Show Notes
Welcome to our favourite episode: the yearly wrap! We're sharing our reading stats, 2024 goals and the books, TV, film and audio we loved in 2024. Make sure you're also following us on Substack. On the last day of the month, we share recommendations for two things we reckon you should read/watch/listen to – and we try to keep these separate from regular episode recommendations. The beauty of Substack is you can revisit all our old editions and comment on our episode updates to share your thoughts. Come say hi! Thank you for joining us in 2024 and supporting our wonderful authors. We love hearing your thoughts on the episodes and what books you've been inspired to pick up – even if it's an older episode. You can also connect with us on Instagram @betterwordspod We're keeping recommendations brief. If we've featured or discussed the book before, we'll link to the episode. Any PR/review copies marked with * We kick off with a wrap-up of our reading stats for the year: how many books and pages, the moods and re-reads. Our awards category of favourite books kicks off at 2023 debut book Caitlin: I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue* Michelle: The Silence in Between by Josie Ferguson* (listen to our interview) Non-fiction Caitlin: If You Would Have Told Me by John Stamos Michelle: Everything is Everything by Clive Myrie By someone who has never been a podcast guest Caitlin: This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune Michelle: Prima Facie by Suzie Miller* (listen to our book club chat) Australian/UK fiction Caitlin: Appreciation by Liam Pieper* (our interview) Michelle: The List of Suspicious Things by Jennie Godfrey* (our interview) Romance Caitlin: Sit Stay Love/Love From Scratch by Amy Hutton* (our interview) Michelle: You Belong with Me by Mhairi McFarlane (our 2021 interview) General fiction Caitlin: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Michelle: Alone in Berlin by Hans Fallada Honourable mention: Family Politics by John O'Farrell Young adult Caitlin: I’m Not Really Here by Gary Lonesborough* (our interview) Michelle: Dead Happy by Josh Silver (our 2023 interview) Most surprising Caitlin: How To Kill Your Family by Bella Mackie* (our book club chat) Michelle: The Bee Sting by Paul Murray* Fave Cover Caitlin: Experienced by Kate Young* (our interview) Michelle: The Beholders by Hester Musson Recommendations for each other Caitlin: We Could Be Something by Will Kostakis Michelle: Factory Girls by Michelle Gallen Worth the Hype Caitlin: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Michelle: I Hope This Finds You Well by Natalie Sue* 2025 books on our radar (by authors not previously read) Michelle: 10 Marchfield Square by Nicola Whyte A Trial in Three Acts by Guy Morpuss 33 Place Brugmann by Alice Austen The Grapevine by Kate Kemp All the Other Mothers Hate Me by Sarah Harman The Eights by Joanna Miller
Caitlin: Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley The Pool by Hannah Tunnicliffe
2025 books on our radar (by authors we love) Michelle: Cover Story by Mhairi McFarlane Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister
Caitlin: Swept Away by Beth O'Leary Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry Slags by Emma Jane Unsworth Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins
Television Caitlin: Shrinking The New Look Nobody Wants This
Michelle: SAS: Rogue Heroes The Americans Everyone Else Burns
Film Caitlin: Better Man Challengers My Old Ass
Michelle: Midas Man Wicked Prima Facie – NT Live re-release (listen to us chat about it here)
Books and other things mentioned Caitlin's trip to Prince Edward Island Literary Legends StoryGraph challenge for 2025 Boy From the Valleys by Luke Evans Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister Elphie by Gregory Maguire So Thrilled For You by Holly Bourne* So Good by Emily English
Connect with us on Instagram: @betterwordspod
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