In Ep. 194, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Sarah head back to the year 2017 in the book world with this second annual special retrospective episode!  They share big bookish highlights for that year, including book news, award winners, and what was going on in the world outside of reading. They also talk about how their own 2017 reading shook out, including their favorite 2017 releases.  Plus, a quick run-down of listener-submitted favorites!  This episode is overflowing with great backlist titles to add to your TBR!  

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

• The big news that was going on outside the book world.
• The book stories and trends that dominated 2017.
• How similar 2017 and 2025 are.
• The 2017 books that have had staying power.⁠
• Was this as dismal a year in books as Sarah remembers?
• Sarah’s and Catherine’s personal 2017 reading stats.⁠
• Listener-submitted favorites from 2017.⁠

Bookish Time Capsule (2017) [2:12] The World Beyond Books

• No books mentioned in this segment.

The Book Industry

• Wonder by R. J. Palacio (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [9:59]
• Milk and Honey by Rupi Kaur (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:04]
• A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[10:40]
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:44]
• Uncommon Type by Tom Hanks (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:08]
• My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:18]
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:03]
• If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:13]
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:23]
• Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:46]
• Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:48]
• The Nest by Cynthia D’Aprix Sweeney (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:50]
• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [14:57]
• Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:03]
• James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [15:04]

Bookish Headlines and Trends

• Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:41]
• A Promised Land by Barack Obama (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:43]
• The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama (2006) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:48]
• My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [23:04]
• The Road to Dalton by Shannon Bowring (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:31]

Big Books and Award Winners of 2017

• A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:01]
• Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:06]
• The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:21]
• Hillbilly Elegy by J. D. Vance (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:27]
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:48]
• Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:09]
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:39]
• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [29:23]
• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:40]
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [31:31]
• Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:09]
• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:51]
• Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:16]
• Normal People by Sally Rooney (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:41]
• Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:32]
• Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:38]
• Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:09]
• The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:52]
• What Happened by Hillary Rodham Clinton (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:56]
• Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:21]
• The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:45]
• Before the Fall by Noah Hawley (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [38:04]
• The Stone Sky (The Broken Earth, 3) by N. K. Jemisin (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:30] 

Our Top Books of 2017

• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:46]
• Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:20]
• Dead Letters by Caite Dolan-Leach (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:22]
• Emma in the Night by Wendy Walker (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:02]
• If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:16]
• Quicksand by Malin Persson Giolitio (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:23]
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:36]
• This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:38]
• Trophy Son by Douglas Brunt (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:48]
• White Fur by Jardine Libaire (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:05]
• Final Girls by Riley Sager (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:38]
• Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:44]
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:46]
• Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:49]
• The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:10]
• Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman (1995) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:15]
• Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:19]
• The Heirs by Susan Rieger (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:34]
• The Takedown by Corrie Wang (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:53]
• Feast of Sorrow by Crystal King (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:01]
• Girl in Snow by Danya Kukafka (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:09]
• Everything I Never Told You by Celeste Ng (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [48:17]
• Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:28]
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:33]

Listeners’ Top Books of 2017

• Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:33]
• Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:51]
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:03]
• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[50:07]
• Beartown by Fredrik Backman (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:13]
• Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:15]
• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:18]
• The Alice Network by Kate Quinn (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:24]
• This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:25]
• Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:27]

In Episode 193, author Clare Leslie Hall talks with Sarah about her US debut, Broken Country — a breakout hit and a Reese’s Book Club pick. A genre mash-up that is part love story and part murder trial, Clare talks about marketing Broken Country, how this came to be her first U.S. release, and the ways the novel evolved over time. Plus, Clare shares her 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 Clare Leslie Hall: Broken Country, Days You Were Mine (previously published as Mine), and Pictures of Him (previously published as Him).
• Clare gives a brief, spoiler-free overview of Broken Country. 
• Clare’s inspiration for Broken Country.
• How the themes of love, guilt, and connection play roles in the novel.
• The ways Broken Country developed and changed over the course of her writing process.
• How Clare decided that this was no longer a contemporary novel and needed to be set in the 1950s and 1960s.
• The aspect of the book of which she’s most proud.
• How Broken Country came to be her first book released in the U.S.
• What the marketing looked like for Broken Country compared to her first two novels.
• Anything Clare would change about Broken Country down the line should she have the opportunity (since she was able to change the ending of her second book for the U.S. release).
• A bit about what Clare has planned for her next book.

