What Should I Read Next?

Latest Episodes:

Ep 407: Knitting unraveled my reading life Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

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 needles?

Patty Brown lives in Bend, Oregon, where she enjoys outdoor activities like cycling, as well as indoor activities like knitting. She's been a reader in the past, but lately she's struggled to find the books she'll find too compelling to put down. In fact, it's been such a long time since Patty felt connected to her reading life, that when she ventures into the bookstore looking for inspiration, it backfires: when faced with all those options, Patty feels like a deer in the headlights—and ends up leaving empty-handed.

Today, Anne talks with Patty about finding the books that are right for this moment in her reading life, as well as techniques that might make her feel more comfortable the next time she visits her neighborhood bookstore.

Find the full list of titles we discussed in today's episode, and leave your suggestions for Patty, at our show notes page: that's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/407.

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Ep 406: Holiday gift picks from our team Nov 14, 2023

Show notes

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're putting a fresh spin on it: for the first time, our team members are joining Anne to offer their gifting recommendations. Over the past few weeks, we've collected listener requests for book recommendations for everyone from young kids to elders, and today's episode is full of so many fantastic recommendations. Even if you didn't send in a question, you're sure to hear about a book that's perfect for you or a reader you love.

Find the full list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/406.

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Deliver your holiday book gifts in a sturdy tote, or pair them with book darts: our merch is in stock, including signed and personalized copies of all my books (we are low on stock in many t-shirt sizes). Explore our store and shop at modernmrsdarcy.com/store.

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Ep 405: Books that pair with pumpkin spice Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

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 vibes.

Grace lives in South Carolina, and while her fall reading agenda includes books with a darker twist or magical flair, she also gets that fall-reading feeling from titles that feature thoughtful plots and introspective characters.

Anne and Grace talk about the types of titles Grace might especially enjoy this season, with an emphasis on audiobooks, a format Grace has especially enjoyed lately. Anne leaves Grace with recommendations that she might find especially enjoyable for pumpkin spice season.

Find the full list of the books discussed today on our show notes pages at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/405.

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We've restocked our merch! Be sure to pop over to our online store and check out our reading tees, bookplates, stickers, and more. You can also order personalized copies of Anne's books, which make a great gift for your favorite reader. Find all of that at modernmrsdarcy.com/store.

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Ep 404: The art of discovering go-to authors Oct 31, 2023

Show notes

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, Anne is talking with Katherine Kwong. Katherine lives in Nashville, where she enjoys reading along with an assortment of other creative hobbies. While she knows that she enjoys fantastical stories and satisfying endings, she's eager to find new ways to understand her reading selections.

Katherine would love to identify authors she can return to again and again, and she's also interested in starting to read more outside of her comfort zone. Anne gives Katherine some fresh perspectives on her reading choices, and shares a selection of titles that speak to Katherine's current reading goals.

Find the full list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/404, where you're also invited to leave your suggestions for Katherine in the comments section.

Our annual gift recommendation episode is coming soon, but if you just can't wait for bookish gift giving, be sure to check out our 2023 MMD gift guide for book lovers, and its companion, our 2023 MMD gift guide for bookish kids on Modern Mrs Darcy.

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Ep 403: I feel lost when it comes to fiction Oct 24, 2023

Show notes

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, with her husband and young children, knows how to find the nonfiction titles that she won't be able to put down. But when it comes to fiction, Amye feels lost.

Amye would love to better understand why she might like or dislike a certain fiction title before she picks it up. She's hoping to gain some insight so that she can better tell in advance which titles will turn out to suit her readerly taste, instead of her current approach of hauling a whole range of titles home from the library.

Amye and Anne take a closer look at common elements of the fiction picks that have worked well for Amye in the past, and Anne offers some tips for the future, along with recommendations for specific fiction titles Amye might enjoy reading next.

Find the full list of titles discussed today at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/403.

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Ep 402: Reading for escape and adventure Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

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 girlfriend and beloved pets, loves to travel. But when she's not exploring a new destination, she's equally drawn to adventures on the page, and is always eager to explore new-to-her stories and perspectives.

Anne and Ellen chat about stories that deliver a sense of escape and adventure and Anne suggests a few riveting reads that will feed Ellen's adventurous spirit.

Find the full list of the titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/402.

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Ep 401: Exploring spine-tingling and scary reads Oct 10, 2023

Show notes

Seasonal reading means different things to different readers, and today's guest is searching for spine-tingling, scary reads for her fall selections.

Jenea Lyles is a full-time graduate student and a devoted horror movie fan. She's happy to be recovering from a reading slump, and right now, she's looking for more stories on the scarier side into her reading life. She's dabbled in reading spine-tingling tales before, but knows there's a lot more out there to explore.

Anne will help Jenea assemble a stack of titles that feel just right for Halloween season, while still making room for a little bit of whimsy. Find the full list of the books mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/401.

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Ep 400: A special episode to celebrate our 400th Oct 03, 2023

Show notes

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 weeks ago, we asked for your input, and our team had such a great time reading through your responses. Today, Anne is joined by Modern Mrs Darcy Co-Host and Contributor Shannan Malone in reading through your submissions one by one and sharing memories, laughs, unexpected discoveries, and more. Thanks so much to each of you who makes it possible for us to create a podcast where we get to talk books every single week—we're so grateful to be here.

We mention a whole bunch of past episodes during today's conversation, and we've collected that list, along with the books discussed today, over on our show notes page. Find that at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/400.

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Ep 399: The DNA of different book clubs Sep 26, 2023

Show notes

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, what she's looking for in her books these days, and what she calls the DNA of book clubs.

Sonya is a writer, journalist, and former banker who splits her time between Mumbai, India and the Himalayan town of Manali. She's typically reading multiple titles at once, but she doesn't like to feel too regimented in her reading, preferring to keep the door open for something new that will surprise and delight her.

That said, Sonya's interested in bringing some structure to her reading life, especially when it comes to rereading: she often finds herself easily distracted by new to her books that catch her eye, and would love to spend more time with old favorites. Anne offers Sonya some ideas to bring rereading back into her regular reading rhythm.

Find the full list of titles discussed today and leave your recommendations for Sonya on our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/399.

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Ep 398: A reading life that shifts with the seasons Sep 19, 2023

Show notes

After a satisfying summer of reading the twisty thrillers and entertaining books she really enjoys when the temperatures rise, Melanie Steimle is ready to discover some transitional books for the fall reading season.

Melanie lives in Utah, where she enjoys cake decorating and her favorite adjacent bookish hobby: keeping close track of her reading in her book journal and associated spreadsheets (and looking forward to her end-of-December book stats review.)

While Melanie feels confident about the types of books she's looking for this time of year, she'd love some help finding specific titles that fit this reading preference. Melanie's looking for more literary picks than she typically reads in the summer, but she's not quite ready for the heftier and often darker reads she enjoys in the winter. She'd love Anne's help in bridging this gap and creating a fall reading list featuring titles that will deliver an immersive, highly discussable reading experience.

Find the full list of titles discussed today and leave your suggestions for Melanie on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/398.

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