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The crew discuss the Scottish Island queer fiction novel which is one of the most popular books of the year, John of John by Douglas Stuart, published by Picador. Some listeners from the bookclub share their thoughts on the book too, everyone seems to love it! Were expectations too high for this book? We're reading the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist ahead of the winner announcement. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club ⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠ ⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠ ⁠Email [email protected]⁠ ⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠ ⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠ ⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠ ⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

Lucy, Colin & Aaron discuss otherworldly sci-fi novel The End of Everything by M. John Harrison, published by Serpent's Tail.. And we hear the thoughts of some members of the bookclub. The crew is pretty divided over this one, what did you think of the book? We’re reading the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist ahead of the winner announcement. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club ⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠ ⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠ ⁠Email [email protected]⁠ ⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠ ⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠ ⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠ ⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

The Booker prize 2026 Shortlist has been announced! Aaron, Lucy & Colin share their reactions to the books & decide on a reading schedule. The End of Everything by M. John Harrison John of John by Douglas Stuart The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout Black Bag by Luke Kennard May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry The Disapperers by Marlon James We aim to upload a new episode every Friday, or so, until the winner is announced Monday,November 9th. Read along and share your thoughts on each book! 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club ⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠ ⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠ ⁠Email [email protected]⁠ ⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠ ⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠ ⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠ ⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

Bookies' Favourite are co-judging the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2027, alongside writers Saraid de Silva & Ben Pester. Acting as one judge on the literary prize's panel of three judges we'll work together to longlist, shortlist and find a winner from all nominated books from small presses across the UK &Ireland. We previously covered some of the books selected for the 2026 prize, including the joint winners; Ghost Driver by Nell Osborne and Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group by Rebecca Gransden. In this episode we hear some of this years' winners, writer Nell Osborne and Hugh Nicholson from Moist Books behind Ghost Driver, as well as Michael Curran from Tangerine Press which brought you Figures Crossing the Field Towards the Group. Follow along with us on our journey as an official literary prize judge. We'll next be covering the Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist. Follow our guests & the Prize @republicofconsciousness @nellosborne @coolmoistbooks @tangerine_press 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

We've share our thoughts on this year's long listed books. Aaron keeps his streaky having predicted a book which made it onto the list - everyone else has failed yet again to live up to his standard, but the group choice of John of John did make it onto the list. The bookies describe each of the novels to each other and end with a Covergirl segment in which they judge the book covers. We'll be covering the shortlist of 6 books, but we have some surprise special episodes on the way beforehand. Share your thoughts on the long list! 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

Welcome back to our 5th series, we're jumping into the Booker Prize 2026. In this episode we predict the Bookers dozen ahead of the announcement. Aaron, Hannah, Lucy & Colin pick 3 books eligible for the award, and combine them with the most popular choice, John of John by Douglas Stewart. They also share what other eligible books they've read. The bookies catch up with each other following the International Booker Prize 2026 winner announcement & talk about what they've been reading & listening to since. Stay tuned this week for our reaction to the longlist when it's announced. We'll be diving into the entire shortlist on the podcast in a few weeks. Also, the podcast has an exciting announcement episode coming soon with some big news... what could it be? Which books do you hope make it to the long list? Will Aaron keep up his prediction streak? Which books have you read from the bookies' predictions? 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club looks back on all 6 books from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist, share their rankings, predict a winner & discuss the bookies' odds. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club dives into their final read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated from the German by Ross Benjamin and published by Riverrun. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club dives into their fifth read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. The Nights are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from the German by Ruth Martin, published by Scribe. 🍰Read it & Eat it Aaron rustles up some Persian saffron & raisin cookies severed to the characters when they visit Iran. If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our many discussions on the novel Eden’s Shore by Oisin Fagan. ⏭️Next Up The final book on the shortlist that the book club is diving into is The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated from the German by Ross Benjamin, published by Riverrun. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club dives into their fourth read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from the French by Jordan Stump, published by MacLehose Press. 🍰Read it & Eat it Check out the club’s socials to see journalist & home baker Aaron’s baked cookies from this book. If you’d like to see Aaron bake some of his recipes inspired by the books get in touch. 📛The Name Game The club discuss the blandness of this book's title and come up with variations which might be more representative of the story. 📚Shelf-Help Lucy & Hannah lend their bookworm expertise in offering up some books similar to this one if you enjoyed the themes, characters, location or plot. While Aaron draws connections between this novel and the Marvel TV show WandaVision. Do you see the similarities too? If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our episode on Audition by Katie Kitamura. ⏭️Next Up The fifth book in the shortlist that the book club is diving into is The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from the German by Ruth Martin, published by Scribe UK. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club dives into their third read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from the Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, published by And Other Stories. This novel was previously awarded: The National Book Award for Translated Literature (2024) The Golden Tripod Award (2021) Baifang Schell Book Prize (2025) ALTA First Translation Prize (2025) Best Translation Award (Japan, 2024) It was nominated for the Chommanard International Women's Literary Award (2026). If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our many discussions on the novel Eden’s Shore by Oisin Fagan. ⏭️Next Up The fourth book in the shortlist that the book club is diving into is The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from the French by Jordan Stump, published by MacLehose Press. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

