In Episode 215, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books share the best backlist books they read in 2025. They discuss their top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review their backlist reading statistics. Devoting an entire episode to backlist reading is both a team and listener favorite annual tradition!

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

• The Best of the Backlist Guide: Favorite Backlist Books Read in 2025 is available now! Members of the Sarah's Bookshelves Live community share the best backlist book they read last year in a beautiful PDF guide. To get the guide, you can sign up to join us on Patreon here. or Substack here. You'll also get access to monthly bonus podcast episodes and the new-for-2026 Rock Your Reading Tracker and the Lite Reading Tracker.

Highlights

• Sarah and Catherine share their full stats for backlist reading in 2025.
• Backlist reading quantity was stable last year for Sarah, but backlist reading quality dipped a bit.
• Catherine had a slight increase in the number of backlist books she read, AND her backlist reading remained incredibly successful.
• Sarah's backlist reading may change just a bit looking ahead to 2026.

Our Top 5 Backlist Books We Read in 2025 [10:44]

Catherine

• The No-Show by Beth O'Leary (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:50]
• Georgia by Dawn Tripp (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:44]
• The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:48]
• Don't You Forget About Me by Mhairi McFarlane (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:57]
• The Death of Bees by Lisa O'Donnell (2013) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:21]

Sarah

• The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:37]
• The Queen's Gambit by Walter Tevis (1983) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:58]
• We Burn Daylight by Bret Anthony Johnston (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:42]
• Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin (1982) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:30]
• Twenty Years Later by Charlie Donlea (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:37]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (2019) [13:19]
• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (2023) [20:28]
• Smacked by Eilene Zimmerman (2020) [20:31]
• Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond (2021) [20:33]
• Heated Rivalry (Game Changers, 2) by Rachel Reid (2023) [33:50]
• Happy All the Time by Laurie Colwin (1978) [37:58]
• Guess Again by Charlie Donlea (2025) [40:54]

Underrated Backlist Gems [43:34]

Catherine

• Miss Jane by Brad Watson (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:46]
• Your Heart Is a Muscle the Size of a Fist by Sunil Yapa (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:40]

Sarah

• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:28]
• Euphoria by Lily King (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:04]

Other Books Mentioned

• Talking at Night by Claire Davelery (2023) [48:25]
• Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (2025) [51:20]
• Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) [51:38]

Welcome to the Winter 2026 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!

Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing from January through March.

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

• The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)!

• One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get 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 we did not share in the big show preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available and sign up here for Patreon and here for Substack!

Highlights

• A lightning round of some big releases coming this winter that we're not featuring in today's preview.
• Catherine chose books by authors she knows and trusts.
• This year, Sarah dug deep into the publisher's catalog for potential hidden gems.
• Sarah's books cover literary suspense, literary fiction, brain candy, nonfiction, and a thriller from 2 debut authors and 3 repeat authors.
• Sarah has already read one of her picks — and it was 4.5 stars!
• Plus, their #1 picks for winter.

Big Winter Releases

• The First Time I Saw Him by Laura Dave (January 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:39]
• The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:43]
• My Husband's Wife by Alice Feeney (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:46]
• Once and Again by Rebecca Serle (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:49]
• Crux by Gabriel Tallent (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:53]
• Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:56]
• Two Kinds of Stranger by Steve Cavanagh (March 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:00]
• Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:03]
• Daughter of Egypt by Marie Benedict (March 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:21]
• Missing Sam by Thrity Umrigar (January 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:24]
• This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (February 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:28]
• Half His Age by Jennette McCurdy (January 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:31]

Other Books Mentioned

• I'm Glad My Mother Died by Jennette McCurdy (2022) [3:35]

Winter 2026 Book Preview [6:57]

January

Catherine's Picks

• Skylark by Paula McLain (January 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:53]
• Vigil by George Saunders (January 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:48]

Other Books Mentioned

• Circling the Sun by Paula McLain (2015) [11:04]
• When the Stars Go Dark by Paula McLain (2021) [13:12]
• Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) [17:39]

February

Sarah's Picks

• Good People by Patmeena Sabit (February 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:59]
• Royal Spin by Omid Scobie and Robin Benway (February 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:14]
• Kin by Tayari Jones (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:01]

Catherine's Picks

• Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:19]
• More Than Enough by Anna Quindlen (February 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:05]

