What Should I Read Next?: Recent Episodes
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What Should I Read Next? is the show for every reader who has ever finished a book and faced the problem of not knowing what to read next. Each week, Anne Bogel, of the blog Modern Mrs Darcy, interviews a reader about the books they love, the books they hate, and the books they're reading now. Then, she makes recommendations about what to read next. The real purpose of the show is to help YOU find your next read.
A limited reading selection often leads to delightful serendipity, and today Anne’s chatting with a guest who has had just that experience. Rachel Elaine Martens and her family recently lived in Budapest for a year. During this time, Rachel Elaine had access to her U.S. library’s virtual collection, but she also made use of a...
Readers, we have celebrated birthday milestones here on the podcast before, and today Anne is talking with a guest who designed the ultimate book party for her recent 50th birthday. Kelly Davis lives in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, where she works for her alma mater and enjoys caring for her garden and listening to audiobooks. For...
Today we’re excited to share Anne’s recent conversation with author Lucy Foley, from a live event hosted by Carmichael’s Bookstore in Louisville, Kentucky. In today’s show, Anne and Lucy kick things off by discussing Lucy’s new revenge thriller The Midnight Feast and the real-life places and trips that inspired its atmospheric setting. Lucy also shares...
With the year just over half way through, Anne is stepping back to see how her reading year is going. Today, she and Shannan Malone are doing a little midyear check-in to see how this year has been going so far reading-wise, and what they are most excited about in the coming months. They consider...
In today’s episode from the WSIRN vault, Anne is sharing her very first podcast conversation with Brigid Misselhorn. Like so many of our guests, Brigid came to the show through our WSIRN guest submission form. But these days she works on our team as our MMD Book Club Community Administrator. This is fitting, because as...
Today we’re excited to continue our mid-summer series featuring our team members! Learning more about our team members and who shares your tastes may help you identify some good books in a way that might not land on your radar otherwise. We hope you love this conversation. Anne is revisiting her very first conversation with...
Welcome back to our July series brought to you by the What Should I Read Next? time machine. This month, we’re going back in our archives to share episodes with four of our team members. When these episodes were originally recorded, no one involved had any idea that these readers would be on our team...
Today we are kicking off a summer series from the What Should I Read Next? archives: we’re sharing the first episodes and sometimes the very first conversations Anne had with readers that are now members of our team. Many of you know our team members by name, and you have a good sense of their...
Anne is here today with a quick message. Our team is taking this week off so we don’t have an episode for you today. But don’t despair—in today’s mini-message, you’ll hear a few ideas of where you can find your weekly dose of book-talk, including a great bonus episode featuring team member Shannan Malone and...
Today’s guest is a native Parisian who is planning a road trip this summer to the northern Alps of Italy to escape the Summer Olympics. Corinne Yan is here today to get Anne’s help in discovering great audiobooks to pair with this long drive. But before diving into recommendations, Anne and Corinne chat about Corinne’s...
Reading offers a wide range of vicarious experiences, and today’s guest is looking for books that make her feel warmly welcome. Adrianne Carnes is a bookseller and marketing director for a local independent bookstore in Texas, where she loves to create an inviting space for the readers who frequent her shop. Adrianne’s interest in hospitality...
Audiobook lovers, today’s conversation will help you make the most of your audiobook credits, whether you love short or long listens. Stephanie Van Parys is a devoted gardener in Decatur, Georgia, where she loves to pair audiobooks with working in the dirt. Since she discovered this way of merging her two passions back in 2020,...
Joining Anne today in a live conversation from the recent Word of South festival is listener favorite Lauren Groff! This conversation happened in the midst of a big moment for Lauren: she was recently recognized on the Time 100 list, and her new bookstore, The Lynx, just opened in Gainesville, Florida. Lauren and Anne talk...
Join us today for the second in a series of three live events! While Anne was on the road recently, she had the opportunity to stop by fantastic independent bookstore The Bookshelf, in Thomasville, Georgia, for the first time since 2018. During this live event, Anne spoke with host and owner Annie B. Jones about...
This week is all about summer reading, because our 2024 Summer Reading Guide is out this Thursday! Our Summer Reading Guide is one of the highlights of our year. Anne spends months reading and vetting both anticipated new releases and under-the-radar gems, resulting in the guide’s list of 42 titles with something for every reader. ...
Anne recently attended Tallahassee’s recent Word of South Festival of Literature and Music, and today we’re sharing her live conversation about all things reading with Festival Director Sara Marchessault and Kati Schardl. Book festivals offer so much potential for discovery, by connecting readers with writers they already love, new authors to experience, and often, books that...
Today’s guest enjoys tackling heavy topics in her reading, but today she’s here for Anne’s help to bring more levity to her reading rotation. As a South African of Indian descent, Natasha Govender appreciates reading real life stories from authors across the globe. These stories help her connect with the human experiences behind the pages,...
Connecting with authors is always a treat, and today we’re bringing you a recent conversation between Anne and author Thao Thai. Thao joined us in the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club last year to discuss her debut novel Banyan Moon, a juicy family drama that explores what makes a home, the secrets we keep, inheritance...
When big changes happened in Caleb Wilson-Johnson’s life, his reading life shifted, too. Today, he’s eager for Anne’s suggestions after two exciting changes derailed his previous strategy of choosing his next read. Caleb used to love planning his entire reading year in advance, and especially enjoyed pairing books with the season—sometimes down to the specific...
A recent career shift has opened up more reading time for today’s guest, and Tara Bañuelos is looking to make the most of this abundance by exploring new-to-her genres and overlooked backlist titles. Tara lives in Washington, D.C., where she practices law. In the past, she’s relied on reading for her preferred form of stress...
Recovering from a reading slump can be challenging, and today’s guest credits a book subscription box for saving her reading life. In today’s episode, Anne Bogel is chatting with Tiffany Vicars, a pharmacist, mom and State Fair prize-winning paper crafter in Louisville, Kentucky. Tiffany knows reading is her highest form of self-care, but the past...
Today’s guest is Susan Meissner, a historical fiction author based in the Pacific Northwest. You might know Susan from books like Only the Beautiful and The Nature of Fragile Things: Susan is also a reader and listener and today she’s here to talk with Anne about her readerly dilemma. Susan writes character-driven, historical fiction: sometimes...
Today’s bookish goal: finding the right books to fuel a reader’s wanderlust. Georgia-based Joy has traveled extensively and even lived abroad, but now that she’s not on the road, she’s looking to load up her bookshelf with titles that will take her vicariously to places she can’t get to right now in real life. Joy...
Today’s guest’s love of reading was reignited in late 2022 when she found a path into the bookish zeitgeist by reading a super-popular series. Around the same time, Julie Van Huizen found herself surrounded by her friends’ end-of-year reading wrap-ups, which left her feeling inspired, intimidated, challenged, and curious. That curiosity led Julie to declare...
Today, Anne talks with Courtney Dezahd about discovering themes in her reading and finding novels that will stick with her long after she turns the last page. Courtney is a marketing professional and a mom whose reading tastes range from World War I history to outdoor survival stories and beyond. But lately, she’s really honed...
Today’s guest Farrah Rochon is passionate about the romance genre, Disney, and the city of New Orleans (among other things), and today Farrah and Anne dive into all of the juicy details. Farrah is a prolific romance author with 45 books to her name, so you may be as surprised as we were to learn...
Amy Rohn joins Anne to talk about literal literary matchmaking: the ups and downs of her life as a reader in search of real-life romance. We’re exploring what she looks for in a partner, whether they’re a reader or not, and truly baffling stories from her attempts at talking to men on dating apps about...
Today's conversation will whet your appetite for a good read, as Anne talks cookbooks and culinary reading with cookbook author and book lover Bri McKoy.
In today's show, Anne and Bri talk about the art of reading and writing cookbooks and the kitchen lessons Bri's distilled into her new release, The Cook's Book. They also put a fresh spin on book flights by pairing some favorite novels with their perfect food or drink partners.
Listen in and take a look at this delicious genre from a new perspective. Connect with Bri at her website, and find the full list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/397.
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You're invited to experience a taste of our Patreon community! For today's episode, we've selected two recent bonus episodes that our patrons especially enjoyed, and bundled them together for you to hear.
