In this extended episode, Wild Geese Bookshop booksellers and community members discuss their favorite reads of 2025.
Hosted by: Kara Confer and Emily Hone Cover Artist: Kara Confer
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Shop the books we talked about: https://wildgeesebookshop.com/lists/LvEUGztGvrbQ
Show Notes & timestamps:
1:56 Emily Hone's Golden feather - I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
2:43 Kara Confer's Golden feather - Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake
4:49 Kara's honorable mention - The Will of The Many & The Strength of the Few by James Islington
7:25 Emily's honorable mention - The Poppy War by RF Kuang & Yellowface by RF Kuang 11:49 Kara's honorable mentions - The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff, 12:10 Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
13:43 Emily's honorable mentions - There's Always Next Year Leah Johnson & George M. Johnson, Female Fantasy by Iman Hariri-Kia19:40 Lyndsie Manusos: Golden feather - I, Medusa by Ayana Gray
23:41 Lyndsie's honorable mentions - Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow, Audition for the Fox by Martin Cahill, Hellions by Julia Elliott, Slipstream by Madge Maril & The Paddock Club by Madge Maril, American Rapture by GJ Leede, Fen, Bog & Swamp by Annie Proulx
36:31 Emma West: Golden feather - One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
39:19 Emma’s honorable mentions: Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake, The Future Saints by Ashley Winstead, Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry, The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides, Play Nice by Rachel Harrison, Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison, My Friends by Frederik Backman, Hot Girl Murder Club by Ashley Winstead
51:20 Suzie VanOsdol: Golden Feather - Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Bauldree. Suzie’s honorable mentions: These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean, Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping on a Dead Man Jesse Q. Sutanto, The Knight & The Moth - Rachel Gillig
1:17:25 Tiffany Phillips: Golden feather - Writing, Creativity, & Soul by Sue Monk Kidd. Tiffany’s honorable mentions: A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst, Run for The Hills by Kevin Wilson, My Friends by Frederik Backman, Some Bright Nowhere by Ann Packer, The Book of Lost Hours by Haylie Gelfuso, When Among Crows by Veronica Roth, Beautiful Ugly Alice Feeney, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Responses from readers:
1:36:46: Kitley: Golden feather - Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
1:39:17 Melissa: Golden feather - Secret Haven by Catherine Cowles
1:43:56 Suzie: Golden feather Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross. Honorable mention: The Knight & The Moth by Rachel Gillig and The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
1:46:01 Emma: Golden feather Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry and First Time Caller by BK Borison, Accidentally Wedded to a Werewolf by Isabelle Taylor, The Love Haters by Katherine Center
1:49:11 Wendy’s Picks! A City & Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami, A Short Walk Through a Wide World by Douglas Westerbeke, The Cellist of Sarajevo by Steven Galloway, Beartown by Frederik Backman, My Friends by Frederik Backman, Bury Our Bones In The Midnight Soil by VE Schwab, The Overstory by Richard Powers
1:52:25 - Rebecca’s Golden feather: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir. Rebecca’s honorable mentions: I Who Have Never Known Men by Jaqueline Harpman and Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman
1:55:46 Brianne’s Golden feather: The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover, The River Is Waiting by Wally Lamb
1:57:16 Allison’s Golden feather: Bury Your Gays by Chuck Tingle & Bed & Breakup by Susie Dumond
1:58:16 Megan's Golden feather: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
2:01:02 Jess picks! My Friends by Frederik Backman, An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister, Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
2:03:47 Emily’s picks: Finding Freedom by Erin French, The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman
2:04:51 Cat’s Golden feather: Not Quite Dead Yet by Holly Jackson
