What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

Single Dads, Small Towns & Christmas Romance with Amy Knupp

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when a former Harlequin author turns indie, builds a direct sales empire, and writes an entire series about small-town single dads? In this episode, I sit down with contemporary romance author Amy Knupp to talk about the business of romance and her cozy, Christmasy small-town world. We chat about Amy’s journey from writing category romance for Harlequin to going fully indie, how she uses direct sales and Shopify to connect with readers, and why she loves writing emotional, character-driven small-town stories. Then we dive into her Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake series and her new Christmas romance Single Wish, featuring a grumpy Christmas tree farmer, a reformed mean girl, and a delicious second-chance enemies-to-lovers arc set in a Tennessee lake town. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Singled Out by Amy Knupp — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3KI1D5T] | Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance | Audio ✅ Single All the Way by Amy Knupp — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3KI2P9c]| Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Friends-to-Lovers |  Audio ✅ Single Wish by Amy Knupp — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48NdCY2] | Contemporary Romance, Small-Town Romance, Holiday Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers | Audio ✅ Bootleg Springs (series) by Lucy Score & Claire Kingsley — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rHtjIH] | Small-Town Romance, Romantic Comedy, Light Mystery Threads | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ 🕒 TIMESTAMPS [00:00] – Meet Amy Knupp [02:00] – From Llamas to Harlequin [02:30] – What Category Romance Really Is [05:00] – Learning to Revise Like a Pro [07:00] – Going Indie & Finding Creative Freedom [08:30] – The Indie Boom She Missed [10:00] – Treating Publishing Like a Business [11:30] – Why Amy Publishes Wide [12:00] – Direct Sales 101 [15:00] – Audiobooks Beyond Audible [16:00] – Why Buying Direct Helps Everyone [18:30] – How to Find Authors Who Sell Direct [19:30] – Signed Books & Pretty Packaging [20:30] – Welcome to Dragonfly Lake [22:00] – Inside Single Wish [23:30] – Enemies to Lovers + Secret Pasts [24:30] – Reading Order & More Holiday Books [25:30] – Book Recs from Amy [27:00] – Where to Find Amy 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]

Hallmark Vibes: Christmas Camp & Royal Romance with Karen Schaler

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A royal Christmas ball, a mischievous rescue dog, and a dog trainer who drives the princess up the palace walls—what could possibly go wrong? In this feel-good holiday episode, I’m chatting with Christmas romcom queen Karen Schaler, writer of A Christmas Prince, Christmas Camp, and her new royal romance A Ruff Royal Christmas. Karen shares how she went from war correspondent and hard-hitting journalist to writing the cozy, comforting Christmas stories so many of us binge every December. We talk about the inspiration behind A Ruff Royal Christmas (including the real-life “devil dog” who inspired Stormy), how she stays in a Christmas mood all year even while living in the desert, and why she’s built a portfolio career across movies, books, audio, travel shows, and even real-life Christmas Camp retreats. We also go behind the scenes of filming Christmas Camp for Hallmark, talk about the power of comfort watches/reads, and get a sneak peek at what she’s working on next. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED A Ruff Royal Christmas by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rPZLZF]| Royal RomCom, Christmas Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4iIsY4x] | Contemporary Christmas Romance, Hallmark Movie Tie-In | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Every Day Is Christmas by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rJff1e] | Christmas Romance, A Christmas Carol–inspired | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Once Upon a Christmas Carol by Karen Schaler — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3YeyNgu] | Christmas Romance, Full-Cast Audio Original | Audible Exclusive ✅ ⏰TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Meet Karen Schaler & why she literally breathes Christmas [02:00] From war zones to Christmas romcoms: Karen’s journalism background [06:00] Inside A Ruff Royal Christmas: royal hijinks, rescue dogs & a big twist [11:00] Writing Christmas all year long (from the Arizona desert!) [16:00] Portfolio creative life: movies, books, audio & Christmas Camp IRL [21:00] Behind the scenes of the Christmas Camp Hallmark movie [27:00] New non-Christmas series, TV ideas & future Christmas specials [33:00] Where to find Karen online & holiday well-wishes 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]

