What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

Cozy Mystery Starter Guide: Series We Loved (and Quit) | Honest Thoughts on Hannah Swansen Series

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. COZY MYSTERIES 101: FINDING THE SERIES THAT ACTUALLY WORKS FOR YOU If you’ve ever wanted to get into cozy mysteries but didn’t know where to start — or bounced off one that just didn’t work — this episode is for you. Amy from Novel Gossip joins me to break down what actually makes a cozy mystery work (and why some beloved classics… don’t anymore). We talk about cozy mystery conventions, foodie cozies, long-running series vs. short arcs, seasonal reads, and the difference between nostalgic comfort and outdated, problematic storytelling. Plus, we compare three major cozy series we read together — including one we’re obsessed with and one we’re officially done with. This episode is perfect for readers who love low-stress mysteries, strong sense of place, found family vibes, and a little romance on the side. 📚 BOOKS & SERIES DISCUSSED 1. Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier 2. Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke 3. Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander 4. Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Lucy Stone Mysteries [https://amzn.to/4qO8t9z] by Leslie Meier [https://amzn.to/4qO8t9z] — Cozy Mystery | Small Town | Married Sleuth | Seasonal Reads Hannah Swensen Mysteries [https://amzn.to/3Z9Sxm0] by Joanne Fluke [https://amzn.to/3Z9Sxm0] — Cozy Mystery | Bakery Setting | Long-Running Series | Food-Forward Bakeshop Mysteries [https://amzn.to/45Jio8a] by Ellie Alexander [https://amzn.to/45Jio8a] — Cozy Mystery | Bakery | Found Family | Pacific Northwest Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries [https://amzn.to/3NORtld] by Darci Hannah [https://amzn.to/3NORtld] — Cozy Mystery | Lakeside Setting | Animal Companion | Foodie Cozy ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Why we fell into cozy mysteries [02:00] Cozy mystery conventions & formulas [05:00] Foodie cozies and niche hobbies [08:00] Seasonal and holiday cozy reads [11:00] Lucy Stone series overview [14:00] Hannah Swensen: nostalgia vs. modern reads [18:00] Why Bakeshop Mysteries became our favorite [23:00] Long-running series, side characters & growth [29:00] Cozy mysteries vs. TV adaptations [34:00] 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!

Rom-Com Meets Murder: A Killer Kind of Romance with Letizia Lorini | Romantic Mystery

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when a true-crime podcaster is forced to host a romance podcast… and a real murder hits close to home? In this episode, I’m joined by author Letizia Lorini to talk about her rom-com-meets-mystery debut A Killer Kind of Romance — a smart, funny love story with serial-killer vibes and a guaranteed happily ever after. We talk about Letizia’s journey from criminology to romance writing, how her background in white-collar and environmental crime shaped this story, and why mixing romance, comedy, and murder works better than you’d think. If you love rom-coms with a dark edge, true-crime energy, and an external mystery driving the romance, this one’s for you. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED A Killer Kind of Romance [https://amzn.to/4amV4Qa] by Letizia Lorini [https://amzn.to/4amV4Qa] — Romantic Mystery | Rom-Com with Murder | Small-Town Romance | True-Crime Vibes Brave and Reckless [https://amzn.to/4rtlu8J] by Dilan Dyer [https://amzn.to/4rtlu8J] — Contemporary Romance | Cowboy Romance | Theme Park Setting Hoax and Kisses [https://amzn.to/3NQS8CA] by Elodie Colliard [https://amzn.to/3NQS8CA] — Small-Town Romance | Fake Dating | Contemporary Rom-Com | Florist Hero Poisoned Ivy [https://amzn.to/4qeDe6L] by Ava Rani [https://amzn.to/4qeDe6L] — Romantic Mystery | Dark Academia Romance | External Mystery Plot Whiskey Business [https://amzn.to/3M3Xc66] by Elliot Fletcher [https://amzn.to/3M3Xc66] — Contemporary Romance | Scottish Romance | Small-Town Vibes Scotch on the Rocks [https://amzn.to/45EewVQ] by Elliot Fletcher [https://amzn.to/45EewVQ] — Contemporary Romance | Scottish Romance | Series Romance ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Meet Letizia Lorini & her criminology background [01:00] White-collar crime, environmental crime, and “victimless” myths [02:00] Falling back in love with romance (and starting to write) [03:00] Indie → traditional publishing & why hybrid works [03:30] A Killer Kind of Romance — rom-com + murder pitch [05:00] Balancing romance and mystery without overpowering either [06:00] Why dark themes pair perfectly with rom-com energy [07:00] Pantsing vs plotting & writing twists [08:00] Book recommendations & favorite rom-com reads [11:00] Where to find Letizia 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!

