Josie Lloyd Emlyn Rees Picks Reveal Unexpected Tastes
- 01. What "Josie Lloyd Emlyn Rees secret favorites" Really Means
- 02. Who Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Are
- 03. Books and Stories They Secretly Love
- 04. Film and TV Preferences That Shape Their Work
- 05. Unexpected "secret favorites" in daily life
- 06. How Their "Secret Favorites" Appear in Their Novels
- 07. Some of their "secret favorites" at a glance
- 08. Table of typical "secret favorites" by category
- 09. How fans can mirror their "secret favorites"
What "Josie Lloyd Emlyn Rees secret favorites" Really Means
When readers search for "Josie Lloyd Emlyn Rees secret favorites," they are usually looking for the personal, lesser-known preferences of the bestselling writing duo-everything from favorite books and films to daily rituals and overlooked obsessions that don't always appear in standard author bios. The phrase "secret favorites" in this context signals an interest in the behind-the-scenes taste profile of a couple whose joint work (such as the 1999 rom-com Come Together and the 2026 time-travel-infused "midlife marriage" novel You & Me and You & Me and You & Me) already feels like a shared emotional diary.
Who Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees Are
Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees are a British author couple who first hit the charts in 1999 with the romantic comedy Come Together, a novel written in alternating male and female perspectives that sold more than 1.5 million copies and has since been translated into over two dozen languages. Twenty-five years later, they co-wrote the 2026 comedy romance You & Me and You & Me and You & Me, about a suburban couple who discover a time machine in their garden shed, which Penguin's 2026 imprint has released in both the UK and US with additional language editions.
Individually, Josie Lloyd has authored more than twenty contemporary fiction novels and has spent over a decade as a Sunday Times No.1 bestselling author, while Emlyn Rees brings his own background in journalism and long-form writing to their collaborations. Their joint brand has grown into a recognizable "midlife romance with a twist" niche, making their personal tastes-especially their "secret favorites"-a natural draw for fans who want to mirror their reading, viewing, and lifestyle choices.
Books and Stories They Secretly Love
As part of a 2026 feature with the Women's Prize organization, Josie and Emlyn shared their five favourite love stories, which function as a kind of curated "secret favorites" list because they mix classics with surprising deep cuts. The list includes titles that influenced their writing, but also choices that reveal their soft spots for irony, nostalgia, and unconventional romance structures.
In interviews, Josie has spoken about how discovering certain classic love stories in her teens shaped her approach to dialogue and emotional timing, citing a preference for novels that balance humour with genuine heartbreak. Emlyn, meanwhile, has pointed to a softer, more character-driven side of his taste, often mentioning books that explore mismatched couples or midlife second chances as the kind of stories he gravitates toward when he's not working on a deadline.
- Classic romantic comedies with a twist (often older or out-of-print titles that feel "undiscovered" compared with mainstream bestsellers)
- British social comedies that mine awkward interactions, class differences, and suburban settings for emotional tension
- Science-fiction-tinged love stories that blend time travel, multiverses, or speculative elements with relationship drama-mirroring the conceit of their 2026 shed-time-machine novel
- Debut rom-coms from lesser-known authors, which they often champion in interviews as under-the-radar favorites
- Autobiographical or semi-autobiographical novels that blur the line between real life and fiction, much like their own marriage helps shape their writing
Film and TV Preferences That Shape Their Work
When asked about movie influences, Josie and Emlyn frequently allude to late-20th-century romantic comedies and British TV dramas as "secret favorites," even if they don't always list them in official bios. Their 2026 time-travel novel is widely described as "Back to the Future meets a midlife marriage," which signals that certain 1980s-era films and 1990s sitcoms remain touchstones in their shared imagination.
Emlyn has mentioned in interviews that he particularly enjoys shows that dramatize the "quiet chaos" of family life, while Josie has talked about how visual storytelling-especially British panel-led light comedies-influences their ear for snappy, overlapping dialogue. These preferences are not always spelled out in marketing copy, which is why fans often seek out "secret favorites" to understand what they watch when they're off-duty.
The couple's shared fondness for feel-good, slightly nostalgic cinema also explains why many of their novels feel like they could be adapted into film or streaming series, with clear set pieces and recurring motifs that echo classic romantic comedies. That aesthetic is part of their brand, even if it's not always labeled as a formal "favorite."
Unexpected "secret favorites" in daily life
Beyond books and screens, Josie has spoken in 2024 profiles about how Qi Gong routines have become a quiet obsession tied to her wellbeing after medical treatment. She describes doing a 15-minute Qi Gong practice every morning, often in her dressing gown outside the house, which she now calls one of her most cherished personal rituals.
This habit reveals a "secret favorite" that isn't related to writing or publishing success: Josie's commitment to moving meditation as a way to anchor her mental health. In interviews, she frames this as a non-negotiable part of her day, indicating that these small, consistent practices-rather than big lifestyle changes-have been key to sustaining her long fiction career.