Clare’s Book Recommendations [35:30]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• Moon Tiger by Penelope Lively (1987) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:43]
• All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy (1992) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:26]
• Other Books Mentioned:
  • Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (1985) [38:42]  

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell (February 18, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:12]
• Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (July 30, 2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[41:33]
• Other Books Mentioned:
  • The Wedding People by Alison Espach (July 30, 2024) [43:48] 
  • The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) [44:04] 

One Book She DIDN’T Love

• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:22]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• What the Deep Water Knows by Miranda Cowley Heller (July 1, 2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [48:40]

Last 5-Star Book Clare Read

• Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:19]

Books From the Discussion

• Atonement by Ian McEwan (2001) [14:38]
• The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley (1953) [14:42]
• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960) [16:22]
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (2018) [54:02] 

About Clare Leslie Hall

 Instagram | X

Clare Leslie Hall is a novelist and journalist who lives in the wilds of Dorset, England, with her family. She’s the author of Broken Country, Pictures of Him, and Days You Were Mine.

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] 

In Episode 191, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 16 new releases they shared in the Winter 2025 Book Preview. They share their reading stats, chat about what they liked, and what didn’t work out. 

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

• For the first time ever, Sarah’s Preview selections resulted in a 100% success rate!
• Catherine’s reading was also successful at 75%, with 2 DNFs.
• A total of three 5-star books from the Winter Preview!
• Sarah successfully revived her reading from that “sameness” she felt in December.
• Catherine’s reading seems to revolve around “right time” and “wrong time” books even more than usual.
• They name the best and worst books from their winter picks.

Books Read Before the Preview [1:46] 

January

Sarah’s Picks

• The Favorites by Layne Fargo (Jan 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:18]
• Penitence by Kristin Koval (Jan 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:05]

Other Books Mentioned

• Defending Jacob by William Landay [5:12]
• All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay [5:13]  

Winter 2025 Circle Back [7:42]

January

Sarah’s Pick

• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Jan 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[11:44]

Catherine’s Picks

• All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (Jan 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[7:46]
• Those Fatal Flowers by Shannon Ives (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:14]
• Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [25:59] 
• Too Soon by Betty Shamieh (Jan 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:53]

Other Books Mentioned

• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [9:46]  

February

Sarah’s Picks

• Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi (Feb 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:29]
• Crush by Ada Calhoun (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:40]
• The Strange Case by Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:59]
• The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[43:10]

Catherine’s Pick

• This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer (Feb 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:44]

Other Books Mentioned

• Persuasion by Jane Austen [22:35]
• Why We Can’t Sleep by Ada Calhoun [32:09]  
• Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give by Ada Calhoun [32:11] 
• Yellowface by R. F. Kuang [43:56] 
• Victim by Andrew Boryga [44:04] 
• By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult [45:54] 

March

Sarah’s Pick

• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:33]

Catherine’s Picks

• The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:21]
• Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:56]
• Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh (Mar 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:25]

Other Books Mentioned

• Love & Saffron by Kim Fay [49:07] 
• Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens [50:37] 
• The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller [50:40] 

In Episode 190, author Georgia Hunter returns to the podcast to chat with Sarah about her sophomore novel, One Good Thing, and go behind-the-scenes of her experience adapting her first novel, We Were the Lucky Ones, for Hulu. Georgia talks about her role as executive producer, the difference in writing a novel that wasn’t based on family history, and how the screenwriting process influenced her own writing. Plus, Georgia shares her 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 Georgia Hunter: We Were the Lucky Ones (2017) and One Good Thing (2025)
• A spoiler-free overview of One Good Thing.
• Georgia’s inspiration for the characters, their story, and choosing Italy as the setting.
• The very different process for writing and editing her second book.
• How the steps for adapting We Were the Lucky Ones began and how long it took.
• Georgia’s role in the writer’s room for the screen adaptation and as a resource for the actors and writers. 
• How the six writers handled their episodes and wove together the different perspectives for a cohesive series.
• If Georgia would ever consider writing for a tv series.
• How screenwriting impacted Georgia writing her second novel.
• What her day on set looked like as executive producer.
• How Georgia handled filming on location and the timeframe from start to finish.
• Talk about an adaptation for One Good Thing — and is it better suited for a feature-length film or another tv miniseries?

