Description

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!

Books We Read Before the Preview [5:57] 

SEPTEMBER

Sarah's Picks

• The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (September 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[6:01]

Fall 2025 Circle Back [7:23]

AUGUST

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]

SEPTEMBER

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] 

OCTOBER

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] 

NOVEMBER

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] 

DECEMBER

Catherine's Pick

• The Day I Lost You by Ruth Mancini (US release: December 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:49]