What Should I Read Next?
Episodes
Ep 408: Reading around the world
28 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We love a creative reading project, so when Allison Virtue told us about her global reading project, we couldn’t wait to hear more. Allison lives in...
Ep 407: Knitting unraveled my reading life
21 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest loves to read, but she also loves to knit: how can she find the books to hold her attention so she's not tempted to pick up her knitting...
Ep 406: Holiday gift picks from our team
14 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each year, we recommend books for the readers on your holiday season gift list. While it's become one of our favorite annual traditions, this year we'...
Ep 405: Books that pair with pumpkin spice
07 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you enjoy your fall reading with a dose of magic, villainy, and self-discovery, you're not alone. For today's guest, fall reading is all about the ...
Ep 404: The art of discovering go-to authors
31 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Knowing what you enjoy on the page can feel simple, but finding new books to deliver that reading experience isn't always so easy. In today's episode,...
Ep 403: I feel lost when it comes to fiction
24 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A devoted nonfiction reader is struggling to find her way in the fiction section, and Anne is here to help. Amye Day Ong, who lives in Dallas, Texas, ...
Ep 402: Reading for escape and adventure
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today is looking for immersive, transportive reading experiences that she can get lost in. Ellen Harry, who lives in North Carolina with her...
Ep 401: Exploring spine-tingling and scary reads
10 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Seasonal reading means different things to different readers, and today's guest is searching for spine-tingling, scary reads for her fall selections. ...
Ep 400: A special episode to celebrate our 400th
03 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today we are celebrating our 400th episode by sharing a collection of your questions, stories, and favorite What Should I Read Next? moments. A few we...
Ep 399: The DNA of different book clubs
26 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Each of Sonya Dutta Choudhury's three book clubs fills a unique space in her reading life, and today she's joining Anne to chat about her home library...
Ep 398: A reading life that shifts with the seasons
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
After a satisfying summer of reading the twisty thrillers and entertaining books she really enjoys when the temperatures rise, Melanie Steimle is read...
Ep 397: The ingredients for a favorite read
12 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's conversation will whet your appetite for a good read, as Anne talks cookbooks and culinary reading with cookbook author and book lover Bri McK...
Ep 396: Dear Book Therapist + how bestseller lists are compiled (and why it matters)
05 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You're invited to experience a taste of our Patreon community! For today's episode, we've selected two recent bonus episodes that our patrons especial...
Ep 395: A little touch of magic never hurts
29 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest grew up with a deep love for science fiction and fantasy. While his reading tastes have broadened as an adult, he's still drawn to stori...
Ep 394: Our team's best books of summer
22 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In what's become a bit of a tradition, members of our team are pairing up on today's episode to share the summer reads we've loved this year and talk ...
Ep 393: What makes you a "real" reader?
15 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Anne is joined in conversation with Shana Ferguson, a NYC-based stage manager with a particularly bookish concern: she doesn't often feel like a...
Ep 392: Insightful and entertaining memoirs
08 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Memoir is a well-loved genre for so many readers, and today Anne is joined by R. Eric Thomas to talk about the wise, sobering, hilarious, and heartbre...
Ep 391: Habits of a happy reader
01 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
For many guests, picking three favorite reads is a struggle, but today's guest Annie McCloskey has a unique way of tracking her all-time favorites. Be...
Ep 390: Audiobooks for the longest flight of your life
25 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest has a big move on the horizon and is eager to find books that will ease that transition. Nadia Sussman has always lived in New Zealand, ...
Ep 389: Anne and Will’s European reading adventures
18 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A long-delayed family trip to Europe doubles as an opportunity to explore the literary landscape of three incredible destinations. Today, Anne and Wil...
Ep 388: Books that take you off the beaten path
11 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever felt the weight of a to-be-read list, today's conversation may be just the permission slip your reading life needs. Today Anne's chatti...
Ep 387: Books that feel like a vacation for your brain
04 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Striking that perfect balance between "serious literature" and light reading can be tricky, and today Anne's talking all about it with guest Jake Sloo...
Ep 386: Your ticket to unexplored genres
27 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Diving into an unfamiliar genre is a great way to expand your reading identity, but it can also feel pretty intimidating. Today, Anne's here to help c...
Ep 385: A summer of European reading
20 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest has a standing interest in books that deliver a strong sense of atmosphere, and Anne's got some new recommendations to share. Corin Cook...
Ep 384: Reading for pleasure, not productivity
13 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest grew up reading fiction for fun, but as she got older, she felt the pressure to read for work and self-improvement. Today, Effie Alofoje...
Ep 383: Juicy, big-hearted family novels
06 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
You may know Anne's favorite novels feature complicated family relationships, and today's guest, author Amy Jo Burns, shares Anne's appreciation for t...
Ep 382: How your favorite books become shows and movies
30 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you've ever wondered about the process of adapting books for the screen, you'll want to tune in to today's episode. Joining Anne on the show is Kat...
Ep 381: Past and Present Summer Reading Guide favorites
23 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Even for dedicated readers, it can be tricky to find the right summer reading formula. Our Summer Reading Guide is here to help, and today Anne is tal...
Ep 380: Behind the Scenes of the Summer Reading Guide
16 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Our 12th annual Summer Reading Guide releases this week! We put so much time and effort into this big, big project. This year, we decided it would be ...
Ep 379: An "impossible" travel reading project
09 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest loves to travel, and since she hasn't been doing quite as much of that in recent years, she's relied on books to take her to a wide rang...
Ep 378: (Mostly) YA books that surprise and stretch me
02 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest Michelle Acierno Loftus loves her work as a veterinary radiologist, but the demanding training that her career required meant that her r...
Ep 377: What NOT to read next
25 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest loves collecting books she finds at library sales or used bookstores, and she's ended up with a shelf full of titles that have caught he...
Ep 376: Bookstore confidential
18 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
If you loved Episode 369: State of the bookstore, you're in luck: we're back today with three more fabulous conversations with independent booksellers...
Ep 375: Short novels that contain whole worlds
11 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
There’s something particularly enticing about a short book that delivers an incredible reading experience. Today's guest Vanessa A. Bee joins Anne t...
Ep 374: Gripping, page-turny narrative nonfiction
04 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Alberta-based Sarah Bramley knows what she likes when it comes to fiction, but lately she's been more and more intrigued by the nonfiction side of the...
Ep 373: Intentional steps for unlimited lifelong learning
28 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Two sisters with a lifelong love of reading join Anne to talk about the many ways books have framed their lives. Anne first met Laura Gerald-Simms and...
Ep 372: Books that change the way you see your city and your world
21 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest Jeff Speck is a familiar name around here! Anne's referred to his book Walkable City in a bunch of past podcast episodes, because it's a...
Ep 371: What should Anne read next?
14 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Every week, Anne does a little literary matchmaking with one guest, but today we're flipping the mic and helping Anne discover some books she just mi...
Ep 370: Books so nice you'll want to read them twice
07 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With so many books to choose from, committing to re-reading books you've already enjoyed can feel like a particular challenge. Today's guest, Rosalynn...
Ep 369: State of the Bookstore
28 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Here at WSIRN HQ, we love a great independent bookstore, and it's always especially fun when an indie bookseller joins Anne to talk books and bookstor...
Ep 368: Learning to trust your reading instincts
21 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What's a reader to do with a stack of book recommendations that have left her feeling dissatisfied? Today Anne is talking with Mollie Hedgecock (she/h...
Ep. 367: Books that check all your boxes + what should Anne read next?
14 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today Anne is in conversation with Keren Form, a self-professed nerd, dedicated board gamer and a fan of fast-moving stories with big themes. This epi...
Ep. 366: Great books spur great conversations
07 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
When authors and readers come together, it's always a good time, and today's episode is no exception. Today, we're sharing our recent Modern Mrs Darcy...
Ep 365: Pitch perfect endings and laugh-out-loud rom coms
31 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest has a superpower we've never heard before: she can smell a book and know whether it was published in the U.S. or the U.K.! London-based ...
Ep 364: Great books you may have missed in 2022
24 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
With so many books to choose from, it's easy to miss out on some stellar titles. Today, Anne is joined by Andrew Limbong (he/him) to talk about some o...
Ep 363: Fast-paced, plot-driven novels to get you reading again
17 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What do you do when you're used to reading dozens of books a year, but lately you've barely managed a handful of titles each year? Texas-based pilot a...
Ep 362: Our seventh birthday celebration
10 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Knox McCoy and Jamie Golden from The Popcast join Anne to celebrate the 7th anniversary of What Should I Read Next! Since Anne started What Should I R...
Ep 361: Anne's Best Books of 2022
03 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Choosing the best books of a year is always a fun challenge, so today we're flipping the focus and shining a light on Anne's reading life in 2022. In ...
Ep 360: A high-stakes family reading competition
20 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When your family has a fierce annual reading competition, it's more important than ever to choose your books wisely! Today's guest, Courtney Haggerty,...
Ep 359: Making big reading goals a reality
13 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A new reading year is right around the corner, and today's episode is full of perspective to help you plan for your best reading year yet. Laura Vande...
Ep 358: Book-to-film adaptations and seasonal reading vibes
06 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, we know many of you love to find the perfect books for each season, whether that's a summer beach read or a spooky fall novel. Today's guest ...
Ep 357: Welcome to Three Pines
29 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Anne is talking with beloved author Louise Penny in today's episode! Their conversation explores Penny's Inspector Gamache mystery series, the world o...
Ep 356: Sink into your next cozy read
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Ep 355: Highly giftable picks for your favorite readers
15 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 spe...
Ep 354: Book festivals for beginners
08 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When a devoted reader attends her very first literary festival, bookish delight is on the menu! Today Anne is in conversation with Christina McCormick...
Ep 353: Sad Girl Lit Fic and other burnout busters
01 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 ...
Ep 352: Bookish gifts to delight kids and teens
25 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 k...
Ep 351: Book Club Favorites: LIVE from Bookmarks!
18 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 moder...
Ep 350: Book mail keeps us together
11 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
An octogenarian world traveler and her book-loving daughter join Anne to discuss how reading continues to play a vital role in their relationship. Bar...
Ep 349: Cancelling Netflix rebooted my reading life
04 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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 maki...
Ep 348: Don't read widely (right now)
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep 347: A reader's guide to tricky transitions
13 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is feeling stuck between two chapters of her reading life, and she needs a guide! 13 year old Noa Hewlett knows what she's looking for...
Ep 346: Once upon a bookshelf
06 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest has a lengthy to-be-read list, and she's not sad about it! Saadia Shafati Shamsie balances her work as a travel company owner, Departme...
Ep 345: Thank Oprah for my reading life
30 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, today Anne is joined in bookish conversation by reading advocate, author, and creator of @hereweeread Charnaie Gordon. Charnaie's passion is ...
Ep 344: Our team's favorite summer reads
23 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, we're back with the 2022 edition of our team's favorite summer reads! This tradition started with a Patreon bonus episode back in 2020, and i...
Ep 343: No shame in our book game
16 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
While we love sharing book recommendations each week, we also take great pleasure in helping our guests overcome whatever reading-related struggle the...
Ep 342: Everyday reading magic
09 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, today's guest shares a common reader struggle: finding the time to read! Today, Mattie James—a successful business owner and new author, re...
Ep 341: Growing up bookish: your favorite reading memories
02 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Around here, we love celebrating reading memories and creating new ones, and today's show does just that! Anne's newest book journal for young readers...
Ep 340: The secret life of an audiobook narrator w/ Julia Whelan
26 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Anne is chatting with author, actress, and audiobook narrator Julia Whelan. You may know Julia from her novel My Oxford Year, or h...
Ep 339: I'm not that reader anymore
19 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Adrien Kordas has always identified as a reader, and in the past few years she's been excited about completing grad school so she could devote more ti...
Ep 338: This episode is Overdue
12 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, we're so excited to share today's collaboration with you. Anne is joined on the show today by Craig Getting and Andrew Cunningham, hosts of t...
Ep 337: TBR solutions for an extreme mood reader
05 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our guest today, Chicago-area reader Rebecca Freeman, struggles with a reading challenge we hear about often from guests and community members: how to...
Ep 336: Find your audiobook formula
21 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, June is audiobook month, and in today's conversation, Anne talks with a dedicated audiophile who wants to discover the formula for a great au...
Ep 335: My best friends are fictional characters
14 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, our guest today is on the hunt for overlooked titles and compelling characters that feel like friends. Andrea Medina lives in Mexico, where s...
Ep 334: Floundering with fiction no more
07 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest knows what he likes on the nonfiction shelf, but he's feeling lost when it comes to finding his next fiction read, and Anne is here to h...
