Episode notes
We're back. Have you missed us? We missed you. We're bigger, bookier and better than ever before. Now lightening up your hump days - series two lands in just two days time this Wednesday, with themes including Weddings, Revenge and Beach Reads. Get in touch now to tell us what you've enjoyed reading over the break, or your Shelf Help dilemmas. We've missed you. There's lots of exciting things to come. Think bonus episodes, think author interviews, think STACK. Subscribe now so you never miss an episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Podcast
STACK with Jake and Ella
STACK Books/W!ZARD Studios · Arts & Books · English
Meet your next favourite books... STACK with Jake and Ella is a books podcast sharing the books we love and helping people fall in love-and stay in love-with reading. In every episode, Ella and Jake will present a curated list of six brilliant books on a theme. We're creating mini-libraries on a th
More from STACK with Jake and Ella All episodes →
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S2 · E5 · 9 Sep 2026 · 45 min
On Campus: Ella’s first Sally Rooney, Booker Prizes and an exclusive reading of May We Feed The King by Rebecca Perry
It’s freshers week for Jake and Ella as they share their favourite campus-set novels. Whether you’re talking Uni or College, consider these books your set texts for September - educational, fun and full of mistakes. Plus, Ella has finally read Normal People and you can hear an exclusive extract from Booker-longlisted May We Feed the King, read by the author. The books featured in this week’s STACK: Black Bag by Luke Kennard The Secret History by Donna Tartt The Rayburn Affair by Laurie Petrou The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss The House on Otley Road by Rosa Silverman Normal People by…
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S2 · E4 · 26 Aug 2026 · 29 min
Wedding Dramas: Taylor Swift, Claire Daverley and Croquembouche Catastrophes
Why are we so obsessed with weddings in fiction? This week Jake and Ella discuss their favourite books about nuptials. From love triangles and in-laws to hen-dos and croquembouches, these six books are guaranteed to bring the drama. Plus, Jake has spotted a Taylor Swift inspired theme in bookshops… The books featured in this week’s STACK: The Wedding People by Alison Espach Ghost Wedding by David Park Piglet by Lottie Hazell Best Woman by Rose Dommu People in Love by Claire Daverley The Marriage Plot by Jeffrey Eugenides Also mentioned: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley A Deadly Education…
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S2 · E3 · 12 Aug 2026 · 33 min
Revenge Is Sweet: Frenemies, The Raven Scholar and Wuthering Heights on Ice
It’s payback time! Join Jake and Ella as they discuss their favourite books about revenge. Plus, Jake has a harrowing story about punctuation and Ella is seeking information on a Sheffield motorist. She just wants to talk. The books featured in this week’s STACK: Speech Team by Tim Murphy Honey by Imani Thompson We Play Ourselves by Jen Silverman The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson Better Than Revenge by Bea Fitzgerald The Favourites by Layne Fargo Also mentioned: My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid Show Don’t Tell by Curtis…
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S2 · E2 · 5 Aug 2026 · 16 min
BONUS: David Nicholls: Love Stories, University Nostalgia and What To Read After One Day
Surprise! We’ve squeezed in a super special bonus episode all about David Nicholls and his books about love. Jake, a self-professed Nicholls head guides Ella through the options, and she picks her next read from his recommendations. Loved One Day, and wondering where else to go next? This is the episode for you. The books featured in this week’s STACK: The Understudy by David Nicholls Starter For Ten by David Nicholls One Day by David Nicholls Us by David Nicholls Sweet Sorrow by David Nicholls You Are Here by David Nicholls AD | Thank you to Hodder Books and their David Nicholls: Read For…
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S2 · E1 · 29 Jul 2026 · 35 min
Literally Beach Reads: Off Campus, The Odyssey & STACK is Back!
Your favourite books podcast returns with an episode on Beach Reads. Literally. In this episode we discuss our favourite books set on the coast - perfect for your holiday reading. We also cover the cultural highlights from the break (The Odyssey! Off Campus! Heartstopper! Yesteryear!) and go absolutely mad responding to a Shelf Help dilemma about nature writing. The books featured in this week’s STACK: Beach Read by Emily Henry The Summer Boy by Philippe Besson Sandwich by Catherine Newman Private Rites by Julia Armfield The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han The Shampoo Effect by Jenny…
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E13 · 7 Apr 2026 · 35 min
Books on Friendship: Confetti Cannons, Mayflies, Gabrielle Zevin AND we’ll be back in July!
It’s the season one finale and it starts with a literal bang (sorry about the noise)! In this episode we look back on our highlights from the last twelve episodes and share our favourite books about friendship because we’re incredibly sentimental. Plus Ella pitches a soon-to-be-published book as Ghostbusters meets It’s A Sin and it’s the crossover you didn’t know you needed! Don’t forget to subscribe to the pod so you don’t miss our triumphant return in July… The books featured in this week’s STACK: Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout Drayton and Mackenzie by…
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E12 · 24 Mar 2026 · 36 min
Books for Turbulent Times: Emily Henry, Motherland and When To Hibernate
Do you ever feel the need to hide from the world in a book? We do! All the time! This episode showcases our favourite books to read in turbulent times - with a generous side of caveats. Our shelf-help segment this week includes our top recommendations for a documentary-style novel - perfect for fans of Daisy Jones and the Six! The books featured in this week’s STACK: The Poetry Pharmacy by William Sieghart We All Live Here by JoJo Moyes Wintering by Katherine May Maps of Our Spectacular Bodies by Maddie Mortimer The Mystery of Mercy Close by Marian Keyes The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer We…
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E11 · 10 Mar 2026 · 33 min
Noughties Nostalgia: Lily Allen, Malorie Blackman and Kissin’ Kate Barlow
In honour of World Book Day we’ve collected some of the most iconic reads of our childhood and hopefully yours too. Jake tries to recommend Lord of the Flies to an eleven-year-old and Ella learns that Lemony Snicket is actually a man called Daniel. The books featured in this week’s STACK: Stormbreaker by Anthony Horowitz Northern Lights by Phillip Pulman The Poltergoose by Michael Laurence Holes by Louis Sachar The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman Jake recommends Daniel Handler’s memoir: And Then? And Then? What Else? Both are obsessed with Lily Allen’s…
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E10 · 24 Feb 2026 · 34 min
Classics with a Twist: Sally Rooney, Ella Risbridger and the 900 Versions of Pride & Prejudice
We tried to put together an episode on Classics but Jake only likes the popular ones and Ella doesn't like any of them... Instead, presenting our own take on the late, the great, and the classics we hate. Plus, Ella has never read a Sally Rooney book. The books featured in this week's STACK: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver In Love With Love by Ella Risbridger Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld Intermezzo by Sally Rooney James by Percival Everett Catherine by Essie Fox Ella recommended this episode of the Shameless podcast:…
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E9 · 16 Feb 2026 · 23 min
BONUS: Wuthering Heights - What We Thought
Join us for an extra special bonus episode of STACK, filmed the day after Jake and Ella watched Wuthering Heights in the greatest cinema in the world. It’s one of Jake’s favourite books, and it’s the talk of the internet, but was it any good? STACK with Jake and Ella is a books podcast helping you cut through the noise to fall in love - and stay in love - with reading. Each fortnight, we’ll be sharing curated lists on a theme of the books that are worth your time. Please follow us on your podcast player or subscribe on YouTube. Do comment and share and if you’d like to support the podcast…
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