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.
…
continue reading

1
Ep 492: Reflective nonfiction about finding your path
54:34
54:34
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:34We love fielding very specific readerly requests that will also appeal to a wide range of readers, and today's episode is just that. Lynn Bain describers herself as an accidental entrepreneur. While she loves to read a wide range of genres and styles, she's here today to get Anne's help in identifying good business books to read alongside her belov…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 491: Our team's best books of summer (Part 2)
39:03
39:03
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:03Today we're sharing Part 2 of our summer superlatives episode, featuring four more of our team members talking about the books they've loved most this season. Our executive producer Will Bogel joins Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton to talk about their favorite summer reads. Then, you'll hear from Modern Mrs Darcy Editor an…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 490: Our team's best books of summer (Part 1)
39:01
39:01
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
39:01Readers, we’re back today with an annual tradition we know so many of you look forward to, as our team joins Anne to talk about their favorite books of the summer and what’s happening in their reading lives right now. As always, our team’s range of reading tastes ensures we share titles from a wide range of genres and styles that will appeal to all…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 489: The satisfaction of sinking into a good book
1:05:15
1:05:15
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:15Today's guest isn't only a reader with a specific readerly conundrum, she is also a beloved author. Anne has recommended Julie Berry's work to several past guests, and Julie also joined us over in the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club back in 2020. Today, she's here to talk with Anne about writing and discovering smart books with big heart. They also div…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 488: Reading goals that are just lofty enough
59:35
59:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
59:35Novels featuring an ensemble cast of characters and multiple points of view are a favorite for today's guest, and she'd love Anne's help in finding more of this particular type of reading experience. Olivia Haber Greenwood is joining Anne from Barcelona, where she's lived for the past seven years working as a copywriter and freelance journalist. Ol…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 487: Sci-fi, fantasy, and a sense of possibility
53:50
53:50
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:50Today's guest has joined Anne in conversation on the podcast before, but now our media production specialist Holly Wielkoszewski is in the spotlight as they explore her evolving reading tastes and her favorite genres of science fiction and fantasy. Holly splits her time between New Mexico, where she and her husband are building an Earthship, and tr…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 486: Setting-driven stories, accidental reading themes, and winning characters
1:00:46
1:00:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:46Ellen Heath, a reader from the Atlanta area, shares Anne's passion for urban planning, but that's not all they talk about today. Ellen is looking for immersive settings, characters she can connect with, and books that might even teach her something, and Anne has ideas! Ellen and Anne also talk about her Ellen's interesting and unique method for cho…
…
continue reading
A midyear reading check-in has become a small tradition around here, and today Anne is welcoming team member Shannan Malone back to the podcast. Today, you'll hear Anne and Shannan dive into the history of this practice before exploring how this year’s been going so far, what they're each excited about, and what’s working (and not working) in each …
…
continue reading

