He Read She Read
By He Read She Read
And ‘she’ is Sarah Bailey.
We’re two Melbourne based authors who – surprise surprise – love books.
We love writing books, reading books and listening to books, and we especially love talking about books. We don’t always agree but that’s probably going to be the best part.
Each episode will see us deep dive into a book we think is worth talking about. We will chat through the key elements: namely the premise, plot, people, place and the pace.
We’d like to give a huge shout out to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Specsavers, for making our show possible.
We Read The First Stone by Helen Garner with special guest Louise Milligan
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by investigative journalist, Louise Milligan, to unpack Helen Garner’s controversial 1995 book, The First Stone. They discuss the issue at the centre of the book, the approach Garner took, her distinctive writing style and whether it would have been published today.
Louise then provides some book recommendations.
You can follow Louise @milliganreports
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We ReRead Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are blasting off into outer space and deep-diving Taylor Jenkin-Reid’s latest novel Atmosphere. They discuss what they like and dislike about the commercial blockbuster and how they would rewrite the ending.
Recommendations:
Sarah recommended Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.
JP recommended Seascraper by Benjamin Wood.
And he snuck in a bonus recommendation Train Dreams by Denis Johnson and The Elements by John Boyne.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We ReRead Heart the Lover by Lily King
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah dive into one of the most talked about books of the year, Lily King’s Heart the Lover. They discuss why it has captured so many hearts around the world and why it is so loved. JP explains his pet peeve of literary references in novels and Sarah explains her allergic reaction to the protagonist’s love interest at the beginning of the novel. They risk cancellation by unpacking whether the tear-inducing ending was earned or emotionally manipulative.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
We ReRead Flesh By David Szalay
For the first episode of He Read She Read®, JP and Sarah deep dive the 2025 Booker Prize winning novel Flesh by David Szalay. They talk about how the Booker Prize is determined and the controversial 2025 judge, how they feel about Flesh and whether they believe it’s a worthy Booker Prize winner.
Recommendations:
JP recommended Dove by Georgia Harper.
Sarah recommended Don’t Let Him In by crime fiction author, Lisa Jewell.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
The He Read She Read ®team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We ReRead The Names by Florence Knapp with special guests Clare and Jessie Stephens
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by journalists, authors and fellow podcasters, Clare and Jessie Stephens. They discuss The Names by Florence Knapp. They talk about what they liked and what they didn’t and whether the high concept premise of the book was maintained throughout the novel.
Recommendations:
Clare and Jessie both recommend Heart the Lover by Lily King
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
Follow Clare Stephens @clare.stephenss
Follow Jessie Stephens @jessiestephens90
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read GONE GIRL by Gillian Flynn
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah unpack Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn.
They discuss the novel’s huge popularity and how it reinvigorated the crime genre, prompting a wave of ‘girl’ books to be published.
They talk about its enduring qualities and whether Flynn will ever write another novel.
JP and Sarah also share a book recommendation.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read TRANSCRIPTION by Ben Lerner with special guest Maddison Connaughton
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by ABC journalist Maddison Connaughton to dive into Ben Lerner’s novel, Transcription.
They talk about the key themes in the book, Ben Lerner’s body of work, his writing style and the unique story structure of this novel.
Maddison also shares a reading recommendation.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow Maddison @soyfw4eva and sign up to her newsletter One Good Thing here
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
Surf Coast Writer’s Festival Live Podcast Recording
This week we have a special He Read She Read® treat for you: our first ever live podcast recording! Listen to JP and Sarah discuss their latest books, talk about hosting the podcast, share their reading preferences and have a generally chaotic meandering conversation. This special event took place on June 27 at the inaugural Surf Coast Writer’s Festival in Torquay.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read LAND by Maggie O’Farrell with special guest Beejay Silcox.
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by revered book critic Beejay Silcox to unpack Maggie O’Farrell’s latest novel, Land. Beejay also shares what it’s like to be a book critic and how she goes about constructing her reviews, plus shares some great reading recommendations.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read VIGIL by George Saunders with special guests Marieke Hardy and Jason Steger.
