Welcome to Paperback Friends!
This is my weekly book podcast where I do book reviews, interviews and touch on a myriad of book-related topics from – Why Mind Control Sucks to How to Get Your Book Published.
I think reading should be fun, but I never settle with "good" or "bad." My reviews dig deeper, and the question I usually start with: "How can I contribute to the conversations about this book?"
Trust me, you've never heard book reviews quite like these.
In this episode, we take a look at Fredrik Backman’s A Man Called Ove, a hugely popular Swedish novel about grief, loneliness, friendship, and finding a reason to keep going.
The emotional beats are not bad, and the novel manages a tender moment or two, but Backman comes to represent a type of writing that is fundamentally disagreeable to me. He favors the plot over the narrative, and that lights a fire in me.
This is one of the worst novels we have ever read on this podcast, not because my opinion is right, but because this is how this novel made me feel. Regardless how you feel about it, it’s all good we are just adding to the greater conversation about this book!
Type: Review | Book: A Man Called Ove | Writer: Fredrik Backman
25 Sept 2026
Episode: 108 – [Review] Dune
In this episode of Paperback Friends, we dive into one of the most beloved science-fiction novels ever written: Dune by Frank Herbert. I have to tread lightly on this one, to avoid the drum sand and the fans…
While Dune has inspired generations of readers, I found myself struggling to connect with some of its biggest ideas. Why did the political intrigue and character work captivate me, while the themes of prophecy, destiny, and messianic power left me feeling disconnected?
Sometimes the question isn't whether a book is great, or not, it’s what it can offer us as individuals.
Type: Review | Book: Dune | Writer: Frank Herbert
18 Sept 2026
Episode: 107 – [Review] Rogue Protocol
Martha Wells continues to prove why The Murderbot Diaries has become one of modern science fiction's most beloved series. In Rogue Protocol, Murderbot infiltrates an abandoned research station to uncover the truth behind GrayCris's illegal operations,but beneath the action lies a surprising story about identity, freedom, and friendship.
In this episode, we explore why Wells's writing is so consistently engaging, why Miki becomes the emotional center of the novella, and why this series continues to impress me... even as one recurring element is beginning to hold it back.
This is a fantastic series, and Wells does not disappoint, but the bar is being raised.
Type: Review | Book: Rogue Protocol | Writer: Martha Wells
Who has been a guest on Paperback Friends
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Oskar Eklind
Sam Ögren
Jasper T Scott
Podcast Authority Score: 28 / 100
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