Other Books Mentioned

• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) [9:37]
• Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) [9:40]
• Real Americans by Rachel Khong (2024) [9:42]
• The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (2003) [9:50]
• Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (2019) [14:04]
• Finding Freedom by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand (2020) [14:53]
• Endgame by Omid Scobie (2023) [14:57]
• Long Live the Tribe of Fatherless Girls by T Kira Madden (2019) [19:20]
• An American Marriage by Tayari Jones (2018) [24:11]
• Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones (2011) [24:13]
• Leaving Atlanta by Tayari Jones (2002) [26:48]
• Alternate Side by Anna Quindlen (2018) [29:43]
• After Annie by Anna Quindlen (2024) [29:51]

March

Sarah's Picks

• No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (March 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:07]
• Whidbey by T Kira Madden (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:50]
• All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[35:31]
• She Fell Away by Lenore Nash (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:01]
• The Complex by Karan Mahajan (March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:35]

Catherine's Picks

• Ruins by Lily Brooks-Dalton (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:02]
• No Friend to This House by Natalie Haynes (US Release March 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:44]
• Son of Nobody by Yann Martel (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:11]
• How to Be Okay When Nothing Is Okay by Jenny Lawson (March 31) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:15]

Other Books Mentioned

• A Thousand Naked Strangers by Kevin Hazzard (2016) [30:48]
• The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) [33:06]
• Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) [33:13]
• Shelter by Jung Yun (2016) [35:41]
• Medium Rare by A. Natasha Joukovsky (March 3, 2026) [40:39]
• Red Widow by Alma Katsu (2021) [41:45]
• Red London by Alma Katsu (2023) [41:46]
• Life of Pi by Yann Martel (2001) [43:38]
• The High Mountains of Portugal by Yann Martel (2016) [46:16]
• The Association of Small Bombs by Karan Mahajan (2016) [47:17]
• Let's Pretend This Never Happened by Jenny Lawson (2012) [50:04]

Other Links

• The New Yorker | "The True Margaret," by Karan Mahajan

In Episode 213, Sarah and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) wrap up the year with the Best Books of 2025 Genre Awards. They reveal their Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction) and a full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, they share the winners for these same genres as chosen by the Sarah's Bookshelves Live Member Community.

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.

Announcements

• The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)!

Highlights

• Podcast reflections from 2025 — including top episodes based on download stats.
• A brief overview of Sarah's and Chrissie's 2025 year in reading.
• Their favorite books of the year: overall and by genre, including the SBL Member Community's picks.

2025 Genre Awards [12:39]

Sarah

• The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:45]
• The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:32]
• The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:13]
• One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:48]
• The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:47]
• August Lane by Regina Black (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:03]
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:54]
• Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:36]
• This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:00]
• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:59]
• The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:44]
• Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [56:29]
• Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:10]
• The Elements by John Boyne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:10]

Chrissie

• Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:42]
• Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:36]
• Marble Hall Murders (Susan Ryeland, 3) by Anthony Horowitz (2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [21:39]
• The Pretender by Jo Harkin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:51]
• What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:28]
• To Clutch a Razor (Curse Bearer, 2) by Veronica Roth (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:39]
• The Love Haters by Katherine Center (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:03]
• These Heathens by Mia McKenzie (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:31]
• The Zorg by Siddarth Kara (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:11]
• Misbehaving at the Crossroads by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:09]
• A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:38]
• Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[55:11]
• Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:16]
• Future Boy by Michael J. Fox (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:01:23]
• Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:06:07]

SBL Member Community

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:43]
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:02]
• Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:52]
• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:21]
• The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:28]
• The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:23]
• One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:39]
• Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:57]
• Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:15]
• Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:17]
• Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:19]
• The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:22]
• Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:24]
• So Far Gone by Jess Walter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:27]
• This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:28]
• Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:20]
• Ordinary Time by Annie Jones (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:32]
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:31]
• Among Friends by Hal Ebbott (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [59:25]
• Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02:33]

