What Should I Read Next?

Today's guest has been on a long run of three or three-and-a-half-star reads. This isn't bad, but it's not what she's looking for, so she and Anne dive into this conundrum together. Meredith Wiggins works in library services from her hometown of Lawrence, Kansas, which means she is well-versed in recommending books to readers and finding great titles for herself. Lately, though, Meredith has struggled to find the five-star reads that leave her in the best kind of tears at book's end. She's already tried a few solutions that haven't much helped, so she and Anne will dig deeper into what's going on and what tactics might put Meredith back on track to find these standout titles she's seeking. Anne hopes to leave Meredith with more insight into what exactly is going on here, plus ideas for titles and techniques that might just turn this trend around in the year to come and find plenty of stunners that she'll be glad she read. Find the list of titles discussed today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadne

Across the years, we've periodically hosted Ask Anne Anything events in our Patreon community, and today you're hearing a replay of our latest gathering. These live events invite our Patreon community members to submit their burning questions, and Anne does her best to answer as many of them as she can. As we continue to mark 10 years of this podcast and all the books and reading talk we've enjoyed across those years, we thought a live AMA would be a fun way to celebrate. You'll get to hear the range of questions and Anne's answers in this replay of a casual, fun, unscripted event that really represents the feel of our Patreon community. We hope you'll enjoy listening. Find the list of titles and links mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/511 Our Patreon community is an intimate corner of the book universe, where we get the chance to periodically gather in smaller groups for events like the one you're hearing today. Our community is gathering next on February 7th for ou

Our guest today is searching for classics in audio format, with narration that brings stories and characters alive. Janae Mast lives in small town, Kansas, where she's a stay-at-home mom to her young son and looking forward to the arrival of her second child this spring. Janae's found that the audio format works especially well for her in this season of life, and she's here to get ideas for classics on audio that offer immersive reading experiences, that prompt curiosity, and that teach her new things about a moment in time or significant historical event. We love this quest for Janae. Today, she and Anne explore titles that may fit Janae's listening criteria this spring. For the full list of titles discussed and to share your suggestions for Janae, visit our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/510. Here at What Should I Read Next? and Modern Mrs Darcy, we have lots of tools you can use to keep your reading life on track as you start a fresh year of reading. Explore our collection of Leuch

At the end of last year, you heard us ask for your help to create this celebratory episode. For ten years now, you've been telling us how this show has bolstered your reading life, and in some cases, completely transformed it. We don't just talk book titles here: we love diving deep into conversations that explore why we love what we love, why some books just don't work for us, and importantly, what it all means in our reading lives.  We firmly believe that the reason this format works, week in and week out, is that we are constantly together, finding the universal in the specific. While each week Anne gets granular with a reader about their highly unique and individual reading life, the conversation gives you a framework by which to think about your own reading life. For today's show, we wanted to celebrate what What Should I Read Next? has done for your reading lives, and specifically, we wanted to hear what good books you found through the show. With that in mind, we asked you to call in and tell us abo

We're kicking off 2026 and a year of exciting milestones today! On January 12th, we are celebrating 10 years of our podcast: we'll be sharing a few special podcast episodes to mark this moment. And as you'll hear today, as we move into the rest of 2026, there is plenty more to celebrate. While today's episode isn't technically part of our anniversary celebrations, it's become an annual tradition over the past few years. Today, Anne is joined by her husband and our executive producer Will Bogel to talk about her favorite reads of the past year. Find the list of titles mentioned today and chime in with your 2025 favorites at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/508. Thank you so much to everyone who has listened, supported our show in all the ways, and been a crucial part of our community of readers. We look forward to celebrating the joy of a good book with you all year long. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we wrap up our ninth year together, Anne invites our What Should I Read Next? team members to join her and share insight into what the past twelve months have meant in each of their reading lives. This episode borrows from a long-time tradition on Modern Mrs Darcy, the blog where every year Anne asks herself what worked and what didn't. Our team is answering those questions today here, from the unexpected wins to what's decidedly not worked in everyone's reading lives. You'll hear from each of our team members today for a lightning round of book talk. We love talking books as a team, and it's so fun to get to do it with the microphones on for once. We hope you'll enjoy listening to today's episode as much as we enjoyed recording it. Find the full list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page, and chime in with your own comments on what worked and didn't in your reading life this year. You'll find that page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/507. This is our last episode for 2025. It's been an i

Today's guest has been participating in reading challenges for nearly a decade, and she's putting a unique spin on this tradition in 2026 that you'll hear about today.  Callie Dean lives in Shreveport, Louisiana, where in addition to reading she enjoys playing the violin in the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra, writing children's books, and running and baking. Reading challenges aren't for every reader, but Anne wanted to talk about Callie's 2026 project because it sounds like fun and might help get you thinking about what you want from your own reading life in the year to come. Callie's challenge is both highly structured and incredibly flexible: in the new year, Callie's hoping to read one book that starts with each letter of the alphabet. Today she and Anne talk about the surprisingly difficult challenge parameters and the books Callie's already identified. Then, Anne fills in some of Callie's gaps in her 2026 reading alphabet, aiming to help her strike a delightful balance of topics, genres, and authors.

