We are loving the top picks from your reading and listening libraries! Keep them coming.

 

The Interview

With a new episode released each week, the hosts, Lulu Garcia-Navarro and David Marchese, speak with some of the most compelling and fascinating figures in culture, business, sports and politics. My favourite episodes include an interview with Kílian Jornet, Spanish runner and ski mountaineer and Gisèle Pelicot, the woman at the centre of the French rape trial that shocked the world. The candid interviews allow the audience a sneak peek into their minds. Jornet, who’s climbed Everest twice, shares how pushing our body to the extreme connects us to ourselves. Pelicot inspires with her insane resilience. The interviews also match long-form interviews in the New York Times. Camilla, Wellington

 

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Talking Pit Podcast

I’ve really enjoyed listening to Talking Pit. Megan Papas and Anthony Capaldi (Lewis Capaldi’s brother!) have a fun, natural way of chatting about Formula 1 that makes it easy to follow, even if you’re not an expert. I like the mix of race updates, stories and their personal banter. As a woman who likes Formula 1, it feels less like intense sports commentary and more like you’re listening to a couple friends talk about something they’re really passionate about. Phoebe, Gisborne

 

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The Wedding People by Alison Espach (Orion Publishing Co.)

In need of an easy-lounging-on-the-beach read while on holiday, I added The Wedding People to my Kindle. Within two sittings, I’d finished the book. Although it starts out rather dark, covering themes of suicide, it’s a lovely journey to self-love set in picturesque Rhode Island during an extravagant wedding. The main character is funny, witty and you’re cheering her on throughout the book, believing she deserves better for herself. By the end, you realise you’re worthy of your own self-love story too. Sam, Christchurch

 

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Flood Zone by Brett Austin (Harbour Lights)

A cracking good yarn, I just flew through it. It has great characters and an interesting plot with plenty of twists and turns. A crime thriller, the hero, Sam Cole, is a detective who has lost his job, his wife and has retreated home to the Coromandel to help his ageing mother. He gets pulled into helping out his mother’s friend and stumbles onto much more than he anticipated – drugs, murder, gangs and greedy developers.  Add a touch of romance, hope and the protagonist rediscovering his purpose and worthiness, and it is an enthralling read. Roger, Auckland

 

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YesterYear by Caro Claire Burke (HarperCollins Publishers)

It is always uncomfortable to say you dislike a book everyone else seems to adore, but that was precisely my experience. While YesterYear has been widely praised, I struggled to stay invested. It is undeniably well-crafted and rich in detail, yet the slow-burn approach left me detached from the main character’s journey. A unique blend of satire, social media commentary and historical themes, it feels completely valid to acknowledge its artistry but it simply didn’t click for me. Am I the only one? Anna, Loburn 

We would love to share your book & podcast reviews as you never know the ripple effect of your recommendations!
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