What Should I Read Next?

Anne Bogel

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.

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535 episodes
Updated Tuesday

Episodes535

Newest first

Nov 29, 2016 · 32 min
Ep 55: Choosing contemporary novels with staying power (for Jane Austen's 5x great niece)
Around here, we don’t think you need an excuse to love Jane Austen, but boy does today's guest Rebecca Smith have a great one -- she is Jane Austen's great great great great great niece! Rebecca is a longtime reader, a former writer in residence at Jane Austen’s House Museum in Chawton, and she currently teaches creative writing in the U.K. She’s the author of Jane Austen's Guide to Modern Life's Dilemmas and the recently published book The Jane Austen Writer’s Club. Click over to the podcast
Nov 22, 2016 · 45 min
Ep 54: What Should I LISTEN to Next?
Today we're back to literary matchmaking, with listener Melodee Skiles here to representing all the avid audiobook lovers who want to know what to LISTEN to next! Melodee is a stay-at-home mom who owns an online literature tutorial business. Books are (clearly) her bag, and while she's taking a short break from tutoring, she wants to revitalize her love of literature by reading outside the bounds of the texts she teaches at work. Like many of us, some of Melodee's warmest memories are of her p
Nov 18, 2016 · 25 min
Ep 53: The best of literary heroines (Reading For A Lifetime Pt 5)
Here to help close out the Reading For A Lifetime week is Jenny Williams, who illustrates beloved literary heroines for a living as the charming artist and entrepreneur behind Carrot Top Paper Shop. In this episode, Anne and Jenny talk all about why we love our literary heroines of literature so much (think Anne, Elizabeth, Jane, Hermione), wrestle with what makes for a modern heroine. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comme
Nov 17, 2016 · 32 min
Ep 52: There's nothing better than a great book, with Gretchen Rubin (Reading For A Lifetime, Pt 4)
It's Day 4 of our special Reading For A Lifetime series on WSIRN, and if our comment section has made one thing known, it's this: Adults LOVE Kid Lit. Not just for kids, not just in a theoretical sense, but in honest-to-goodness, just-for-the-joy-of-it, everyday-reading-life practice. The guest here to chat with Anne about reading KidLit for fun? The beloved and oft-requested Gretchen Rubin! You all know her as the author of The Happiness Project, Happier at Home, and Better than Before, but wh
Nov 16, 2016 · 35 min
Ep 51: Gateway books to lifetime reading (Reading For A Lifetime, Pt 3)
Day 3 of our special Reading For A Lifetime series is all about "guilty pleasure" kid lit - the series we read and re-read not because they were Great Literature, but because they were gosh-darn fun! Here to talk about not-so-serious gateway children's literature are Jack Shepherd and Tanner Greenring, hosts of The Babysitters Club Club podcast. They each have their own story of how they found the series, and why—as thirty-something men—they've chosen to devote a large chunk of their time and a
Nov 15, 2016 · 38 min
Ep 50: Growing up with the help of a good book (Reading for a Lifetime, Pt 2)
Day 2 of our Reading For A Lifetime series is about encouraging middle school and young adult kids to indulge in great books, and our guest Leigh Collazo has a LOT of wisdom to share on that topic. Leigh is a school librarian who serves children from over 30 different countries at an international school in China. Today she shares all about why the middle school years are her favorite when it comes to finding the right books for the right readers. Click over to the podcast website for the full
Nov 14, 2016 · 44 min
Ep 49: How to help kids fall in love with reading (Reading for a Lifetime, Pt 1)
Today kicks off our special WSIRN 5-day miniseries: What Should I Read Next for Kids, and Kids at Heart. We’re focusing on a variety of young and young at heart topics this week: children’s literature, coming of age stories, literary heroines, kid lit for grown-ups, and more. Who better to jump-start the series than Sarah Mackenzie? Sarah is a friend, devoted reader, and Kid Lit Expert Extraordinaire. You may know her as the host of the Read Aloud Revival podcast and site, or as the author of T
Nov 8, 2016 · 47 min
Ep 48: It's good to be a Special Readerly Snowflake
This week guest Maxwell Dunn (WellDoneBooks on YouTube) introduces Anne to a whole new wonderful world of book lovers online—the Booktube community! Booktube is known best for its voracious YA fans, but there's a book vlogger out there for every literary palate. Max is a great example of this; his videos cover serious award winners, challenging experimental works, and deep dives into substantial modern literature. In today's episode, Max & Anne discuss stories with unique structural element
Nov 1, 2016 · 30 min
Ep 47: Needing books, with a capital "N"
It's bibliotherapy time! Today's guest is Erin Swann, is an attorney who lives in Greenville, South Carolina with her family. Erin's always been a reader, but when she went through a major transition a few years back she rediscovered the therapeutic value of a welcoming book. Join Erin and Anne as they discuss armchair travel, fictional characters as friends, and more. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us kno
Oct 25, 2016 · 24 min
Ep 46: What DID they read next (and how did they feel about it?)
Today we have a special episode: we're revisiting seven guests from previous episodes of the show to find out what they actually did read next. What are they reading now? What did they love? And what did they, uh, not love as much? Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode. What book recommendations YOU have picked up after listening to the show! Did you love them? Hate them? Let Anne know in the comments on the podcast site. Connect with Anne: Bl
Oct 18, 2016 · 46 min
Ep 45: Heartwarming books for dire situations
Today's guest is Ana Salazar. Ana is a Columbian who’s now living in Peru, and she’s been, as she says, "absolutely obsessed” with reading for her whole life, so much so that her parents had to physically drag her away from bookstores when she was growing up. Anne and Ana discuss the joys and challenges of reading across borders, unpack Ana's love for the genre she's been loving recently, and explore why a Kindle is an absolutely magical device for international readers. Click over to the podc
Oct 11, 2016 · 56 min
Ep 44: Like speed dating, but with authors
Today we meet a indie bookstore owner and kindred bookish spirit, Annie Jones. In this episode, Anne and Annie talk about her wildly unlikely path to bookstore ownership, her love of dysfunctional family literature, and the way meeting an author in person can change the way you experience a book. And unlike a lot of WSIRN guests -- Annie is not afraid to say she hates a book (or... a lot of books.) Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and lea
Oct 4, 2016 · 46 min
Ep 43: Fiction FOMO and curing Hamilton hangover
Today we're happy to welcome reader and podcaster Sarah Stewart Holland to the show. You may already know Sarah from her blog Bluegrass Redhead or her show, Pantsuit Politics. Sarah is drawn to nonfiction and wants to read more fiction, but tends to grab what's new and hot in fiction for fear of missing out, instead of intentionally selecting it. One of her big strengths is "input," and she loves reading about all kinds of topics to scratch that informational itch. And she's obsessed with Hamilt
Sep 27, 2016 · 46 min
Ep 42: Life's too short to waste on bad books
Today we fellow podcaster Erik Fisher to the show! Erik is known as the productivity guru because of his wonderful podcast Beyond the To Do List, the first podcast Anne ever listened to, AND the first podcast she ever appeared on! Erik is a HUGE reader, and in this episode we talk about how he’s made the switch back to paper books after a flirtation with e-reading, personality types, and how he avoids wasting time on bad books. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles dis
Sep 21, 2016 · 20 min
Ep 41: The books we can't wait to read this fall
Today's bonus podcast episode of What Should I Read Next is focused on fall's hot new releases. Bookstore owner Holland Saltsman of The Novel Neighbor (from yesterday's Ep 40—listen here!) and Anne talk about the titles we've read and are psyched about, plus the ones they can't wait to get their hands on. Anne also brings you short interviews she did in Savannah with friends and authors (including Susan Meissner, Ariel Lawhon, and Greer Macallister) who share which books they can't wait to read
Sep 20, 2016 · 43 min
Ep 40: Spouses of Readers Anonymous
When Anne first thought of starting a podcast, her bookstore-owning friend Holland Saltsman was one of the very first people she wanted to have on. And she was one of the first people Anne interviewed for the show. And the audio quality on that recording was so poor Anne was terrified to give it another go for almost a full year. Holland is one of Anne's favorite people to talk books with, because she's smart, and funny, and tells it like it is. She's been excited about this one for a long time
Sep 13, 2016 · 48 min
Ep 39: Judging a book by its first sentence
Today we welcome Melody Warnick to the show! She’s a Blacksburg-based author, who has been tracking her reading in an excel spreadsheet since 2004. If you find that intimidating, don’t worry—Melody’s not analytical about choosing what to read next (wait until you to hear how she approaches a big stack of library books.) Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Melody should read next! Connect
Sep 6, 2016 · 42 min
Ep 38: Secrets, cheap tricks, and paradigm-shifting books
Today Anne chats with Anissa Davis, a family physician who lives with her family in California. She likes smart, funny, contemporary fiction with diverse protagonists, and she wants to be blown away by more books. Many of you will relate when Anissa says sometimes finding great fiction feels like kissing a lot of frogs before you find your prince. Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Anissa
Aug 30, 2016 · 50 min
Ep 37: Reading as a couple + the best books YOU read this summer
Kurt and Kristin are a husband and wife who want to read more together. Their question for Anne is a fun twist on a familiar theme — “What should WE read next?” Kristin has been a lifetime lover of books; Kurt has only recently become a serious reader (thanks in part to 15 years of nudging from his wife). They want to find books that they can read and talk about together! Both enjoy high-quality fiction, but you can probably guess which one of them loves Blood Meridian and which one loves A Tre
Aug 23, 2016 · 36 min
Ep 36: Comfort food, but with books
It's Tuesday, and time for a new episode of What Should I Read Next! Our guest today is Tiffany King, a dear friend you might know from her food blog, Eat At Home. Tiffany is a busy woman -- a homeschool mom for 19 years, and the creator of her own business -- so when she reads, she craves something cozy and comforting. "“I don’t tend to go really deep with my fiction," she says, "and I don’t feel bad about that." If you love comforting fiction with mouth-watering culinary themes, today's epis

What Should I Read Next?

Ep 55: Choosing contemporary novels with staying power (for Jane Austen's 5x great niece)

Ep 54: What Should I LISTEN to Next?

Ep 53: The best of literary heroines (Reading For A Lifetime Pt 5)

Ep 52: There's nothing better than a great book, with Gretchen Rubin (Reading For A Lifetime, Pt 4)

Ep 51: Gateway books to lifetime reading (Reading For A Lifetime, Pt 3)

Ep 50: Growing up with the help of a good book (Reading for a Lifetime, Pt 2)

Ep 49: How to help kids fall in love with reading (Reading for a Lifetime, Pt 1)

Ep 48: It's good to be a Special Readerly Snowflake

Ep 47: Needing books, with a capital "N"

Ep 46: What DID they read next (and how did they feel about it?)

Ep 45: Heartwarming books for dire situations

Ep 44: Like speed dating, but with authors

Ep 43: Fiction FOMO and curing Hamilton hangover

Ep 42: Life's too short to waste on bad books

Ep 41: The books we can't wait to read this fall

Ep 40: Spouses of Readers Anonymous

Ep 39: Judging a book by its first sentence

Ep 38: Secrets, cheap tricks, and paradigm-shifting books

Ep 37: Reading as a couple + the best books YOU read this summer

Ep 36: Comfort food, but with books