Best Book Forward

⚠️ Bonus Episode Warning: Contains Spoilers ⚠️
When a book delivers an ending as brilliant and surprising as Room 706 by Ellie Levenson, it deserves its very own bonus episode, one where we can unpack everything without worrying about ruining the experience for anyone else.
If you haven’t read the book yet, please stop here and come back once you have!
Books discussed:
Room 706 by Ellie Levenson
The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
The Testaments by Margaret Atwood
Although we dive deep into the ending of Room 706, we’ve chosen to keep some of Ellie’s own reflections under wraps, those are for you to discover as a reader.
If you’d like to get in touch with Ellie, you can find her on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/ellie_levenson/
I’ll be back next week with another author conversation, and I’d love for you to join me for that 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.
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/

Today’s episode is a publication day special with Ellie Levenson, author of Room 706. I first read this book back in October and I haven’t stopped talking about it since. Room 706.
In this episode, Ellie and I dive into the world of Room 706: her inspiration, her writing process, and how she crafted such a tightly paced and explosive story. And because that ending deserves its own space, we’ve recorded a separate bonus episode dedicated entirely to unpacking it.
Of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without book recommendations, so here they are, with links to buy:
📚 By Ellie Levenson
Room 706

✨ Books Mentioned
The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrow by John Koenig
Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Bylton
Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfield
Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas
The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The Trick to Time by Kit de Waal

If you’ve finished Room 706 and are ready to dive deeper into that unforgettable ending, make sure you check out the bonus episode. A word of warning: it’s packed with spoilers, so if you haven’t read the book yet, you might want to wait until you have.
I’ll be back next week with another author conversation, and I’d love for you to join me for that too.
In the meantime, if you enjoyed today’s episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and reviewing Best Book Forward, and don’t forget to spread the word. Your support really helps new listeners discover the show.
See you next week, 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/

What a way to kick off Season 4 of Best Book Forward with the international bestselling author Jane Fallon. Jane joins me on the show today to talk about her new novel, Welcome to the Neighbourhood. We chat about the inspiration behind the novel, Jane’s approach to writing and of course the five books that have shaped her life.
As you would expect no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without book recommendations! Here’s what we talked about.
📚 Books by Jane Fallon
Welcome to the Neighbourhood
Getting Rid of Matthew
Got You Back

✨ Books Mentioned
Tim and Charlotte by Edward Ardizzone (currently unavailable on bookshop.org).
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
Love for Lydia by H.E. Bates
Puffball by Fay Weldon (currently unavailable on bookshop.org).
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

This episode marks the start of a brand new seven-episode season, with fresh conversations landing every Thursday. I’d absolutely love for you to join me each week.
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/

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?
Subscribe to the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts - that way you'll never miss an episode!
Follow me on Instagram @bestbookforward for behind-the-scenes peeks and bookish fun.
Check out the Best Book Forward website: www.bestbookforward.org
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/