What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

Disclosure: [https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/affiliate] We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books. Did you know your local library can unlock thousands of eBooks, audiobooks, and even streaming services—all for free? This week, Laura sits down with librarian and Buzzing About Romance co-host Jenni Meyers to chat about the power of libraries as community hubs, how to make the most of your library card, and easy ways to advocate for library funding. Jenni also shares her love for author Penny Reid, with tips on where to start in her quirky romance universe. 📚BOOKS MENTIONED: * Truth or Beard by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/47bADCY] | Small-Town Romance | Audio ✅ * Knitting in the City Series by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/498d1BJ] | Contemporary Romance |  Audio ✅ * Beard Science (Cletus Winston) by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4ncqMmg] | Romantic Comedy | Audio ✅ * Engagement and Espionage by Penny Reid — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/47dK8S7]| Cozy Romantic Mystery | Audio ✅ Library Tips Covered: * How to find digital lending platforms like Libby, Hoopla, and Kanopy * Why your library’s Friends of the Library group matters * How to request books before release day * How to advocate for funding and stop book bans * Tricks for getting non-resident library cards in other states 🕓 TIME STAMPS [00:00] — Meet Jenni Meyers & Buzzing About Romance [03:00] — Why libraries are the ultimate community hub [06:00] — How to find free events & resources near you [08:00] — Digital lending: Libby, Hoopla & Kanopy explained [10:00] — How to get multiple library cards & advocate for funding [16:00] — Requesting books from your library [21:00] — Tips for organizing your Libby tags & holds [22:00] — Getting started with Penny Reid books [27:00] — Final thoughts: Why everyone should get a library card 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]

Disclosure: [https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/affiliate] We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books. Bloodsuckers are back, baby. In this episode, Francesca joins Laura to dish on dark, gothic, funny, and YA vampire reads—with a special shout to Kindle Unlimited for budget-friendly bingeing. You’ll hear why vampires are resurging (thanks, romantasy!), what’s new beyond the Black Dagger era, and exactly where to start if you want broody politics, murder-mystery shenanigans, or campus drama. Plus a quick nonfiction detour for Vampire Diaries superfans. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED A Bargain So Bloody by Vasilka Drake — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4olSQVw] | Paranormal Romance, Enemies-to-Allies | KU ✅ Loving a Vampire’s Total Chaos by Aura Hayes — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3JbYw5l] | Paranormal Romcom, Murder Mystery | KU ✅ The Serpent’s Bride by Kathryn Ann Kingsley — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4q9MoTb] | Gothic PNR, Mafia Politics, Dark Romance | KU ✅ Nocture by Karina Halle — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3JatcUu] | Noir PNR, Historical (1947 LA) Blood Moon by Britney S. Lewis — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4n94nGL] | YA Paranormal, Vamps & Wolves, Campus Mystery A Cruel Thirst by Angela Montoya — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4oiFHwd] | YA Paranormal, Forbidden Allies The Last Vampire by Romina Garber — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4nNAvk7] | YA Paranormal, Boarding School, Pride&Prejudice-ish | I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire by Jessica Cage — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4nVKzYs] | PNR Romcom, Found Family | KU ✅ Road Trip with a Vampire by Jenna Levine — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4qbCa4w]| Light PNR, Amnesia, Road Trip Space Vampire by Ruby Dixon — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3J9f7Xr] | Sci-Fi PNR Novella, Forced Proximity | KU ✅ I Was Feeling Epic (Oral History of The Vampire Diaries) — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4n9IRl8] | Nonfiction/Audiobook | Audio ✅ Paperback Crush by Gabrielle Moss — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3WBRY2X] | Nonfiction, ‘80s/’90s Teen Lit | Your Favorite Scary Movie by Ashley Cullins — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4hgZNF4] | Nonfiction/Audiobook, Scream Franchise | Audio ✅ Welcome to the O.C. by Josh Schwatz, Stephanie Savage and Alan Sepinwall— Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4nRdexG] | Nonfiction/Audiobook, TV Oral History | Audio ✅ ⏱️ TIME STAMPS (TOPICS) [00:00] Intro & why Laura is a vampire-over-werewolf girly [02:00] Life updates + Francesca’s 2026 Romanceopoly plans [05:00] Why vampires are resurging (romantasy → PNR pipeline) [06:30] Rec #1: A Bargain So Bloody (witch x vampire, enemies-to-allies) [08:30] Rec #2: Loving a Vampire’s Total Chaos (romcom + murder case) [10:00] Rec #3: The Serpent’s Bride (gothic mafia, morally gray MMC) [13:00] Kindle Unlimited talk: borrowing limits & trad-to-KU notes [14:00] Rec #4: Torn (LA noir, Black Dahlia atmosphere) [16:00] YA lane & who actually reads it [18:00] Rec #5: Blood Moon (vamps/wolves, campus mystery) [20:00] Rec #6: Thirst (slayer + newly turned vamp) [21:00] Rec #7: The Last Vampire (P&P energy, boarding school) [21:30] Rec #8: I Accidentally Hooked Up with a Vampire (chaotic fun) [22:30] Rec #9: Road Trip with a Vampire (amnesia + travel) [23:30] Rec #10: Space Vampire (scared-sexy novella set) [24:30] Nonfiction: I Was Feeling Epic (TVD oral history) [26:00] More oral histories: Paperback Crush, Your Favorite Scary Movie, Welcome to the O.C. [27:30] Where to find Francesca (Under the Covers Book Blog) [27:50] Outro + blog CTA 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]

