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Sarah's Bookshelves Live is a 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 the s... more

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Artwork for Sarah's Bookshelves Live

Latest Episodes

In Episode 217, Sarah chats with author Christine Kuehn about her memoir, Family of Spies, and the thirty-year journey that led her to uncover a long-buried family secret. Christine shares how the story first entered her life, the decades-long resear... more

Episode 216 continues the Best of… series with a deep dive into the horror genre. Meredith Monday Schwartz of the Currently Reading podcast joins the show to discuss her all-time Top Ten favorite horror books, along with a few buzzy titles that didn'... more

In Episode 215, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books share the best backlist books they read in 2025. They discuss their top 5 backlist books from last year, highlight some underrated backlist gems, and review their backlist reading statisti... more

Welcome to the Winter 2026 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books!

Today, Catherine and Sarah share 16 of their most anticipated books releasing from January through March.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a... more

Key Facts

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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Book Talk, etc.Tina @tbretc and Hannah @hanpickedbooks
From the Front Porch
From the Front PorchThe Bookshelf Thomasville
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Literally ReadingLiterally Reading

Recent Guests

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
Catherine Gilmore
Book blogger and guest from Gilmore Guide to Books
Gilmore Guide to Books
Episode: The Best Backlist We Read in 2025 with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 215
Laura McGrath
Writer, literary historian, and data scientist.
Assistant Professor at Temple University
Episode: State of the Publishing Industry in 2025 with Laura McGrath, Author of the textCrunch Substack (Ep. 210)
Elizabeth Barnhill
Book buyer at Fabled Bookshop and a frequent contributor to the topic of narrative nonfiction.
Fabled Bookshop
Episode: Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)
Regina Black
Author of August Lane, former litigator, and law school administrator.
Episode: Ep. 207: Regina Black (Author of August Lane)
Lidija Hilje
Croatian novelist and certified book coach
Author of Slanting Towards the Sea
Episode: Ep. 201: Lidija Hilje (Author of Slanting Towards the Sea) + Book Recommendations
Anderson McKean
Book buyer and publicity manager at Page & Palette
Page & Palette
Episode: Ep. 198: Best of Thrillers with Anderson McKean of Page & Palette (@PagePalette)
Susie London
Co-host of the Summer Reading Special and book enthusiast from Novel Visits
Novel Visits
Episode: Ep. 195: 2025 Summer Reading Special with Susie (@NovelVisits)

Host

Sarah Dickinson
Host of a weekly book discussion focused on recommendations, honest critiques, and engaging conversations about literature.

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars from 937 ratings
  • 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 Statesa month 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 States2 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 States6 months ago
  • Sarah’s Bookshelves Lives is one of the best bookish podcasts.

    One of my FAVORITE podcasts! I loved your episode with Anderson from Page and Pallette. Hope she is a repeat guest.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JParrish76
    United States9 months ago
  • Best book podcast

    I love this podcast. Sarah usually recommends books that I end up loving. She’s one of my most trusted rec sources.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    JaM1622
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

The camaraderie between hosts and guests is frequently mentioned, enhancing the overall listening experience.
There are mixed feelings regarding the frequency and variety of guest appearances, with some advocating for more author interviews while others enjoy the current format.
Listeners appreciate the honest and diverse book recommendations, indicating a strong alignment with their reading tastes.
A few listeners express dissatisfaction with the trend of focusing on popular or hyped titles, desiring more unique or lesser-known recommendations.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#79
United States/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#225
United States/Arts
Apple Podcasts
#250
Canada/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#104
South Africa/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#194
Belgium/Arts/Books
Apple Podcasts
#212
Chile/Arts/Books

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)
Q: Any subgenres that do not work for you?
Well, very rarely do celebrity memoirs work for me because I really don't care. So that's not the fault of the celebrity. It's just not my thing.
Ep. 208: Best of Narrative Nonfiction with Elizabeth Barnhill of Fabled Bookshop (@FabledBookshop)
Q: Tell us about your background with Narrative Nonfiction.
I've always loved just interesting stories from real people and loved history as a kid, as a student. I really probably should have majored in history.
Ep. 207: Regina Black (Author of August Lane)
Q: How do you feel about sticking tightly to romance genre tropes?
Regina states she loves tropes as narrative tools but believes in creating stories that feel unique and compelling, rather than conforming strictly to tropes.
Ep. 207: Regina Black (Author of August Lane)
Q: How did you get into writing romance novels on top of your day job as a law school administrator?
Regina shares her lifelong passion for reading romance novels, noting that she has been writing since a young age, but only thought about publishing during the pandemic when she revised an old idea.
Ep. 206: Behind the Scenes of Book Festivals & Author Interviews with Jason Blitman (Host of the Gays Reading Podcast)
Q: Where do you see the podcast and the brand in five years?
I am a planner but also believe in organic evolution. I focus on sea changes in my creative instincts and execute them as they come.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
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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?

Focused on the world of literature, the content revolves around informative discussions, engaging book recommendations, and candid opinions. Each episode typically features a guest, providing a platform for recommendations of both older and newer books, as well as critical commentary on titles that didn't resonate. The dynamic of these discussions provides listeners with a mix of entertaining insights, humor, and practical suggestions for their reading lists.

The format's blend of serious literary discourse with a light touch of humor sets it apart, likely appealing to avid readers seeking diverse perspectives on what to read next. The podcast also emphasizes the bond between hosts and guests, allowing for a deeper exploration of various t... more

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

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

Sarah's Bookshelves Live launched 7 years ago and published 226 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. Christine Kuehn
2. Meredith Monday Schwartz
3. Catherine Gilmore
4. Laura McGrath
5. Elizabeth Barnhill
6. Regina Black
7. Lidija Hilje
8. Anderson McKean

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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