We love unique reading projects around here, and today's guest has maintained hers since 2021. We're going to hear all about it and explore how she's adding a new twist for 2026. Kate Mosesso is a reader and improv comedian who lives and works in Chicago. She's a lifelong reader, and while she loves the stories on the page, she's an even bigger fan of the connections that reading fosters. Since 2021, Kate's undertaken a community-inspired reading project: every month, she reads a book recommended by a loved one. This project has led her to a lot of great books and given her a new way to connect with people she loves: friends, family members, even favorite professors. For 2026, she's thinking of a new angle for this long-time project and is interested in discussing how to make it really work for her. Today, we're going to explore what's happening with Kate's project, the changes she'd like to make for the year ahead, and what we can do about it. Anne recommends titles and tips to infuse Kate with confidenc

Historical fiction is a popular genre among many, but today's guest learned a lot about her reading life when she realized this genre wasn't for her! Today Anne is talking with Laura Howard, an Atlanta-area faculty developer and part-time university professor. She’s always seen reading as both a personal joy and a form of connection, whether with the fellow members of her longstanding book club or with other friends and neighbors.  When Laura realized she wasn't a fan of historical fiction, she was also able to pinpoint why: she’d prefer to learn about the actual history of events before reading fiction inspired by real life. She also has a specific list of topics she’d love to explore via engrossing nonfiction books. A high priority is keeping those books on the shorter side. Laura has tried to research on her own to find titles that meet her needs, but she’s found the options online to be totally overwhelming. That brings her here today: Anne and Laura dive in to identify great nonfiction about history.

Breaking into a new genre can feel intimidating. Today Anne is talking with a reader who is keen to explore cozy mysteries, but isn't sure where to begin. Amber Richcreek lives in Bellingham, Washington with her family, where she’s a pre-k teacher and enjoys baking and photography in her spare time. She’s also a lifelong reader and a fan of emotional, character-driven contemporary fiction.  Lately Amber’s been intrigued by the cozy mystery genre, but when she turns to the internet for tips on where to start, she’s quickly overwhelmed. Amber would love to get acquainted with this genre and better understand how to navigate it as a new reader in this space, and Anne is here to help. We also know that many readers are drawn to cozy titles this time of year, so it feels like a great time to explore the various subgenres of cozy mystery. Find the titles mentioned today and leave your recommendations for Amber on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/503. Our shop is full of both new and retu

We all know that book gifts are the best gifts, and today Anne is talking with a devoted reader who's come to the show looking for guidance on selecting great bookish gifts for the season to come. Meredith Amadee lives in Tucson, Arizona, where she works as a wedding photographer and hosts a book club that's come to play a big part in her life. Every year, this book club hosts a book exchange for its members, and today Meredith would love recommendations that will be perfect for these special readers in her life. She's on the hunt for backlist selections for her fellow members, and is looking for help in choosing the specific titles. She and Anne also talk more broadly about what makes a good literary gift. We hope this conversation might be just the inspiration and empowerment you need to find great gifts for the readers in your life, too. Find the list of titles mentioned today and leave your ideas for Meredith's book club at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/502. We've recently restocked our shop with our

When she discovered the idea of a personal curriculum, today's guest couldn't wait to apply this concept to her reading life. Amy St. Amand, a primary care clinical pharmacist from Rhode Island, wants to know a little bit about a whole lot of things. She's working to build a personal learning plan that encompasses a variety of her assorted interests, and she's here today for Anne's help in developing and refining her selected topics. Anne couldn't wait to hear more about Amy's approach, why this idea resonated with her so much, and her progress so far. After they explore Amy's project, Anne recommends a whole lot of mostly nonfiction books that will help Amy delve deeper into her chosen topics. See the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page, which you'll find at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/501. If you're a member of our Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club, today's topic may sound familiar in a really fun way. We touched on the idea of a personal curriculum in our recent book club class, A Close

Today marks a major milestone: the 500th episode of What Should I Read Next! To celebrate, Anne is joined by two guests today. First, you'll hear her in conversation with our What Should I Read Next Patreon Community Manager Shannan Malone as they explore what's new in our Patreon community space. Then, Anne welcomes one of our previous guests back to the show to talk about how her reading life has evolved since their first conversation nearly two and a half years ago. Michelle Acierno Loftus joined Anne back in episode 378 to share her experience of rediscovering the joy of reading via her YA book club. As we mark 500 episodes of talking all things books and reading, it seemed a great moment to look back at just one way that What Should I Read Next has shaped an individual's life. While much has changed in Michelle's life since her last conversation with Anne, as you'll hear, her reading life is still going strong. And yet, it's also shifted. Today, she and Anne discuss Michelle's recent explorations int

One of our favorite things to do in our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club is connect with the authors we all love. Every so often we have the opportunity to share one of those conversations with all of you, too. Today you'll be hearing from Kevin Wilson, author of our 2025 Summer Reading Guide selection Run for the Hills and a writer we've long looked forward to hosting in this space. Our conversation covers a lot of ground today, from Wilson's approach to writing his stories to topics like what it means to fit in, how weirdness impacts his writing style, and how a PT Cruiser ended up as a key feature in his book. We kick off today's conversation with a bit of behind the scenes conversation between Anne and our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club community manager, Ginger Horton. We wanted to give you some idea of what you're going to be listening to today. Whether you've read Kevin Wilson or not, we think you'll enjoy this opportunity to hear an author talk about their work and their process in a really interesting way.

