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Artwork for Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Bauer Media
We All Live Here
Jojo Moyes
Presumed Guilty
Family Politics
London
Meet the Newmans
Cuckooland
The Restless Republic
States Of Play
Sportswashing
Rusty Sabich
The House Of Mirrors
You Are Here
Women's Football
Social Media
Black Tag
Aaron
William Boyd
Romantasy
Mental Health

Simon Mayo & Matt Williams invite the world's finest authors in for a chat

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes305Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
ArtsBooks

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

Latest Episodes

Anthony Horowitz (known for his Alex Rider series, Foyles War, Sherlock Holmes mysteries, the Magpie Murders and many more) joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a natter about his writing and favourite authors!

He also shares a story about workin... more

Bestselling author and Screenwriter - Anthony Horowitz - joins Simon and Matt for a natter about his new 'Hawthorne' novel.

They chat about his meta approach to having himself as a character in his books, his dislike when readers guess his endings ... more

Journalist and author, Bryony Gordon, joins Simon Mayo and Matt Williams for a Q&A about her favourite authors, books, writing processes - and - tells us who she'd invite to her fantasy dinner party.

Simon Mayo and Matt Williams welcome podcaster, journalist, marathon-runner, broadcaster and author - Bryony Gordon - to the podcast, to chat about her debut novel for adults.

They discuss the London Marathon (which Bryony ran this year in her unde... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Anthony Beaver
Historian, author of Rasputin (mentioned in discussion)
Author
Episode: Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Anthony Horowitz
Bestselling writer and screenwriter, Hawthorne detective series creator
Horowitz/Hawthorne universe
Episode: Anthony Horowitz
Bryony Gordon
Journalist and bestselling author
Freelance author / Journalist
Episode: Bryony Gordon
John Lanchester
Author of the featured book
Author, Capital and other works
Episode: John Lanchester
Yann Martel
Best-selling author, Booker Prize winner
Author
Episode: Yann Martel Q&A
Francis Spufford
Author of None Such
None Such author
Episode: Francis Spufford Q&A
Kathy Reichs
Bestselling author and forensic anthropologist
Episode: Kathy Reichs
Jennifer Niven
Best-selling author of 'Meet The Newmans'
Episode: Jennifer Niven
Ann Cleeves
Best-selling crime novelist known for the Jimmy Perez series
Episode: Ann Cleeves

Hosts

Simon Mayo
Host of Books of the Year series; long-time broadcaster and author
Matt Williams
Co-host and producer; key driver of show dynamics

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 1.1k ratings
  • Is the podcast over or just on break

    Of course this is an awesome podcast!! The hosts’ enthusiasm for well written interesting works of fiction and non fiction has rekindled my interest in reading. Hopefully they are just on break and haven’t ended the show!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    .3147652344
    United States5 months ago
  • Great to have them back

    Lovely to hear Simon and Matt back. They keep the politics to the genuine political subjects. I have dropped Simons film review pod as Kermode just wont stop dragging politics into everything.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DrewzyJ
    United Kingdoma year ago
  • David Nicholls

    Driving along, listening to the brilliant interview with David Nicholls I pulled over just so I could order his book ‘You are here’ - and it is living up to expectations.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Alisouthampton
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • Favourite Podcast Bar None 😍

    Love book/author podcasts and this is by far the best. Having Simon and Matt back like the good old days makes me so happy and the banter is great! Good spread of books and authors and I have now read a couple recommended that I wouldn’t normally have chosen and couldn’t put them down. Keep doing what you do guys, we love it! X

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    feeona78
    United Kingdom2 years ago
  • My favourite podcast

    Books of the year is my favourite podcast, Simon and Matt keep me company during my ironing sessions (I hate ironing) so their easy banter and great interviews are fabulous. Being a book worm this is great for recommendations and great to hear about the book from the writers perspective. Love love love it

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    ginabean1107
    United Kingdom3 years ago

Listeners Say

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

Strong positive feedback on episodes blending literary discussion with personal anecdotes.
Listeners praise the hosts' warmth, banter, and deep knowledge of books and authors.
Praise for diverse guest lineup and insightful Q&As with writers.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#20
United Kingdom/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#53
United Kingdom/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#207
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#65
United Arab Emirates/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#82
Finland/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#89
New Zealand/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Q: What was the worst thing that happened to you while writing a book?
Horowitz recounts a motorbike crash in Crete that left him with serious injuries, delaying a planned week with Meryl Streep for a film and forcing him to communicate notes from bed, which he frames as a pivotal, painful memory but ultimately a testament to resilience.
Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Q: What is your favorite screen adaptation of a novel (not one of your own)?
He mentions The Go-Between, directed by Joseph Losey with screenplay by Harold Pinter, praising its faithful capture of the book's mood and the famous opening line, which remains a standout in his view of literary-to-film translation.
Anthony Horowitz Q&A
Q: What is the last book you really enjoyed reading?
Horowitz praises Rasputin by Anthony Beaver for its vast historical scope and the author's ability to illuminate a single influential figure, which he found particularly engaging while also researching a project set in Berlin in 1945.
John Lanchester Q&A
Q: What is your approach to writing a first draft?
I aim to reach a complete first draft without rereading or overchecking earlier sections, because finishing the draft is the crucial step; the real work comes after, during revisions, if necessary.
John Lanchester
Q: Can you just explain a bit more about intergenerational conflict in the book and why you wanted to explore it?
The conflict mirrors real societal shifts, with tensions between generations highlighted by how property, economics, and lifestyle choices create a divide. The tension ultimately threads into the narrative, influencing character motivations and the storytelling approach.

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 Simon Mayo's Books of the Year

What is Simon Mayo's Books of the Year about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This show centers conversations with leading authors across fiction and non-fiction, blending in-depth book discussions with personal storytelling and industry insights. Episodes frequently feature Q&A formats, exploring writing processes, adaptations, and publishing realities, while hosts share banter and book recommendations that illuminate reading culture and current literary trends. The format often pairs high-profile guests with intimate, author-focused dialogue, delivering practical takeaways for readers and aspiring guests alike. A standout aspect is the seamless mix of literary analysis, personal anecdotes, and a warm, accessible host dynamic that has helped the series attract a loyal, dedicated audience of book lovers and industry ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Simon Mayo's Books of the Year?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Simon Mayo's Books of the Year:

1. Kermode & Mayo’s Take
2. Kermode on Film
3. The Rest Is Entertainment
4. Screenshot
5. Simon Mayo's Confessions

How many episodes of Simon Mayo's Books of the Year are there?

Simon Mayo's Books of the Year launched 8 years ago and published 305 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Simon Mayo's Books of the Year?

Recent guests on Simon Mayo's Books of the Year include:

1. Anthony Beaver
2. Anthony Horowitz
3. Bryony Gordon
4. John Lanchester
5. Yann Martel
6. Francis Spufford
7. Kathy Reichs
8. Jennifer Niven

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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