Two Years In: Owning an Indie Bookstore ...

Gayle Weiswasser, co-owner of Wonderland Books in Bethesda, Maryland, returns to catch up with Sarah as the bookstore approaches its second anniversary! Gayle shares how the business has grown, what they've learned along the way, and how their first full year compared to expectations. Plus, they talk about the books flying off the shelves, surprising sales trends, and how owning a bookstore has changed Gayle's own reading life. And, of course, Gayle shares her top book recommendations!

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CLICK HERE for the full episode Show Notes on the blog.

Highlights

• How Wonderland's first full year compared to Gayle's financial expectations and biggest fears.
• What they've learned from their first full holiday season, plus the changes they've made as the business has grown.
• Which genres are selling especially well at Wonderland … and which have been surprisingly slow.
• The books they can't keep on the shelves, some unexpected bestsellers, and how this fall's biggest releases are performing.
• How Gayle handles customers asking her about specific books that she didn't particularly like.
• How the bookstore has affected Gayle's personal reading habits.

Gayles's Book Recommendations

Two OLD Books She Loves

• I'll Come to You by Rebecca Kauffman (2025) | Bookshop.org [34:28] 
• The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue (2023) | Bookshop.org [36:67] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • The Reservation by Rebecca Kauffman (Feb 24) [34:49] 
  • The Gunners by Rebecca Kauffman (2018) [35:01] 
  • Chorus by Rebecca Kauffman (2022) [35:02] 

Two NEW Books She Loves

• Brawler by Lauren Groff (Feb 24) | Bookshop.org [38:14] 
• Good People by Patmeena Sabit (Feb 3) | Bookshop.org  [40:11] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff (2015) [39:50]

One Book She DIDN'T Love

• The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (2025) | Bookshop.org [42:48] 

Two NEW RELEASES She's Excited About

• Kaleidoscope by Dani Shapiro (May 4, 2027) | Bookshop.org [46:30] 
• Lunch Money by J. Ryan Stradal (May 4, 2027) | Bookshop.org [48:54] 
• Other Books Mentioned
  • Inheritance by Dani Shapiro (2018) [46:40] 
  • Signal Fires by Dani Shapiro (2022) [48:32] 
  • Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J. Ryan Stradal (2015) [49:02] 

Books From the Discussion

• Threshing Day by Rebecca Yarros (Sep 29) [8:24]
• A Court of Splintered Harmony by Sarah J. Maas (Oct 27) [8:28] 
• James by Percival Everett (2024) [12:32] 
• The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett (May 5) [12:48]
• Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (Apr 7) [12:53]
• The Help by Kathryn Stockett (2009) [13:27]
• Strangers by Belle Burden (Jan 13) [14:55]
• Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman (2024)* [15:04]
• East of Eden by John Steinbeck (1952) [15:41]
• Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon (2023) [15:53]
• Long Bright River by Liz Moore (2020) [15:56]
• The Secret History by Donna Tartt (1992) [16:03]
• Taipei Story by R. F. Kuang (Sep 8) [17:18]
• Partita by Barbara Kingsolver (Oct 6) [17:27]
• American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee (Sep 29) [17:31]
• Hollywood, Ending by John Green (Sep 22) [17:53]
• Exit Party by Emily St. John Mandel (Sep 15) [18:34]
• Big Little Truths by Liane Moriarty (Aug 25) [19:00]
• The Disappearers by Marlon James (Sep 1) [19:07]
• The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon (Sep 8) [19:34]
• Under Story by Chloe Benjamin (Sep 1) [19:51]
• The Odyssey by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson (2017 translation) [20:08]
• The Iliad by Homer, translated by Emily Wilson (2023 translation) [21:05]
• The Odyssey: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds, adapted from Homer (2010) [21:10]
• The Iliad: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds, adapted from Homer (2019) [21:38]
• The Aeneid: A Graphic Novel by Gareth Hinds, adapted from Virgil (March 16, 2027) [21:39]
• Whistler by Ann Patchett (Jun 2) [21:53]
• The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin (2023) [32:40]

*Publication year reflects the later traditionally published edition for a book originally self-published.