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/
In this season finale e I am joined by Rebecca Taylor McKay to talk about her brilliant debut thriller, The Honeymoon Suite which is out now (link below) and absolute must read. As always we also chat about the five books that have shaped Rebecca’s life (and a few others as well)
Rebecca’s Book Choices:
The Whale's Song by Dylan Sheldon (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9780099737605)
The Class Trip by Bebe Fass Rice - unavailable on bookshop.org
Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9780349019253)
The Stand by Stephen King (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781444720730)
Uncle Paul by Celia Fremlin (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9780571380879)
Books by Rebecca
The Honeymoon Suite (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781408750018)
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
I’ll be back in the autumn with some brand new episodes and I really hope you’ll join me for them but in the meantime do go find me on Instagram to keep up with book chat all summer.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe Now: : Best Book Forward Podcast (https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen)
📲 Connect with Us:
Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforward (https://www.instagram.com/bestbookforward)
Discover more book recommendations on our Website: https://bestbookforward.org (https://bestbookforward.org/)
28 Jul 2026
Tuesday Teaser: Rebecca Taylor McKay on The Honeymoon Suite
Welcome to this Tuesday Teaser episode of Best Book Forward! Today, I am giving you an exclusive sneak peek into my conversation with Rebecca Taylor McKay ahead of the main episode dropping this Thursday.
The Honeymoon Suite is out now (grab your copy here: The Honeymoon Suite (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781408750018))
It is such a brilliant read, you do not want to miss this book (or episode). Make sure you hang around to the end of the episode to hear Rebecca read a little extract for you.
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 (https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen)
📲 Connect with Us
Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforward (https://www.instagram.com/bestbookforward)
Follow Rebecca Taylor McKay on Instagram: @rebeccataylormckay (https://www.instagram.com/rebeccataylormckay/)
23 Jul 2026
Catherine Kurtz on Feast
In this week’s episode I am joined by Catherine to talk about her brilliant debut novel, Feast which is out now (link below) and absolute must read. As always we also chat about the five books that have shaped Catherine’s life (and a few others as well)
Catherine’s Book Choices:
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9780007464371)
The Star of Kazan by Eva Ibbotson (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781035047000)
Cheri by Collette (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9780099422761)
Persuasion by Jane Austen (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781914602863)
Mrs Death Misses Death by Salena Godden (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781838851194)
Books by Catherine Kurtz
Feast (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9781408749791)
Other books mentioned
Perfume by Patrick Suskind (https://uk.bookshop.org/a/4187/9780241973615)
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 (https://best-book-forward.captivate.fm/listen)
📲 Connect with Us:
Follow Helen on Instagram: @bestbookforward (https://www.instagram.com/bestbookforward)
Discover more book recommendations on our Website: https://bestbookforward.org (https://bestbookforward.org/)
Who has been a guest on Best Book Forward
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Claire Douglas
Frances Quinn
Lucy Steeds
Fran Littlewood
Gillian McAllister
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
3,246
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
26 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 69 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
80
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
77
Contact Best Book Forward
Guest appearances
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