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Book Off!

Book Off!
Writing Process
Friendship
Poetry Collections
Billie Holiday
Miles Davis
1959
Literature
The Last Days Of Kira Mullan
Psychological Thriller
The Teacher Of Auschwitz
Midnight In Vienna
Mortality
Grief
Literary Fiction
Agatha Christie
Ordinary Saints
The Benefactors
Jazz
Kind Of Blue
American Music

A fun, upbeat, accessible show about brilliant books, writing and culture.

Each episode sees two authors go head to head in a war of the words, championing a book they love and think we should all read...but only one can win.

This book podcast features an incredible array of authors from across the globe and some amazing, and sometimes unexpected, book recommendations.

#books #bookpodcast #auth... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes168Founded9 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArtsFiction

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Book Off!

Latest Episodes

Joe Haddow welcomes two more authors to the Book Off studio - for a war of the words!

This week, he's joined by debut novelists Fran Fabriczki and Sam Beckbessinger, who discuss their new books, writing processes and inspirations.

They talk about L... more

Sarah Hilary and Sabine Durrant join Joe Haddow for a Book Off!

They chat about their new novels, choosing their settings, 'chalk n cheese' detective duos and balancing darkness and light.

Sarah's book ('The Drowning Place') has ghostly elements to... more

Joe Haddow welcomes two bestselling authors - Claire Douglas and Jane Harper - to Book Off to go head-to-head in a war of the words!

They chat about making fictional settings seem as real as possible, how a sense of place can shape a novel, and why ... more

Jessie Burton and Katy Hessel join Joe Haddow for a war of the words.

They discuss great women artists, mudlarking, the influence of family histories, museums and galleries, getting children interested in art and finding a writing voice.

Katy and... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
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Recent Guests

Sabine Durrant
Author of Dead Heat; former Guardian/Sunday Times editor
Author (Dead Heat)
Episode: Sarah Hilary and Sabine Durrant
Sarah Hilary
Author of The Drowning Place; crime fiction festival organizer
Author (The Drowning Place)
Episode: Sarah Hilary and Sabine Durrant
Jane Harper
Former journalist turned author; Australian mystery writer
Author
Episode: Jane Harper and Claire Douglas
Claire Douglas
Author; Mary Clare Debut Novel Award winner
Author
Episode: Jane Harper and Claire Douglas
Jessie Burton
Author of The Miniaturist, Hidden Treasure; advocate for Mudlarking themes in children's fiction
Bloomsbury/Publisher (as referenced)
Episode: Jessie Burton and Katy Hessel
Katy Hessel
Art historian, author of The Story of Art Without Men; runs The Great Women Artists project
The Guardian (columnist)
Episode: Jessie Burton and Katy Hessel
Alex Kadis
Author of Big Nobody
Big Nobody (novel)
Episode: Tanya Sweeney and Alex Kadis
Tanya Sweeney
Author of Esther Is Now Following You
Esther Is Now Following You (novel)
Episode: Tanya Sweeney and Alex Kadis
India-Rose Bower
Author of We Call Them Witches
Michael Joseph (publisher)
Episode: Tobi Coventry and India-Rose Bower

Host

Joe Haddow
Host of Book Off!; lead interviewer and moderator with a warm, engaging style.

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 109 ratings
  • White/Sittenfeld

    Sensational show. This felt like sitting around the pub with your funniest and smartest mates talking about books. Great writers and great conversation. Cheers, Joe!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    T1v4
    United States4 months ago
  • A Magical Podcast

    Just love listening to Book Off! I only discovered it this year and have only a few podcasts left to listen to. I enjoy listening to some podcasts more than once and look forward to the new ones coming in February. I don’t think all the podcasts made are available on Apple and would love to listen to all the earlier podcasts if they’re available?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Macglyn516
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • Wonderful!

    I have only just discovered this podcast and am so happy that I have a wealth of listening to look forward to. Host Joe Haddow creates a genuinely warm and engaging atmosphere, making this podcast a welcoming space. I’m currently picking episodes at random & had to leave a review after so thoroughly enjoying the Stig Abel & Jo Spain episode!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fcesc4
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Thoroughly enjoyable way to talk about books

    Great concept, well executed. I found this one because Jasper Fforde was on it but now I listen even to authors I’ve never read just to hear them talk about their favourite books.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Taz ladki
    Australia3 years ago
  • Too Long

    The 'book-off' part of the podcast is original and interesting, but there is far too much general chat before the book-off

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    EdPeters2
    United Kingdom4 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Listeners love the host's warmth and the diverse lineup of authors.
High-quality conversations that feel inclusive for non-experts.
Warm, engaging atmosphere with thoughtful guests.
Some listeners wish for a tighter book-off segment in places.
Excellent book recommendations and lively banter.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#239
Sweden/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Sarah Hilary and Sabine Durrant
Q: Where do you draw the ideas for your settings and characters?
Sabine explains that Dead Heat uses a hot, isolated Greek villa setting to amplify social tensions, while Sarah talks about placing a crime series in the Peak District to explore survivor guilt and a haunted detective duo; both highlight the importance of place as a driver of mood and plot.
Jane Harper and Claire Douglas
Q: How do you approach planning versus drafting?
Both guests describe varying approaches: one relies on extensive chapter-by-chapter plans that can speed up drafting, while the other prefers a more exploratory process and may abandon projects if they lose direction.
Jane Harper and Claire Douglas
Q: What inspired Last One Out's setting and its sense of place?
Jane Harper discusses drawing on real-world regional dynamics to craft a dying town, while keeping the setting fictionalised enough to shape narrative texture without pinpointing a real location.
Jessie Burton and Katy Hessel
Q: Katy, how did you adapt art history for a younger audience without dumbing down the content?
Katy describes distilling complex art history into accessible chapters, keeping the essence of the movements, and adding interactive art tasks and questions to engage children while preserving intellectual rigor.
Jessie Burton and Katy Hessel
Q: Jessie, what has been your approach to writing a children's book that still feels true to your adult work?
Jessie explains that the book was written for younger readers from the outset, using a voice appropriate for kids while maintaining the story's core themes and a strong sense of place, with careful editorial guidance to keep pace and detail suitable for children.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Book Off!

What is Book Off! about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A lively, book-loving discussion show where two authors pitch their favorite reads and battle for bragging rights. Episodes mix generous author banter with personal anecdotes, deep dives into craft, and a steady stream of book recommendations across genres like literary fiction, crime, romance, and fantasy. The format tends to highlight storytelling, writing process, and the cultural moments surrounding new releases, making it a warm, human-centric listening experience with a competitive edge that still feels welcoming to readers and aspiring authors alike.

Where can I find podcast stats for Book Off!?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Book Off!. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Book Off! and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Book Off! get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Book Off!, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Book Off!?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Book Off!, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Book Off! have?

To see how many followers or subscribers Book Off! has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Book Off!?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Book Off!:

1. Simon Mayo's Books of the Year
2. The Waterstones Podcast
3. Take Four Books
4. The Radio 2 Book Club
5. Sara & Cariad's Weirdos Book Club

How many episodes of Book Off! are there?

Book Off! launched 9 years ago and published 168 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Book Off!?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Book Off!?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Book Off! from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Book Off!?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Book Off!. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Book Off!?

Recent guests on Book Off! include:

1. Sabine Durrant
2. Sarah Hilary
3. Jane Harper
4. Claire Douglas
5. Jessie Burton
6. Katy Hessel
7. Alex Kadis
8. Tanya Sweeney

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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