What Should I Read Next?

Anne is talking with beloved author Louise Penny in today's episode! Their conversation explores Penny's Inspector Gamache mystery series, the world of Three Pines, the upcoming television adaptation, and so much more.We know so many of you are avid Penny fans, and we are delighted to share today's chat. The 18th installment in Penny's Gamache series, A World of Curiosities, is out today, so it's the perfect time to take a look at how she created Three Pines in the first place, and what goes into writing each installment in this beloved series.We hope Anne and Louise's conversation today makes you feel like you're nestled in a bistro spending time with dear friends. Be sure to visit our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/357 for a list of the titles mentioned today, as well as that famous lemon-meringue recipe. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest loves a good mystery, but could do without the murder, and Anne is here to help!Gina House loves cozy, comforting books that are often set in whimsical places. She's not looking for suffering or struggle between the covers of her chosen reads, and she's excited to get Anne's suggestions for titles she hasn't discovered yet in her favorite genre.If you're also on the hunt for cozy reads this season, Anne's recommendations to Gina will fill up your to-be-read list with comfort reads that pair perfectly with a soft blanket and a warm beverage.Leave your own recommendations for Gina and see the full list of titles discussed today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/356.This episode was recorded and aired in December 2020 as WSIRN Ep 261: Huggable comfort reads for a cozy reading season. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you've got a book-lover on your holiday shopping list, get ready for an episode full of recommendations you can rely on.Every year, Anne and a special guest tackle listener requests for book recommendations, and it's always an episode that's guaranteed to add some fresh titles to your to-be-read list and your gift list. This year, Anne's talking with TWO other bookish professionals: Adah Fitzgerald and Andrea Jasmin of Main Street Books in Davidson, North Carolina.Anne's loved Main Street Books since her first visit back in 2017. She always walks away with a great pick or two from Adah and Andrea, so she was thrilled to talk with them today to answer a whole bunch of the recommendation requests you submitted this season.While our recommendations today reply to specific requests, the titles recommended are sure to please a wide range of readers that share similar tastes and interests. Be sure to visit our show notes pages at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/355, too, to see the full list of titles mentioned, leave your own ideas in the comments, and see suggestions from fellow listeners. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a devoted reader attends her very first literary festival, bookish delight is on the menu!Today Anne is in conversation with Christina McCormick. Christina reached out to us here at What Should I Read Next a few weeks before she planned to attend the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors, because she wanted some encouragement and guidance on what to expect as a book festival novice.Readers, we know Christina's not the only one to wonder about the art and etiquette of literary festivals, so we couldn't wait to have her on the show to share her experience.We hope Anne and Christina's conversation today will encourage you to find a local book festival you can enjoy. Of course, today's episode also features some recommendations for Christina's next read, which you can see over at our show notes pages: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/354. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A registered nurse on the night shift is looking for ways to battle burnout and what it's done to her reading life, and Anne is here to help.We know so many of you have been impacted by the stress of the past few years, and Lexie Hayes is no exception. The last few years of working in healthcare have make it more crucial than ever for her to focus on rest and recovery outside of work, and she's not left with much time to enjoy one of her favorite hobbies: reading!Anne and Lexie are talking about burnout today and exploring some techniques Lexie can apply to make it feel easier to pick her next read, and then actually enjoy the reading experience the way she used to. And, Anne recommends some titles (on print and audio) that she thinks Lexie will love reading right now.Find the full list of titles Anne and Lexie discussed today at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/353. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Finding the perfect titles for young readers can be tricky, so today we're answering your questions and suggesting books (and bookish gifts) for the kids and teens in your lives!Every year we ask our audience to write in with their requests for bookish gift recommendations, and Anne partners with another literary professional to share suggestions to help YOU fulfill the wish lists of your favorite readers. To take on today's requests for book recommendations for kids and teens, Anne is joined by Sarah Mackenzie, the creator of Read Aloud Revival. Sarah's website and podcast support and inspire homeschooling families while helping parents raise kids who love to read.We were overwhelmed with so many amazing requests, and we answer a whole bunch today. Our recommendations are sure to work for all our listeners, even if you didn't submit a question. We hope today's episode helps you to get inspiring books into the hands of the kids you love. And if you're looking for recommendations for the adult readers in your life, rest assured we'll be back in a few weeks for another literary gifting extravaganza.We've included the full list of all the books recommended today at our show notes page, which you'll find at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/352. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Four dynamic authors gathered to speak on a Book Club Favorites panel last month at the Bookmarks Festival of Books & Authors—and Anne was the moderator! Their conversation went in wildly delightful directions, and we're so excited to share it with all of you today.Anne was thrilled when Festival chair Beth Buss (whose name you might recognize from Episode 257: Let's build your holiday booklist) asked her to moderate the Festival panel focused on “Book Club Favorites", featuring authors TJ Klune, Andrew Sean Greer, Brendan Slocumb, and Tia Williams. During the unexpected and entertaining LIVE conversation, these authors shared a taste of what their books are like, told some stories from the writing life, and recommended a few books they think would make great Book Club reads. We're so happy we're able to share this conversation with all of you today: thanks to the Bookmarks NC Festival of Books & Authors, the authors and publishers who supported us sharing this live replay with all of you, and the festival staff and devoted volunteers for making all of this possible.We'd love to hear which of the books mentioned today is next on your reading list. Let us know over in the show notes at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/351! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

An octogenarian world traveler and her book-loving daughter join Anne to discuss how reading continues to play a vital role in their relationship.Barbara Costner grew up in World War Two London before traveling and working around the world as an adult. Along with gardening, reading's always been one of her passions, and she made sure to cultivate this love in her daughter Adrienne Hudson, too.These days, Adrienne's become her mother's main source of books, recommending titles she thinks her mom will enjoy and then shipping them cross country. Today, Anne recommends titles featuring the compelling stories and epic tales Barbara loves most, while helping Adrienne gently introduce her mother to some fresh settings and genres.See the full list of titles mentioned today over at our show notes at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/350. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a young reader, today's guest discovered the power of books to make her feel less alone, and she's happy to be back to reading regularly after making some lifestyle changes in the past few years!San Francisco-based Rachel Seidman joins Anne on today's episode to talk about how reading has changed her life, and why she's such an advocate for books that thoughtfully tackle disability. Rachel reads a variety of books but often comes back to titles that make her think, or speak to her intersectional identity as a deaf woman with Colombian and Jewish heritage. In today's conversation, Anne and Rachel talk about making time for reading and delightful library programs. Anne leaves Rachel with some titles that will help her branch out from her go-to genres and expand her reading horizons. See the full list of the titles discussed today over at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/349. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest has been suffering through a book slump over the past few years, and Anne's here to help them reconnect with their love of reading.Aimz Rushton (they/them) is a senior lecturer in the United Kingdom, where they focus on North American fiction and literature. Aimz enjoys reading literary fiction inside and outside of the classroom, but their reading's taken a hit lately and they've found it easy to get derailed from what they've always loved.While Aimz has found a few techniques that are starting to help, they're looking for Anne's guidance to get fully back on track and trust their book taste again. Anne has some ideas to share and some titles to recommend to help Aimz rediscover the reading experience they've been missing.See the full list of titles discussed today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/348 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices