Exclusive: Luke Bateman posted a 90-second TikTok about books in April and accidentally sparked a saga in the process.

Within six months, he'd amassed almost half a million social media followers, scored a book deal, started an audio book club, and announced his exclusive book podcast with Nine, In The Good Books.

But some critics claimed the former NRL player and TV bachelor didn't deserve it.

LISTEN NOW: You can download In The Good Books with Luke Bateman on Apple here and Spotify here.

Bateman, 30, was accused of capitalising on his privilege as a straight, white man for a golden ticket into the Australian publishing industry, which is notoriously difficult to break into.

Detractors demanded to know why someone with no manuscript or prior publishing e

See Full Page