Returning to favorite TV shows is a common stress management strategy. Today’s guest would love to find books that deliver the same soothing feelings she gets from re-watching her favorite comfort shows. Kayla King lives on a small-scale dairy and hobby farm in Spartansburg, Pennsylvania. A lifelong reader, Kayla's recently started to branch out from her usual genres of mysteries, thrillers, and science fiction and fantasy. When Kayla wrote in with her request to help her find books that could offer alternatives to her regular comfort TV viewing, it felt like such a relatable question. Anne explores this idea with Kayla and leaves her with recommendations that she can reach for the next time she wants to channel those comforting vibes and while experiencing a great story in book form. Find the list of titles mentioned today and leave your ideas for Kayla on our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/498. If you love tuning into this show each week, you'll also love our What Should I Read Nex

Book events and festivals are always a favorite around here. Today's conversation dives deep into the art and craft of creating an engaging literary festival as Anne welcomes Sarah Moriarty, the Executive Director of the Charleston Literary Festival, to the show. They talk about what goes into curating such a festival, what you may be glad to know before attending a literary festival yourself, and what makes a particularly satisfying in-person gathering. Especially when it comes to a good conversation about the books we love, or the books we didn't even know about before but are so glad we discovered. Sarah also shares her three-point recommendation for getting the most out of your festival experience. She tells us more about how she came to be in this position and shares details about this November's event, which is welcoming more than 70 writers and thinkers from around the globe, including more than a few names you have heard on this show before. Whether you've got this specific festival or a future o

When the world feels heavy, many of us reach for books. Today's guest is looking for a specific style of comfort reads. Jemima Welsh is joining Anne today all the way from Brisbane, Australia, where she lives with her family and her pets, including four chickens named for the March sisters.  Right now, Jemima is specifically looking for books that feel, quite literally, close to home. She's looking for stories that feature warm, rambling houses, complex but inherently lovable and perhaps found families, and scenes of cheerful domesticity.  Anne shares ideas for Jemima and other readers seeking a similar reading experience. Find the full list of the books discussed at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/496. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

,The team at MMD HQ has always been enthusiastic about fall reading. We shared our first Fall Book Preview back in 2019, and last week we released the seventh annual edition. Today, we’re sharing a sneak peek into this year's event that concludes with Anne describing the first three books in our literary and contemporary fiction category.  Our Fall Book Preview offers the gentle guidance you’re looking for in selecting your fall reads. This preview and its 35 books are all hand-selected by Anne, and in our Unboxing event recording, she tells you about why she chose every title and why it might (or might not!) appeal to YOU. If this excerpt makes you want to go deeper into this particular type of book talk, you can access your own copy of this year's Fall Book Preview and the Unboxing replay immediately by joining our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club, our Patreon Community, or purchasing your a la carte ticket. Find all of the details and choose your preferred way to get your Preview at modernmrsdarcy.com/fbp. Fi

Today we're diving into what feels like a particularly nerdy niche of the reading life as Anne is joined by an expert reader. Sarah Kellogg is a cover designer at a big five publisher, and today she and Anne are exploring what goes into the art of cover design. Sarah answers many of our burning questions and sheds light on some of the lesser known aspects of her work. Of course, they also discuss Sarah's reading life and her search for books that balance old and new while infusing creativity and grace into her reading experience. Anne recommends titles that Sarah may enjoy reading when she's not working on her latest book cover project. Find the titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/494. Our Fall Book Preview is here to help gently guide your reading all season long, and it's coming this week. In this seasonal preview, Anne shares her top recommendations for books releasing from September through the end of the year. Grab yours anytime this season by visiting Mo

Today's guest is facing a shift in her reading life now that she's an empty nester. Candice Brown-Murray lives in South Florida with her husband, children, and dogs. Her career in public relations keeps her very busy along with her hobbies like kayaking, travel, renovating a historic home, and of course, reading. Candice has always been a reader. She describes herself as a sucker for a good story, but she also struggles with finding enough time to read and dealing with real-life distractions—a challenge we hear from so many readers. Today, Anne and Candice explore what's happening with Candice's reading life lately, and also dive into discussion about her love affair with a specific author. Find the list of titles mentioned today and leave your recommendations for Candice on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/493. modernmrsdarcy.com/fbp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices