Rephonic
Artwork for Sarah's Bookshelves Live
Book Recommendations
Books
Debut Novels
Literary Fiction
Summer Reading Guide
Motherhood
Fantasy
Patreon
Spring 2024 Book Preview
Reading
Character Development
2025 Releases
Publishing Industry
Fall 2025 Book Releases
Thrillers
Victim
Contemporary Fiction
Book Cover Design
Amazon Books
Micro Genres

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

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes241Founded8 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
BooksArts

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for Sarah's Bookshelves Live

Latest Episodes

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

In Episode 229, Sarah talks with Laura B. McGrath about her new book, Middlemen, and the behind-the-scenes role literary agents play in publishing. They discuss what agents actually do, how they shape an author's career, the hype surrounding debut no... more

In Episode 228, Sarah, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide), and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) take stock of the reading year so far, discussing the books, publishing trends, and industry chatter that have defined the first half of 2026. They dive into the bigges... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Book Talk, etc.
Book Talk, etc.Tina @tbretc and Hannah @hanpickedbooks
The Currently Reading Podcast
The Currently Reading PodcastMeredith Monday Schwartz and Kaytee Cobb
From the Front Porch
From the Front PorchThe Bookshelf Thomasville
Literally Reading
Literally ReadingLiterally Reading
Well-Read
Well-ReadAnn Cox and Halle Carlson

Recent Guests

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
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
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
Meredith Monday Schwartz
Host of the Currently Reading Podcast and a horror enthusiast
Currently Reading Podcast
Episode: Best of Horror with Meredith Monday Schwartz (Currently Reading) | Ep. 216

Hosts

Sarah Dickinson
Host of the show; frequent face across episodes with a focus on book recommendations and thoughtful conversations.
Catherine Gilmore
Co-host and regular contributor; participates in book previews, backlist deep dives, and guide-related discussions.
Chrissie Whitley
Co-host and contributor known for her insightful takes and involvement in Summer Reading Guide discussions.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 963 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.

    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 States3 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
  • One of the best

    I find Sarah’s Bookshelves Live to be original and engaging without some of the annoyances of many podcasts.

    The podcast is well-edited and Sarah and her co-hosts stick to books without a ton of superfluous chit chat. They are quite forthright in their opinions, with which I often disagree, but I enjoy the counterpoints. They don’t recommend the same 20 books everyone else is discussing.

    They also are super-careful not to allow any spoilers.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Amesiowa
    United States7 months ago
  • The source of my never ending TBR

    So much on my TBR is from books mentioned on this podcast. My tastes actually align more with Susie and Catherine’s than Sarah’s, so glad they are on the show

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Paria H.
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Fans value honest opinions and a diverse guest roster that avoids filler chatter.
Praise for well-edited episodes with wide-ranging book recommendations.
Some criticisms note a preference for more author interviews and varied genres.
Community feedback highlights the depth of previews and backlist conversations.
Listeners praise crisp, spoiler-conscious recommendations and strong host chemistry.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#44
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#127
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#146
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#70
Philippines/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#122
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#130
Philippines/Arts

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
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Sarah's Bookshelves Live

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

A storytelling and recommendations show focused on books, with recurring conversations between the host and guests about beloved old titles, current favorites, and a critical take on what didn't work. Episodes regularly feature author interviews, previews of upcoming releases, and behind-the-scenes looks at publishing decisions, often balancing thoughtful analysis with lively, opinionated banter. Notable strengths include a varied guest roster from literary authors to editors and critics, clear favorite formats (backlist deep dives, previews, and nitty-gritty industry context), and a polished, spoiler-conscious approach that keeps recommendations trustworthy for listeners. The format tends to attract readers who want honest, well-curated bo... more

Where can I find podcast stats for Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for Sarah's Bookshelves Live. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to Sarah's Bookshelves Live and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does Sarah's Bookshelves Live get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for Sarah's Bookshelves Live, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for Sarah's Bookshelves Live, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does Sarah's Bookshelves Live have?

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. The Currently Reading Podcast
3. From the Front Porch
4. Literally Reading
5. Well-Read

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

Sarah's Bookshelves Live launched 8 years ago and published 241 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for Sarah's Bookshelves Live from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of Sarah's Bookshelves Live. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on Sarah's Bookshelves Live?

Recent guests on Sarah's Bookshelves Live include:

1. Al Woodworth
2. Kevin Hazzard
3. Brenna Connor
4. Lee Kelly
5. Jennifer Marie Thorne
6. T Kira Madden
7. Sarajane Case
8. Christine Kuehn

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.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days