From ride-or-die besties to deep, complex bonds, Luke explores the most memorable friendships which anchor the greatest fantasy novels and fictional worlds.
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio
(04:47) Friendships in Fiction
(07:12) Friendship #1: Locke and Jean from The Gentleman Bastard series 
(11:57)Friendship #2: Jude and Willem from A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
(17:53)Friendship #3: Aman Jair and Arlen Bales from The Demon Cycle series
(22:27) The Importance of Friendship
(24:06) Share Your Friendship Stories and Favorite Fictional Friendships

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

From ride-or-die besties to deep, complex bonds, Luke explores the most memorable friendships which anchor the greatest fantasy novels and fictional worlds.
<ul>
<li>(00:00) Intro</li>
<li>(00:34) Listener Audio</li>
<li>(04:47) Friendships in Fiction</li>
<li>(07:12) Friendship #1: Locke and Jean from <a href="https://books.apple.com/pl/book/the-gentleman-bastard-series-3-book-bundle/id998195744">The Gentleman Bastard series </a></li>
<li>(11:57)Friendship #2: Jude and Willem from <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/a-little-life/id994799509">A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara</a></li>
<li>(17:53)Friendship #3: Aman Jair and Arlen Bales from <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-demon-cycle-5-book-bundle/id1499290776">The Demon Cycle series</a></li>
<li>(22:27) The Importance of Friendship</li>
<li>(24:06) Share Your Friendship Stories and Favorite Fictional Friendships</li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>

What’s your story? Everyone has one — the ones we read and the ones we live.

In The Good Books is a new weekly podcast that serves as a community for those who believe in the power of a good story.

Each week, host Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. He’ll also sit down with the most fascinating voices in the literary world — from bestselling authors to emerging new talent — as they reveal the inspirations behind their work.

This is more than a book club; it's a space to explore how the stories we consume influence the lives we lead.

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

What&rsquo;s your story? Everyone has one &mdash; the ones we read and the ones we live.
In The Good Books is a new weekly podcast that serves as a community for those who believe in the power of a good story.
Each week, host Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. He&rsquo;ll also sit down with the most fascinating voices in the literary world &mdash; from bestselling authors to emerging new talent &mdash; as they reveal the inspirations behind their work.
This is more than a book club; it's a space to explore how the stories we consume influence the lives we lead.
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at&nbsp;<a href="mailto:GoodBooks@nine.com.au">GoodBooks@nine.com.au</a>.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/ TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

Luke Bateman shares the books that have shaped his world, from timeless classics to buzzy bestsellers. A community for those who believe in the power of a good story.

In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

Luke's Favourite Fictional Friendships

Paullina Simons talks how her life shaped her writing, The Bronze Horseman, her new book The Bell and the Blade, and why she writes 'love in loveless times'

[00:43] - Paullina on finding Luke

[02:21] - Paullina’s early life

[05:34] - How Paullina’s love of stories began 

[07:35] - Paullina’s earliest literary loves: The Three Musketeers, Les Miserables, the Count of Monte Cristo

[12:22] - Paullina’s first story

[15:15] - Why Paullina is drawn to writing about hardship and resilience 

[17:13] - Victor Frankl’s ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’

[18:48] - The Bronze Horseman

[25:00] - The Bell and the Blade

[33:22] - What is Paullina’s favourite out of everything she’s written?

[35:38] - what Advice would Paullina give to an aspiring writer?

[36:21] - East of Eden by John Steinbeck

[39:35] - Paullina’s Good Book 

[40:45] - Ordinary People by Judith Guest

[41:06] - Shopgirl by Steve Martin

[41:50] - Paullina’s relationship to fantasy

[42:49] - The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien

[43:07] - The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien

[44:38] - What’s next?

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast

Paullina Simons talks how her life shaped her writing, The Bronze Horseman, her new book The Bell and the Blade, and why she writes 'love in loveless times'
[00:43] - Paullina on finding Luke
[02:21] - Paullina&rsquo;s early life
[05:34] - How Paullina&rsquo;s love of stories began&nbsp;
[07:35] - Paullina&rsquo;s earliest literary loves: <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-three-musketeers/id6745530630">The Three Musketeers</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/les-miserables/id584751942">Les Miserables</a>, <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-count-of-monte-cristo/id481657971">the Count of Monte Cristo</a>
[12:22] - Paullina&rsquo;s first story
[15:15] - Why Paullina is drawn to writing about hardship and resilience&nbsp;
[17:13] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/mans-search-for-meaning/id476023633">Victor Frankl&rsquo;s &lsquo;Man&rsquo;s Search for Meaning&rsquo;</a>
[18:48] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-bronze-horseman/id660542444">The Bronze Horseman</a>
[25:00] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-bell-and-the-blade/id6749254791">The Bell and the Blade</a>
[33:22] - What is Paullina&rsquo;s favourite out of everything she&rsquo;s written?
[35:38] - what Advice would Paullina give to an aspiring writer?
[36:21] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/east-of-eden/id374866864">East of Eden by John Steinbeck</a>
[39:35] - Paullina&rsquo;s Good Book&nbsp;
[40:45] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/ordinary-people/id357925316">Ordinary People by Judith Guest</a>
[41:06] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/audiobook/shopgirl-unabridged/id1439477212">Shopgirl by Steve Martin</a>
[41:50] - Paullina&rsquo;s relationship to fantasy
[42:49] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/gb/book/the-lord-of-the-rings/id380681259">The Lord of the Rings by JRR Tolkien</a>
[43:07] - <a href="https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-hobbit/id1602694961">The Hobbit by JRR Tolkien</a>
[44:38] - What&rsquo;s next?
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>

