Ep. 209: 2025 Debuts Special with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley)

In Episode 209, Catherine ( @GilmoreGuide ) and Chrissie ( @ChrissieWhitley ) join Sarah for the 5th annual Debuts Special! They're sharing their reading stats for debuts this year, along with their favorite debuts, new and backlist — so far for 2025. This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog. Highlights How debuts from 2025 compare to those from previous years. A full breakdown of Sarah's, Catherine's, and Chrissie's 2025 debut-related stats. Featured debuts, split into two categories: Favorite Debuts of 2025 (so far) Favorite Backlist Debuts Read in 2025 Favorite Debuts of 2025 (so far) [9:20] Sarah Maggie; or, A Man and a Woman Walk Into a Bar by Katie Yee (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:27] The Slip by Lucas Schaefer (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:54] Great Black Hope by Rob Franklin (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [31:12] Catherine The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:04] The Names by Florence Knapp (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:50] Deadly Animals by Marie Tierney (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [34:30] Chrissie Homeseeking by Karissa Chen (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:39] Awake in the Floating City by Susanna Kwan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:34] Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:53] Other Books Mentioned The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [10:09] The Compound by Aisling Rowle (2025) [10:11] Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (2025) [10:14] Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams (2025) [10:17] Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) [10:19] Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill (2014) [12:48] You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith (2024) [12:56] Pachinko by Min Jin Lee (2017) [18:47] Friday Night Lights by H. G. Bissinger (1990) [20:49] The Knockout Queen by Rufi Thorpe (2020) [22:08] All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall (2025) [28:58] Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) [30:36] The Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe (1987) [34:15] Favorite Backlist Debuts Read in 2025 [39:09] Sarah I Might Be In Trouble by Daniel Aleman (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [39:15] Out of Love by Hazel Hayes (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:26] Catherine In the Shadow of the Banyan by Vaddey Ratner (2012) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:45] Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [48:47] Chrissie Fruiting Bodies by Kathryn Harlan (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:04] The Undertaking by Audrey Magee (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [52:31] Other Books Mentioned Music of the Ghosts by Vaddey Ratner (2017) [44:58] Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield (2022) [46:14] The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) [49:08] The Colony by Audrey Magee (2022) [53:26] Additional Books Mentioned Victim by Andrew Boryga (2024) [3:39] Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (2004) [6:54]

You can listen to Ep. 209: 2025 Debuts Special with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

Ep. 209: 2025 Debuts Special with Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and Chrissie (@ChrissieWhitley) is an episode from Sarah's Bookshelves Live by Sarah Dickinson.

This episode is 56:21 long.

This episode was published on Oct 29, 2025.

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