Bex and Bob share their “crumbs of joy,” from a first trip to Hay-on-Wye and fangirling over Elif Shafak to why book prizes like the International Booker can make readers feel seen. They chat about comforting reads like The Midnight Library and Penelope Fitzgerald, Enid Blyton-fuelled childhood independence, and Bob’s Shelf Discovery pick Supporting Act on care work and the mental load. Plus: who they’d recruit from book world for a zombie apocalypse, and a ruthless “Dunk or Ditch” on Garibaldis, Milkman, Nice biscuits, and rich tea.

Books Mentioned:

1. 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World – Elif Shafak
2. The Island of Missing Trees – Elif Shafak
3. Heart Lamp – Banu Mushtaq (translated by Deepa Vashti)
4. The Midnight Library – Matt Haig
5. Reasons to Stay Alive – Matt Haig
6. Works – Penelop ...