Pumpkin Spice, Mint to Be, and YA Comfort Reads with Katie Cicatelli-Kuc

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. When life feels heavy, sometimes you just need a cozy small town, a perfect pumpkin spice latte, and a YA romance that feels like a warm sweater. In this episode, I’m chatting with author Katie Cicatelli-Kuc about the comfort reads that got her through some of the hardest seasons of her life—and how they might help you, too. Katie and I talk about her YA novels Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and Mint to Be, how Pumpkin Spice unexpectedly went viral on TikTok, and what it was like to write through chemo and recovery. We also get into cozy, low-gore spooky reads (perfect if you’re squeamish or easily triggered), plus YA and middle grade recommendations that balance heart, hope, and just the right amount of chills. If you’re craving comfort, holiday vibes, and gentle escape, this is the episode for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Quarantine by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rJkQ7T] | Young Adult Contemporary  It’s Going Viral by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pSdptf] | Young Adult Contemporary  Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4a31Z1d] | Young Adult Romance, Cozy Fall | Audio ✅ Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/44alVvw]| Young Adult Holiday Romance, Small Town | Audio ✅ Murder Road by Simone St. James — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/44OHXUz] | Mystery, Supernatural Thriller | Audio ✅ Zyla & Kai by Kristina Forest — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pmLvFQ] | Young Adult Romance | Audio ✅ Short Story Collection by Leonora Carrington — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4iFhQVW] | Surrealism, Magical Realism | Audio ✅ Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pl8mSf] | Middle Grade Horror, Spooky Stories | Audio ✅ More Tales to Keep You Up at Night by Dan Poblocki — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48T0YaZ] | Middle Grade Horror, Spooky Stories | Audio ✅ ⏱️ TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Meet YA author Katie Cicatelli-Kuc & her book lineup [00:01] The wild story of Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice going viral [00:02] Writing through chemo and finding escape in cozy YA worlds [00:04] Inside Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice and the town of Briar Glen [00:05] Holiday vibes, boarding school, and first love in Mint to Be [00:07] Why we need comfort reads in weird, heavy times [00:08] Spooky-but-not-gory recs: Simone St. James, Agatha Christie audios [00:09] YA romance, therapy-positive characters, and Zyla & Kai [00:10] Leonora Carrington’s surreal short stories & middle grade spooky picks [00:11] More Dan Poblocki recs and where to find Katie 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]

Love Over 40: Holiday Romances with L.B. Dunbar

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Forty is not the end of your love story—it might be the beginning of your best one yet. In this episode, I’m chatting with romance author L.B. Dunbar all about love over 40, menopause, midlife reinvention, and why Christmas romances are the perfect escape when life feels like… a lot. We dig into how L.B. pivoted her career to write romance with characters in their 40s and 50s, what makes second-chance love hit different in midlife, and why today’s Gen X and Millennial readers are craving stories that reflect their real lives—kids, divorce, therapy, hormones and all. Then we switch into full holiday mode to talk about her grumpy/sunshine Christmas romances (including a sexy maybe-Santa), plus a few cozy cowboy recs if you love a small-town escape. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED  Scroogish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pVlBJs]| Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Second Chance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Naughty-ish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/448VZjS] | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Grouch-ish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3XGjqgD] | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance |  KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Elf-ish by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48VN8Vc] | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine |  KU ✅ / Audio ✅ The Holiday Post by L.B. Dunbar — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pigW4c] | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Forced Proximity | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ The Holiday Whoopi by Sarah L. Hudson — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3MmeiMi] | Contemporary Romance, Holiday Romance, Steamy |KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Between the Pines by Amber Palmer — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4iLLRDC] | Cowboy Romance, Small-Town Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅ Dust Storm by Maggie Gates — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pyC0nd] | Cowboy Romance, Grumpy/Sunshine |KU ✅ / Audio ✅ ⏱️ TIME STAMPS [00:00] Meet L.B. Dunbar & why she writes romance over 40 [03:00] Millennials, Gen X, and outgrowing 20-something romances [06:00] Menopause, hormones & not giving a f*ck in midlife [10:00] How L.B. started writing Christmas romances [13:00] Scroogish, Naughty-ish, Grouch-ish & Elf-ish: her holiday series [16:00] Sexy Santa energy & The Holiday Post [18:00] Current reads, Hideaway Harbor & The Holiday Whoopi [19:30] Cowboy romance recs: Between the Pines & Dust Storm [21:00] Where to find L.B. Dunbar online and 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! 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]

