Sarah's Bookshelves Live

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 more! Plus, they share the winners for these same genres as chosen by the Sarah's Bookshelves Live Member Community. 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. Announcements The 2026 Reading Tracker is out! This year brings upgraded features across the board — including NEW average star rating and 5-star book tracking for every stat on the Dashboard — plus an updated Lite Tracker for those who prefer a streamlined version. Both Trackers are ONLY available to paid Patreon or Substack subscribers ($7/month) and is no longer sold separately. To avoid Apple's 30% fee, be sure to join directly from the Patreon website (mobile or desktop). Join our Patreon Community (here) OR become a Substack Paid Member (here)! Highlights Podcast reflections from 2025 — including top episodes based on download stats. A brief overview of Sarah's and Chrissie's 2025 year in reading. Their favorite books of the year: overall and by genre, including the SBL Member Community's picks. 2025 Genre Awards [12:39] Sarah The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:45]  The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [16:32]  The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [20:13]  One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [23:48]  The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [28:47]  August Lane by Regina Black (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [36:03]  The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:54]  Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:36] This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [50:00] Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [52:59] The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [54:44]  Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [56:29] Next of Kin by Gabrielle Hamilton (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org   [1:00:10]  The Elements by John Boyne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:03:10] Chrissie Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:42]  Joy Moody Is Out of Time by Kerryn Mayne (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:36]  Marble Hall Murders (Susan Ryeland, 3) by Anthony Horowitz (2025) | Amazon| Bookshop.org  [21:39]  The Pretender by Jo Harkin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [25:51]  What We Can Know by Ian McEwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [30:28]  To Clutch a Razor (Curse Bearer, 2) by Veronica Roth (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [32:39]  The Love Haters by Katherine Center (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [37:03]  These Heathens by Mia McKenzie (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [43:31]  The Zorg by Siddarth Kara (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [47:11]  Misbehaving at the Crossroads by Honorée Fanonne Jeffers (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [51:09] A Sea of Unspoken Things by Adrienne Young (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [53:38]  Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[55:11] Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [57:16]  Future Boy by Michael J. Fox (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:01:23]  Reports of His Death Have Been Greatly Exaggerated by James Goodhand (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:06:07]  SBL Member Community The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:43] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [19:02] Heartwood by Amity Gaige (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [22:52]  Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:21] The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:28]  The River Has Roots by Amal El-Mohtar (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:23]  One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:39] Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [40:57] Big Dumb Eyes by Nate Bargatze (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:15] Hot Air by Marcy Dermansky (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:17] Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:19] The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:22] Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:24] So Far Gone by Jess Walter (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [45:27] This American Woman by Zarna Garg (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:28] Everything is Tuberculosis by John Green (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:20] Ordinary Time by Annie Jones (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [52:32] Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:31]  Among Friends by Hal Ebbott (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [59:25] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [1:02:33] Other Books Mentioned Leaving by Roxana Robinson (2024) [13:51]  Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) [15:35]  Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) [15:58]  Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) [16:09]  The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) [16:11] Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) [16:13] Lenny Marks Gets Away with Murder by Kerryn Mayne (2023) [17:45]  Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry (2025) [18:46]  Say You'll Remember Me by Abby Jimenez (2025) [18:56]  The Academy by Elin Hilderbrand and Shelby Cunningham (2025) [19:18] Abigail and Alexa Save the Wedding by Lian Dolan (2025) [19:23] Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll (2023) [21:28]  The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (2025) [23:03] The Impossible Fortune by Richard Osman (2025) [23:07]   Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) [23:13] The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) [23:15]   We Were the Lucky Ones by Georgia Hunter (2017) [24:09]  Tell Me an Ending by Jo Harkin (2022) [26:03] What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) [26:55] Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) [27:06]   The Stolen Queen by Fiona Davis (2025) [27:12] Isola by Allegra Goodman (2025) [28:13]  Merge by Grace Walker (2025) [31:35] The Memory Collectors by Dete Meserve (2025) [31:43]  Sunrise on the Reaping by Susanna Collins (2025) [31:48] Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor (2025) [31:01] The Strange Case of Jane O. by Karen Thompson Walker (2025) [32:05] When Among Crows by Veronica Roth (2024) [33:05]  Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (2025) [34:23] Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [34:36] Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [34:37] A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett (2025) [34:49] The Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett (2024) [34:54] Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros (2025) [34:58] The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow (2025) [35:05] Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (2025) [35:31] The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (2023) [36:49] The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) [38:54]  The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones (2025) [40:30] Hungerstone by Kat Dunn (2025) [40:37] We Love You, Bunny by Mona Awad (2025) [40:42] The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025) [41:19] Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker (2025) [41:30] When the Moon Hits Your Eye by John Scalzi (2025) [44:56] The Wager by David Grann (2023) [47:34]  Replaceable You by Mary Roach (2025) [49:04] The Gales of November by John U. Bacon (2025) [49:11] Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams (2025) [51:58] All the Way to the River by Elizabeth Gilbert (2025) [52:08] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) [52:24] Nobody's Girl by Virginia Roberts Giuffre (2025) [52:28] One Day, Everyone Will Always Have Been Against This by Omar El Akkad (2025) [52:49] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [53:22] Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) [54:21] Life, and Death, and Giants by Ron Rindo (2025) [54:27] Woodworking by Emily St. James (2025) [56:16] Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) [58:57] The Elements by John Boyne (2025) [59:15]   Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) [59:49] My Friends by Fredrik Backman (2025) [59:51] The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne (2017) [1:05:51] James by Percival Everett (2024) [1:08:07]  Top Podcast Episodes Ep. 199: Best Books of 2025 (So Far) with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Susie (@NovelVisits) Ep. 184: Best Books of 2024 Genre Awards with Susie (@NovelVisits) Ep. 185: Winter 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) Ep. 205: Fall 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) Ep. 192: Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) Ep. 198: Best of Thrillers with Anderson McKean of Page & Palette (@PagePalette) Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) Ep. 193: Clare Leslie Hall (author of Broken Country) Ep. 187: State of the Industry in 2024 with Kathleen Schmidt (@KathMSchmidt), author of the Publishing Confidential Substack Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)