Ep 333: Vacation reading
31 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, a good book makes a perfect vacation companion, and today we're pairing a cross-section of titles with three fabulous summery destinations! J...
Ep 332: Beach Reads for Book Lovers
24 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, today we're thrilled to welcome Emily Henry to the show! You may recognize her from the 2021 Summer Reading Guide, where we featured her book...
Ep 331: Strong sense of summer
17 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, it's almost summer reading season (our 2022 Summer Reading Guide releases next week!), and today's conversation is just filled with summer re...
Ep 330: Fascinating lives, fascinating stories
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, today's guest came later in life to a career that she now loves, and one of her favorite parts of the job? Nurturing budding readers! As a th...
Ep 329: Make your reading hours count
03 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Our first Norwegian guest, Lisa Sølvberg is a lifelong reader who loves a complicated family saga. She also has a particular appreciation for the aud...
Ep 328: Reading is a lifestyle
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, if you've ever dreamed of opening a bookstore, this episode is for you! Today, Anne's in conversation with Abbigail Glen, the owner of Shelve...
Ep 327: Brilliant books that ask big questions
19 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is both an avid leisure reader and a professional word nerd. Gary Robinaugh has always been fascinated with the role language plays in o...
Ep 326: Fiction is my first love
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today's guest is an author whose books are regularly discussed in our online community, and she's here to talk with Anne today about the practice of s...
Ep 325: Reading makes me feel like myself
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, today’s guest is preparing for the arrival of her second child in a particularly bookish way—she's looking for some titles she can enjoy ...
Ep 324: Gems across all genres
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, last week's guest told us about her grandmother signing her up for her first library card, and today's guest is a grandmother who is nurturin...
Ep 323: Series to cure your Louise Penny hangover
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, if you love a good mystery series, you'll definitely want to tune in for today's episode. Our guest today has been a reader since she was you...
Ep 322: The art of a great reading experience
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest is an oil and watercolor painter with a deep appreciation for the storytelling power of both art and writing. As a child, Gina Ariko M...
Ep 321: The greatest hits of your reading life
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s guest discovered the joy of reading as a child listening to audiobooks on 45s. As an adult, she still turns to audiobooks consistently, and ...
Ep 320: Book buddies-in-law
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, today's guests were already linked through legal and family ties, and since discovering their mutual love of reading, they've become even clo...
Ep 319: A grumpy man whisperer on a literary mission
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When Erin Fagan sent in her guest submission describing herself as a “grumpy man whisperer” who turns to books to create connections, we just had ...
Ep 318: You can fix your reading life
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Readers, our guest today is sharing a struggle that feels increasingly common: she's finding herself easily distracted when reading, and she's not hap...
Ep 317: Myth, murder, and a massive book hangover
01 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In today's episode, Anne's not the only one giving the recommendations: guest Shreyasi Desai, who also goes by Cece, passes on her own suggestions for...
Ep 316: Books we loved in 2021
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Here at What Should I Read Next? and Modern Mrs Darcy HQ, our team of bibliophiles talks books all year long, and today our whole team is chiming in t...
Ep 315: A life-changing bag of books
18 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Over the past six years of talking books with our guests, we've heard about life-changing reading experiences, but today's guest has a unique twist on...
Ep 314: Your reading life is in good hands
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We love reconnecting with previous guests to get an update on their reading life, and today's conversation with Tara Nichols is no exception! Since Ta...
Ep 313: Books that stand the test of time
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With a fresh new year ahead of us and so much reading to look forward to, today's conversation brings back a listener favorite and sets the stage for ...
Ep 312: Everyone needs a book box
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a favorite holiday reading tradition? We recently asked our WSIRN Patrons this question, and we loved one response so much, we had to shar...
Ep 311: Reading is LIFE!
14 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to picking what to read next, many of us live by our to-be-read (TBR) list, but today's guest has a different approach! Danielle Callend...
Ep 310: Big books that are worth the effort
07 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Between the WSIRN team and many of the guests we've had on this show, we definitely see a trend of readers who consider themselves introverts, and fin...
Ep 309: I don't know what I like to read!
30 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Our guests on this show are united in a love of reading, but sometimes that joy can get lost as life, work, and other obligations take center stage. T...