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...
Jan 24, 2024•56 min•Ep. 160
Welcome to the Winter 2024 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books ! In this episode, Catherine and I share 16 of our 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 our Patreon Community is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series,...
Jan 10, 2024•56 min•Ep. 159
In Episode 158, we wrap up the year with our Best Books of 2023 Genre Awards with Susie ( @NovelVisits ). We reveal our Overall Best Books (Fiction and Nonfiction), and we have a full breakdown by genre, including: Best Literary Fiction, Best Romance, Best Brain Candy, Best Genre Mash-Up, and more! Plus, we’re sharing the winners for these same genres as chosen by the Sarah’s Bookshelves Live Patreon community! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you m...
Dec 20, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 158
We’re gearing up to close out our year of reading with today’s podcast episode, featuring the Best Books of 2023 Superlatives with Susie ( @NovelVisits ). Our wrap-up is split into two episodes: today’s Superlatives and next week’s Genre Awards. Today, we’re diving into more than 25 Superlative categories, including Most Deserving of the Hype, Biggest Surprise, the Darkest Book of the Year, and many others! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make ...
Dec 13, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 157
For our first annual 2023 State of the Industry episode, we’re welcoming back literary agent Sarah Landis for an overview and exploration of some hot topics in the book world this year. Taking stock of how this year panned out for the publishing industry, Sarah discusses top news stories, dives deep into how specific titles performed this year, and shares current trends she’s seeing in publishing. Also, Sarah shares her favorite books of 2023! This post contains affiliate links through which I m...
Nov 29, 2023•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 156
In the Fall 2023 Book Preview , Catherine ( @GilmoreGuide ) and I shared our 12 most-anticipated books that released mid-August – December. Today we’re going to circle back to share updates on which of these books we’ve read, our thoughts on them, and a few we attempted but couldn’t quite get through. 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. Coming Soon The upd...
Nov 15, 2023•55 min•Ep. 155
In podcast episode 154, we’re diving into the world of book cover design with Karen Horton, graphic designer and former Art Director at Henry Holt. Karen takes us behind the scenes of the process of book cover design, who makes key book cover related decisions, and the role of marketing budgets and author’s reputation in this process. 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...
Nov 01, 2023•49 min•Ep. 154
In Episode 153, Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ) and I are back for our 3rd annual Debuts Special! Today, we’re sharing our favorite debuts from 2023 (so far), new and backlist! Plus, we discuss our reading stats for debuts this year, and we talk about some standout sophomore novels that made the cut. 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 this ye...
Oct 18, 2023•56 min•Ep. 153
In Episode 152, author Liz Nugent talks about her latest novel, Strange Sally Diamond . Liz is known for her dark and psychological storytelling. Strange Sally Diamond is character-driven, delving deep into psychology and trauma, and despite Sally’s damaged nature, Liz portrays her with empathy and nuance. Strange Sally Diamond challenges us to consider the “why” behind someone’s behavior. Plus, we get some great book recommendations from Liz. This post contains affiliate links through which I m...
Oct 04, 2023•54 min•Ep. 152
Episode 151 brings author Angie Kim back to the podcast with her sophomore novel, Happiness Falls . Angie is carving out her niche with literary mysteries featuring children with disabilities or illnesses, drawing inspiration from her own family’s encounters. I broke my own rules for podcast guests because Happiness Falls is now in the running for my #1 book of 2023 and it’s the smartest book I’ve read all year! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you ...
Sep 20, 2023•57 min•Ep. 151
Welcome to the Fall 2023 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books ! In this episode, Catherine and I share 12 of our most anticipated books releasing in mid-August through December. 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 full episode Show Notes on the blog. Announcement One of the many benefits to joining our Patreon Community is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode seri...
Sep 06, 2023•54 min•Ep. 150
In Ep. 149, Catherine ( @GilmoreGuide ) and I revisit the 12 books released from June to mid-August that we featured in the Summer 2023 Book Preview . We update you on our reading stats for summer, chat about the books we’ve tackled or tried, and let you know which ones are worth adding to your list and which ones you can pass on. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Catherine and Sarah share their Su...
Aug 30, 2023•50 min•Ep. 149
For Episode 148, as the podcast takes a brief break, we revisit a backlist episode…the Best Books of 2020 with Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ). Re-listening to this one is a unique opportunity to get a look back on a strange year. Whether you’re new to the podcast or have been with us for a while, everyone loves a TBR filled with backlist gems! Library holds should be easy and paperbacks editions have been released! So, let’s take a look back at our favorite 2020 books (overall and by genre) and o...
Aug 23, 2023•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 148
In Episode 147, Lara Love Hardin joins me to discuss her memoir, The Many Lives of Mama Love . Lara shares her journey from opioid addict (funded through credit card theft) to successful ghostwriter. Her warm and candid storytelling touches on themes of forgiveness, redemption, and unwavering resilience, demonstrating people’s ability to triumph over life’s darkest moments. This was a five-star book for me, and I am thrilled to explore such a deeply felt journey with Lara. This post contains aff...
Aug 09, 2023•50 min•Ep. 147
In today’s podcast episode, Katie Williams and I delve into the complex questions surrounding motherhood, marriage, and society’s fixation on a certain type of murder victim that she explores in My Murder . We discuss the romanticization of white female victims, serial killers and guilt, and the integration of video games and virtual reality into this story. As a bonus, Katie also gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming horror comedy and shares her books recommendations. This post contains affil...
Jul 26, 2023•46 min•Ep. 146
In Episode 145, Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ) and I dive into micro genres — the niches within niches that we’ve come to adore. Over the past year, we’ve discovered even more unique themes and types of books that consistently captivate us. Today, we’re thrilled to present a special episode where we share an abundant list of our favorite micro genres, the books that define them, and the reasons why we find them so irresistible. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commi...
