The Book Club Review
By The Book Club Review
Discussion, debate, even a little dispute – expect it all on The Book Club Review. Join host Kate and her guests as they explore contemporary and classic titles. From hyped new releases to word-of-mouth backlist tips, books are put to the book club test – do they live up to our expectations? Listen in for thoughtful insights, lively opinions and inspiration for your next great read.
Latest episode
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The 2026 Women's Prize, with Amanda Moulson (Curious Readers)
In this episode Kate is joined by Amanda Moulson, co-host of Curious Readers, to consider the 2026 Women's Prize for Fiction shortlist. Ahead of the prize ceremony next week, which one do we think will win? Perhaps like Amanda you have read them all… -
The Guardian's 100 Best Novels in English: A Hot Take, with Phil Chaffee and Joseph Dance
When the Guardian drops a list of the 100 Greatest Novels in English it's time to drop everything to talk about it. Luckily pod-regular guest, journalist Phil Chaffee and Joseph Dance, host of the Curious Readers podcast, also had views, and were wil… -
The Art of the Everyday: Miranda Keeling, The Anthropologists and the books that slow us down
What if the antidote to our increasingly frantic world isn't a grand gesture, but simply the act of paying attention? This week, Kate and Laura are joined by actor, podcaster, and author Miranda Keeling – returning to the pod to talk about her wonde… -
Liberating Women's Voices: Austen, Wollstonecraft and after, with Bee Rowlatt
Kate records the first live episode of The Book Club Review at the 2026 Barnsbury Book Festival, speaking with author and broadcaster Bee Rowlatt about her books, Mary Wollstonecraft, feminism, and the themes of wealth, power, and inequality in conte… -
The Book of Love vs The Dud Avocado: Fantasy, Paris & Book Club Verdicts
The Book of Love vs The Dud Avocado: Fantasy, Paris & Book Club Verdicts In this episode of The Book Club Review, we return to our book club roots with two wildly different novels: The Book of Love by Kelly Link and The Dud Avocado by Elaine… -
Nearly Departed: Love, Loss and Literary Romance, with Lucas Oakeley
Valentine’s-ish Literary Romance: Lucas Oakley on Nearly Departed, Boys Book Club & love stories that stay with you long after reading Join Kate and Lucas Oakeley for this Valentine's-ish episode of The Book Club Review, recorded at Housman'… -
The Bestseller Test • Are bestsellers worth the hype? • Episode #186
What makes a bestseller? Is it the quality of the writing, or just the right book at the right time? This week Kate is joined by co-host Laura Potter and returning guest Phil Chaffee to find out. Between us we've tackled six of the biggest bestselle… -
The New Year Reading Reset: Finding fresh inspiration with bibliotherapist Ella Berthoud • #185
New year, new intentions – but if you're in the northern hemisphere, January can feel less like renewal and more like the darkest, coldest stretch of endless winter. Maybe what you need isn't another resolution. Maybe you just need the right book. E… -
Favourite and Best: Our Books of 2025 • #184
We're celebrating the end of the year with a look back over our favourite reads of 2025, from new releases to backlist gems, best book club books, best non-fiction, best comfort reads and more. Between us we read over 350 books in 2025. Listen in to … -
Between the Lines: The Art of the Diary • Episode #183
'I never travel without my diary. One should always have something sensational to read in the train' wrote Oscar Wilde, in the Importance of Being Ernest. In this episode Kate is joined by critic, editor and podcaster Lucy Scholes and regular pod gue…