What Should I Read Next?

Today Anne is joined by two readers to discuss what it means to be well-read these days, and why it’s a concept worth exploring. Rebecca Schinsky and Jeff O’Neal of the Book Riot podcast Zero to Well-Read are Anne's guests today. Together with Anne, they explore how each of them thinks about what it means to be well-read, and how their personal working definitions have evolved over the years. The reading life is a journey, and today's conversation goes beyond what being well-read and reading well means: it also explores the ways that deciding what well-read means to you can help you cultivate readerly satisfaction, combat distraction, and even build community. Find out more and see the links and titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com. Our new Patreon Ad-Free Episodes tier makes it possible for you to receive ad-free episodes right in your regular podcast feed for just $5 a month. We’d love to have you join us on Patreon: find out more and sign up today at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Reading in retirement has given today’s guest more time to explore what makes a book "click" for her, and she's joining Anne today to talk all about it. Debbie Day lives in the Nashville area, where she’s enjoying settling into retirement and empty nesting. This chapter of life is giving her more time for travel, dancing, cooking, spending time with friends and family, and of course, reading. The extra time to reflect on her reading life has led Debbie to discover an unexpected common thread among her favorite books: an interesting structure. Now that she’s homed in on this element, Debbie is on the hunt for more such books—but she’s not sure where to look. As a fellow structure nerd, Anne has ideas for Debbie. Find the list of titles discussed today and leave your suggestions for Debbie on our show notes page at ⁠whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com⁠. We’ve been thrilled to hear from so many of you that you’re loving this year’s Fall Book Preview lookbook. This smaller-format, analog booklet invites you to dig into Anne's selections for this season’s most anticipated books. Find out more and get your copy while supplies last at modernmrsdarcy.com/fbp. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Anne is back with the latest episode in a new-ish series in which she invites a team member to join her in recommending titles for a guest. Today Anne is joined by Patreon community manager Shannan Malone as they chat with Lindsey Bloodworth. Lindsey is a mom to two boys who lives in Homewood, Alabama. She's found joy and community in a mom's workout group that she's managed to turn into a book club, as well as through another book club at her local indie bookstore. Lindsey would love to hear ideas for books her community of moms would enjoy reading and discussing together. Lindsey's found that having other moms to chat with through all of life's small and big moments has been really important to her, and she's enjoyed using books to spark these conversations. Shannan also lives in Alabama and in a prior life ran the Rocket City Mom Virtual Book Club for 10 years, where they read over 60 books together. So when she saw Lindsey's query, Shannan knew she had ideas to share. Today, she and Anne will see what types of books they can put on Lindsey's reading radar that might make for great conversations with either one of her book clubs. Find the list of titles discussed today and share your suggestions for Lindsey by leaving a comment on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com. We’ve had some big changes lately over on Patreon. We launched our new Ad-Free Episodes Tier, which delivers weekly episodes of What Should I Read Next? without the ads. We also rolled out our Patreon All-Inclusive Tier, which includes everything we do on Patreon: our weekly bonus episodes, live events like our Fall Book Preview and Summer Reading Guide Unboxing, and weekly ad-free episodes of WSIRN. If you’re a patron: thank you! If not, consider joining us: check out the options and sign up for a monthly or annual membership at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today, Anne is talking all things fall books with our executive producer, Will Bogel. They'll discuss the 2026 Fall Book Preview, which came out last Thursday, September 17th. In their conversation, Will and Anne will bring you behind the scenes as they talk about where the idea came from, when it started, how it's changed, what's happening this year, and why. Find out more and share your comments on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com. Our Fall Book Preview was released last Thursday, which means you can now get yours at modernmrsdarcy.com/FBP. Members of our Patreon community in the Bonuses & Events or All-Inclusive tiers get the Fall Book Preview as an included membership perk. This is a great time to become a member, not only for the Fall Book Preview, but also our upcoming bonus episodes and our team's Best Books of the Year, coming up in just a few months. Find out more at modernmrsdarcy.com/FBP. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today's guest wants to experience the satisfaction of engaging in what she calls meaningful reading more often, but she finds herself easily distracted by the new and shiny. Jane Baldwin has ideas for different reading projects but has gotten overwhelmed by the possible options, and would love Anne's help navigating these roadblocks. Jane lives with her husband and two dogs in St. Louis, where she's an accounting manager by day and a devoted gardener and Dungeons & Dragons regular by night. Lately, Jane is attempting to fill some gaps she's identified in her American literature reading to date, but she's finding herself stalling out. In hopes of boosting her enthusiasm for this project, Jane would love to identify clusters of books that can be in conversation with each other. Today Anne will aim to identify both contemporary and classic options that will provide interest and context to some of Jane's older picks. Along the way, they notice how much some of Jane's chosen shiny and new books have in common with these older titles she's been less excited to read. Share your ideas for Jane and find the list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com. Readers, the coming fall weather means sweatshirts will soon be back in our team's wardrobe rotation, and we're especially partial to our MMD Sorority Sweatshirt, tailor-made for your fall activities on or off campus. Choose from a crimson or blue jean colored comfort color sweatshirt adorned with navy felt applique letters and white stitching. Order your fall sweatshirt and shop our refreshed for fall collection of bookish merch at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices