What Should I Read Next?

Discover the highlights of the upcoming Summer Reading Guide! Delve into heartfelt family sagas with unique narratives like 'The Bright Years' and 'Run for the Hills.' Enjoy a whimsical road trip adventure featuring quirky half-siblings on a journey of self-discovery and humor. The guide promises 35 diverse books, complete with must-read releases and a road trip theme, perfect for planning your summer reads. Tune in for insights and behind-the-scenes fun from a lively unboxing celebration!

Will Bogel, Anne's husband and fellow book lover, joins the discussion to share behind-the-scenes insights into the creation of the 2025 Summer Reading Guide. They reflect on the guide's evolution and the joy of curating seasonal reading lists. The conversation dives into how summer reading ideas blossomed from a road trip and the importance of community feedback in shaping their selections. With playful banter, they express excitement for this summer's anticipated reads and innovative approaches to exploring diverse storytelling.

Reading projects take all shapes and sizes, and today's guest has set a goal to read all the Women's Prize for Fiction shortlists and winners. Today, Anne is talking books with Kathryn, who lives on the island of Okinawa, Japan, with her military husband and energetic golden retriever. Kathryn works for a nonprofit and spends her leisure time reading, knitting, or walking on the beach close to their home. Since Kathryn's project is an ambitious one, she's come up with a strategy of reading one year at a time, though not necessarily in chronological order. Today she and Anne talk about which years or titles she may want to bump to the top of her read-next list. They also touch on reading project fatigue and ways Kathryn can truly enjoy the process of reaching her reading goal. Find the list of titles mentioned today and share your reading and project recommendations for Kathryn by leaving a comment over at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/476. Our 2025 Summer Reading Guide is nearly here: we'll be gathering on May 15th for our live unboxing party. Get your RSVP and digital guide by joining our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club or Patreon community, or purchase an a la carte ticket. Join us to kick of summer reading season: get the details at modernmrsdarcy.com/srg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jill Jaclin, an avid reader and retired social worker from New Jersey, joins the conversation with a burning desire to integrate more nonfiction into her reading life. She reveals her struggle with decision anxiety and her unvisited bookshelf filled with educational treasures. The discussion dives into effective strategies to balance her love for fiction with the world of nonfiction, touching on the emotional depth of memoirs and the value of engaging storytelling. Together, they explore how to make nonfiction a fulfilling part of her literary journey.

Readers, if you are feeling burned out right now, you are not alone. In our team meeting last week, we talked about the fact that things are hard right now. That's why this feels like a great time to revisit a favorite past episode from another time not so long ago when we were also feeling burned out.Today we're sharing Anne's May 2021 conversation with journalist Anne Helen Petersen, which originally aired back then as Episode 284. Anne Helen writes the weekly email newsletter Culture Study and she knows a lot about burnout because she literally wrote a book about it: Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation.In today's episode, Anne Helen shares her personal experience with reading during a grueling season, advice and hope for readers who feel stuck in burnout, and a handful of backlist favorites from her own bookshelves. No matter how your reading life has evolved over the last few years, or even if it hasn't, we think you'll find comfort and insight in today's episode.Find the full list of titles mentioned today at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/474.We've been working hard behind the scenes to prepare your 2025 Summer Reading Guide! This year will be our 14th annual Summer Reading Guide, and we kick off the celebration with our live unboxing before continuing with all sorts of bonus reading adventures in Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club and in our Patreon community. Order your Summer Reading Guide at modernmrsdarcy.com/srg. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Émilie Weidl, a Welsh year-long PhD student, discusses her evolving reading tastes and the challenges in finding books that resonate with her current emotional state. She's seeking gut-wrenching reads to distract from real-world worries after feeling disconnected from her usual historical fiction and nonfiction. The conversation highlights the importance of adapting her To-Be-Read system to align with her shifting preferences, urging flexibility in choosing literature that provides solace during tough times.

The conversation dives into the search for engaging fiction that sparks discussion within book clubs. Lara shares her passion for literary works infused with strong genre elements like romance and mystery. They explore thought-provoking titles such as 'James' and 'Shark Heart,' showcasing unique perspectives on life-changing themes. The impact of relatable yet unlikable characters is highlighted, alongside recommendations for books like 'Broken Country' that beautifully merge historical context with family dynamics. Plus, a lively exchange of favorite reads keeps the literary enthusiasm alive!

Join a journey of self-discovery as a Florida reader unpacks perfectionism's hold on her reading life. She delves into the dilemma of saving anticipated books for the 'perfect' moment versus enjoying them now. The conversation highlights the joy of discovering unique, whimsical backlist titles and the balance between motherhood and personal reading fulfillment. Listeners will explore themes of self-compassion, unexpected literary finds, and the joy of venturing outside their usual genre comfort zones.

Re-reading is a practice fits into every reader's life in a different way, and today's guest has embarked on a unique reading challenge that brings a fresh perspective to her re-reading. Sarah Swarbrick joins Anne today from the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, to talk about the special project she's crafted in advance of her 53rd birthday. With her responsibilities shifting and her kids getting older, Sarah's finding more time for reading lately, and she's excited about having extra space to approach her books with a different kind of thoughtfulness and intention.Sarah's decided to re-read a selection of her favorite books from childhood, and she's also trying to pair each childhood favorite with a more recent release. She's looking for books that have a lot to say to each other, that can really be in conversation with each other, and not just in the ways that are obvious on the surface. She and Anne discuss Sarah's project so far, and explore some unpaired re-reads to discover which new-to-her titles Sarah might enjoy matching with her long-standing favorites.See the list of titles discussed today and leave your suggestions for Sarah on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/470.Our What Should I Read Next Patreon community makes a very real difference in our ability to do the work we do: as a way to say thank you for that ongoing financial support, we share weekly bonus episodes and invite our community members to join us for special events, like our upcoming Summer Reading Guide live unboxing. Thanks to everyone who is already a part of our Patreon community, we are so appreciative. If you would like to come join us, get the details at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ginger Horton, Community Manager for the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club and a lifelong book lover, discusses the magic of book clubs with Anne. They explore the thoughtful process behind book selection and how to foster engaging discussions. Ginger shares standout titles and the unique experiences from her book club journey. They also highlight community-building events and the perks of membership, including access to special resources like a Summer Reading Guide. This conversation is packed with insights for avid readers and book club enthusiasts.