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A podcast for curious readers and literary enthusiasts. Book reviews, recommendations, and thoughtful conversations from the creator of the Notes from the Shelf blog, Sara.
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9 SEP 2026 · In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I break down the things that surprised me the most when I read Invisible Women: Exposing Data Bias in a World Designed for Men by Caroline Criado Perez.
There are so many good references in this book, and it covers many different areas of life where there isn’t enough data on how things impact women, so it’s a great read, although it will probably make you mad to learn about.
I think it’s so important everyone reads this book at least once, so check out your library or used bookstore if they have a copy or consider buying it through my Bookshop.org affiliate link: https://bookshop.org/a/112979/9781419735219. If you do buy from my link, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
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2 SEP 2026 · I’ve heard so much about the Dungeon Crawler Carl series that I’ve finally started reading them, and I’m loving it so far. I’ve just finished Book 3 which is The Dungeon Anarchist’s Cookbook, and I think each book just keeps getting better.
I do worry about how the end will be since there are only supposed to be two more books, and it seems like the most recent book ended on Level 11, so I doubt Carl and Donut will make it to the end at Level 18 in just two more books. I’ve also heard Matt Dinniman is a horror author, so the ending is bound to be tragic. But I’m still interested in reading them to the end.
Let me know your thoughts on the series!
From the Shelf Archive:
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2026/08/18/reading-slump-survival-guide/
Add these to Your Shelf:
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/a/112979/9780593820254
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
Transcribed
26 AUG 2026 · These are the books from the hundreds that I’ve read that I think have the greatest chance to become a future classic.
Books mentioned:
- James by Percival Everett
- The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller
- Exit West by Mohsin Hamid
- The Prophets by Robert Jones Jr.
- The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Daré
- The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff
- The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
- Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid
- This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger
- The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah
From the Shelf Archive:Â
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2024/10/03/review-the-song-of-achilles-by-madeline-miller/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2026/02/06/book-review-the-prophets-by-robert-jones-jr/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2024/12/15/book-review-the-girl-with-the-louding-voice/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2024/09/01/review-the-vaster-wilds-by-lauren-groff/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2026/07/07/book-review-the-correspondent-by-virginia-evans/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2025/08/08/book-review-daisy-jones-the-six-by-taylor-jenkins-reid/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2024/12/08/book-review-this-tender-land/ https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2026/03/06/book-review-the-four-winds-by-kristin-hannah/
Add these to Your Shelf:
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
 Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
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19 AUG 2026 · If you saw my July wrap-up, you saw I only read one book in July. It’s a bit embarrassing to admit, but a reading slump hit me hard. I’m recovering in August, so here is my Reading Slump Survival Guide if you, too, find yourself in a slump.
From the Shelf Archive:
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2026/01/09/20-anticipated-fiction-books-for-2026/
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2026/06/09/24-anticipated-fiction-for-2026-pt-2/
Add these to Your Shelf:
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
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12 AUG 2026 · If you’ve always wanted to get into Romantasy, but not sure where to start, this is the episode for you! In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I recommend 8 books to dip your toes into romantasy.
From the Shelf Archive:
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2025/03/16/series-review-letters-of-enchantment/
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2025/02/23/book-review-emily-wildes-encyclopedia-of-faeries/
Add these to Your Shelf:
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
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5 AUG 2026 · In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I talk about the AI book burning going on right under our noses, and I give some banned book recs to build your own personal library to preserve knowledge.
From the Shelf Archive:
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2024/11/10/post-election-book-recs/
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2025/02/07/summary-on-tyranny/
Articles Discussed:
https://fortune.com/2026/07/31/dutch-bookseller-ai-spam-phishing-3000-book-copies-scan-destroy/
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/aug/02/australian-book-sellers-alarm-destruction-rare-titles-ai-supply-chain
 https://finance.yahoo.com/technology/ai/articles/ai-book-burning-companies-destroying-163825061.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAA91BhX0IjY0SI86d5OCDzEKQg_nleE3cHRyOVm3ODK04-AV-Y8VPRGJ1kHFAGNtifI6AZA3VgdEO5PHXUTCH1QzATh87tspU39S1gnNf1Eymr5I12bVpRbt-nF_4pmMpWqDmhhFvJ5QUA2yloFjvETHE3_uuTWaRG0RgTzANGWp
Add these to Your Shelf:
Affiliate Link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
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29 JUL 2026 · In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I read the glowing 5-star reviews of books I’ve DNF’d. Will they convince me to try reading them again, or will they firmly be placed in my DNF list. Let me know if I should give any of these another try.
Books mentioned:
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
Magicians Impossible by Brad Abraham
We Unleash the Merciless Storm by Tehlor Kay Mejia
The Phone Booth at the Edge of the World by Laura Imai Messina
The Extinction of Irena Rey by Jennifer Croft
Fourteen Days by Margaret Atwood and others
The Wedding People by Alison Espach
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee
Water Moon by Samantha Sotto Yambao
Add these to Your Shelf:Â
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf Â
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22 JUL 2026 · In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I go over the differences and similarities between the book and the movie for People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry.
From the Shelf Archive:
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2024/10/17/review-people-we-meet-on-vacation/
Add this to Your Shelf:
https://bookshop.org/a/112979/9781984806758
Support the Shelf:Â
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
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15 JUL 2026 · In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I go over the many books I’ve read for research on the episodes of my other podcast, The Paranoid Perspective. These include true crimes, paranormal activities, and other mysteries.
Check out The Paranoid Perspective podcast:Â https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-paranoid-perspective--6466070
From the Shelf Archive:
https://notesfromtheshelf.com/2025/04/18/from-spine-to-sound-my-podcast-reading-list/
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
Affiliate link:https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
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8 JUL 2026 · In this episode of Notes from the Shelf, I review the 6 books I’ve read so far that were published in 2026.
From the Archive:
The Black Dahlia podcast episode:Â https://www.spreaker.com/episode/s2-ep-13-who-killed-the-black-dahlia--71323545
Add these to Your Shelf:
Affiliate link:Â https://bookshop.org/lists/book-recommendations-notes-from-the-shelf
Support the Shelf:
https://buymeacoffee.com/notesfromtheshelf
A podcast for curious readers and literary enthusiasts. Book reviews, recommendations, and thoughtful conversations from the creator of the Notes from the Shelf blog, Sara.
Information
| Author | Sara Young |
| Organization | Sara Young |
| Categories | Books |
| Website | - |
| sarayoung@notesfromtheshelf.com |
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