Our bonus episodes come in a variety of formats, and today you'll hear examples of two of these: first, we're sharing a recent Industry Insights bonus episode where Anne takes you behind the scenes of the world of bestseller lists, from what they mean and how they're compiled, to why it matters for your reading life.
After that, you'll hear a recent episode from our Dear Book Therapist series, where Anne addresses vexing, bookish conundrums submitted by our patrons, like how to deal with overflowing TBR lists, how to get out of a reading rut, or just navigating big changes in your reading life.
You'll also hear a few words from several current patrons sharing what they love most about being a part of our Patreon community.
Join us on Patreon to unlock over 200 bonus episodes and help support our show, and find the full list of titles mentioned in today's show notes at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/396.
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Today's guest grew up with a deep love for science fiction and fantasy. While his reading tastes have broadened as an adult, he's still drawn to stories that come with a bit of magic.
Sai Sion recently moved from New Orleans to Austin, Texas, where he enjoys his career as an actor and podcaster. He's found that reading helps him to make sense of what's happening in his life off the page, too, and he'd love Anne's help in discovering new reads to match the next chapter of his life journey. He's also eager to add more non-Western authors to his reading list. Anne delivers a round-up of recommendations that will hopefully spark some new magic in Sai's reading life.
Connect with Sai and find the full list of books mentioned today at our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/395.
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In what's become a bit of a tradition, members of our team are pairing up on today's episode to share the summer reads we've loved this year and talk about what summer reading means to each of us.
From the titles we haven't been able to stop thinking about to the tropes and trends of our summer reading picks, today's episode features nine of our team members doing one of the things we all love most—talking books and reading.
Today's episode features an especially long list of books, and you'll find the full list of every title mentioned today over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com.
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Today Anne is joined in conversation with Shana Ferguson, a NYC-based stage manager with a particularly bookish concern: she doesn't often feel like a "real" reader. Of course, we think any kind of reader is a "real" reader, so Anne couldn't wait to encourage Shana on her personal reading journey.
Shana loves her work backstage, and in her downtime you’ll often find her baking or drinking tea. Sometimes she’ll also have a book in her hands, but as the daughter of dedicated readers, Shana’s struggled at times to have a firm grasp on her own reading identity.
Shana would love Anne's support in getting some new insight on her reading life, and she's also eager to reconnect with the genres that she loved when she was a younger and more habitual reader: historical fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. Anne's hopeful Shana feels like a “real" reader after their talk today, and comes away with a short stack of titles she’s excited to read next.
See the full list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/393.
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Memoir is a well-loved genre for so many readers, and today Anne is joined by R. Eric Thomas to talk about the wise, sobering, hilarious, and heartbreaking sketches in his own works, as well as some of the memoirs they each love best.
You may know R. Eric Thomas from his works Here For It or Congratulations, The Best is Over!(a 2023 Summer Reading Guide pick) which just released today. Anne couldn't stop thinking about this collection of essays, and today she and Eric enjoy a delightful conversation about his work, the art of storytelling, embracing midlife, and so much more.
We've included links to Eric's website and Instagram account, as well as the full list of titles discussed today, at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/392.
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For many guests, picking three favorite reads is a struggle, but today's guest Annie McCloskey has a unique way of tracking her all-time favorites.
Between her beloved book clubs and her well-stocked home library, Annie is quite happy with her reading life. She's been a long-time listener who's always wanted to be on the podcast and today that conversation is happening!
Anne and Annie talk about what reading looks like in Annie's life right now, the types of titles she'd love to read more of, and the mini summer reading guide Annie creates each year for the readers in her circle. Annie would love some picks that may surprise her, and Anne delivers a roundup of recommendations.
See the full list of all the titles mentioned today and leave a comment with your recommendations for Annie at our show notes page. You'll find that link at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/391.
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Today's guest has a big move on the horizon and is eager to find books that will ease that transition.
Nadia Sussman has always lived in New Zealand, but this summer she's moving to Michigan to pursue a master's degree. Nadia's never been to the United States before, and she's eager for reading recommendations that will introduce her to her new community, as well as audiobooks that will keep her entertained on the 17-hour flight from New Zealand to the United States.
