Just came across this as I searched for a cozy podcast that would teach me something. My one desperate request is that Rachel please please please 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽 improve her microphone or recording device as it’s often hard to hear her properly and often have to turn the volume way up when she speaks to compensate.

The female host was unbelievably judgmental of Virginia Woolf being a classist. She kept bringing it up, at least three times in the little portion that was left actually dedicated to VW. The male host tried to bring it back to the literature without much success, but I’m glad he did. Although no great insight came from either of them. Both seemed impressed by the terrible plagiarizing film The Hours. Also, do we really need to “skip over her questionable morals”?! God almighty. Do you actually know how poor the Woolfs were? How they survived through the sheer amount of articles that Virginia had to write just to make rent? Yes, they had servants but they were employing people/women otherwise unemployed. And Nelly, one of them, tormented them by leaving every other day and then returning and putting them through anxiety after anxiety. She wrote an essay “Am I a Snob?” which addresses precisely her privilege. So in the end you come off as ignorant. Listen to the BBC Radio 4 podcast with Sara Pascoe to find out how to do an episode on VW. Finally, Virginia Woolf didn’t die at 65. Do a minimum of research.

A delightful podcast. Listening to the pleasure Simon and Rachel take in books is entertaining and educating. I love the concept of the show—all their debates are excellent conversation starters for book clubs. Thankfully I haven’t heard them diss any of my favorites in the 10 or so episodes I’ve listened to since I just discovered the podcast.

I love listening to Simon and Rachel discuss their reading and (sometimes widely differing) opinions of what they’ve read, concentrated especially in mid 20th century domestic fiction. Their combination of lighthearted teasing and serious consideration hits the sweet spot for me. Give them a listen, you may find a new favorite!

I have been listening for about four years and belatedly getting around to giving my two cents, for what it’s worth! I adore Simon and Rachel and they have introduced me, via this superb podcast, to many books and authors I would have never have found without them. It’s rare to find people who love to read as much as I do in our social media age and I love hearing Rachel and Simon discuss books and reading with as much passion as I have for the subject. They also bring a wonderful sense of humour to the topic and I often find myself laughing out loud as I listen. Thank you to both of you for sharing yourselves with us, your listeners. Please don’t ever stop!

This podcast is perfect in every way and I'm so, so happy that there are over 100 episodes of it already made that I can listen to now. Rachel and Simon are so clever and funny, and so knowledgeable about so many bookish topics. It makes for really fun listening, and makes me want to read almost all of the books they mention - all except the ones they have hated and thrown across the room! (And by the way I also just love that honesty and forthrightness about their opinions!) I've listened to about 15 episodes and each one has been a treat, and my TBR has grown by leaps and bounds. Thank you so much Rachel and Simon!

Simon and Rachel, Tea or Books is my absolute favorite podcast in the whole world! I can’t tell you how amazing it is to listen to you both discuss all of the books I love with such cheer, intelligence and adoration. I never thought I would find fellow readers who loved the same types of books as I do (and it’s especially difficult finding them in the US)! I adore your banter, your book recommendations and terrific topics. Thank you, thank you for making my days brighter, overburdening my bookshelves (in the best way!) and for giving me the readerly connection I was searching for. So many hugs to you both!! @babsbelovedbooks (Instagram)

Thanks, Rachel and Simon, for your long-awaited conversation about Marilynne Robinson. It did not disappoint. I listen to you from Oklahoma, in the heart of the heart of America, and have begun sharing you with friends. You are informative, yes. But your podcast succeeds with me, I believe, because of its casualness and intimacy. In its own way it is also reassuring, in the way the Shipping Forecast is reassuring. Oh, here are Simon and Rachel again, and they’re going to let us listen to another book chat. I can’t wait. Every program is a feast. Thanks for allowing us in.

I’m happy I’m a few years late to the game because I have so many episodes to catch up on! I only have a few bookish friends, and none with my specific tastes, and it is so enjoyable listening to Simon and Rachel chat about things I already love or things I will most likely love. Very intelligent, interesting conversationalists and such a needed break from my usual political podcasts!

I love the dynamic between Rachel and Simon. You both make me laugh and I love listening to you talk about books.

I love love love this podcast! It’s so much fun listening to Rachael and Simon discuss their favorite (and not so favorite) books. So entertaining as well as informative.

Well, it was actually Captive Reader that got me to Persephone that led me to Stuck in a Book and BookSnob to Simon and Rachel’s excellent podcast. I really enjoy their fun and thoughtful discussions even when the topics are silly (ep. 18: titles: fancy or simple?). I really appreciate that they take discussions from “yes, I liked the book” to why they liked the book in an interesting, smart, funny way. Any book podcast that can smoothly run the gamut of high literature to Sweet Valley High has to be 5 stars.

I enjoy this podcast so much. As an American, it's an excellent source for British authors and book titles we don't run across often over here. I love Brit lit, so this is a treat! I just came across the podcast a couple months ago and have already read several books because they were mentioned here on the podcast. Plus it's just tons of fun to hear book talk generally.

I love this podcast. Each episode has expanded my reading horizons and introduced me to a few unfamiliar authors. Both hosts are incredibly knowledgeable and articulate about literature. My Goodreads To Read shelf has grown quite lengthy from the wonderful recommendations found here. One of my favorite new podcasts.

Great way to listen to two very smart people talk, while trying not to mumble, about books. I also love that the novels they discuss get me out of my American novel bubble. Keep up the good work!

Great for finding new reading material, and thinking about old favorites. I also like their method of splitting the show into two major parts, one thematic comparison and one head to head of two specific books.

If you love the kinds of novels you'd find in a dusty old bookshop, the forgotten classics and the beloved British writers of your parents' era this is the podcast for you. I absolutely love it.

I've followed Simon Thomas on his blog and various social media for several years. He actually turned me on to my first book podcast - The Readers. When Simon started his own podcast a few years later, I was thrilled. As a lover of Persephone, Virago, the 1930s, and reprints, Tea or Books is perfectly up my alley. Simon is very responsive to suggestions for podcast topics as well! Long live this podcast.

Such interesting and entertaining discussions - but I realize by the end of each podcast that I've listed a couple of books to purchase. That in itself is fine, because I love books & have an extensive library, but two to three books (or four!) from each podcast means I will never ever catch up on my reading & I will always, always be in debt as I chase after books no longer in print. Simon and Rachel are so smart, so witty, so challenging (in a very good way) that I want to read what they've read - BUT I also enjoy disagreeing with them (for example, the Brontes are indefensible, especially Wuthering Heights). Also, I hope there are future discussions of Angela Thirkell, whom I love! To summarize: if you like books and intelligent discourse on them, this is the podcast for you.

Like listening in on two intelligent literary/bookish friends chatting honestly about favorite novels and everything book related. The "friends" in question, who are by the way British, sound like wonderful people and they have some great insight into most novels, since they really do read a lot. I have only listened to a few episodes/podcasts, but it's been very enjoyable.