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Beyond the shortlist: the Booker longlist books worth your time • #181

October 25, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

In which Kate is joined by pod regular, journalist Phil Chaffee and Professor Elizabeth Eva Leach. Both read over 200 books a year, and their reading stacks this year have included the Booker longlist. And so who better to consider the books that didn’t make the final cut – but which are, notwithstanding, the ‘best’ […]

We go through the books longlisted for the 2025 Booker Prize, but which didn't make the shortlist. Which were the best of the rest? With Phil Chaffee and Elizabeth Eva Leach

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Autumn bookstacks, with Kate and Laura • Episode #180

October 19, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

In this episode: Kate and Laura are catching up on Autumn books ahead of their Booker season reading. Did You Are Here by David Nicholls make Laura want to lace up her walking boots? How did Kate get on with A Waiter in Paris by Edward Chisholm, a page-turning account that explores a side of […]

Kate and Laura swap notes on their Autumn reading, while gearing up to dive into the Booker Prize shortlist.

book club episode on univesrsality by Natasha brown and sparks of bright matter by Leanne O'Donnell

Book club: Universality and Sparks of Bright Matter • Episode #179

October 14, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

In this episode, Laura joins Kate to dive into two book club picks. We’re considering Natasha Brown’s much-anticipated second novel, Universality by Natasha Brown. How did it compare to Brown’s acclaimed debut Assembly, and did the satirical style, bold narrative choices, and themes of media, class, and culture wars work for Laura’s book club? We then […]

Kate and Laura dive into two recent book club reads, Universality by Natasha Brown and Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell. Did they make for good book club books? Plus recent reads and we hear from a book club with a brilliant twist.

Shelf-Reflective: Books about Books, with Joseph Dance • #178

September 12, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Head down the rabbit hole with me into the world of books about books with Kate and Joseph Dance, host of the Curious Readers podcast. From meta-fictional narratives to booksellers with shadowy agendas, we’re flagging up some of our favourites both for behind-the-scenes insights into the literary world, and for the way they allow us […]

Kate and Joseph Dance discuss a favourite topic among literary aficionados, books that explore the world of books and reading.

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Bookish in Seattle • Episode #177

August 23, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Seattle, forever linked with books and reading thanks to Sleepless in Seattle. Also Maria Semple’s Where d’you Go Bernadette, tho’ to be clear, Bernadette was not a fan of the rainy city. Londoners, though, umbrella always at hand, feel right at home. A recent family holiday offered a rare chance for an in-person bookish catchup. […]

Kate and Laura talk books in Seattle, including recent reads and bookshop favourites. Also featured, literary cocktails.

Friendship and Fiction in New York • Episode #176

August 14, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Join Kate as she takes the Book Club Review on tour to New York, a city filled with incredible bookshops, and book podcasters. Christopher Hermelin of So Many Damn Books and Drew Broussard of The Lit Hub Podcast share cocktails and book recommendations on the theme of friendship. Listen via the media player above, or your […]

Join Kate as she drinks cocktails and chats books with Christopher Hermelin of So Many Damn Books and Drew Broussard of The Lit Hub Podcast, all on location in New York

Sex in Books podcast episode

Explicitly Literary, sex writing in books • #175

June 29, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

From serious high-brow literature to warm and cozy rom-coms, what do we want or need from writers when it comes to including sex in their books? To consider the matter, Kate is joined by writer and critic Elizabeth Morris and author Alex Alison. Elizabeth is creator of Crib Notes, a monthly newsletter full of reading […]

From serious high-brow literature to warm and cozy rom-coms, what do we want or need from writers when it comes to including sex in their books? Elizabeth Morris and Alex Allison join Kate to discuss it.

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Books, films, TV and Murderbot • #174

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June 12, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

From Murderbot to Sense and Sensiblity, what are our favourite adaptations from books that we love? Inspired by the recent Apple adaptation of Martha Wells’ sci-fi novels The Murderbot Diaries, this episode is a celebration of the world of books to film. From the joy of seeing a book that we love brought to the […]

Inspired by the recent Apple adaptation of Martha Wells Murderbot Diaries, we're diving in to all things book to TV and film. Find out our favourites, plus we hear from Philippa Donovan, literary scout, who gives us the inside track on what it takes for a book to succeed on the screen.

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Non-Fiction that Changed Us, featuring Carmageddon by Daniel Knowles • Episode #173

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May 14, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

At a time in which digital information is increasingly uncertain it feels more essential than ever to engage with books that tell us about the world, diversify our perspectives and propose solutions for change. Yet with the best will in the world these ‘serious’ books aren’t always what we feel like reading. We have the […]

Inspired by our featured title, Carmageddon by Daniel Knowles, we're bringing you a handpicked selection of non-fiction reads so good you'll fly through them as if you were reading a favourite novel, but with the huge benefit that you'll come out wiser and full of new information about the world we live in, and how to change it for the better.

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon book cover for podcast episode

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon • #172

March 9, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon is a novel that takes us back to ancient Syracuse, where war, art, and humanity collide. This gripping tale follows two down-on-their-luck potters who hatch an audacious plan to produce a performance of the works of Euripedes despite the fact that their actors are prisoners of war and their stage […]

Glorious Exploits is a story of resilience, friendship, and the power of art in the face of destruction, but did it make for a good book club book?

