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In Episode 211, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 14 new releases they shared in the Fall 2025 Book Preview, now that they've read them — or at least tried to! They share their reading stats and discuss which books worked and which didn't…and why.
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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.
Highlights- Catherine's success rate bounces back from summer.
- Sarah's fall reading felt kind of "meh" despite a higher success rate.
- They also share their combined 2025 Preview success rates.
- Their fall pick ratings were all over the place, with only one DNF, but books range from 2 to 4 stars, with Catherine boasting the sole 5-star book!
- A couple of books suffered from an identity crisis, while others were surprise successes.
- Catherine's assignment for next season is to check the page count and look for authors following-up award-winning books.
- They name their best and worst books picks for fall!
Sarah's Picks
- The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[6:01]
Sarah's Picks
- Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (August 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:29]
- We Loved to Run by Stephanie Reents (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[13:38]
Catherine's Pick
- Katabasis by R. F. Kuang (August 26) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:59]
Other Books Mentioned
- Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025) [9:28]
- Inferno by Dante (c. 1321) [11:29]
- Babel by R. F. Kuang (2022) [13:16]
- Yellowface by R. F. Kuang (2023) [13:25]
- The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [16:12]
Sarah's Picks
- Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:51]
- Hot Desk by Laura Dickerman (September 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [27:30]
- Underspin by E. Y. Zhao (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:06]
Catherine's Picks
- The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai (September 23) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:12]
- Guilty by Definition by Susie Dent (US release: September 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [24:01]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Flatshare by Beth O'Leary (2019) [28:07]
Catherine's Picks
- Workhorse by Caroline Palmer (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:24]
- The Wayfinder by Adam Johnson (October 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[34:49]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger (2003) [32:43]
- The Orphan Master's Son by Adam Johnson (2012) [38:35]
- The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (2006) [39:03]
Sarah's Pick
- Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel (November 4) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:37]
Catherine's Pick
- Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (November 25) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[42:48]
Other Books Mentioned
- The Ensemble by Aja Gabel (2018) [44:43]
Catherine's Pick
- The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini (US release: December 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:49]
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