Episode · The Book Review · 2025-07-18
Books mentioned on The Best Books of the Year (So Far)
Gilbert Cruz recommended King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby, A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones, and Fate of the Day by Rick Atkinson, and discussed Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams, Daughters of the Bamboo Grove by Barbara Demick, and Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li. Jumanna Senan recommended The Director by Daniel Kehlmann, The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri, Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux, Flesh by David Szalay, and These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean.
Books mentioned, in the order they came up
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King of Ashes
King of Ashes by S.
Recommended“This book is King of Ashes by S. A. Cosby.”
Where to get it
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The Director
The Director by Daniel Kehlmann is a historical fiction novel inspired by the complex life and career of renowned Austrian filmmaker G.W.
Recommended“This is the director by Daniel Kelman and translated by Ross Benjamin.”
Where to get it
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A Marriage at Sea
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst is a true story of love, obsession, and shipwreck detailing a couple who abandoned life on land to sail across the ocean.
Recommended“So, I don't think I need to say too much about A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhurst since all of our listeners listen to every single episode of the book review podcast.”
Where to get it
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Careless People
Careless People by Sarah Wynn-Williams is a memoir that serves as a cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism written by a former high-ranking Facebook employee detailing the company's internal operations.
Discussed“And this one is called Careless People, a cautionary tale of power, greed, and lost idealism by Sarah Win Williams.”
Where to get it
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Daughters of the Bamboo Grove
Discussed“And this one is called Daughters of the Bamboo Grove from China to America, a true story of abduction, adoption, and separated twins by Barbara Demick.”
Where to get it
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The Sisters
The Sisters by Jonas Hassen Khemiri is a contemporary novel that explores complex family relationships, cultural identity, and personal histories.
Recommended“So, this is The Sisters by Yonas Hassan Hamiri.”
Where to get it
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The Buffalo Hunter Hunter
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones is a historical horror novel by a prolific author that delves into dark frontiers with a distinctive Blackfeet protagonist.
Recommended“his new one, The Buffalo Hunter Hunter, is one that I feel like we're always going to have on our list of the best books of the year so far.”
Where to get it
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Wild Thing
Wild Thing by Sue Prideaux is an evocative, meticulously researched biography examining the complex life and artistic evolution of the post-Impressionist painter Paul Gauguin.
Recommended“Okay, so this is a biography that I really liked called Wild Thing by Sue Purau.”
Where to get it
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Fate of the Day
Fate of the Day by Rick Atkinson is a comprehensive military history chronicling the pivotal campaigns of the American Revolution from Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston between 1777 and 1780.
Recommended“This is called The Fate of the Day, The War for America, Fort Ticonderoga to Charleston, 1777 to 1780 by Rick Atkinson.”
Where to get it
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Flesh
Flesh by David Szalay is a sprawling, contemporary novel following its protagonist across various international locations.
Recommended“This is Flesh by David Soloy.”
Where to get it
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Things in Nature Merely Grow
Things in Nature Merely Grow by Yiyun Li is a deeply emotional memoir that explores profound personal grief, examining the devastating suicides of the author's two sons and her subsequent journey toward emotional endurance and survival.
Discussed“This one is called Things in Nature Merely Grow. This is by Yun Lee.”
Where to get it
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These Summer Storms
These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean is a contemporary romance novel set against a scenic Rhode Island backdrop, blending emotional depth with engaging romantic conflict.
Recommended“So, this is called These Summer Storms by Sarah McClean.”
Where to get it
Other mentions in this episode (4) — ad reads, self-promotion and passing references, never counted
“This one is Raising Hair by Chloe Dalton.”
“and titles such as Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood”
“Stoneyard Devotional by Charlotte Wood, which we have definitely talked about on this podcast”
“Sunrise on the Reaping, the latest in the Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins”