Best Book Forward

Best Book Forward Season 4!

Welcome back to Best Book Forward! Get ready because another new season of seven episodes, packed with incredible author is coming your way. I cannot wait to share these with you.

New to Best Book Forward?

Hi, I'm Helen (@bestbookforward), your friendly neighbourhood book pusher! Think of this podcast as your ultimate bookish version of Desert Island Discs, where I get to chat with some amazing authors about the five books that have shaped their lives and writing journeys. It's always such a joy, and I learn something new every single time (and I also add a lot of books to my TBR, I have no shelf-control)!

When Can You Dive In?

The very first episode of Season 4 drops this Thursday, 8 June! But if you've missed any of the previous episodes you'll find a catch up link below.

Ready to join the bookish adventure?

1. Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts - that way you'll never miss an episode!
2. Follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward for behind-the-scenes peeks and bookish fun.
3. Check out the Best Book Forward website: www.bestbookforward.org
4. Catch up on previous episodes Catch up now

For this final episode of our special bonus season, I’m taking things right back to the beginning by welcoming my very first podcast guest, the wonderful Helen Paris, author of The Invisible Women’s Club.

In this episode Helen chats about the incredible reader response to The Invisible Women’s Club, the importance of female friendship, navigating menopause, and even gives us a little glimpse into her next book. She also shares details of her inspiring new project, The Next Chapter, a bespoke creative course, in the South of France, drawing on her 30 years of experience as a professor and creative facilitator. The course is designed to give women the space and support to nurture their creativity, whether they’re returning to something they once loved or exploring it for the first time.

For dates and details, visit: https://www.creativebody.org/nextchapter.

And of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Helen Paris

• The Invisible Women's Club 
• Lost Property

✨ Books Mentioned

• On All Fours by Miranda July
• The Heart is a Lonely Hunter by Carson McCullers
• Heart the Lover by Lily King
• Clear by Carys Davies
• West by Carys Davies
• A Memoir of Sorts by Margaret Atwood

So that’s it for this special Christmas season. I really hope that you have enjoyed it.  

I would like to say a huge thank you to my wonderful guests:

Catherine Newman, Matt Cain, Clare Leslie-Hall, Frances Quinn, Alice Winn, Virginia Evans, Lucy Steeds and of course Helen Paris.

I will be back with a brand new season start on 8 January and I really hope you’ll join for that season too. In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends... it really helps new listeners discover the show.

I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year.  

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

In this Christmas bonus episode of Best Book Forward, I’m delighted to welcome back Lucy Steeds, author of The Artist If you missed the previous episode with Claire you can catch up with it here... listen now

We take a look back at The Artist and some of the special moments that Lucy has enjoyed.

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Lucy Steds

• The Artist

✨ Books Mentioned

• The Signs by Dr Tara Swart
• Endling by Maria Reva

Boutique Book Breaks 

Boutique Book Breaks - UK Retreat for Book Lovers. Hosting small groups, with author events at luxury hotels. Use code: 'BestBook' for £50 off the next weekend, 6-8 March 2026 in the New Forest.

For more details visit... https://www.boutiquebookbreaks.com/

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the last episode in our Christmas Chapter series; I hope you’ll join me again.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends... it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

In this Christmas bonus episode of Best Book Forward, I’m delighted to welcome back Gillian McAllister. If you missed the previous episode you can catch up with it here…listen now 

We take a look back at Famous Last Words and also at what is next for Gillian, I have to say it is all very exciting. 

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Gillian McAllister

• Famous Last Words
• Wrong Place, Wrong Time
• Caller Unknown
• That Night

✨ Books Mentioned

• Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra
• You Are Here by David Nicholls
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another festive conversation in The Christmas Chapter series, catching up with another wonderful past guest.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends, it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

✨ Update: Since this episode was recorded, Virginia Evans has been longlisted for the Women’s Prize for Fiction for The Correspondent. Congratulations to Virginia ✨

In this Christmas bonus episode of Best Book Forward, I’m delighted to welcome back Virginia Evans author of The Correspondent.

Virginia reveals how the incredible success of The Correspondent has felt after so many years of rejection, she shares the moments that will stay with her forever, a little insight into what she’s currently working on as well as giving a glimpse into her family life at Christmas.

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Virginia Evans

1. The Correspondent

✨ Books Mentioned

1. Heart the Lover by Lily King
2. The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
3. Whistler by Ann Patchett
4. Land by Maggie O'Farrell
5. The Offing by Benjamin Myers
6. Now We Shall Be Entirely Free by Andrew Miller
7. The Land In Winter by Andrew Miller
8. Cook Like A Pro by Ina Garten

Boutique Book Breaks

Boutique Book Breaks - UK Retreat for Book Lovers. Hosting small groups, with author events at luxury hotels. Use code: 'BestBook' for £50 off the next weekend, 6-8 March 2026 in the New Forest.

