
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.
Latest episodes

Jun 24, 2025 • 1h 6min
Ep 483: Help me find my new go-to summer author!
We often discuss auto-buy authors and completist authors around here, and today's guest is a completist on a mission to discover her new favorite summer author.
Stephanie Edwards-Gass is a seventh-grade English teacher and an Elin Hilderbrand completist. For years, she's turned to Hilderbrand's novels for summer reading satisfaction. She's read (and reread) every book in Hilderbrand's catalog, but now that there aren't any new Nantucket books to look forward to, Stephanie's on the hunt for a new go-to summer author that scratches the same itch. She's looking for stories with complex characters, a strong sense of place, lots of juicy details, and often salacious scandals.
Stephanie's already done a lot of legwork here and has a really good idea of what has and hasn't worked for her so far. Today she and Anne talk about which author (or authors) might fill this gap in Stephanie's summer reading plan.
See the long list of titles mentioned today and leave your suggestions for Stephanie at our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/483.
Thanks to all of you who have joined us lately in our Patreon community: we could not make this show without you. If you haven't joined us yet, it's an easy way to show your support for our show and financially support the work we're doing. When you sign up, you get immediate access to the 2025 Summer Reading Guide, our unboxing video, and bonus episodes like the books Anne read and really loved but didn't include in the Guide, and of course all of our archives and the new bonus episodes we're creating this summer. To sign up and get started, go to patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 17, 2025 • 47min
Ep 482: Diving into evocative ocean reads
Noelle Leong, a science and medicine-focused librarian with a passion for marine science, dives into the world of ocean-themed literature. She shares her love for books that capture the essence of the sea, exploring everything from pop science to narratives featuring complex relationships set against oceanic backdrops. The conversation also touches on the transformative power of reading, emotional connections to ocean motifs, and insightful recommendations that highlight both fiction and nonfiction related to the vast and mysterious ocean.

Jun 10, 2025 • 51min
Ep 481: A reading life that comes in waves
Join Evan Carlson, a Chicago-based actor and poet, as he dives into the search for fiction that resonates like the nonfiction he adores. He shares his unique relationship with reading and challenges he's faced to find engaging narratives. From poetry's transformative power to the intersection of storytelling and performance, Evan reflects on his artistic journey and the impacts of modern distractions on reading habits. The conversation also spotlights thought-provoking titles like 'Poetry, a Survivor's Guide' and 'Bluettes,' bridging emotions and reflections.

Jun 3, 2025 • 58min
Ep 480: Branching out with escapist, emotionally resonant novels
Tynisha Coleman, a leadership development coach and sci-fi/fantasy enthusiast from New Jersey, dives into her desire for emotionally resonant and escapist reads. She discusses how books that tackle tough themes must serve a purpose without overwhelming readers. Tynisha shares her journey as a reader and her involvement in the Morristown Festival of Books. The conversation also highlights captivating titles like 'The Night Circus' and emphasizes the magic of storytelling while seeking literature that encourages personal growth and connection.

5 snips
May 27, 2025 • 1h 13min
Ep 479: Balancing backlist with shiny new releases
Elise Brancheau, a New Jersey-based classical singer and reading-planning enthusiast, chats about the fine art of balancing new releases with timeless backlist gems. She shares her strategies for incorporating shiny summer titles without derailing her meticulously crafted reading plans. The conversation also highlights managing anxiety through literature and offers a treasure trove of summer book recommendations, from lesser-known backlist reads to contemporary family sagas, all while reflecting on the evolving landscape of personal literary tastes.

May 20, 2025 • 11min
Ep 478: A snippet from the 2025 Summer Reading Guide
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!

10 snips
May 13, 2025 • 60min
Ep 477: A summer reading road trip
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.

May 6, 2025 • 1h 14min
Ep 476: Offbeat, intricately plotted books for an ambitious reading project
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

8 snips
Apr 29, 2025 • 49min
Ep 475: Help for a fiction lover who wants to read more nonfiction
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.

Apr 22, 2025 • 51min
Ep 474: Burnout and the reading life
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