The Bibliotherapists Ep #25: Natasha Poliszczuk bringing all the glamour to your TBR pile

It’s the penultimate episode of The Bibliotherapists Series #3, and we’re not sorry that your reading list is about to get a lot longer.This week we’re joined by Natasha Poliszczuk, a writer and journalist, Editor-in-Chief of industry bible, BookBrunch, and the voice behind the brilliantly bookish Substack, Book(ish).Natasha has spent her career shaping conversations across the media landscape, with roles at Condé Nast, Time Inc., and Associated Newspapers as former books editor at You Magazine.These days, she sits right at the heart of the publishing world, bringing insight, taste and a sharp editorial eye to what and how we read.Always with a side of excellent style.In this conversation we explore her journey from glossy magazines to the world of books and what it means to build a life and identity around reading. We speak about career pivots, reading rituals, writing habits for real life, and why returning to stories again and again can be one of the most powerful forms of self-support.And, as always, there are plenty of recommendations along the way…“Books make me feel less alone… and remind us that we are more alike than we are unalike.”* Natasha Poliszczuk✨ IN THIS CONVERSATION✨ “Books are the soother of my soul”Natasha shares how reading has been her lifelong form of therapy, a daily practice that helps her feel grounded, comforted and connected.✨ Reading makes us feel less aloneBooks offer both connection and perspective, even across completely different lives.✨ A career pivot can be a return, not a reinventionNatasha describes her move into books as a kind of homecomin, proof that sometimes the thing you loved first is the thing you come back to.✨ Rereading is not a failure, it’s a toolIn times of stress or uncertainty, Natasha turns to familiar books for comfort, stability and emotional safety.✨ You don’t find time to read, you choose itFrom reading while cooking to carrying multiple books at once, Natasha shows that a rich reading life is built intentionally, not accidentally.📖 Natasha’s Reading List(and you can see ALL of our guests book picks so far at our Bookshop.org shop)Childhood & formative books* Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery* Ballet Shoes by Noel StreatfeildComfort reads & favourites* Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen* Persuasion by Jane Austen* A is for Arsenic by Agatha ChristieRecent & upcoming reads mentioned* Strangers by Belle Burden* The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (published 21st May)* The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (published 7th May)* The Given World by Melissa Harrison (published 14th May)* The Golden Hours (the new Cazalet novel) by Louisa Young (published 3rd Sept)* Sophie Standing There by Meg Mason (published 27th Aug)* My Year in Paris with Gertrude Stein by Deborah Levy* Mrs Dickens by Emily Howes (published 11th Jun)* Gloria Don’t Speak by Lucy Apps* An Ocean in a Day by Hannah RichellABOUT THE BIBLIOTHERAPISTSThe Bibliotherapists is hosted by Tanya Lynch therapeutic journalling coach and founder of Ease Retreats and Toni Jones founder of The Shelf Help Club.Each week, we speak to a writer or creative about:* The books that shaped them* How reading supports their wellbeing* Their writing practice and reading habits* How they use Substack as part of their creative ecosystemWe believe words heal. And we love asking other word nerds questions that get beneath the surface (as well as taking a tour through their book shelves).New episodes recorded live on Substack every week. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit thebibliotherapists.substack.com