What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

Cozy Witchy Romance + Worldbuilding with Morgan Lockhart

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Looking for a cozy, witchy holiday romance with world-building that feels like slipping into a warm sweater? Today I’m sitting down with debut author and longtime video-game writer Morgan Lockhart, whose background explains exactly why her book feels so immersive and magical. In this episode, we chat about her 20-year career in game writing, the pivot back to her “first love” of books, and how A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart blends cozy romance, magic-light vibes, and real-world emotional stakes. If you love Hallmark holiday romances but wish they had a touch of witchy charm, this is the perfect entry point into the cozy-paranormal space. We also dig into her craft, world-building, burnout, motherhood, and the comforting wave of cozy stories readers are reaching for right now.  📚 BOOKS MENTIONED  A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart by Morgan Lockhart [https://amzn.to/4pDhzVE]— Cozy Witchy Romance | Holiday | Magic-Light  | Audio ✅ Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman [https://amzn.to/49OFOM7] — Contemporary Fiction | Christmas | Feel-Good | Audio ✅ Good Spirits by B.K. Borison [https://amzn.to/4ourkF1] — Small Town Romance | Cozy | Holiday | Audio ✅ The Peculiar Gift of July by Ashley Ream [https://amzn.to/4rzcWhq]— Upmarket Contemporary | Emotional | Literary Lean | Audio ✅ The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna [https://amzn.to/3Meb39y]— Cozy Fantasy | Found Family | Magic | Audio ✅ The Witch’s Guide to Magical Inkeeping by Sangu Mandanna’s [https://amzn.to/4pgToNk]newest — Cozy Fantasy | Warm Magic | Found Family | Audio ✅ 🕒 TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Meet Morgan Lockhart [00:20] – How she shifted from 20 years in video-game writing to novels [01:00] – What video-game writing actually looks like [02:00] – Narrative vs. action-driven game writing [03:00] – How game-writing worldbuilding shaped her debut novel [04:00] – Writing cozy as a response to the last five years [05:00] – Burnout, motherhood, and pivoting to books [07:00] – Elevator pitch for A Spell for Midwinter’s Heart [08:00] – Rivalry, curses, and the romance tension we love [10:00] – Why cozy-light magic works for contemporary romance readers [11:00] – What Morgan reads across genres [12:00] – Her must-read cozy & holiday recommendations [13:00] – Where to find Morgan online JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe to our Substack [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/] for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/]) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog [https://www.whattoreadnext.com/] | YouTube: What to Read Next [https://www.youtube.com/@WhattoReadNextBlog] Subscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode: 🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/audible] Advertise with Us Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us. Advertise With Us [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/sponsorship]

Stalker Romance, Bikers & Breaking Toxic Cycles | Love Me, Stalk Me by Laura Bishop

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When your obsessive book boyfriends start looking a little… reasonable compared to real-life dating disasters, this episode is for you. Today I’m chatting with debut author Laura Bishop about her dark rom-com Love Me, Stalk Me—a twisty, funny, walking-red-flag romance that somehow still makes you root for the hero. We get into why so many of us stay in toxic relationships, what it means to choose the brave-but-scary option in life, and how an AI boyfriend app plus a secretly obsessed coworker turned into one of the buzziest dark rom-coms of the year. Laura also shares her whirlwind path from self-publishing plans to a traditional deal with Atria, her genius BookTok biker content strategy, and why putting yourself on camera is both terrifying and healing. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED  * Love Me, Stalk Me by Laura Bishop [https://amzn.to/4aaogdJ] — Dark rom-com | Obsessive hero | Toxic relationship recovery 📺 OTHER MEDIA MENTIONED * Mr Inbetween (Australian dark dramedy TV series) ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Meet Laura Bishop: debut author, dark rom-com lover, caffeine girlie in Florida [00:01] – What Love Me, Stalk Me is about: obsessive coworker, AI boyfriend app, and a toxic relationship [00:02] – Writing a heroine who stays too long in a bad relationship (and why that’s real for so many of us) [00:03] – Being your own worst enemy, feeling “trapped,” and choosing the brave, uncertain option in life [00:04] – Laura’s personal connection to the book and how her own experiences shaped Izzy’s story [00:05] – When your coworker hijacks your AI boyfriend app: ethical red flags in a safe, fictional space [00:06] – Why we need people who see our worth before we do—and how that shows up in the romance [00:07] – Laura’s whirlwind publication journey: cover reveal, book scout, agent call, and Atria deal [00:09] – Darker, spicier rom-coms as an emerging trend and blending genres that “shouldn’t” go together [00:10] – Building buzz online: BookTok, bikers, and turning a fun idea into a full-on marketing hook [00:12] – Approaching bikers in Barnes & Noble, paying them in books and coffee, and making promo fun [00:14] – Body image, seeing yourself on camera, and pushing past perfectionism [00:15] – What Laura’s watching when she can’t read: Mr Inbetween and the power of long-form storytelling [00:17] – Where to find Laura online and follow her biker-filled book content JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe to our Substack [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/] for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/]) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog [https://www.whattoreadnext.com/] | YouTube: What to Read Next [https://www.youtube.com/@WhattoReadNextBlog] Subscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode: Advertise with Us Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us. Advertise With Us [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/sponsorship] 🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/audible]

RaeAnne Thayne on Cozy Holiday Romance Magic

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you love cozy small-town romances, holiday charm, and stories that feel like emotional comfort food, this episode is for you. Today I’m chatting with fan-favorite author RaeAnne Thayne, whose Christmas novel Snow Kiss delivers all the warmth and heart of a Hallmark movie… with even deeper emotional layers. In our conversation, RaeAnne shares the inspiration behind Snow Kiss, her plotting process, why fake dating is her new favorite trope to write, and the joy of crafting holiday stories that remind readers to choose kindness. We also talk about her extensive backlist, her women’s fiction summer releases, and her 2025 novel The Lost Book of First Loves. Plus—double book recs from RaeAnne across two different interviews! 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED BY RAEANNE THAYNE Snow Kiss [https://amzn.to/3Y2Cxl2] — Fake dating, single mom, small-town Christmas Genre: Sweet Romance / Women’s Fiction | Audio: ✅ Christmas at the Shelter Inn [https://amzn.to/4ovl4Nd] — “Return-to-town” holiday romance; sisterhood & community Genre: Holiday Romance | Audio: ✅ The December Market [https://amzn.to/3XZLDPy] — Best-friend’s-brother + holiday family drama Genre: Holiday Romance | Audio: ✅ Haven Point Series [https://amzn.to/3KsyUBX] — Cozy small town + emotional arcs Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Audio: ✅ Hope’s Crossing Series [https://amzn.to/44uxHAM] — Community-centered romance; best place to start her interconnected world Genre: Contemporary Romance  | Audio: ✅ Cape Sanctuary Women’s Fiction Books (standalone-friendly) The Cliff House [https://amzn.to/4pzOomp] · The Sea Glass Cottage [https://amzn.to/48ayTf5] · Summer at the Cape [https://amzn.to/49Oqrn4] · The Path to Sunshine Cove [https://amzn.to/4ixaeov] · The Café at Beach End [https://amzn.to/48ra4dF]  | Audio: ✅ 15 Summers Later [https://amzn.to/3MtHbWK] — Women’s fiction set in Idaho  Genre: Women’s Fiction | Audio: ✅ The Lost Book of First Loves [https://amzn.to/4rpnzU1]Dual-story women’s fiction about half-sisters, a missing manuscript, and family secrets. | Audio: ✅ BOOK RECOMMENDATIONS FROM RAEANNE THAYNE The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna [https://amzn.to/3Mfnjqh]— Cozy magical realism; found family  | Audio: ✅ The Nature of Fragile Things by Susan Meissner [https://amzn.to/4pKkaNT]— Historical fiction around the 1906 San Francisco earthquake (TW: domestic violence)  | Audio: ✅ How to Know a Person by David Brooks [https://amzn.to/48oZmnN] — Nonfiction; empathy, connection & understanding  | Audio: ✅ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome + why I love having RaeAnne on during the holidays [00:01] RaeAnne shares what she’s been up to — writing cycles & travel [00:02] Elevator pitch for Snow Kiss [00:03] Fake dating, emotional arcs & why it’s a joy to write [00:04] RaeAnne’s Christmas series: Christmas at the Shelter Inn, The December Market, Snow Kiss [00:05] How her Christmas and summer/women’s fiction books connect [00:06] Virgin River vibes — small-town communities & emotional healing [00:06:30] Book recommendations from RaeAnne [00:07] How she writes Christmas books (yes, the tree stays up until March!) [00:17] Her plotting process, writing retreats, and collaborating with author friends [00:20] Teaser for her 2025 women's fiction release The Lost Book of First Loves [00:23] Navigating spice levels in her 75+ book backlist [00:24] Where to find RaeAnne online JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe to our Substack [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/] for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/]) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog [https://www.whattoreadnext.com/] | YouTube: What to Read Next [https://www.youtube.com/@WhattoReadNextBlog] Subscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode: Advertise with Us Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us. Advertise With Us [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/sponsorship] 🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/audible]

A Time-Travel Duke + Modern Heroine = Perfect Romcom | Meet Bryn Donovan

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when a Regency-era duke accidentally time-travels to 2025 Chicago? In today’s episode, Bryn Donovan joins me to talk about Her Time-Traveling Duke — a magically cozy, Chicago-set romcom that blends Regency charm, modern vibes, and a touch of science-meets-spellwork chaos. We chat about Bryn’s life as a former greeting-card writer, why the Art Institute of Chicago feels like pure magic, how she built a low-stakes, lightly-magical world, and the romance titles she’s loving right now. If you love Bridgerton, cozy fantasy, or romcoms with heart, spice, and smart heroines, this one’s for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED  Her Time-Traveling Duke by Bryn Donovan [https://amzn.to/3KqKuNQ] — Contemporary Romance | Time Travel | Light Magic — Audio ✅ Her Knight at the Museum by Bryn Donovan [https://amzn.to/43UAgvL] — Contemporary Romance | Light Magic | Museum Setting — Audio ✅ Love Is an Open Book by Chandra Blumberg [https://amzn.to/4isIXDO] — Contemporary Romance | Slow Burn | Pining — KU  ✅ / Audio ✅ When Grumpy Met Sunshine by Charlotte Stein [https://amzn.to/4ioZ1pR] — Contemporary Romance | Slow Burn | Steamy — KU  ✅ / Audio ✅ The Accidental Pinup by Danielle Jackson [https://amzn.to/483JQPx] — Contemporary Romance | Chicago-Set | Body Positivity — Audio ✅ Payback’s a Witch (Thistle Grove #1) by Lana Harpe [https://amzn.to/48rN1j4]r — Paranormal Romance | Cozy Magic | Small Town — Audio ✅ The Dead Romantics by Ashley Poston [https://amzn.to/4pwekPZ] — Contemporary Romance | Ghostly Twist | Grief & Healing — Audio ✅ The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston [https://amzn.to/4px2xAO] — Magical Realism | Romance | Time Bend — Audio ✅ The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst [https://amzn.to/43S06Ra] — Cozy Fantasy | Bookish Magic | Low Stakes — Audio ✅ 🕒 TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Introduction to the episode & why this book is such a fun mashup [00:44] – Bryn’s background: greeting-card writer, Hallmark Channel, blogger [01:35] – Introducing Her Time-Traveling Duke and how it fits in the series [02:10] – Why this world blends Regency charm with modern Chicago [02:55] – Elevator pitch: magic meets science, sunshine meets grumpy [03:40] – The time-travel mistake: why the duke is not happy to be in 2025 [04:25] – The painting twist & how magical rules affect the museum [05:00] – Building a lightly magical world set in real Chicago locations [06:00] – The Art Institute of Chicago: why it feels like pure magic [07:10] – Laura and Bryn’s shared museum nostalgia [08:15] – Bryn’s reading tastes: romance, fantasy roots, poetry, history [09:20] – Discussing magic systems, research, and Regency details [10:15] – Romance recs: pining, slow burn, smart dialogue [11:00] – Chicago-set romance picks Bryn loves [11:45] – Cozy fantasy favorites (Ashley Poston, Lana Harper, Sarah Beth Durst) [12:50] – Why “low stakes” in fiction still feels high stakes in real life [13:40] – Talking about book one in the series & FBI/“low stakes-ish” chaos [14:25] – Where to find Bryn online + her upcoming YouTube reboot [15:00] – Closing + reminder to check out the blog for more recs JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe to our Substack [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/] for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/]) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog [https://www.whattoreadnext.com/] | YouTube: What to Read Next [https://www.youtube.com/@WhattoReadNextBlog] Subscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode: 🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/audible] Advertise with Us Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us. Advertise With Us [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/sponsorship]

Two Debuts in One Year: Zakiya N. Jamal | Sparks Fly & if We Were a Movie

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. If you love late-bloomer romances, sex-positive storytelling, and YA coming-of-age vibes, today’s episode is for you. In this conversation, I chat with debut author Zakiya N. Jamal about her two 2024 releases — the YA romcom If We Were a Movie and her upcoming adult romance Sparks Fly. We dive into the behind-the-scenes of book packaging, the realities of writing two debuts in one year, and why she wanted to flip the virgin-trope on its head. We also get into her writing process, K-drama obsession, telenovelas, Turkish dramas, and the book recs she’s currently loving. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED  If We Were a Movie by Zakiya N. Jamal [https://amzn.to/48kN6F5]— YA Romcom | \Coming-of-Age | First Love| Audio ✅ Sparks Fly by Zakiya N. Jamal [https://amzn.to/44j1Qmy]— Contemporary Romance | Late Bloomer | Virgin Trope Flip | Sex-Positive | Audio ✅ The Scammer by Tiffany D. Jackson [https://amzn.to/48sNouJ] — Thriller | Campus Drama | HBCU Setting  | Audio ✅ Mate by Ali Hazelwood [https://amzn.to/3KmDSjB] — Paranormal Romance | Werewolves | Steamy | Audio ✅ 🕒 TIMESTAMPS  [00:00] — Intro + Overview of Zakiya’s debuts [01:00] — What If We Were a Movie is about [02:00] — How she ended up releasing two debuts in one year [03:00] — What book packaging is + how it works [06:00] — Transitioning to her adult debut Sparks Fly [07:00] — Rewriting the virgin trope: crafting a sex-positive late-bloomer heroine [09:00] — Dating culture, late blooming, and real-life parallels [10:00] — Plotting vs pantsing [11:00] — Writing under contract + deadlines [12:00] — Her favorite part of the writing process [13:00] — Self-care: K-dramas, sitcoms, telenovelas, Turkish shows [16:00] — Book recommendations she’s loving [17:30] — Romance recs + non-romance reads [18:00] — Where to find Zakiya online JOIN THE CONVERSATION Subscribe to our Substack [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/] for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com [https://wtrnblog.substack.com/]) Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog [https://www.whattoreadnext.com/] | YouTube: What to Read Next [https://www.youtube.com/@WhattoReadNextBlog] Subscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode: Advertise with Us Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us. Advertise With Us [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/sponsorship] 🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners. Audible [https://whattoreadnext.captivate.fm/audible]