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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 realities. We talk about how she plotted a multiverse romance, and how writing adult, YA, and cozy fantasy keeps her a full-time author. We also cover the state of sapphic romance in publishing right now and her witchy YA rom-coms, perfect for spooky season. Stick around for three speculative romance recs (plus a bonus sapphic mystery series) that are ideal for your library holds list or your next audiobook. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 📚 Books MentionedIn What World by Bridget Morrissey — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Speculative Sapphic Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance | Audio ✅ Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | YA Sapphic Romance, Witchy Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅ I Put a Spell On You by Bridget Morrissey — Preorder on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | YA Sapphic Romance, Epistolary, Valentine's Day | Releases Jan 12, 2027 Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Paranormal Romance, Grief, Romantic Comedy | Audio ✅ In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Magical Realism Romance, Ireland Setting | Audio ✅ Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Sapphic Sci-Fi Romance, Multiverse, Found Family | Audio ✅ Love a Comeback by Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Sapphic Cozy Mystery, Hollywood (TV Detectives #2; start with Big Name Fan) | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome back, Bridget[00:40] Writing adult, YA, and cozy fantasy under a pen name[01:40] A day in the life of a full-time author[03:30] Writing sapphic romance in 2026 and the publishing landscape[06:50] The need for more sapphic stories[08:00] Theater-kid love and a Spring Awakening story[08:50] The pitch: In What World[09:55] How Bridget plotted a multiverse romance[11:50] Bridget's witchy YA rom-coms[13:50] Rec: Seeing Other People[15:05] Rec: In Every Possible Way[15:55] Rec: Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon[17:00] Bonus rec: the TV Detectives series[18:00] Where to find Bridget Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 covering all ten titles on the 2026 National Book Award fiction longlist — from Marlon James's queer epic The Disappearers to Valeria Luiselli's Beginning Middle End. We also dig into the Hugo Awards, the biggest NBA snub of the year, and how to build a budget-friendly award-season TBR using your library 📚 Books MentionedDead Beat by Leigh Bardugo — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Fantasy, Dark Academia, Horror | Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lillith Assadi — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction | Red Ants by Kimberly Blaeser — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Short Stories, Horror Dèy by Edwidge Danticat — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction |Pretend You're Dead and I Carry You by Julián Delgado Lopera — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Magical Realism Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Short StoriesThe Disappearers by Marlon James — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Crime Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction Passengers by Alexander Maksik — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction |The Renovation by Kenan Orhan — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction Mad Eden by Morgan Thomas — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction | The Song of Stork and Dromedary by Anjet Daanje (trans. from Dutch) — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Translated Literature ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro — NBA fiction longlist collab with Deedi Reads[00:01] Deedi's whirlwind NBA announcement week[00:02] Reacting to Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo[00:03] The full 2026 fiction longlist, read aloud[00:04] Deedi's reads so far: Paradiso 17 & Beginning Middle End[00:06] Pretend You're Dead and I Carry You — magical realism & Latin American lit[00:08] Deedi's reading game plan — library holds, formats, timeline[00:10] NBA after-party & free livestream info[00:11] Balancing award reading with a fantasy-heavy TBR[00:12] October fantasy lineup + finishing Sabaa Tahir's Empire[00:14] Tease: Deedi's upcoming Divergent essay[00:15] Hugo Awards recap — Alix E. Harrow & The Raven Scholar[00:17] Nonfiction longlist picks + the year's biggest NBA snub (Tayari Jones's Kin)[00:19] Translated literature longlist & The Song of Stork and Dromedary snub[00:20] Wrap-up and sign-off Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This podcast originally aired March 2026 What 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 story about faith, friendship, ambition, and the very online world we’re all living in. We talk about how her MFA journey led her here, why religion in fiction felt like a “risky” topic just a few years ago, and how influencer culture (hello Mormon wives and MomTok 👀) makes this story more relevant than ever. If you love messy friend groups, big institutions, powerful men, and complicated women trying to build something meaningful — this one is for you. Bonus Book Recommendations Check out my latest Substack episode with 2 additional bonus recommendations and my thoughts of the latest SLOMW episode drop of Season 5. https://whattoreadnextpodcast.substack.com/p/books-like-mormon-wives 🕒 Timestamps[00:00] Early podcast days & friendship origin story [02:00] Alli’s MFA journey and first abandoned manuscript [05:00] The Christian influencer rabbit hole [07:30] Influencer monetization & megachurch power [10:00] Religion, algorithms & modern politics [14:00] Community after the pandemic [21:30] Behind the Scenes podcast (BTS-TBTS) [24:00] Book recommendations: cults, ambition & satire [37:00] Where to find Alli & audiobook details 📚 Books Mentioned Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik — Book Club Fiction | Influencer Culture | Literary Fiction Little One by Olivia Muenter — Cult Fiction | Dual Timeline | Psychological Drama Paper Cut by Rachel Taff — Literary Fiction | Power & Family Dynamics Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour — Satire | Reality TV Culture | Pandemic Fiction Glossy by Marisa Meltzer — Nonfiction | Business Biography | Millennial CEO Workhorse by Caroline Palmer — Literary Fiction | Publishing Industry | Ambitious Female Lead Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 author of the thriller The Hunter — is back with something completely different: Siren Says, a Celtic-Welsh botanical fantasy about power, curses, and reclaiming your humanity. If you've ever wondered what agents actually do for writers (beyond "sell the book"), or you're hunting for your next romantasy pick with real teeth, this one's for you. 📚 Books MentionedSiren Says by Jennifer Herrera — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Romantasy (Celtic-Welsh mythology, botanical magic) | The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera — Buy on Amazon | Thriller | If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Mythology & Feminism | Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy Romance (Letters of Enchantment prequel) | The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle — Buy on Amazon | Classic Fantasy | ⏱️ Time Stamps [00:00] Welcome & intro[01:00] From philosophy grad school to literary agent[02:00] Moving to NYC to break into publishing[03:00]–[05:00] Why writing rarely pays the bills — and why that's okay[06:00]–[08:00] The myth of the "debut author"[09:00]–[10:00] Why thrillers feel easy and fantasy feels hard to write[10:00] Elevator pitch for Siren Says[11:00]–[13:00] The myth of Mis, power, and reclaiming humanity[13:00]–[16:00] Romance, healthy relationships, and feminist themes in fantasy[16:00]–[20:00] What writers should expect from a literary agent[20:00]–[23:00] Networking, community, and building your author platform[23:00]–[25:00] Marketing, selling vs. giving, and how author podcasts changed[26:00]–[29:00] Book recs: If Women Rose Rooted, Wild Reverence, The Last Unicorn[29:00]–[32:00] On aging, identity, and living an interesting life[32:00] Where to find Jennifer online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 adventure stories, a dash of romance, or eerie underground worlds but want something that won't keep you up at night, this episode is for you. 📚 Books MentionedA Fable for Hollow Creatures by R.R. Schaeffer — Buy on Amazon | Dark Fantasy/Horror | Releases Oct 27, 2026 (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Horror/Fantasy, light Romance | What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne — Buy on Amazon | Horror/Fantasy | Releases Oct 6, 2026 ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro[00:01] Bri's blogging journey: from Blogger to horror blog to Substack[00:07] Substack community & the ARC conversation[00:09] Book Goose publication & upcoming virtual book club[00:12] How Bri finds hidden-gem books to recommend[00:16] Bookseller mindset & intro to today's trope[00:17] Trope reveal: Monster Hunters[00:17] Book 1: A Fable for Hollow Creatures[00:19] Book 2: (Mostly) Human Resources[00:21] Book 3: What Feeds Below[00:24] Where to find Bri online & outro CONNECT WITH BRI https://bookgooseblog.substack.com/ Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 mermaid who team up to take down ancient sea gods. We dig into her love of anime and manga, her upcoming graphic novel, and get five (okay, six) can't-miss pirate and fantasy-romance recommendations for your TBR. 📚 Books MentionedThe Siren's Kiss by Leslie Vedder — Buy on Amazon | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy Romance / Sapphic / Pirates Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Romantasy / Pirates The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Sapphic / Pirates The Devourer by Alison Ames — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Sapphic / Pirates In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy Romance / Mermaids The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Historical Piracy / Trans MC A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames (bonus) — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | Fantasy Romance ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome back Leslie Vedder[00:30] What she's been up to since her debut trilogy[01:00] Elevator pitch for The Siren's Kiss[01:30] Sapphic pirates and badass female pirate captains[02:00] Pirate history research and the reality behind the myth[03:30] Anime and manga influence on her writing[05:00] Upcoming sapphic Robin Hood graphic novel ⚠️ genre departure[07:00] Book recommendations: pirates and mermaids[10:30] Where to find Leslie online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 voting actually works, break down all six Best Novel nominees, and Deedi tells us which one she's rooting for (and which one she thinks will actually win). Perfect for anyone who loves a good genre awards deep-dive or is just looking for their next fantasy or sci-fi read. 📚 Books MentionedThe Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy/Mystery A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy MysteryThe Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Mystery | 2025 Hugo winner, prequelThe Incandescent by Emily Tesh — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Science Fiction Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Science FictionCinderhouse by Freya Marske — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Novella The River Has Roots by Amar El-Mohtar— Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Novella ⏱️ Timestamps [00:00] Welcome back, Deedi — our official awards correspondent[00:01] Why the Hugos are different from literary prizes[00:02] How Hugo voting actually works (Worldcon membership, nominating)[00:03] All the Hugo categories beyond Best Novel[00:05] Popular vote pros and cons — vs. the Goodreads Choice Awards[00:07] This year's six Best Novel nominees, announced[00:08] Novella category as an easier entry point (Cinderhouse, The River Has Roots)[00:09] How Deedi fits 6 award books into a realistic reading pace[00:13] Deedi's "three words" method for choosing what to read next[00:17] Letting go of reading identity and genre guilt[00:19] Revisiting YA dystopia — Hunger Games, Divergent, and a brewing essay[00:22] Breaking up with Amazon and the Kindle ecosystem[00:26] Why indie bookstores give you more than just books[00:27] Supporting indie authors outside Amazon[00:32] Deedi's personal favorite — and her prediction for the win[00:35] Where to find Deedi online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 for Two"), and gives full reviews of two standout reads — a cozy small-town mystery obsessed with designer dogs, and a millennial mystery starring a very unlucky crossing guard. If you're looking for your next cozy or millennial-mystery pick, or just want a simple way to build more reading time into your life, this one's for you. 📚 Books MentionedMurder Bites by Mimi Montgomery | Cozy Mystery | Audio ✅Don't Cross Mo Ellery by Birdie Horne | Mystery | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro + August update[01:00] Birthday PTO and navigating a season of burnout[02:00] Making local reading friends through her yoga studio[03:00] How the "Silent Book Club for Two" reading date started[04:00] Why a one-on-one reading date beats a full book club[05:00] Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery — setup and premise[06:00] Murder Bites — the reveal that actually surprised her[07:00] Don't Cross Mo Ellery — setup and premise[09:00] Currently reading Dungeon Crawl Carl + KU cancellation + sign-off Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 messy business of growing up. We dig into writing Latine representation in genre fiction beyond trauma narratives, why romance's happy ending is actually the hardest thing to earn, and Gabriela's favorite grief-and-joy reads. 📚 Books MentionedHow to Love You When You're Gone by Gabriela Gonzales — Buy on Amazon | YA Romance/Rom-Com | Audio ✅ (narrated by Elena Rey & Jeff Ebner) Our Way Back to Always by Nina Moreno — Buy on Amazon | YA Rom-Com | Audio ✅ Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce — Buy on Amazon | YA Rom-Com | Audio ✅ Book Lovers by Emily Henry — Buy on Amazon | Adult Romance/Rom-Com | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps [00:00] Welcome + Gabriela's arts school & circus class background[00:03] Deciding to become a writer at age five[00:05] Signing with her agent in 2020 on a dystopian circus novel[00:06] Her sister's passing and discovering rom-coms[00:09] Why a happy ending is the hardest thing to write[00:11] The many subgenres of romance — there's a book for everyone[00:12] Writing Latine characters beyond trauma narratives[00:14] Latina identity isn't monolithic[00:17] Elevator pitch: How to Love You When You're Gone[00:19] The "grief backpack" metaphor[00:21] DBT, glimmers of hope, and managing big emotions[00:25] Book recommendations begin[00:26] Our Way Back to Always by Nina Moreno[00:31] Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce[00:35] Book Lovers by Emily Henry[00:39] Where to find Gabriela online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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-something women reuniting to pull off one last con — this time against a crypto scammer. Julia also shares four wide-ranging reading recommendations, from a quietly devastating Norwegian translation to the LitRPG series everyone's talking about. 📚 Books MentionedRules for Aging and Larceny by Julia London — Buy on Amazon | Commercial Fiction, Heist | Audio ✅ (narrated by Christina Moore) Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction, Classic | Audio ✅ The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten (trans. Alison McCullough) — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction, Translated | Audio ✅ Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — Buy on Amazon | LitRPG, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | KU ✅/ Audio ✅ (highly praised narration) Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley — Buy on Amazon | Commercial Fiction | Audio✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro[01:00] 29 years in publishing, starting in historical romance[02:00] The shift away from historical romance/mass market[03:00] Backlist entry points: dog-centric rom-coms & women's fiction[04:00] Elevator pitch: Rules for Aging and Larceny[05:00] The friend group, the original heist, and the fallout[06:00] The health diagnosis that brings the gang back together[07:00] Planning the casino heist — and why being "invisible" helps[08:00] Being underestimated as an older woman in public spaces[09:00] Julia's real-life stint as a white-collar crime investigator[10:00] Would you still have it? The book's central question[11:00] Recommendation: Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell[12:00]–[13:00] Why Mrs. Bridge still feels relevant nearly 100 years later[14:00] Recommendation: The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten[15:00] Comparing Grytten to Fredrik Backman[16:00] Recommendation: Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman[17:00]–[18:00] Why the audiobook and LitRPG genre have taken off[19:00] Recommendation: Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley[20:00] Where to find Julia online[21:00] Social media, content strategy, and closing thoughts Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 Reaper and the sunshine-y librarian who steals his afterlife. In this episode, Kelly talks about jumping from YA to adult romance, writing comedy after years in paranormal horror, and her upcoming Hades and Persephone romantasy retelling — plus she shares the books currently topping her TBR. Perfect for readers who love cozy paranormal rom-coms, monster romance, and stories about finding your process as a writer. 📚 Books MentionedA Date with Death by Kelly Creagh — Buy on Amazon | Paranormal Rom-Com | Audio ✅ A Promise to Hades by Kelly Creagh —YA Romantasy (upcoming) My Roommate Is a Vampire by Jenna Levine — Buy on Amazon | Paranormal Rom-Com | Audio ✅ Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson — Buy on Amazon | Monster Romance | Audio ✅ The Cruel Prince by Holly Black — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy/Romantasy |Audio ✅ How to Write Best-Selling Fiction by James Scott Bell — Buy on Audible | Writing Craft | Audio ✅ (Audible-exclusive) ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome + intro to Kelly's adult debut, A Date with Death[01:00] Moving from YA to adult romance[02:00] Adult problems vs. YA coming-of-age stakes[03:00] Writing a heroine with romantic baggage[04:00] Where the Grim Reaper concept came from (thanks, nephew Ethan)[05:00] Why cozy romance is resonating right now[06:00] Kelly's comedy background[07:00] Family humor, playwriting, and theater roots[08:00] Working in a library — and that infamous bookmobile[09:00] What's next: A Promise to Hades, a Hades/Persephone romantasy[10:00] Researching mythology and the Vestal Virgins[12:00] On retellings and finding your voice as a writer[14:00] What Kelly reads across genres[15:00] Advice on finding your own writing process[16:00] Learning structure before you break the rules[19:00] The business side of being a writer[21:00] Craft book recommendation: James Scott Bell[22:00] Fiction recs: vampire rom-coms, monster romance, and The Cruel Prince[23:00] Where to find Kelly online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 structure, and why she believes The Good Parts was always meant to be her debut. We also dig into her book club-ready recommendations for readers who love a powerful "what if" premise, propulsive second-chance romance, and stories that leave you thinking about what a happy ending really means. 📚 Books MentionedThe Good Parts by Evann Normandin — Buy on Amazon | Speculative Romance, Book Club Fiction In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary/Romance, Book Club Fiction The Measure by Nikki Erlick — Buy on Amazon | Speculative Fiction, Book Club Fiction Every Version of You by Natalie Messier — Buy on Amazon | Second Chance Romance ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro to Evann Normandin[00:01] Evann's day job in educational publishing[00:02] The path to debut: earlier books that didn't sell[00:04] Signing with agent Michelle Wolfson & landing the book deal[00:05] Elevator pitch: the dual past/present timeline structure[00:06] How the musical The Last Five Years inspired the format[00:07] Plotting vs. pantsing — how much was mapped out in advance[00:09] The full elevator pitch: Rose, Landon, and the memory-erasing pill[00:10] The ethical questions that make it a great book club pick[00:12] Evann's reading life & recommendations begin[00:12] In Five Years by Rebecca Serle[00:14] The Measure by Nikki Erlick[00:15] Every Version of You by Natalie Messier[00:16] Where to find Evann online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 banter is her favorite thing to write, and the books that made her cackle out loud this year. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forced proximity, and grumpy-meets-sunshine energy, this episode is for you. 📚 Books MentionedAny Trope But You by Victoria Lavine — Buy on Amazon | Romance / Rom-Com, Alaska-set, Enemies-to-Lovers Not That Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine — Buy on Amazon | Romance / Rom-Com, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity Let's Kiss and Tell by Joss Richards — Buy on Amazon | Romance It's Different This Time by Joss Richards — Buy on Amazon | Romance, Second Chance Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee — Buy on Amazon | Romance, Humor Succubus: A Love Story by Kate Fox — Buy on Amazon | Paranormal Romance, Humor ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome + intro to Victoria Lavine[01:00] Life in Maine, escaping mud season[02:00] Growing up in Alaska and its influence on her debut[03:00] Any Trope But You — the retreat, the grumpy hero, writing it fast[04:00] Not That Kind of Proposal — premise: wedding planner vs. divorce lawyer[06:00] Researching wedding planning for the book[08:00] Favorite part of writing: the banter between enemies-to-lovers leads[10:00] Let's Kiss and Tell and It's Different This Time by Joss Richards[12:00] Potshot by Laura Piper Lee[13:00] Succubus: A Love Story by Kate Fox[15:00] Where to find Victoria online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 Nantucket scandals to a St. John getaway gone sideways — then hand over a list of read-alike authors for anyone who's already blown through the backlist. Perfect for beach bag planning, TBR building, or anyone debating where to start with the Queen of Beach Reads. 