Best Book Forward

Helen Gambarota
  • 5.0 (21)
  • Books
  • Twice monthly

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/

  1. "I write with a cinematic eye": Bobby Palmer on Main Characters

    4 days ago

    "I write with a cinematic eye": Bobby Palmer on Main Characters

    In this week’s episode I am joined by Bobby Palmer to talk about his brilliant new novel, Main Characters which is out today (link below). I’ve read almost 50 books so far this year and Main Characters is one of my favourites. It is so clever and fresh and just a brilliant read. Do make sure you grab a copy. In this episode you will find a lot of books, I feel your TBRs might be about to grow because Bobby has plenty of recommendations. Bobby’s Book Choices: Beyond the Deepwoods by Chris Riddell and Paul StewartWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëMrs Dalloway by Virginia WoolfLess by Andrew Sean GreerThe High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel Books by Bobby Palmer Main CharactersSmall HoursIsaac and the Egg Other books mentioned Jacob's Room by Virginia WoolfCall Me By Your Name by Andre AcimenThe Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece by Tom HanksOne Day by David NichollsNormal People by Sally RooneySay Her Name by Francisco GoldmanLife of Pi by Yann Martel The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor DostoevskyThe Sound and the Fury by William FaulknerThe Overstory by Richard PowersThe End of the Affair by Graham Greene If you loved listening to this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to tell your book-loving friends. It really helps new listeners discover our cozy reading community and helps us grow See you next Tuesday for our next teaser episode which will be followed with the main episode on Thursday. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Now: : Best Book Forward Podcast 📲 Connect with Us: Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforwardDiscover more book recommendations on our Website: https://bestbookforward.org

    1hr 14min
  2. Tuesday Teaser: Bobby Palmer on Main Characters

    6 days ago

    Tuesday Teaser: Bobby Palmer on Main Characters

    Welcome to this very special preview episode of Best Book Forward! Today, I am giving you an exclusive sneak peek into my conversation with Bobby Palmer ahead of the main episode dropping this Thursday. Main Characters is out this Thursday, you do not want to miss this book (or episode). Make sure you hang around to the end of the episode to hear Bobby read a little extract for you. In this quick preview, I am sharing a little glimpse of what is to come later this week. We chat about Bobby’s inspirations and why he decided to write a book with 82 different points of view - I’m glad he did because it makes for a fabulous read The main episode drops this Thursday so think of this as a little added bonus. If you are already subscribed to Best Book Forward, your podcast app will send you a little notification the moment the main episode lands. In the meantime, come and say hello to us both over on Instagram by hitting the links below! 🎧 Listen & Subscribe https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen 📲 Connect with Us Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforwardFollow Bobby Palmer on Instagram: @thebobpalmer

    8 min
  3. Karen Swan on Three Summers

    11 Jun

    Karen Swan on Three Summers

    In this week’s episode I am joined by Karen Swan to talk about her brilliant new novel, Three Summers which is out today in paperback (link below). This episode was a pure joy to record, we actually spoke for nearly two hours as we got chatting before we hit record and I think we could have easily nattered for another hour too. In this episode, Karen talks about finding the perfect setting for Three Summers, I think we need a Best Book Forward retreat there, how she balances writing emotionally tense scenes and of course the five books that shaped Karen’s life which were. Karen’s Book Choices: My Brilliant Friend by Elena FerranteThe Summer Book by Tove JanssonLife After Life by Kate AtkinsonPride and Prejudice by Jane AustenBirdsong by Sebastian Faulks Books by Karen Swan Three Summers If you loved listening to this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to tell your book-loving friends. It really helps new listeners discover our cozy reading community and helps us grow See you next Tuesday for our next teaser episode which will be followed with the main episode on Thursday. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Now: : Best Book Forward Podcast 📲 Connect with Us: Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforwardDiscover more book recommendations on our Website: https://bestbookforward.org

    1hr 11min
  4. Tuesday Teaser: Karen Swan Preview + Exclusive Author Reading

    9 Jun

    Tuesday Teaser: Karen Swan Preview + Exclusive Author Reading

    Welcome to this very special preview episode of Best Book Forward! Today, I am giving you an exclusive sneak peek into my conversation with the brilliant bestselling author, Karen Swan, ahead of her main episode dropping this Thursday. Three Summers is out this Thursday in paperback and I had the best time chatting to you Karen about it. Make sure you hang around to the end of the episode to hear Karen read a little extract for you. In this quick preview, I am sharing a little glimpse of what is to come later this week. We chat about Karen's inspiration and her quest to find the perfect location, you'll hear snippets of Karen talking about the moment she found the perfect spot. I think we need a Best Book Forward reading retreat in Puglia! The main episode drops this Thursday so think of this as a little added bonus. If you are already subscribed to Best Book Forward, your podcast app will send you a little notification the moment the main episode lands. In the meantime, come and say hello to us both over on Instagram by hitting the links below! 🎧 Listen & Subscribe https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen 📲 Connect with Us Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforwardFollow Karen Swan on Instagram: @KarenSwanAuthor

    8 min
  5. Joanna Cannon: "Everything worth having starts with a pinch of anxiety"

    4 Jun

    Joanna Cannon: "Everything worth having starts with a pinch of anxiety"

