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The Bibliofilles

The Bibliofilles began, as all great modern love stories do, on Facebook during Lockdown. Sophie asked for a recommendation. Chaya prescribed The Song of Achilles. A DM became a dialogue; a dialogue became @thebibiliofilles; and now, finally, a podcast.

Chaya is a barrister, Sophie a former editor. We read across all genres and trends, from classics and non fiction, to contemporary fiction, romantasy and everything in between.

The Bibliofilles: The Podcast is life through books, where we get to ruminate beyond the reviews and reels, with thematic episodes, academic deep dives, classics, cult favourites and viral sensations.

There will be a book club built for those of us who never quite fit the mould. (with a twist, naturally).

Latest Episodes:

Governments Don’t Want You Reading These Books Jun 02, 2026

Show notes

What happens when society decides certain books are too dangerous to read?

In this episode of the Bibliofilles Podcast, we explore the shocking history of banned books, censorship, moral panic, and the stories that powerful institutions have tried to silence.

From 1984 by George Orwell and Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury to The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood and The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, we discuss the novels that sparked outrage, political fear, religious backlash, and cultural controversy across generations.

We unpack why books continue to be banned in schools and libraries, how censorship reflects societal anxieties, and why literature remains one of the most powerful forms of rebellion. Along the way, we explore dystopian fiction, authoritarianism, surveillance culture, feminism, LGBTQ+ book bans, freedom of speech, and the growing debates around what children should and should not be allowed to read.

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

1984 by George Orwell

👉 https://amzn.to/4dD4KaY

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

👉 https://amzn.to/3RVSwSd

Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood

👉 https://amzn.to/4ubP6rT

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

👉 https://amzn.to/4vlrZwf

Julia by Sandra Newman

👉 https://amzn.to/3Qdw06T

A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley

👉 https://amzn.to/4vqAndX

The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison

👉 https://amzn.to/4dX8Vx6

Song of Solomon by Toni Morrison

👉 https://amzn.to/4ee0UoN

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

👉 https://amzn.to/4e3jrTQ

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck

👉 https://amzn.to/3RVT2Q9

The Satanic Verses by Salman Rushdie

👉 https://amzn.to/4xj6FJJ

The Red Tent by Anita Diamant

👉 https://amzn.to/4fSGq6l

Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

👉 https://amzn.to/4uOnzOG

Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov

👉 https://amzn.to/4dYYZ6s

A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess

👉 https://amzn.to/4uI57Hr

Tropic of Cancer by Henry Miller

👉 https://amzn.to/3REVLxq

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

👉 https://amzn.to/4399AXr

Charlotte's Web by E.B. White and Garth Williams

👉 https://amzn.to/49ytoXX

Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe

👉 https://amzn.to/3RFZNpg

All Boys Aren't Blue by George M. Johnson

👉 https://amzn.to/4fiRtpo

This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson

👉 https://amzn.to/4anvXMD

Lawn Boy by Jonathan Evison

👉 https://amzn.to/4dHx5Nq

Educated by Tara Westover

👉 https://amzn.to/4nZIbAN

If you love literary analysis, classic books, dystopian fiction, banned books history, political literature, and conversations about culture through literature, this episode is for you.

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

⁠https://londonnootropics.com⁠

#BannedBooks #BookTok #BibliophilesPodcast #BooksPodcast #LiteraturePodcast #BookLovers #ClassicLiterature #DystopianBooks #1984 #Fahrenheit451 #TheHandmaidsTale #GeorgeOrwell #MargaretAtwood #ToniMorrison #BookDiscussion #ReadingCommunity #BookRecommendations #FreedomToRead #Censorship #BookCensorship #LiteraryPodcast

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The Most Performative Book on The Internet? May 25, 2026

Show notes

What happens when one of the internet’s most aesthetic books is actually read properly?

In this deep dive episode, we unpack The Stranger by Albert Camus the slim philosophical classic that has become a cultural obsession online.

From performative reading culture and celebrity book clubs to absurdism, existentialism, alienation, mental health, internet culture, and modern emotional burnout, this episode explores why The Stranger still feels terrifyingly relevant today.

If you’ve ever seen someone reading The Stranger on the train and wondered what it actually means this is the episode for you.

Perfect for fans of literary analysis, classic literature, philosophy, dark academia, booktok, existential fiction, and deep-dive book podcasts.

