Episode
Tom Rob Smith on 20 Years Together, Love Stories, Writing Endings and Why This Book Is So Personal
- Published
- May 1, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 1973
- Processing state
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- https://shows.acast.com/quick-book-reviews/episodes/tom-rob-smith-on-20-years-together-love-stories-writing-endi
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Summary
In this episode of Quick Book Reviews , Philippa is joined by bestselling author Tom Rob Smith to talk about his moving and deeply personal new novel, 20 Years Together . Known for acclaimed books including Child 44 , and for screen work such as London Spy and The Assassination of Gianni Versace , Tom discusses why 20 Years Together is such a different book from his previous work, why he chose to write it now, and how it grew out of real emotional and philosophical questions around love, commitment, and marriage. This is a conversation about writing, relationships, storytelling, hope, and the challenge of creating an ending that truly lands. In this episode: Why Tom Rob Smith wrote 20 Years Together How the novel was inspired by real questions about marriage and long-term relationships Why this book is so different from his crime and thriller fiction The overlap between love stories and thrillers The challenge of writing emotionally honest fiction Why endings matter so much How a book can leave readers in tears Tom’s thoughts on adapting stories for television, film, or fiction How place, views, and writing environments shape the creative process What Tom is reading right now Books and authors mentioned: 20 Years Together – Tom Rob Smith Child 44 – Tom Rob Smith London Spy – Tom Rob Smith The Assassination of Gianni Versace – based on the book by Maureen Orth Aftermath – Rachel Cusk The Swimming-Pool Library – Alan Hollinghurst The Line of Beauty – Alan Hollinghurst Our Evenings – Alan Hollinghurst The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Jean-Dominique Bauby What to expect This episode is perfect for listeners who love: thoughtful author inter…