Jul 12, 2023•56 min•Ep. 145
John Marrs, best-selling author of The One , The Passengers , and The Marriage Act , talks about his journey from self-published to bestselling author, his writing process, how he manages writing in multiple genres for two different publishers, and more. John’s journalism background led him to ask me some thought-provoking questions as well. Our conversation was an absolute delight, and I can’t wait for you to dive into his captivating universe of books. Plus, be sure to check out John’s book re...
Jun 28, 2023•54 min•Ep. 144
In today’s episode of Sarah’s Bookshelves Live, we dive into the fascinating world of book coaching with Abigail K. Perry ( @abigailkperry )! We chat about the role of book coaches, the perks of working with them, and uncover some valuable insights for aspiring authors and book lovers. Plus, Abigail 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!). Highlights What a book coach is and their ro...
Jun 14, 2023•56 min•Ep. 143
Announcement In addition to my annual 2023 Summer Reading Guide , I’m once again offering Superstars Patrons ($7/mo) exclusive access to Summer Shelves , featuring even more recommendations for the season. Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from 17 former podcast guests, our team members, and — for the first time — 20+ Superstars patrons! The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and you’ll receive it in a PDF file format via Patreon. If you’d like to get...
May 31, 2023•49 min•Ep. 142
Catherine (Gilmore Guide to Books) and I revisit the 12 books released in April and May featured in the Spring 2023 Book Preview . We give updates on our reading stats, share our thoughts on the books we’ve read or attempted, and offer recommendations on which ones deserve a spot on your reading list and which ones you might want to skip. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Announcement In addition to my annual...
May 24, 2023•55 min•Ep. 141
Susie Boutry ( @NovelVisits ) and I share our favorite books that missed last year’s Summer Reading Guides, some nonfiction books we think are great for summer reading, and our #1 picks for four categories, including what I have featured in my 2023 Summer Reading Guide . This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Get Even More Summer Reading Recommendations with Summer Shelves: In addition to my annual 2023 Summer Rea...
May 17, 2023•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 140
In Episode 139, Brendan Slocumb talks about his sophomore novel, Symphony of Secrets, and the inspiration behind it. He shares a fascinating look into musical history of the 1920’s, his unique approach to writing musical thrillers, and how he balances musical detail with readability. He also delves into the exploitation of musicians in the industry and how many are simply lost to history. Plus, stick around to hear Brendan’s book recommendations. This post contains affiliate links through which ...
May 03, 2023•36 min•Ep. 139
In Episode 138, author Rebecca Makkai discusses I Have Some Questions for You , her latest novel that explores societal issues such as racism and wrongful incarceration through the lens of a crime story. This was a five-star book for me and looks to be *the book* of 2023 so far! Rebecca shared how she engaged with readers using click-bait style headlines and created a sense of intimacy through the second-person point of view. She also goes behind the scenes of how she pitches her new book ideas ...
Apr 19, 2023•52 min•Ep. 138
Welcome to the Spring 2023 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books ! In this episode, Catherine and I share 12 of our 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!). Announcement I’ve got BIG NEWS! If you’ve been interested in joining our Patreon Community, but have yet to sign up — a 30-day free trial starts today! This is for new patrons only and sign-up co...
Apr 05, 2023•49 min•Ep. 137
In today’s episode, Catherine ( Gilmore Guide to Books ) and I circle back to the 16 books we featured in the Winter 2023 Book Preview . We’ll be sharing our reading stats and thoughts on the books we’ve read (or attempted), to help you decide which ones to add to your reading list and which ones to skip. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights How Sarah’s favorite books from 2022 are impacting her expec...
Mar 29, 2023•56 min•Ep. 136
In episode 135, author William Landay discusses his latest novel, All That Is Mine I Carry With Me , while also sharing his background as a prosecutor and how he incorporates family drama into his crime novels. William shares a couple elements of his book that changed throughout the writing process (including how it was almost meta fiction!). We also chat about how the court of public opinion shapes the idea of doubt in his book and how the different perspectives play a role in creating suspense...
Mar 22, 2023•51 min•Ep. 135
In today’s episode, Deborah Goodrich Royce joins me to talk about her latest book, Reef Road . We discuss the personal story behind her book and the role of generational trauma in her writing niche, which she calls “Identity Thrillers.” We also covered the explosion of true crime content and got a sneak peek at some details of her upcoming book. Also, Deborah shares her book recommendations — breaking the format by pairing the old and new books together. This post contains affiliate links throug...
Mar 08, 2023•51 min•Ep. 134
Literary agent Sarah Landis joins me for a deep dive into the Speculative Fiction / Fantasy genre. Sarah breaks down these terms, shares popular books in these genres, and discusses the trends she’s seeing in the publishing industry. Also, Sarah shares both her book recommendations and her go-to books for those looking to dive into these genres! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights Differentiating bet...
Feb 22, 2023•50 min•Ep. 133
Katie Gutierrez joins me for a spoiler-free discussion of her debut novel, More Than You’ll Ever Know , which is a character study about a complex and fascinating woman behind a highly unusual crime. This is a deeply layered story touching on topics surrounding gender, motherhood, marriage, and the current fascination with true crime. Also, Katie shares her book recommendations — including 3 upcoming new releases! This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when y...
Feb 08, 2023•51 min•Ep. 132
In Episode 131, Catherine (@gilmoreguide) and I share the best backlist books we read in 2022. We each share our top 5 backlist books from 2022, some underrated backlist gems, and our backlist reading stats. Catherine and I both had a successful year of backlist reading, despite both of us experiencing major life events. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Join our Patreon Community ($7/mo Superstars) to get Do...
Jan 25, 2023•55 min•Ep. 131
