Totally Booked with Zibby

Episode: Sarah Gelman, Amazon's "Best Books of the Year"
Date: December 18, 2025
Host: Zibby Owens
Guest: Sarah Gelman (Editorial Director for Books at Amazon)

Episode Overview

In this lively, insight-packed episode, Zibby Owens and Sarah Gelman discuss Amazon’s “Best Books of the Year 2025,” the process behind selecting these standout reads, and their own personal connections to the literary world. They also preview upcoming anticipated releases, reflect on book trends (especially memoirs about divorce and dysfunctional families), and swap passionate reading recommendations. The episode is full of empathy, warmth, and genuine love for books and the community they bring.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Art and Intention Behind Amazon’s Best Books of the Year

[03:39-05:47]

• Sarah explains that the annual list is curated not for obscurity, but to resonate with broad and diverse readers:

  "We really want our list to be something that people look at and they recognize some books. [...] You see the books, you’re like, okay, I’ve heard of the Correspondent, so I’m gonna try this other book too." — Sarah [03:50]

• The selection process happens before sales data is available to ensure picks are based purely on editor reads and passion, not popularity.

2. Highlights from Amazon’s Top 10 Books for 2025

10. The Loneliness of Sonja and Sunny by Kiran Desai

[06:02-07:01]

• Epic, cross-generational novel about two young Indian-Americans rediscovering themselves and intersecting in India.
• Focuses on themes of loneliness, family, and immigrant identity.

9. Replaceable You by Mary Roach

[07:43-08:48]

• A witty, approachable science book on the history of body part replacements.
• Accessible for fiction lovers wanting to branch into nonfiction.

8. Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

[08:48-09:57]

• Follows two female astronauts in NASA, blending historical fiction with a gripping emotional arc and an unconventional love story.
• Lauded for being “intensely readable.”

7. Awake by Jen Hatmaker

[09:57-12:04]

• Uplifting, honest divorce memoir opening with a gut-punch moment of discovery.
• Zibby and Sarah relate personally, praising its authenticity:

  "For me, I feel like it was one of the most authentic descriptions of the immediacy of pain when something terrible happens." — Zibby [11:11]

6. The Intruder by Freida McFadden

[12:16-13:22]

• Fast-paced thriller with dual perspectives and a perfectly executed twist.
• Sarah admits she underestimated it, thinking it would be “popcorn,” but found it much deeper.

5. Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaughey

[13:39-14:43]

• Mysterious, climate-fiction novel about a remote family safeguarding the world’s last seeds.
• Touches on love, parenthood, and loss; was a Reese Book Club pick.

4. The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

[14:43-15:31]

• Quiet yet powerful novel of intergenerational friendship and overlooked societal figures.
• Noted for its uplifting undercurrent despite somber moments.

3. The Boys in the Light by Nina Wilner

[15:31-16:34]

• WWII narrative following three young men—two Americans, one German—bound by historic events.
• Sarah, “not a typical nonfiction reader,” found it transcendent and “uplifting...about brotherhood and perseverance.”

2. The Correspondent

[04:30-05:11]

• Sleeper hit recommended by a retiring colleague.
• Became a breakout due to word-of-mouth; praised for its letter format and connections in the literary world.

1. Buckeye by Patrick Ryan

[16:43-18:14]

• Multi-generational American epic set in fictional Ohio, thematically centered on mistakes and their ripple effects.
• Sarah:

  “It really makes you think. It’s that lives are not defined by the good deeds that we do, but really by how we deal with our mistakes.” [17:43]

• Also praised for its nuanced portrayal of motherhood.

3. Sarah’s Most Anticipated Books (Early 2026)

[22:31-30:18]

• Seven hand-picked books, mixing books she’s read, loved, or is eagerly awaiting.

  • Crux by Gabrielle Tallant: “One of the most alive characters,” stellar on friendship. [22:40]
  • Lost Lambs by Madeleine Cash: Dysfunctional family finds unexpected redemption; “unique voice.” [22:40]
  • Strangers by Belle Burden: Divorce memoir with measured introspection, compared stylistically to Lily King. [23:45-25:43]
  • Super Nintendo: Corporate history of the famed gaming company: “I do want to wow my kids with all my facts about Nintendo.” [25:53]
  • This is Not About Us: Interconnected short stories of a dysfunctional family. [27:06]
  • The Golden Boy by Patricia Finn: Most anticipated, based solely on trusted editor advice. [28:02]
  • Yesteryear by Carol Clare Burke: Genre-bending, time-slip novel—a “huge” upcoming release about a modern influencer sent to the 1800s.

    “It was so unique. It was so amazing. I think it’s going to be a huge book.” — Sarah [28:44]

4. Reading and Recommendation Culture

[30:18-34:17]

• Zibby and Sarah exchange further book recs, including:
  • No One You Know by Emma Tortello
  • The Post Birthday World by Lionel Shriver (sliding doors narrative)
  • Start at the End by Emma Gray (sliding doors vibe)
• They reflect on the universal joy of reading about dysfunctional families as a way to process real life and contextualize their own.
• The desire for a “reading retreat” is echoed multiple times.

5. Bookish Gift Giving

[33:44-34:17]

• Zibby’s go-to holiday gift is Heart the Lover a Lot by Lily King for its wide appeal.
• Discussing desirability of books for both men and women regardless of jacket design.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “We don’t need these to be books that people have never heard of before...a nice mix.” — Sarah [03:50]
• “Her story is…she was broken. You know, he shattered their life together, this beautiful life they had built...and she picked herself back up and became a better version of herself.” — Sarah on Jen Hatmaker’s Awake [10:35]
• “That’s what I want my children to say when they grow up, that they felt safe and cherished. Like, that’s, I think, the best thing you can give a child.” — Sarah [11:34]
• “We have very similar taste.” — Zibby [27:12]
• “Everything else kind of like, no, this is good, but it’s just not that book...huge praise for this book.” — Sarah on Yesteryear [29:18]
• “Let's do a reading retreat. We'll be in a cabin in the woods…but both of us. If an intruder comes we can fight them off.” — Sarah [32:51]
• “Why do I love being inside of other people’s lives like this?...I don’t want my family to be dysfunctional...But I love reading about other kids that are dysfunctional and other mothers that are horrible.” — Sarah [30:46]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Book Selection Philosophy: [03:39-05:47]
• Amazon Top 10 Discussion: [05:47-18:14]
• Anticipated Releases: [22:31-30:18]
• Recommendation Swap & Literary Trends: [30:18-34:17]
• Bookish Gift Giving: [33:44-34:17]

Tone & Vibe

The episode is conversational, generous, and enthusiastic. Both Zibby and Sarah balance humor and candor, especially when reflecting on reading tastes and life experiences. The recurring themes of connection, empathy, and book-induced joy serve as a lighthouse for listeners looking to be inspired and find their next great read.

Perfect for:
Anyone seeking deeply researched book recommendations, insights into literary trends, and engaging banter between two passionate book lovers.