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Sarah's Bookshelves Live: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Sarah Dickinson | Sarah's Bookshelves
Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a 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.
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- 1 weeks ago55 min
Two Years In: Owning an Indie Bookstore with Gayle Weiswasser | Ep. 238
Gayle Weiswasser, co-owner of Wonderland Books in Bethesda, Maryland, returns to catch up with Sarah as the bookstore approaches its second anniversary! Gayle shares how the business has grown, what they've learned along the way, and how their first full year compared to expectations. Plus, they talk about the books flying off the shelves, surprising sales trends, and how owning a bookstore has changed Gayle's own reading life. And, of course, Gayle 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. Highlights How Wonderland's first full year compared to Gayle's financial expectations and biggest fears. What they've learned from their first full holiday season, plus the changes they've made as the business has grown. Which genres are selling especially well at Wonderland … and which have been surprisingly slow. The books they can't keep on the shelves, some unexpected bestsellers, and how this fall's biggest releases are performing. How Gayle handles customers asking her about specific books that she didn't particularly like. How the bookstore has affected Gayle's personal reading habits. Gayles's Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves I'll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman (2025) | Bookshop.org [34:28] The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Bookshop.org [36:67] Other Books Mentioned The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman (Feb 24) [34:49] The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman (2018) [35:01] Chorus by Rebecca Kauffman (2022) [35:02] Two NEW Books She Loves Brawler by Lauren Groff (Feb 24) | Bookshop.org [38:14] Good People by Patmeena Sabit (Feb 3) | Bookshop.org [40:11] Other Books Mentioned Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (2015) [39:50] One Book She DIDN'T Love The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (2025) | Bookshop.org [42:48] Two NEW RELEASES She's Excited About Kaleidoscope by Dani Shapiro (May 4, 2027) | Bookshop.org [46:30] Lunch Money by J. Ryan Stradal (May 4, 2027) | Bookshop.org [48:54] Other Books Mentioned Inheritance by Dani Shapiro (2018) [46:40] Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro (2022) [48:32] Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (2015) [49
- 3 weeks ago50 min
Deesha Philyaw (Author of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman) | Ep. 237
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. Highlights Books by Deesha Philyaw: The Secret Lives of Church Ladies and The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman What it means to be a "First Lady" in Black churches — and how that role figures into the novel. How Deesha's own experiences as a church lady more than 20 years ago first inspired the story. Why she put the novel aside to publish The Secret Lives of Church Ladies — and what that experience taught her. How the novel changed between its earliest version and the finished book. Sarah and Deesha talk about the importance of a great opening line — and when those first sentences come together in Deesha's writing process. Plus, a bit about her upcoming work! Deesha's Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves Daddy Was a Number Runner by Louise Meriwether (1970) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:14] The Sellout by Paul Beatty (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:16] Two NEW Books She Loves The Seven Daughters of Dupree by Nikesha Elise Williams (Jan 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:51] Desperate Bodies by Lydia Mathis (Sep 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:17] Other Books Mentioned Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi (2016) [38:52] The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2021) [38:53] Two Books She DIDN'T Love The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger (1951) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[40:13] The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway (1952) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:31] Other Books Mentioned Black Boy by Richard Wright (1945) [41:23] Native Son by Richard Wright (1940) [41:24] In Cold Blood by Truman Capote (1966) [42:13] The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway (1926) [42:52] Moby-Dick; or, The Whale by Herman Melville (1851) [43:07] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About These Girls Out Here by Dawnie Walton (June 15, 2027) | Amazon<img src=
- Sep 30, 202645 min
Best of Historical Fiction with Elizabeth Barnhill | Ep. 236
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. Highlights Elizabeth shares her personal definition of historical fiction. How she first found her way to the genre. What draws her to historical fiction and keeps her coming back to it. What works for her in historical fiction — and what doesn't. All 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 City of Thieves by David Benioff (2008) | Fabled | Libro.fm [18:43] Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum (2004) | Fabled | Libro.fm [21:11] The Winter Rose (The Tea Rose, 2) by Jennifer Donnelly (2006) | Fabled | Libro.fm [22:45] A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini (2007) | Fabled | Libro.fm [25:26] The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton (2008) | Fabled | Libro.fm [27:37] As Bright As Heaven by Susan Meissner (2018) | Fabled | Libro.fm [29:36] The Shoemaker's Wife by Andrea Trigiani (2012) | Fabled | Libro.fm [31:57] The Winter Sea (Slains, 1) by Susanna Kearsley (2008) | Fabled [33:52]* Greenwood by Michael Christie (2019) | Fabled | Libro.fm [35:47]
- Sep 16, 202654 min
