What Should I Read Next?

Donna Hetchler, the Resident Spreadsheet Queen at Modern Mrs. Darcy HQ, and Brigid Misselhorn, Community Coordinator, dive into their favorite summer reads. They discuss the parallels between memoirs and personal empowerment, highlighting titles that inspire fitness journeys. The team shares engaging recommendations, including a middle grade novel narrated by Ethan Hawke and witty reads perfect for Jane Austen fans. Listeners are invited to reflect on their own summer favorites, showcasing a vibrant community connection around shared literary adventures.

Julie Berry, a celebrated author of young adult fiction and owner of the independent bookstore Author's Note, shares her inspiring journey of opening a bookstore during the pandemic. She discusses her upcoming release and the art of discovering books that truly resonate beyond the mainstream hype. The conversation touches on the importance of strong characters and vibrant community ties in literature, along with personal recommendations that emphasize the joy of reading and storytelling.

Olivia Haber Greenwood, a copywriter and freelance journalist based in Barcelona, dives into her passion for novels featuring multiple points of view. While she loves the concept, she's on the hunt for books where each character has a distinctive voice that truly resonates. The conversation explores the complexities and emotional connections in multi-POV narratives, highlighting works like Joan Didion's 'Play It As It Lays' and a psychological thriller featuring a missing child. It's a delightful quest for captivating storytelling that engages readers from various angles.

Holly Wielkoszewski, a media production specialist, shares her journey as she transitions from fantasy to science fiction. Living between New Mexico and various international locales, she reveals her evolving reading tastes and the exciting trends she's noticed in contemporary sci-fi. Holly discusses how various narratives connect with themes of love and discovery, the importance of immersive storytelling, and her favorite book recommendations that highlight diverse voices. Listeners are encouraged to explore new literary horizons and rethink their genre preferences.

Ellen Heath, a retired urban planner from Atlanta, dives deep into her love for immersive settings and characters. She shares her creative method for choosing her next read on her eReader and her intention to abandon more books in 2025. The duo explores the emotional connections we have with stories, touching on memorable reads like 'Clear' by Carys Davies and the humor of 'Mr. Loverman.' They also discuss how urban planning influences literature, revealing the intricacies of character development in captivating narratives.

The hosts reflect on their midyear reading journeys, discussing what’s worked and what hasn’t in their literary lives. They emphasize the importance of intentional reading goals and the emotional connections books create. Personal anecdotes about life changes, like welcoming a puppy, blend with insights on balancing reading with self-care. Notable titles and unexpected favorites are spotlighted, along with practical tips for summer gatherings. Listeners are encouraged to evaluate their reading preferences and share their experiences.

Chelsea Siler, an early childhood special education teacher from Tacoma, shares her quest for the perfect summer reads that bring joy and escape. She discusses her love for immersive, character-driven stories and how childhood experiences shape her reading preferences. The conversation dives into the balance of teaching and outdoor adventures like bike camping, emphasizing the transformative power of deeply engaging narratives. Recommendations for impactful books highlight themes of identity, relationships, and the beauty of slow, mindful reading.

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

Noelle Leong, a science and medicine-focused librarian with a passion for marine science, dives into the world of ocean-themed literature. She shares her love for books that capture the essence of the sea, exploring everything from pop science to narratives featuring complex relationships set against oceanic backdrops. The conversation also touches on the transformative power of reading, emotional connections to ocean motifs, and insightful recommendations that highlight both fiction and nonfiction related to the vast and mysterious ocean.

Join Evan Carlson, a Chicago-based actor and poet, as he dives into the search for fiction that resonates like the nonfiction he adores. He shares his unique relationship with reading and challenges he's faced to find engaging narratives. From poetry's transformative power to the intersection of storytelling and performance, Evan reflects on his artistic journey and the impacts of modern distractions on reading habits. The conversation also spotlights thought-provoking titles like 'Poetry, a Survivor's Guide' and 'Bluettes,' bridging emotions and reflections.