📚 Books & authors discussed:

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

The Stranger

👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The+Stranger

The Myth of Sisyphus

👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=The+Myth+of+Sisyphus

The Secret History

👉 https://amzn.to/48MawUD

Assembly

👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Assembly&crid

Waiting for Godot

👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Waiting+for+Godot&crid

Nausea

👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Nausea&crid

Notes from Underground

👉 https://www.amazon.co.uk/s?k=Notes+from+Underground&crid

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

⁠https://londonnootropics.com

#AlbertCamus #TheStranger #BookPodcast #DarkAcademia #Philosophy #Existentialism #Absurdism #ClassicBooks #BookTok #LiteraryPodcast #FranzKafka #Dostoevsky #BookTube #Literature #DeepDivePodcast #TheBiblioFiles

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Is Yesteryear Trashing Us All May 18, 2026

Show notes

Why is everyone obsessed with Yesteryear right now? 👀

This week we unpack the book everyone seems to be reading from trad-wife culture and influencer motherhood to religion, feminism, identity, and the dark reality behind perfectly curated online lives.

We debate one of the most divisive female protagonists we’ve read in years, discuss the ending that split readers, and explore why this debut has sparked such a huge cultural conversation. 📚🎙️

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

👉 https://amzn.to/3P7DHv4

True Grit by Charles Portis

👉 https://amzn.to/4nvJtDq

Strangers by Belle Burden

👉 https://amzn.to/4wvp3yh

Feminist Theory: From Margin to Center by Bell Hooks

👉 https://amzn.to/4eIubJ8

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

⁠https://londonnootropics.com⁠

Discount code for 20% off

Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15:

⁠https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs⁠

£15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26.

#books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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Books We Would Sell Our Souls To Read Again For The First Time? May 11, 2026

Show notes

What’s the one book you wish you could read again for the very first time?

In this episode, we dive into the books that completely consumed us the stories that altered our brains, broke our hearts, changed how we see the world, and left us chasing the feeling long after the final page.

From surreal labyrinths and devastating literary epics to obsessive dark academia, emotional masterpieces, and books with twists that genuinely left us breathless… these are the books we would do anything to experience again.

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

Star Side by Alex Aster

👉 https://amzn.to/49eYfII

Piranesi by Susanna Clarke

👉 https://amzn.to/48P1pmh

Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke

👉 https://amzn.to/4wgxSfp

The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien

👉 https://amzn.to/4d8y8EB

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

👉 https://amzn.to/4tpOBuf

Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

👉 https://amzn.to/42lyGBV

I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou

👉 https://amzn.to/48NYI4u

A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth

👉 https://amzn.to/48MnE

Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

👉 https://amzn.to/4cV3Y8T

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

👉 https://amzn.to/3P3lleC

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

👉 https://amzn.to/4trtbwF

Alchemised by SenLinYu

👉 https://amzn.to/4d9UdTb

Night Bitch by Rachel Yoder

👉 https://amzn.to/3QUD1cS

What I Loved by Siri Hustvedt

👉 https://amzn.to/4uwc918

A Certain Hunger by Chelsea G Summers

👉 https://amzn.to/4duyt5K

Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu

👉 https://amzn.to/4wlO13o

Matrix by Lauren Groff

👉 https://amzn.to/4tXZlAQ

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

👉 https://amzn.to/4uySUUS

Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall

👉 https://amzn.to/3QQ3SqB

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

👉 https://amzn.to/4etAi3S

We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver

👉 https://amzn.to/3QLjBHv

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

👉 https://amzn.to/3P0pP5H

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

⁠https://londonnootropics.com⁠

Discount code for 20% off

Biblio Discount Code For Bubble BIBLIO15:

⁠https://bubble.onelink.me/nnib/signup?deep_link_sub2=BIBLIO15.T&Cs⁠

£15 off first childcare booking. Not valid in conjunction with other promo codes or account credit. Valid until 01.11.26.

#books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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Are We All in Denial About Who We Are? Apr 27, 2026

Show notes

In this episode, we dive into two unforgettable reads that explore love, identity, and the stories we tell ourselves.

We sit down with Madeleine Gray, author of Chosen Family, to unpack the emotional complexity behind her novel from queer identity and self-loathing to the power of chosen relationships and modern motherhood.

Then we turn to a true classic: Giovanni’s Room by James Baldwin a novel that left us completely shaken. We explore its themes of shame, desire, and emotional conflict, and why it still feels so relevant today.

