Quick Book Reviews with Philippa Hall

In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by Bella North to talk about her Oakwood Ranch series, beginning with Score to Settle.
Bella also reveals the story behind her different author names, having previously appeared on the podcast under her thriller-writing identities. Together, they chat about sports romance, writing under multiple pen names, the rise of spicy fiction, and why readers are falling in love with the Oakwood Ranch books.
Philippa also shares reviews and first impressions of several recent reads, including a brilliant new crime novel from Simon Mason, thoughts on The 10:12 by Anna Maloney, and an early look at The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage.
In this episode:
Bella North on the inspiration behind the Oakwood Ranch series
Why sports romance is having such a major moment
Writing romance after psychological thrillers
The pros and cons of publishing under different pen names
How much sport is really in a sports romance novel
Spice levels in fiction and why they are so subjective
Why romance readers are such a passionate and supportive community
Bella’s ideal writing retreat — and her nightmare writing scenario
The reality of balancing events, deadlines and creative energy
Books discussed as reviews and in the interview:
Score to Settle – Bella North
Game Over – Bella North
Playing for Keeps – Bella North
The Dangerous Stranger – Simon Mason
The 10:12 – Anna Maloney
The Heir Apparent – Rebecca Armitage
The Nanny – Heather Burnside
The Bridge Kingdom series – Danielle L. Jensen
What to expect
This is a conversation about:
romance tropes
enemies-to-lovers
friends-to-lovers
escapist fiction
commercial fiction
writing fast-paced books
author events
and, of course, biscuits
There is also an important discussion about how different genres are perceived in publishing, and why commercial fiction deserves respect for doing exactly what readers want it to do: entertain.
Biscuit chat alert
Bella reveals her writing biscuit of choice — the chocolate Hobnob — and there is serious debate about whether the Marks & Spencer version might be even better.
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Get in touch
Philippa loves hearing from listeners. Contact details:
Email: [email protected]
Instagram & Threads: @quick_book_reviews

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Jo Callaghan joins Philippa to talk about Body of Lies — the gripping fourth and final Kat Frank and AIDE Lock thriller.
We talk about:
Why this series ends with book four
The emotional challenge of writing the final Kat and Locke story
AI, humanity, grief, and what makes us human
Plot twists, rewrites, and bringing a series to a powerful close
Jo also shares what she’s been reading:
Please Help Me by Gytha Lodge — a tense, high-concept crime thriller
Eden Falls by Ajay Chowdhury — a smart, ambitious sci-fi thriller
The Correspondent (recommended after Philippa’s chat with Alison Barrow)
After You’d Gone by Maggie O’Farrell — a powerful love story
Running and Jumping by Stephen Keady — an unexpectedly fascinating dive into elite athletics
Plus, Jo reveals her ideal writing conditions (hint: it’s all about uninterrupted time) and the very specific cheese-and-biscuit combination that fuels her writing.
Perfect for fans of smart crime fiction, emotional thrillers, and thought-provoking mysteries.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for more author interviews and spoiler-free book chat.
Pre-order Body Of Lies here:
https://www.waterstones.com/book/body-of-lies/jo-callaghan/9781398535565
https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/body-of-lies-the-crime-thriller-of-2026-from-the-award-winning-and-sunday-times-bestselling-author-of-in-the-blink-of-an-eye-jo-callaghan/cbbcf2c82f6b5367?ean=9781398535565&next=t
https://amzn.eu/d/0bmnarRm

