What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

How I Finally Figured Out What I Like to Read

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What My Reading Taste Actually Looks Like (and Why I Let Go of Goals) What happens when you stop chasing trends, ditch reading streaks, and finally admit what you don’t like to read? In this off-the-cuff solo episode, I’m talking honestly about my reading taste reset — what 2025 taught me, what I’m leaving behind, and how I’m shaping my reading life heading into 2026. I’m sharing how cozy mysteries pulled me out of burnout, why I stopped forcing genres that don’t work for me (hello, fantasy), and how setting gentle boundaries helped me read more — and actually enjoy it again. If you’ve been stuck in decision paralysis, overwhelmed by recommendations, or quietly falling out of love with reading, this episode is for you. 📚 WHAT I TALK ABOUT IN THIS EPISODE 1. Why 2025 became a “taste discovery” year instead of a goal-driven one 2. Letting go of fantasy, high-stress thrillers, and reading guilt 3. Falling hard for cozy mysteries, millennial mysteries, and mystery rom-coms 4. Why pop-culture nonfiction works when fiction doesn’t 5. How I use boundaries (not rules) to choose what to read next 6. Why I broke up with Goodreads, streaks, and daily reading pressure 7. Reading like meditation: consistency over perfection 8. What you’ll see more (and less) of from me going forward ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Why I needed a reading reset [02:00] From romance burnout to cozy mysteries [04:00] Decision paralysis & setting reading boundaries [06:00] What romance still works for me (and what doesn’t) [08:00] Mysteries, millennial sleuths & cozy trends [10:00] Genres I’m stepping away from [12:00] Pop-culture nonfiction & reading curiosity [14:00] Letting go of Goodreads & reading streaks [16:00] Reading for joy, not numbers [18:00] How I plan my reading without overwhelm 📣 CALL TO ACTION Want the journal prompts I use to define my reading taste — plus curated Kindle Unlimited gems, library tips, and bonus podcast content? 👉 Join my free Substack at whattoreadnextblog.com [whattoreadnextblog.com]

Inside the Research Behind Innocence Road by Laura Griffin

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when a former newspaper crime reporter turns her real-life investigative instincts into pulse-pounding fiction? In this episode, I sit down with Laura Griffin to talk about crime fiction, small-town mysteries, and the real-world research that makes her thrillers feel terrifyingly real. We dig into Laura’s journey from journalism to romantic suspense and thrillers, how she researches police work and cold cases, and why setting Innocence Road in a remote West Texas town inspired by Marfa added an entirely new layer of tension. If you love smart thrillers, layered investigations, and books that reward close readers, this episode is for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Innocence Road [https://amzn.to/4jsXksc] by Laura Griffin [https://amzn.to/4jsXksc]— Crime Thriller | Cold Case | Small-Town Mystery We Are All Guilty Here [https://amzn.to/3Ll3E8m] by Karin Slaughter [https://amzn.to/3Ll3E8m]— Psychological Thriller While It Was Snowing [https://amzn.to/4jpPQGs] by Julia London [https://amzn.to/4jpPQGs] — Holiday Rom-Com Atmosphere [https://amzn.to/490vqA5] by Taylor Jenkins Reid [https://amzn.to/490vqA5] — Literary Suspense / Emotional Drama ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Laura Griffin’s journalism background [01:30] Researching police work & crime scenes [03:00] Why West Texas inspired Innocence Road [06:30] Pacing suspense & planting clues [09:00] Romantic suspense vs. thrillers [12:00] What Laura Griffin loves to read [14:00] Book recommendations for thriller fans 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]

