Best Book Forward – Details, episodes & analysis
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Best Book Forward
Helen Gambarota
Frequency: 1 episode/24d. Total Eps: 29

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Apple Podcasts
🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
28/07/2025#42🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
27/07/2025#56🇫🇷 France - books
27/07/2025#92🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
26/07/2025#61🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
13/07/2025#84🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
12/07/2025#49🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
11/07/2025#98🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
22/12/2024#69🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
26/10/2024#90🇬🇧 Great Britain - books
25/10/2024#57
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See all- http://bookshop.org/
164 shares
- https://www.decibellecreative.com/
93 shares
- http://bookshop.org
50 shares
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See allScore global : 89%
Publication history
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Bonus episode: crafting literary magic, with Alice Winn
Season 1 · Episode 12
jeudi 28 mars 2024 • Duration 30:12
In this bonus episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined again by Alice Winn author of In Memoriam. Alice talks about her journey to writing her bestselling debut and shares her experiences as dyslexic child learning to read as well as sharing a fabulous bookish secret with us.
Other books mentioned:
Barrington Stokes
I hope you’ve enjoyed this episode as much as I have. I would be so grateful if you could take the time to like, subscribe and share with your friends.
For more content from me you follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org.
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
Between the Lines of Love and War: Alice Winn on Her Bestseller 'In Memoriam'
Season 1 · Episode 11
jeudi 14 mars 2024 • Duration 01:15:32
In this episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined by Alice Winn author of In Memoriam. If you know me you will know how much I love this book, I’ve probably tried to force a copy on you, so having the opportunity to chat to Alice was incredible.
The five books that Sophie picked as the books that have shaped her life are:
Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
Meditations by Marcus Aurelius
All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque
Other books mentioned:
The Secret History by Donna Tartt
The Song of Achilles by Madeleine Miller
Goodbye To All That by Robert Graves
Journey’s End by R. C. Sherriff
Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen
The Blind Spot & Other Stories by Saki HH Monroe
The Lord of the Rings by JRRTolkein
Authors mentioned:
Vera Brittain
Rudyard Kipling
F. Scott Fitzgerald
If you would like to hear more from Alice Winn, please do keep an eye out as there a bonus episode coming where we discuss more about Alice’s life as a reader and a writer and she shares a bookish secret with us!
For more content from me you follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org.
This episode was produced by Decibelle Creative
Bonus Episode: Helen Paris' life as a reader and writer
Season 1 · Episode 2
jeudi 12 octobre 2023 • Duration 21:21
In this bonus episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined again by Helen Paris; author of Lost Property and The Invisible Women's Club. If you missed the main episode where Helen discusses her Desert Island Books with me do have a listen (you'll find it in the same place you found this one!)
In this episode Helen read a passage from her new book The Invisible Women’s Club and we went on to talk more about her life as a reader and a writer.
The books that are mentioned in this episode are:
None of This is True by Lisa Jewell
The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
The authors that Helen talked about are
Kate Atkinson
Rachel Joyce
Tana French
Agatha Christie
Toni Morrison
I hope you enjoyed this bonus episode. Please do take the time to like, subscribe, review and most importantly tell your friends about it. I’ll be back next month talking to another author and I hope you’ll join me for that conversation. In the meantime, for more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com
Embracing womanhood at every age, with Helen Paris
Season 1 · Episode 1
jeudi 5 octobre 2023 • Duration 57:22
In this first episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined by Helen Paris; author of Lost Property and The Invisible Women's Club.
Helen shared wonderful memories of buying her childhood favourites with her dad at WHSmiths at weekends, a wonderful teacher who introduced her to a book she loves and the books that inspired her love of reading and writing.
Helen’s Desert Island Books choices are:
Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Great Gatsby by F Scott Fitzgerald
Miss Benson's Beetle by Rachel Joyce
To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
Of course, when you’re talking to somebody who is as passionate about books as Helen is, lots of other books get mentioned so here are the other books we talked about in this episode.
Second Spring by Kate Codrington
Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
If you would like to hear more from Helen Paris, please do keep an eye out as there is a bonus episode coming where we discuss more about Helen’s life as a reader and a writer and she shares a bookish secret with us!
For more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative @decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com
Best Book Forward - Trailer
Season 1
mercredi 27 septembre 2023 • Duration 02:09
Join Helen Gambarota, better known online as 'Best Book Forward' for friendly conversations with authors.
After discussing her guest's five favourite books, Helen will ask them the impossible question: if you could only pick one to read again, which book would you choose?!
Listen out for bonus episodes treating you to readings from the authors' own books.
Find out about how to join Helen's book club, and more about her book-ish journey online at https://www.bestbookforward.org/ and on Instagram @bestbookforward
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced Decibelle Creative
Bonus episode: From vulnerability to vegetable hats, with Sophie Irwin
Season 1 · Episode 10
jeudi 29 février 2024 • Duration 27:03
In this bonus episode I am joined again by Sophie Irwin; author of A Lady's Guide to Scandal
In this episode Sophie, reads a passage from her new book and we went on to talk more about her life as a writer and a reader and shares a bookish secret with us.
Other books mentioned in this episode are:
A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles
Rules of Civility by Amor Towles
Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles
Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Game of Thrones by George R R Martin
Authors mentioned
Taylor Jenkins-Reid
Niamh Hargan
Lindsey Kelk
Mhairi McFarlane
Sarra Manning
Janice Hallett
Amor Towels
I hope you have enjoyed this episode. I would be so grateful if you would take the time to like, subscribe and most importantly tell your friends about it.
I’ll be back next month talking to another author and I really hope you’ll join me for that conversation.
In the meantime, for more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org
This episode was produced by Decibelle Creative
Sophie Irwin on the Art of Regency Romance
Season 1 · Episode 9
jeudi 15 février 2024 • Duration 50:54
In this episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined by Sophie Irwin author of A Lady's Guide to Fortune Hunting by Sophie Irwin and A Lady's Guide to Scandal by Sophie Irwin
Sophie talked about her love of the Regency period and why she feels we are so drawn to it, as well as sharing memories of reading her first chapter book that set her on her journey to be a reader for life. The book that was pivotal in changing her life.
The five books that Sophie picked as the books that have shaped her life are:
Sophie's Snail by Dick King Smith
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenger
Midnight Chicken by Ella Risberger
The Break Up Clause by Niamh Hargan
Other books mentioned:
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
Memoirs of a Geisha by Arthur Golden
Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner
Dinner with Edward by Isabel Vincent
I Want to Die but I Want To Eat Tteokbokki by Baek Sehee
Heartburn by Nora Ephron
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston
Authors mentioned:
Frances Burney
Barbara Cartland
Georgette Heyer
Lex Croucher
Amita Murray
Felicity George
Julia Quinn
Beth Morrey (in the interview I said Morley, it is Morrey, sorry Beth)
Kate Sawyer
Roald Dahl
Lindsey Kelk
Sarra Manning
If you would like to hear more from Sophie Irwin, please do keep an eye out as there a bonus episode coming where we discuss more about Sophie’s life as a reader and a writer and she shares a bookish secret with us!
For more content from me you follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org. You can you also find my favourite books here Shop my favourite books
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Decibelle Creative
Bonus episode: Matt Cain on how to come back fighting after rejection and a bookish secret that will leave you wanting more!
Season 1 · Episode 8
jeudi 1 février 2024 • Duration 40:52
For this episode of Best Book Forward I was delighted to be joined again by Matt Cain; author of One Love . If you missed the main episode where Matt discusses her Desert Island Book.
In this episode we talk about how Matt came back fighting after his first novel, The Madonna of Bolton was rejected; using his rage to crowdfund his way to get his book published in just a week! Matt also shares a bookish secret with us that left me feeling really excited !
Books and authors mentioned in this episode
David Nicholls
Lisa Jewell
David Walliams
Adele Parks
Jane Austen
Kate Atkinson
The Song of Achilles of Madeleine Miller
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
One Day by David Nicholls
The Unfinished Business fo Eadie Browne by Freya North
The Excitements by CJ Wray
That Bonesetter Woman by Frances Quinn
Shot Through the Heart by Matt Cain
Nothing But Trouble by Matt Cain
Step Sisters by Matt Cain
I hope you enjoyed this bonus episode. Please do take the time to like, subscribe, review and most importantly tell your friends about it. I’ll be back next month talking to another author and I hope you’ll join me for that conversation. In the meantime, for more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org
This episode was produced by Decibelle Creative / @decibelle_creative
Matt Cain on writing love stories that we can all fall in love with.
Season 1 · Episode 7
jeudi 18 janvier 2024 • Duration 01:04:53
In today’s episode my guest is the wonderful Matt Cain., I have been chatting to Matt on Instagram for such a long time so to get to speak to him about his books and the books that he loves was such a treat. We talked about all of Matt’s books but especially about his latest novel
One Love which comes out on 18 January and is an absolutely brilliant read.
We talked about the five books that have shaped Matt’s life and three of them are also favourites of mine.
Matt’s Desert Island Book choices are:
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis
Kiss of the Spiderwoman by Manuel Puig
Thomas Hardy: The Time-Torn Man by Claire Tomalin
The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
Throughout our discussion, we talked about lots of other books and these are all listed below.
Other books mentioned in this episode
The Madonna of Bolton by Matt Cain
The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle by Matt Cain
Heartstopper by Alice Oseman
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
A Stitch in Time by Kathryn Coltrin
The Stranding by Kate Sawyer
This Family by Kate Sawyer
I hope you have enjoyed this episode as much as I did, I loved chatting to Matt. I would be so grateful if you would take the time to like, subscribe and most importantly tell your friends about it.
Do keep an eye out as there is a bonus episode with Matt coming soon.
In the meantime, for more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Buckers at Decibelle Creative
Bonus episode: Nina Stibbe on Writing, Reading, and London Living
Season 1 · Episode 6
jeudi 21 décembre 2023 • Duration 30:07
In this bonus episode I am joined again by Nina Stibbe; author of Went to London, Took the Dog.
In this episode Nina, reads a passage from her new book and we went on to talk more about her life as a writer and a reader.
Other books mentioned in this episode are:
Started Early Took the Dog by Kate Atkinson
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel by Deborah Moggach
The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole Aged 13¾ by Sue Townsend
Ducks Newbury Port by Lucy Ellmann
The Fortnight in September by R.C. SHerriff
Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Vera by Elizabeth Von ArnimRebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Authors mentioned
Cathy Rentzenbrink
Lionel Shriver
Nick Hornby
Alan Bennett
Jonathan Miller
Heather Morris
Thomas Hardy
Geoffrey Chaucer
Elizabeth Strout
Anne Tyler
David Sedaris
Lydia Davis
Hilary Mantel
Margaret Atwood
I hope you have enjoyed this episode. I would be so grateful if you would take the time to like, subscribe and most importantly tell your friends about it.
I’ll be back next month talking to another author and I really hope you’ll join me for that conversation.
In the meantime, for more content from me you can follow me on Instagram or visit my website www.bestbookforward.org
This episode of Best Book Forward was produced by Decibelle Creative