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 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. Highlights Where Sarah and Chrissie each draw the line between a regular book and a big book. Is a 700-page book intimidating … or an invitation to settle in? When, and why, are they most likely to pick up a long book? Does format or genre change how big a book feels? What makes a book actually deserve its high page count? Some of their favorite big books … and a few they really wish had been shorter. Some Favorite BIG Books Chrissie 4 3 2 1 by Paul Auster (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [30:38] The Princes of Ireland (The Dublin Saga, 1) by Edward Rutherfurd (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:36] Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:54] Red Comet by Heather Clark (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:10] Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:45] The Love Songs of W. E. B. Du Bois by Honoree Fanonne Jeffers (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:30] Sarah 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:31] I Know This Much Is True by Wally Lamb (1998) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:32] A Prayer for Owen Meany by John Irving (1989) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:23] The World According to Garp by John Irving (1978) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:25] Natchez Burning (Penn Cage, 4; Natchez Burning, 1) by Greg Iles (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:19] Wanderers (Wanderers, 1) by Chuck Wendig (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:40] Other Books Mentioned War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (1869) [30:06] The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas (1846) [30:07] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (201
- Sep 2, 202655 min
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 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 B
- Aug 26, 202645 min
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 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 Catherine calls her summer Preview reading "upwardly mobile," while Sarah sees hers as "the downside of high-risk picks." Catherine liked 4 of her 6 picks, while Sarah's riskier summer ended with one 5-star read — and 3 DNFs. Catherine and Sarah each tried one of the other's Preview picks … and neither made it to the finish line. Some deep thoughts on books where you can "feel the writing device" — and why that rarely works for either of them. Plus, Sarah has a new label for those deeply immersive, cozy reads: "warm bath books." And, of course, their best and worst book picks of the summer! Books Read Before the Preview Sarah's Pick Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:17] Other Books Mentioned Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026) [4:02] Summer 2026 Circle Back June Catherine's Picks A Year of Marvelous Ways by Sarah Winman (US Release June 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:37] Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi (June 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:41] The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:26] Keep Them Close by David Ellis (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:17] Other Books Mentioned Pearce Oysters by Joselyn Takacs (2024) [7:08] July Sarah's Picks The Half Life by Rachel Beanland (July 14) |Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:33] Dad, Love, Me by Matthew Quick (July 21) | Amazon<img src= "http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=sarsbooshe04-20&l=as2&o=1&a=B014E0E9SK" alt
- Aug 19, 202651 min
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 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<
- Aug 5, 202653 min
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 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. Highlights Al shares the defining characteristics of Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far list. How the Amazon Books editorial team selected and ranked this year's Top 20. Whether this year's list sparked debate and how disagreements were resolved. Why Kin was chosen as Amazon's #1 book of the year so far. The genres that have stood out (and the ones that haven't) in 2026. A look at how books are assigned to Amazon's genre-specific lists. Why some books rank differently on genre lists than on the overall Top 20 list. Under-the-radar books from the list that deserve more attention. Al's personal favorites that didn't quite make the Top 20. Al's Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves Migrations by Charlotte McConaghy (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:54] Almond by Won-Pyung Sohn (US Release: 2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[39:22] Other Books Mentioned Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) [35:56] Two NEW Books She Loves The Nightingales by Emil Wilson (Aug 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:32] American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:07] Other Books Mentioned Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) [44:12] One Book She DIDN'T Love Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:05] One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About The Vanishing Family by Robert Kolker (Sep 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[50:10] Other Books Mentioned Hidden Valley Road by Robert Kolker (2020) [50:42] Books From the Discussion Kin by Tayari Jones (Feb 24) [2:06] London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (Apr 7) [3:07] Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) [6:43] Strangers by Belle Burden (Jan 13) [6:50] Night Objects by Eli Raphael (May 26) [6:57] <a href="
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About Sarah's Bookshelves Live
Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a 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.
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