Best Book Forward – Details, episodes & analysis

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Best Book Forward

Best Book Forward

Helen Gambarota

Arts
Leisure
Society & Culture

Frequency: 1 episode/24d. Total Eps: 29

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Have you ever wondered which books shaped your favourite authors? Best Book Forward is the bookish podcast for avid readers where we delve into the lives of your favourite authors and discover the books that have shaped their lives. Prepare for surprising picks, heartwarming stories, and the ultimate literary dilemma: "If you could only read one again, which would it be?" Warning: This podcast may lead to an uncontrollable urge to expand your TBR pile. Ready to discover your next literary obsession? Tune in and join Helen's vibrant book community! Find Helen online: Instagram: @bestbookforward YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@BestBookForward Website: https://bestbookforward.org/
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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
Spotify

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RSS feed quality
Good

Score global : 89%


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Bonus episode: crafting literary magic, with Alice Winn

Season 1 · Episode 12

jeudi 28 mars 2024Duration 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 

Moby Dick by Herman Melville

War & Peace by Leo Tolstoy

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 2024Duration 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

Catch 22 by Joseph Heller

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius

Passing by Nella Larsen

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 2023Duration 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

Go As A River by Shelley Read

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel

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 2023Duration 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

Another Life by Jodie Chapman

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

Ladder of Years by Anne Tyler

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 2023Duration 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 2024Duration 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 2024Duration 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 

Arabella by Georgette Heyer

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 2024Duration 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 2024Duration 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

One Day by David Nicholls

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 

The Becoming Ted 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 2023Duration 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 Arnim

Rebecca 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


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