What Should I Read Next? - podcast cover

What Should I Read Next?

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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Episodes

Ep 47: Needing books, with a capital "N"

It's bibliotherapy time! Today's guest is Erin Swann, is an attorney who lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her family. Erin's always been a reader, but when she went through a major transition a few years back she rediscovered the therapeutic value of a welcoming book. Join Erin and Anne as they discuss armchair travel, fictional characters as friends, and more. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know w...

Nov 01, 201630 minEp. 47

Ep 46: What DID they read next (and how did they feel about it?)

Today we have a special episode: we're revisiting seven guests from previous episodes of the show to find out what they actually did read next. What are they reading now? What did they love? And what did they, uh, not love as much? Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode. What book recommendations YOU have picked up after listening to the show! Did you love them? Hate them? Let Anne know in the comments on the podcast site. Connect with Anne: Blog ...

Oct 25, 201624 minEp. 46

Ep 45: Heartwarming books for dire situations

Today's guest is Ana Salazar. Ana is a Columbian who’s now living in Peru, and she’s been, as she says, "absolutely obsessed” with reading for her whole life, so much so that her parents had to physically drag her away from bookstores when she was growing up. Anne and Ana discuss the joys and challenges of reading across borders, unpack Ana's love for the genre she's been loving recently, and explore why a Kindle is an absolutely magical device for international readers. Click over to the podcas...

Oct 18, 201647 minEp. 45

Ep 44: Like speed dating, but with authors

Today we meet a indie bookstore owner and kindred bookish spirit, Annie Jones. In this episode, Anne and Annie talk about her wildly unlikely path to bookstore ownership, her love of dysfunctional family literature, and the way meeting an author in person can change the way you experience a book. And unlike a lot of WSIRN guests -- Annie is not afraid to say she hates a book (or... a lot of books.) Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave...

Oct 11, 201657 minEp. 44

Ep 43: Fiction FOMO and curing Hamilton hangover

Today we're happy to welcome reader and podcaster Sarah Stewart Holland to the show. You may already know Sarah from her blog Bluegrass Redhead or her show, Pantsuit Politics . Sarah is drawn to nonfiction and wants to read more fiction, but tends to grab what's new and hot in fiction for fear of missing out, instead of intentionally selecting it. One of her big strengths is "input," and she loves reading about all kinds of topics to scratch that informational itch. And she's obsessed with Hamil...

Oct 04, 201647 minEp. 43

Ep 42: Life's too short to waste on bad books

Today we fellow podcaster Erik Fisher to the show! Erik is known as the productivity guru because of his wonderful podcast Beyond the To Do List, the first podcast Anne ever listened to, AND the first podcast she ever appeared on! Erik is a HUGE reader, and in this episode we talk about how he’s made the switch back to paper books after a flirtation with e-reading, personality types, and how he avoids wasting time on bad books. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discus...

Sep 27, 201646 minEp. 42

Ep 41: The books we can't wait to read this fall

Today's bonus podcast episode of What Should I Read Next is focused on fall's hot new releases. Bookstore owner Holland Saltsman of The Novel Neighbor (from yesterday's Ep 40— listen here !) and Anne talk about the titles we've read and are psyched about, plus the ones they can't wait to get their hands on. Anne also brings you short interviews she did in Savannah with friends and authors (including Susan Meissner, Ariel Lawhon, and Greer Macallister) who share which books they can't wait to rea...

Sep 21, 201621 minEp. 41

Ep 40: Spouses of Readers Anonymous

When Anne first thought of starting a podcast, her bookstore-owning friend Holland Saltsman was one of the very first people she wanted to have on. And she was one of the first people Anne interviewed for the show. And the audio quality on that recording was so poor Anne was terrified to give it another go for almost a full year. Holland is one of Anne's favorite people to talk books with, because she's smart, and funny, and tells it like it is. She's been excited about this one for a long time....

Sep 20, 201644 minEp. 40

Ep 39: Judging a book by its first sentence

Today we welcome Melody Warnick to the show! She’s a Blacksburg-based author, who has been tracking her reading in an excel spreadsheet since 2004 . If you find that intimidating, don’t worry—Melody’s not analytical about choosing what to read next (wait until you to hear how she approaches a big stack of library books.) Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Melody should read next! Connect wi...

