Ep. 145: 2023 Micro Genres We Love with Susie (@NovelVisits)

07/12/23 • 55 min

1 Listener

In Episode 145, Susie Boutry (@NovelVisits) and I dive into micro genres — the niches within niches that we’ve come to adore. Over the past year, we’ve discovered even more unique themes and types of books that consistently captivate us. Today, we’re thrilled to present a special episode where we share an abundant list of our favorite micro genres, the books that define them, and the reasons why we find them so irresistible.

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

Get Even More Summer Reading Recommendations with Summer Shelves:

In addition to my annual 2023 Summer Reading Guide, I’m once again offering Superstars Patrons ($7/mo) exclusive access to Summer Shelves, featuring even more recommendations for the season.
Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from 17 former podcast guests, our team members, and — for the first time — 20 Superstars patrons!
The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and you’ll receive it in a PDF file format via Patreon.
If you’d like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.

Get Summer Shelves

Micro Genres We Love Romances that Deal with Fame [3:47]

Sarah

The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:08]
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:15]
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:18]
How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:23]
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:31]
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:44]
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:52]

Susie

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:06]

Speculative Fiction that Involves Climate Change(a.k.a. Cli-Fi) [7:02]

Susie

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:34]
The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:40]
American War by Omar El Akkad | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:48]
Greenwood by Michael Christie | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:18]
Bewilderment by Richard Powers | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:57]

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

Get Even More Summer Reading Recommendations with Summer Shelves:

In addition to my annual 2023 Summer Reading Guide, I’m once again offering Superstars Patrons ($7/mo) exclusive access to Summer Shelves, featuring even more recommendations for the season.
Summer Shelves features BACKLIST summer reading recommendations from 17 former podcast guests, our team members, and — for the first time — 20 Superstars patrons!
The Summer Shelves design is clean, crisp, and unique and you’ll receive it in a PDF file format via Patreon.
If you’d like to get the Summer Shelves companion guide, you can sign up to be a Superstars patron here. You’ll also get access to a monthly bonus podcast series called Double Booked (where Catherine or Susie and I share our own book recommendations in the same format as the big show) and my Rock Your Reading Tracker.

Get Summer Shelves

Micro Genres We Love Romances that Deal with Fame [3:47]

Sarah

The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements and Onjuli Datta | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:08]
Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:15]
Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:18]
How to Fake It in Hollywood by Ava Wilder | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:23]
The Idea of You by Robinne Lee | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:31]
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:44]
Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:52]

Susie

Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:06]

Speculative Fiction that Involves Climate Change(a.k.a. Cli-Fi) [7:02]

Susie

The Light Pirate by Lily Brooks-Dalton | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:34]
The Displacements by Bruce Holsinger | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:40]
American War by Omar El Akkad | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:48]
Greenwood by Michael Christie | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:18]
Bewilderment by Richard Powers | Amazon | Bookshop.org [9:57]

Previous Episode

Ep. 144: John Marrs (Author of The One, The Passengers, and The Marriage Act)

John Marrs, best-selling author of The One, The Passengers, and The Marriage Act, talks about his journey from self-published to bestselling author, his writing process, how he manages writing in multiple genres for two different publishers, and more. John’s journalism background led him to ask me some thought-provoking questions as well. Our conversation was an absolute delight, and I can’t wait for you to dive into his captivating universe of books. Plus, be sure to check out John’s book recommendations that align nicely with my own reading tastes!

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

Highlights

John’s transition from working journalist to accomplished author.
Spoiler-free summaries of his speculative fiction novels, The One, The Passengers, and The Marriage Act.
His unique journey to becoming a bestselling author across multiple genres.
John talks about his process of developing gripping plots following his rapid rise to success.
Sarah and John’s take on the “Match Your DNA” method from The One for finding soulmates.
John’s perspective on seeing his books adapted for the small screen, and his thoughts on the adaptation process.
The fascinating inspiration behind The Marriage Act and its thought-provoking themes.
Insights into John’s meticulous research process and real-life news that influences his storytelling.
John’s and Sarah’s views on trigger warnings.
A brief peek into John’s 3 upcoming books!

John’s Book Recommendations [34:32]

Two OLD Books He Loves

The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson | Amazon | Bookshop.org [35:31]
The Beach by Alex Garland | Amazon | Bookshop.org [38:32]
Other Books Mentioned:
- A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara [35:17]
- Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith [36:55]
- Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver [37:14]
- David Copperfield by Charles Dickens [37:17]
- The Kind Worth Saving by Peter Swanson [38:00]
- Eight Perfect Murders by Peter Swanson [38:17]
- Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty [40:32]
- Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid [40:41]
- Normal People by Sally Rooney [40:48]

Two NEW Books He Loves

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent (July 18, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [42:24]
Young Mungo by Douglas Stuart | Amazon | Bookshop.org [43:54]
Other Books Mentioned:
- Unraveling Oliver by Liz Nugent [42:58]
- Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman [43:30]
- Shuggie Bain by Douglas Stuart [44:01]

NEW RELEASE He’s Excited About

None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell (August 8, 2023) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [49:01]
Other Books Mentioned:
- The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell [49:55]
- The Family Remains by Lisa Jewell [50:01]
- I Have Some Questions For You by Rebecca Makkai [51:12]

Last 5-Star Book John Read

Daisy Darker by Alice Feeney |

Next Episode

Ep. 146: Katie Williams (Author of My Murder) + Book Recommendations

In today’s podcast episode, Katie Williams and I delve into the complex questions surrounding motherhood, marriage, and society’s fixation on a certain type of murder victim that she explores in My Murder. We discuss the romanticization of white female victims, serial killers and guilt, and the integration of video games and virtual reality into this story. As a bonus, Katie also gives us a sneak peek into her upcoming horror comedy and shares her books recommendations.

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

Highlights

Katie shares a spoiler-free summary of My Murder.
How the narrator of My Murder (Lou) subverts the public’s fascination with the murder of white women.
Katie’s take on whether she’d want to come back as a clone after her death.
The romanticization of this type of death and victim.
Lou’s ambivalence about her life before her death and the complex way she examines this after returning as a clone.
Katie’s research on motherhood and her process that shaped her nuanced approach.
The integration of video games and virtual reality into her novel.
Pulling together the experience of guilt and serial killers.
How Katie crafted her surprising, but earned, ending.
Riding the line between writing by the seat of her pants (pantser) and planning everything out ahead of time (planner).
A little bit about Katie’s next book — a horror comedy!