Spring 2026 Circle Back with Catherine Gilmore | Ep. 225

In Episode 225, Sarah and Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books catch up on the 12 new releases they shared in the Spring 2026 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.  

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.

Get the 2026 Summer Reading Guide

This year's Summer Reading Guide is bigger than ever — and now available as a full PDF with in-depth write-ups on every book.

Here's how to access it:

• Full PDF Guide (with write-ups):
  • Available to current paying members on Patreon or Substack 
  • Start a free trial (Patreon: 7 days | Substack: 30 days)
    • *Be sure to use the link above to access your free trial on Substack.
• Free Cheatsheet (no write-ups):
  • Available to everyone on the blog
• Free Trials close:
  • Friday, May 22 (Memorial Day weekend)

When you sign up, you'll also get:

• 2–3 bonus podcast episodes per month
• Full back catalog of bonus content
• Weekly reading updates + more

All the details in the recent IMPORTANT DETAILS bonus podcast episode and post.

Highlights

• This time last year, Catherine was rocking a 100% success rate — this year's was "armageddon"
• Sarah had really successful spring with one 5-star book and only 1 DNF with a total average star rating of 4.15.
• They name their best and worst books picks for spring!

Books We Read Before the Preview

April

Sarah's Pick

• The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [3:07] 

Spring 2026 Circle Back

April

Sarah's Picks

• Into the Blue by Emma Brodie (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [8:33] 
• Leave Your Mess At Home by Tolani Akinola (April 14) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:27] 

Catherine's Picks

• American Fantasy by Emma Straub (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:45]
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [12:25] 
• Like This, But Funnier by Hallie Cantor (April 7) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:23] 

Other Books Mentioned

• All the World Can Hold by Jung Yun (2026) [7:59] 
• The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (1985) [14:24] 
• August Lane by Regina Black (2025) [16:32] 
• Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (2021) [16:39] 
• Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (2025) [20:24] 

May

Sarah's Picks

• The Mediator (Max Ringo, 1) by Robert Bailey (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:10]
• The Burning Side by Sarah Damoff (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [29:39]
• Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker (May 19) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [39:25] 

Catherine's Picks

• The Liar's Playbook by Leslie Bradford-Scott (May 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [25:20]
• The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Mellissa Fung (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [34:35]
• The Tapestry of Fate (Amina al-Sirafi, 2) by Shannon Chakraborty (May 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org  [41:16] 

Other Books Mentioned

• The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) [22:17]
• Nowhere Girl by Cheryl Diamond (2021) [26:30] 
• The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (2025) [29:43] 
• Culpability by Bruce Holsinger (2025) [33:24] 
• The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi (Amina al-Sirafi, 1) by Shannon Chakraborty (2023) [42:06]