Other Books Mentioned

• Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) [13:51]
• Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) [15:35]
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) [15:58]
• Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) [16:09]
• The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) [16:11]
• Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) [16:13]
• Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne (2023) [17:45]
• Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (2025) [18:46]
• Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (2025) [18:56]
• The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (2025) [19:18]
• Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (2025) [19:23]
• Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023) [21:28]
• The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (2025) [23:03]
• The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (2025) [23:07]
• Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) [23:13]
• The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) [23:15]
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017) [24:09]
• Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin (2022) [26:03]
• What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) [26:55]
• Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) [27:06]
• The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (2025) [27:12]
• Isola by Allegra Goodman (2025) [28:13]
• Merge by Grace Walker (2025) [31:35]
• The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve (2025) [31:43]
• Sunrise on the Reaping by Susanna Collins (2025) [31:48]
• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (2025) [31:01]
• The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2025) [32:05]
• When Among Crows by Veronica Roth (2024) [33:05]
• Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (2025) [34:23]
• Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [34:36]
• Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [34:37]
• A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (2025) [34:49]
• The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (2024) [34:54]
• Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [34:58]
• The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (2025) [35:05]
• Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) [35:31]
• The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (2023) [36:49]
• The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) [38:54]
• The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (2025) [40:30]
• Hungerstone by Kat Dunn (2025) [40:37]
• We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad (2025) [40:42]
• The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025) [41:19]
• Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (2025) [41:30]
• When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi (2025) [44:56]
• The Wager by David Grann (2023) [47:34]
• Replaceable You by Mary Roach (2025) [49:04]
• The Gales of November by John U. Bacon (2025) [49:11]
• Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025) [51:58]
• All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (2025) [52:08]
• Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) [52:24]
• Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre (2025) [52:28]
• One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (2025) [52:49]
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [53:22]
• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) [54:21]
• Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo (2025) [54:27]
• Woodworking by Emily St. James (2025) [56:16]
• Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) [58:57]
• The Elements by John Boyne (2025) [59:15]
• Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) [59:49]
• My Friends by Fredrik Backman (2025) [59:51]
• The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [1:05:51]
• James by Percival Everett (2024) [1:08:07]

Top Podcast Episodes

• Ep. 199: Best Books of 2025 (So Far) with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Susie (@NovelVisits)
• Ep. 184: Best Books of 2024 Genre Awards with Susie (@NovelVisits)
• Ep. 185: Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
• Ep. 205: Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
• Ep. 192: Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
• Ep. 198: Best of Thrillers with Anderson McKean of Page & Palette (@PagePalette)
• Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)
• Ep. 193: Clare Leslie Hall (author of Broken Country)
• Ep. 187: State of the Industry in 2024 with Kathleen Schmidt (@KathMSchmidt), author of the Publishing Confidential Substack
• Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)

In Ep. 212, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books start wrapping up 2025 with the first of the two year-end episodes: Best Books of 2025 Superlatives. In this episode, they share their picks for over 25 superlative categories, including Weirdest 5-Star Read of 2025, The Book That Made Us Furious, Most Underrated Gem, Too Dark Even for Me, and so much more!

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.

Highlights

Our best books of the year from over 25 categories, including:

• My First 5-Star 2025 Release of the Year
• Weirdest 5-Star Read of 2025
• The Book That Made Us Furious
• Most Underrated Gem
• Most Perplexing Book
• Best Book to Be Made into a Reality Series
• Too Dark Even for Me
• Most Crushingly Depressing Book I Loved
• Best Horror Book in the Victorian-Feminist-Gory Category
• The Crime Novel That Hit Me Hardest Emotionally

2025 Superlatives [7:32]

Sarah

• Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:58]
• What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[12:38]
• Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:22]
• Maggie; a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:43]
• The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:25]
• Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:22]
• The Dinner Party by Viola Van de Sandt (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:25]
• Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:35]
• When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (US release 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:37]
• Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:30]
• What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:53]
• Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:52]
• Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:06]
• The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:38]
• Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:07]

Catherine

• What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[9:58]
• The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:37]
• The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:31]
• Murderland by Caroline Fraser (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:53]
• Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:07]
• The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:13]
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[38:31]
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:12]
• Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:45]
• Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, 2) by Laini Taylor (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:40]
• Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:39]
• Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:31]
• The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:18]

Other Books Mentioned

• Defending Jacob by William Landay (2012) [8:59]
• All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay (2023) [9:00]
• Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (2020) [10:40]
• I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) [30:25]
• The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan (2012) [33:08]
• Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) [45:20]
• The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange (2023) [45:39]
• Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934) [46:13]
• The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) [48:34]
• Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler (2013) [48:35]
• Writers and Lovers by Lily King (2020) [51:32]

In Episode 211, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 14 new releases they shared in the Fall 2025 Book Preview, now that they've read them — or at least tried to! They share their reading stats and discuss which books worked and which didn't…and why.

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.

Highlights

• Catherine's success rate bounces back from summer.
• Sarah's fall reading felt kind of "meh" despite a higher success rate.
• They also share their combined 2025 Preview success rates.
• Their fall pick ratings were all over the place, with only one DNF, but books range from 2 to 4 stars, with Catherine boasting the sole 5-star book!
• A couple of books suffered from an identity crisis, while others were surprise successes.
• Catherine's assignment for next season is to check the page count and look for authors following-up award-winning books.
• They name their best and worst books picks for fall!

Books We Read Before the Preview [5:57] SEPTEMBER

Sarah's Picks

• The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[6:01]

Fall 2025 Circle Back [7:23] AUGUST

Sarah's Picks

• Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (August 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:29]
• We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[13:38]

Catherine's Pick

• Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:59]

Other Books Mentioned

• Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025) [9:28]
• Inferno by Dante (c. 1321) [11:29]
• Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [13:16]
• Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [13:25]
• The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [16:12]

SEPTEMBER

Sarah's Picks

• Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:51]
• Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:30]
• Underspin by E. Y. Zhao (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:06]

Catherine's Picks

• The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:12]
• Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent (US release: September 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:01]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (2019) [28:07]

OCTOBER

Catherine's Picks

• Workhorse by Caroline Palmer (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:24]
• The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[34:49]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (2003) [32:43]
• The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson (2012) [38:35]
• The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (2006) [39:03]

NOVEMBER

Sarah's Pick

• Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:37]

Catherine's Pick

• Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (November 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:48]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [44:43]

DECEMBER

Catherine's Pick

• The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini (US release: December 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:49]

In Ep. 210, Laura McGrath, author of the popular Substack newsletter, textCrunch, joins Sarah to take a sharp look at the State of the Publishing Industry in 2025. This packed episode covers a high-level look at the top sales and book trends, as well as Laura's insights into the future of the book world for 2026. Also, Laura shares her favorite books of 2025!

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.

Highlights

• Laura McGrath's book Middlemen (publishing April 28, 2026) is available for pre-order here: Amazon | Bookshop.org
• Fiction's performance in the sales charts since 2019.
• The trend seen in nonfiction over the past few years and where it may be headed.
• The continued debate about whether 2025 has a "Book of the Year."
• Surprising sales trends in religious books and imprints.
• How self-publishing still brings us successful authors.
• What Laura sees in her research that she thinks publishers should be paying attention to.
• A bit about the current outlook for mid-list and debut authors.
• Laura's predictions for 2026 book trends.

State of the Publishing Industry in 2025 HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW [2:45]

• Onyx Storm (Empyrean, 3) by Rebecca Yarros (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:49]
• Fourth Wing (series, 1) by Rebecca Yarros | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:58]
• The Women by Kristin Hannah (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:21]
• James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:59]
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:02]
• Flashlight by Susan Choi (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:25]
• The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:58]
• The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:04]
• A Guardian and a Thief by Leela Tapryal (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:31]
• The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:19]
• Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:57]
• The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:59]

2025 BOOK SALES & TRENDS [14:41]

• The Martian by Andy Weir (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:03]
• The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:38]
• The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:40]
• Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:42]

BIG BOOK STORIES OF 2025 [30:18]

• Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:30]
• V by Thomas Pynchon (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:32]
• Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth (1969) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:41]
• The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead (1999) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:47]
• The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:54]

2026 PUBLISHING PREDICTIONS [42:29]

• Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:41]
• Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:55]
• Discipline by Larissa Pham (January 20, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:01]
• Under Water by Tara Menon (March 17, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:07]

Laura's 3 Favorites Books of 2025 [45:31]

• Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:17]
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[47:59]
• The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:38]

Other Links

• The New York Times | The Dogged, Irrational Persistence of Literary Fictionby Gerald Howard
• The Walrus | Publishing Has a Gambling Problem by Tajja Isen
• Time | How Taylor Jenkins Reid Became a Publishing Powerhouse by Lucy Feldman
• Book Riot | How Much Does Genre Matter to Readers? (Podcast Episode)
• Public Books | Who Cares About Literary Prizes? by Alexander Manshel, Laura B. Mcgrath, & J. D. Porter

In Episode 209, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) join Sarah for the 5th annual Debuts Special! They're sharing their reading stats for debuts this year, along with their favorite debuts, new and backlist — so far for 2025.

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.

