What Should I Read Next? Podcast By Anne Bogel cover art

What Should I Read Next?

What Should I Read Next?

By: Anne Bogel
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 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.© Anne Bogel Art Literary History & Criticism
Episodes
  • Ep 483: Help me find my new go-to summer author!

    Ep 483: Help me find my new go-to summer author!
    Jun 24 2025
    We 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 (and reread) every book in Hilderbrand's catalog, but now that there aren't any new Nantucket books to look forward to, Stephanie's on the hunt for a new go-to summer author that scratches the same itch. She's looking for stories with complex characters, a strong sense of place, lots of juicy details, and often salacious scandals. Stephanie's already done a lot of legwork here and has a really good idea of what has and hasn't worked for her so far. Today she and Anne talk about which author (or authors) might fill this gap in Stephanie's summer reading plan. See the long list of titles mentioned today and leave your suggestions for Stephanie at our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/483. Thanks to all of you who have joined us lately in our Patreon community: we could not make this show without you. If you haven't joined us yet, it's an easy way to show your support for our show and financially support the work we're doing. When you sign up, you get immediate access to the 2025 Summer Reading Guide, our unboxing video, and bonus episodes like the books Anne read and really loved but didn't include in the Guide, and of course all of our archives and the new bonus episodes we're creating this summer. To sign up and get started, go to patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    1 hr and 6 mins
  • Ep 482: Diving into evocative ocean reads

    Ep 482: Diving into evocative ocean reads
    Jun 17 2025
    We 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. So it’s perhaps unsurprising she’d love Anne's help finding books about the ocean, whether that means pop science, books where the ocean is the setting, or even a character—she’s up for anything. While this isn’t an exclusively summery theme, so many readers associate the ocean with summer vacations and family trips, so it feels like just the right time to dive in and find titles that will appeal to Noelle’s reading wishes right now. Find the list of titles mentioned today and share your ocean reading recommendations by leaving a comment on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/482 For more summer reading fun, join us in the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. We had a blast at our Summer Reading Guide Unboxing party, and next week, we’re hosting Summer Reading Guide author Kevin Wilson for our June live author talk. Book Club is a great place to gather with fellow readers and talk all about this summer’s most discussable books. Join the fun at modernmrsdarcy.com/club Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    47 mins
  • Ep 481: A reading life that comes in waves

    Ep 481: A reading life that comes in waves
    Jun 10 2025
    Nonfiction 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 thinking, and he really enjoys this experience. While Evan has read fiction that's worked for him before, too often it leaves him feeling bored. Evan's confident he's just not finding the right fiction picks, and today he and Anne talk about what he's really looking for and how he might find the titles that will excite and engage him. Find the list of titles mentioned today and share your recommendations for Evan on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/481. Stock up on our new summer merch, including new stickers, tees, hats, and more in our online shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    51 mins
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I've been keeping up with this podcast for years, and by this point Anne and her team feel like old friends. Every time I start a new episode, it feels like stepping in a familiar, cozy livingroom. My TBR list has exploded with hundreds and hundreds of possibilities; I've been introduced to so many new reading experiences I never would've known if I hadn't met this podcast. Not only that, but my knowledge of my own reading tastes has expanded, and with that, it feels as if I've unlocked a door to another world, one where the options are endless. A HUGE thank you to Anne and the rest of the team. As for the others reading this review: stop scrolling and start listening.

My readerly community

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As it happens often with Read Next episodes, I started this one and thought Nah, that’s not in my wheelhouse. . . but ended up listening to the whole episode (twice) and reading every single book suggested, and loving them!

Self improvement? Yuck. Actually, Yes Please!

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this podcast is so positive and insightful. as a reader, I appreciate the suggestions. I also like hearing what others are reading.

just a lovely way to spend an hour

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