Behind the Scenes of Book Sales with Brenna Connor | Ep. 227

In Episode 227, Sarah talks with book industry analyst Brenna Connor about the behind-the-scenes world of book sales, bestseller lists, and publishing trends. Brenna shares insight into how sales data is gathered and used across the publishing industry, from tracking pre-orders and audiobooks to measuring the impact of celebrity book clubs and award recognition. They also discuss what makes a book commercially "successful," what current reading trends are revealing about 2026 so far, and what Brenna is watching for in the second half of the year. Plus, Brenna shares her own book recommendations.

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

Highlights

• Why tracking book sales is far more complicated than most readers realize — including what Circana can and can't actually measure.
• A behind-the-scenes look at bestseller lists and the role Circana data plays in lists like the New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly.
• The famously secretive methodology behind the New York Times Bestseller List.
• The impact celebrity book clubs and reading lists from Reese, Oprah, and Obama have on book sales.
• What current sales data is revealing about 2026 reading trends — and how the economy may be shaping book buying habits.
• Brenna shares the books she recommends — and the trends she's watching for the rest of the year.

Brenna's Book Recommendations

Two OLD Books She Loves

• The Unseen World by Liz Moore (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [40:13]
• Bog Myrtle by Sid Sharp (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [42:00]  
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (2024) [40:22]
  • Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [40:23]  

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane (November 3, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [44:07]
• Joyride by Susan Orlean (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [46:01]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane (2019) [45:12]
  • The Half Moon by Mary Beth Keane (2023) [45:14] 
  • The Library Book by Susan Orlean (2018) [46:12] 

One Book She DIDN'T Love

• Tom Lake by Ann Patchett (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [47:29]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Dutch House by Ann Patchett (2019) [47:51]
  • These Precious Days by Ann Patchett (2021) [47:57] 
  • Whistler by Ann Patchett (2026) [48:55] 

One NEW RELEASE She's Excited About

• Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (October 6, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:25]
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger (2003) [49:37] 

Books From the Discussion

• Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 6) by Sarah J. Maas (October 27, 2026) [9:38]
• Untitled (A Court of Thorns and Roses, 7) by Sarah J. Maas (January 12, 2027) [9:38]
• Strangers by Belle Burden (2026) [11:54] 
• Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) [15:35] 
• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (2023) [15:45]
• Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) [15:53]
• The Correspondent by Virginia Evans (2025) [25:52]  
• No One's Coming by Kevin Hazzard (2026) [31:38] 
• London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe (2026) [31:53] 
• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir (2021) [33:35]
• Dungeon Crawler Carl (Dungeon Crawler Carl, 1) by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [33:40] 
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (2026) [36:58] 
• Life Out of Order (The Time Traveler's Wife, 2) by Audrey Niffenegger (October 6, 2026) [37:00] 
• Theo of Golden by Allen Levi (2025)* [38:39] 

*Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition. These titles were originally self-published.

Other Links

• Publishing Confidential, on Substack | "A Tale of Three Bestseller Lists" by Kathleen Schmidt