Georgia’s Book Recommendations [51:05]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:39]
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:38]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) [54:00]  
  • David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) [54:17] 

Two NEW Books She Loves

• All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[56:29]
• The Busy Body by Kemper Donovan (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [58:49]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (2021) [56:41] 

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• The Names by Florence Knapp (May 6, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:55]

Last 5-Star Book Georgia Read

• Horse by Geraldine Brooks (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:03:52]

About Georgia Hunter

Website | Instagram | Facebook

When Georgia Hunter was fifteen years old, she discovered that she came from a family of Holocaust survivors. Years later, she embarked on a journey of intensive research, determined to unearth and record her family’s remarkable story. The result is the New York Times best seller, We Were the Lucky Ones, which has been published in over 20 languages and adapted for television by Hulu as a highly acclaimed limited series. One Good Thing is Georgia’s second novel. She lives in Connecticut with her husband and their two sons.

In Episode 189, author Karen Thompson Walker talks with Sarah about her career to date and her newest novel, The Strange Case of Jane O. Karen discusses her writing journey, including each book’s inspiration and research process. She also touches on the challenges of promoting her latest book without giving away too much and her current work in progress. Plus, Karen shares her 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 Karen Thompson Walker: The Age of Miracles (2012), The Dreamers (2019), and The Strange Case of Jane O. (2025)
• Karen talks about going from working as an editor to a being published author
• The genre Karen feels her books best fit in
• The real-life inspiration for The Age of Miracles 
• A peek into her research process and which book required the most work
• Karen’s thoughts on writing about an epidemic (in The Dreamers) just before the real-life  COVID-19 pandemic
• A brief spoiler-free overview of The Strange Case of Jane O. and the inspiration behind it
• Some of Oliver Sacks’ interesting case histories that inspired Karen
• The difficulty in trying to promote and talk about a book like The Strange Case of Jane O. without giving too much away
• How Karen sees the relationship between her three published books
• A bit about Karen’s current work in progress

Karen’s Book Recommendations [36:20]

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Virgin Suicides by Jeffrey Eugenides (1993) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[37:22]
• The Buddha in the Attic by Julie Otsuka (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:26]
• Other Books Mentioned:
  • The Swimmers by Julie Otsuka (2023) [40:51]  

Two NEW Books She Loves

• The Antidote by Karen Russell (March 11, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[41:20]
• The Light Eaters by Zoë Schlanger (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:39]

One Book She DIDN’T Love

• My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:39]

One NEW RELEASE She’s Excited About

• Audition by Katie Kitamura (April 8, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:22]
• Other Books Mentioned: 
  • The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (2024) [49:20] 
  • A Separation by Katie Kitamura (2017) [49:35] 
  • Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (2021) [49:39] 

Last 5-Star Book Karen Read

• Trust by Hernan Diaz (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:14]

Books From the Discussion

• Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan (2012) [22:54]
• Awakenings by Oliver Sacks (1973) [24:16]

In Ep. 188, we are kicking off our new “Best of…” series with Sarah’s Bookshelves Live team member, Chrissie, for the Best of Fantasy. Today, Chrissie brings you her all-time top ten favorite fantasy novels. Also, as a long-time reader and evangelizer of the genre, Chrissie talks about how she started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, and ways those new to fantasy might jump in!

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 Chrissie got started reading fantasy.
• What draws her to the fantasy genre.
• From sci-fi fantasy to epic, high fantasy, Chrissie talks about the wide scope of the genre.
• Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn’t work for her.

Chrissie’s All-Time Top Ten Fantasy Books [16:36]

• The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:44]
• A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[22:11]
• The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:24]
• The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:10]
• A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [35:36]
• Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [37:35]
• Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [39:58]
• The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [42:15]
• Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [44:16]
• The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:40]

High-Profile Fantasy Books That Did Not She Didn’t Love [48:39] 

• A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:52]
• Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:55]

Other Books Mentioned

• Fourth Wing (2023) [25:07]
• Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012) [25:43]
• Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews (1979) [26:36]
• Heaven by V. C. Andrews (1985) [26:46]
• The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June 2025) [31:27]
• A Game of Thrones (1996) by George R. R. Martin ([33:04])
• The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (2011) [33:09]
• The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss (TBD) [33:15]
• A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1982) [37:16]
• Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020) [39:46]
• Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (2005) [50:03]
• The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (2024) [50:28]