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by book royalty, Marieke Hardy and Jason Steger to dive into George Saunders latest novel, Vigil. Marieke and Jason share their book reading habits and provide some banging book recommendations.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
You can follow Marieke @marieke_hardy
You can follow Jason @jasonfsteger
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah jump on the tradwife bandwagon and unpacked the instant global bestseller, Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke. They talk about the hype of it all and whether these kinds of must-read books are good for publishing. They have a very honest chat about what they didn’t like about the book and what they thought worked well before providing their book recommendations.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read The Correspondent by Virginia Evans with special guests Lauren Sams and Kate Watson
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by The Australian Financial Review fashion editor, Lauren Sams, and host and editor, of news podcast The Squiz, Kate Watson, to discuss The Correspondent, the sleeper hit by debut novelist Virginia Evans. They discuss what they found so charming about the book, what they think of Jane Fonda being cast in the movie adaptation and what they think the book of correspondence is really about. Lauren and Kate also provide their personal book recommendations.
You can follow Lauren on Instagram @laurenssams
You can hear Kate on @thesquiz
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read Heart the Lover by Lily King
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah dive into one of the most talked about books of the year, Lily King’s Heart the Lover. They discuss why it has captured so many hearts around the world and why it is so loved. JP explains his pet peeve of literary references in novels and Sarah explains her allergic reaction to the protagonist’s love interest at the beginning of the novel. They risk cancellation by unpacking whether the tear-inducing ending was earned or emotionally manipulative.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
Bonus Ep: We Share Our Big Book Predictions
*WE APOLOGISE FOR THE SOUND ISSUES ON THIS EP*
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah share their top picks for upcoming book releases. They discuss books they are most looking forward to reading and the books they think will be bestsellers, including a bold Booker Prize prediction.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers. Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah read The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. It’s one of JP’s all time favourite books and he explains what he loves about it. Sarah read it for the first time and talks about how it worked its quiet charm on her.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah travel back to the early 2000s **and **immerse themselves in the emerging Indie music scene and the early days of social media and influencer culture via Holly Brickley’s 2025 bestseller, Deep Cuts. JP & Sarah discuss the power of nostalgia, why we love stories about creatives, the strengths and weaknesses of Percy and Joe’s will-they-won’t-they relationship, and whether the characters are realistic or insufferable (or both.)
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread to join in our book chat and to enter some great giveaways.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
Bonus Episode: News and Gossip
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah discuss the literary goings-on that have made the first quarter of 2026 one of the most action-packed they can remember. From the ongoing fallout of uninviting guests to literary festivals, author Craig Silvey’s shock arrest, who should be allowed to write screenplay adaptations of classic novels and the AI scandal that has dominated the headlines, JP and Sarah dig in and share their thoughts.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
We Read Mystic River by Dennis Lehane
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by ABC journalist, Rachael Brown, and filmmaker, Gil Marsden. They bring their discerning analytical and storytelling skills to review the popular crime classic and talk about Lehane’s characters and writing style.
You can follow Gil on Instagram @heyimgilmarsden
You can follow Rach on Instagram @missrachaelbrown
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah put on their poshest outfits and dive into the weird and wonderful world of royalty as they discuss The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage. It’s an Aussie debut that has taken the world by storm having been selected as a Reece Witherspoon book club pick in late 2025. JP & Sarah talk about the plot and the characters and how Rebecca’s journalism background shines though in the novel.
Recommendations:
Sarah recommended Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green.
JP recommended A River Runs Through It by Norman Maclean.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read The Names by Florence Knapp with special guests Clare and Jessie Stephens
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are joined by journalists, authors and fellow podcasters, Clare and Jessie Stephens. They discuss The Names by Florence Knapp. They talk about what they liked and what they didn’t and whether the high concept premise of the book was maintained throughout the novel.
Recommendations:
Clare and Jessie both recommend Heart the Lover by Lily King
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
Follow Clare Stephens @clare.stephenss
Follow Jessie Stephens @jessiestephens90
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
BONUS EPISODE: We Discuss Audio Books
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah discuss all things audio books. They talk about the rise in audio book popularity, what kind of genres work best on audio and provide a bunch of recommendations.
