Stay ConnectedSarah’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 ABOUT
I’m getting real about all things books and serving you up a bit of snark on the side.
Copyright: © Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves
Author Deesha Philyaw joins Sarah to discuss her debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman. Deesha first started writing this book more than 20 years ago, before her short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, became a National Book Award finalist. She shares the journey of bringing this novel to life, the women who inspired its characters, and how the story (and its author) evolved along the way. Plus, Deesha shares 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.
HighlightsTwo OLD Books She Loves
Two NEW Books She Loves
Two Books She DIDN'T Love
One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About
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Deesha Philyaw is the author of the debut novel, The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman. Her debut short story collection, The Secret Lives of Church Ladies, won the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, the Story Prize, the LA Times Book Prize: The Art Seidenbaum Award for First Fiction and was a finalist for the National Book Award for Fiction. Deesha is a Kimbilio Fiction Fellow, a Baldwin for the Arts Fellow, a United States Artists Fellow, and co-host of two podcasts, Ursa Short Fiction (with Dawnie Walton) and Reckon True Stories (with Kiese Laymon). She is currently at work developing TV shows based on her short fiction.
Next EpisodeComing October 28: Gayle Weiswasser, co-owner of Wonderland Books, returns to catch up with Sarah and talk about what she's learned after two years of owning an indie bookstore.
Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop joins Sarah for the latest installment of the "Best of…" series to share her ALL-TIME TOP TEN historical fiction novels, plus a few popular picks that didn't work for her.
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.
HighlightsAll the 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 for 10% off your Fabled order! Prefer audio? You can find the books on Libro.fm and select Fabled as the bookstore you'd like to support.
Elizabeth's All-Time Top Ten Historical Fiction*The UK title is Sophia's Secret.
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 shorter.
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.
HighlightsChrissie
Sarah
Other Books Mentioned
Chrissie
Sarah
Other Books Mentioned
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 Show Notes on the blog. Want More Book Preview Picks? Paid members of our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both $7/month with the same member benefits) get even more seasonal recommendations with Book Preview Extras! In each episode, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 additional books they're excited about that didn't make the main Book Preview. Join on Patreon or Substack to listen — and get access to all our other bonus podcast episodes and paid-member content. Highlights A lightning round of some big fall releases that are NOT their personal Preview picks. Catherine came in determined to have "no chunksters" this fall … only to discover that 2 of her picks are actually over 500 pages. Catherine's theme for fall is "intrigue" — the verb, not the noun — with picks she can't wait to see unfold. Sarah's list includes one actual chunkster, several books that fit into her recent Micro Genres, and 3 debuts. Stick around to the end to hear their #1 picks for fall! Big Fall Releases Ply by Hernán Diaz (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:02] The Thoroughbreds (The Academy, 2) by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (Sep 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:06] Story Telling by Isabel Allende (Sep 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:17] Hollywood, Ending by John Green (Sep 22) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:20] Big Little Truths (Big Little Lies, 2) by Liane Moriarty (Aug 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:30] Hollow Bones by Jodi Picoult (Sep 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:37] Under Story by Chloe Benjamin (Sep 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:43] Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (Oct 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:49] Switzy by Emma Cline (Sep 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:08] I Never Knew You At All by Christine Pride and Jo Piazza (Oct 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:14] The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (Sep 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:41] The Weight of Angels by John Boyne (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:48] Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel (Sep 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:13] The Radiance by Ayad Akhtar (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:16] Peck & Peck by Bonnie Garmus (Oct 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:18] Blacktail by Scott Hawkins (Sep 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:28] Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson (Sep 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:42] Other Books Mentioned Trust by Hernán Diaz (2022) [1:05] The Academy (The Academy, 1) by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (2025) [1:15] The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (2012) [1:28] Big Little Lies (Big Little Lies, 1) by Liane Moriarty (2014) [1:36] The Immortalists by Chloe Benjamin (2018) [1:47] The Time Traveler's Wife (The Time Traveler's Wife, 1) by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) [1:53] The Girls by Emma Cline (2016) [2:12] The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (2023) [2:45] Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus (2022) [3:21] The Library at Mount Char by Scott Hawkins (2015) [3:31] Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (2013) [3:45] Fall 2026 Book Preview September Sarah's Picks The Barman of the Ritz by Philippe Collin (September 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:16] See You Next Tuesday by Kate Stayman-London (September 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:53] The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw (September 29)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:01] American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee (September 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:00] Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason (September 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:18] Catherine's Picks The Witches of Cambridge by Alice Hoffman (September 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:17] Female