What Should I Read Next?

Today's guest is navigating a tough season, and as a result she is looking forward to a summer of books with heart that won't be too emotionally draining. Kayla Crum is searching for what she calls light but not fluffy reads, and she's not exactly sure where to find the types of titles she's looking for.

Kayla's an RN and freelance writer living in Grand Haven, Michigan, where she enjoys making the most of her Lake Michigan proximity by spending time outside with her family and reading on the beach when she can fit it into her schedule. When it comes to her summer reading quest, Kayla's identified a specific type of story that is really working well for her. Today, Kayla is hoping Anne can help her understand why this specific setting is working so well, because she'd love to discover more books that satisfy in the same way.

You'll find the list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/531.

Early summer is our busy season around here, and we know that's the case for many of you as well. Our team will be taking next week off, but we will be back in your podcast players the following week. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy exploring our archives of over 500 episodes. Visit us at modernmrsdarcy.com/podcast to explore both recent and backlist episodes.

Chapters:

04:29 Meet Kayla

07:38 Kayla’s search for books with heart during a season of grief

19:55 The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman

22:04 Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

26:10 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

28:02  Havoc by Christopher Bollen

32:28 A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

36:45 Make Nice by Ryan Effgen

41:28 Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

45:02 The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman

48:32 Road Ends by Mary Lawson

54:43 What will Kayla read next?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne dives into the world of beach reads with Kristina Forest, contemporary romance writer and author of the 2026 MMD Summer Reading Guide title, The Summer Girlfriend.

In the Guide, Anne described it as a sweet summer romance bursting with bookishness and baked goods. The beach setting was inspired by a handful of real places and Kristina's deep and abiding love for the Jersey Shore. Anne and Kristina chat all about that today, along with some of Kristina's very favorite titles for beach reading season. Whether you need a paperback to toss in your beach bag, or you won't be going anywhere near the beach anytime soon and would welcome a vicarious vacation, today's conversation has titles you may enjoy.

Find the list of books mentioned on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/530.

Chapters

02:29 Meet Kristina Forest

05:46 Kristina’s journey to becoming an author

17:19 Kristina on writing a beach read

20:10 The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

32:46: Kristina’s favorite beach reads
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We love a summer reading project of any style, and when Anne read the submission from today's guest and her quest for what she is calling a short summer of reading, she wanted to talk about it on the show.

Emily Henderson is a mom of four, writer, and runner with a passion for home design, and she loves a project. While Emily came to reading later in life, she's found through trial and error what really works for her, and these days that's often books in an audio format.

This summer, though, Emily would love to prioritize daily reading on the page. She's looking for short reading experiences that will not only get her reading more in print, but also serve as a satisfying substitute for social media that she wants to spend less time on.

Emily is looking for short stories, essay collections, memoirs and essays, and micro histories that deliver the quick bite-sized reading experience she is hoping to log every day of summer break. And she'd especially appreciate stories that leave her breathless or make her think about them long after she finishes. Anne has ideas she can't wait to share.

Find the list of titles mentioned and leave your suggestions for Emily on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/529.

Our 2026 MMD Summer Reading Guide, the 15th edition, is available now. Buy your 38-page Summer Reading Guide PDF digital copy at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop, and you'll also get access to the Unboxing event recording. This is also the second year we are offering a beautifully printed edition of the Guide, which you'll also find at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop. At this time, we are only able to ship to U.S. addresses.

Chapters:

04:05 Meet Emily

13:24 Emily’s short summer reading project

20:36 The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck

24:01 The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

27:28 This is a Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

30:58 Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert

39:35 Seasonal Work by Laura Lippman

43:08 So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan

45:53 World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

48:12 Small Town Girls by Jayne Anne Phillips

53:51 What will Emily read next?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every year we remind readers that our Summer Reading Guide isn't a list of books you should read, it's a list of books you could read. Today's guest knows that reading is personal, and that's why she's here to get Anne's help figuring out which titles from the 2026 Guide she should prioritize. 

Ashley Cornelius lives in Santa Barbara with her family, where she's a high school science teacher. Ashley reached out to tell us about the books she's loved and one she didn't from past Summer Reading Guides, and wondered if Anne could help her select books from this year's Guide that might fit her desired summer vibe.

Today, Anne is helping one particular reader decide what to read next. But more than that, she's walking you through the thought process of considering what to read next in light of what you already know about your reading life.

Find the list of titles discussed today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/528.

Chapters:

02:58 Meet Ashley

07:13 What brings Ashley to What Should I Read Next?

12:44 The River by Peter Heller

16:27 The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

19:57 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

22:34 The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

38:35 Fair Chase by Travis Mulhauser

43:54 Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

50:39 Country People by Daniel Mason

55:29 What will Ashley read next?

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's book lover is seeking a literary doorway into the creative world of art and museums.

Kristine Parsons doesn't have an art background. She works as a county road commission manager in Michigan, yet she is fascinated by art and museums, and finds herself drawn to immersive and engaging stories that incorporate one or both elements into the story.

Kristine loves to travel and visit museums in person, but her day-to-day life between work and two active pre-teens means that in this season, these visits are more likely to occur on the page. Today, Kristine and Anne explore stories featuring art and the creative process. If Anne has recommendations that are actually set in museums, well, so much the better.

We'd love to hear your ideas for Kristine, too: please tell us by leaving a comment on our show notes page, where you'll also find the list of titles mentioned today. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/527.

We're so happy to announce that our long-awaited MMD sorority style sweatshirt is available for pre-order. A mid-weight Comfort Colors crew, choose from two shades: a soft blue called blue jean and a soft red called crimson. Both feature an MMD applique in deep navy. These are cute and comfortable, and our team is excited to wear them on cool summer nights and into the colder months of the year. We also have a new hat style and other restocked favorites: find everything at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop.

Chapters:

03:43 Meet Kristine

09:06 What brings Kristine to What Should I Read Next?

14:31 The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

17:55 The Unseen World by Liz Moore

21:47 Heart the Lover by Lily King

24:47 A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

31:14 The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews

36:52 Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel

43:07 Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

48:08 What will Kristine read next?
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices