What to Read Next — Book Recommendations for Romance, Thrillers & Escape Reads
What to Read Next is a podcast for readers who love romance, thrillers, and women's fiction but often struggle to choose their next book. Host Laura brings recommendations twice a week based on how you actually feel right now, rather than what is new or trending. Episodes include author conversations about the books they read for joy and personal reflections on what Laura read, what stayed with her, and what she did not finish. New episodes drop every Monday and Wednesday, with her weekly reading log, The Reading Receipt, published every Thursday on Substack.
Episodes
Ghosts, Multiverses & Magic: Speculative Romance Recs | Author Interview Bridget Morrissey
What if you could see every version of your life, including the one where your high school nemesis turns out to be the love of your life? Bridget Morrissey is back to talk about her dazzling new speculative sapphic romance.Bridget returns to the show to dish on In What World. Two former theater-kid rivals reunite as adults to find their missing drama teacher and end up tumbling through alternate r
10 National Book Award Nominees You Need to Know | Literary Fiction Longlist
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.This post was an original Subtack Live that aired on September 18, 2026.Awards season has landed — and the 2026 National Book Award (NBA) fiction longlist is stacked. Deedi Reads joins the pod to break it all down.Deedi from the Deedi Reads Substack joins What to Read Next for a special crossover
What to Read After Watching Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW) | Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.This podcast originally aired March 2026What happens when influencer culture, megachurch ambition, and algorithm-driven community collide?This week, I’m joined by longtime friend and fellow early-podcaster Alli Hoff Kosik to talk about her debut novel, Too Blessed to Stress — a sharp, nuanced stor
The Myth of the Debut Author, Explained by an Agent | Siren Says by Jennifer Herrera
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a literary agent decides to become the author she's spent her career championing for other people? Jennifer Herrera joins us to talk genre-hopping, feminine rage, and why her new witchy fantasy almost didn't happen.Jennifer Herrera — literary agent at the David Black Agency and a
3 Monster Hunter Books for Horror Beginners | Book Goose Substack
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Ever wanted to try horror but didn't know where to start? This episode is your gentle on-ramp.Bri from the Book Goose Substack joins the show to talk about building a book community from scratch — and brings three monster hunter reads perfect for horror-curious readers. If you love found-family ad
5 Pirate Romantasy Reads You Need on Your TBR | The Siren's Kiss by Leslie Vedder
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Pirates, mermaids, sea witches, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance — this episode has everything.Leslie Vedder joins us to talk about The Siren's Kiss, a sapphic fantasy romance she describes as Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Little Mermaid, following a cursed pirate and a fierce mermai
2026 Hugo Awards: The Best Novel Nominees, Ranked | Fantasy & Sci-Fi
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Six books, one vote, and a whole community weighing in — Deedi's back to break down this year's Hugo Awards Best Novel nominees.Our resident awards correspondent Deedi (@DeediReads) returns to walk us through the 2026 Hugo Awards — sci-fi and fantasy's biggest fan-voted prize. We cover how Hugo vo
Silent Book Club for Two: My New Favorite Reading Ritual
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Laura's back with a solo update on slowing down, making reading friends in a new city, and two mysteries that actually caught her off guard.In this episode, Laura shares how she's navigating a season of burnout, the low-key monthly reading date she's started with a friend (dubbed "Silent Book Club
How to Love You When You're Gone with Gabriela Gonzales | YA Rom-Coms
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if the boy secretly writing your story isn't just trying to help you grieve — he's trying to get into college with it?Debut author Gabriela Gonzales joins the show to talk about her YA rom-com How to Love You When You're Gone, a fake-friends-to-lovers story about grief, first love, and the me
A Golden Girls Heist Novel with Julia London
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Four best friends, one Vegas casino, and absolutely nothing left to lose — meet the septuagenarian heist crew you didn't know you needed.Bestselling author Julia London joins the show to talk about her genre-bending new release, Rules for Aging and Larceny, a commercial fiction romp about four 70-
Kelly Creagh on Her Grim Reaper Rom-Com