📚 Books MentionedLaura's Top 5 Elin Hilderbrand's Books: The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Women's Fiction/Nantucket Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Mystery/Women's Fiction The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Mystery Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Women's Fiction Winter in Paradise trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Women's Fiction/St. John Julianne's Top 5 Elin Hilderbrand's Books: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Women's Fiction/Light Mystery — recommended starting point for new readers The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Mystery Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Mystery/Women's Fiction Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Historical Fiction 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance If You Love Elin Hilderbrand, Try These Books Next: The Wash Ashores by Hannah McKinnon — Buy on Amazon | Women's Fiction/Nantucket Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy — Buy on Amazon | Women's Fiction These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Fiction Pretty as a Peach & Good Hair Days by Grace Helena Walz — Buy on Amazon | Southern Women's Fiction This Summer Will Be Different, Meet Me at the Lake, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance Also recommended: Jenny Hale, Emily Giffin, Nancy Thayer, Pamela M. Kelly, Brooke Lea Foster, Kristy Woodson Harvey, Dorothea Benton Frank, Victoria Benton Frank ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro & summer catch-up[00:02] The eternal question: what Hilderbrand book should I read next?[00:07] How many Hilderbrand books have each of us actually read?[00:08] Laura's #5: A Rumor[00:10] Julianne's #5: The Hotel Nantucket (great starting point!)[00:13] Laura's #4: Swan Song[00:16] Julianne's #4: The Perfect Couple[00:18] Laura's #3: The Perfect Couple / Julianne's #3: Swan Song[00:18] Laura's #2: Silver Girl[00:19] Julianne's #2: Summer of '69[00:20] Laura's #1: Winter in Paradise trilogy[00:22] Julianne's #1: 28 Summers[00:24] If you love Elin Hilderbrand, read these authors next[00:29] Five Star Weekend Peacock adaptation + wrap-up[00:29] What's behind our Substack paywalls this week Connect with Julianne from Friday Night Readers: https://fridaynightreaders.substack.com/p/best-elin-hilderbrand-books Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!

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 attendant to indie-author-turned-hybrid-with-Atria, plus the wild "it might be the line of believability" story behind putting a woman in the NHL for her breakout hit Face Off. She also shares the hurricane-chasing inspiration behind her new meteorologist romance In Stormy Weather, and gives us her go-to book recommendations for readers who love emotionally deep sports romance. Perfect for readers who love sports romance, indie-to-trad publishing journeys, and hurricane season reads with heart. 📚 Books MentionedIn Stormy Weather by Chelsea Curto — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance, Hurricane/Weather Romance | Audio✅ Face Off (DC Stars #1) by Chelsea Curto — Buy on Amazon | Sports Romance (Hockey) | KU ✅| Audio ✅ Hat Trick (DC Stars #4) by Chelsea Curto — Buy on Amazon | Sports Romance (Hockey) | KU ✅| Audio ✅ An Unexpected Paradise by Chelsea Curto — Buy on Amazon | Romance (debut) | KU ✅| Audio ✅ Caught on Camera by Chelsea Curto — Buy on Amazon | Holiday/Seasonal Romance | KU ✅| Audio ✅ Unsteady by Peyton Corinne— Buy on Amazon | College Sports Romance (Hockey) | Audio ✅ Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan — Buy on Amazon | Sports Romance (Basketball) | KU ✅| Audio ✅ People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro to Chelsea[00:01] Flight attendant career & current leave[00:02] Life as a flight attendant, myths vs. reality[00:03] How Chelsea started writing during COVID[00:04] Growth as an author since 2022[00:05] Indie publishing & connecting with agent Caitlin[00:06] Indie vs. traditional publishing pros/cons[00:09] The DC Stars hockey series origin[00:10] Writing Face Off & putting a woman in the NHL[00:12] Atria picks up DC Stars books 1–5[00:13] Face Off's breakout success story[00:15] Women's sports (PWHL/WNBA) & future series ideas[00:16] Introducing In Stormy Weather[00:17] Hurricane Charlie 2004 & growing up in Florida[00:18] Hurricane Ian 2022 sparks the book idea[00:20] Hat Trick & feeling "this one is special"[00:21] Release details & themes of In Stormy Weather[00:22] Laura's own hurricane history[00:25] Hurricane Maria & community resilience[00:27] The "Waffle House/Disney World" hurricane barometer[00:29] Clarifying the "elements" series concept (not meteorology)[00:30] Book recommendations: Peyton Corinne & Kennedy Ryan[00:31] Where to find Chelsea online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next Subscribe & leave a review!