PODCAST · arts
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
by Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves
Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a bi-weekly show featuring real talk about books and book recommendations from a featured guest. Each week, Sarah of the blog Sarah's Bookshelves will talk with her guest about: - 2 OLD BOOKS THEY LOVE- 2 NEW BOOKS THEY LOVE- 1 BOOK THEY DON'T LOVE- AND 1 NEW RELEASE THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUTI'm getting real about all things books and serving you up a bit of snark on the side.
Episodes
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The BIG Books Episode with Chrissie Whitley | Ep. 235
Sarah and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) dig into their very different relationships with big books, from what counts as "big" and knowing when the moment is right to what makes a long book worth the extra pages. They also share some of their favorite big books — and a few they wish had been…
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Fall 2026 Book Preview with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 234
Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books are back with 16 of their most anticipated books publishing from 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 the full episode…
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Summer 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 233
Sarah and Catherine circle back to the 12 new releases they shared in the Summer 2026 Book Preview, now that they've read them — or at least tried to! Find out which books worked, which didn't, and whether their most anticipated summer reads lived up to expectations. This post contains affiliate...
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2026 Micro Genres with Anderson McKean | Ep. 232
In Episode 232, Sarah is joined by returning guest Anderson McKean of Page & Palette Bookstore for the 2026 edition of Micro Genres! Each year, this series gives us a chance to niche down even further into the kinds of books we love — spotlighting those very specific sub-sub-genres that capture a...
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Inside Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far List | Ep. 231
In Episode 231, Al Woodworth (Amazon Senior Editor) returns to the show to discuss Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far. They break down this year's list, discuss the books that rose to the top, and explore how the Amazon Books editorial team selected, debated, and ultimately ranked this year's Top...
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Kevin Hazzard (Author of No One's Coming) | Ep. 230
In Episode 230, Sarah chats with Kevin Hazzard about his new book, No One's Coming, the true story of the daring mission to rescue two Americans infected with Ebola during the 2014 West African outbreak. They discuss the unlikely team behind the unprecedented operation, the challenges of telling…
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Behind the Scenes of Literary Agents with Laura B. McGrath (Author of Middlemen) | Ep. 229
In Episode 229, Sarah talks with Laura B. McGrath about her new book, Middlemen, and the behind-the-scenes role literary agents play in publishing. They discuss what agents actually do, how they shape an author's career, the hype surrounding debut novels, and what Laura learned while researching...
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Best Books of 2026 So Far with Catherine Gilmore and Chrissie Whitley | Ep. 228
In Episode 228, Sarah, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide), and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) take stock of the reading year so far, discussing the books, publishing trends, and industry chatter that have defined the first half of 2026. They dive into the biggest publishing stories of the year, the rise of...
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Behind the Scenes of Book Sales with Brenna Connor | Ep. 227
In Episode 227, Sarah talks with book industry analyst Brenna Connor about the behind-the-scenes world of book sales, bestseller lists, and publishing trends. Brenna shares insight into how sales data is gathered and used across the publishing industry, from tracking pre-orders and audiobooks to...
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Summer 2026 Book Preview with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 226
Welcome to the Summer 2026 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Sarah and Catherine share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing in June through mid – August. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no...
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Spring 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 225
In Episode 225, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 12 new releases they shared in the Spring 2026 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...
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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...
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IMPORTANT DETAILS: 2026 Summer Reading Guide
May is upon us and that means Summer Reading season is just about here! The 2026 Summer Reading Guide went through a lot of changes this year, so I'm coming to you a bit early to walk through all the details. CLICK HERE for the full Show Notes on the blog. The 2026 Summer Reading Guide is…
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2016 Bookish Time Capsule with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 223
Going back ten years to 2016, Sarah and Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide) dive into the annual Bookish Time Capsule episode and revisit the book world from that year. They cover big bookish highlights — from the buzziest books of the year to the award winners — along with what was happening in…
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Lee Kelly + Jennifer Thorne (Authors of The Midnight Show) | Ep. 222
In Episode 222, Sarah talks with authors Jennifer Marie Thorne and Lee Kelly about their latest co-written novel, The Midnight Show. Set in the world of 1980s late-night comedy, the book is told in a documentary / oral history format that traces the rise of a breakout star — and the mystery...