The Fix & the Rise of Romantic Thrillers with Mia Sheridan

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when a romance author leans fully into the dark, twisty world of thrillers—but keeps the emotional payoff readers crave? In this episode, I’m joined by Mia Sheridan to talk about her evolution from emotional romance to romantic thrillers—and why this hybrid genre works so well for readers who want suspense and heart. We dig into her latest release The Fix, how she builds layered mysteries with romantic soft landings, and why trauma-forward stories can still be deeply comforting when handled with care. We also rewind to some unforgettable ’90s reading staples that shaped her as a reader and writer. If you love popcorn thrillers, romantic suspense, or books that push you forward while still offering hope, this episode is for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED The Fix [https://amzn.to/3YcL5WX] by Mia Sheridan [https://amzn.to/3YcL5WX] — Romantic Thriller | KU ✅ https://amzn.to/48ZLCShThe Road [https://amzn.to/48ZLCSh] by Cormac McCarthy [https://amzn.to/48ZLCSh] — Literary Dystopian Fiction The Thorn Birds [https://amzn.to/3LbrNhu] by Colleen McCullough [https://amzn.to/3LbrNhu] — Epic Romance / Family Saga https://amzn.to/3KQT5KbThe Poisonwood Bible [https://amzn.to/3KQT5Kb] by Barbara Kingsolver [https://amzn.to/3KQT5Kb] — Literary Fiction Angela’s Ashes [https://amzn.to/3Ycxm2j] by Frank McCourt [https://amzn.to/3Ycxm2j] — Memoir / Literary Nonfiction ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome & Mia Sheridan’s genre journey [02:00] What defines a romantic thriller [03:30] Inside The Fix (spoiler-free premise) [06:00] Writing trauma-heavy stories as an author [08:30] Why romance provides a “soft place to land” [09:30] Reading tastes & genre flexibility [12:00] ’90s books that shaped a reader [18:30] Where to find Mia 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!

Reading Paralysis Is Real — Here’s How We Reset

Reading should be fun… so why does choosing your next book sometimes feel impossible? In this Group Chat episode, I’m joined by Amy and Sarah for an honest conversation about how our reading lives have evolved — and how we actually choose what to read now. We talk about reading paralysis, juggling ARCs and backlist titles, the joy of cozy mysteries, why Goodreads ratings don’t tell the whole story, and how libraries, audiobooks, and Kindle Unlimited completely changed the way we read. If you’ve ever stared at your TBR feeling overwhelmed instead of excited, this episode is for you. ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome + reading apps & Pagebound [01:00] Reading paralysis & year-end overwhelm [02:00] Short holiday audiobooks that actually work [05:00] Reading before Bookstagram [07:00] Cozy mysteries & Chick Lit nostalgia [10:00] Finding reading community online [13:00] Virgin River & audiobook obsession [16:00] Trusting reading taste (not star ratings) [19:00] When a 3-star book is perfect [22:00] Mood reading vs forcing yourself [26:00] Backlist reading as burnout recovery [29:00] Why fantasy doesn’t work for everyone [32:00] How we organize (or don’t) our TBRs [36:00] Library browsing as self-care [38:00] Letting go of “must finish” reading guilt 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!

Pagebound: The Anti-Algorithm Reading App

What if Goodreads and Reddit had a baby—and it was actually fun to use? In this episode, I’m joined by Lucy Zhao and Jennifer Dobak, the co-founders of Pagebound, a beautifully designed, reader-first book tracking app that brings back the joy of talking about books while you’re reading them. We talk about why they built Pagebound as a community—not an algorithm—how anonymous discussion makes reading feel safer and more fun, and why gamified reading challenges (hello, sparkly badges ✨) are helping readers rediscover their love of books. If you’ve ever felt burned out by Goodreads, overwhelmed by BookTok, or just want real conversations with other readers, this episode is for you. 🔗 TRY PAGEBOUND 1. Web: https://pagebound.co [https://pagebound.co] 2. App: Search Pagebound – Social Book Tracker in your app store ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Why I broke up with Goodreads [02:00] Meet the Pagebound founders [04:30] What makes Pagebound different [06:00] Talking about books while reading [08:00] Mood reading & finding reading twins [10:00] Lists, human recs, and no algorithms [11:30] Quests, badges & gamification [13:00] Importing Goodreads & StoryGraph [14:30] Supporting Pagebound & Royalty [15:30] Why Pagebound uses Substack [17:00] How to get started with Pagebound 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!