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 week, which one do we think will win?Perhaps like Amanda you have read them all, but if, like Kate, you're going to struggle to get to all six, which ones should you focus on? Which are the standout reads? Which are the books most likely to delight, surprise, and stay with you long after you've turned the final page? We're covering all six books, and you’ll also find out what Amanda has on her TBR, the books she most loves recommending, and how a busy book podcaster organises her bookshelves. Timestamps for the time-poor00:00 Welcome and Prize Preview01:31 Meet Amanda Molson01:44 Quickfire Reading Habits03:18 Bookshelf Organization04:06 Favorite Recs and Current Reads06:20 Kate’s Power Broker Detour08:54 Patreon Readalong and Book Club10:12 Women’s Prize Context and History15:09 Shortlist Book 1 Flashlight20:51 Shortlist Book 2 Dominion25:23 Shortlist Book 3 The Correspondent26:31 Sybil’s Dark Past27:07 Audiobook Clip Letters29:15 Cozy Yet Dark30:22 Famous Author Replies31:14 Sybil Effect Debate32:49 Craft and Book Clubs33:28 The Mercy Step Setup34:40 Mercy Step Clip36:35 Child Narrator Power37:12 Small Press Spotlight38:01 Kingfisher Obsessive Love38:50 Kingfisher Clip Warning40:40 Kingfisher Reactions41:35 Heart the Lover Clip44:07 Two Halves Romance45:36 Illness and Mortality47:33 Marketing and Triggers49:04 Winner Predictions51:23 Wrap Up and Patreon52:25 Kate’s Recent Reads and OutroBooks mentionedSorrow and Bliss by Meg MasonMy Family and Other Animals by Gerald DurrellYou With the Sad Eyes by Christina ApplegateOpen Book by Jessica SimpsonA Long Game by Elizabeth McCrackenThe Power Broker by Robert CaroWe Are Green and Trembling Gabriela Cabezón CámaraFeminist History for Every Day of the Year by Kate MosseThe Safekeep by Yael Van Der WoudenBrotherless Night by V.V. GaneshananthanDemon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverThe Book of Form and Emptiness by Ruth OzekiPiranesi by Susanna ClarkeFlashlight by Susan ChoiNothing to Envy by Barbara DemickDominion by Addie E. CitchensThe Correspondent by Virginia EvansThe Mercy Step by Marcia HutchinsonKingfisher by Rozie KellyHeart the Lover by Lily KingWriters & Lovers by Lily KingA Bookshop of One’s Own by Jane CholmeleyDykes to Watch Out For by Alison BechdelThe Director by Daniel KehlmanThe Complete Polysyllabic Spree by Nick HornbyThis is Where the Serpent Lives by Daniyal MueenuddinYou'll find all the titles we mentioned in our Bookshop.org list. Buying books there helps support independent bookshops, and also supports The Book Club Review.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.