Anne Bogel

I just want to put them in front of you in a different way than they're originally categorized so that if a book that was set in like...

a category that's heavy on historical fiction didn't catch your eye, maybe if I describe it as a book that had music galore that would inspire you to make a playlist, like maybe that would get your attention and reconsider a book that you had like lost over the first time.

Because there is a lot of that this summer.

There are quite a few specific books I read to vet for the guide, but four that made it into the guide that there are so many artists and even specific tracks name checked that I was like, well, okay, I just put down my book, but now I'm making dinner.

I have to like listen to these songs they've been talking about.

So I really enjoyed that.

There were a weird number of mentions and epigraphs from writer Maria Rilke, the patron saint of What Should I Read Next?

Because we quote him at the end of every episode.

Oh, how good it is to be among people who are reading.

There are five debut novels in this year's guide.

The longest book is 592 pages.

The shortest is under 100.

There are...

How many works in translation?

There are four.

I'm going to tell you at unboxing about the book that my 16-year-old saw sitting on the counter, one of those works in translation.

I was like, that looks cool.

Would I like that?

Can I take this to school?

So, you know, that made my heart sing.