Sep 13, 201648 minEp. 39

Ep 38: Secrets, cheap tricks, and paradigm-shifting books

Today Anne chats with Anissa Davis, a family physician who lives with her family in California. She likes smart, funny, contemporary fiction with diverse protagonists, and she wants to be blown away by more books. Many of you will relate when Anissa says sometimes finding great fiction feels like kissing a lot of frogs before you find your prince. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Anissa s...

Sep 06, 201642 minEp. 38

Ep 37: Reading as a couple + the best books YOU read this summer

Kurt and Kristin are a husband and wife who want to read more together. Their question for Anne is a fun twist on a familiar theme — “What should WE read next?” Kristin has been a lifetime lover of books; Kurt has only recently become a serious reader (thanks in part to 15 years of nudging from his wife). They want to find books that they can read and talk about together! Both enjoy high-quality fiction, but you can probably guess which one of them loves Blood Meridian and which one loves A Tree...

Aug 30, 201651 minEp. 37

Ep 36: Comfort food, but with books

It's Tuesday, and time for a new episode of What Should I Read Next! Our guest today is Tiffany King, a dear friend you might know from her food blog, Eat At Home . Tiffany is a busy woman -- a homeschool mom for 19 years, and the creator of her own business -- so when she reads, she craves something cozy and comforting. " “I don’t tend to go really deep with my fiction," she says, "and I don’t feel bad about that." If you love comforting fiction with mouth-watering culinary themes, today's epis...

Aug 23, 201637 minEp. 36

Ep 35: Internet brain, redemption stories, and books with terrible elevator pitches

Our guest today is Katherine Willis Pershey. Katherine is a friend whose taste Anne trusts: she's recommended several excellent titles to Anne over the years (and we talk about a handful of those in this episode). Today it's Anne's turn to do the recommending. If you love books that dive into human nature, authors that approach serious subjects through the back door, a good redemption story, or just excellent storytelling, redemption stories, there's sure to be a book for you in today's episode....

Aug 16, 201628 minEp. 35

Ep 34: Books that marry fiction and reality

Our guest today is Rose Booth, a technology merchandising director and cinephile who sometimes "feels like she's dating books." Rose loves female protagonists who flout convention and books where reality meets fiction, but she's also eager to fall in love with titles from one popular genre that she hasn't had any luck with—yet. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Rose should read next! Conne...

Aug 09, 201647 minEp. 34

Ep 33: What DID they read next (and what did they think about it?

Today we have a very special episode: Anne is chatting again with seven guests from the first twenty-three episodes of the show to find out what they actually did read next. What books did they read? What did they love? What did they hate? (Because yeah, that happened.) This episode is tons of fun—I hope you enjoy it as much we enjoyed making it. Previous episodes we're circling back to: • Ep 11: What's going on beneath the surface with Meredith Schwarz • Ep 13: Memoir, creativity, talent, and m...

Aug 02, 201637 minEp. 33

Ep 32: Literature as fun escape and daily companion

Today Anne chats with Julie Smith, who you may know from her delightful travel blog Drive on the Left . Julie is an enthusiastic reader. She’s also an American expat living in London, and while this sounds awfully glamorous, Anne was surprised to hear that while her London life has its joys, it presents challenges to her reading life as well. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Julie should ...

Jul 26, 201630 minEp. 32

Ep 31: Lifetime favorite books and reading for a living

Today Anne chats with Adam Verner. Adam reads for a living -- literally. When he was a kid and people asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up he’d say read books. So Adam grew up and turned his theatrical background into a job as a professional audiobook narrator. Adam is also one of the few readers who's been decisive/brave/committed enough to choose his three all-time favorite books for the show. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, an...

Jul 19, 201647 minEp. 31

Ep 30: 4-star books with 4-star endings for an ISTJ Type A Upholder

Today Anne chats with Amy Johnson, who grew up in a big family in a small town in rural Colorado. (Amy says there were literally more books in her home than people in her town.) These days, Amy lives in Salt Lake City with her family, and describes herself as an ISTJ Type A Upholder. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Amy should read next! Connect with Amy: Blog | Instagram | Twitter Connec...

Jul 12, 201647 minEp. 30

Ep 29: Work, money, love, and mystery

Today Anne chats with Stacey Loscalzo , a mother of two girls, book reviewer for Great New Books , and former reading specialist in New Jersey, just outside New York City. Stacey always has a book going, and she’s looking for titles that will compel her to READ when she has ten minutes to spare—instead of checking Facebook. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Stacey should read next! Connect...

