In Episode 25, Siobhan Jones (Editorial Director of Book of the Month) joins me to go behind the scenes of Book of the Month…and reveals one of the August Book of the Month picks early! This post contains affiliate links, through which I make a small commission when you make a purchase (at no cost to you!). Highlights What Siobhan’s job entails day-to-day. How Book of the Month picks its monthly selections (including how books initially get on their radar, how far in advance they pick the books, and what types of books “work” and “don’t work” for Book of the Month) Whether Siobhan personally reads all the picks every month. How books get matched with judges (it’s not how you think!). The September release Liberty Hardy has already read 3 times. Book of the Month‘s philosophy about the mix of books for each month. The rationale for and details about the February 2018 strategic changes at Book of the Month (including the disappearance and swift reappearance of the judges’ essays). Why authors whose books are Book of the Month selections end up becoming judges. The recent uptick in repeat authors. How Book of the Month chooses its recurring judges. Lightening round of Siobhan’s Book of the Month favorites. How Book of the Month chooses its December picks every year. Siobhan’s Book Recommendations Two OLD Books She Loves Severance by Ling Ma | Buy from Amazon [27:03] The Municipalists by Seth Fried | Buy from Amazon [27:48] Two NEW Books She Loves Things You Save in a Fire by Katherine Center | Buy from Amazon [29:21] Lot: Stories by Bryan Washington | Buy from Amazon [31:26] One Books She Didn’t Love Purity by Jonathan Franzen | Buy from Amazon [33:39] One New Release She’s Excited About (EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW OF AUGUST BOOK OF THE MONTH PICK) Dominicanaby Angie Cruz (September 3) | Buy from Amazon [35:54] Other Books Mentioned Gideon the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir | Buy from Amazon [7:50] Normal People by Sally Rooney (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [8:50] Summer of ’69 by Elin Hilderbrand | Buy from Amazon [10:54] The Golden Hour by Beatriz Williams | Buy from Amazon [11:05] Recursion by Blake Crouch (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [12:20] Dark Matter by Blake Crouch (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [12:20] The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang | Buy from Amazon [16:32] The Proposal by Jasmine Guillory | Buy from Amazon [16:32] Miracle Creek by Angie Kim (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [17:05] Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [17:46] Final Girls by Riley Sager | Buy from Amazon [18:23] Behind Her Eyes by Sarah Pinborough (Spoiler Discussion) | Buy from Amazon [19:40] Severance by Ling Ma | Buy from Amazon [20:42] The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides | Buy from Amazon [22:18] Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver | Buy from Amazon [23:32] The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver | Buy from Amazon [23:32] A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [24:32] How to Walk Away by Katherine Center (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [29:28] There, There by Tommy Orange | Buy from Amazon [31:48] Commonwealth by Ann Patchett (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [37:53] The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [43:47] The Heart’s Invisible Furies by John Boyne (My Review) | Buy from Amazon [44:15] From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein (My Review) | Buy from Amazon[45:58] Other Links Book of the Month YA Subscription Episode 24: Grace Atwood and Becca Freeman (Co-Hosts of Bad on Paper Podcast) Grace Atwood and Becca Freeman (Co-Hosts of Bad on Paper Podcast) Book of the Month Judge Liberty Hardy Sarah’s Ultimate Guide to the Book of the Month Judges Sarah’s Behind Her Eyes Spoiler Discussion (#WTFthatending) Goodreads Most Popular Books Published in 2019 Sarah’s Most Recent Book of the Month commentary post Slate article: “The Song Jonathan Franzen Called a “Great Song” at the End of Purity is the Worst Thing About Purity” Books Are Magic (indie books