Behind the scenes of the Radio 2 Book Club
We’ve been working with the BBC for over 10 years to help choose the best of brand new fiction for the BBC Radio 2 Book Club. In that time, we’ve worked with over 100 different library staff and other reading experts from all over the UK, to find the best new books. There have been bestselling authors, dazzling debuts, prize winners and many more. We’ve chosen books set all over the world (and out of this world)! We’ve had crime, thrillers, mysteries, romance, historical dramas, horror, science-fiction, fantasy and brilliant young adult novels. We’ve had short stories, books in translation, and even books in verse.
We work with library staff from across the UK because they are the most passionate advocates for reading for pleasure. They have a keen sense of what readers will enjoy and can spot a great book when they see one. We also have other great unbiased reading advocates join the panel, from wonderful organisations such as Literature Wales, Calibre Audio, the RNIB, CILIP and Arts Council England.
We’ve spoken to a few of our Book Club panel members to get a glimpse behind the scenes of selecting the shortlist.
Quarterly Meetings: How it works
Every season, hundreds of the year’s most exciting new fiction titles are submitted, and our expert readers carefully choose their favourites. The best books are shared with the BBC, who choose the final picks for the Book Club.
During these meetings, the panel splits into small groups to discuss each book and every book is thoroughly debated. The group comes together to share opinions, with lively discussions where panelists advocate for the books they love—or debate the merits of those they didn’t.
Louisa, Radio 2 Book Club panel member says:
“My favourite part has to be those moments during the discussions when people passionately argue for or against a particular title.”
The Panel
The selection panel is a core part of the Radio 2 Book Club. We ensure that the panel includes a diverse range of people, offering a variety of perspectives, preferences, and voices. The selection process is completely unbiased — library readers pick the books they think are best for readers. They are not swayed by marketing budgets, nor by the fame of authors — quality is all that matters.
Louise, Creative Executive at Literature Wales and panel member says:
“For over 30 years, I’ve worked in a variety of bookshops, libraries and prisons. Throughout my career I’ve enjoyed helping support and develop a love of reading and creative writing among many marginalised, under-represented and underprivileged groups. The stories we read can help us to explore the complexities of our lives and support the well-being of individuals and communities. Being part of the panel offers the opportunity to contribute towards highlighting a literary culture which reflects the lives and experiences of our diverse and multilingual nation.”
Caroline, librarian and panel member adds:
“Reading is the most brilliant way for enhancing people lives – it gives them inspiration, ideas, comforts them and wards off loneliness. We like to think in libraries that all our readers are our friends. This is where the book club helps me with my work, it helps me recommend new books to my readers and enhances my knowledge of what’s new in the book world.”
Peter, librarian and panel member says:
“I love the fact that we can influence what the Nation will be listening to and reading, as well as getting the opportunity to meet lots of other librarians from all over the UK. The meetings, whether in person or on Zoom are always great fun – mini conventions of like-minded individuals meeting up to discuss, argue about and spread the love of reading. For anyone who lives by the mantra, ‘Eat, sleep, read, repeat’, being part of the book club panel is like a dream come true.”
The Books
Each season, we receive over 100 book submissions spanning various genres. We encourage publishers of every size to take part, as we take digital submissions as well as proofs, and there is no cost to submitting. As there is such a range of books submitted, the panel get the opportunity to try genres, styles and voices they may not have come across before. We always ensure the final books we select are diverse, original and well-written.
Alison, book club panel member says:
“I’ve had a couple of standout reads, most recently Percival Everett’s James and another book that went onto be shortlisted for the 2022 Women’s Prize for Fiction.”
Peter adds:
“The book club has opened up my reading choices beyond words. I’ve read tons of titles that I otherwise would never have dreamed of picking up. The knowledge I’ve gained has been invaluable in my work as a librarian.”
Favourite moments
Peter shares his favourite moment from being on the panel:
“It was probably the first panel meeting to take place during the covid pandemic. We met up via zoom for the fist time and no one was sure how it would pan out but Karen (the host and R2BC Mastermind) made sure everything ran smoothly. It was such a treat to see everyone again. An oasis of joy and fun during the worst of times.”
Caroline loves the surprise of discovering new authors:
“What I love about being part of the panel is getting an email with new books by authors I have never heard of telling me stories that I never knew I wanted to read.”
Karen, the coordinator of the Radio 2 Book Club shares what she loves most:
“I have many favourite memories – every panel meeting leaves me with something. I love the debate, and the privilege of being able to discuss and disagree, knowing we are all here for a shared goal. I love it when a panel member shares a book they love, then tells us all they have ‘never liked [insert genre] before’ but now they are a convert! We’ve had historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy and short story converts, because of the Book Club.
I love it when panel members tell me of how a book captured them – whether crying on a bus, missing their train stop, not being able to stop reading as they pour their tea, or living on sandwiches for four days straight because there was no time to cook!
I love the creation of the (theoretical) ‘fight room’ – this is where the passionate readers fight for or against a book. Sometimes these divisive reads make the best choices of all!”
Explore the Radio 2 Book Club
All the books that are selected for the book club can be found on our Reading Groups for Everyone website.
Discover this season’s picks and listen to the BBC Sounds podcast to hear from the authors.
If you’re a librarian and want to get involved, please get in touch.
