In Part 1 of our end-of-year special episode we look back over the book club books we've read this year. Which have stayed with us? Which were our favourites? And which is our book club book of the year?

Join us as we dive into Lauren Groff's latest novel, Matrix, a fictional account of the life of 12-century poet Marie de France. It's a bold vision of female love, devotion and desire and has been a New York Times bestseller and National Book Award finalist and a hit with fellow authors like Brit Bennett and Madeleine Miller. But did it make for a good book club read? Listen in as we're joined by Phil Chaffee and Sarah Oliver to discuss it.

Laura's book club tackles Second Place, the new novel by Rachel Cusk. It was longlisted but not shortlisted for the 2021 Booker – did they miss a classic? Sally Rooney has called it ‘masterful’, saying it ‘achieves a kind of formal perfection’, but did Laura's group agree? We also have four follow-on book recommendations for your next book club read.

Looking for something a little off the beaten path for your reading pile? Join us as we discuss Like A Sword Wound by renowned Turkish writer Ahmet Altan and end up feeling a little wiser, a little more intellectual, with our cultural horizons nicely enlarged. And then, as ever, we have some follow-on book recommendations. In this episode we're joined by journalist and friend-of-the-pod Philip Chaffee.

It’s our 2021 Women’s Prize shortlist episode. We’re joined by guests Elizabeth Morris and Sarah Oliver to discuss every book on the shortlist. But did we love them? Did we loathe them? Most importantly who do we think should win. Listen in to our spoiler-free show and feel inspired to pick up one or all six of these amazing books.

Laura adopts a less than reverential attitude towards Kazuo Ishiguro's Booker winning novel The Remains of the Day but does Kate agree? What did her book club think? Listen in to find out if this one is worth adding to your TBR pile, plus we've got some more great recommendations for your next book club read

Join us as we tackle this highly original book that mixes prose with poetry and a play script, in which Death is embodied in the form of an old black woman. Mrs Death befriends a young writer, Wolf, who agrees to ghost-write her memoirs. Why read a book about a subject most of us would prefer not to think about? Listen in to find out.

Join us as we discuss The Mermaid of Black Conch, winner of the 2020 Costa Book of the Year, an award that seemed to surprise booksellers and publishers Peepal Tree Press alike, who had to scramble to print new copies to meet demand. Did it make for a good book club book? Was Kate able to cope with reading all the sex? If you buy a book about a mermaid is it then ok to complain it’s unrealistic? Listen in to find out.