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Spring 2026 Book Preview with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 221
Welcome to the Spring 2026 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…
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Winter 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 220
In Episode 220, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 16 new releases they shared in the Winter 2026 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...
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T Kira Madden (Author of Whidbey) | Ep. 219
In Episode 219, Sarah talks with author T Kira Madden about her debut novel, Whidbey. A dark, atmospheric story that explores the long reach of violence and the lack of recourse many victims face, Whidbey tackles difficult themes including sexual abuse, stalking, and the ways narratives around...
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Reading Through the Enneagram with Sarajane Case (Author of The Honest Enneagram) | Ep. 218
In Episode 218, Sarah chats with Enneagram author, speaker, and podcaster Sarajane Case about Reading Through the Enneagram. After a brief introduction to the Enneagram and how it differs from other personality systems, they dive into how Enneagram types show up in our reading lives — from…
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Christine Kuehn (Author of Family of Spies) | Ep. 217
In Episode 217, Sarah chats with author Christine Kuehn about her memoir, Family of Spies, and the thirty-year journey that led her to uncover a long-buried family secret. Christine shares how the story first entered her life, the decades-long research process behind reconstructing her father's...
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Best of Horror with Meredith Monday Schwartz (Currently Reading) | Ep. 216
Episode 216 continues the Best of… series with a deep dive into the horror genre. Meredith Monday Schwartz of the Currently Reading podcast joins the show to discuss her all-time Top Ten favorite horror books, along with a few buzzy titles that didn't quite work for her. Meredith also talks about...
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The Best Backlist We Read in 2025 with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 215
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...
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Winter 2026 Book Preview with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 214
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…
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Best Books of 2025 Genre Awards with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) | Ep. 213
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...
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Best Books of 2025 Superlatives with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) | Ep. 212
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...
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Fall 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) (Ep. 211)
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...
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State of the Publishing Industry in 2025 with Laura McGrath, Author of the textCrunch Substack (Ep. 210)
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…
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Ep. 209: 2025 Debuts Special with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)
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…
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Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)
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…
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Ep. 207: Regina Black (Author of August Lane)
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...
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An Important Podcast Announcement
Please listen to the accompanying (less than 4 minute) episode for an important update about the Sarah's Bookshelves Live podcast. Thank you, Sarah
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Ep. 206: Behind the Scenes of Book Festivals & Author Interviews with Jason Blitman (Host of the Gays Reading Podcast)
For Episode 206, fellow podcaster Jason Blitman, host of the Gays Reading podcast, joins Sarah to go behind the scenes of producing book festivals. They talk about how he came to reading later in his life and how his journey as a reader led him to his current role. Also, they discuss how he...
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Ep. 205: Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine GIlmore (@GilmoreGuide)
Welcome to the Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and Sarah share 14 of their most anticipated books releasing from mid-August through December. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at…
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Ep. 204: Summer 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
In Episode 204, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 12 new releases they shared in the Summer 2025 Book Preview, now that they've read them — or at least tried to! They share their reading stats, chat about what worked — and discuss which books didn't work and why. This...
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Ep. 203: An Indie Bookstore's First Year with Gayle Weiswasser (Co-Founder of Wonderland Books)
In Episode 203, Gayle Weiswasser, co-founder of Wonderland Books, an independent bookstore in Bethesda, Maryland, returns to the podcast with Sarah for a one-year check-in on the shop's journey. From holiday-season chaos to surprising customer favorites, Gayle shares what worked, what didn't, and...