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

Chosen Family

👉 https://amzn.to/4mIvARQ

Giovanni’s Room

👉 https://amzn.to/3OI98eZ

Yesteryear

👉 https://amzn.to/3OFvHRt

True Grit

👉 https://amzn.to/4sMbF5N

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

https://londonnootropics.com

Discount code for 20% off

Biblio

#books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Is The Secret History Actually That Good? A Deep Dive Apr 20, 2026

Show notes

A Deep Dive into Possibly the Best Book Ever Written? 👀 Few novels inspire obsession like The Secret History and this time, we went all in. After a close reread, we break down the characters, key moments, and the deeper themes that make this book so enduring from elitism and morality to its chilling sense of complicity. We explore the novel’s classical and philosophical influences, unpack different interpretations, and ask the big question… why are we still so obsessed? Whether you’ve read it five times or not at all, this episode will change the way you see it. 👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇 The Secret History by Donna Tartt 👉 https://amzn.to/48MawUD

If We Were Villains by M.L. Rio 👉 https://amzn.to/4sCu4ly

Weavingshaw by Heba Al-Wasity 👉 https://amzn.to/42c6Ojv

Circe by Madeline Miller 👉 https://amzn.to/4cwGbLa

Mythos by Stephen Fry 👉 https://amzn.to/4tgUqL0

Heroes by Stephen Fry 👉 https://amzn.to/4cgLpLZ

Penance by Eliza Clarke 👉 https://amzn.to/4tfBTP7

The Atlas Six by Olivie Blake 👉 https://amzn.to/3Oo3cI8

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 👉 https://amzn.to/4cfIhjw

Babel by R.F. Kuang
👉 https://amzn.to/3QdRY9E 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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Why Is No One Talking About These Books? Apr 13, 2026

Show notes

There are so many good books out there but this week we’re diving into the ones you’ve probably never even heard of and absolutely should have.

From underrated backlist gems to quiet contemporary masterpieces these are the books we can’t stop thinking about, the ones that deserve way more hype than they get.

We’re talking authors you might recognise like Gabrielle Zevin, Margaret Atwood and Hilary Mantel alongside incredible writers who haven’t hit your radar yet.

Fiction, non fiction, literary fiction, Romantasy, forgotten classics and cutting edge ideas there’s something here for everyone.

If you’re looking for your next obsession this is it. Trust us 👀📚

👇 All books mentioned are linked below 👇

The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin

👉 https://amzn.to/4vvrOPZ

Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin

👉 https://amzn.to/4cql9yO

Giving Up the Ghost by Hilary Mantel

👉 https://amzn.to/3Onqmy7

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

👉 https://amzn.to/4sftR7C

Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee

👉 https://amzn.to/4vhZAIg

Bellies by Nicola Dinan

👉 https://amzn.to/4meHMts

Open Water by Caleb Azumah Nelson

👉 https://amzn.to/4dw2D9o

All the Living by C.E. Morgan

👉 https://amzn.to/4sXPpae

The Poet by Louisa Reid

👉 https://amzn.to/3PVKZC0

Homesick by Jennifer Croft

👉 https://amzn.to/4c6Zfiz

Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka

👉 https://amzn.to/4c3LT6N

Ordinary Love by Marie Rutkoski

👉 https://amzn.to/4vdRgcr

The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See

👉 https://amzn.to/4v7pXjT

When God Was a Rabbit by Sarah Winman

👉 https://amzn.to/4v7q2Ed

Why Fish Don’t Exist by Lulu Miller

👉 https://amzn.to/4sa74dn

The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

👉 https://amzn.to/3PJy0n0

The Manningtree Witches by A.K. Blakemore

👉 https://amzn.to/47HiVs9

The New Life by Tom Crewe

👉 https://amzn.to/4c97PgX

The Forgotten Girls by Monica Potts

👉 https://amzn.to/4bRXGX8

The Sleeping Beauties by Suzanne O’Sullivan

👉 https://amzn.to/4dwpRMq

The Premonitions Bureau by Sam Knight

👉 https://amzn.to/4ct6in6

Know My Name by Chanel Miller

👉 https://amzn.to/3NJwFMo

The Last Man by Mary Shelley

👉 https://amzn.to/4e5aBGz

Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman

👉 https://amzn.to/4dw3Tt8

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

https://londonnootropics.com

Discount code for 20% off

Biblio

#books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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This Book Should Never Have Been Published Apr 06, 2026

Show notes

A book scandal has exploded and it’s raising serious questions about the future of publishing. In this episode, we dive into the controversy surrounding a viral novel accused of being largely written by AI… a story that went from self-published success to being pulled from shelves almost overnight. But this isn’t just about one book. We explore how AI is quietly reshaping the literary world from self-publishing trends to major publishers missing the warning signs and ask the bigger question: Can we still trust what we’re reading? This is a conversation about creativity, authenticity, and where we draw the line. Let us know your thoughts in the comments Would you read a book written by AI? 👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie. Sponsored by London Nootropics https://londonnootropics.com Discount code for 20% off Biblio #books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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This Episode Will Make You See Life Differently | Patrick Ryan Book Club Special Mar 30, 2026

Show notes

This week we are so honoured and delighted to be joined by a Patrick Ryan, the author of our inaugural book club new pick Buckeye.

