Readers, we’re back today with an annual tradition we know so many of you look forward to, as our team joins Anne to talk about their favorite books of the summer and what’s happening in their reading lives right now.
As always, our team’s range of reading tastes ensures we share titles from a wide range of genres and styles that will appeal to all kinds of readers. You’ll hear titles that might especially appeal to readers looking for your next family drama, who are open to a unique blend of sci-fi/horror, are ready to be pleasantly surprised by memoir, or would love to add a witty read that Jane Austen fans might especially love to your TBR.
You will not be surprised to hear that when the team and Anne get together to talk books, they can talk. So this year, for the first time, we’ve split our best books of summer into two episodes. Today you’ll hear from What Should I Read Next Patreon Community Manager and Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Co-Host Shannan Malone and our Resident Spreadsheet Queen Donna Hetchler and then you’ll hear the conversation between Anne and Community Coordinator Brigid Misselhorn.Â
Find the list of titles discussed today and let us know any of today's titles are on your list of summer favorites—or your TBR—at our show notes page, which you'll find at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/490.
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Ep 489: The satisfaction of sinking into a good book
Today's guest isn't only a reader with a specific readerly conundrum, she is also a beloved author. Anne has recommended Julie Berry's work to several past guests, and Julie also joined us over in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club back in 2020.
Today, she's here to talk with Anne about writing and discovering smart books with big heart. They also dive into conversation about Julie's independent bookstore and her unexpected path to becoming a bookstore owner. Plus, they discuss Julie's upcoming new release and how she finds books that shine through the clamor of blurbs and endorsements.
Anne shares a handful of recommendations with Julie while also inviting her to tell us more about some of her favorites.
You'll find the full list of titles mentioned over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/489.
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Ep 488: Reading goals that are just lofty enough
Novels featuring an ensemble cast of characters and multiple points of view are a favorite for today's guest, and she'd love Anne's help in finding more of this particular type of reading experience.
Olivia Haber Greenwood is joining Anne from Barcelona, where she's lived for the past seven years working as a copywriter and freelance journalist. Olivia is a happy reader with an abundant reading life, but she's found herself stymied when it comes to novels featuring multiple points of view. Â
Olivia loves the concept of these books, and sometimes she'll find one that really works for her. But since voice is such a strong component of what she loves in a book, too many of the multiple point of view novels she's read fall a bit flat. She's on the hunt for a story told from multiple points of view where every character's distinctive, unmistakable voice elicits a big wow. It's a tall order. Can they do it? Anne and Olivia sure have fun trying in today's conversation.
Find the list of titles discussed today and leave your suggestions for Olivia at our show notes page, which you'll find at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/488.
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Ep 487: Sci-fi, fantasy, and a sense of possibility
Today's guest has joined Anne in conversation on the podcast before, but now our media production specialist Holly Wielkoszewski is in the spotlight as they explore her evolving reading tastes and her favorite genres of science fiction and fantasy.
Holly splits her time between New Mexico, where she and her husband are building an Earthship, and traveling internationally for several months each year. When Holly mentioned at a recent team meeting that she's shifting away from fantasy and more towards sci-fi in her reading life lately, Anne couldn't wait to explore that on the air.
Today's conversation delves into Holly's evolving journey as a sci-fi fantasy devotee, the trends she's seeing in recent books, and some of her very favorites in these genres. They also explore what appeals to Holly most about these types of books and how she sees the crossover from these genres to other stories she seeks out. This episode highlights a whole bunch of titles that readers who resonate with Holly might also enjoy reading, too.
Please let us know if you have ideas for Holly's next sci-fi read or other suggestions by leaving a comment on our show notes page, where we've also listed all of the titles mentioned today. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/487.
If you love hearing from team members like today's conversation with Holly, you will love our Patreon community, where our team members regularly pop up for bonus episodes. Thank you to everyone who's already signed up, and if you're curious, find all the details at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.
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Ep 486: Setting-driven stories, accidental reading themes, and winning characters
Ellen Heath, a reader from the Atlanta area, shares Anne's passion for urban planning, but that's not all they talk about today.
Ellen is looking for immersive settings, characters she can connect with, and books that might even teach her something, and Anne has ideas!
Ellen and Anne also talk about her Ellen's interesting and unique method for choosing her next read on her eReader, and her desire to DNF—that's do not finish—more books in 2025.
Please share your ideas for Ellen by leaving a comment on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/486, where you'll also find the list of titles mentioned today.
Check out all of our summer merch, like our popular Well Read hat, our To Be Read tote, stickers, t-shirts, and more at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop.
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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. To learn more or apply to be on the show visit whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com.
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