2026 Summer Reading Special with Catherine Gilmore and Chrissie Whitley | Ep. 224

In Episode 224, Sarah, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) celebrate the release of the 2026 Summer Reading Guide with a special behind-the-scenes conversation about putting this year's guide together. Catherine and Chrissie share what it was like participating in the guide for the first time, from the reading process to narrowing down their final picks, while Sarah talks about how much more fun her spring reading felt with the guide becoming a team effort. Together, they reveal their secret books from the guide, share what's still sitting on their summer TBRs, and reflect on the kinds of books they found themselves gravitating toward while reading for summer. 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. Get the 2026 Summer Reading Guide This year's Summer Reading Guide is bigger than ever — and now available as a full PDF with in-depth write-ups on every book. Here's how to access it: Full PDF Guide (with write-ups): Available to current paying members on Patreon or Substack  Start a free trial (Patreon: 7 days | Substack: 30 days) *Be sure to use the link above to access your free trial on Substack. Free Cheatsheet (no write-ups): Available to everyone on the blog Free Trials close: Friday, May 22 (Memorial Day weekend) When you sign up, you'll also get: 2–3 bonus podcast episodes per month Full back catalog of bonus content Weekly reading updates + more All the details in the recent IMPORTANT DETAILS bonus podcast episode and post. The Secret Picks for the 2026 Summer Reading Guide Catherine Two Kinds of Stranger (Eddie Flynn, 9) by Steven Cavanagh (US: March 24, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:13] The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (June 2, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:04]  The Favorite Sister by Jessica Knoll (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:15]  Chrissie Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin (March 24, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[20:33] Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (March 24, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[30:45]  Stranger Things Have Happened by Kasie West (April 14, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:47]  Sarah Dissection of a Murder by Jo Murray (May 5, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[23:29]  Heather by Caitlin Mullen (June 9, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:53]  The Shark House by Sara Ackerman (January 13, 2026)
 | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:18]  Other Books Mentioned Presumed Innocent by Scott Turow (1987) [24:29]  The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) [26:20]  The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [34:24]  Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [34:29]  Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023) [39:27] Jaws by Peter Benchley (1974) [43:28]  The Devil's Teeth by Susan Casey (2005) [44:42] Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (2023) [45:34]  More From Summer TBRs Catherine You with the Sad Eyes by Christina Applegate (March 3, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [46:22]  The Crown in Crisis by Alexander Larman (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:19]  Waiting on a Friend by Natalie Adler (May 26, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:45]  Sarah Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash (January 13, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:48]  Celestial Lights by Cecile Pin (March 24, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[53:01] Brawler by Lauren Groff (February 24, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [52:28]  The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:46]  The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [54:46]  Porcupines by Fran Fabriczki (April 14, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:04]  Chrissie Nonesuch by Francis Spufford (March 10, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [48:51] Tom's Crossing by Mark Z. Danielewksi (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:25]  The Unicorn Hunters by Katherine Arden (June 2, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:24]  Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:39]  A Deadly Episode (Hawthorne & Horowitz, 6) by Anthony Horowitz (April 28, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [51:18] Daughter of Crows (The Academy of Kindness, 1) by Mark Lawrence (March 24, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [51:29]  Other Books Mentioned The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (2018) [48:12] Tuesday Nights in 1980 by Molly Prentiss (2016) [48:14]   House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski (2000) [50:02]  Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry (1985) [50:17] Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy (1985) [50:18]  The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy, 1) by Katherine Arden (2017) [50:33]  The Wanderers by Meg Howrey (2017) [53:10]  The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2009) [53:49]