1
Ep 484: A summer to slow down and sink into what you love
46:11
46:11
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
46:11Today's guest is looking for ways to slow down and sink into what she loves most as she plans her summer of reading. Chelsea Siler is an early childhood special education teacher in Tacoma, Washington. She's often found reading to be a source of joy, escape, and growth, and she'd like these positive experiences to be reflected in her reading select…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 483: Help me find my new go-to summer author!
1:02:42
1:02:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:42We 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 (an…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 482: Diving into evocative ocean reads
50:25
50:25
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:25We always love reading on a theme, and today's guest would love to see her real-life love of the ocean mirrored in the pages of her books. Noelle Leong is a science and medicine-focused librarian at a small liberal arts college. She especially loves her work for the opportunities it provides her to join the students on trails and visiting tidepools…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 481: A reading life that comes in waves
48:26
48:26
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
48:26Nonfiction books often change the way that readers see the world, and today's guest Evan Carlson is on the hunt for fiction that packs the same punch as the nonfiction works he loves. Evan's joining Anne from Chicago, where he lives and works as an actor and poet. He's found that reading poetry and nonfiction helps him challenge his ways of thinkin…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 480: Branching out with escapist, emotionally resonant novels
55:23
55:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
55:23Feeling more confident about finding the right reads is a common bookish goal. In today's conversation, Anne welcomes Tynisha Coleman to the show to talk about her current reading goals. Tynisha is a leadership development coach, university lecturer, and sci-fi and fantasy lover from New Jersey. She doesn't shy away from books that tackle tough plo…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 479: Balancing backlist with shiny new releases
1:09:38
1:09:38
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:09:38Every year we get some variation of this question: how can a reader like today’s guest, Elise Brancheau, balance all the shiny new books of summer with the backlist titles that are already patiently waiting on her to-be-read list? Elise is a New Jersey-based professional classical singer who describes herself as a huge reading-planning nerd. We kno…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 478: A snippet from the 2025 Summer Reading Guide
10:33
10:33
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
10:33We're taking you behind the scenes of our 2025 Summer Reading Guide and sharing an excerpt from our live Unboxing party. Our 2025 Guide includes 35 books across a range of genres which we've grouped into six categories. Today you'll hear Anne's commentary of three books from the first category, Family Sagas. Our Summer Reading Guide and Unboxing ar…
…
continue reading
We're kicking off Summer Reading Season with our fourteenth annual Summer Reading Guide, coming this Thursday! Today on the podcast Anne is joined by a special guest who is particularly well qualified to go behind the scenes of our 2025 Summer Reading Guide with her: Will Bogel! Many of you consider Anne's husband Will to be your book twin, and tod…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 476: Offbeat, intricately plotted books for an ambitious reading project
1:10:42
1:10:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:42Reading 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 readi…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 475: Help for a fiction lover who wants to read more nonfiction
45:59
45:59
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
45:59Today's guest is an avid reader, retired social worker, and What Should I Read Next? completist who lives in New Jersey. Jill Jaclin has a reading conundrum: she really wants to read more nonfiction, but she's struggled to find a way to incorporate it into her reading life. As she told Anne, she also knows that there are nonfiction books out there …
…
continue reading
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 conversati…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 473: Refining an out-of-date TBR system
57:46
57:46
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:46When the world feels heavy, many of us look to books for distraction, inspiration, or reassurance. Today's guest has a unique spin on what she's seeking and would love Anne's help in figuring out how the types of reads she wants right now fit into her existing to-be-read (TBR) system. Émilie Weidl lives in Wales, where she's taken a year off before…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 472: Literary + Genre = match made in heaven
53:55
53:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:55Finding highly discussable books for book clubs often feels like a full-time job, especially if you're a member of multiple long-standing book clubs like today's guest, Lara. Today, Lara joins Anne to talk about her constant search for fiction that explores the human condition in all its messy glory. She loves these sorts of books because they give…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 471: Don't let perfectionism ruin your reading life
1:04:42
1:04:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:04:42Over the past few years, today's guest has been on a journey of self-discovery. Florida reader Casey has been working on coming to terms with her perfectionism and along the way, she's been noticing what it means for her reading life. Casey's noticed she tends to save highly anticipated books for later: some uncertain time down the road when circum…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 470: Revisiting childhood favorites for a nostalgic reading project
54:30
54:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
54:30Re-reading is a practice fits into every reader's life in a different way, and today's guest has embarked on a unique reading challenge that brings a fresh perspective to her re-reading. Sarah Swarbrick joins Anne today from the outskirts of Sydney, Australia, to talk about the special project she's crafted in advance of her 53rd birthday. With her…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 469: Book Club is for discussing, discovering, and dissenting
1:05:29
1:05:29
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:05:29Readers, we often receive questions from you about our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and what actually goes on in our online reading community, and today's guest is here to help Anne take you behind the scenes! You may already know Ginger Horton, our MMD Book Club Community Manager, from her prior appearances here on the podcast or because you interac…
…
continue reading
Today's guest is a mood reader who often finds herself falling down a reading rabbit hole. Madelyn Kresinske is an elementary school librarian, wife, and mom who reads widely from middle-grade and picture books to romance, family dramas, and more. Madelyn doesn't hate her pattern of falling into sometimes a rut, sometimes she actually quite enjoys …
…
continue reading