In today's episode, Anne and Nadia discuss Nadia's big adventure, and Anne recommends books for this next stage in Nadia's life and career. Find the full list of the titles mentioned today, and leave your suggestions for Nadia, on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/390.
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A long-delayed family trip to Europe doubles as an opportunity to explore the literary landscape of three incredible destinations. Today, Anne and Will are here to tell you all about it.
Anne, Will, and their kids recently returned from their visit to England, France, and Spain. In addition to sightseeing, they indulged in some deeply enjoyable literary tourism. Listen in to hear more about their favorite bookstores big and small as well as the authors and titles they enjoyed and discovered along the way.
Today's full list of books (and bookstores) mentioned is available on our show notes page, whatshouldireadnexxtpodcast.com/389.
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If you've ever felt the weight of a to-be-read list, today's conversation may be just the permission slip your reading life needs.
Today Anne's chatting with Chicago-based Daniel Evola. Daniel was an early reader who got a head start on the classics, and while he's still interested in reading a number of "must-read" books, lately he's been enjoying exploring new-to-him titles and authors that deliver fresh perspectives.
Daniel hopes that having a better feel for what he's loving in his reading life will help him find more of the types of stories he's really enjoying right now. He and Anne talk about the themes he's leaning into lately, as well as how his longtime love of one genre is changing.
Anne wraps up by suggesting some new-to-him titles Daniel will enjoy as he continues his journey of discovery and excitement. You'll find the full list of titles discussed today at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/388, where we'd love to see your comments and suggestions for books Daniel would enjoy.
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Striking that perfect balance between "serious literature" and light reading can be tricky, and today Anne's talking all about it with guest Jake Sloofman.
Jake, an arborist living in Brooklyn, NY, has big reading goals, but sometimes he feels stuck in between the heavy and light reads on his list. He'd love Anne's help to find both weighty literature and frothy “palate cleanser” books that will make reading feel like a vacation.
Today's conversation, which you may have heard when it originally aired as Episode 277 in April 2021, is even better the second time around. Listen in, and if you have suggestions for books that Jake may want to add to his list, we'd love to hear from you: let us know in the comments section over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/387.
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Diving into an unfamiliar genre is a great way to expand your reading identity, but it can also feel pretty intimidating. Today, Anne's here to help curious reader Caitlin Moran explore easy entry points for unfamiliar genres.
Caitlin lives in the Pacific Northwest with her fiancé, where she enjoys reading along with her book club and finding new titles at her favorite indie bookstores. After being pleasantly surprised by her experience with a few book club choices, she’s curious what else might be out there that she’ll love, too.
In their conversation today, Anne introduces titles in genres Caitlin doesn’t typically read or has just begun to explore. Plus, they dive into one of Caitlin's current niche interests: spooky books and titles set in New Orleans.
Please share your recommended reads, especially those spooky New Orleans recommendations, over in the comments section on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/386. That's also where you'll find the full list of titles mentioned in today's show.
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Today's guest has a standing interest in books that deliver a strong sense of atmosphere, and Anne's got some new recommendations to share.
Corin Cook lives and works in Rhode Island, where she makes the most of New England's seasonal rhythms. When summer rolls around, she’s usually devouring books that help her experience the season more fully, and this summer, Corin has her sights set on Europe.
Anne couldn't wait to talk to Corin about her immersive Summer of European Reading project. Corin's drawing inspiration from some of her favorite films and searching for books that defy tourist cliches and transport her to Europe’s bustling cities or its beautiful Mediterranean coast. Anne recommends titles that deliver a specific sort of laid-back feeling of being in Europe in the summertime.
Find that full list of titles mentioned in today's episode at our show notes page: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/385.
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Today's guest grew up reading fiction for fun, but as she got older, she felt the pressure to read for work and self-improvement. Today, Effie Alofoje-Carr joins Anne to talk about finding her way back to the whimsical reads she loved when she was younger.
As a Michigan-based mom & wife juggling a consulting career and a business, Effie doesn't want to entirely close the book on professional reading: she appreciates how these types of titles support her professional growth. But, Effie's ready to refocus her energy on reading for pleasure, and wants Anne's help in building a list of titles that will bring that delight back into her reading life.
Find the list of Anne's recommendations and the rest of the titles mentioned today over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/384.
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You may know Anne's favorite novels feature complicated family relationships, and today's guest, author Amy Jo Burns, shares Anne's appreciation for this particular type of story.
You may know Amy from her novel Shinerand memoir Cinderland, both of which we've talked about on the show. Amy's also a dedicated reader, and her recommendations for smartly written stories and big-hearted family novels often end up on Anne's to-be-read list, too.
Anne and Amy dive into a lively conversation today, talking about the titles they both love, sharing recommendations for overlooked gems in this genre, and chatting about Amy's forthcoming novel Mercury. You'll find the full list of titles discussed today, and links to where you can find Amy's work, over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/383.
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If you've ever wondered about the process of adapting books for the screen, you'll want to tune in to today's episode.
Joining Anne on the show is Kat Ramsburg, who has what some might call a dream job: she reads YA books to decide which ones will translate beautifully to screen, and then works on forthcoming TV and film adaptations of these popular titles.
While Kat loves this career and the books it sends her way, she also wishes she had more time to reflect on her reading, and read more of the quiet, contemplative types of stories that don’t always make for the most exciting television.
Anne and Kat have a great conversation about the art of adapting your favorite books to the screen, before Anne gives Kat suggestions for titles she can enjoy when she's not reading for work. You'll find that full list of books and more at our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/382.
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Even for dedicated readers, it can be tricky to find the right summer reading formula. Our Summer Reading Guide is here to help, and today Anne is talking all about summer reading with our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club community manager Ginger Horton.
Ginger made her What Should I Read Next? debut in 2021 in Episode 283: Don't save the good stuff, and today she's back to talk about finding her way when it comes to summer reading.
Ginger and Anne chat about a whole bunch of Summer Reading Guide books, past and present, and Anne recommends a few titles that speak to what Ginger's seeking for this summer's reading experiences.
If you joined our Unboxing Party for the 2023 Summer Reading Guide last week, we hope you had as much fun as we did! If you missed it and want to grab your copy (and access to the recording of that delightful book party), you'll find that link as well as the full list of all the titles discussed today at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/381.
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Our 12th annual Summer Reading Guide releases this week!
We put so much time and effort into this big, big project. This year, we decided it would be fun to bring you along with us for a peek behind the scenes of how the guide gets created.
Today’s narrative episode features a bunch of voice notes and actual conversations between members of our team that take you into the nitty-gritty of making the SRG. Listen in to excerpts from team meetings about the guide, conversations about book-math, the excruciating (and arts & crafts heavy) process of final book selection, and many more of the details that go into making what has been a summer reading staple for many of you since 2012.We've had so much fun along the way, and can't wait to share some of that journey with you before you open up your 2023 Summer Reading Guide.
We're pushing "publish" on the 2023 guide on Thursday, May 18 at 8:00am EDT (that's NYC time).
To get your guide:
Want your own copy of the 2023 MMD Summer Reading Guide? There are three ways to get the full 2023 MMD Summer Reading Guide and included Unboxing access:
- Join our MMD Book Club community
- Support our What Should I Read Next Patreon
- Purchase the Guide and Unboxing access a la carte.
Not sure which option is right for you? This page has a side-by-side comparison.
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Today's guest loves to travel, and since she hasn't been doing quite as much of that in recent years, she's relied on books to take her to a wide range of destinations.
Laurel Korwin is a wife, toddler mom, and software engineer who lives in San Francisco, and she's found her work in code overlaps nicely with her love of reading. While she reads a range of genres, Laurel has a particular affection for a certain kind of story that lets her travel to otherwise unaccessible times and places. Anne and Laurel have a great conversation about how Laurel came to identify this reading niche and what it's meant for her reading life. Laurel shares some of her favorite "impossible" destinations, while Anne recommends a handful of titles to take Laurel on new journeys this summer.
See the full list of books mentioned today over at our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/379.
Summer Reading Guide news!
What you need to know about the 2023 Summer Reading Guide, coming May 18th, the blog post I mention in today's episode.
You can also learn more about how to get the guide, what's happening with Unboxing, and preorder your copy at https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/2023-unboxing/
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Today's guest Michelle Acierno Loftus loves her work as a veterinary radiologist, but the demanding training that her career required meant that her reading life took a hit. These days, Michelle's found her way back to reading by embracing a genre she's always loved: Young Adult literature.
These days Michelle lives in Seattle with her husband and young son, and she credits her YA book club for helping her keep reading on her radar during a busy season in her life. Even better, the combination of a book club focused on a genre she's always loved and a community of similarly inspired readers has helped her feel more fully like the reader she wants to be.
Today Anne and Michelle are talking about rekindling her love of reading and the role YA books have played in Michelle's life. Anne suggests some titles that will continue to infuse this delight into Michelle's reading experience.
Find the full list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/378.
Get yourself ready for spring with totes and tees that rep your love of reading at modernmrsdarcy.com/store.
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Today's guest loves collecting books she finds at library sales or used bookstores, and she's ended up with a shelf full of titles that have caught her eye over the years. But Kelsey Gruber has a problem: when she sees an unread title still sitting on her shelf after a few months or more, often, the magic is gone and she's forgotten why it appealed to her in the first place. She needs Anne's help to figure out which of titles in her collection she shouldn't read next!
Kelsey is an aspiring paralegal and joins Anne today from Virginia, where she's ready to make some tricky decisions about her unread collection. Anne's here to help Kelsey better understand her reading tastes right now, and identify some titles from her shelves that might reignite that reading spark.
See the full list of titles mentioned today, and leave your suggestions for Kelsey, over at our show notes page: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/377.
The 2023 Summer Reading Guide is almost here. Join us in Patreon to get the Guide, an invite to our live Unboxing event, and a summer full of great bonus episodes like One Great Book, Dear Book Therapist and Mini-Matchmaking. Learn more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.
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If you loved Episode 369: State of the bookstore, you're in luck: we're back today with three more fabulous conversations with independent booksellers across the country.
Today Anne is joined to talk all things books and reading with Andrea Griffith, owner of Browsers Bookshop in Olympia, Washington; owner Alison Frenzel and book buyer Elizabeth Barnhill of the whimsical Fabled Bookshop in Waco, Texas; and Roxanne Coady, owner of RJ Julia Booksellers in Madison, Connecticut.
You might recognize these names from their previous conversations with Anne here on the show, or from your own visits to their delightful shops. Listen in today as Anne and her guests talk about what’s been happening in their stores since we last spoke, the books they can’t stop recommending, and the ways they are building bookish communities, one reader at a time.
See the full list of titles discussed today and see how you can connect with each of the bookstores featured in today's episode over at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/376.
Also on our website, last week we shared all the details for our 2023 Summer Reading Guide, coming May 18th!
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There’s something particularly enticing about a short book that delivers an incredible reading experience. Today's guest Vanessa A. Bee joins Anne to talk about short books that tell great stories in small packages.
Vanessa is an author, mother, wife, and attorney who lives in Washington, DC. She recently released a memoir called Home Bound: An Uprooted Daughter's Reflections on Belonging about her experience as an adoptee who was born in Cameroon, and raised by a Black mother and a white father in France, England, and then the United States.
Vanessa has a lot of competing demands for her time and energy, so while she does enjoy an occasional long read, she typically looks for shorter, economically written books to help her make the most of her reading time. During their conversation today, Anne recommends shorter reads that deliver the sweeping, beautiful reading experience Vanessa loves best.
Find the full list of titles discussed today, as well as links to Vanessa's website, on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com.
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Alberta-based Sarah Bramley knows what she likes when it comes to fiction, but lately she's been more and more intrigued by the nonfiction side of the bookstore. Sarah knows there's a ton of good stuff out there she'll enjoy, but she's not sure of her reading identity beyond the fiction she knows and loves. This makes it hard to know how to find the nonfiction she'll find just as unputdownable as her favorite fiction titles.
Sarah's here to get Anne's help, because Sarah wants to be purposeful about expanding her reading horizons. She'd love some personalized advice to help her find that gripping, pageturner-y nonfiction she craves.
Today, Anne and Sarah set out to unearth promising starting points for her nonfiction journey and make exploring a new reading identity feel much less daunting.
See the full list of titles mentioned in today's show at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/374.
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Two sisters with a lifelong love of reading join Anne to talk about the many ways books have framed their lives.