Disclosure: [https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/affiliate] We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books. Ever wondered what Jane Austen would write if she lived online? Nikki Payne reimagines romance for our era—where identity, love, and culture collide. In this episode, Laura chats with romance author Nikki Payne, a cultural anthropologist and writer of Pride and Protest, Sex, Lies and Sensibility, and The Princess and the PI. They dive into why Nikki reimagines Austen’s classics through a modern, intersectional lens, how online personas shape our identities, and what makes “weird fic” and “out-of-pocket women” so irresistible. Plus, Nikki shares her must-read recommendations across romance, mystery, and literary fiction. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Pride and Protest by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3IUlnCv] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Sex, Lies and Sensibility by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3KNMsrB] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ The Princess and the PI by Nikki Payne — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4mYQivf]| Mystery Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ August Lane by Regina Black — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4h7ka7z] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/470JOWQ] | Crime Thriller | Audio ✅ The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4h4kL9O] | Fantasy | Audio ✅ Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston — Buy on Amazon | Classic Fiction 💌WHERE TO FIND NIKKI: * Instagram: @nikkipaynebooks [https://instagram.com/nikkipaynebooks] * TikTok: @nikkipayneromance * Substack: The Painful Truth 🕒 TIME STAMPS [00:00] Meet Nikki Payne: Cultural Anthropologist & Romance Author [00:03] Reimagining Jane Austen with Black & Asian Leads [00:06] The Princess and the PI: Reddit Sleuths & Modern Mysteries [00:10] Online Personas vs Real Life Identity [00:11] Exploring Body, Control, and Patriarchy in Fiction [00:13] Neuroplasticity, Healing, and Finding Love [00:14] What Nikki’s Reading: Weird Fic & Out-of-Pocket Women [00:15] Book Recommendations for After The Princess and the PI [00:16] Where to Find Nikki Online 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]

Disclosure: [https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/affiliate] We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books. Originally Published October 30, 2023 Looking for fast-paced thrillers to binge this fall? In this replay episode from 2023, Amy from Novel Gossip joins me to share six twisty, addictive reads that are perfect for cozy nights in. If you love popcorn thrillers, domestic drama, or a touch of supernatural suspense, these backlist titles are easy to find at your local library or on audio. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED The September House by Carissa Orlando [https://amzn.to/3KFVgj1]— Haunted Victorian home, dark humor, supernatural twist. | Audio ✅ The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James [https://amzn.to/438xVga] — True crime blogger interviews a murder suspect from the 1970s. | Audio ✅ Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan [https://amzn.to/3KFNndx] — Romantic suspense duology with dark psychological tension. | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ We’re All Lying by Marie Still [https://amzn.to/3KCNs1E] — Popcorn domestic thriller full of secrets, lies, and messy marriages.  | Audio ✅ The Wife Before by Shanora Williams [https://amzn.to/46YpCVG] — Fast, juicy thriller with soap-opera energy and short, bingeable chapters. | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Bonus mentions: Freida McFadden [https://amzn.to/4h8ZZWQ], Kiersten Modglin [https://amzn.to/3IDrCum], A.R. Torre [https://amzn.to/4nDMCQC] — for fans of quick, twisty thrillers available to borrow on Kindle Unlimited. 🎧 Want to explore even more thrillers you can borrow without breaking your budget? Check out the post: Libraries that still offer non-resident cards in 2025 [https://whattoreadnextblog.com/out-of-state-library-qmjrl/] ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Welcome and fall reading chat [02:00] – Why thrillers are hard to write [04:00] – The September House by Carissa Orlando [06:00] – The Book of Cold Cases by Simone St. James [08:00] – Where the Blame Lies by Mia Sheridan [11:00] – We’re All Lying by Marie Still [14:00] – The Wife Before by Shanora Williams [17:00] – Final thoughts & where to find Amy 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 Want to promote your book or service to our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor. 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]

Disclosure: [https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/affiliate] We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books. A high-heat, spooky-season romance with a heartbeat. Author Allie Oleander joins us to talk about Willing Prey—a primal-play, midlife-awakening romance where a 40-year-old lawyer proposes a “hunt” for 30 days… and catches real feelings. This episode is for readers who love darker vibes without trauma plots: think obsession, contracts, chase-in-the-woods tension, and the guaranteed safety of a romance HEA. We dig into Allie’s indie-to-trad journey, writing an “obsessed but tender” hero, and why horror and romance are emotional cousins. Books Mentioned * Willing Prey by Allie Oleander — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pWCV1e] | Dark Contemporary Romance, Primal Play, Age 35+ Leads * Little Deaths by Nenia Campbell — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4o3qizR] | Erotic Romance/Horror-adjacent, Dub-Con/Non-Con Content, Ex-Horror Actress FMC Where to find Allie * Website: allieoleander.me [https://allieoleander.me] * Instagram/Threads: @allie.oleander 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]