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when the Grim Reaper falls for a children's librarian? Kelly Creagh's adult debut says: absolute chaos, and a whole lot of heart.YA fan-favorite Kelly Creagh (the Nevermore trilogy) makes her adult debut with A Date with Death, a spicy, comedy-forward paranormal rom-com about a Grim R
Evann Normandin on The Good Parts & Speculative Romance Recs
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Can you imagine erasing your worst memory — even if it meant erasing the people in it too? Debut author Evann Normandin joins us to talk about her stunning new dual-timeline novel, The Good Parts.In this episode, Evann shares her long road to publication, the musical that inspired her book's struc
Victoria Lavine on Her Best Enemies-to-Lovers Yet | RomCom Recs
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Rom-com author Victoria Lavine joins us to talk enemies-to-lovers banter, writing wedding chaos, and the funniest, freshest romance reads on her TBR.Victoria Lavine, author of Any Trope But You and the upcoming Not That Kind of Proposal, sits down to talk about crafting high-stakes rom-coms, why b
What Elin Hilderbrand Book Should You Read Next? | Friday Night Readers Crossover
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Every summer, one question comes up again and again: what Elin Hilderbrand book should I read next? This week, Laura teams up with Julianne Buonocore of Friday Night Readers to answer it once and for all.Laura and Julianne each count down their personal Top 5 Elin Hilderbrand novels — from Nantuck
Chelsea Curto on Going From Flight Attendant to Bestselling Author
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.From flight attendant to hybrid author with a bookstore-ready hockey series — Chelsea Curto is proof that a wild pivot can turn into a career you never saw coming.Romance author Chelsea Curto (the DC Stars hockey series, In Stormy Weather) joins the show to talk about her journey from flight atten
Manga & Graphic Novels You Need to Read | Coming out Perfect by Richard Mercado
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Ever wondered what a graphic novelist reads for fun? This week we're stepping outside our usual romance and mystery lanes to talk graphic novels and manga with debut author Richard Mercado.Richard Mercado joins the podcast to talk about his debut YA graphic novel Coming Out Perfect (pitched as Hea
Sci-Fi Romance Recs With Formula Zero's Author Meredith Lanzen
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Ever wondered what happens when Formula 1 gets launched into zero gravity — and thrown in a childhood-best-friends-to-lovers arc for good measure? Debut author Meredith Lanzen joins us to talk about her sci-fi sports romance, Formula Zero.We dig into how a Drive to Survive rabbit hole turned into
Lindsay Hameroff on Writing Rom-Coms & Second Chances
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Rom-com author Lindsay Hameroff joins us to talk Wegmans obsessions, writing her first single-mom heroine, and the books that turned her into a romance reader for life. Lindsay Hameroff — author of Till There Was You and Never Planned on You — stops by to talk about her new release Rewrite the Sta
7 Books to Read If You're Obsessed With Love Island
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Still thinking about recouplings, Casa Amor twists, and the text that ruined someone's summer? Same. So this week we're doing a full villa walkthrough — in book form. This solo episode rounds up the best Love Island–inspired reads out right now: one juicy nonfiction deep dive into the show itself,
Mystery Rom-Coms, Jersey Shore Murder & the Millennial Mystery Trend | Liz Lawson
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a journalist with a nose for a story, a caterer with a glow-up, and a Jersey Shore murder collide? Enemies-to-lovers chaos — and we are here for it.In this episode, I'm chatting with Liz Lawson, author of the adult debut It Happened One Murder — a mystery rom-com packed with seco
Book Club Fiction, Cozy Mysteries & Summer Rom-Coms With Bookish AF
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you're the kind of reader who wants heartfelt book recs and a peek behind the curtain of building a reading life worth writing about, this one's for you.Audry Fryer of the Bookish AF Substack joins us to talk about the books she can't stop recommending — from Fredrik Backman's quietly devastati
Chase Me If You Can: A Storm-Chasing Debut + 4 Romance Recs with Heather Frances
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Storm chasing, forced proximity, and a debut romance that's giving Twisters — but make it swoony. This episode is for every reader whose TBR needs a little weather event.Debut author Heather Frances joins the show to talk about Chase Me If You Can, her contemporary romance about two rival storm-ch
Fake NOT Dating: A Bollywood-Inspired Romcom Debut | Lavanya Lakshmi
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A debut romcom inspired by Bollywood, built around one of the most delicious twists on fake dating you'll ever read — fake NOT dating. If you love big Indian weddings, chaotic families, and slow-burn tension between two people who desperately want each other but have to pretend they've never met,
Sun-Drenched Thrills: A New Summer Mystery + 4 More Reads You Need | Jaclyn Goldis
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your thriller author and your meditation teacher turned out to be the same person? That's exactly how this conversation started — and it only gets better from there.Laura sits down with author Jaclyn Goldis, whose upcoming novel The Last Time We Saw Her follows a group of former campers wh
Democracy in Retrograde: Civics Tips That Don't Make You Spiral | Non-Fiction
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If politics feels overwhelming, chaotic, or just plain exhausting right now — this episode is for you. Emily Amick, the attorney-turned-Instagram creator behind Emily in Your Phone, joins the show to talk about her book Democracy in Retrograde (co-authored with Sami Sage) and why civic action does
YA Historical Fiction That Adults Need to Read Right Now with Karyn Parsons
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a beloved actress becomes a storyteller of forgotten Black history? Karyn Parsons — yes, the Hilary Banks from Fresh Prince of Bel-Air — joins us to talk about her powerful historical fiction for young readers, her nonprofit Sweet Blackberry, and why books like hers matter more i
Game Set Match: The Tennis Romance You Need to Read with Jennifer Iacopelli
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you've been sleeping on sports romance, this episode is your wake-up call. Tennis romance is officially having its moment in publishing — and the author who was writing it a decade before anyone else is finally getting her flowers.In this episode, Laura chats with Jennifer Iacopelli, author of
A Debut Romance Set at the US Open You Need to Read | The Open Era by Edward Schmit
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when the first openly gay man competes in a Grand Slam — and falls for his opponent across the net? Debut author Eddie Schmit joins the show to talk about The Open Era, his queer tennis romance that's equal parts heart-racing competition and sweet slow-burn love story.Eddie shares how
The YA Authors Writing Adult Books You'll Obsess Over
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you loved YA but drifted away — or if you're a YA fan wondering where to start in adult fiction — this episode is your permission slip to do both. School librarian and book lover Kelly Mayfield joins Laura to talk about the YA authors crossing over into adult fiction, and why the YA genre has b
She Wrote Her Debut at 18 — Now It's a Viral Romantasy Series | Powerless by Lauren Roberts
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.She wrote her debut novel at 18, self-published it, went viral on TikTok — and now she's a Simon & Schuster author with a dramatized audiobook. Lauren Roberts is living proof that passion plus scrappiness can take you very, very far.In this episode, Lauren breaks down the wild origin story beh
Quit Your Job & Open a Bookshop: 3 Reads You'll Love | Reads with Alicia
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your dream bookshop was hiding inside the pages of a book? This week's guest is making that fantasy feel very real.London-based bookworm and Substack newsletter writer Alicia joins us to share her love of a very specific and very delightful trope: woman quits job to open a bookshop. If you
Billionaire, Secret Societies & Spicy Romance with Ava Rani
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your love stories came with secret societies, art forgery rings, and a twist you never saw coming? Author Ava Rani joins us to talk books, balance, and why she refuses to write a boring romance.Ava Rani is an author who does it all — indie publishing, traditional publishing, and somehow fi
Femme Feral: When Midlife Rage Turns You Into a Werewolf with Sam Beckbessinger
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your perimenopause symptoms weren't just symptoms — what if you were turning into a werewolf? Author Sam Beckbessinger joins us to talk about her debut adult novel Femme Feral, and it might be the most cathartic book you read this year.Sam and I dive deep into why the medical industry has
Speak Now: The Queer Audio Rom-Com You Need to Hear | Author Interview with Ash Perez
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if a rom-com could feel like a movie in your ears? That's exactly what debut novelist and TV screenwriter Ash Perez set out to create with Speak Now, and you are going to want to listen to this one.In this episode, Laura chats with Ash Perez about Speak Now, an audio-first queer rom-com publi
Agatha Christie's Housekeeper Solves Murders? | Colleen Cambridge/Gleason: Historical Mystery Author Interview
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.She writes historical mysteries set in post-war Paris, Civil War Washington DC, 1930s England, AND Victorian London — and somehow, Colleen Gleason/Cambridge makes every single era feel like home.In this episode, Laura sits down with bestselling author Colleen Gleason (also writing as Colleen Cambr
Beyond Bridgerton: Classic Historical Romance Hidden Gems | The Duke by Anna Cowan
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if the Duke was a woman — and the courtesan trying to blackmail her was the love interest? If that premise just made you sit up straighter, this episode is for you.Anna Cowan joins us to talk about The Duke, her long-awaited second novel — a queer Regency romance that flips the classic histor
Why Locked-Room Mysteries Still Work with Molly Harper | Millennial Murder Mysteries
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A cozy mystery with a messy friendship, a locked-room setting, and just enough murder to keep things interesting? I’m in.In this episode, I sit down with Molly Harper to talk about her pivot from paranormal romance to murder mysteries and her newest release, A Cute Little Murder. We dive into mill
Cannes, Murder & Secrets: A Summer Thriller | We Will Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Looking for your next addictive summer thriller with rich people behaving badly vibes? This one set at the Cannes Film Festival delivers glam, secrets, and a murder you won’t see coming.In this episode, I sit down with Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau to talk about her transition from YA romance to twisty a
Messy Wedding Rom-Coms You’ll Love | Save the Date by Mallory Kass/Kass Morgan
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A chaotic wedding, secret crushes, and one very inconvenient almost-divorce—this episode is for rom-com lovers who live for messy, multi-POV drama.In today’s episode, I chat with Mallory Kass (also known as Kass Morgan) about her transition from YA to adult romance, her new book Save the Date, and
The Angsty Romance You Need This Year | The Write Off by Kara McDowell
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when the one that got away becomes the inspiration for your bestselling book boyfriend… and then walks back into your life?In this episode, I sit down with Kara McDowell to talk about her latest novel, The Write-Off—a second chance romance packed with college nostalgia, writer drama,
32 Books Later… My Best & Worst Reads of 2026 so far!
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.I read 32 books in Q1 2026—and I’m breaking down the cozy mysteries, thrillers, romances, and standout 5-star reads you need on your radar.In this episode, I’m sharing my honest reading recap from the first quarter of the year, including what worked, what didn’t, and the books I’m still thinking a
Inside The Paris Match with Kate Clayborn | Contemporary Romance
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you’re forced to attend your ex-husband’s family wedding… in Paris? 😬✨ In this episode, I sit down with romance author Kate Clayborn to talk about her newest release The Paris Match and why messy adulthood makes the best love stories.We dive into second chances, complicated famil
Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Romantasy before it was cool? In this episode, I sit down with Elly Blake to talk about her journey writing fantasy romance—and how the genre has completely transformed over the years.We chat about the evolution from YA fantasy to adult romantasy, what readers really want (hint: it’s the romance),
Graphic Novels for Beginners (Start Here) with Sophia Glock
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Graphic novels aren’t just for kids—and this episode completely changed how I think about them.In this conversation, I sit down with cartoonist Sophia Glock to talk about her haunting and emotional graphic novel Before We Wake. We dive into how comics can explore big themes like grief in a way tha
From Reading Slump to 200 Books a Year with Nathalie Canadas
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.From sorority sisters to bookish besties—this episode is all about finding your reading groove and building a community that keeps you turning pages.In this episode, I sit down with Nathalie Cañadas to talk about her reading glow-up—from occasional reader to devouring 200+ books a year. We chat ab
Romance, Sisterhood and How Simi Got Her Groom Back with Sonali Dev
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when romance meets real life—immigration, identity, and the courage to choose joy anyway?In this episode, I sit down with Sonali Dev to talk about her latest novel How Simi Got Her Groom Back—a deeply emotional story about sisterhood, love, and what it really means to belong. We dive
