In Episode 202, Susie (@NovelVisits) and Sarah explore some of their new favorite Micro Genres. Since starting the Micro Genres series, they’ve loved taking the opportunity each year to examine and define their tastes in these sub-sub-genres. This year, they have curated a list of 10 all-new Micro Genres, along with notable books for each category. With over 80 books mentioned, this is another year of niching down for some great book recommendations!

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

CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Books Told From the Perspective of the Person Left Behind (Sarah) [2:26]

Sarah

The Wanderers by Meg Howrey (2017) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:39]
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:52]
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:29]
Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:31]
Shred Sisters by Betsy Lerner (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:42]
Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:52]
Z by Therese Ann Fowler (2013) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:11]
The Paris Wife by Paula McLain (2011) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:19]
An American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:26]
The Swans of Fifth Avenue by Melanie Benjamin (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:35]
The Wives by Simone Gorrindo (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:59]
A Mother’s Reckoning by Sue Klebold (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:41]

Susie

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel (2014) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:07]
Good Morning, Midnight by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:35]
The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:37]
Circe by Madeline Miller (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [7:52]

We Begin at the End (Susie) [8:22]

Sarah

Beyond the Point by Claire Gibson (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:46]
Penitence by Kristin Koval (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [13:16]
I’m That Girl by Jordan Chiles (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:20]

Susie

The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagan (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:20]
What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:49]
Victim by Andrew Boryga (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:48]
How We Named the Stars by Andrés N. Ordorica (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:21]
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:28]

Other Books Mentioned

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (2021) [8:33]
A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst (2025) [13:54]

Big Business Women (Sarah) [14:34]

Sarah

Anna Bright is Hiding Something by Susie Orman Schnall (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:29]
The Boys’ Club by Erica Katz (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:46]
Women Are the Fiercest Creatures by Andrea Dunlop (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:51]
Dead Money by Jakob Kerr (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:55]

Susie

The Whisper Network by Chandler Baker (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:30]
The Female Persuasion by Meg Wolitzer (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:55]

Other Books Mentioned

Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (2018) [15:34]

Books By Irish Authors Telling Distinctly Irish Stories (Susie) [17:35]

Sarah

Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:30]
Northern Spy by Flynn Berry (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:43]
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue (2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [22:52]
56 Days...