Book Talk, Etc. – "Bookstore Browse: Inside Wonderland Books with Gayle" (February 24, 2026)
Episode Overview
In this engaging episode, hosts Tina (@tbretc) and Hannah (@hanpickedbooks) welcome guest Gayle Weiswasser, co-owner of Wonderland Books and co-host of the Readerly Report podcast. The main theme centers on independent bookstore life—from the daily rhythms to curation choices—and the art and challenges of bookselling. The conversation is rich with behind-the-scenes insights, honest talk about book recommendations, notable bestsellers and surprises, and plenty of recommendations for your next read.
Meet the Guest: Gayle Weiswasser
- Background: Started as a lawyer, moved to crisis communications, and later tech. Lifelong book lover with a long-running book blog ("Every Day I Write the Book") and years in the book world via podcasting and events.
- Bookstore Origins: Noted Bethesda (just outside Washington, D.C.) had no bookstore for years; opened Wonderland Books in December 2024 after much research and with a journalist friend from book club.
- Gayle on Taste: "I'm a pretty narrow reader, which is not a great quality in a bookseller. I love literary fiction. I love contemporary fiction. I love memoirs, little bit of historical fiction. I don't read a lot of the other genres." (05:50)
Wonderland Books: Curation, Community, and Operations
Store Profile and Philosophy
- General bookstore, about 1,800 sq. ft.—"not tiny, but it's not huge either."
- 25% of space for children's books; all key genres represented.
- Highly curated: "A book has to really, like, earn its place on our shelves." (07:13)
- Curated not only by Gayle and her partner’s taste but also feedback from staff and community.
Backend Insights: Returns and Inventory
- Most books are returnable to the publisher if unsold. "It's really hard to send books back and worry that we're removing the possibility of that kind of, like, serendipitous connection between reader and book." (10:35)
- Use Book Manager software to track sales trends locally and nationally.
- Balance between maximizing sales and preserving room for discovery.
E-Commerce & Supporting Indies
- No direct e-commerce; use Bookshop.org for online sales—"Bookshop.org is like the greatest thing that ever happened to bookstores, independent bookstores..." (11:36)
- Libro.fm for audiobooks. Both “passive income” sources and alternatives to Amazon/Audible.
The Rhythm of Bookselling: Daily Life at Wonderland Books
Day-to-Day Flow (33:03)
- Daily deliveries of 20–50 boxes of books; cycle is "books come in, books get processed, books go out on the shelf and then books go out the door."
- Customer rhythms: mornings (yoga-goers, older folks), lunch (professionals, students), afternoons dip, then evening picks up.
- Back-office: event planning, book club logistics, payroll, communication with reps and authors.
- Triannual meetings with rep publishers to prep for frontlist/forthcoming titles.
Memorable Quote:
"I call it bookstore. It's just like any, it's like a, a never satisfied mistress. Like it just always wants more." (33:03)
Event Programming: Building Community
Events Calendar (37:39)
- 2–3 events per week: authors (local, national, established), book clubs, community partnerships.
- Small but flexible space—interior shelves on wheels to accommodate up to 120.
- High-profile visitors: recent events included Catherine Newman, poet Sarah Kay, actor/author Andrew McCarthy, Congressman Jamie Raskin.
- "A lot of the event process is gatekeeping... You have to be super choosy about: Is this a book that's going to appeal?" (37:39)
- Partnerships with local theater groups for cross-promotions.
Behind the Recommendations: How Indie Booksellers Guide Readers
Book Taste and Staff Strengths (43:11)
- Team approach: staff tap each other's specialties for genres outside their own.
- "We kind of like pull people in sometimes. It's like a super specific request... We use the Internet. ... Sometimes we go into our inventory system and we'll look at comps." (43:11)
- Reliance on community: shelf talkers (staff picks), monitoring Bookstagram/BookTok, reading reviews, and industry newsletters.
- Honest about not reading every book, focus on what’s been loved by staff or customers.
The Honesty Line
- On recommending books she didn’t like: "I try to be diplomatic, but sometimes I'm really honest. ... It's not, I don't find it super helpful to just read positive reviews all the time." (47:13)
- On not having read every new release: "People ask me all the time, have you read it? ... Look around. Like, no. But I know a lot about it." (46:22)
Bookstore Bestsellers & Surprise Hits
Current Bestsellers (49:39)
- The Correspondent (literary fiction)
- Family of Spies by Christine Kuhn (nonfiction; "crazy story about this woman who, like, learns all this stuff about her family and all these, like, crazy things that happened"; local tie-in) (50:35)
- The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny
- Heart the Lover by Lily King
- On Tyranny by Tim Snyder—"We keep it at the register. ... That's resonating really well with people right now." (51:50)
Surprises and Unexpected Rushes
- Ann Patchett on NPR sparked a nationwide run on Sophie Blackall’s If I Was a Dog—"sometimes I just ask [customers]... what's going on?" (53:49)
- Rachel Reid’s Heated Rivalry series went from a couple copies to complete sell-out and backorder status.
Movie/TV Adaptations and Backlist (54:17)
- Mild uptick in backlist sales when books are adapted—tried to stock up on Wuthering Heights, Hamnet, Deliver Me From Nowhere.
Overstocks and Letdowns
- Over-ordered Elizabeth Gilbert’s recent memoir, which didn’t sell as expected.
