I’ve always loved the Richard & Judy book club. Their choices have so often mirrored mine, and when they picked something I’d never heard of it was always worth reading. The club champions reading, books, and authors, and has a fantastic reach, thanks to its partnership with WHSmith.
Richard & Judy book club and I Let You Go
I knew several months ago that I Let You Go had been put forward for the Richard & Judy book club. A few weeks after that I knew it had been shortlisted. ‘Don’t get your hopes up,’ I was warned, ‘it’s a very long shot.’
Of course it was. A debut novel, out of all the hundreds, the thousands of books released this year. Nevertheless it was a huge thrill to be put forward, and wonderful to know that my publishers had such confidence in me and my book.
I was in Marks & Spencers when my editor rang to tell me that I Let You Go was a Richard & Judy book club summer read. So strict is the confidentiality around the selection process that she had to leave her desk to call me, whispering in a corridor in case the rest of the office heard. ‘You can’t tell anyone,’ she said. We had several muted celebrations – my agent, editor, publicist and marketeer – silently toasting the news and grinning inanely at each other.
Over the ensuing weeks I thought I might burst with excitement. I sent frequent texts to my editor at ten o’clock at night, when I’d suddenly remember all over again.
OMG RICHARD & JUDY!!!
The week before the list was announced, I went to London to meet Richard and Judy, and record some content for the WHSmith website. They were funny, charming, and so enthusiastic about I Let You Go that for a moment I forgot it was my book they were talking about.
A few more days to keep quiet, and then my Twitter and Facebook timelines exploded with photos of I Let You Go on sale in WHSmith, the Richard & Judy book club sticker proudly displayed. When the enormous poster went up in the window of my home town WHSmith it was all I could do to stop myself from spending all day staring at it.
There are some superb reads in this summer’s book club list, and WHSmith currently have them on offer: buy one full price, and get one for £1. It’s a great way to take a punt on a new author, or to grab a bargain on two books you know you’ll love.
If you haven’t yet read I Let You Go, I do hope you’ll pick up a copy. If you have, and you enjoyed it, please share this post with book-loving friends who might enjoy it.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go and stare at my book club sticker again.
RICHARD & JUDY!!!
