Whether it’s fiction, memoir, anthology or anything else in between, books have always had a way to entertain, educate and inspire readers… and to be honest, sometimes even help us make sense of ourselves and our place in the world.
But if there’s anything just about as satisfying as perusing those pages, it’s talking about them! And that’s exactly what the Missing Perspectives team are doing on Booksmart. The popular book-focused podcast is back with a refreshed format, complete with video eps and new hosts: our Head of Editorial & Operations, Sunny Adcock and Social & Partnerships Lead, Allie Daisy King. Plus, QBD Books has joined as a bookselling partner of the show.
Booksmart blends a book club format with in-depth conversations featuring some of the world’s most beloved authors. Tapping into the heart of the cultural zeitgeist at a time when #BookTok and book-to-screen adaptations are thriving – think People We Meet On Vacation (episode 1 of the podcast!) – Booksmart is all about offering smart, funny, and nuanced takes on the stories shaping Gen Z and millennial women.
“With the rise of #Booktok, the mania surrounding book-to-screen adaptations, there is a cultural reading renaissance happening right before our eyes (and ears). While some are quick to say that Gen Z have an ever-shortening attention span, long-form media is also making a huge comeback,” says Allie Daisy King.
“People yearn for witty discourse about the things they hold dear, and to be validated in their adoration for women’s stories. That is where Booksmart comes in!”
Speaking of that first ep (which dropped in early February), it soared to #1 on Spotify’s Arts Charts for over a week, also reaching #11 across all Spotify charts, and amassing more than 150,000 listeners. The support reminds us of the undeniable appetite for conversations that go beyond the written page, as well as the desire for connection and community, both online and in book stores. Last month, we brought together leading readers, BookTok creators and literary voices for an evening of conversation and cultural commentary at Sydney’s Romancing The Novel.
“We are so fortunate to have such a wonderful community out the gate. The whole event felt like girlhood personified,” says Sunny, hinting this is only the beginning of more IRL events.
Both Sunny and Allie are excited to explore an array of titles and genres, and with QBD having signed on as a launch sponsor for the podcast, Missing Perspectives founder Phoebe Saintilan-Stocks describes this launch as “more than a podcast product offering”.
“It’s about creating a literary ecosystem for young women, online and offline,” she says. “We’ve seen what happens when you take smart cultural commentary and give it a community. Hitting #1 in our first week shows the appetite is there and we want to capitalise on the huge demand.”
One of the most rewarding aspects of Booksmart is its unquestionably aligned mission with Missing Perspectives of helping diverse women feel see and heard and through impactful storytelling.
“Booksmart is proud to centre women’s stories across a multitude of genres. Young girls and women dictate culture and support entire economies; our interests, passions, dollars, and stories matter” says Sunny.
While we can’t reveal too much, we can tease a few upcoming titles on our radar including Vow of Eternal Night by Lily Crozier plus And Now, Back to You by B.K. Borison.
With a few episodes having already dropped, now’s the time to hit subscribe and get listening if you haven’t already! You can also follow Booksmart on Instagram here.
Listen to Booksmart now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
Episode 1: ‘People We Meet on Vacation’ & What Book-To-Screen Adaptations Owe Readers?
What do book-to-screen adaptations owe their readers? And further, what makes a good adaptation? Should the goal of any adaptation be to appease existing fandoms or attract new ones? These are the central questions that Sunny and Allie set out to answer, using Emily Henry’s People We Meet on Vacation, recently released on Netflix, as their case study.
Episode 2: Sex, Trauma & ‘How To End A Love Story’: Book Club
This first book club episode delves into the wonderful and traumatic world of Yulin Kuang and How to End a Love Story. Kuang is an author, director, and screenwriter, known for the adaptation of People We Meet on Vacation. Sunny and Allie discuss all things trauma bonds, pretty privilege, and if this book is actually a love story.
Episode 3: Jennette McCurdy, Shock Value & Second Book Syndrome (‘Half His Age’ & ‘I’m Glad My Mom Died’)
Does depicting taboo relationships automatically mean endorsing them? Does having an interesting personal story automatically make you a good storyteller? And further, how does an author follow up a seminal debut? These are the central questions that Sunny and Allie set out to answer in this episode, using writer and former child actor Jennette McCurdy’s fiction debut, Half His Age, and her best-selling memoir, I’m Glad My Mom Died, as their case studies.