- Gish Jen’s latest novel didn’t move, despite author’s pedigree.
Bookseller’s Dilemma: Universally Recommendable Books
Go-to Pick:
Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal
"I have hand sold that so many times, and now my staff is hand selling it all the time. ... I do think that's a book with universal appeal." (57:09)
- Appeals to men/women, foodies, Midwesterners, and fiction fans.
Recent Universal Recs:
- Buckeye: "I can't recommend that book highly enough." (58:19)
- The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff (for those who can handle super sad topics; deals with loss, addiction, and struggle)
- The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue (comparison: "It's like Sally Rooney, but with a happier ending." [28:41])
- The Safekeep (postwar Netherlands historical, twisty, Fates and Furies-esque)
- The Secret Lives of Church Ladies by Deesha Philyaw (short stories on Black women navigating faith, desire, and identity; "Messy, irreverent, but also so beautiful and beautifully written." [29:34])
Honest Talk: Overrated or Not-For-Me Books
Gayle’s Contrarian List (62:32)
- The Wedding People
- Remarkably Bright Creatures – "just did not do it for me."
- Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufy Thorpe – prefers Thorpe's “grittier, darker books”; calls the new one "too sunny."
- "I don't do well with any of the following descriptors: Heartwarming, quirky characters, unexpected family...I like...really dark and depressing." (63:23)
Looking Ahead: Anticipated 2026 Releases
Most anticipated:
- Kin by Tayari Jones — "I loved American Marriage so much..."
- Unwitness and Respair by Jessamyn Ward
- This Is Not a Book About Us by Allegra Goodman
- Clutch by Emily Nemens (author of The Cactus League, a "not sunny" baseball book that Gayle loved)
- Brawler by Lauren Groff (short story collection) — “I just read the first one, and it was so good.”
Bonus Shelf Additions:
- Frankenstein (1818 text, Penguin Classics) — Tina’s latest bookstore find
- Whistler by Ann Patchett (due June 2, 2026)—Gayle’s upcoming read
- Beneath by Ariel Sullivan (prequel to Conform, romantasy series)—Hannah’s TBR pick
Memorable & Notable Quotes
- On curation: "A book has to really, like, earn its place on our shelves and they are very much a reflection of our personal taste and the taste of our community." (07:13)
- On returns: "It's really hard to send books back and worry that we're removing the possibility of that kind of, like, serendipitous connection between reader and book." (10:35)
- On event selection: "[The event process] is gatekeeping because you're looking at these books that are coming in from local authors who you want to support. But you can't do an event for everyone. ... You have to be super choosy..." (37:39)
- On honesty: "I try to be diplomatic, but sometimes I'm really honest...It's not, I don't find it super helpful to just read positive reviews all the time." (47:13)
- On reading and selling: "[If] I could only recommend books I've read, it would be really tough. ... I do that all the time. I say this is selling really well. I've heard people really like this. I've read reviews of this. ... I haven't read it." (45:52)
Recurring Themes and Tone
- Warm, chatty, and deeply knowledgeable (“I could literally listen to you talk about the back end of things all day.” – Tina, 11:11)
- Candid about the rewards and stressors of the indie bookstore life.
- Emphasis on honest recommendations; balance of business and community values.
- Bookish enthusiasm: “It’s really never boring at the bookstore. Ever.” (37:11)
- Encouragement to support indie bookstores through Bookshop and participation in Wonderland’s events/social media.
Episode Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:11 – Gayle’s introduction, background, and bookstore origin story
- 05:50 – Gayle’s reading tastes
- 07:13 – Curation and store set-up at Wonderland Books
- 10:35 – Book returns, inventory management, balancing discovery and sales
- 11:36 – Online sales via Bookshop.org and Libro.fm
- 33:03 – Day-to-day bookstore operations
- 37:39 – Author events, community partnerships, event challenges
- 43:11 – Book recommendation process, staff expertise, and honesty
- 49:39 – Store bestsellers and national trends
- 57:09 – Universally recommendable books, Gayle’s favorites (Kitchens of the Great Midwest, Buckeye, The Bright Years)
- 62:32 – Overrated/not-for-me books and preferred reading vibes
- 65:46 – Most anticipated 2026 releases
- 68:21 – Shelf Additions
Connect with Wonderland Books
- Bookshop.org store
- Instagram: @wonderlandbookstagram
- TikTok: WonderlandBookstore
For Your TBR: Won't-Miss Book Recommendations
Kitchens of the Great Midwest – J. Ryan Stradal
Hand-sold so often it’s now a bestseller in the store; universally appealing.
Buckeye
A recent standout, highly recommend for literary fiction lovers.
The Rachel Incident – Caroline O'Donoghue
For those who love Sally Rooney but want a little more hopefulness.
The Safe-Keep
Historical, twisty, character-driven—great for those who like unpredictable narratives.
The Secret Lives of Church Ladies – Deesha Philyaw
Evocative short stories with “messy, irreverent, but also so beautiful and beautifully written” portraits of Black women (29:34).
The Bright Years – Sarah Damoff
“A beautiful book” for those who can handle heavier, sadder topics.
For Further Discovery
For listeners looking for more tailored recommendations, there’s a bonus episode on Patreon with personalized picks from Gayle!
Stay bookish, support your local bookstore, and keep growing that TBR!