Anne first met Laura Gerald-Simms and Ramona Gavin in 2019 at an event at Bookmarks NC, where their passion for reading led them to make a true bookish connection. Since then, they've stayed in touch, and Anne's excited to welcome them to the show in this long-awaited conversation.
Laura and Ramona share their favorite recent reads and talk about the ways books and reading have played crucial roles in their lives, while bringing them joy in the midst of busy seasons. Anne shares some recommendations for undiscovered titles she thinks they'll both love. See that full list of books and more at our show notes: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/373.
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Readers, a good book makes a perfect vacation companion, and today we're pairing a cross-section of titles with three fabulous summery destinations!
Joining Anne on the show today is Lynette Calleros, a travel agent who wants to provide her customers with curated, destination-inspired reading lists. She's here for Anne's help in matching three of her commonly booked destinations with “book flights”—purposeful, thematic literary pairings—she can suggest to her travelers.
Lynette and Anne also chat about Lynette's own reading tastes, the unique challenge of packing books for a vacation, and the specific type of travel narrative she NEVER wants to recommend to her clients!
Whether you’re traveling this summer or staying close to home, this episode will equip you for adventure and fuel your wanderlust with recommendations that span genres and continents.
Leave your own recommendations for Lynette and see the full list of titles shared today over at our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/333.
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Readers, today we're thrilled to welcome Emily Henry to the show! You may recognize her from the 2021 Summer Reading Guide, where we featured her book People We Meet on Vacation, or our Modern Mrs Darcy book club, where she joined us in a delightful conversation.
Today, Emily and Anne talk about the titles they reach for when the temperatures rise and the pool (or beach) beckon, and what they mean when they describe a book as a "beach read". They'll also dive into conversation about her brand-new release Book Lovers, the appeal of books set in the world of publishing, and Nora Ephron. To wrap up, Anne and Emily each share some of their favorite beach reads, leaving you with a nice selection of titles to explore this season, and a permission slip to read exactly what you want this summer.
Connect with Emily on her website, Instagram, and Twitter, and find her newest title Book Lovers wherever you love to buy books! You can find all of the titles we discussed today over on our show notes page.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Readers, it's almost summer reading season (our 2022 Summer Reading Guide releases next week!), and today's conversation is just filled with summer reading energy. It's also a What Should I Read Next first, as we have four readers talking books and reading in today's show.
Dive into summer reading today with Anne, her husband Will, and their reading buddies Melissa Joulwan and Dave Humphries. You may recognize Mel and Dave from when they joined Anne in WSIRN Episode 219: Required reading revisited, or from their podcast, Strong Sense of Place, our favorite literary tourism podcast.
With summer reading season just ahead of us, today's conversation is full of talk about what makes a book a summer read, why some stories simply couldn't be set any other time of year, and of course, which books are on our eternal summer shelves. You'll walk away eager to find a sunny space to sit and crack open your next read.
See the full list of titles we discussed today over at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/331. And, explore Mel and Dave's podcast at their website, on Instagram, and on Facebook.
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Readers, today's guest came later in life to a career that she now loves, and one of her favorite parts of the job? Nurturing budding readers!
As a third and fourth-grade teacher, Katrina Fleming has a plan for getting her kids hooked on reading, but lately she’s felt like her plan for her own reading life has been letting her down. Katrina knows what she likes to read, but she's found it hard to feel truly drawn into the books she's picked up lately, and she's ready for some recommendations so she can dive into a book that will stick.
Anne and Katrina talk about the mysteries and biographies that Katrina loves, and Anne suggests some titles that take Katrina down some of intriguing paths she loves most in her reading life. Their conversation will help you revisit some memories of how you first became a reader, and add some fascinating books about fascinating people to your reading list.
Find Katrina at her website, as well as Instagram and Facebook, and see the full list of titles discussed today at our show notes page. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/330.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Our first Norwegian guest, Lisa Sølvberg is a lifelong reader who loves a complicated family saga. She also has a particular appreciation for the audiobooks that accompany her athletic pursuits, as you'll hear in today's conversation.
Lisa and Anne talk about the power of book journaling and what Lisa's learned about her reading life as a result of adopting this habit. Then, they explore some of the books Lisa's loved and the type of reads she's looking for right now.