They also discuss what podcasts they like listening to and whether listening to an audio book is the same as reading a physical book.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
We Read The Husband’s Secret by Liane Moriarty
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah read Liane Moriarty’s wildly successful book, The Husband’s Secret which was her first book to be a New York Times bestseller.
They discuss the moral questions presented in the book, the cast of characters and how they feel about the ending.
Recommendations:
Sarah recommends Search History by Amy Taylor.
JP recommends The Worst Thing I’ve Ever Done by Clare Stephens.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read In Cold Blood by Truman Capote with special guests Georgia Love and Sammy Petersen
This week on He Read She Read® journalist Georgia Love and comedian Sammy Petersen join Sarah to delve into Truman Capote’s true crime classic, In Cold Blood.
They discuss why it’s endured the test of time, the ethics around claiming something is a true story if it contains fictional elements and how Capote’s writing has informed so much of their favourite writing today.
Recommendations:
Georgia recommended Gravity Let Me Go by Trent Dalton
Sammy recommended Joe Cinque’s Consolation by Helen Garner.
Listen to Georgia and Sammy’s podcast Not Another Crime Podcast on Apple and Spotify and follow their show on Instagram on @notanothercrimepodcast
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
BONUS EPISODE: JP and Sarah answer your questions
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah answer listener questions including why they started He Read She Read®, how they find time to read and what’s going on with JP’s hair.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah are blasting off into outer space and deep-diving Taylor Jenkin-Reid’s latest novel Atmosphere. They discuss what they like and dislike about the commercial blockbuster and how they would rewrite the ending.
Recommendations:
Sarah recommended Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead.
JP recommended Seascraper by Benjamin Wood.
And he snuck in a bonus recommendation Train Dreams by Denis Johnson and The Elements by John Boyne.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
BONUS EPISODE: We recommend books to get you out of a reading slump
This week on He Read She Read® JP and Sarah talk about the importance of reading and recommend a stack of books to get you out of a reading slump and into a good reading rhythm in 2026.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
Follow us on Instagram @heread_sheread The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
We Read Flesh by David Szalay
For the first episode of He Read She Read®, JP and Sarah deep dive the 2025 Booker Prize winning novel Flesh by David Szalay. They talk about how the Booker Prize is determined and the controversial 2025 judge, how they feel about Flesh and whether they believe it’s a worthy Booker Prize winner.
Recommendations:
JP recommended Dove by Georgia Harper.
Sarah recommended Don’t Let Him In by crime fiction author, Lisa Jewell.
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
The He Read She Read ®team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.
Welcome to He Read She Read
Hey Everyone!
We’re so pumped to introduce you to our new podcast: He Read She Read®, a fortnightly show about books and reading.
The ‘he’ is, JP Pomare.
And the ‘she’ is, Sarah Bailey.
We’re two Melbourne based authors who – surprise surprise – love books.
We love writing books, reading books and listening to books, and we especially love talking about books. We don’t always agree but that’s probably going to be the best part.
Our first episode will drop on the 1st of January 2026,and after that we’ll be dropping episodes every fortnight.
Each episode will see us deep dive into a book we think is worth talking about. We will chat through the key elements: namely the premise, plot, people, place and the pace, and we’ll talk about what we liked and what we didn’t.
There will be spoilers and there will be respectful disagreements. Sometimes we’ll be joined by special guests.
For a bit of fun, we’ll also throw in some random book recommendations every episode as well.
We’d like to give a huge shout out to our exclusive podcast sponsor, Specsavers, for making our show possible. We’ll be sharing more about the incredible services Specsavers offers throughout the season.
We can’t wait for you to listen and follow along as we dive into and discuss our stack of big, buzzy books.
Did we love it? You’ll have to tune in to find out.
Make sure you’re following the show on Instagram at @heread_sheread so you can keep track of our book picks and whatever else we post. And most importantly make sure you’re following He Read She Read on your podcast feeds.
We’ll catch you on the 1st of January!
He Read She Read® is proudly presented by Specsavers.
The He Read She Read® team would like to acknowledge the traditional owners of the land on which this podcast was recorded.