Ep 505: Recs for a reader in search of "best in class" books

7 snips

Dec 2, 2025

Kate Mosesso, a Chicago-based reader and improv comedian, shares her unique journey of reading books recommended by loved ones since 2021. She reflects on the power of connections through literature and considers adding a new twist to her project for 2026, potentially involving celebrity recommendations. Kate faces the challenge of finding 'best in class' books amidst genre saturation, all while desiring stories that resonate with her tastes. Dive into her favorites, distinctive recommendations, and the joys of community-inspired reading!

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ANECDOTE

Wide-Ranging Recommenders

Kate included recommendations from people of all ages, even honoring her late grandmother by reading a Jeeves novel.
A professor's suggestion led her to Kate Quinn's The Briar Club, which became a standout pick.

ADVICE

One Curated Suggestion At A Time

Anne suggests bringing one carefully selected external recommendation into your reading life at a time to avoid overwhelm.
This method widens your options without forcing you to choose from everything all at once.

ADVICE

Choose Best-In-Class Entry Points

To escape genre fatigue, deliberately seek 'best-in-class' entries across unfamiliar genres instead of more of the same.
Use high-quality entry points to explore narrative nonfiction, historical fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy.

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We love unique reading projects around here, and today's guest has maintained hers since 2021. We're going to hear all about it and explore how she's adding a new twist for 2026.

Kate Mosesso is a reader and improv comedian who lives and works in Chicago. She's a lifelong reader, and while she loves the stories on the page, she's an even bigger fan of the connections that reading fosters.

Since 2021, Kate's undertaken a community-inspired reading project: every month, she reads a book recommended by a loved one. This project has led her to a lot of great books and given her a new way to connect with people she loves: friends, family members, even favorite professors. For 2026, she's thinking of a new angle for this long-time project and is interested in discussing how to make it really work for her.

Today, we're going to explore what's happening with Kate's project, the changes she'd like to make for the year ahead, and what we can do about it. Anne recommends titles and tips to infuse Kate with confidence and enthusiasm for her reading year to come.

Find the full list of titles mentioned today and leave your recommendations for Kate on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/505.

If you're curious about what the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club is all about, today Anne shares a peek behind the scenes of this online community. From our annual readers' retreats to author talks and classes to help you make the most of your reading life, Book Club is full of things to look forward to each year. Our team Best Books of the Year event is coming up in January, an event that's only available for our online communities. And looking ahead for 2026, our Book Club members will enjoy our February Readers' Day with a Spring Book Preview themed library chat, our Summer Reading Guide unboxing, Austen in August, and more good nerdy fun. We hope you'll join us in 2026 as we celebrate 10 years of the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. A Book Club membership also makes a fantastic last-minute holiday gift. Find out more or sign up now at modernmrsdarcy.com/club.

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