Yes, we have a new title for the newsletter. Newsletter of Bookie Stuff doesn’t exactly scream ‘I workshopped this for a long period of time’, does it?
Hearing from several lovely readers and members of the Debut Crew, a new title emerged: folks like the chats and the book reviews; we like to good book stuff. So that’s it: Just the Good Book Stuff, the sort of email you’re glad shows up in your inbox!
Right, back to regular scheduling….
Broadcast: 21st July 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
The story of a mother grappling with an impossible decision. For episode 11, Nick chats with Lindsay Bartels about her prescient biography, Imogen in Waiting.
Broadcast: 28th July 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
As Cyclone Tracy tears through Darwin, four girls disappear into the heart of the outback. No tracks. No bodies. No answers. Decades later, one returns. For episode 12, Nick chats with Jane R. Miles about her incredible thriller, Stay Buried.
Broadcast: 4th August 2026 | AUDIO VERSION
Three women. Three wars. The damage done to the men they love. For episode 13, Nick chats with Lenny Robinson about the war fiction novel, And In The Morning.
Now, review time… 👇🏾
Examining where men sit in the 21st century may seem like a minefield that provokes divisive responses in 2026 - yet the fact it does so is precisely why it should be discussed, and why there is such a need for this wonderful self-help book by Albert Jamae.
Calling on his own experiences of fatherhood, over 40 years in entertainment, and the realities of long-term relationships and life transitions, Jamae sets out a goal of trying to navigate modern-day masculinity and find purpose, clarity and connection.
Whether you are a guy trying to navigate these issues or a girl looking to learn more or dealing with a struggling partner, there is something for you in this book. Jamae writes superbly: his affable voice embraces you like a friend - and it is sorely needed as we dive into the weeds.
Breaking the book down into three key parts, Jamae first breaks down the challenges men face: how, due to patriarchal structures of the past, men were told they need to be X, Y and Z to be considered successful. However, the world has changed a lot in that time, with women, feminist and other gender discourse coming firmly into the light.
Jamae brilliantly articulates where this leaves men, and for those men navigating this, prepare to feel seen and understood.
He brilliantly identifies that this failure in education leads to two camps: men who want to go back to the way things were, and the men who want the new changes to happen, but are terrified to engage and cause offence - leading to the concept Jamae calls ‘the shrinking man.’
In the second and third stages of the book, Jamae brilliantly breaks down ways men can try to find ways to move forward, learning where they can flourish and the value of both strength and vulnerability. The book also comes with exercises, giving readers a chance to put it into practise.
In a time where men are struggling to see where they fit, Jamae’s book cuts through the grey ambiguity and shows clear clarity and direction to what men, and everyone at large, are seeking: happiness.
Even if you have a loved one who struggles to read, this is a tight, short book by design - Jamae knows his readers and his target, and there are plenty of pearls of wisdom men can take from this promising debut.
RATING: 5/5 | BUY HERE | AUDIO VERSION
When it comes to memoirs, often stories are told by the individual at the end of their journey, one where a colossal life experience led to an important moment of understanding. Dr Dominique Lee’s compelling debut marks the start of something bigger; this memoir serves as a document of intense trauma - and more importantly, as a call to arms for change.
Cataloguing her journey into the world of medicine and as a respected radio oncologist, Dr Lee’s life was changed forever when a respected oncology professor drugged and sexually assaulted her when she was a trainee doctor.
Dr Lee writes with unflinching courage and a pragmatic voice - showing her not only at her best as a doctor and the individuals whom she crosses in the medical industry, but also how she reclaims her own voice after such a traumatic experience.
However, this memoir is not just about that. Dr Lee questions, challenges and asks why such toxic power dynamics are endemic within the medical space, and how her story being told so publicly is the exception - with many doctors suffering sexual assault often leaving the industry entirely.
She questions why senior doctors are not challenged and held accountable for toxic behaviour, why fear permeates an industry that aims to help people, and critically, why, in her words, ‘the 97% who enter the medical space for the right reason’ stay silent.
Dr Lee has made it her goal to make change in the industry, leading to the creation of HeyBoss! is an initiative dedicated to empowering physicians, supporting leadership development, and cultural change in healthcare.
Dr Lee’s memoir is a stunning achievement that everyone who has experienced the medical sector should read, serving as a testament to survival and a call-to-arms for change in an industry that sorely needs it.
RATING: 5/5 | BUY HERE | AUDIO VERSION
Since launching the newsletter in December last year, I’ve loved the response I’ve gotten from listeners and readers about the podcast, and so I allowed VIP access for free for the last eight newsletters.
However, after last month’s final call, the paywall is now officially up, meaning if you want access to VIP Bookies, you will need to sign up for a paid subscription at $6 a month, or $50 for an annual subscription, to get early access to Date with a Debut episodes and to Second Date episodes.
However, if you want to dip your toes in, I do have something special: if you sign up for a paid subscription, you can get access to all of VIP Bookies for 12 months at 50% off! That’s $3 a month!
Click below to redeem this special offer, which is available until 31st December 2026!
Now it’s time for a peek behind the curtain in September…👇🏼
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