What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

32 Books Later… My Best & Worst Reads of 2026 so far!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I read 32 books in Q1 2026—and I’m breaking down the cozy mysteries, thrillers, romances, and standout 5-star reads you need on your radar. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest reading recap from the first quarter of the year, including what worked, what didn’t, and the books I’m still thinking about. From bingeing cozy mysteries in Puerto Rico to discovering new favorite romances and thrillers, this is your inside look at what’s worth adding to your TBR. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Cozy Mysteries: * Death al Dente [https://amzn.to/3OhkdUa] by Leslie Budewitz [https://amzn.to/3OhkdUa] * The Rocky Road to Ruin [https://amzn.to/4sU5g9K] by Meri Allen [https://amzn.to/4sU5g9K] * Catch Me If You Candy [https://amzn.to/3NJamGD] by Ellie Alexander [https://amzn.to/3NJamGD] * Sticks and Scones [https://amzn.to/41KV33l]by Ellie Alexander [https://amzn.to/41KV33l] * Killing Me Soufflé [https://amzn.to/4c7v2A2] by Ellie Alexander [https://amzn.to/4c7v2A2] * The Diva Takes the Cake [https://amzn.to/4saUHOb] by Krista Davis [https://amzn.to/4saUHOb] * Death of a Country Fried Redneck [https://amzn.to/3O6de0j] by Lee Hollis [https://amzn.to/3O6de0j] * Death of the Kitchen Diva [https://amzn.to/4mgv0L4] by Lee Hollis [https://amzn.to/4mgv0L4] Thrillers: * We Were Never Friends [https://amzn.to/4va7fIr] by Kaira Rouda [https://amzn.to/4va7fIr] * The Storm [https://amzn.to/3PQkWfB] by Rachel Hawkins [https://amzn.to/3PQkWfB] * Anatomy of an Alibi [https://amzn.to/4dult0q]by Ashley Elston [https://amzn.to/4dult0q] Romance: * The Grumpiest Billionaire [https://amzn.to/47DwMjd] by Pippa Grant [https://amzn.to/47DwMjd] * Still Into You [https://amzn.to/4sQnRDn] by Erin Connor [https://amzn.to/4sQnRDn] * It Seemed Like a Good Idea [https://amzn.to/3NVdsHz] by Lauren Blakely [https://amzn.to/3NVdsHz] * In Her Spotlight [https://amzn.to/4sTlfF6] by Amy Spalding [https://amzn.to/4sTlfF6] * Picnics and Promises in the Strawberry Fields [https://amzn.to/4met5Xh] by Victoria Walters [https://amzn.to/4met5Xh] * The Cherry Crush Flower Shop [https://amzn.to/41ek07g] by Harper Graham [https://amzn.to/41ek07g] * Mistakes Were Made [https://amzn.to/48vd7Cj] by Lucy Score [https://amzn.to/48vd7Cj] Mystery * The Primrose Murder Society [https://amzn.to/3PHP7FN] by Stacey Hackney [https://amzn.to/3PHP7FN] Non-fiction * All Consuming [https://amzn.to/4mbr5Pj] by Ruby Tandoh [https://amzn.to/4mbr5Pj] * Parks and Rec [https://amzn.to/4sd6Fa0]by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong [https://amzn.to/4sd6Fa0] 5⭐ Reads: * Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet [https://amzn.to/4sOsEFt] by Emma Mills [https://amzn.to/4sOsEFt] (Mystery) * Too Blessed to Stress [https://amzn.to/4mdeZ8r] by Alli Hoff Kosik [https://amzn.to/4mdeZ8r] (Women’s Fiction) * The Heir [https://amzn.to/4sfgx3g] by Sophia Travers [https://amzn.to/4sfgx3g] (Romance - KU) * Hunter’s Treasure [https://amzn.to/3QkUN8H] by Olivia Jackson [https://amzn.to/3QkUN8H] (Romance) * Before We Wake [https://amzn.to/4sk7TAD]by Sophia Glock [https://amzn.to/4sk7TAD] (Graphic Novel) * This Story Will Save Your Life [https://amzn.to/4tNrMkP] by Tiffany Crum [https://amzn.to/4tNrMkP] (Thriller) ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Intro + Q1 reading recap overview [01:00] – Cozy mystery binge in Puerto Rico [02:00] – Books that didn’t work for me [03:00] – 4-star cozy mysteries [03:30] – Thriller recommendations [04:30] – Cozy mystery series I loved [05:00] – Romance reads (billionaire, rockstar, small town) [07:00] – Cottagecore + flower shop romances [08:00] – Mother-daughter mystery rec [09:00] – Nonfiction reads [10:00] – Small town romance highlight [11:00] – 5-star reads overview [13:30] – First graphic novel experience [14:30] – Thriller with immersive audio [15:00] – Wrap up + final thoughts 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!

Inside The Paris Match with Kate Clayborn | Contemporary Romance

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when you’re forced to attend your ex-husband’s family wedding… in Paris? 😬✨ In this episode, I sit down with romance author Kate Clayborn to talk about her newest release The Paris Match and why messy adulthood makes the best love stories. We dive into second chances, complicated family dynamics, and what it really means to rebuild your life in your thirties. Kate also shares how she approached writing Paris as more than just a setting—and why romance readers keep coming back to stories that feel both grounded and emotionally rich. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3PT3jM3] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4vhz55O] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Isola by Allegra Goodman — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3PSK05B] | Historical Fiction | Audio ✅ Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48exlQE] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ ⏱️ TIME STAMPS [00:00] – Introduction to Kate Clayborn [01:00] – Beginner’s Luck and pandemic reading memories [02:00] – Overview of The Paris Match [03:00] – Grumpy sunshine dynamic + character setup [04:00] – Writing Paris as a character [06:00] – Language, culture, and realism in Paris [07:00] – Layla’s career and emotional avoidance [08:00] – What a hospitalist does (and why it matters) [09:00] – Life in your 30s vs 20s vs 40s [11:00] – Griffin’s character and isolation [12:00] – Kate’s reading life (romance + beyond) [13:00] – Favorite romance subgenres and tropes [14:00] – Auto-buy authors and recommendations [15:00] – Where to find Kate 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!

Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Romantasy before it was cool? In this episode, I sit down with Elly Blake to talk about her journey writing fantasy romance—and how the genre has completely transformed over the years. We chat about the evolution from YA fantasy to adult romantasy, what readers really want (hint: it’s the romance), and how Elly built her newest Thirstwood series from fairy tales, folklore, and a haunting “bloodthirsty forest” idea. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and magical worlds with high emotional stakes, this episode is for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Frostblood by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4m4eUnr] | Fantasy Romance | Audio ✅ Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4m6JVY7] | Romantasy, Fairy Tale Inspired | Audio ✅ Curse Queen’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4s92LPy] | Romantasy, Enemies-to-Lovers | Audio ✅ Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alicia Dow — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4bQ7dOk]| YA Fantasy Romance, Fairytale | Audio ✅ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Introduction to Elly Blake [01:00] Her journey into fantasy & romantasy [02:30] What “romantasy” really means [04:30] How romance reshaped the fantasy market [06:00] YA vs adult fantasy—what’s changing [08:00] Overview of Thirstwood series [10:00] The bloodthirsty forest concept [11:30] Book 1: friends-to-enemies-to-lovers setup [12:30] Book 2: Hades & Persephone vibes + mystery [14:30] Coming-of-age themes in fantasy [16:00] Reading habits: paper vs audiobooks [17:00] Book recommendation: Alicia Dow [19:30] Where to find Elly Blake 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!

Graphic Novels for Beginners (Start Here) with Sophia Glock

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Graphic novels aren’t just for kids—and this episode completely changed how I think about them. In this conversation, I sit down with cartoonist Sophia Glock to talk about her haunting and emotional graphic novel Before We Wake. We dive into how comics can explore big themes like grief in a way that feels accessible, immersive, and deeply personal—and why adults should absolutely be reading graphic novels. We also talk about nostalgia (hello early 2000s 👀), the creative process behind blending art and storytelling, and where to start if you’ve never picked up a graphic novel before. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Before We Wake by Sophia Glock — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4tiHGTK] | YA Graphic Novel | Grief, paranormal, friendship Maus by Art Spiegelman — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/47CEydc] | Historical Graphic Novel | Holocaust, memoir Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4s1WKEb] | Graphic Memoir | Iran, coming-of-age Fun Home by Alison Bechdel — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/47CEHxg] | Literary Graphic Memoir | Family, identity This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4bNR4HO] | YA/Adult Graphic Novel | Coming-of-age Spinning by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4s8lc77] | Graphic Memoir | Identity, adolescence Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4ci3RDO] | Graphic Novel | Historical ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Intro + meeting Sophia Glock [01:00] Why graphic novels are underrated for adults [02:00] Writing about grief in Before We Wake [04:00] Sophia’s creative process (writing vs drawing) [05:30] Plot overview + lucid dreaming concept [07:00] Setting the book in early 2000s nostalgia [09:30] Nostalgia, pop culture, and generational memory [12:30] Where to start with graphic novels [15:00] YA vs adult tone in storytelling [16:00] Where to find Sophia 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!

From Reading Slump to 200 Books a Year with Nathalie Canadas

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. From sorority sisters to bookish besties—this episode is all about finding your reading groove and building a community that keeps you turning pages. In this episode, I sit down with Nathalie Cañadas to talk about her reading glow-up—from occasional reader to devouring 200+ books a year. We chat about audiobooks, immersive reading, Kindle Unlimited, and how joining a book club completely changed her reading life. Plus, we dive into her favorite romance reads, dark twists, and underrated gems you need on your TBR. If you’ve ever struggled to find time to read—or didn’t know where to start—this episode is for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Broken Romeo by Leisa Rayven — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4lPzAiV] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4dcFtVm] | Cowboy Romance | Audio ✅ Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4t9KYZo] | Romantic Suspense | Audio ✅ Carnal Urges by J.T. Geissinger — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4szcEXP] | Mafia Romance | Audio ✅ Bourbon Boys Series by Victoria Wilder — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4tdUkUf] | Romantic Suspense Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4bz7eGf] | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Welcome + how Nathalie and I met [02:00] – What Latin sororities actually look like [05:30] – Nathalie’s reading journey (pre-2024 vs now) [07:30] – Discovering audiobooks + Libby + Hoopla [08:30] – What is immersive reading (and why it works) [09:30] – Finding your reading groove [10:30] – Romance genre deep dive + BookTok impact [13:00] – Library hacks + how to get multiple cards [15:30] – Supporting libraries + budget reading [16:00] – Book recommendations begin [16:30] – Broken Romeo discussion [17:30] – Cowboy romance (Lyla Sage) [18:30] – Dark twist reads (Pen Pal) [20:00] – Mafia romance recs [22:00] – Dark romcoms + Lights Out [23:00] – Bourbon Boys series [24:00] – Abby Jimenez spotlight [25:30] – Inside the Baddies Book Club [27:30] – Book club retreat + community building [28:30] – Nathalie’s Instagram + where to follow Follow Nathalie on Instagram: Nats Next Book [https://www.instagram.com/natsnextbook/] 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!