Life on Planet Earth by Laleh Khadivi (September 22) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:10] Empire (Heir Duology, 2) by Sabaa Tahir (September 22) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:03] The Birthing Tree by Amanda Peters (September 1)† | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:30] Other Books Mentioned The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (2025)* [9:56] Mistress of the Ritz by Melanie Benjamin (2019) [10:03] One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London (2020) [14:00] The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (2020) [19:11] Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) [23:24] Heir (Heir Duology, 1) by Sabaa Tahir (2024) [24:25] All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir (2022) [25:40] Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) [26:24] Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee (2007) [26:32] The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (2023) [30:38] Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason (2020) [31:32] *The WWII hotel book Sarah talked about. †New publication date. October Sarah's Pick Bad Words by Ríoghnach Robinson (October 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:58] Catherine's Picks The Scarlet Ball by Nghi Vo (October 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:04] Fair Ones by Lydia Millet (October 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:56] Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova (October 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:25] The Bookshop Book by Mark Lawrence (October 20) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:38] Other Books Mentioned The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo (2021) [34:47] The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1925) [34:51] The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova (2005) [47:26] The Book That Wouldn't Burn (The Library Trilogy, 1) by Mark Lawrence (2023) [50:40] November Sarah's Pick Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane (November 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:54] Other Books Mentioned Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [42:58] The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (2023) [42:59] December Sarah's Pick Lina & June by Genevieve Wheeler (December 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:23] Other Books Mentioned Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler (2024) [48:26] The Girls of Corona del Mar by Rufi Thorpe (2014) [49:03]
Full show notes at the publisherSarah 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 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.
Want More Book Preview Picks?Sarah's Pick
Other Books Mentioned
June
Catherine's Picks
Other Books Mentioned
July
Sarah's Picks
Catherine's Pick
Other Books Mentioned
August
Sarah's Picks
Catherine's Pick
Other Books Mentioned
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 particular reading taste. This year, Sarah and Anderson have 10 all-new Micro Genres to share, along with standout books for each. With more than 80 books mentioned, you're bound to find a few new additions to your TBR — and maybe recognize a Micro Genre or two of your own. 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. Politically-Adjacent Stories (Sarah) The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:00] Charlotte Walsh Like to Win by Jo Piazza (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:11] American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:36] Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:38] Vantage Point by Sara Sligar (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:47] The Emperor of Ocean Park (Elm Harbor, 1) by Stephen L. Carter (2002) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:48] Palace Council (Elm Harbor, 3) by Stephen L. Carter (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:49] The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:23] State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:14] The Situation Room by George Stephanopoulos (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:55] Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:18] From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:53] Retellings that Are NOT Mythological (Anderson) Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:41] The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:58] Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:55] Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:23] Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:55] Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:03] Anna K (Anna K, 1) by Jenny Lee (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:08] Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:20] The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:36] The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:48] Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:57] Wasp's Nest by Kat Stoddard (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:26] A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:39] Other Books Mentioned The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) [12:32] James by Percival Everett (2024) [12:36] Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) [14:07] Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878) [14:11] David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) [14:24] Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith (1950) [14:41] Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847) [14:55] The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley (1953) [15:03] The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry (1939) [15:32] King Lear by William Shakespeare (1608) [15:45] Ministers Behaving Badly (Sarah) Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:36] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:45] God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:19] The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw (Sep 29, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:36] The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:51] The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:16] Dear Reader / Love Letters to Books (Anderson) This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:14] The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:53] The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:22] Dear Fahrenheit 451 by Anne Spence (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:24] Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:37] The Storied Life of A. J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:56] Other Books Mentioned I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai (2023) [20:29] The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai (2018) [20:31] Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [22:15] Dark Humor (Sarah) Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:52] Unlikely Animals by Annie Hartnett (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:53] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [23:55] Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:41] Cleo Dang Would Rather Be Dead by Mai Nguyen (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:42] Lost Lambs by Madeline Cash (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:51] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:00] Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:47] Other Books Mentioned Real Americans by Rachel Khong (2024) [24:44] Fantasy Even Sarah Might Like / Fantasy-Lite (Anderson) Conform (Conform Series, 1) by Ariel Sullivan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [28:54] The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:13] The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:39] The Atlas Six (The Atlas Trilogy, 1) by Olivie Blake (2022)* | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:53] A Darker Shade of Magic (Shades of Magic, 1) by V. E. Schwab (2015) | Amazon| Bookshop.org [31:57] Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:02] The Midnight Train (The Midnight World, 2) by Matt Haig (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:04] The Midnight Library (The Midnight World, 1) by Matt Haig (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:05] The Measure by Nikki Erlick (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:20] The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:25] The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:28] Other Books Mentioned The Hunger Games (The Hunger Games, 1) by Suzanne Collins (2008) [29:03] The Handmaid's Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, 1) by Margaret Atwood (1985) [29:04] Like Friday Night Lights, But Book Form (Sarah) a.k.a. Sports Books That Are About Far More Than Sports The Art of Fielding by Chad Harbach (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:06] The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:15] The World According to Garp by John Irving (1978) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:51] In One Person by John Irving (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:53] Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:12] The Flock by Ellen Bar (Apr 27, 2027) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:41] The Last Days of Vic & Coco by Taylor Jenkins Reid (Mar 2, 2027) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:31] Other Books Mentioned The Amateur by Chris Bohjalian (2026) [37:29] The Double Bind by Chris Bohjalian (2007) [37:48] Women Rule the World (Anderson) The Romanov Empress by C. W. Gortner (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:16] Mademoiselle Chanel by C. W. Gortner (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:41] Marlene by C. W. Gortner (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:43] The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:07] Mrs. Poe by Lynn Cullen (2013) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:28] Twain's End by Lynn Cullen (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:31] Lady Clementine by Marie Benedict (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:36] The Other Einstein by Marie Benedict (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:53] The Only Woman in the Room by Marie Benedict (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:47] Daughter of a Daughter of a Queen by Sarah Bird (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:03] Other Books Mentioned Z: A Novel of Zelda Fitzgerald by Therese Anne Fowler (2013) [43:13] Isola by Allegra Goodman (2025) [43:32] Royals (Sarah) The Royal We (The Royal We, 1) by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:04] Red, White & Royal Blue (Red, White & Royal Blue, 1) by Casey McQuiston(2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:06] American Royals (American Royals, 1) by Katharine McGee (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:09] Spare by Prince Harry (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:19] The Force of Such Beauty by Barbara Bourland (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:29] The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:48] The Windsor Affair by Melanie Benjamin (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:03] This Land is Your Land (Anderson) Land by Maggie O'Farrell (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:34] Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:33] I Will Send Rain by Rae Meadows (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:52] The Well and the Mine by Gin Phillips (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:07] Greenwood by Michael Christie (US Release 2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:03] The Islanders by Lewis Robinson (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:32] The Shark House by Sara Ackerman (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:40] *Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition for a book originally self-published.
Full show notes at the publisherIn 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 20. Plus, Al shares her personal 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.
HighlightsTwo OLD Books She Loves
Two NEW Books She Loves
One Book She DIDN'T Love
One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About
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 a real-life story with the pacing of a thriller, and what Kevin learned about the ordinary people who stepped up when no one else could. Plus, Kevin shares his 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.
HighlightsTwo OLD Books He Loves
Two NEW Books He Loves
One Book He DIDN'T Love
One NEW RELEASE He's Excited About
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 one of publishing's least visible professions. Plus, Laura 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.
HighlightsTwo OLD Books She Loves
Two NEW Books She Loves
One Book She DIDN'T Love
One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About
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 "cozy everything," the continued influence of self-publishing and book-to-screen success stories, and whether it's possible to tap a Book of the Year before the second half of the publishing calendar arrives. Then, they share their Top 5 Books of 2026 So Far and a few disappointing reads that didn't quite live up to expectations.
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.
HighlightsSarah
Catherine
Chrissie
Other Books Mentioned
Sarah
Catherine
Chrissie
Other Books Mentioned
*Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition. These titles were originally self-published.
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