Summer 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 233

Sarah and Catherine circle back to the 12 new releases they shared in the Summer 2026 Book Preview, now that they've read them — or at least tried to!  Find out which books worked, which didn't, and whether their most anticipated summer reads lived up to expectations.

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Want More Book Preview Picks? Paid members of our Patreon Community or our Substack Community (both $7/month with the same member benefits) get even more seasonal recommendations with Book Preview Extras! In each episode, Catherine and Sarah share at least 4 additional books they're excited about that didn't make the main Book Preview. Join on Patreon or Substack to listen — and get access to all our other bonus podcast episodes and paid-member content. Highlights Catherine calls her summer Preview reading "upwardly mobile," while Sarah sees hers as "the downside of high-risk picks." Catherine liked 4 of her 6 picks, while Sarah's riskier summer ended with one 5-star read — and 3 DNFs. Catherine and Sarah each tried one of the other's Preview picks … and neither made it to the finish line. Some deep thoughts on books where you can "feel the writing device" — and why that rarely works for either of them. Plus, Sarah has a new label for those deeply immersive, cozy reads: "warm bath books." And, of course, their best and worst book picks of the summer! Books Read Before the Preview Sarah's Pick

Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:17]  Other Books Mentioned

Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026) [4:02]  Summer 2026 Circle Back June

Catherine's Picks

A Year of Marvelous Ways by Sarah Winman (US Release June 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:37]  Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi (June 16) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:41]  The Top of the World by Ethan Joella (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:26]  Keep Them Close by David Ellis (June 30) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [26:17] Other Books Mentioned

Pearce Oysters by Joselyn Takacs (2024) [7:08] July

Sarah's Picks

The Half Life by Rachel Beanland (July 14) |Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:33]  Dad, Love, Me by Matthew Quick (July 21) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:08]  Catherine's Pick

City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi (July 28) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:19]  Other Books Mentioned