In Episode 160, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I share the best backlist books we read in 2023. We each discuss our top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review our backlist reading statistics. Devoting an entire episode to backlist reading is something we love doing and we've heard from you that you love it too!

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Announcement

• Available Now! To get the backlist reading guide, The Best of the Backlist, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.

Highlights

• Catherine had a small uptick in her backlist reading — her most successful segment of books in 2023!
• Sarah's backlist reading was slightly less successful than last year — maybe marking an unfortunate trend.
• How Sarah's decreased DNFs for last year impacted her Backlist stats.
• While Catherine has already read many of Sarah's picks, Sarah has already purchased (but not yet read) many of Catherine's choices!

Our Top 5 Backlist Books We Read in 2023 [7:37]

Catherine

• Black and Blue by Anna Quindlen | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:44]
• True Biz by Sara Nović | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:12]
• All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:52]
• The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:58]
• Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:31]

Sarah

• Lying in Wait by Liz Nugent | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:24]
• What My Bones Know by Stephanie Foo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:36]
• Search by Michelle Huneven | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:41]
• Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:04]
• The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:55]

Other Books Mentioned

• Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent [10:38]
• Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent [11:10]
• The Ensemble by Aja Gabel [23:19]
• Untamed by Glennon Doyle [31:14]
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones [33:22]
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones [36:31]

Underrated Backlist Gems [39:54]

Catherine

• Too Bright to Hear Too Loud to See by Juliann Garey | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:07] 
• A Quiet Life by Ethan Joella | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:06]

Sarah

• Something Wild by Hanna Halperin | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:12] 
• The Spy and the Traitor by Ben Macintyre | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [51:01]

Other Books Mentioned

• I Could Live Here Forever by Hanna Halperin [45:21]
• Red Widow by Alma Katsu [54:02]
• Red London by Alma Katsu [54:03]

Other Links

• Vogue | In Finishing My Book… by Lauren McBrayer