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 Furious, Most Underrated Gem, Too Dark Even for Me, and so much more! 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 Our best books of the year from over 25 categories, including: My First 5-Star 2025 Release of the Year Weirdest 5-Star Read of 2025 The Book That Made Us Furious Most Underrated Gem Most Perplexing Book Best Book to Be Made into a Reality Series Too Dark Even for Me Most Crushingly Depressing Book I Loved Best Horror Book in the Victorian-Feminist-Gory Category The Crime Novel That Hit Me Hardest Emotionally 2025 Superlatives [7:32] Sarah Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:58] What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[12:38] Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025)| Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:22]  Maggie; a Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:43]  The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:25]  Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [24:22]  The Dinner Party by Viola Van de Sandt (2025)  | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:25]  Fox by Joyce Carol Oates (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:35] When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén (US release 2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:37]  Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:30] What Happened to the McCrays? by Tracey Lange (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:53] Dream State by Eric Puchner (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:52] Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [51:06] The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [54:38] Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [57:07] Catherine What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[9:58] The Staircase in the Woods by Chuck Wendig (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[14:37] The Compound by Aisling Rawle (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:31] Murderland by Caroline Fraser (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:53] Heart, Be At Peace by Donal Ryan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:07] The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:13] Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[38:31] The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:12] Sweet Fury by Sash Bischoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:45] Muse of Nightmares (Strange the Dreamer, 2) by Laini Taylor (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:40] Let's Call Her Barbie by Renée Rosen (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:39] Victorian Psycho by Virginia Feito (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [55:31] The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [1:00:18] Other Books Mentioned Defending Jacob by William Landay (2012) [8:59]  All That Is Mine I Carry With Me by William Landay (2023) [9:00] Pretty Things by Janelle Brown (2020) [10:40]  I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid (2016) [30:25]  The Spinning Heart by Donal Ryan (2012) [33:08] Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (2025) [45:20]  The Connellys of County Down by Tracey Lange (2023) [45:39]  Tender Is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald (1934) [46:13] The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller (2021) [48:34] Shotgun Lovesongs by Nickolas Butler (2013) [48:35]   Writers and Lovers by Lily King (2020) [51:32]

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 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 Catherine's success rate bounces back from summer. Sarah's fall reading felt kind of "meh" despite a higher success rate. They also share their combined 2025 Preview success rates. Their fall pick ratings were all over the place, with only one DNF, but books range from 2 to 4 stars, with Catherine boasting the sole 5-star book! A couple of books suffered from an identity crisis, while others were surprise successes.  Catherine's assignment for next season is to check the page count and look for authors following-up award-winning books. They name their best and worst books picks for fall! Books We Read Before the Preview [5:57]  SEPTEMBER Sarah's Picks The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[6:01] Fall 2025 Circle Back [7:23] AUGUST Sarah's Picks Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (August 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:29] We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[13:38] Catherine's Pick Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:59] Other Books Mentioned Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025) [9:28]  Inferno by Dante (c. 1321) [11:29]   Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [13:16]  Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [13:25] The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [16:12] SEPTEMBER Sarah's Picks Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:51] Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [27:30] Underspin by E. Y. Zhao (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:06] Catherine's Picks The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [17:12]  Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent (US release: September 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:01] Other Books Mentioned The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (2019) [28:07]  OCTOBER Catherine's Picks Workhorse by Caroline Palmer (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:24] The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[34:49] Other Books Mentioned The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (2003) [32:43]  The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson (2012) [38:35]  The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (2006) [39:03]  NOVEMBER Sarah's Pick Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:37] Catherine's Pick Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (November 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:48] Other Books Mentioned The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [44:43]  DECEMBER Catherine's Pick The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini (US release: December 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:49]