Buckeye was released to huge international acclaim last year, which isn’t surprising given the literary credentials of its author, a NY based editor.

Whether or not you have read this, Patrick has so much to (very eloquently say) about life and resilience.

If you’ve ever felt behind, doubted yourself, or questioned your path… this episode will change how you see everything.

He also shares an astonishingly strange coincidence that left our jaws on the floor.

We also discuss our older book club pick - by the inimitable Mel Robbins, the High Five Habit which hugely surprised us and leads to a conversation about that endless loop of self critique and confidence.

In this episode we also reveal our picks for Aprils book club, which we are giddy with excitement to discuss:

Chosen Family - the new release everyone is talking about

Giovannis Room - the classic everyone needs to read

Giovanni's Room by James Baldwin

👉 https://amzn.to/4rZ2Jd1

Chosen Family by Green Dot

👉 https://amzn.to/4ryxOE1

Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

👉 https://amzn.to/3NC8mzE

The High 5 Habit by Mel Robbins

👉 https://amzn.to/470AbIB

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

https://londonnootropics.com

Discount code for 20% off

Biblio

#books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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Would You Survive These Friendships? Mar 23, 2026

Show notes

Friendships… but make them messy, obsessive, and unforgettable 👀

From The Kite Runner to The Secret History, we’re breaking down the friendships that shaped us and the ones that completely destroyed people.

Campus obsession. Fake identities. Chosen family. Lifelong bonds.

Some of these friendships feel real… others feel a little too real.

So the question is which ones would you actually want in your life?

In Memoriam by Alice Winn

👉 https://amzn.to/4ryklfI

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 👉 https://amzn.to/4ryxOE1

Recitatif by Toni Morrison 👉 https://amzn.to/3NC8mzE

Playground by Richard Powers 👉 https://amzn.to/470AbIB

Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld 👉 https://amzn.to/4scxDQ6

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer 👉 https://amzn.to/4urb3oj

The God of the Woods by Liz Moore 👉 https://amzn.to/46SQ5EU

Almond by Won-pyung Sohn 👉 https://amzn.to/4sGLpKz

Wonder by R.J. Palacio 👉 https://amzn.to/4lxssI8

My Friends by Fredrik Backman 👉 https://amzn.to/3PlggxT

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin 👉 https://amzn.to/3NM8Vqk

Stoner by John Williams 👉 https://amzn.to/4t3hYCT

The Secret History by Donna Tartt 👉 https://amzn.to/412uIxj

Writers & Lovers by Lily King 👉 https://amzn.to/4b9mrOf

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo 👉 https://amzn.to/4dld8vT

If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio 👉 https://amzn.to/4s9p4W4

Babel by R.F. Kuang 👉 https://amzn.to/4biouyj

Yellowface by R.F. Kuang 👉 https://amzn.to/4siZ3np

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara 👉 https://amzn.to/3PtmbAX

Still Life by Sarah Winman 👉 https://amzn.to/4lsjnzZ

The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon 👉 https://amzn.to/4uHCRFg

The Neapolitan Novels by Elena Ferrante 👉 https://amzn.to/4rwkRL9

The Silence of the Girls by Pat Barker 👉 https://amzn.to/4lqV0ml

Sword Catcher by Cassandra Clare 👉 https://amzn.to/4rwl0OH

Friendaholic by Elizabeth Day 👉 https://amzn.to/3P5lg9U

Chosen Family by Madeleine Gray 👉 https://amzn.to/3P6vV4g

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DVzC66JjEqz/?igsh=MWY2Y2dmY3R5dWdjaw==

👍 Like, subscribe, and turn on notifications for more bookish conversations with Chaya & Sophie.

Sponsored by London Nootropics

https://londonnootropics.com

Discount code for 20% off

Biblio

#books #booktok #booktube #bookreview #booklover #bookstagram #bookish #bookrecommendations

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