In the Summer 2021 Book Preview (Ep. 86), Catherine and I shared our most anticipated books coming out June – July 2021. But, we often haven’t read the books we share in the Preview Episodes.

So, in this new series, we will “circle back” to update you on all the books we presented in the previous season’s Book Preview now that we’ve at least attempted to read them.

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

Bonus Books

• Join our Patreon Community ($5/mo) to get our bonus podcast episode series called Book Preview Extras! In these episodes, Catherine and I share at least 4 bonus books (we’re sharing 5 this month) that we’re excited about that we did not share in the regular Preview episode. Get more details about all the goodies available to our patrons and sign up here!

Highlights

• Sarah’s and Catherine’s success rates from the Summer Preview.
• Our Best and Worst picks from the Summer 2021 Preview episode.
• How Sarah differentiates between a DNF and a sample.
• How Catherine and I would prefer teenage characters speak in YA books.

Summer 2021 Books We Had Already Read When We Recorded the Preview [5:31]

Sarah’s Picks:

• Falling by T.J. Newman (July 6) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [5:34] 
• The Second Season by Emily Adrian (July 27) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [7:22]

Catherine’s Picks:

• The Husbands by Chandler Baker (August 3 – Catherine’s Review) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [8:54]

Circling Back: Summer 2021 Books [10:29]

June

Sarah’s Picks:

• Ace of Spades by Faridah Abike Iyimide (June 1) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [11:11] 
• One Last Stopby Casey McQuiston (June 1) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [18:49]

Catherine’s Picks:

• One, Two, Threeby Laurie Frankel (June 8) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [14:25]
• God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (June 22) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [21:10]
• The Secret Keeper of Jaipur by Alka Joshi (June 22) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [26:47]

July

Sarah’s Picks:

• Embassy Wife by Katie Crouch (July 13) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [30:01]
• Intimacies by Katie Kitamura (July 20) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [40:51]

Catherine’s Picks:

• Dear Miss Metropolitan by Carolyn Ferrell (July 6) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [33:51]
• The Startup Wife by Thamima Anam (July 13) | Buy from Amazon | Buy from Bookshop.org [43:53]

Other Books Mentioned

• Charlotte Walsh Likes to Win by Jo Piazza [8:34]
• This is How it Always Is by Laurie Frankel [17:13] 
• Red, White, and Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston [20:03]
• The Book of Essie by Meghan MacLean Weir [25:43] 
• The Dearly Belovedby Cara Wall [26:07]
• The Henna Artist by Alka Joshi [26:07]
• The Expatriates by Janice Y.K. Lee [33:35]
• A Separation by Katie Kitamura [41:43]

About Catherine Gilmore

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Catherine started The Gilmore Guide to Books over 6 years ago after wrapping up a career as a corporate librarian. She loves books and reading (surprise!) and currently lives in Ann Arbor, MI.