STEM Romance and the Chaos of Academia | Love and Other Brain Experiments byHannah Brohm
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a neuroscientist writes a romance set in academia? In this episode, I’m chatting with debut author Hannah Brohm about Love and Other Brain Experiments—a workplace romance inspired by the chaotic world of research labs, anonymous peer reviews, and the surprising ways love can show
Spy Romance Meets Cozy Mystery: The Gabby Green Series by Sam Tschida
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you love mystery-romance heroines who are juggling work, family, and the occasional international investigation, you’re going to love today’s episode. I’m joined by author Sam Tschida to talk about the latest installment in the Gabby Green series and the chaos that comes with writing spy-adjace
A Slasher Rom-Com? Inside How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates by Shailee Thompson
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a rom-com meets a slasher movie? In this episode, I’m joined by debut author Shaylee Thompson to talk about her wildly fun genre-bending novel How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates — a slasher rom-com set during a speed-dating event gone horribly wrong.We chat about how Shaylee blended t
The Slow Burn Celebrity Romance You Need | Star Shipped Cat Sebastian
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you’ve ever masked your anxiety while looking wildly “high-functioning,” this episode is going to hit.Today I’m chatting with returning guest Cat Sebastian about her new contemporary romance Star Shipped — a slow-burn, forced-proximity love story between two actors on a long-running sci-fi show
Book Bans in 1915? The Story Behind It | The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when book bans aren’t just headlines — but federal law?In this episode, I’m chatting with historical fiction author Shelley Noble about The Sisters of Book Row, a novel set in 1915 New York during the height of the Comstock censorship laws. We talk about rare bookstores, banned poetry
A Love Letter to Sapphic Romance and Live Theater with Amy Spalding | Celebrity RomCom
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Queer joy, Hollywood theater, and why romance doesn’t have to earn its happy ending.In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Amy Spalding to talk about In Her Spotlight, her latest sapphic romance set at the intersection of celebrity culture, live theater, and second-chance love. We dig into
The Sex Lessons Trope — Done Right | A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Quick Note Before You Press Play: The audio quality on this episode isn’t my usual standard (thank you for your grace 😅). If you want the best experience, I highly recommend watching the video version — it includes captions and the sound is much clearer. You can find it on Spotify and YouTube.Than
Can a Serial Killer Be “Cozy”? Dark Comedy Meets Cozy Mystery | Fergus Craig
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you drop a retired serial killer into a luxury retirement home full of former investigators? You get chaos, secrets… and one very suspicious death.In this episode, I chat with British comedian-turned-mystery author Fergus Craig about his latest cozy crime novel, I’m Not the Only
Writing Romance from Venezuela with Maria José Morillo | Celebrity RomCom
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a swoony rom-com set in Venezuela meets fake dating, music, and telenovela-level drama? I’m joined by debut author Maria José Morillo to talk about romance, bilingual reading, and writing against the odds.In this episode, I’m chatting with Maria José Morillo, a Venezuelan author
Buffy Meets Dark Academia: Inside Half City with Kate Golden
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a pandemic side project turns into a full-time creative career? In this episode, I’m joined by fantasy romance author Kate Golden to talk about writing through uncertainty, leaving a stable career, and why urban fantasy is having a moment.We get into Kate’s journey from working a
How to Make Adult Friends (Plus 6 Book Recs!) | Friday Night Readers
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Making adult friends is hard — but it doesn’t have to be lonely.In this Galentine’s Day special, I’m joined by my friend Jules from Friday Night Readers to talk about how we met as adults, how to build meaningful female friendships, and the six books that celebrate the complicated, beautiful, soul
Second-Chance Love, Queer Romance, and ’90s Music Nostalgia | Lisa Peers
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when love, music, and unfinished business collide—20 years later?In this episode, I’m joined by novelist Lisa Peers to talk about Motor City Love Song, a sapphic second-chance romance set against Detroit’s indie music scene—then and now.We dive into the late ’90s Detroit garage-rock e
Cozy Mystery Starter Guide: Series We Loved (and Quit) | Honest Thoughts on Hannah Swansen Series
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Cozy Mysteries 101: Finding the Series That Actually Works for YouIf you’ve ever wanted to get into cozy mysteries but didn’t know where to start — or bounced off one that just didn’t work — this episode is for you. Amy from Novel Gossip joins me to break down what actually makes a cozy mystery wo
Rom-Com Meets Murder: A Killer Kind of Romance with Letizia Lorini | Romantic Mystery
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a true-crime podcaster is forced to host a romance podcast… and a real murder hits close to home? In this episode, I’m joined by author Letizia Lorini to talk about her rom-com-meets-mystery debut A Killer Kind of Romance — a smart, funny love story with serial-killer vibes and a
Queer Romance, Bi Identity, and Being Seen with Jordyn Taylor | Winter Queer RomCom
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Coming out doesn’t always look the way we expect — especially when bisexuality, straight-presenting relationships, and queer community intersect in complicated ways. In this episode, I’m joined by novelist and journalist Jordyn Taylor to talk about her adult debut See You at the Summit and why bis
This Cozy Mystery Author Turned Haunted Lighthouses Into Comfort Reads | Darci Hannah
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Haunted lighthouses, bake shops, ghost hunters, and cozy mysteries with heart.In this episode, I’m joined by cozy mystery author Darci Hannah to talk about how she went from historical fiction to building three beloved cozy mystery series — including haunted lighthouses in Michigan, small-town bak
Anne of Green Gables, Reimagined for a Post-COVID World with Virginia Kantra
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Some books don’t just retell a classic — they hold your hand through a hard season. In this episode, I’m joined by Virginia Kantra to talk about Anne of a Different Island, a modern homage to Anne of Green Gables set in the shadow of COVID, nostalgia, and finding your way forward when life doesn’t
Get Ready for Bridgerton Season 4 + Cinderella Historical Romance Recs
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Bridgerton Season 4 Is Going Full Cinderella — Here’s What to Read While You WaitBridgerton Season 4 is officially heading into Cinderella territory, and I’m breaking down what that means — from class divide drama to why Benedict might finally be the Bridgerton brother we root for. Joined by retur
Reclaiming Marilyn Monroe Through the Female Gaze with Lynn Cullen | Historical Fiction
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Some historical figures feel larger than life — until you finally meet the woman behind the myth.In this episode, I’m joined by Lynn Cullen, an acclaimed historical fiction author who has spent decades uncovering the real people behind cultural legends. We dive into her latest novel about Marilyn
Millennial Cozy Mysteries for Romance Readers with Jenny Elder Moke | Mystery RomCom
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you love romance but want to dip your toes into mystery without gore, trauma, or thriller chaos—this episode is for you.In this conversation, I’m joined by Jenny Elder Moke, author of the millennial cozy mystery-romcom She Doesn’t Have a Clue and her upcoming release Cross Your Heart and Hope H
Before the Podcast: How I Fell Back in Love With Reading as an Adult (2016 Throwback)
Before What to Read Next was a podcast… before author interviews, Kindle Unlimited lists, and mystery obsessions—there was one conversation that changed my reading life forever.In this throwback episode, I’m sharing a 2016 interview that quietly reshaped how I read, why I read, and eventually, why this podcast exists at all. We talk about losing your reading life in grad school, rediscovering book
The Long Road to a Debut Novel (and Why It’s Worth It) with Rosie Storey
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you don’t give up on writing—even after a failed debut attempt, agent rejections, and a long detour through corporate life? In this episode, I’m joined by London-based author Rosie Storey, whose debut novel Dandelion Is Dead is finally making its U.S. release.We talk honestly abo
Adventure Rom-Coms Are Back (In Book Form) with Jo Segura
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and a swoony rom-com had a bookish baby? That’s exactly what today’s episode delivers. I’m joined by Jo Segura, author of adventure rom-coms that bring danger, banter, and kissing back into the genre.We talk about why Hollywood stopped making true adventur
How Romance Authors Actually Make a Living with Lauren Connolly
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What does it really look like to make a living as a romance author in today’s publishing landscape? In this episode, I’m joined by romance author Lauren Connolly for a candid conversation about hybrid publishing, creative sustainability, and her latest rom-com Love in Plane Sight.We talk about Lau
How I Finally Figured Out What I Like to Read
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What My Reading Taste Actually Looks Like (and Why I Let Go of Goals)What happens when you stop chasing trends, ditch reading streaks, and finally admit what you don’t like to read? In this off-the-cuff solo episode, I’m talking honestly about my reading taste reset — what 2025 taught me, what I’m
Inside the Research Behind Innocence Road by Laura Griffin
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a former newspaper crime reporter turns her real-life investigative instincts into pulse-pounding fiction? In this episode, I sit down with Laura Griffin to talk about crime fiction, small-town mysteries, and the real-world research that makes her thrillers feel terrifyingly real
The Fix & the Rise of Romantic Thrillers with Mia Sheridan
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a romance author leans fully into the dark, twisty world of thrillers—but keeps the emotional payoff readers crave? In this episode, I’m joined by Mia Sheridan to talk about her evolution from emotional romance to romantic thrillers—and why this hybrid genre works so well for rea
Reading Paralysis Is Real — Here’s How We Reset
Reading should be fun… so why does choosing your next book sometimes feel impossible? In this Group Chat episode, I’m joined by Amy and Sarah for an honest conversation about how our reading lives have evolved — and how we actually choose what to read now.We talk about reading paralysis, juggling ARCs and backlist titles, the joy of cozy mysteries, why Goodreads ratings don’t tell the whole story,
Pagebound: The Anti-Algorithm Reading App
What if Goodreads and Reddit had a baby—and it was actually fun to use?In this episode, I’m joined by Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak, the co-founders of Pagebound, a beautifully designed, reader-first book tracking app that brings back the joy of talking about books while you’re reading them.We talk about why they built Pagebound as a community—not an algorithm—how anonymous discussion makes reading
Why Heated Rivalry Changed Sports Romance | Rachel Reid's First Podcast Interview (2020)
This episode originally aired September 21, 2020. Yes, this was Rachel Reid's very first podcast interview. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you take one of the most toxic masculinity sports cultures in the world—and rewrite it with tenderness, queer joy, and emotional honesty? 🏒💖In this retro What to Read Next
Tropical Christmas Romances (With Mermaids!) | Christina Berry, Natalie Parker and Lizzie Stanley
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Tropical Christmas romance, but make it mermaids + bartenders + island chaos. In this episode, I’m chatting with Lizzie Stanley, Natalie Parker, and Christina Berry about their Merry Mermaids holiday novella series—aka the underserved niche of Christmas reads where nobody is pretending it’s snowin
Merry Mayhem: Small-Town Christmas Chaos (Romcom!) | Erin Nicholas
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Small-town Christmas chaos + rom-com hijinks? Yes, please. In this episode, I’m joined by romance author Erin Nicholas to talk holiday books, audio “girlie” life, and her newest festive romcom, Merry Mayhem.Erin’s been publishing since 2009/2010 (and has 70–80+ books… she’s lost count in the best
A Holiday Romance for People Who Hate Christmas | Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A holiday romance for people who hate the holidays? Yes, please. In this episode, I’m hanging out with romance author Natasha Madison to talk messy Christmas travel, big-family chaos, and why a happily-ever-after matters—even in true crime.Natasha and I also get into how romance trends have shifte
Single Dads, Small Towns & Christmas Romance with Amy Knupp
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a former Harlequin author turns indie, builds a direct sales empire, and writes an entire series about small-town single dads? In this episode, I sit down with contemporary romance author Amy Knupp to talk about the business of romance and her cozy, Christmasy small-town world.We
Recommended
Hard Knocks Podcast
Effective Weight Loss for Moms | High protein, Strength Training, Lose Weight, Meal Planning, Fat Loss, Healthy Habits
The Human-Animal Connection - Pet Life Radio Original
Infinite Health with Dr. Arasi Maran
The Daily
World News Tonight with David Muir
The Joe Rogan Experience
English Vocabulary Help
TED Talks Daily
Learn English B1 with Daily News | English Listening Practice
Talk About Talk - Executive & Leadership Communication Skills
English with Olivia | Slow Conversations & Vocabulary