Aaron & Lucy dive into the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist ahead of the shortlist announcement later today. We were gifted a copy of Gloria Don't Speak by Lucy Apps, published by Weatherglass Books, for review. Lucy shares her thoughts on the book & speaks with the writer about the novel. We've covered 3 other books on the longlist, check out our previous episodes: - The Benefactors by Wendy Erskine, published by Sceptre - Audition by Katie Kitamura, published by Fern Press - Flashlight by Susan Choi, published by Jonathan Cape If you'd like us to cover this shortlist once we've wrapped up the International Booker Prize 2026 Shortlist let us know! 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club dives into their second read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from the Bulgarian by Izidora Angel, published by Peirene Press. This novel was previously awarded the Bulgarian Elias Canetti Prize in 2019 and the English version won the Gulf Coast Translation Prize 2023. It was awarded the PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grant in 2023 and won the PEN Club Français Prize for Translation 2025. The book was also nominated for the Prisma Literary Award. 📘Judging the Book by it’s cover The crew discuss the Hannah's ebook cover. If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our discussion on another Peirene novel, On the Greenwich Line by Shady lewis, translated from the Arabic by Katharine Halls. ⏭️Next Up The third book in the shortlist that the book club is diving into is Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from the Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, published by And Other Stories. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

The book club dives into their first read from the International Booker Prize 2026 shortlist. On Earth as it is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from the Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan, published by Charco Press. This book was also longlisted for the Republic of Consciousness Prize US & Canada 2026. The original Brazilian Portuguese novel, titled Assim na Terra como embaixo da Terra, won Prêmio São Paulo de Literatura. Part of a shared universe, serving as a sequel to the award winning Of Cattle and Men, this is the third book in the series to be translated into English. 🍰Read it & Eat it Check out the club’s socials to see journalist & home baker Aaron’s baked cake from this book. He rustled up a Bolo de Fubá, which is a cornmeal cake often eaten with coffee early in the day. If you’d like to see Aaron bake some of his recipes inspired by the books get in touch. 📘Judging the Book by it’s cover The crew discuss the meaning behind the typical minimalist Charco-style cover design by Pablo Font. 📛The Name Game On discussing the alternative As Above, So Below publishing expert & writer Colin throws another suggested title for the book into the ring. 📚Shelf-Help Lucy lends her bookworm expertise in offering up some books similar to this one if you enjoyed the themes, characters, location or plot. From John Steinbeck to Hemingway. Colin also suggest connections to the likes I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman. Due to the books’ cinematic writing we find similarities to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest & Breaking Bad, as well as some classic Western films. If you enjoyed this book you might also enjoy our many discussions on the novel Eden’s Shore by Oisin Fagan. ⏭️Next Up The second book in the shortlist that the book club is diving into is She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from the Bulgarian by Izidora Angel, published by Peirene Press. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub Email [email protected] Aaron @AaronRiceMedia Lucy @bookz2026 Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah Colin @c_f_writes

Lucy & Aaron star their thoughts n what did & didn't make it to the shortlist. We'll be reading one book a week until the winner is announced. Our current reading schedule: On Earth As It Is Beneath by Ana Paula Maia, translated from the Portuguese by Padma Viswanathan, published by Charco Press She Who Remains by Rene Karabash, translated from the Bulgarian by Izidora Angel, published by Peirene Press Taiwan Travelogue by Yáng Shuāng-zǐ, translated from Mandarin Chinese by Lin King, published by And Other Stories The Witch by Marie NDiaye, translated from the French by Jordan Stump, published by MacLehose Press The Nights Are Quiet in Tehran by Shida Bazyar, translated from the German by Ruth Martin, published by Scribe UK The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, translated from the German by Ross Benjamin, published by riverrun Bookies' Favourite: @bookiesfavouritebookclub Email the Book Club" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferer">Email: [email protected] Aaron: @AaronRiceMedia Lucy: @bookz2026 Colin: @c_f_writes Hannah: @certifiedbookyapperhannah