For more details visit... https://www.boutiquebookbreaks.com/

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing the last episode in our Christmas Chapter series; I hope you’ll join me again.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends... it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

Joining me on today’s Christmas Chapter is the wonderful Alice Winn. I was so excited to welcome Alice back to reflect on the success of In Memoriam, chat about her next projects and get some really interesting book recommendations. If you missed our previous chat you can catch up with it here listen now

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 By Alice Winn

• In Memoriam

✨ Books Mentioned

• Inkheart by Cornelia Funke
• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Persuasion by Jane Austen
• Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neil Hurston
• The Colour Purple by Alice Walker
• The Holy Bible
• The Quran Beheld by Nuh Ha Mi Keller (not available on bookshop.org)
• The Collected Essays of George Orwell

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another festive conversation in The Christmas Chapter series, catching up with another wonderful past guest.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends, it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

In this Christmas bonus episode of Best Book Forward, I’m delighted to welcome back Frances Quinn.  If you missed our first chat you can catch up here listen now

We take a look back at The Lost Passenger and Frances gives us a sneak peek into her new book The Troublemakers which sounds amazing. You can you preorder your copy here: The Troublemakers

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Frances Quinn

• The Lost Passenger
• The Smallest Man
• That Bonesetter Woman

✨ Books Mentioned

• Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
• The Miseducation of Evie Epworth by Matson Taylor
• Identity Crisis by Nicola Gill
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another festive conversation in The Christmas Chapter series - catching up with another wonderful past guest.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends - it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

In this Christmas bonus episode of Best Book Forward, I’m delighted to welcome back Clare Leslie Hall. If you missed the previous episode with Claire you can catch up with it here... listen now

We take a look back at Broken Country at only the incredible awards and achievements but also the heartfelt response it has had from readers.

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Clare Leslie Hall

• Broken Country
• Pictures of Him
• Days You Were Mine

✨ Books Mentioned

• Atonement by Ian McEwan
• Heart the Lover by Lily King
• Writers & Lovers by Lily King
• The Death of Us by Abigail Dean

Boutique Book Breaks

Boutique Book Breaks - UK Retreat for Book Lovers. Hosting small groups, with author events at luxury hotels. Use code: 'BestBook' for £50 off the next weekend, 6-8 March 2026 in the New Forest.

For more details visit... https://www.boutiquebookbreaks.com/

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another festive conversation in The Christmas Chapter series; catching up with another wonderful past guest.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends... it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

In this Christmas bonus episode of Best Book Forward, I’m delighted to welcome back Matt Cain MBE for a catch-up on everything he’s been up to since we last spoke.

It’s been quite a year for Matt, from receiving his MBE at Windsor Castle to sharing the powerful story of coming out again as autistic. In this conversation, we talk about what those moments have meant to him, and how they’ve shaped both his life and his writing.

We also revisit his beautiful novel One Love, and Matt gives us an exclusive glimpse into what he’s working on next and it sounds absolutely brilliant.

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Matt Cain

• One Love
• The Secret Life of Albert Entwistle
• Becoming Ted
• The Madonna of Bolton
• The Castle of Stories — coming soon

✨ Books Mentioned

• The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
• Kiss of the Spider Woman by Manuel Puig
• Thomas Hardy: The Time-Torn Man by Claire Tomalin
• The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin 
• The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
• One Day by David Nicholls
• The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce
• The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce
• The Light a Candle Society by Ruth Hogan
• So, I Met This Guy by Alexandra Potter

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another festive conversation in The Christmas Chapter series, catching up with another wonderful past guest.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends it makes a huge difference in helping new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

Listen & Subscribe Now:

https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/

For the first episode of our special Christmas Chapter season I am delighted to be welcoming back the wonderful Catherine Newman.  We last spoke back in September 2024 (if you missed that episode you can catch up here listen now)

Today we talk about how Catherine has felt about the reaction to Sandwich as well as giving us glimpse into her next book Wreck. We chat about the books she has read and loved this year, listed below, as well as finding out what her ultimate holiday drinks party might look like.

Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without some irresistible book recommendations to add to your festive reading list. Here’s everything we discussed:

📚 Books by Catherine Newman

• Sandwich
• Wreck

✨ Books Mentioned

• Maurice & Maralyn by Sophie Elmhurst
• Heart the Lover by Lily King
• Writers & Lovers by Lily King
• Loved & Missed by Susie Boyt
• The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce

I really hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I loved recording it.

Tomorrow, I’ll be sharing another festive conversation in The Christmas Chapter series, catching up with another wonderful past guest.

In the meantime, if you’ve enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to tell your friends… it really helps new listeners discover the show.

See you tomorrow, and happy listening. 🎄

To stay in touch with Best Book Forward news please follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward or visit my website: https://bestbookforward.org/