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How to Read Yourself Happy, with Daisy Buchanan • Episode #171

February 15, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Author, podcaster and reader Daisy Buchanan joins Kate to discuss Read Yourself Happy, her latest book that explores ‘shelf-help’ and the healing power of books and reading to inspire, comfort and fortify. You might not think that someone who regularly interviews literary stars like Anne Patchett and Lauren Groff on her podcast ‘You’re Booked’ might […]

Daisy Buchanan joins Kate to explore the healing power of books and reading to inspire, comfort and fortify – and generally bring us joy

The Empusium book club review podcast episode

Book Club: The Empusium by Olga Tokarczuk • #170

February 10, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

The Empusium, Olga Tokarczuk’s haunting ‘health resort horror story’ may have wowed the critics, but how did it fare with Laura’s book club? Phil, Sarah and Laura join Kate to discuss it. In September 1913, a young Pole suffering from tuberculosis arrives at Wilhelm Opitz’s Guesthouse for Gentlemen, a health resort in the Silesian mountains. […]

The Empusium, Olga Tokarczuk's haunting 'health resort horror story' may have wowed the critics, but how did it fare with Laura's book club? Phil, Sarah and Laura join Kate to discuss it. 

Oliver Burkeman for books podcast episode on Meditations for Mortals

Meditations for Mortals, with Oliver Burkeman • Episode #169

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January 25, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Step into a world of philosophical musings and practical wisdom with Oliver Burkeman. Meditations for Mortals is his latest book designed as a four-week mental retreat, promising to help readers lead a ‘saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life’. Oliver joins Kate to talk about everything from the inspiration he took from Marcus Aurelius to how […]

With New Year's resolutions still in mind it's the perfect time to step into a world of philosophical musings and practical wisdom with Oliver Burkeman. Meditations for Mortals is his latest book designed as a four-week mental retreat, promising to help readers lead a 'saner, freer, and more enchantment-filled life'. He joins Kate to discuss it.

Page-Turning Plans: Looking ahead to 2025 • Episode #168

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January 11, 2025/Posted by: The Book Club Review

It’s a new year and a new episode. Join Kate and Laura as they consider reading intentions for the year ahead, and try to set some realistic goals. Will 2025 be the year Kate gets into poetry? Will it be the year Laura weans herself off romance novels? And as always, they’re thinking of book […]

Bookish plans and projects for 2025, and a look ahead to our pick of the new releases, with Kate, Laura and Phil

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Unputdownable: the best books we loved in 2024 • Episode #167

December 29, 2024/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Wrap up your year with the Book Club Review podcast! Celebrate the joy of reading with us as we highlight the standout books we read in 2024, from page-turners to genre reads, to literary fiction and best book club books. We’ll finish with our ‘if we could only choose one’ favourites for our overall book(s) […]

Discover stand-out novels, book-club favourites, cozy reads to curl up with, and non-fiction gems that touched our hearts and minds. Perfect for your 2025 reading list!

The Booker Prize 2024 • Episode #166

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November 9, 2024/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Curious about the Booker Prize 2024? Wondering if the shortlisted novels live up to the hype? In our latest episode Kate and Laura are joined by returning guests Phil, Sarah and Martin to dive deep into this year’s shortlist bringing you their usual frank, honest opinions in true book-club style. This isn’t your typical review […]

Kate and Laura are joined by returning guests Phil, Sarah and Martin to dive deep into the 2024 Booker Prize shortlist, bringing you their usual frank, honest opinions in true book-club style.

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Summer Reading Report 2024: Hits, Misses and Anticipations

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September 7, 2024/Posted by: Kate

We’re back from the beach and reflecting on our summer reading in this bonus length bookshelf episode. On Kate’s stack summer favourite GRETA AND VALDIN by Rebecca K. Reilly, Olivia Laing’s memoir THE GARDEN AGAINST TIME, the hotly tipped HEADSHOT by Rita Bullwinkel, TRUST by Hernan Diaz, Miranda July’s new novel ALL FOURS and upcoming […]

Kate and Laura are back from the beach and catching up on the books they read over the summer. Find out their favourites, plus the perfect formula for a book party and what happens when you only read one book at a time.

Notebook Nirvana: Stationery and the Joy of Notetaking podcast episode

Notebook Nirvana: Stationery and the Joys of Notetaking, with David Frostick • #164

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August 25, 2024/Posted by: The Book Club Review

In this special episode, originally released for our Patreon subscribers, Kate celebrates the joys of the perfect notebook with fellow enthusiast and stationery shop owner David Frostick (Lift, Southwold). From the importance of flat-lay paper to the perfect pen we’ve got it all covered just in time for back-to-school season. And then we turn to […]

We explore the charm of notebooks, pens, and the art of notetaking in this special episode originally released to Patreons, to help you get the most out of your reading. With expert tips and, of course, some book recommendations. Find out how to get more from the pod and support the show via Patreon, including membership of our monthly book club.

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Unpacking the best: The NYT’s Best Books of the 21st Century list • #163

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July 30, 2024/Posted by: The Book Club Review

We love a list, and we love an excuse for a conversation about books, and so we couldn’t have been more delighted when the New York Times released their list of the best books of the 21st century, so far. From 503 top tens submitted by authors and other literary world folk, plus a bit […]

Join Kate, Sarah, Phil and Laura as they consider the NYT's Best Books of the 21st Century list, and come up with a Book Club Review Top 20 picking up on the ones they think were overlooked. Listen in to find out if they've picked any of your favourites.

Summer bookshelf • Episode #162

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June 21, 2024/Posted by: The Book Club Review

Laura’s on a flying visit to London, and so of course we took the opportunity to get together and swap notes on our recent reading. Regular guest Phil Chaffee dialled in from New York to add his picks to the mix. Find out what we thought of summer it-book The Ministry of Time by Kaliane […]

Listen in as we catch up with our summer reads, including book-of-the-season The Ministry of Time and an unputdownable art world memoir, All That Glitters.