In Ep. 149, Catherine (@GilmoreGuide) and I revisit the 12 books released from June to mid-August that we featured in the Summer 2023 Book Preview.  We update you on our reading stats for summer, chat about the books we’ve tackled or tried, and let you know which ones are worth adding to your list and which ones you can pass on.

This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).

Highlights

• Catherine and Sarah share their Summer 2023 reading stats and success rates.
• Catherine names a micro genre from one of Sarah’s picks.
• Sarah and Catherine both come in with one 5-star book each! 
• Plus, they name their best and worst books from the Summer 2023 Book Preview.

Books We Read Before the Preview [3:02]

Sarah’s Picks:

• Same Time Next Summer by Annabel Monaghan (June 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:34]
• The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue (June 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:26]

Other Books Mentioned:

• Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan [3:39]

Summer 2023 Circle Back [7:54]

June

Sarah’s Picks:

• My Murder by Katie Williams (June 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:55]
• Invisible Son by Kim Johnson (June 27) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [20:47]

Catherine’s Picks:

• Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See (June 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[7:59]
• All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby (June 6) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[16:23] 
• You Can’t Stay Here Forever by Katherine Lin (June 13) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:17] 

Other Books Mentioned:

• Foe by Iain Reid [13:48]
• Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby [16:28]
• Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby [18:17]
• This Is My America by Kim Johnson [21:52]
• The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton [22:10]

August

Sarah’s Picks:

• The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (August 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[29:03] 
• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (August 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [37:21]

Catherine’s Picks:

• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (August 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:18]
• Mobility by Lydia Kiesling (August 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:16]
• Western Alliances by Wilton Barnhardt (August 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[45:20] 

Other Books Mentioned:

• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams [30:53]
• Our Town by Thornton Wilder [39:10]
• The Golden State by Lydia Kiesling [42:29]

Other Links

• Ep. 146: Katie Williams (Author of My Murder)
• Ep. 147: Lara Love Hardin (Author of The Many Lives of Mama Love)