The Book Club Review

Latest episodes

Showing 20 · updated from the feed

Summer Reading: The Debrief, with Kate and Laura

It’s the end of summer, so Kate and Laura are looking back over their holiday reading, the books they loved, the ones that disappointed them, and the unexpected discoveri

Sep 1
56 min

Summer Reading: The Books Worth Packing This Year, with Kate, Laura and Phil

Looking for the perfect summer read? Kate is joined by Laura Potter and returning guest Phil Chaffee to compare recent reads before putting this year's biggest summer boo

Aug 7
1 h 03 min

Secondhand Books: Hidden Stories and Literary Treasures

What makes secondhand books so irresistible? Kate and Laura celebrate the joy of used bookshops, their favourite places to shop, literary finds and the thrill of unexpect

Aug 2
50 min

The Guardian's 100 Best Novels of All Time: 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

Jul 28
43 min

George Saunders' Vigil: The Book Club Debate

George Saunders is back with Vigil, his first novel since Lincoln in the Bardo. In this episode, Kate is joined by fellow book podcasters Jenny King and Sarah Kemp from T

Jul 14
56 min

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 w

Jun 5
54 min

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, podc

May 9
49 min

Liberating Women's Voices: Austen, Wollstonecraft and after, with Bee Rowlatt

A new local literary festival provided the perfect opportunity to record the very first Book Club Review live. Kate is joined by author and broadcaster Bee Rowlatt, whose

Apr 22
50 min

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 differ

Mar 31
52 min

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 th

Feb 15
46 min

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

Feb 1
1 h 09 min

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. Mayb

Jan 13
53 min

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

Dec 23 2025
1 h 20 min

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

Dec 9 2025
1 h 10 min

The 2025 Booker Prize: From Shortlist to Spotlight • #182

Explore this year's Booker Prize shortlist on the latest episode of the Book Club Review! Hosts Kate and Laura and contributors Phil Chaffee and Martin Vovk discuss and d

Nov 13 2025
1 h 29 min

Beyond the Shortlist: The 2025 Booker Longlist titles worth your time • #181

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 hav

Oct 25 2025
1 h 03 min

Autumn bookshelf, with Kate & Laura • Episode #180

In this episode: Kate and Laura are catching up on their pre-Booker season reading. Did You Are Here by David Nicholls make Laura want to lace up her walking boots? Ho

Oct 19 2025
48 min

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

Book Club: Universality by Natasha Brown & Sparks of Bright Matter by Leeanne O'Donnell Welcome to The Book Club Review! In this episode, Laura joins Kate to dive into

Oct 11 2025
53 min

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

Something a little different this episode as I invite you to head down the rabbit hole with me into the world of books about books. Accompanying us into this particular w

Sep 12 2025
54 min

Bookish in Seattle • Episode #177

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 o

Aug 23 2025
41 min

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

This show has changed how I read. It has opened my eyes to so many books that I would have never picked up or noticed!

Wynn1711 · Feb 2024

Looking for a cozy, intellectual, quietly whimsical and wonderfully creative podcast about books and a bookish lifestyle? Well her you go! It’s also lovely to listen to a sophisticated and friendly accent by the show host(s) which is most frequently Kate these days (although Laura is always sunny even when she is eschewing a book due to intensity that dabbles in darkness and/or pain). The pod features a wide range of mostly fiction, some poetry, the rare appearance of a graphic novel, pointed nonfiction and sub-genres move around but most notably is the literary fiction is tasteful and expansive. Bookstore owners, fellow readers, authors and other industry adjacent peoples appear on the podcast and Kate is a skillful and inspired interviewer. Listeners learn as she does and Kate is not shy to learn and offer that dynamic and rich experience to her listeners. Her recent Booker prize episode is chef’s kiss! She reminds me of early Julia Child—Kate is THAT interesting and raises the bar for podcasts making them be educational by way of intellectual participation (no mansplaining). USA listeners she reads and cites relevant articles derived from all the great States publications so give Kate some love and listen in. I would love to see her expand her show to feature fellow podcast people further and Bookstagram—the community would love her should she connect furthermore. Networking people re-read this! Admittedly, I have been influenced a little by Kate’s selections. I wish I was in Europe to meet at book club but the podcast offers one to Patrons via Patreon so if you get a holiday bonus and desire community and time enables a good linkup then join! I look forward to seeing what Kate rolls out for 2024. She’s a professional both on and off the podcast so listeners keep busy between episodes or go back to old ones there’s always something to discover. Enjoy!

Generic Reader · Dec 2023

This is the perfect mix of new “must read” books found in the American press and authors of whom I am not so aware from outside of the US. The discussions make books that I would not normally consider sound interesting and I’ve found some new gems through this podcast. I love the ease and camaraderie between Kate and Laura, they sound like the women in my own book club (though with British accents!).

From the Tucson desert · Jun 2023

I could listen to the Book Club Review Podcast every day. I love it so much! Kate and Laura are lively and engage their listeners so well that the time flies by too quickly. I love the variety of titles including many discussion-worthy translations.

Glo Loves Books · Mar 2023

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.