The Writer's Room: Paullina Simons

Struggling to start a habit or stay motivated? 

Hear all the practical, no-pressure advice and proven hacks to help anyone discover the joy of reading and make it a daily practice.
(00:00) Intro
(00:31) Listener Audio
(02:20)Why Reading is Important
(05:11) Mindset Tip #1: Drop the Shoulds
(07:33) Mindset Tip #2: The 50 Page Rule
(08:33) Mindset Tip #3: Develop a Reading Identity
(09:52) Medium Tip #1: Audiobooks are Not Cheating 
(12:22) Medium Tip #2: Invest in a Portable Reader 
(14:12) Habit Tip #1: Habit Stacking 
(15:16) Habit Tip #2: Replace Your Scrolling 
(16:14) Habit Tip #3: Make it Social
(18:20) Consistency Beats Intensity
(20:35) Share Your Reading Tips and Tricks

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast 

Struggling to start a habit or stay motivated?&nbsp;
Hear all the practical, no-pressure advice and proven hacks to help anyone discover the joy of reading and make it a daily practice.
<ul>
<li>(00:00) Intro</li>
<li>(00:31) Listener Audio</li>
<li>(02:20)Why Reading is Important</li>
<li>(05:11) Mindset Tip #1: Drop the Shoulds</li>
<li>(07:33) Mindset Tip #2: The 50 Page Rule</li>
<li>(08:33) Mindset Tip #3: Develop a Reading Identity</li>
<li>(09:52) Medium Tip #1: Audiobooks are Not Cheating&nbsp;</li>
<li>(12:22) Medium Tip #2: Invest in a Portable Reader&nbsp;</li>
<li>(14:12) Habit Tip #1: Habit Stacking&nbsp;</li>
<li>(15:16) Habit Tip #2: Replace Your Scrolling&nbsp;</li>
<li>(16:14) Habit Tip #3: Make it Social</li>
<li>(18:20) Consistency Beats Intensity</li>
<li>(20:35) Share Your Reading Tips and Tricks</li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>&nbsp;

Want To Be A Better Reader? Here's How!

Join The Good Books Club as Luke reviews Paullina Simons’ sweeping historical romance, The Bronze Horseman.
(00:00) Intro
(00:34) Listener Audio
(03:23) The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons
(04:15) First Impressions
(06:18) The Setting: Leningrad, the Siege, and the War Hardship
(09:11) Tension in the Metanova Apartment
(10:26) The Love Story
(11:38) The Sexual/Romantic Writing
(13:40) Alexander's Character
(16:45) SPOILER: Alexander's Sacrifice and The Ending
(19:20) Final Takeaway
(21:05) The Next Book Club Pick: Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic by CM Ncosta

We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au. 

Follow all the action on our socials: 

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast 

Join The Good Books Club as Luke reviews Paullina Simons&rsquo; sweeping historical romance, The Bronze Horseman.
<ul>
<li>(00:00) Intro</li>
<li>(00:34) Listener Audio</li>
<li>(03:23) <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/book/the-bronze-horseman/id660542444">The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons</a></li>
<li>(04:15) First Impressions</li>
<li>(06:18) The Setting: Leningrad, the Siege, and the War Hardship</li>
<li>(09:11) Tension in the Metanova Apartment</li>
<li>(10:26) The Love Story</li>
<li>(11:38) The Sexual/Romantic Writing</li>
<li>(13:40) Alexander's Character</li>
<li>(16:45) SPOILER: Alexander's Sacrifice and The Ending</li>
<li>(19:20) Final Takeaway</li>
<li>(21:05) The Next Book Club Pick: <a href="https://books.apple.com/au/audiobook/moon-blooded-breeding-clinic-cambric-creek-sweet-steamy/id1704748554">Moon Blooded Breeding Clinic by CM Ncosta</a></li>
</ul>
We want to hear from you! Send us your audio by emailing us at GoodBooks@nine.com.au.&nbsp;
Follow all the action on our socials:&nbsp;
Instagram -<a href="https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/"> https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/</a> TikTok -<a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast"> https://www.tiktok.com/@inthegoodbooks_podcast</a>&nbsp;

Luke's Favourite Fictional Friendships

In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

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In The Good Books with Luke Bateman

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