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.

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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.

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Move over, Chosen Ones.

We're shining a spotlight on the fantastic but often overlooked side characters of fantasy who well and truly make the story.

• (00:00) Intro
• (00:34) Listener Audio: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara
• (04:33) Unsung Heroes in Fiction
• (06:03) #1: Samwise Gamgee from The Lord of the Rings
• (09:28) #2: Szeth-son-son-Vallano from Stormlight Archive
• (12:49) #3: Night Eyes from Realm of the Elderlings
• (16:41) The Importance of Unsung Heroes and Why We Relate to Them
• (18:19) Share Your Favorite Unsung Heroes

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

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New year, new me... Right?

Luke shares the four most impactful non-fiction books to help you achieve personal growth, cultivate success, and change your mindset for a better 2026.

• (00:00) Intro
• (00:34) Listener Audio
• (01:19) Book Recommendation: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne
• (02:29) How to Become the Best Version of Yourself
• (04:47) The Science of Stuck by Britt Frank
• (08:21) Atomic Habits by James Clear
• (11:24) The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins
• (15:40) The Second Mountain by David Brooks
• (20:01) The 4-Book Wrap Up
• (21:00) Make Reading Books A 2026 Goal

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

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Forget everything you know about magic.

From a deep dive into the incredible world-building to the unforgettable journey of Sabriel, Luke tackles Garth Nix's iconic fantasy series, The Old Kingdom Trilogy.

• (00:00) Intro
• (00:32) Listener Audio
• (02:39) The Old Kingdom Trilogy by Garth Nix
• (05:07) Initial Connection to the Series
• (07:08) Sabriel by Garth Nix
• (10:45) Lirael by Garth Nix
• (15:03) Abhorsen by Garth Nix
• (17:54) Encouragement to Read or Reread the Trilogy
• (19:05) Call to Listeners: Share Your Takeaways
• (19:50) Closing Remarks

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

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Join The Good Books Club as Luke reviews Kristin Hannah's epic Alaskan survival story, The Great Alone.

• (00:00) Intro
• (00:34) Listener Audio
• (03:19) The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah
• (04:12) First Impressions
• (05:22) Immediate Takeaways
• (07:20) The Setting of Alaska
• (08:16) Key Themes
• (11:57) Complex Characters
• (15:50) SPOILER WARNING: The Ending
• (21:17) Call to Listeners: Your Experiences of the Book
• (23:53) The Next Book Club Pick: The Bronze Horseman by Paullina Simons

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

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Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/inthegoodbooks_podcast/
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Matthew Reilly steps into The Writer's Room to discuss his latest books The Detective and the creative process behind his bestselling novels.

• (00:54) Matthew Reilly's Books Shaped Luke's Reading Journey
• (02:55) Getting Young Guys Back to Reading: The Power of Ice Station and Hell Island
• (05:01) Influential School Books: To Kill a Mockingbird and Lord of the Flies
• (07:31) Literary Influences
• (09:07) Advice to His 19-Year-Old Self
• (13:43) The Epic Scope of Mr. Einstein's Secretary
• (14:16) Finding Sam Speedman's Voice in The Detective
• (17:10) Every New Book Must Be Better Than the Last
• (22:01) Not Surprising the Reader with Unsolvable Twists
• (27:55) Obsessiveness in Writing
• (33:42) Writing for Book Clubs
• (39:15)The Impact of Killing Off a Character in Scarecrow
• (44:34) Matthew Reilly's "Good Book"

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

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Warning: Get tissues.

Luke recommends the most emotionally powerful novels. why we often seek out books that make us cry and how they help us process our own feelings.

• (00:00) Intro
• (00:39) Listener Audio
• (02:42) Books That Still Bring Me to Tears
• (04:16) Impenetrability is Harmful
• (07:11) Loss in Magician by Raymond E. Feist
• (09:12) Loneliness in The Witcher
• (11:17) Sacrifice in The Demon Cycle by Peter V. Brett
• (13:36) Reunion in Fool's Fate by Robin Hobb
• (15:32) Historical Fiction: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
• (17:41) Post-Apocalyptic Fiction: The Road by Cormac McCarthy
• (19:17) Conclusion: Vulnerability is Strength
• (22:02) Closing Remarks

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

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.