Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)
Release Date: 02/19/2025
Ep. 197: Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
Welcome to the Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of ! 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 cost to you!). Announcement One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through either our or our (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we...
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Ep. 196: Spring 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
In Episode 196, Sarah and Catherine of catch up on the 12 new releases they shared in the , 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 affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Our Printable Cheatsheet for the is available to anyone who signs up for either a 7-Day FREE TRIAL of our Patreon Community (sign up ) OR a 30-day FREE TRIAL of our paid Substack Community (sign up ). We...
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Ep. 195: 2025 Summer Reading Special with Susie (@NovelVisits)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
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Ep. 194: Bookish Time Capsule (2017) with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
In Ep. 194, Catherine () 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 talk about how their own 2017 reading shook out, including their favorite 2017 releases. Plus, a quick run-down of listener-submitted favorites! This episode is overflowing with great backlist titles to add to your TBR! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a...
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Ep. 193: Clare Leslie Hall (Author of Broken Country) + Book Recommendations
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
In Episode 193, author Clare Leslie Hall talks with Sarah about her US debut, — a breakout hit and a . 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 the ways the novel evolved over time. Plus, Clare 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!). Highlights Books by Clare Leslie Hall: , (previously published as Mine),...
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Ep. 192: Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
Welcome to the Spring 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of ! 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 you!). Announcement Sarah’s Bookshelves has joined Substack! Please note, we’re not MOVING to Substack, we’re simply adding Substack to the places we already put out content. On our FREE Substack feed, Sarah’s Bookshelves is offering all the content you already find on the blog, my...
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Ep. 191: Winter 2025 Circle Back with Catherine (@GIlmoreGuide)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
In Episode 191, Sarah and Catherine of catch up on the 16 new releases they shared in the . 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 commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights For the first time ever, Sarah’s Preview selections resulted in a 100% success rate! Catherine’s reading was also successful at 75%, with 2 DNFs. A total of three 5-star books from the Winter Preview! Sarah successfully revived her reading from...
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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
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
In Episode 190, author Georgia Hunter returns to the podcast to chat with Sarah about her sophomore novel, , and go behind-the-scenes of her experience adapting her first novel, , for Hulu. Georgia talks about her role as executive producer, the difference in writing a novel that wasn’t based on family history, and how the screenwriting process influenced her own writing. Plus, Georgia 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!). Highlights Books by...
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Ep. 189: Karen Thompson Walker (Author of The Strange Case of Jane O.) + Book Recommendations
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
In Episode 189, author Karen Thompson Walker talks with Sarah about her career to date and her newest novel, Karen discusses her writing journey, including each book’s inspiration and research process. She also touches on the challenges of promoting her latest book without giving away too much and her current work in progress. Plus, Karen 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!). Highlights Books by Karen Thompson...
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Ep. 188: Best of Fantasy with Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)
Sarah's Bookshelves Live
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 started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, and ways those new to fantasy might jump in! This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights How Chrissie got started reading fantasy. What draws her to...
info_outlineIn 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 started reading fantasy, the wide scope of the genre, and ways those new to fantasy might jump in!
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 Chrissie got started reading fantasy.
- What draws her to the fantasy genre.
- From sci-fi fantasy to epic, high fantasy, Chrissie talks about the wide scope of the genre.
- Her favorite sub-genres and what doesn’t work for her.
Chrissie’s All-Time Top Ten Fantasy Books [16:36]
- The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:44]
- A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[22:11]
- The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:24]
- The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss (2007) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [32:10]
- A Murder in Time by Julie McElwain (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:36]
- Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:35]
- Griffin & Sabine by Nick Bantock (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:58]
- The Queen of Blood by Sarah Beth Durst (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:15]
- Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer (2001) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:16]
- The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:40]
High-Profile Fantasy Books That Did Not She Didn’t Love [48:39]
- A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:52]
- Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [50:55]
Other Books Mentioned
- Fourth Wing (2023) [25:07]
- Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas (2012) [25:43]
- Flowers in the Attic by V. C. Andrews (1979) [26:36]
- Heaven by V. C. Andrews (1985) [26:46]
- The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (June 2025) [31:27]
- A Game of Thrones (1996) by George R. R. Martin ([33:04])
- The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss (2011) [33:09]
- The Doors of Stone by Patrick Rothfuss (TBD) [33:15]
- A is for Alibi by Sue Grafton (1982) [37:16]
- Piranesi by Susanna Clarke (2020) [39:46]
- Twilight by Stephanie Meyer (2005) [50:03]
- The Black Bird Oracle by Deborah Harkness (2024) [50:28]
Books from Our Discussion
- Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling (1997) [4:23]
- Charlotte’s Web by E. B. White (1952) [6:23]
- Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH by Robert C. O’Brien (1971) [6:26]
- The Dream Book by Meg Wolitzer (1987) [6:37]
- The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [11:15]
- 11/22/63 by Stephen King (2011) [12:10]
- The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C. S. Lewis (1950) [12:30]
- The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien (1954) [14:29]
- The Hobbit by J. R. R. Tolkien (1937) [14:30]
- The Neverending Story by Michael Ende (1979) [15:36]