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Ep. 202: 2025 Micro Genres We Love with Susie (@NovelVisits)
In Episode 202, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah explore some of their new favorite Micro Genres. Since starting the Micro Genres series, they've loved taking the opportunity each year to examine and define their tastes in these sub-sub-genres. This year, they have curated a list of 10 all-new…
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Ep. 201: Lidija Hilje (Author of Slanting Towards the Sea) + Book Recommendations
In Episode 201, author Lidija Hilje talks with Sarah about her debut novel, Slanting Towards the Sea. Spanning two decades and one transformative summer in Croatia, Slanting Towards the Sea is a love story that also delves into the profound journey of coming of age in a nation younger than you…
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Ep. 200: 200th Episode Celebration with Susie and Catherine
Welcome to the 200th episode of Sarah's Bookshelves Live with a very special celebration with both co-hosts: Susie (@NovelVisits) and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books. Today, they are answering listener-submitted questions all about their reading journeys, their podcast journeys, and some…
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Ep. 199: Best Books of 2025 (So Far) with Susie and Catherine
In Ep. 199, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits), Catherine Gilmore (@GilmoreGuide), and Sarah are all back on the mic, ready to catch up on how their reading is shaping up for 2025 — so far! They talk about the current publishing landscape, what books are topping bestseller lists to date, and their...
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Ep. 198: Best of Thrillers with Anderson McKean of Page & Palette (@PagePalette)
Ep. 198 is the second episode of our brand-new "Best of…" series. Anderson McKean of Page & Palette Bookstore joined me for the Best of Thrillers, with her all-time TOP TEN favorite thriller novels…and, a couple buzzy thrillers that didn't work for her. Also, Anderson talks about how she started...
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Ep. 197: Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
Welcome to the Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and Sarah share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing from June through mid-August. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no...
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Ep. 196: Spring 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
In Episode 196, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 12 new releases they shared in the Spring 2025 Book Preview, now that they've read them. They share their reading stats, chat about what worked — and hash out which books didn't work and why. This post contains…
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Ep. 195: 2025 Summer Reading Special with Susie (@NovelVisits)
In Ep. 195, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah are back to share their favorite books that missed last year's Summer Reading Guide and our #1 picks for each category featured in my 2025 Summer Reading Guide. Plus, they begin by sharing how their summer reading habits have evolved over the years. This...
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Ep. 194: Bookish Time Capsule (2017) with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
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...
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Ep. 193: Clare Leslie Hall (Author of Broken Country) + Book Recommendations
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…
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Ep. 192: Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
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…
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Ep. 191: Winter 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GIlmoreGuide)
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…
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Ep. 190: Behind the Scenes of a Book-to-Screen Adaptation with Georgia Hunter (Author of One Good Thing) + Book Recommendations
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...
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Ep. 189: Karen Thompson Walker (Author of The Strange Case of Jane O.) + Book Recommendations
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...
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Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)
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...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a bi-weekly show featuring real talk about books and book recommendations from a featured guest. Each week, Sarah of the blog Sarah's Bookshelves will talk with her guest about: - 2 OLD BOOKS THEY LOVE- 2 NEW BOOKS THEY LOVE- 1 BOOK THEY DON'T LOVE- AND 1 NEW RELEASE THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUTI'm getting real about all things books and serving you up a bit of snark on the side.
HOSTED BY
Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sarah's Bookshelves Live have?
Sarah's Bookshelves Live currently has 246 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sarah's Bookshelves Live about?
Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a bi-weekly show featuring real talk about books and book recommendations from a featured guest. Each week, Sarah of the blog Sarah's Bookshelves will talk with her guest about: - 2 OLD BOOKS THEY LOVE- 2 NEW BOOKS THEY LOVE- 1 BOOK THEY DON'T LOVE- AND 1 NEW RELEASE...
How often does Sarah's Bookshelves Live release new episodes?
Sarah's Bookshelves Live publishes regularly with 246 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Sarah's Bookshelves Live?
You can listen to Sarah's Bookshelves Live on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sarah's Bookshelves Live?
Sarah's Bookshelves Live is created and hosted by Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves.
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