Welcome to the Summer 2025 Book Preview with Catherine of Gilmore Guide to Books! Today, Catherine and Sarah share 12 of their most anticipated books releasing from June through mid-August.
This post contains affiliate links through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!).
Announcement
One of the many benefits to supporting the podcast through our Substack Community (both for just $7/mo) is that you get access to several bonus podcast episode series, including Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books we are excited about that we did not share in the big show preview episode.
Highlights
Catherine and Sarah share some big releases coming this summer (lightning-round style).
Of Catherine’s six book picks, 3 are about sisters and most are from repeat authors.
Sarah’s choices feature 3 debut authors, 2 repeat authors, and 1 new author.
And, 5 of Sarah’s six books are European novels.
From literary picks to thrillers to romances, they’ve got a range of books for summer.
Sarah has already read two of her picks — and they’re on the 2025 Summer Reading Guide (be sure to check out the full list)
Plus, their #1 picks for summer.
Big Summer Releases
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (June 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:12]
With a Vengeance by Riley Sager (June 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:18]
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab (June 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:32]
The Poppy Fields by Nikki Erlick (June 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:36]
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:45]
The Bewitching by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (July 15) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [2:57]
The View from Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:08]
Worth Fighting For by Jesse Q. Sutanto (June 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:13]
A Most Puzzling Murder by Bianca Marais (June 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:17]
Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell (June 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:27]
The Woman in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:29]
Don’t Open Your Eyes by Liv Constantine (June 17) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:32]
The Locked Ward by Sarah Pekkanen (August 5) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:36]
Summer 2025 Book Preview [4:07]
June
Sarah’s Pick
The Compound by Aisling Rawle (June 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:19]
Catherine’s Picks
The Catch by Yrsa Daley-Ward (June 3) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:40]
King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby (June 10) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:02]
I’ll Be Right Here by Amy Bloom (June 24) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [26:01]
Other Books Mentioned
Lord of the Flies by William Golding (1954) [10:01]
FantasticLand by Mike Bockoven (2016) [10:04]
The Godfather by Mario Puzo (1969) [20:29]
All the Sinners Bleed by S. A. Cosby (2023) [20:55]
Razorblade Tears by S. A. Cosby (2021) [21:00]
Blacktop Wasteland by S. A. Cosby (2020) [21:01]
White Houses by Amy Bloom (2018) [27:08]
This Is How It Always Is by Laurie Frankel (2017) [27:52]
The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo (2019) [27:57]
The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden (2024) [28:28]
July
Sarah’s Picks
Slanting Towards the Sea by Lidija Hilje (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[15:36]
Bitter Sweet by Hattie Williams (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [21:44]
The Rabbit Club by Christopher J. Yates (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[28:48]
Her Many Faces by Nicci Cloke (July 15*) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [36:38](Updated release date following the recording of this episode.)
August Lane by Regina Black (July 29) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [41:44]
Catherine’s Picks
The Satisfaction Café by Kathy Wang (July 1) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [33:37]
Our Last Resort by Clémence Michallon (July 8) | Amazon | Bookshop.org[39:32]
Other Books Mentioned
Shark Heart by Emily Habeck (2023) [18:12]
Writers and Lovers by Lily King (2020) [18:17]
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue (2023) [25:06]
Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler (2023) [25:09]
Black Chalk by Christopher J. Yates (2013) [28:57]
The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer (2013) [31:13]
The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992) [31:15]
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (2008) [31:16]
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (1865) []
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio (2017) [32:37]
Imposter Syndrome by Kathy Wang (2021) [35:16]
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano (2023) [35:40]
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) [35:42]
The Latecomer by Jean Hanff Korelitz (2022) [35:45]
Girl A by Abigail Dean (2021) [38:21]
The Death of Us by Abigail Dean (2025) [38:24]
Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka (2022) [38:28]
The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon (2023) [40:16]
The Art of Scandal by Regina Black (2023) [41:58]
Colton Gentry’s Third Act by Jeff Zentner (2024) [43:30]
Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (2021) [43:41]
The Final Revival of Opal & Nev by Dawnie Walton (2021) [43:46]
Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2019) [45:01]
August
Catherine’s Pick
The Frequency of Living Things by Nick Fuller Googins (August 12) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [45:15]
Other Books Mentioned
She’s Come Undone by Wally Lamb (1992) [48:08]
Other Links
Sarah’s Bookshelves | The Possibility of a Black Chalk Sequel: Guest Post by Christopher J. Yates
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