    I am absolutely thrilled to kick off the new season with the brilliant Sunday Times bestselling author, Dr. Joanna Cannon, to talk all about her beautiful new novel, An Unlikely Visitor. In this episode, Jo talks about her journey from becoming a doctor in her 40s to a bestselling author, how everything in life worth having starts with a pinch of anxiety and how meeting one reader in a signing line led to Jo dedicating this novel to her. Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward is complete without lots of book chat and Jo’s love of books shines through this chat. We could have talked books all day long. Joanna’s Book Choices: Little Women by Louisa May AlcottTalking Heads by Alan BennettWuthering Heights by Emily BrontëRebecca by Daphne Du MaurierWhen God Was A Rabbit by Sarah Winman Books by Dr. Joanna Cannon: An Unlikely VisitorThe Trouble with Goats and SheepA Tidy Ending Three Things About Elsie Other Books Mentioned: The Midnight Train by Matt HaigRoman Mornings by Matson TaylorEverything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben ReevesTin Man by Sarah WinmanMy Cousin Rachel by Daphne Du MaurierThe Lido by Libby PageStill Life by Sarah Winman If you loved listening to this episode, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review Best Book Forward on your favourite podcast app, and don’t forget to tell your book-loving friends. It really helps new listeners discover our cozy reading community and helps us grow! See you next Thursday for another wonderful guest, and happy listening! 🎧 Listen & Subscribe Now: : Best Book Forward Podcast 📲 Connect with Us: Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforwardDiscover more book recommendations on our Website: https://bestbookforward.org/

    1hr 9min
  6. Tuesday Teaser: Dr. Joanna Cannon Preview + Exclusive Audiobook Clip

    2 Jun

    Tuesday Teaser: Dr. Joanna Cannon Preview + Exclusive Audiobook Clip

    Welcome to this very special preview episode of Best Book Forward! Today, I am giving you an exclusive sneak peek into my conversation with the brilliant bestselling author, Dr. Joanna Cannon, ahead of her main episode dropping this Thursday. To celebrate the launch of her beautiful new novel, An Unlikely Visitor, we are wrapping up today's episode with a very special, exclusive audiobook preview, read beautifully by Emily Joyce. Trust me when I say it is pure joy. It made me want to just curl up in my favourite chair with a cup of tea and keep listening all afternoon! In this quick preview, I am sharing a little glimpse of what is to come later this week. We chat about Jo’s incredible journey from working as a doctor to becoming a bestselling author and I had a goosebumps moment when Jo talked about how she believes that everything in life that is truly worth having starts with a pinch of anxiety (and I totally agree with her)> What really shines through for me in this whole episode is Jo’s completely infectious love of books, and I just know you are going to absolutely love this chat. Both the main interview and An Unlikely Visitor release this coming Thursday, and I hope you'll be diving into both. If you are already subscribed to Best Book Forward, your podcast app will send you a little notification the moment the main episode lands. In the meantime, come and say hello to us both over on Instagram by hitting the links below! 🎧 Listen & Subscribe https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen 📲 Connect with Us Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforwardFollow Joanna Cannon on Instagram: @joannacannonauthor

    14 min
  7. Best Book Forward - Season Six

    Season 6, Episode 41 Trailer

    Best Book Forward - Season Six

    🎙️ Best Book Forward – Season 6 Trailer A brand new season of Best Book Forward is almost here! Join me for another chapter of bookish conversation, where each week I sit down with incredible authors to explore the books that have shaped their lives. You can think of it as a bookish take on Desert Island Discs. For June and July, we are packing our bags and heading from the bustling streets of early-2000s London to sun-drenched Positano. We will be travelling to nineteenth-century France and 1970s Rome, exploring unforgettable summers, unexpected visitors, love stories, secrets, and lives changed forever. Together, we’ll dive into the books our authors return to again and again, and we will explore how memory, identity, love, and reinvention shape the stories that stay with us long after the final page is turned. Exciting news for this season: We are going twice weekly! The main interview episodes will continue exactly as they always have, dropping every single Thursday. But on Tuesdays, I’ll be bringing you shorter preview episodes where I'll announce my next guest, give you a little glimpse into our chat, and share an exclusive reading from the author to get you excited for the week ahead. So, wherever you’re spending your summer this year, whether you are on a plane, by the sea, relaxing in the garden, or just stealing a quiet moment for yourself, bring a book, and bring us with you. Though be warned, this podcast is highly likely to expand your TBR list, so you might want to double-check your airline baggage allowance before you hit download! The very first preview episode drops on Tuesday 2nd June, and if you’re subscribed, it’ll be ready and waiting for you. 🎧 Listen & Subscribe https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen 📲 Stay Connected Follow on Instagram: @bestbookforwardWebsite: https://bestbookforward.org/

    2 min
  8. "I love uncovering bits of forgotten history": Kate Lord Brown on The Silver Thread

    21 May

    "I love uncovering bits of forgotten history": Kate Lord Brown on The Silver Thread

    Kate Lord Brown on The Silver Thread In this final episode of Season 5, I’m joined by bestselling author Kate Lord Brown to talk about her beautiful new novel, The Silver Thread. We discuss Kate’s love of uncovering forgotten histories, the real-life inspirations behind the novel, and how Liberty London became an unexpected doorway into the past. Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward is complete without book recommendations. Here are the books that have shaped Kate. You’ll find links to buy below: Books by Kate: The Silver Thread The Golden Hour A Summer at the Castle A Season of Secrets Kate’s Book Choices: The Leopard by Giuseppe Tomasi Di Lampedusa Brother of the More Famous Jack by Barbara Trapido Heartburn by Nora Ephron Light Years by James Salter The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje Other Books Mentioned: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett The Homemade God by Rachel Joyce Season 6 is coming really soon and I cannot wait to tell you what I’ve been working on. But first a huge thanks to my guests who have been: Julie Owen Moylan Lucy Apps Sarah Vaughan Heidi Swain Ilona Bannister Andrea Mara Lucy Ashe and Kate Lord Brown 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 soon, 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/

    51 min
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Trailers

5
out of 5
21 Ratings

About

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/

Information

  • Creator
    Helen Gambarota
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2026 Helen Gambarota
  • Show Website
    Best Book Forward

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