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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa Hall is joined by Sarah Hilary to talk about The Drowning Place, the gripping first novel in a new crime series set in the Peak District. Together they discuss crime fiction, setting, writing atmosphere, rural communities, audiobook narration, and the journey of building a new series. T
Philippa also reviews two very different books:
Mars One by Charlotte Robertson — a high-stakes space thriller packed with sabotage, conspiracy, tension and reality-TV energy.
The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst — a warm, whimsical YA fantasy audiobook full of magic, comfort and cosy escapism.
There’s also a Hay Festival update: Philippa will be appearing with Sheila Kanani at Hay Festival on Friday 22 May 2026 at 8.30pm for The Starspotter’s Guide, a conversation about the night sky, stars and space.
If you enjoy:
crime fiction, thriller interviews, atmospheric mysteries, space thrillers, cosy fantasy, audiobook recommendations, and spoiler-free book chat, this episode is for you.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram & Threads:
@quick_book_reviews
🎵 TikTok: @quickbookreviews
🐦 X: @quickbookrevie3
🦋 Bluesky: quickbookreviews
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In this insider episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa is joined by returning guest Alison Barrow, PR Director at Transworld (Penguin Random House), to answer a brilliant listener question about book marketing, ARCs, and social media influence.
If you’ve ever wondered:
Why do some books dominate Instagram and BookTok?
How do publishers decide which books get major promotion?
Are ARC reviews always honest?
Do great books get overlooked?
…this episode pulls back the curtain on the real publishing ecosystem.

WHAT YOU’LL DISCOVER
How publishers choose their “lead titles”
The truth about ARCs (Advance Reader Copies) and influencer marketing
Why you keep seeing the same books on Instagram
How word-of-mouth, bookshops, and libraries still shape success
The balance between authentic reviews and publisher relationships
Why some incredible books quietly build audiences over time
BOOKS MENTIONED
Whatever Happened to Madeline Stone – Louise O’Neill
Mars One – Charlotte Robinson
The Ending Writes Itself – Evelyn Clarke
It's Not What You Think – Claire Mackintosh
Elizabeth & Marilyn – Julie Owen Moylan
The Wreck – Lizzie Stewart
Slings & Arrows – Nick McLachlan
LISTENER QUESTION OF THE WEEK
A thoughtful question from Johanne sparks an honest discussion about:
Social media book promotion
Authenticity vs visibility
Whether “hyped” books can still be trusted
ABOUT OUR GUEST
Alison Barrow is PR Director at Transworld (part of Penguin Random House UK), working with global bestselling authors and shaping major publishing campaigns.
Article mentioned in The Bookseller: https://www.thebookseller.com/comment/events-not-a-campaign-solution
JOIN THE CONVERSATION
Got a question for Alison?
Email: [email protected]

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COMING NEXT
More author interviews, book reviews (no spoilers!), and insider publishing chat every week.
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In this episode of Quick Book Reviews, Philippa Hall shares a mix of book recommendations, honest reviews, and practical tips for getting out of a reading slump.
Philippa also shares her experience appearing on BBC Breakfast and behind-the-scenes of recording while unwell (powered by Vonia and sheer determination!).
Featured Books Reviewed
The Drowning Place – Sarah Hilary ⭐ (highly recommended, potential book of the year)
Solitary Agents – David Goodman ⭐ (thriller/spy crossover, gripping and accessible)
Operation Bounce House – Matt Dinniman
Look What You Made Me Do – John Lanchester
Reading Slump Fix: Philippa’s Tips
If you’re struggling to read or feeling stuck in a reading slump, Philippa shares what worked for her:
Take a break from reading (it will come back!)
Try a different format (audiobooks, graphic novels, poetry)
Re-read a favourite book
Limit your choices (pick a small stack and commit)
Visit a bookshop or library for inspiration
Don’t panic — reading slumps are normal
Books That Helped Philippa Out of a Reading Slump
The Wreck – Lizzie Stewart
Slings and Arrows – Nick McLachlan
A Family Matter – Claire Lynch
These three books completely reignited her love of reading.
Follow Quick Book Reviews for book recommendations, author interviews, and weekly podcast episodes.
📧 Email: [email protected]
📸 Instagram & Threads:
@quick_book_reviews
🎵 TikTok: @quickbookreviews
🐦 X: @quickbookrevie3
🦋 Bluesky: quickbookreviews
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.