1
Ep 467: I love literary fiction... don't I?
1:03:45
1:03:45
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:03:45Today's guest has a common readerly dilemma: what to do when reading tastes change? In her submission to join Anne on the show, Philadelphia dweller and avid book thrifter Phoebe Mellinger shared that she'd had pretty consistent reading tastes for her whole life, until last year when she noticed that her taste suddenly and vastly changed. Her go-to…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 466: New stamps for your literary passport
1:02:08
1:02:08
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:02:08Today's guests excel in pairing the perfect read with worldwide destinations: joining Anne today are her friends, fellow book lovers, and podcasters Mel Joulwan and Dave Humphreys. You may know them as the literary minds behind Strong Sense of Place. They've also been guests on our show a handful of times across the years. Today, Mel and Dave are b…
…
continue reading
Every year on the Modern Mrs Darcy blog, Anne shares a post about what's saving her life right now, and today she's joined by team member Shannan Malone to talk about what's saving their reading lives lately. Shannan is our What Should I Read Next Patreon community manager, and also our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club co-host. Today, she and Anne explor…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 464: Travel-minded books for a fantastic European adventure
53:30
53:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:30Today's guest has a bookish birthday trip in the works. When Barbara Andrade DuBransky told us about her tradition of taking big trips with her best friend to mark big life milestones, Anne knew she wanted to talk about Barbara's upcoming European trip. Barbara and her friend are passionate readers who rely on their libraries to help them plan and …
…
continue reading

1
Ep 463: Remarkable stories that demand to be told
1:00:53
1:00:53
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:53Readers, today we're thrilled to share a delightful conversation with Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray, authors of The Personal Librarian. This conversation originally took place over in our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club community, where Marie and Victoria joined Anne, our MMD Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton, our MMD Book Club …
…
continue reading

1
Ep 462: LISTEN: Spring Book Preview excerpt
12:35
12:35
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
12:35We hosted our Spring Book Preview last week, and if you missed out on that event you're in luck: today we're sharing an excerpt to whet your spring reading appetite! In this sneak peek at our Spring Book Preview live event, you'll hear Anne tell you about 3 of the 35 titles included in the preview. Spring Book Preview is one of our marquee events t…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 461: Backlist books that make your brain fizz
49:24
49:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:24Many of the readers we talk to tune into the seasons to inspire their next read, and today's guest has a twist on the usual seasonal reading dilemma: Nell Cavallo is joining Anne today from midsummer in Sydney, Australia. When Nell sent in her guest submission for the show, she told us that as a southern hemisphere reader, winter meant reading the …
…
continue reading
We're kicking off 2025 with a special episode: today Anne is joined by her husband Will Bogel to discuss Anne's best books of the past year. Every week here on the show, we take a personal approach to the reading life, really digging into what readers love, what they don't, and why. Our conversations are about individual readers and their individua…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 459: Reading for quality over quantity
50:30
50:30
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
50:30Today's guest is feeling stuck between quality and quantity in her reading life. With all of the end-of-year reading reflections happening lately, Anne is here to help if you're also facing this situation. Caroline Hines lives on a Christmas tree farm, which is not really related to today's book-talk, but feels like the perfect setting for our fina…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 458: Live from Nashville: good conversation about creativity and community with readers and writers
1:07:48
1:07:48
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:07:48When Anne was invited to speak at WriterFest, a creative gathering for aspiring writers, published authors, screenwriters, poets, and songwriters in Nashville, we couldn't wait to share that conversation with all of you. Today we're sharing Anne's conversation with WriterFest co-founder Ami McConnell. From books and reading to the common themes the…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 457: Immersive audiobooks for cozy reading anywhere
56:04
56:04
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:04Cozy reading season is nearly here in the northern hemisphere, and today's guest wrote in with a unique question: how can she create a cozy reading experience when she's nearly always listening to audiobooks on the go? Lauren Worley is joining Anne today from Virginia. Lauren's work keeps her in the car and on the road quite a bit, so Lauren’s full…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 456: Timeless meets timely: Anne diagnoses why Ginger loves New England books
1:10:16
1:10:16
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:16Diagnosing readerly dilemmas is one of our favorite things to do around here, and today Anne is helping Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager Ginger Horton figure out the answer to a reading question that's been plaguing her. Ginger recently came to Anne with a conundrum: she loves books set in New England, but not every book set in New Engl…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 455: Elif Shafak on the resilience of literature
51:42
51:42
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:42Today's guest is the beloved author, Elif Shafak, whose latest title was a 2024 Summer Reading Guide pick. Elif's works are so particular and set very much in a specific time and place, yet they also feel so inclusive. Elif's stories explore universal themes like home and belonging, exile and displacement. She also leverages her Turkish heritage an…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 454: Holiday gift recommendations from our team
49:06
49:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
49:06Our annual gift recommendation episode is here! Today, Anne is joined by members of the Modern Mrs Darcy team to respond to your requests for gift-giving ideas for the readers in your life. Thanks to all of our listeners who sent in their questions: we loved sharing our best recommendations for the readers you love. Whether you hear your request in…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 453: How to host a cozy reader retreat
38:06
38:06
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
38:06When today's guest, Dana Reams, told us about the cozy reader's gathering she intends to hold later this month, our team instantly wanted to RSVP "yes." Since we can't all gather at Dana's house this season, we thought we'd do the next best thing and have her on the podcast. Today, Anne is chatting with Dana about her delightful concept for this ga…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 452: Get a little taste of a lot of good stuff
57:17
57:17
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
57:17We've been wanting to talk short stories for awhile here on the podcast. When today's guest wrote in with a readerly conundrum on just this topic, it was the perfect opportunity to explore this literary topic in conversation. Jessica Crockett is joining Anne today from Chicago, where she works as a French-to-English patent translator. When she's no…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 451: Digging into Nikki May's delicious Mansfield Park reimagining
51:32
51:32
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
51:32Today we are thrilled to welcome Nikki May to the show. Her new book This Motherless Land is a reimagining of Jane Austen's Mansfield Park. Anne was especially intrigued by this because Mansfield Park is the novel of Jane Austen's that seems most overlooked when it comes to retellings. Today, Anne has questions, and Nikki May has answers. Among som…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 450: Asheville on our minds + my favorite NC authors
53:27
53:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
53:27Readers, like so many of you, we have such fondness for Asheville and the Blue Ridge mountain region, which is desperately hurting in the wake of Hurricane Helene. We’ve been thinking constantly of those affected, both in Asheville and now in Florida in the aftermath of Milton. While it feels like nothing we can do can touch the enormity of what is…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 449: Haunting (but not horrifying) page-turners
1:00:23
1:00:23
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:00:23Ontario reader Emma Sweeney wants to explore books that incorporate elements from the horror genre. She's not interested in books that give her nightmares, but she's found that these stories often prompt reflective and meaningful reading experiences. Today, she and Anne talk about finding titles that include horror elements without being truly horr…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 448: Recommend me a thriller, but make it literary
56:13
56:13
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
56:13This fall, we were excited to hear from you about the books that haunt you. and today's guest sent in a submission that caught everyone on our team's eye. We loved her interpretation of this theme. Today, Megan Reilly is joining Anne to talk about the books that linger in your brain for years. Megan is a professional theater designer and a college …
…
continue reading
Last week we hosted our sixth annual Fall Book Preview, and today we're sharing a taste of that event with you. In today's mini-episode, you'll hear Anne talk about three book of the 35 books in this year's preview. Fall Book Preview is one of our marquee annual events that we host for our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and Patreon Community members. O…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 447: How to fix a chronic three-star situation
1:01:41
1:01:41
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:01:41Our reading community truly spans the globe: today Anne is in conversation with Evie, who is joining us from northern Greece. Evie grew up in Boston and after visiting family in Greece over the years, she moved back herself last year. These days she enjoys the slow pace of life and social culture in her Greek community. Today, Evie would love help …
…
continue reading

1
Ep 446: How to balance print books with screen reading
1:13:27
1:13:27
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:13:27If you love a good campus novel for fall, you'll love today's conversation between Anne and academic dean Karen Gold. Karen works at the oldest independent boarding school in the country, where she teaches a course on campus novels. That's not all Karen reads, though: she's especially fond of novels that span generations and highlight both the mund…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 445: Startlingly beautiful sentences and perfect last lines
1:10:18
1:10:18
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:10:18Get your to-be-read lists ready because today's episode is packed full of recommended titles. In today's show, Anne is hosting Hunter, a fan of literary fiction who lives in Philadelphia with his husband and their dog. Anne and Hunter talk about his years-long project to read National Book Award longlisted titles, which also leads into conversation…
…
continue reading

1
Ep 444: Our team's best books of summer
1:09:24
1:09:24
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
1:09:24Today we're back with the 2024 installment of our popular summer reading roundup, where members of our team pair up to talk about their favorite summer reads. You'll hear our team in conversation today, exploring our summer reading experiences and the titles we can't stop talking about. Around here we talk books all year round, but episodes like th…
…
continue reading