Anne leaves Lisa with a list of intriguing, nuanced books that grapple with the big topics Lisa wants to explore in her reading life. And, because Anne's also a fan of a complicated family saga, she gives Lisa a few bonus recommendations that she's bound to enjoy.
See all of the titles we discussed today and leave your own suggestions for Lisa at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/329.
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Readers, if you've ever dreamed of opening a bookstore, this episode is for you!
Today, Anne's in conversation with Abbigail Glen, the owner of Shelves, an online and pop-up bookstore based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Abby discovered the power of reading at a young age, and decided to make her dream of being a bookstore owner a reality. In her conversation with Anne today, Abby shares how Shelves came to be, her work to create a reading community where reading is a lifestyle, and what she's loving in the book world right now.
You'll also hear about how Abby selects the books she shares with her Shelves subscription readers, and three books she recommends to every reader.
If you've read one of Abby's book picks, we'd love to hear about it—let us know in comments over on the show notes page, where we'll also include a full list of the titles we discussed today!
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Today's guest is both an avid leisure reader and a professional word nerd.
Gary Robinaugh has always been fascinated with the role language plays in our lives. His career studying Aphasia—a language disorder caused by a specific type of brain damage—explores the relationship between thought, language, and communication, and he's equally fascinated by these themes outside of the office.
Gary grew up in a reading home with a heavy helping of science fiction, a genre he still enjoys for its unique ability to ask “what if?", but he also loves reading outside of this genre. Today, he's looking for some titles that will help him explore new ideas and fresh perspectives.
Anne gives Gary some recommendations that speak directly to what he's looking for, as well as some suggestions that might just surprise him.
To see the full list of titles discussed today, or to leave your own suggestions for Gary, visit our show notes page at whatshoulditreadnextpodcast.com/327.
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Today's guest is an author whose books are regularly discussed in our online community, and she's here to talk with Anne today about the practice of seeking inspiration, and the books she can't stop recommending to the people in her life—and, of course, to get some suggestions for what to read next!
Shauna Niequist is the author of numerous books, including Present Over Perfect, Bread and Wine, and her brand-new release I Guess I Haven’t Learned That Yet.She's also a devoted reader, and while she finds herself reaching for everything from cookbooks to non-fiction, she's most excited about big, bold novels that have some staying power.
Listen in to Anne and Shauna's conversation and the books Anne recommends that will remind Shauna why she fell in love with fiction in the first place.
To see a full list of the titles discussed today, visit our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/326, where we also share links to Shauna's website and Instagram page.
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Readers, today’s guest is preparing for the arrival of her second child in a particularly bookish way—she's looking for some titles she can enjoy during upcoming midnight feedings and quiet moments with her newborn.
Odeta Dyrmishi has loved to read since high school, and she's relied on books to carry her through other big changes in her life. Whether she's reading entertaining fiction or historical books that teach her something new, she knows that reading is something that always helps her feel like herself. In today's conversation, she's looking for some books that will engage her attention and bring a little more adventure into her reading life.
Anne recommends the perfect titles to help Odeta expand her readerly horizons and prepare for this next chapter in her life.
See the full list of the books discussed today, and let Odeta know what you think she should read next over at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/325.
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Readers, last week's guest told us about her grandmother signing her up for her first library card, and today's guest is a grandmother who is nurturing the next generation of readers!
Joanne Booy spent most of her life living internationally in a wide range of locations, but one thing has remained constant in her life—her passion for reading! She's relied on books to be companions in isolated corners of the globe, and she's worked hard to make books accessible to others, too.
So it's not surprising that when the Covid-19 lockdowns came to their town in Canada, Joanne took on a new book role in the lives of her four grandchildren: selecting library books to be delivered to their home each week! Joanne and Anne discuss the challenge of finding the rightbooks for young readers, as well as what Joanne's reading life looks like right now, and what she's seeking. Plus, listen in as Anne and Joanne talk about the favorite author who also wrote the book Joanne hated, and hear Anne's suggestions for reading gems just waiting to be discovered.
Find the full list of books mentioned in today's episode at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/324, and leave a comment on that post to share what you think Joanne should read next!
See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.