Highlights

• How debuts from 2025 compare to those from previous years.
• A full breakdown of Sarah's, Catherine's, and Chrissie's 2025 debut-related stats.
• Featured debuts, split into two categories:
  • Favorite Debuts of 2025 (so far)
  • Favorite Backlist Debuts Read in 2025

Favorite Debuts of 2025 (so far) [9:20]

Sarah

• Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:27]
• The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:54]
• Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:12]

Catherine

• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:04]
• The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:50]
• Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:30]

Chrissie

• Homeseeking by Karissa Chen (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:39]
• Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[26:34]
• Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:53]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [10:09]
• The Compound by Aisling Rowle (2025) [10:11]
• Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (2025) [10:14]
• Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams (2025) [10:17]
• Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) [10:19]
• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (2014) [12:48]
• You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith (2024) [12:56]
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) [18:47]
• Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger (1990) [20:49]
• The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) [22:08]
• All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (2025) [28:58]
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) [30:36]
• The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe (1987) [34:15]

Favorite Backlist Debuts Read in 2025 [39:09]

Sarah

• I Might Be In Trouble by Daniel Aleman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:15]
• Out of Love by Hazel Hayes (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:26]

Catherine

• In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:45]
• Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:47]

Chrissie

• Fruiting Bodies by Kathryn Harlan (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:04]
• The Undertaking by Audrey Magee (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:31]

Other Books Mentioned

• Music of the Ghosts by Vaddey Ratner (2017) [44:58]
• Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (2022) [46:14]
• The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) [49:08]
• The Colony by Audrey Magee (2022) [53:26]

Additional Books Mentioned

• Victim by Andrew Boryga (2024) [3:39]
• Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) [6:54]

Ep. 208 brings the third installment of our "Best of…" series. Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop joined Sarah for the Best of Narrative Nonfiction, sharing her ALL-TIME TOP books in this genre. Plus, she brings a few popular nonfiction reads that didn't work for her.⁠ This episode is chock-full of fantastic book recommendations to get you ready for Nonfiction November or just your next nonfiction pick.

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.

Highlights

• How Elizabeth got started with narrative nonfiction.
• How the pull of "real stories" has her returning to this category again and again.
• Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn't work for her.
• Elizabeth picks a book from her list that would be a good starter book for those new to the genre.

All books mentioned in this episode are linked through Fabled Bookshop or Libro.FM. If you decide to purchase, we'd love for you to use our Fabled links in the show notes — if your budget allows. As a bonus, use promo code SARAH at checkout on Fabled's website for 10% off your order! Prefer audio? You can find the titles on Libro.fm and select Fabled as the store you'd like to support. You can also find a list of Elizabeth's books from this episode on both Fabled's website.

Elizabeth's Favorite Narrative Nonfiction Sub-Genres [9:53]

NATURAL DISASTER STORIES

• In the Kingdom of Ice by Hampton Sides (2014) | Fabled | Libro.FM [10:42]
• The Children's Blizzard by David Laskin (2004) | Fabled | Libro.FM [11:13]
• The Vortex by Scott Carney and Jason Miklian (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM [11:29]
• The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown (2009) | Fabled | Libro.FM [12:18]
• What Stands in a Storm by Kim Cross (2015) | Fabled | Libro.FM [13:11]
• Isaac's Storm by Erik Larson (1999) | Fabled | Libro.FM [13:33]

LITTLE-KNOWN FACTS

• One Summer by Bill Bryson (2013) | Fabled | Libro.FM [14:24]
• Pappyland by Wright Thompson (2020) | Fabled | Libro.FM [15:05]
• The Facemaker by Lindsey Fitzharris (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM [15:43]

POP SCIENCE

• Digital Minimalism by Cal Newport (2019) | Fabled | Libro.FM [16:54]
• The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [17:50]
• Replaceable You by Mary Roach (2025) | Fabled | Libro.FM [18:35]

HISTORY TOLD IN INTERESTING WAYS

• Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) | Fabled | Libro.FM [19:03]
• The Great Halifax Explosion by John U. Bacon (2017) | Fabled | Libro.FM [20:21]
• The Big Rich by Bryan Burrough (2009) | Fabled | Libro.FM [21:17]
• In Harm's Way by Doug Stanton (2001) | Fabled [21:43]
• Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand (2010) | Fabled | Libro.FM [22:11]

ORDINARY PEOPLE MEMOIRS

• Red Notice by Bill Browder (2015) | Fabled | Libro.FM [22:32]
• Home Cooking by Laurie Colwin (1988) | Fabled | Libro.FM [23:06]

