Welcome to the Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!  

Today, Catherine and Sarah share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing in April and May.  

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

• Sarah’s Bookshelves has joined Substack! Please note, we’re not MOVING to Substack, we’re simply adding Substack to the places we already put out content.
• On our FREE Substack feed, Sarah’s Bookshelves is offering all the content you already find on the blog, my Instagram account, public podcast,
• On our PAID feed, we’re offering all the content we also offer on Patreon. If you’re interested in becoming a paying subscriber on Substack, visit sarahsbookshelveslive.substack.com for all the details and a full list of benefits.
• If you’re already on Substack, please consider following the FREE feed and sharing with your reader friends to help support the show.
• One of the many benefits to joining as a paying member of either our Patreon or Substack Communities is gaining access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that were not shared in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to all Superstar patrons here and all Substack paid subscribers here!

Highlights

• Catherine and Sarah share some big releases coming this spring (lightning round style).
• With a theme this season of “change,” Catherine focuses on lighter fiction and thrillers.
• Sarah’s choices are evenly split between debut authors, new to her authors, and repeat authors.
• Food novels, rom-coms, thrillers (two with a mistaken identity element), and lighter reading are the picks for spring!
• Sarah has already read one of her picks — and one of Catherine’s!
• And, Catherine has already started reading one of hers.
• Plus, their #1 picks for the spring.

Big Spring Releases [5:15] 

• The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:43]
• The Dark Maestro by Brendan Slocumb (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:47]
• Say You’ll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:56]
• Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:03]
• Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (on a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:18]
• The Maid’s Secret by Nita Prose (Apr 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:26]
• Audition by Katy Kitamura (Apr 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:29]
• My Documents by Kevin Ngyuen (Apr 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:44]

Backlist Titles Mentioned

• The Violin Conspiracy by Brendan Slocumb (2022) [5:51]
• Symphony of Secrets by Brendan Slocumb (2023) [5:53]

Spring 2025 Book Preview [6:51]

April

Sarah’s Picks

• The Family Recipe by Carolyn Huynh (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:40]
• I See You’ve Called in Dead by John Kenney (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:49]
• The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (Apr 22) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:15]
• Gold Coast Dilemma by Nana Malone (Apr 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:28]
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (Apr 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:42]

Catherine’s Picks

• Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:46]
• Heartwood by Amity Gaige (Apr 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:23]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Fortunes of Jaded Women by Carolyn Huynh (2022) [9:44] 
• Talk to Me by John Kenney (2019) [14:53]  
• About a Boy by Nick Hornby (1998) [16:48]
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [18:30]
• The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (2024) [18:32]
• Sea Wife by Amity Gaige (2020) [22:47] 
• The Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) [24:45] 
• The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall (2019) [26:18] 
• Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [26:20] 
• We Are the Brennans by Tracey Lange (2021) [26:22] 
• The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo (2019) [26:25] 
• Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi  (2025) [30:58] 
• Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) [33:47] 
• The Guncle by Steven Rowley (2021) [38:04] 

May

Sarah’s Picks

• Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle (May 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:16]

Catherine’s Pick

• Home of the American Circus by Allison Larkin (May 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:48]
• The Man Made of Smoke by Alex North (May 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:29] 
• Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (May 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:56]
• Storybook Ending by Moira Macdonald (May 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[45:36]

Other Books Mentioned

• The People We Keep by Allison Larkin (2021) [28:23] 
• The Angel Maker by Alex North (2023) [31:39]
• Lost and Found in Paris by Lian Dolan (2022) [41:25]  
• Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain (2000) [43:42]  
• The Husbands by Holly Gramazio (2024) [43:54] 
• Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) [44:36] 
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin (2022) [44:40] 
• Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (2020) [44:42] 
• Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune (2021) [44:45] 
• The Midnight Library by Matt Haig (2020) [44:53]  
• Storybook Ending by Poppy Alexander (2024) [47:32]