Ask Penguin

What’s so funny about getting older? Why live longer if you can’t enjoy yourself? And is getting grumpier one of the great pleasures of ageing?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by comedian, writer and presenter Jo Brand to discuss Decline and Falling Over, her hilarious and refreshingly honest memoir about embracing the aches, indignities and unexpected freedoms of getting older.

From the pleasures of caring a little less to finding humour in life's darker moments, Jo shares her thoughts on ageing, memory and mortality, why laughter and sadness ofte...

What can Little Women teach modern boys about sisterhood? How does food become a language of love and grief? How does writing in a third language shape your creative rhythm? And why can finishing a masterpiece feel like a tragedy?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling, award-winning novelist Elif Shafak to talk about her latest novel, In One Brief Moment All Eternity, a vivid reimagining of Gustave Flaubert’s life, told through the women who knew him, including his most famous creation, Emma Bovary.

Together they explore the stories an...

How do you begin breaking down a 600-page American epic to bring it to the screen? How did Florence Pugh capture the essence of the central character Cathy? How did John Steinbeck’s secret writing journals help the screenwriters? And what should you read next if you loved reading - or watching - East of Eden?

We kick off our next series of Ask Penguin with a special episode dedicated to Netflix’s lavish new period drama, East of Eden, adapted from John Steinbeck’s epic American family saga. Rhianna Dhillon is joined by co-showrunner, writer and ex...

Can you read a cookbook cover-to-cover like a thriller? Does your reading level predict a longer life? Why is a punk chef’s memoir the ultimate weapon for reluctant readers? And how do we inspire children to read if we don’t have the time to read to them? 

In this special episode of Ask Penguin, Rhianna sits down with children’s author and illustrator, Nadia Shireen, and Jonathan Douglas CBE, Chief Executive of the National Literacy Trust. Together, they discuss the National Year of Reading’s Go All In campaign and why reading for pleasure h...

Why do baby puffins prefer to be alone? Why don’t Cuckoo birds raise their own children? Has the decline of birds taken away the music of our landscapes? And what is the simplest way back if we feel disconnected from nature?  

In this episode of Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by visionary creative duo, Robert Macfarlane and Jackie Morris to discuss their latest collaboration, The Books of Birds, a beautifully illustrated and poetic look at some of natures most unique and fascinating birds. Plus plenty of book recommendations from books that explore the British lands...

Has modern forensics taken away the power of the murder mystery genre? How does a career in corporate finance prepare you to write about a killer? Is narrative voice more important than plot? And is there really such a thing as a reliable narrator? 

In this episode of Ask Penguin, Rihanna Dillon sits down with bestselling author and crime fiction favourite Abir Mukherjee to discuss his new Mumbai-set satire The Pinnacle, alongside brilliant book recommendations from Abir and the Penguin team. 

Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here

Ab...

What are the best books get you out of a reading slump? How did Snakes on a Plane inspire a literary sensation? What did James Joyce and Pakistani rap teach one of our debut novelists? And does a writer need to be completely delusional to finish writing a novel?  

This week on Ask Penguin we sit down with three breakout debut authors, Angela Tomaski, Sufiyaan Salam, and Madeline Cash, to discuss the messy, hilarious reality of writing a first novel. And as always, we answer all your bookish questions and provide some much-needed reading recommendations. 

How does artist Kae Tempest inspire Dawn French? Do editors always know best? What is the impact of grief on those we love most? And what really happened when Dawn French came face to face with a hippo while filming Harry Potter? 

In this episode of Ask Penguin, Rhianna Dhillon sits down with bestselling author and comedy legend Dawn French to discuss her moving new novel Enough, alongside brilliant book recommendations from Dawn and the Penguin team.  

Discover all the books mentioned in this episode here

About the book  

E...

What’s the difference between flash fiction and the short story? Why are we drawn to literature’s most flawed characters? And what would be the ideal fictional world for adulterers?   

Hosted by Rhianna Dhillon, on this episode of Ask Penguin, we’re answering your questions with our best book recommendations and talking to Booker Prize-longlisted novelist Sophie Mackintosh about her new novel Permanence. The book follows Clara and Francis – a couple in love, but in secret. When they wake in a strange city, they can finally be together. But as they move between this world and their ordinary lives, cracks begin to s...

How did Marian Keyes inspire Bryony Gordon’s writing? How do you write about family without falling into stereotypes? Which books capture the messy reality of life? And what is your favourite habit to fit reading into your life?  

