A Golden Girls Heist Novel with Julia London

A Golden Girls Heist Novel with Julia London

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 MENTIONED Rules for Aging and Larceny by Julia London — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4x4SdUq] | Commercial Fiction, Heist | Audio ✅ (narrated by Christina Moore) Mrs. Bridge by Evan S. Connell — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4vOC18P] | Literary Fiction, Classic | Audio ✅ The Ferryman and His Wife by Frode Grytten (trans. Alison McCullough) — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3Rualbn] | Literary Fiction, Translated | Audio ✅ Dungeon Crawler Carl by Matt Dinniman — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4fy5ygV] | LitRPG, Sci-Fi/Fantasy | KU ✅/ Audio ✅ (highly praised narration) Jane and Dan at the End of the World by Colleen Oakley — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3RhRQqF] | 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 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!

Kelly Creagh on Her Grim Reaper Rom-Com

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 MENTIONED A Date with Death by Kelly Creagh — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/44OEsxl] | 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 [https://amzn.to/4wrRexG] | Paranormal Rom-Com | Audio ✅ Under Loch and Key by Lana Ferguson — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pF7J6Z] | Monster Romance | Audio ✅ The Cruel Prince by Holly Black — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4wqDHqa] | Fantasy/Romantasy |Audio ✅ How to Write Best-Selling Fiction by James Scott Bell — Buy on Audible [https://amzn.to/4fpKIlh] | 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 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!

A Debut Romance That Asks: What Would You Erase? | The Good Parts by Evann Normandin

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, https://amzn.to/45r86c4The Good Parts [https://amzn.to/45r86c4]. [https://amzn.to/45r86c4] 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 [https://amzn.to/45r86c4] 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 MENTIONED The Good Parts by Evann Normandin — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/45r86c4] | Speculative Romance, Book Club Fiction In Five Years by Rebecca Serle — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3RA7HAU] | Contemporary/Romance, Book Club Fiction The Measure by Nikki Erlick — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4yLg8tP] | Speculative Fiction, Book Club Fiction Every Version of You by Natalie Messier — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3Rg8cA3] | 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 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!

Victoria Lavine on Her Best Enemies-to-Lovers Yet | RomCom Recs

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 MENTIONED Any Trope But You by Victoria Lavine — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3RqxgUX] | Romance / Rom-Com, Alaska-set, Enemies-to-Lovers Not That Kind of Proposal by Victoria Lavine — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4b0xyZl] | Romance / Rom-Com, Enemies-to-Lovers, Forced Proximity Let's Kiss and Tell by Joss Richards — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4fKsR8s] | Romance It's Different This Time by Joss Richards — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pyuRnU] | Romance, Second Chance Pot Shot by Laura Piper Lee — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4faXX9l] | Romance, Humor Succubus: A Love Story by Kate Fox — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pvPCjW] | 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 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!

What Elin Hilderbrand Book Should You Read Next? | Friday Night Readers Crossover

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 MENTIONED Laura's Top 5 Elin Hilderbrand's Books: The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4psa31f] | Women's Fiction/Nantucket Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4gIJId1]| Mystery/Women's Fiction The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4wN9WzC] | Mystery Silver Girl by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4yt0D9O] | Women's Fiction Winter in Paradise trilogy by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4aUQnx2] | Women's Fiction/St. John Julianne's Top 5 Elin Hilderbrand's Books: The Hotel Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4yzpvNk] | Women's Fiction/Light Mystery — recommended starting point for new readers The Perfect Couple by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4wN9WzC] | Mystery Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4gIJId1] | Mystery/Women's Fiction Summer of '69 by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4vFFB5k] | Historical Fiction 28 Summers by Elin Hilderbrand — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4puFs2X] | Contemporary Romance If You Love Elin Hilderbrand, Try These Books Next: The Wash Ashores by Hannah McKinnon — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4bt5oWY] | Women's Fiction/Nantucket Worse Than Strangers by Kyleigh Leddy — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4vA6vLG] | Women's Fiction These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4yINs4O] | Contemporary Fiction Pretty as a Peach & Good Hair Days by Grace Helena Walz — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4wOBQLC] | Southern Women's Fiction This Summer Will Be Different, Meet Me at the Lake, Every Summer After by Carley Fortune — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4wOItxs] | Contemporary Romance Also recommended: Jenny Hale [https://amzn.to/4pucrEK], Emily Giffin [https://amzn.to/4fnVyH0], Nancy Thayer [https://amzn.to/4fmh5jc], Pamela M. Kelly [https://amzn.to/44CEKal], Brooke Lea Foster [https://amzn.to/4wHjiNe], Kristy Woodson Harvey, [https://amzn.to/3TGHUYg] Dorothea Benton Frank [https://amzn.to/4wPU4wb], Victoria Benton Frank [https://amzn.to/3T7U4cx] ⏱️ 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 [https://fridaynightreaders.substack.com/p/best-elin-hilderbrand-books] 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!