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 book world for 2026. Also, Laura shares her favorite books of 2025! 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 Laura McGrath's book Middlemen (publishing April 28, 2026) is available for pre-order here: Amazon | Bookshop.org  Fiction's performance in the sales charts since 2019. The trend seen in nonfiction over the past few years and where it may be headed. The continued debate about whether 2025 has a "Book of the Year." Surprising sales trends in religious books and imprints. How self-publishing still brings us successful authors. What Laura sees in her research that she thinks publishers should be paying attention to. A bit about the current outlook for mid-list and debut authors. Laura's predictions for 2026 book trends. State of the Publishing Industry in 2025 HIGH-LEVEL OVERVIEW [2:45]  Onyx Storm (Empyrean, 3) by Rebecca Yarros (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [7:49] Fourth Wing (series, 1) by Rebecca Yarros | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:58]  The Women by Kristin Hannah (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [9:21] James by Percival Everett (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [9:59] The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:02] Flashlight by Susan Choi (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:25] The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [11:58] The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:04] A Guardian and a Thief by Leela Tapryal (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:31] The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:19] Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:57] The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [13:59] 2025 BOOK SALES & TRENDS [14:41]   The Martian by Andy Weir (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:03]  The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [21:38]   The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [21:40]   Heart the Lover by Lily King (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:42]  BIG BOOK STORIES OF 2025 [30:18]  Catch-22 by Joseph Heller (1961) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:30]  V by Thomas Pynchon (1963) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:32]  Portnoy's Complaint by Philip Roth (1969) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:41]  The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead (1999) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:47]  The Mothers by Brit Bennett (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [33:54]  2026 PUBLISHING PREDICTIONS [42:29]  Audition by Katie Kitamura (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [4:41] Pick a Color by Souvankham Thammavongsa (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:55]  Discipline by Larissa Pham (January 20, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:01]  Under Water by Tara Menon (March 17, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:07]  Laura's 3 Favorites Books of 2025 [45:31]  Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:17]  Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[47:59]  The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [49:38] Other Links The New York Times | The Dogged, Irrational Persistence of Literary Fictionby Gerald Howard The Walrus | Publishing Has a Gambling Problem by Tajja Isen Time | How Taylor Jenkins Reid Became a Publishing Powerhouse by Lucy Feldman Book Riot | How Much Does Genre Matter to Readers? (Podcast Episode) Public Books | Who Cares About Literary Prizes? by Alexander Manshel, Laura B. Mcgrath, & J. D. Porter

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 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 debuts from 2025 compare to those from previous years. A full breakdown of Sarah's, Catherine's, and Chrissie's 2025 debut-related stats. Featured debuts, split into two categories: Favorite Debuts of 2025 (so far) Favorite Backlist Debuts Read in 2025 Favorite Debuts of 2025 (so far) [9:20] Sarah Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [10:27] The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:54] Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:12] Catherine The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:04] The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:50] Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:30] Chrissie Homeseeking by Karissa Chen (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:39] Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[26:34] Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:53] Other Books Mentioned The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [10:09] The Compound by Aisling Rowle (2025) [10:11] Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (2025) [10:14] Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams (2025) [10:17] Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) [10:19] Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (2014) [12:48]  You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith (2024) [12:56]  Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) [18:47]  Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger (1990) [20:49]  The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) [22:08]  All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (2025) [28:58]  Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) [30:36]  The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe (1987) [34:15]  Favorite Backlist Debuts Read in 2025 [39:09] Sarah I Might Be In Trouble by Daniel Aleman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:15] Out of Love by Hazel Hayes (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:26] Catherine In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:45] Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:47] Chrissie Fruiting Bodies by Kathryn Harlan (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:04] The Undertaking by Audrey Magee (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:31] Other Books Mentioned Music of the Ghosts by Vaddey Ratner (2017) [44:58]  Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (2022) [46:14]  The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) [49:08]  The Colony by Audrey Magee (2022) [53:26]  Additional Books Mentioned Victim by Andrew Boryga (2024) [3:39]  Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) [6:54]