Books from Our Discussion

• Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997) [4:23] 
• Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952) [6:23] 
• Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) [6:26]  
• The Dream Book by Meg Wolitzer (1987) [6:37] 
• The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [11:15] 
• 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [12:10] 
• The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1950) [12:30] 
• The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [14:29]
• The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) [14:30]  
• The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979) [15:36] 

In Ep. 187, Kathleen Schmidt, author of the popular Substack newsletter, Publishing Confidential, joins Sarah to dissect and discuss the State of the Publishing Industry in 2024. Between a high-level look back, talk about the top sales and book trends, to what Kathleen sees on the horizon for 2025 in the book world, this episode is packed with info. Also, Kathleen shares her favorite books of 2024!

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

• 2024 bookish news and publishing trends overview.
• Kathleen grades last year’s crop of books with an overall B+.
• How the middle-aged woman / menopause stories might shake out to be the next buzzy books.
• The ways the full book market is oversaturated.
• The impact TikTok still has on the book world.
• Kathleen breaks down the side-eye publishing attracts from other industries with its oddball business model. 
• Taylor Swift remains a hot topic in publishing with The Eras Tour Book.
• Did Spotify’s entrance into audiobooks make a noticeable impact?
• The secret struggle of memoirs.
• Anticipating 2025’s potential bookish trends.

State of the Publishing Industry in 2024

High-Level Overview [2:02]

• All Fours by Miranda July (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:12]
• Sandwich by Catherine Newman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [6:27]
• The New Menopause by Mary Claire Haver (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:58]  

2024 Book Sales and Trends [9:35] 

• Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:11] 
• Splinters by Leslie Jamison (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:14] 
• Liars by Sarah Manguso (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:16] 
• Crush by Ada Calhoun (Feb 25, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:17] 
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39]
• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Jan 14, 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[31:41] 

Big Book Stories of 2024 [34:18]

• The Official Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour Book (Target Exclusive)(2024) [38:21] 

2025 Publishing Predictions [42:48]

Kathleen’s 3 Favorites Books of 2024 [46:41]

• Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:01] 
• Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:23]
• Foster by Claire Keegan (2010) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:54] 

Other Links

• Publishing Confidential • Substack | What Book Publishing Needs to Consider in 2025

In Episode 186, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Sarah share the best backlist books they read in 2024. 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 now an annual tradition at Sarah’s Bookshelves Live — a team and listener favorite! 

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

• 2024’s Best of the Backlist Guide is available now! 25 of the Sarah’s Bookshelves Live Patrons share the best backlist book they read last year in a beautiful PDF guide. To get the guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a 3 bonus podcast episodes per month and my Rock Your Reading Tracker and our all-new Lite Reading Tracker.

Highlights

• Sarah and Catherine share their full stats for backlist reading in 2024.
• Backlist reading quantity was down a bit again last year for Sarah, but backlist reading quality increased.
• Catherine had a slight decrease in the number of backlist books she read, but backlist reading remained incredibly successful for her.
• Sarah’s backlist reading included several atypical choices for her, maybe shaping how she approaches 2025.

Our Top 5 Backlist Books We Read in 2024 [6:27]

Catherine

• Ghosts by Dolly Alderton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:33]
• Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:19]
• Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell | Amazon | Bookshop.org[17:38]
• Tomorrow There Will Be Apricots by Jessica Soffer | Amazon | Bookshop.org[24:10]
• Behind the Scenes at the Museum by Kate Atkinson | Amazon | Bookshop.org[32:11]

Sarah

• The Hop by Diana Clarke | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:38]
• The Last Days of Night by Graham Moore | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:26]
• Water by John Boyne | Amazon [20:57]
• Starter Villain by John Scalzi | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:32]
• Empire Falls by Richard Russo | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:33]

Other Books Mentioned

• Good Material by Dolly Alderton [8:54]
• The Wealth of Shadows by Graham Moore [14:37]
• The Holdout by Graham Moore [16:58]
• Earth by John Boyne [21:09]
• The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne [22:18]
• Fire by John Boyne [22:57] 
• This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer (coming Feb 4) [26:57] 
• Life After Life by Kate Atkinson [32:42]
• Case Histories by Kate Atkinson [32:54] 

Underrated Backlist Gems [38:56]

Catherine

• The Reformatory by Tananarive Due | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:00] 
• The Brilliant Life of Eudora Honeysett by Annie Lyons | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:36]

Sarah

• Home Stretch by Graham Norton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:50] 
• The Hard Parts by Oksana Masters | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:01]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead [41:33]
• Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro [43:51]
• Frankie by Graham Norton [45:12]

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

Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing 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

• One of the many benefits to joining the Patreon Community 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 and sign up here!

