2026 Micro Genres with Anderson McKean | Ep. 232

In Episode 232, Sarah is joined by returning guest Anderson McKean of Page & Palette Bookstore for the 2026 edition of Micro Genres! Each year, this series gives us a chance to niche down even further into the kinds of books we love — spotlighting those very specific sub-sub-genres that capture a particular reading taste. This year, Sarah and Anderson have 10 all-new Micro Genres to share, along with standout books for each. With more than 80 books mentioned, you're bound to find a few new additions to your TBR — and maybe recognize a Micro Genre or two of your own.
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.
Politically-Adjacent Stories (Sarah)
The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:00]
Charlotte Walsh Like to Win by Jo Piazza (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:11]
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:36]
Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:38]
Vantage Point by Sara Sligar (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [3:47]
The Emperor of Ocean Park (Elm Harbor, 1) by Stephen L. Carter (2002) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:48]
Palace Council (Elm Harbor, 3) by Stephen L. Carter (2008) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [4:49]
The Boomerang by Robert Bailey (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [5:23]
State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:14]
The Situation Room by George Stephanopoulos (2024) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [6:55]
Becoming by Michelle Obama (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:18]
From the Corner of the Oval by Beck Dorey-Stein (2018) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [8:53]
Retellings that Are NOT Mythological (Anderson)
Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:41]
The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [10:58]
Beautiful Little Fools by Jillian Cantor (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [11:55]
Hester by Laurie Lico Albanese (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:23]
Honeysuckle by Bar Fridman-Tell (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [12:55]
Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld (2016) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:03]
Anna K (Anna K, 1) by Jenny Lee (2020) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:08]
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver (2022) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:20]
The Kind Worth Killing by Peter Swanson (2015) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:36]
The Favorites by Layne Fargo (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:48]
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [14:57]
Wasp's Nest by Kat Stoddard (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:26]
A Thousand Acres by Jane Smiley (1991) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [15:39]
Other Books Mentioned
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne (1850) [12:32]
James by Percival Everett (2024) [12:36]
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813) [14:07]
Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (1878) [14:11]
David Copperfield by Charles Dickens (1850) [14:24]
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith (1950) [14:41]
Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (1847) [14:55]
The Go-Between by L. P. Hartley (1953) [15:03]
The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry (1939) [15:32]
King Lear by William Shakespeare (1608) [15:45]
Ministers Behaving Badly (Sarah)
Dominion by Addie E. Citchens (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:36]
Awake by Jen Hatmaker (2025) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [16:45]
God Spare the Girls by Kelsey McKinney (2021) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:19]
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw (Sep 29, 2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:36]
The Dearly Beloved by Cara Wall (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [17:51]
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver (1998) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [18:16]
Dear Reader / Love Letters to Books (Anderson)
This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (2026) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:14]
The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (2019) | Amazon | Bookshop.org [19:53]
The Borrower by Rebecca Makkai (2011) | Ama...