A quick content note: this episode includes conversations about fertility, miscarriage, baby loss, and the death of a parent. I know these topics can be difficult, so please listen in whatever way feels right for you.

I absolutely loved recording this episode with Nicola Gill — she is such a joy to chat to. We talked about her latest novel, Identity Crisis (which I adored), her writing life, and of course the books that have shaped her own reading journey.

And of course, no episode of Best Book Forward would be complete without book recommendations! Here’s everything we mentioned, with links to buy:

📚 By Nicola Gill

• Identity Crisis
• Swimming for Beginners

✨ Books Mentioned

• Mister Meddle by Enid Blyton (currently unavailable on bookshop.org)
• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
• Elligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
• Saint Maybe by Anne Tyler
• The Accidental Tourist by Anne Tyler
• Breathing Lessons by Anne Tyler
• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler
• The Scandalous Ladies Football Club by Frances Quinn
• Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny
• One Day by David Nicholls
• You Are Here by David Nicholls

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/

⚠️ 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

1. Room 706

✨ Books Mentioned

1. The Dictionary of Obscure Sorrow by John Koenig
2. Fear of Flying by Erica Jong
3. The Magic Faraway Tree by Enid Bylton
4. Thursday's Child by Noel Streatfield
5. Under Milk Wood by Dylan Thomas
6. The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
7. 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/