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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 ABOUT I'm getting real about all things books and serving you up a bit of snark on th... more

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Artwork for Sarah's Bookshelves Live

Latest Episodes

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 ... more

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 Na... more

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 thr... more

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 b... more

Key Facts

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Recent Guests

Gayle Weiswasser
Co-owner of Wonderland Books, former lawyer and communications executive, and founder of the Everyday I Write the Book blog.
Wonderland Books
Episode: Two Years In: Owning an Indie Bookstore with Gayle Weiswasser | Ep. 238
Deesha Philyaw
Author of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman and The Secret Lives of Church Ladies
Episode: Deesha Philyaw (Author of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman) | Ep. 237
Elizabeth Barnhill
Buyer at Fabled Bookshop; co-host of All Things Murderful on Currently Reading
Fabled Bookshop (Waco, TX)
Episode: Best of Historical Fiction with Elizabeth Barnhill | Ep. 236
Chrissie Whitley
Guest discussing big books
Episode: The BIG Books Episode with Chrissie Whitley | Ep. 235
Catherine Gilmore
Guest on the Summer Circle Back episode; frequent collaborator on previews
Episode: Summer 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 233
Anderson McKean
Bookstore professional from Page and Palette Bookstore
Page and Palette Bookstore
Episode: 2026 Micro Genres with Anderson McKean | Ep. 232
Al Woodworth
Senior Editor and Manager of Amazon Books editorial
Amazon Books
Episode: Inside Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far List | Ep. 231
Kevin Hazzard
Author of No One's Coming; journalist, TV writer, and former paramedic
Episode: Kevin Hazzard (Author of No One's Coming) | Ep. 230
Laura McGrath
Author of Middlemen, literary historian, data scientist
Author of Middlemen; Temple University English Department (brief bio in intro)
Episode: Behind the Scenes of Literary Agents with Laura B. McGrath (Author of Middlemen) | Ep. 229

Hosts

Sarah Dickinson
Host of the show, guiding the interview and book discussions; part of a recurring trio of hosts.
Catherine Gilmore
Co-host and contributor with landscape analysis and book picks; regular on seasonal previews and guide content.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 971 ratings
  • Enjoyable

    Good one. I listen regularly. I love Catherine. I like hearing quick reviews but I do not need recs. I use the NYT book review for their recs.

    This pod is just under a 4 for me.

    Annotated to add that the stats spouted add nothing for me. Also, best for you to stay with popular fiction. It’s your strong suit. An aside - as much as Ann patchett is well known, would say she is not meant for most of the population. She is perfect for me and one of my faves.

    You do best when reviewing popula... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Times readersny
    United Statesa month ago
  • Episode 233

    Great episode and I loved the very honest reviews!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Reader Anna
    United States2 months ago
  • My Favorite Podcast

    This is my favorite book podcast. I enjoy the biweekly content, and the Patreon shows are even better.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Louise the Reader
    United States3 months ago
  • Enjoyable

    Good one. I listen regularly. I love Catherine. I like hearing quick reviews but I do not need recs. I use the NYT book review for their recs.

    This pod is just under a 4 for me.

    Annotated to add that the stats spouted add nothing for me. Also, best for you to stay with popular fiction. It’s your strong suit. An aside - as much as Ann patchett is well known, would say she is not meant for most of the population. She is perfect for me and one of my faves.

    You do best when reviewing popula... more

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bookybookyny
    United States3 months ago
  • Enjoyable

    Good one. I listen regularly. I love Catherine. I like hearing quick reviews but I do not need recs. I use the NYT book review for their recs.

    This pod is just under a 4 for me.

    Annotated to add that the stats spouted add nothing for me. Also, best for you to stay with popular fiction. It’s your strong suit. An aside - as much as Ann patchett is well known, would say she is not meant for most of the population. She is perfect for me and one of my faves.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Bookybookyny
    United States4 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Insightful book recommendations with balanced critiques and diverse picks.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#100
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#201
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#137
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#156
Saudi Arabia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#183
Singapore/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#207
Saudi Arabia/Arts

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Two Years In: Owning an Indie Bookstore with Gayle Weiswasser | Ep. 238
Q: What are the genres this year that have sold particularly well and which ones haven't?
Fiction and poetry sell well, while romance performs adequately and nonfiction, especially political books and books about current affairs, has been slower. Weiswasser says customers appear to be seeking escape, comfort, and entertainment.
Two Years In: Owning an Indie Bookstore with Gayle Weiswasser | Ep. 238
Q: How would you say the first full year was financially for Wonderland compared to your expectations?
Weiswasser says the store did well in 2025, exceeding its projections without cash-flow problems, and that 2026 sales are tracking 30 percent ahead.
Deesha Philyaw (Author of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman) | Ep. 237
Q: What did you learn from writing the stories in Church Ladies that really helped shape First Lady Freeman and helped you find your footing with that book?
Finishing the story collection gave Philyaw confidence and clarified that characters need desires and the story needs stakes. She let Cherise become distinct from herself, with ambitions and values that could drive the plot.
Deesha Philyaw (Author of The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman) | Ep. 237
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your inspiration for this book?
Philyaw began an early version while married, raising children and attending church, feeling unhappy despite meeting the expectations placed on her. She drew on observations of women inside and outside the church, especially their restricted desires and sexuality.
Inside Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far List | Ep. 231
Q: How do you decide which books to advance into the top five or top 20 when there are multiple strong contenders?
The team looks for broad appeal that can entertain a wide audience, prioritizing cross-genre resonance, reader discussion potential, and lasting impact, while acknowledging that some beloved titles may not end up number one due to market dynamics and the strength of other selections.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Sarah's Bookshelves Live

What is Sarah's Bookshelves Live about and what kind of topics does it cover?

This bi-weekly show centers on book discovery and candid conversations with guests who bring industry insight, literary expertise, or dual author-creator perspectives. Episodes typically feature 2 old loves, 2 new favorites, 1 book that didn't land, and 1 exciting new release, paired with sharp opinions, behind-the-scenes publishing context, and thoughtful recommendations across fiction and nonfiction. Recurring guests and co-hosts help balance insider perspective with personal reading taste, producing a steady stream of timely picks, market context, and cross-genre conversations. A standout aspect is the mix of behind-the-scenes industry anecdotes, data-driven sales context, and a no-nonsense, book-curious ethos that keeps recommendations ... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

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1. Book Talk, etc.
2. From the Front Porch
3. The Currently Reading Podcast
4. Literally Reading
5. What Should I Read Next?

How many episodes of Sarah's Bookshelves Live are there?

Sarah's Bookshelves Live launched 8 years ago and published 248 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Recent guests on Sarah's Bookshelves Live include:

1. Gayle Weiswasser
2. Deesha Philyaw
3. Elizabeth Barnhill
4. Chrissie Whitley
5. Catherine Gilmore
6. Anderson McKean
7. Al Woodworth
8. Kevin Hazzard

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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