The Book Club Review

Kate and Laura Potter host The Book Club Review with a refreshing editorial stance: they want to figure out whether the books everyone's talking about actually deserve the hype. Published biweekly on the W!ZARD Studios network, episodes run about 50 to 80 minutes and feature discussion, debate, and the occasional genuine disagreement about whether a title earned its place on the bestseller list. The format mixes contemporary releases with backlist titles, so you'll get coverage of the latest Booker Prize shortlist alongside a reassessment of something published twenty years ago. The hosts bring in guest critics, authors, and literary professionals like Phil Chaffee, which adds perspective beyond their own reading tastes. What works especially well is their willingness to be critical. Too many book podcasts default to enthusiasm about everything; Kate and Laura will tell you flat-out when something didn't work and articulate exactly what fell short. With 192 episodes since 2017 and a 4.5-star rating from 126 reviews, the show has built a steady audience. The Patreon community offers ad-free episodes, bonus content, and monthly book club selections. Themed episodes -- covering diaries, the Booker Prize, or bestseller trends -- give the show variety beyond the standard review format. If you're the kind of reader who wants an honest assessment before committing 10 hours to a novel, this podcast takes the evaluation seriously without taking itself too seriously.