Beyond A Christmas Carol: Cozy Classic Reads

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Curl up with a blanket, a warm drink, and a stack of Christmas classics—Victoria from BiblioLifestyle is back to help us build a cozy, low-pressure December reading plan. In this episode, we go beyond A Christmas Carol and talk about beginner-friendly classics, emotional reads, and the magic of reading aloud at the holidays. We chat about why classics hit differently in our hyper-busy lives, how to pick approachable reads if you’re intimidated, and why some stories just land better in December. Victoria walks us through a four-week Christmas classics challenge (with lots of public-domain options), child and adult read-aloud ideas, and her own tradition of reading Letters from Father Christmas every year. I also share a bit about my childhood Christmases, Disney trips, and why I always reach for comfort reads this time of year. Whether you’re craving something short and heart-squeezing like The Gift of the Magi or want to finally tackle Little Women or Persuasion, this episode is your invitation to slow down, pick one classic, and actually enjoy it—no pressure to rush or “keep up. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pon1w1] | Classic Christmas novella, redemption arc, ghosts of Christmas past/present/future | Audio ✅ Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rIiPst] | Classic coming-of-age, March sisters, family + generosity at Christmas |  Audio ✅ Persuasion by Jane Austen — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48yHbO9] | Second-chance romance, quiet heroine, emotional restraint | Audio ✅ Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pq8v76]| Iconic enemies-to-lovers, witty social commentary, regency classic | Audio ✅ Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4rEoTm5] | Gothic suspense, eerie mansion, atmospheric classic | Audio ✅ Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48X5UeU] | Gothic romance, governess heroine, broody hero | Audio ✅ The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48rVjbW] | Short story, bittersweet gift-giving, ultimate Christmas sacrifice |  Audio ✅* The Birds’ Christmas Carol by Kate Douglas Wiggin — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4iEViVk] | Short heart-squeezer, sick child planning Christmas for neighbors, bittersweet | Audio ✅ The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Andersen — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/44czavw] | Classic fairy tale, heartbreaking winter story, emotional | Audio ✅* The Tailor of Gloucester by Beatrix Potter — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48m92Rq] | Animal classic, Christmas Eve sewing, quiet redemption | Audio ✅* The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48pcZVr] | Picture book, magical train to the North Pole, Christmas wonder | Audio ✅ How the Grinch Stole Christmas by Dr. Seuss — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pXTfhJ]| Rhyming picture book, grumpy-to-softie arc, holiday fun | Audio ✅ The Night Before Christmas by Clement Clarke Moore — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4iOvgiG] | Classic Christmas Eve poem, Santa visit, family tradition staple | Audio ✅* Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4ayX7kv] | Picture book, one tree shared by many, charming and clever |  Audio ✅* The Tomten by Astrid Lindgren — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4oYzpSF] | Nordic classic, quiet winter farm night, cozy snow-globe vibes | Audio ✅* The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree by Gloria Houston — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/4pTrlDg] | Appalachian Christmas story, mother-child bond, love & sacrifice | Audio ✅* A Christmas Memory by Truman Capote — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3KwzmiG] | Memoir-style story, fruitcake tradition, nostalgic and bittersweet | Audio ✅* In the Bleak Midwinter by Christina Rossetti — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3Yi0IvW] | Classic Christmas poem, reflective and meditative | Audio ✅* A Timbered Choir: The Sabbath Poems by Wendell Berry — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/48FXSpx] | Poetry collection, stillness, nature, gratitude | Audio ✅* Letters from Father Christmas by J.R.R. Tolkien — Buy on Amazon [https://amzn.to/3XFrSwI] | Illustrated letters from “Father Christmas” to Tolkien’s kids, polar bear mishaps, perfect December nightly read-aloud | Audio ✅* *Many of these classic/older texts are in the public domain and may be available in free ebooks and assorted audio editions. ⏱️ TIME STAMPS [00:00] Catching up with Victoria & why classics hit differently now [02:00] Christmas staples: A Christmas Carol, Little Women & Persuasion [06:00] Emotional short classics: The Gift of the Magi & The Birds’ Christmas Carol [10:00] Childhood Christmas memories, Disney trips & reading as escape [14:00] Adult read-aloud tradition: Capote, Dickens, poetry & Tolkien [18:00] Cozy comfort reads, Florida “bubble,” and a 4-week Christmas classics challenge [21:00] Where to find Victoria (BiblioLifestyle), winter reading guide & outro 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]