Jul 05, 201642 minEp. 29

Ep 28: Books that no one's writing about in Entertainment Weekly

Today Anne chats with Andrea Griffith, a former medical librarian, mom of two daughters, and independent bookstore owner, and she came to me with a plea: she misses reading at whim, is craving depth, and wants help finding great books that aren't relentlessly new, new, new. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Andrea should read next! Connect with Andrea: Instagram | Browsers Bookshop Connect...

Jun 28, 201641 minEp. 28

Ep 27: Books good enough to make you turn off the tv (even if you love tv)

Today Anne chats with Kendra Adachi, who you may know from her blog, The Lazy Genius Collective , or her Lazy Genius podcast . She’s a mom of three in North Carolina who wants to find books that are good enough to make her turn off the tv, which is saying something because she loves her tv. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Kendra should read next! Connect with Kendra: Blog | Podcast Conne...

Jun 21, 201639 minEp. 27

Ep 26: Great adventure books

Today’s guest is Tim Gardner. Tim's wife Emily contacted Anne and asked if she could do a little literary matchmaking for Tim. They'd both realized that a little reading break at the end of the work day made for a smoother transition between work and home, but he wasn't sure what to read next. They came to the right place. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Tim should read next! Connect wit...

Jun 14, 201622 minEp. 26

Ep 25: Very personal stories

Today I'm talking with Breanne Mosher, a self-described history nerd and travel lover who lives in Nova Scotia with her family. She documents her family's adventures (with beautiful photos) at This Vintage Moment , where she explores the everyday extraordinary. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Breanne should read next! Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Insta...

Jun 07, 201636 minEp. 25

Ep 24: Life-changing books

Today’s guest is Malisa Price, a mom of two who lives in Raleigh, and she’s a regular reader who does it for the love of it, not for her job, although not that long ago she didn’t consider herself a reader at all. Anne and Malisa talk about her tipping point, her taste, and her attempts to branch out with her reading. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Malisa should read next! Connect with ...

May 31, 201625 minEp. 24

Ep 23: Honeymoon reading

Today Anne chats with Mallory Rees, who's getting married next month and is looking for good books to take on her honeymoon. Regardless of your marital status, you'll enjoy this one if you love a good pageturner—or if you've ever taken, or want to take, a beach vacation. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Mallory should read next! Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | W...

May 24, 201628 minEp. 23

Ep 22: What DID they read next (and how did they like it?)

It's finally happening! Today we have a very special episode: Anne is chatting again with six guests from the first ten episodes of the show to find out what they actually did read next. What books did they read? What did they think about them? And what books are they still resisting? Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what recommendations you've loved - or hated - from the show! Connect with Anne: Blog |...

May 17, 201631 minEp. 22

Ep 21: The books that made you fall in love with reading

For today’s bonus episode we have a very special guest: Anne chats with her 8-year-old daughter Lucy. Lucy lives in Louisville, Kentucky with her parents and her three siblings. She’s a third grader who loves music, sports, and all kinds of animals, and her picks today are going to remind you about all the books that made YOU first fall in love with reading. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU thi...

May 13, 201620 minEp. 21

Ep 20: Sweeping sagas and strong female leads

Today's guest is Sarah Russell Giglio. Sarah lives in Shreveport, Louisiana: she’s a newlywed who loves cooking and The Bachelor and Bachelorette, and by day she’s a criminal defense attorney. In this episode, Anne and Sarah talk about big fat books and a few Southern classics. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Sarah should read next! Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagra...

May 10, 201622 minEp. 20

Ep 19: Great literary fiction, inspirational favorites, and high school English

Today Anne chats with Brian Sztabnik, an English teacher, basketball coach, and podcaster who lives on Long Island with his wife and two sons. Anne and Brian discuss great literary fiction, books about creative pursuits, reading with others, and high school English. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Brian should read next! Connect with Brian: Website | Podcast | Twitter | Instagram Connect...

May 03, 201637 minEp. 19

Ep 18: Compelling, character-driven books steeped in time and place

Today Anne chats with Jessica Turner , author of The Fringe Hours and My Fringe Hours . Jessica lives in Nashville with her family, where she works full time outside the home and blogs regularly at The Mom Creative . Of all the guests I’ve talked to, Jessica’s the most consistent with her picks. We have a lot of fun talking about compelling stories and character-driven plots in her favorite genre. She also hates a book that many listeners adore, and she’s not afraid to say why. Click over to the...

Apr 26, 201642 minEp. 18
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