Thousands of writers have submitted their stories to The Libraro Prize 2026 for their chance to win a £50,000 package from Libraro and a publishing deal with major international publisher Hachette UK (submissions are now closed).
The Libraro Reader Engagement Prize 2026, in partnership with LoveReading, will reward the reader who most actively and usefully engages with entries on the Libraro platform and social media with £10,000 (now closed).
Our book clubs shadowed this part of the prize – find out what they thought!
The Page Turners
The Page Turners is an enthusiastic book club within the local community of Clydebank, bringing together people who share a deep love for reading.
Being a part of The Libraro Prize made their group feel that they were part of a larger group that were able to support new and upcoming authors. They loved the large selection of different genres as this gave them plenty to choose from.
As a group, they really enjoyed Live Again, Dier Again by Gerry Fenge. It really pushed them out of our comfort zone, and, as a book club, they would really love to read this a book.
All Around the World Book Club
All Around the World is a globally curious book club started in September 2025 with a shared belief that stories are one of the most meaningful ways to understand the world.
Being part of the Libraro Prize has been an enriching experience for the book club, particularly in terms of exposing themselves to a wide variety of literary genres and different authors. It has also provided them with a valuable insight into the vast amount of unpublished work produced by authors, as well as the considerable effort that goes into the publishing process, and especially the book nomination for prizes such as this.
They browsed through different categories to stumble upon authors which didn’t have many reviews/comments and then paid attention on those manuscripts that felt particularly promising despite being unpolished. As a book club that is interested in geopolitics along with the literature produced, they wanted to see what it was offered from or for different regions of the world. Each member picked submissions from their country of origin or the ones read recently in their book club e.g. Germany, Greece, Albania, France, Australia etc, and tried to find an unexpected story seeing for something familiar but under different lenses.
RHACC Book Club
The RHACC Book Club was launched in June 2025 as a new way to bring together readers from across Richmond & Hillcroft Adult Community College.
Being part of The Libraro Prize had a very positive impact on their book club experience. It brought renewed energy to discussions and gave them a structured way to explore new and emerging writing. They especially enjoyed discovering fresh voices and engaging with extracts that challenged them to think differently. The process encouraged them to share our opinions more confidently, and they felt more connected as a group through the shared experience of reading and reflecting on the submissions. What they enjoyed most was the sense of discovery the Libraro platform offered—encountering writing they might never have come across otherwise.
One hidden gem that stood out was a story set in a declining seaside town. It wasn’t something they would normally have chosen, but were struck by the emotional subtlety and unexpected touches of humour. It lingered with them long after reading and became a highlight of their discussions.
Jubilee Crescent Book Club
Jubilee Crescent Book Club is a group of Coundon locals in Coventry who came together through a love of books. The group has been running over 2 years and has meant the creation of many friendships and a supportive community of bookworms.
It was a new experience for their book club and they’d never heard of Libraro before. They found it interesting to be able to engage with authors directly, with several members leaving feedback on the platform.
They had particularly strong discussions about breaking down barriers to engage with authors directly – it was very thought provoking and there was a strong focus on making sure valuable stories are not lost because of a lack of agents.
Loughborough Book Club
Loughborough Book Club is the official Book Club of Loughborough University’s Students’ Union. It consists of 60 members across a range of degrees and years of study, all united by a shared passion for reading.
Being part of The Libraro Prize brought a sense of purpose and excitement to the book club. Having access to extracts made it easy to explore a range of genres without the pressure of committing to full books, while discovering new authors. The Libraro platform itself was engaging, and made the process feel structured and flexible. Taking part helped them feel more connected to the wider reading community, especially knowing that their opinions contributed to something bigger was incredibly motivating. It also
gave them a greater appreciation for the judging process and how subjective and personal reading can be. Finally, it reminded the group that every reader’s voice matters, and that was probably the most rewarding part of all.
Overall, the experience strikes a great balance between enjoyment and purpose – you’re not just reading for yourself, you’re contributing to something, which makes the experience feel even more rewarding.
Get involved
Are you interested in reading any of the entries? Sign up to the Libraro platform.
What do you think of the inaugural Libraro Prize 2026? Have you read any of the amazing entries? Add your comments below.
Share your thoughts with us on Facebook, X and Instagram using #TheLibraroPrize2026 and tagging @Libraro and @ReadingAgency!
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