be-read pile! Choices include a love story, a thriller or two, a decent pick of celebrity memoirs (with valid reasons given!), a cookbook with soul, and a book for adults that happens to be written as if it's a kids picture book. Hope you find something in here to tickle your reading fancy... and if you enjoy this episode please rate, review and subscribe on Apple Podcasts to help other listeners discover their next favourite author too!

*spoiler here's the list*

A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams

Sonny Boy by Al Pacino

My Name is Barbra - the audiobook - read by Barbra Streisand

We Solve Murders by Richard Osman

From Here to the Great Unknown by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough

The Twelve Lives of Samuel Hawley by Hannah Tinti (a double recommendation from Jason Rekulak as well!)

The Man of Her Dreams by Sarra Manning

If Nick Drake Came to My House - Mackenzie Crook

The Waiting by Michael Connelly

Tenderheart by Hetty Lui McKinnon

For more recommendations and book joy, head to www.bestsellerspodcast.com