The Ask Penguin team returns with a shelf-load of must-read book recommendations - and this week, we're joined by bestselling author, journalist, and podcaster Bryony Gordon to discuss her debut novel, People Pleaser.  

The novel follows Olivia Greenwood, a self-confessed people pleaser who, after one chaotic night out, decides it’s time to start living life on her own terms. Bryony Gordon is...

Is Wuthering Heights the perfect novel or the perfect work of art? Why do we fall in love with villains? Is all love doomed? And if Emerald Fennell could adapt another book to film, what would she choose?

In this special episode of Ask Penguin, we speak to the director of Wuthering Heights' latest adaptation, Emerald Fennell, about her relationship to Emily Brontë's novel, how she went about interpreting such a complex classic, and what she wants audiences to take away from her vision.

Also joining us in the studio are...

In this special bonus episode, and to mark Jane Austen’s 250th birthday, we step inside her home in Alton to uncover the life she lived there and the objects she treasured most. From first editions to her own annotated books which formed her personal library, we explore how her surroundings and daily routines shaped her writing - and how walking through her rooms brings her world vividly to life.

Discover all our episode transcripts and book recommendations at Penguin.co.uk

Love everything Jane Austen? Visit all our fea...

What were our favourite books of the year and what are we most excited to read in 2026? Join the team behind the Ask Penguin podcast to look back at standout titles, memorable podcast moments, and the reading intentions we’re taking into the New Year.

Explore all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here

Ask Penguin will be back in 2026. Find us on Insatgram @PenguinUKBooks and follow our Broadcast channel for exclusive content, giveaways and your chance to put your questions to your favourite authors!

Hosted on Acast. See acast.co...

Which novels are truly unputdownable and what should you read on a dark winter's night? We’re joined by best-selling author, Paula Hawkins, who discusses art, love and remote islands in her latest thriller, The Blue Hour. She also helps us tackle your listener questions with a stack of gripping recommendations to guide you to your next great read.

Explore all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here

Paula Hawkins worked as a journalist for fifteen years before writing her first novel. Born and brought up in Zimbabwe, she moved to London in...

What are the best new books in Korean fiction? What is the process of translating a book into English? And how do you evoke a sense of place you haven't visited?

This week we sat down with award-winning and internationally best-selling author, Karl Ove Knausgaard to discuss his latest novel, The School of Night.

The School of Night is a Faustian-inspired meditation on art and creativity, the 4th novel in The Morning Star series, and the first in the sequence that can be read as a standalone novel. 

Discover all the b...

Which multi-generational novels inspired White Teeth? Where does Zadie Smith turn for her next great read? And our Penguin team is back to solve your reading dilemmas - whether you're after fascinating memoirs, this year's pick of prize-winning books, or stories perfect for Autumn. 

Discover all the books mentioned on this episode: Click here

Zadie Smtih is one of the most distinctive, exciting and widely loved writers of her generation: she’s the twice shortlisted, once winner of the Women's Prize, also shortlisted for the Booker and has been twice nam...

What was the inspiration behind Philip Pullman’s Northern Lights series? How does he want readers to feel on Lyra’s final adventure in The Rose Field? Has his demon changed now that he has got to the end of this writing journey, and how do you say goodbye to characters you love?

In this special edition of Ask Penguin, host Rhianna Dhillon visits Philip Pullman at his Oxford home, surrounded by books (and barking cockapoos), to mark thirty years since the world met Lyra Belacqua in Northern Lights. The two reflects on a lifetime of story...

Why do we still love Jane Austen’s novels 250 years later? What makes her stories continue to inspire readers and creators today? And if Jane were alive now, which book would you recommend she read? 

In this special episode, recorded at Jane Austen’s family home in Alton, host Rhianna Dhillon is joined by Miss Austen author and president of the Jane Austen Society, Gill Hornby, alongside author and creator of the West End show Austentatious Andrew Hunter Murray, to explore Austen’s legacy and provide some regency-inspired book recommendations.   

Discover all the books ment...

I'm looking for a novel that reads like poetry - where should I start? Can you recommend a queer love story with a happy conclusion? What are the best books that explore small-town life? We put your book dilemmas to bestselling author Ocean Vuong and Penguin Editor and award-winning poet Sarah Howe.

Joining Rhianna this week is Ocean Vuong, whose latest book The Emperor of Gladness has been dubbed the first 'millennial Great American Novel' – but what does that really mean, and which classic American novels have inspired him? The author and poet also reflects on th...

Outrageous, iconic and unforgettable - these are some of the books Penguin have been publishing over its 90-year history. As part of a special content series called 'The books that shaped us' on Penguin.co.uk, we invited readers from the world of publishing, comedy, and music to explore must-read titles across the decades. The Internet's resident librarian Jack Edwards and Penguin editor Simon Prosser discuss their curated reading lists, and explore the impact of the books that shocked society and became pop culture phenomena in this special episode, recorded live at Waterstones Picadilly

Find all t...

What would you recommend an inspiring writer to read? What is the best gateway book to get into reading? Who are the new and upcoming Scottish novelists working today to watch out for?

Recorded live at Latitude Festival, Irvine Welsh sits down with host Rhianna Dhillon to delve into his new novel Men in Love, the eagerly awaited sequel to Trainspotting, which explores the vibrant landscape of youth culture through the decades and the nuances of defining a generation through the arts. Plus, award-winning author and Penguin colleague Derek Owusu joins the panel, providing personalised bo...

From the paperback revolution to the obscenity trial that made Lady Chatterley’s Lover famous, we explore how Penguin turned the UK into a nation of readers as we celebrate our 90th birthday. Host Rhianna Dhillon speaks to Kate Mosse, international bestselling author, activist and Founder Director of the Women’s Prize for Fiction and Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, and Zainab Juma, Penguin’s Head of Brand, about Penguin’s origin story, mission, and cultural influence over the past 90 years.  

Explore the full list of books discussed on this episode and read the transcript by visiting: 90th Birth...

Why are murder mysteries so obsessed with grand houses and wealthy families? Does a summer read really need to be light? What can a writer learn from imitating their literary heroes? And when should an adaptation leave the book behind?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling novelist and screenwriter Anthony Horowitz to discuss Marble Hall Murders, the third instalment in his Susan Ryeland mystery series.

Together they explore Anthony’s lifelong obsession with writing, why he’s still thrilled when a new idea arrives, and how he knows when a st...

What happens when a generation is never given the space to grieve? Why can walking make difficult conversations easier? What can the stories of the past teach us about living differently today? And is slowing down sometimes the secret to understanding a story?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by writer, critic and curator Charlie Porter to discuss Nova Scotia House, his deeply emotional first novel about queer love, community, memory and the legacy of the AIDS crisis.

Together they explore Charlie’s distinctive approach to language, why walking and breathing be...

Is disagreement the secret ingredient of a great book-club discussion? Can a smell transport us more powerfully than a memory? How can a fictional world feel more real than reality? And in what ways can writing actually help us heal?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by award-winning poet and writer Yrsa Daley-Ward to talk about The Catch, her thrilling debut novel about estranged twin sisters, a mother presumed dead and a mysterious woman who threatens to upend everything they thought they knew.

Plus, we’re joined by Penguin colleagues Cameron Wa...

Which childhood books might have shaped the stories you tell? Is ten years too long to spend writing your first book? Should your friends be worried that something they say might end up in your novel? And is planning really the secret to avoiding writers block?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by three of 2025’s most exciting debut authors: Catherine Airey (Confessions), Fiza Saeed McLynn (The Midnight Carousel), and William Rayfet Hunter (Sunstruck)

Together they explore the real emotions that find its way into fiction, how writers transform their experiences in...

Is Heathcliff digging up Cathy the ultimate romantic gesture? Why do the best romances need a little heartbreak? Why are younger readers so unapologetic about the books they adore? And has Hollywood fallen behind when it comes to romance?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling author and BookTok favourite Emily Henry to talk about Great Big Beautiful Life, her new novel about two rival writers competing to tell the story of a mysterious heiress.

Together they explore the ingredients of a great love story, why humour belongs alongside heartbreak...

What can Monty Python teach children about adventure? How do you write for children without forgetting the grown-ups reading along? And should we stop worrying about what children “ought” to be reading?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling children’s authors Greg James and Chris Smith to talk about The Kid Who Fell Through Time, their epic new adventure through some of history’s most exciting eras.

Together they explore the fine line between historical accuracy and having fun, why the best children’s books should spark imaginations rather than feel...

The Penguin Podcast is back for another series of Ask Penguin. In each episode, we will take you inside Penguin Books to meet some of the incredible authors we publish, as well as the people who work here, to get answers to all of your book-related questions.

The new series launches on Thursday 10th April with a children’s books special and across the series we’ll be covering themes such as Romance, Book Club Books and must-reads for your summer holidays, with episodes featuring your favourite authors.

If you’re looking for a book...

In our final bonus episode from The Penguin Podcast, bestselling author Jodi Picoult shares her theory on the true author behind Shakespeare's plays that inspired her new novel, By Any Other Name.

Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting Bonus Episode 5

Send us a question: [email protected].

Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode we speak with Alison Barrow, Publicity Director at Penguin Books, to explore the fascinating world of book publicity. Alison shares insights into her role, offering a glimpse into her daily life as she works with authors and connects their books with readers.

Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 4

Send us a question: [email protected].

Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

In this bonus episode from The Penguin Podcast, Episode 11 - Winter Reads, Jeanette Winterson shares her fascinating perspective on our relationship with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the evolution of human consciousness.

Explore the full list of the books discussed on this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 3

Send us a question: [email protected].

Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ever wondered what the role of an Editor at Penguin Books involves? In our second bonus episode, Rhianna speaks with Publishing Director, Simon Prosser about what a typical day of an editor is like and when they ever get time to read! Simon is the editor of many award-winning authors such as Bernardine Evaristo, Zadie Smith, and Micheal Magee.

Explore the full list of the books discussed in this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 2

Send us a question: [email protected].

Website: www.penguin.co...

In a special bonus episode taken from Episode 3: The Classics with Henry Eliot and Gill Hornby we share author and editor Henry Eliot's tips on tackling some of Classics' biggest tomes. 

Explore the full list of the books discussed on this bonus episode and read the transcript by visiting: Bonus Episode 1

Send us a question: [email protected].

Website: www.penguin.co.uk/podcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What makes dark academia so enticing? Which book turned slow cooking into a life-changing obsession? What are the new books are already causing a stir inside Penguin HQ? And what happens when a TV presenter tries their hand at a novel?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna heads around Penguin HQ to ask our book obsessed colleagues about the books that made the biggest impression on them in 2024.

From bold nonfiction and immersive fantasy to much-loved characters returning in adulthood, we celebrate the books that gave us something new to think about this...

Why do people of all cultures have ghost stories? Can love truly survive death? Will artificial intelligence be the new ghosts of ghost stories? And what makes A Christmas Carol the perfect read for Christmas?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by critically acclaimed and bestselling writer Jeanette Winterson to talk about Nightside of the River, her genre-bending collection of ghost stories inspired by the supernatural, the unexplained and her own eerie encounters.

Together they explore everything from Chinese ghost traditions to the spirits Jeanette believes share her woodland home.

Can a film turn history into mythology? What can a novel tell us about war that a history book can’t? How did a convicted murderer write one of the great wartime novels? And were the Romans really as civilised as we’ve been taught?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by authors and podcasters Al Murray and James Holland to talk about Arnhem: Black Tuesday and Cassino ’44, two books that look beyond the grand narratives of the Second World War to the people caught up in them.

Together they explore the ov...

How do you get published if you don’t know anyone in publishing? What makes an editor fall in love with a manuscript? Should authors listen to every piece of feedback they receive? And how much do writers really need to promote their own books?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna brings together bestselling author Jennie Godfrey, author of The List of Suspicious Things, editor Kaiya Shang and publicist Charlotte Bush to answer some of your biggest questions about getting a book published.

Together they reveal what really happens behind the scenes, from fi...

Who actually decides what counts as good manners? Why are speakerphone calls the latest frontier of bad etiquette? Can humour make us better behaved? And should you ever sniff someone else’s books?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by etiquette expert and author William Hanson to talk about his latest book, Just Good Manners, and why etiquette might be far less stuffy and more fun than we imagine.

Plus, our Penguin experts unwrap their best book recommendations to solve your festive gifting dilemmas.

For the complete list of...

What if one of literature’s greatest mysteries has been hiding in plain sight? Why do we know Shakespeare’s name but not Amelia Bassano’s? Can historical fiction give forgotten women their voices back? And what happens when you challenge 400 years of literary history?

This week on Ask Penguin, Rhianna is joined by bestselling author Jodi Picoult to talk about By Any Other Name, her novel inspired by the theory that Elizabethan poet Amelia Bassano may have had a hand in writing some of Shakespeare’s plays.

Together they explore the tantalising clues Jo...