Highlights

• Catherine and Sarah share some big releases coming this winter (lightning round style).
• Catherine’s theme this season is “balance,” with 4 debuts and 4 repeat authors.
• Sarah’s choices seem to fall into some micro genres she loves, featuring 5 debuts.
• Again, Sarah brings in a few shorter books under 300 pages.
• Sarah has already read and rated two of her picks!
• Plus, their #1 picks for the winter.

Big Winter Releases [1:51] 

• Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson (Jan 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:28]
• Show Don’t Tell by Curtis Sittenfeld (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:37]
• Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:44]
• One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [2:51]
• We Do Not Part by Han Kang (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:14]
• Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:22]
• We All Live Here by Jojo Moyes (Feb 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:32]
• The Paris Express by Emma Donoghue (Mar 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:38]
• The Heart of Winter by Jonathan Evison (Jan 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:42]
• Three Days in June by Anne Tyler (Feb 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:00]
• The Antidote by Karen Russell (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:03]
• The Human Scale by Lawrence Wright (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:10]
• Back After This by Linda Holmes (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:20]

Backlist Titles Mentioned

• Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson [2:32]
• We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter [3:03]
• Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros [3:27]
• Room by Emma Donoghue [3:41]
• Swamplandia by Karen Russell [4:05]
• Vampires in the Lemon Grove by Karen Russell [4:07]
• Evvie Drake Starts Over by Linda Holmes [4:25]

Winter 2025 Book Preview [4:32]

January

Sarah’s Picks

• The Favorites by Layne Fargo (Jan 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:06]
• Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (Jan 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[15:34]

Catherine’s Picks

• All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (Jan 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[13:20]
• Those Fatal Flowers by Shannon Ives (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:22]
• Call Her Freedom by Tara Dorabji (Jan 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:19] 
• Too Soon by Betty Shamieh (Jan 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:19]

Other Books Mentioned

• Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë [9:22] 
• Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel [14:38]  
• Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin [17:46]
• Yellowface by R. F. Kuang [17:50]
• Babel by R. F. Kuang [17:51]

February

Sarah’s Picks

• Yours, Eventually by Nura Maznavi (Feb 18) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:16]
• Penitence by Kristin Koval (Feb 18 – moved to 1/28 after recording) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[spp-timestamp time="25:56"]
• Crush by Ada Calhoun (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:39]
• The Strange Case by Jane O by Karen Thompson Walker (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:25]
• The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay (Feb 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[41:04]

Catherine’s Pick

• This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer (Feb 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:34]

Other Books Mentioned

• Persuasion by Jane Austen [23:21] 
• Defending Jacob by William Landay [27:49]
• All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay [27:51]  
• Why We Can’t Sleep by Ada Calhoun [32:02]  
• Wedding Toasts I’ll Never Give by Ada Calhoun [32:05] 
• Last Couple Standing by Matthew Norman [33:14] 
• The Age of Miracles by Karen Thompson Walker [36:55] 
• The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker [37:00] 
• By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult [42:04] 

March

Sarah’s Pick

• Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:35]

Catherine’s Picks

• The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (Mar 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:35]
• Kate & Frida by Kim Fay (Mar 11) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:56]
• Witness 8 by Steve Cavanagh (Mar 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:58]

Other Books Mentioned

• The Moor’s Account by Laila Lalami [38:45] 
• Love & Saffron by Kim Fay [45:08] 
• The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley [47:42] 
• The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller [48:15] 
• Thirteen by Steve Cavanagh [50:49] 
• Kill For Me, Kill For You by Steve Cavanagh [52:56] 

Other Links

• Instagram | Harper Voyager: Deluxe Limited Edition for Death of an Author by Nnedi Okorafor