Bookies' Favourite

Aaron, Lucy & Hannah share their live reactions to the Booker Prize 2026 winner announcement.Unexpectedly The End of Everything by M. John Harrison, published by Serpent's Tail, claimed the award, beating out the other five books on the shortlist.We share our initial reactions and what book club members think of the news.What are your thoughts on this year's winner?Join us on our journey as we judge the Queen Mary Small Press Fiction Prize 2027 and tell us which other literary awards we should cover in the new year.Check out Aaron's other book club podcast The Novel Series💬 Share your thoughts with the book club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

The bookies - Aaron, Lucy, Hannah & Colin - reveal their rankings of the Booker Prize 2026 shortlisted books.We've spent the past 6 weeks reading & reviewing the 6 novels from the shortlist ahead of the winner announcement.The team also attempt to predict which book will win the prize.We hear the favourites from people in the bookclub and we discuss what the actual bookies odds are.Which book do you think will win the Booker Prize 2026, and is it different than your favourite from the shortlist?💬 Share your thoughts with the book club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

Lucy & Aaron discuss the biggest book on this year's shortlist The Disappearers by previous Booker Prize winner Marlon James, published by Hamish Hamilton.This novel seems to be the bookies' favourite to win the award this year. What did you think of this book?We’re reading the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist ahead of the winner announcement.💬 Share your thoughts with the book club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

Hannah, Lucy & Aaron dive into the Waterstones Debut Fiction Prize 2026 winner May We Feed the King by Rebecca Perry, published by Granta.This historical novel is split across two timelines filed with art, conspiracy and royal politics.The trio try to figure out what was real and decipher the rumours, stories and gossip spread throughout the castle. What are your thoughts of this novel?We're reading the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist ahead of the winner announcement.This episode has been edited since initial upload. 💬 Share your thoughts with the book club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

Hannah, Lucy & Aaron discuss the comical monologue that is Black Bag by Luke Kennard, published by John Murray.This novel follows a struggling actor as he takes on the role of Black Bag in a psychology class. We also hear some thoughts from listeners in the bookclub.We’re reading the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist ahead of the winner announcement.*Sorry about the audio quality, this episode was recorded during a storm*💬 Share your thoughts with the book club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

Lucy & Aaron are joined by bookie guest Eleni (@books.andcaffeine.matter) to discuss the divisive literary read The Things We Never Say by ElizabethStrout, published by Viking.Many listeners from the bookclub also share their thoughts... opinions are very split! What are your thoughts on this shortlistee?We're reading the Booker Prize 2026 shortlist ahead of the winner announcement.💬 Share your thoughts with the book club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠Eleni @books.andcaffeine.matter⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @c_f_writes⁠

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 club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @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 club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @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 HarrisonJohn of John by Douglas StuartThe Things We Never Say by Elizabeth StroutBlack Bag by Luke KennardMay We Feed the King by Rebecca PerryThe Disapperers by Marlon JamesWe 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 club⁠Instagram @bookiesfavouritebookclub⁠⁠Goodreads @The Bookies' Favourite Bookclub⁠⁠Email [email protected]⁠⁠Aaron @AaronRiceMedia⁠⁠Lucy @bookz2026⁠⁠Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannah⁠⁠Colin @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 clubInstagram @bookiesfavouritebookclubGoodreads @The Bookies' Favourite BookclubEmail [email protected] @AaronRiceMediaLucy @bookz2026Hannah @certifiedbookyapperhannahColin @c_f_writes