GOTCHA / PEOPLE BEHAVING BADLY

• Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018) | Fabled | Libro.FM [24:22]
• Bad City by Paul Pringle (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM [24:24]
• Bully Market by Jamie Fiore Higgins (2022) | Fabled | Libro.FM [24:31]

Elizabeth's All-Time Top Narrative Nonfiction [26:07]

• Empty Mansions by Bill Dedman and Paul Clark Newell, Jr. (2013) | Fabled | Libro.FM [26:56]
• The Worst Hard Time by Timothy Egan (2006) | Fabled | Libro.FM [28:07]
• The Radium Girls by Kate Moore (2016) | Fabled | Libro.FM [29:13]
• Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard (2011) | Fabled | Libro.FM [30:57]
• The Deepest South of All by Richard Grant (2020) | Fabled | Libro.FM [33:03]
• Running with Sherman by Christopher McDougall (2019) | Fabled | Libro.FM [35:01]
• All Over but the Shoutin' by Rick Bragg (1991) | Fabled | Libro.FM [37:41]
• Sudden Sea by R. A. Scotti (2003) | Fabled | Libro.FM [39:52]
• The Day the World Came to Town by Jim DeFede (2002) | Fabled | Libro.FM [43:09]

High-Profile Narrative Nonfiction That She Didn't Love [47:37]

• In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1965) | Fabled | Libro.FM [47:52]
• When the Sea Came Alive by Garrett M. Graff (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [49:19]
• Challenger by Adam Higginbotham (2024) | Fabled | Libro.FM [50:48]

Other Books Mentioned

• Finding Flora by Elinor Florence (2025) [4:51]
• Undaunted Courage by Stephen E. Ambrose (1996) [5:21]
• The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (2013) [12:22]
• Patty Reed's Doll by Rachel K. Laurgaard (1956) [12:59]
• In Light of All Darkness by Kim Cross (2023) [13:15]
• The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt (2024) [17:45]
• Grunt by Mary Roach (2016) [18:27]
• Family Happiness by Laurie Colwin (1984) [23:48]
• Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis (2018) [25:10]
• I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara (2018) [25:39]
• A Fever in the Heartland by Timothy Egan (2023) [28:57]
• The Immortal Irishman by Timothy Egan (2016) [29:02]
• Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt (1994) [33:48]
• Natchez Burning (Natchez Burning, 1 and Penn Cage, 4) by Greg Iles (2014) [34:49]
• Born to Run by Christopher McDougall (2009) [35:21]
• My Southern Journey by Rick Bragg (2015) [39:03]
• Reef Road by Deborah Goodrich Royce (2023) [41:45]
• A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams (2013) [42:33]
• The Only Place in the Sky by Garrett M. Graff (2019) [45:44]
• The Devil Reached Toward the Sky by Garrett M. Graff (2025) [50:41]
• Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham (2019) [42:33]

In Episode 207, Sarah chats with author Regina Black about her newest novel, August Lane. A second-chance romance about two people healing from trauma, August Lane is set in Arcadia, Arkansas, with themes of family, generational scars, and a unique thread of Black country music. Regina also talks about how she got into writing Romance on top of her job as a law school administrator, how long she's been writing, and what spurred her on to seeking publication. Plus, Regina shares some of her top book recommendations!

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.

Highlights

• Books by Regina Black: The Art of Scandal and August Lane
• A brief, spoiler-free overview of August Lane.
• How long Regina has been writing and what moved her to seeking publication.
• Her unique journey to finding an agent
• What exactly does it mean to have a likable character?
• The way Regina uses and leans into typical romance tropes.
• Her decision to step away from social media to write like "no one's watching."
• A bit about the novel she's working on.
• Regina talks about how a lot of writers become lawyers rather than the reverse.

Regina's Book Recommendations [34:41]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Space Between Worlds (The Space Between Worlds, 1) by Micaiah Johnson (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:57]
• Indigo by Beverly Jenkins (1996) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:54]

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Princess and the P.I. by Nikki Payne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[38:59]
• Black in Blues:How a Color Tells the Story of My People by Imani Perry (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:03]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • South to America by Imani Perry (2022) [41:14]

One Book She DIDN'T Love

• Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:41]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Persuasion by Jane Austen (1817) [44:54]

One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About

• Where the Wild Flowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris (February 17, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:36]

Books From the Discussion

• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (2021) [7:34]

Please listen to the accompanying (less than 4 minute) episode for an important update about the Sarah's Bookshelves Live podcast.

Thank you, Sarah