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Summer Reading Guide
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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

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 u... more

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 th... more

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,... more

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 unpr... more

Key Facts

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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

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
Brenna Connor
Circana BookScan data expert and US books industry analyst
Circana
Episode: Behind the Scenes of Book Sales with Brenna Connor | Ep. 227
Lee Kelly
Co-author of The Midnight Show; author of City Of Savages and other works
The Midnight Show (author collaboration)
Episode: Lee Kelly + Jennifer Thorne (Authors of The Midnight Show) | Ep. 222
Jennifer Marie Thorne
Co-author of The Midnight Show; USA Today bestselling author
The Midnight Show (author collaboration)
Episode: Lee Kelly + Jennifer Thorne (Authors of The Midnight Show) | Ep. 222
Catherine Gilmore
Guest on episode for winter book circle back
Episode: Winter 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 220
T Kira Madden
Native Hawaiian writer and author of Whidbey
Author of Whidbey; No Tokens; Hamilton College; University of Hawaii at Manoa
Episode: T Kira Madden (Author of Whidbey) | Ep. 219
Sarajane Case
Certified enneagram teacher and author of The Honest Enneagram
Enneagram and Coffee
Episode: Reading Through the Enneagram with Sarajane Case (Author of The Honest Enneagram) | Ep. 218
Christine Kuehn
Author of Family of Spies
None
Episode: Christine Kuehn (Author of Family of Spies) | Ep. 217

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

4.7 out of 5 stars from 964 ratings
  • 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 States18 days 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 States23 days 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 States2 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.

    Apple Podcasts
    4
    Bookybookyny
    United States4 months ago
  • My favorite bookish podcast

    This one is a joy to listen to. The reviews are very honest. You won’t find a lot of unrelated chit chat here. I especially enjoy the episodes with Catherine. I’ve discovered so many titles and authors that I never would have found on my own.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Retired tinknocker
    United States7 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
#68
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#193
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#123
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#100
Australia/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#247
Australia/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#73
Brazil/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Inside Amazon's Best Books of 2026 So Far List | Ep. 231
Q: Can you talk about how the genre-specific lists relate to the overall Top 20 and why some books appear in multiple lists?
Editors explain they intentionally surface books across genres to help readers find their next great read, with Yesteryear serving as a gateway title that crosses from fiction to mystery thriller, illustrating why a book can live on several lists while still fitting long-term reader interests.
Behind the Scenes of Literary Agents with Laura B. McGrath (Author of Middlemen) | Ep. 229
Q: What are the three main things an agent does, as highlighted in the book?
An agent sells a book, represents a client, and acts as a gatekeeper, matchmaker, and taste-maker to ensure the best possible outcomes for both writers and editors.
Behind the Scenes of Literary Agents with Laura B. McGrath (Author of Middlemen) | Ep. 229
Q: Can you share your elevator pitch for Middlemen for us?
Middlemen explains how books get bought and sold in the United States and demonstrates the crucial, but often unseen, role of literary agents in shaping taste, editorial direction, and which books become a part of the literary landscape.
Behind the Scenes of Book Sales with Brenna Connor | Ep. 227
Q: What does Circana not track?
Circana tracks about 85% of print sales in the trade retail market and does not include library or educational book sales in print; digital formats are tracked via publisher-provided data with different timing and methodology.

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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How many listeners does Sarah's Bookshelves Live get?

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To see how many followers or subscribers Sarah's Bookshelves Live has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Sarah's Bookshelves Live:

1. Book Talk, etc.
2. From the Front Porch
3. The Currently Reading Podcast
4. Well-Read
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 243 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. Kevin Hazzard
2. Laura McGrath
3. Brenna Connor
4. Lee Kelly
5. Jennifer Marie Thorne
6. Catherine Gilmore
7. T Kira Madden
8. Sarajane Case

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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