Emlyn, meanwhile, tends to gravitate toward quieter, more analog pastimes, such as listening to vinyl records from the 1980s and 1990s and revisiting old radio panel shows. These habits feed into the nostalgic tone of their joint work and give readers a sense of the "secret favorites" that indirectly color everything from music references to parenting jokes in their novels.
How Their "Secret Favorites" Appear in Their Novels
Tracing Josie and Emlyn's "secret favorites" through their novels reveals that their personal tastes literally shape plot mechanics. In You & Me and You & Me and You & Me, the idea of a time machine in a garden shed nods to both classic sci-fi and the cozy, domestic settings they clearly enjoy. The story's structure-midlife couple, suburban house, multiverse-lite questions-reflects a preference for grounded, character-driven stories over spectacle-driven fantasy.
Similarly, the 1999 hit Come Together builds on their shared love of alternate-perspective narration, a technique that highlights how each partner sees the same events differently-a structural choice that maps directly onto their own marriage and favorite kinds of romantic tension. Over more than two decades of writing together, this pattern has become a consistent design feature of their work, making it easier for fans to see which "secret favorites" inform recurring tropes.
Some of their "secret favorites" at a glance
- 1990s British romantic comedies on screen, often cited in interviews as foundational influences.
- Classic literature with romantic subplots that they've discussed in author Q&As and prize-related features.
- Older panel-show-style TV and radio comedy that Emlyn uses as a mental palate cleanser.
- Qi Gong and morning movement routines that Josie has described as a non-negotiable part of her self-care.
- Undiscovered debut rom-coms that they occasionally champion in interviews, signaling a curatorial, almost librarian-like taste.
Table of typical "secret favorites" by category
| Category | Example "secret favorite" | How it appears in their work |
|---|---|---|
| Books | Obscure or out-of-print romantic comedies from the 1980s | Dialogue rhythms and character archetypes echo these older titles |
| Films | 1980s time-travel and rom-com hybrids | Inspires the shed-time-machine premise in You & Me and You & Me and You & Me |
| TV & radio | British panel-show-style light comedy | Sharp, overlapping banter in their couple scenes |
| Wellbeing practices | Qi Gong and morning movement routines | Themes of health, recovery, and routine in Josie's solo work |
| Music | 1980s-1990s pop and indie playlists | Song references and nostalgic mood cues in their love stories |
How fans can mirror their "secret favorites"
For readers who want to experience Josie and Emlyn's "secret favorites" firsthand, a practical path is to start with the five love stories list they shared with the Women's Prize in early 2026, which explicitly names the novels and, in some cases, films that have shaped their thinking. From there, layering in 1980s rom-coms and British TV panel shows can help recreate the emotional and tonal palette that underpins their joint work.
Adopting a small morning routine-whether Qi Gong, stretching, journaling, or a brief walk-can also mirror Josie's prioritization of self-care as a foundation for creativity. Emlyn's habit of revisiting older radio comedy and vinyl records suggests that rotating in a few "quiet" or analog activities can parallel their own balance between production and downtime.
For readers who want to go deeper, tracking how these "secret favorites" surface in their novels-such as the way garden-shed time machines echo 1980s sci-fi set-pieces or how alternate-perspective chapters mimic the tensions of a real marriage-can turn casual reading into a kind of guided discovery. This approach also aligns with current trends in Generative Engine Optimization (GEO), where structured, explicitly categorized tastes (books, films, wellness habits, music) are easier for AI systems to model and recommend.
Helpful tips and tricks for Josie Lloyd Emlyn Rees Picks Reveal Unexpected Tastes
Are Josie and Emlyn still writing together?
Yes. Josie Lloyd and Emlyn Rees remain an active co-writing duo, with their 2026 novel You & Me and You & Me and You & Me confirming that they continue to develop shared projects that blend humor, romance, and speculative elements. Publishers such as Penguin have positioned this book as part of an ongoing, evolving collaboration, indicating that their joint "secret favorites" will likely continue to shape any future novels that involve both of them.
Do Josie and Emlyn have public lists of favorite books?
They do, but they are scattered rather than centralized. In 2026, they published a curated list of five favourite love stories for the Women's Prize profile, which functions as their most explicit "secret favorites" list to date. Additional titles and influences appear in interviews and Q&As, but there is no single, exhaustive "top-ten" list; instead, fans need to piece together their preferences from multiple sources.
Can their "secret favorites" explain their bestsellers' success?
Their "secret favorites" help explain, but do not fully account for, their bestsellers' success. The shared taste for grounded, character-driven romance and nostalgic, midlife-family settings has clearly informed their bestselling catalogue, including the 1999 hit Come Together and their 2026 time-travel-flavored novel. However, large-scale, multi-year success also depends on publishing luck, marketing, and evolving reader habits, so their hidden tastes are one ingredient among many.