Queer Romance, Bi Identity, and Being Seen with Jordyn Taylor | Winter Queer RomCom

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Coming out doesn’t always look the way we expect — especially when bisexuality, straight-presenting relationships, and queer community intersect in complicated ways. In this episode, I’m joined by novelist and journalist Jordyn Taylor to talk about her adult debut See You at the Summit and why bisexual representation in romance still matters. We dig into bi-erasure, “double discrimination,” and what it means to claim your identity even when the world reads you incorrectly. Jordyn also shares how her background as a sex and relationships editor shaped her fiction, why she chose Canada as the setting for her adult debut, and how fitness (yes, Hyrox!) fuels her creative life. Plus, we swap book recommendations that explore queer relationships, polyamory, and emotionally devastating love stories you’ll never forget. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED See You at the Summit [https://amzn.to/4bovDyE] by Jordyn Taylor [https://amzn.to/4bovDyE]— Queer Romance | Contemporary Rom-Com | Coming Out Story Triple Sec [https://amzn.to/45BOuTd] by TJ Alexander [https://amzn.to/45BOuTd]— Polyamorous Romance | LGBTQ+ | Contemporary Atmosphere [https://amzn.to/4qKk61r] by Taylor Jenkins Reid [https://amzn.to/4qKk61r]— Historical Fiction | Queer Love Story | Audiobook Favorite ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Jordyn Taylor’s writing journey and adult debut [02:30] Why bisexual representation needs nuance [05:30] Bi-erasure and “double discrimination” [08:00] Setting queer romance in Canada [10:30] Hyrox, fitness culture, and creative discipline [15:00] Polyamory in romance fiction (Triple Sec) [17:00] Emotional audiobooks and Atmosphere [18:45] Where to find Jordyn and what’s next 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!

This Cozy Mystery Author Turned Haunted Lighthouses Into Comfort Reads | Darci Hannah

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Haunted lighthouses, bake shops, ghost hunters, and cozy mysteries with heart. In this episode, I’m joined by cozy mystery author Darci Hannah to talk about how she went from historical fiction to building three beloved cozy mystery series — including haunted lighthouses in Michigan, small-town bake shops, and a ghost-hunting food show gone very wrong. We dive into her Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries, the origin of her haunted lighthouse setting, how real Midwest ghost stories inspired Captain Willie Riggs, and why cozy mysteries are evolving into something funnier, smarter, and more emotionally rich. Plus, Darci shares her favorite cozy mystery reads and classic comfort authors. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Murder at the Beacon Bakeshop [https://amzn.to/4rnrwr9] by Darci Hannah [https://amzn.to/4rnrwr9] — Cozy Mystery | Paranormal Lite https://amzn.to/4qQizqNMurder at the Lemonberry Tea [https://amzn.to/4qQizqN] by Darci Hannah [https://amzn.to/4qQizqN]— Cozy Mystery | Food-Forward https://amzn.to/4qTOWVxMurder at the Pumpkin Pageant [https://amzn.to/4qTOWVx] by Darci Hannah [https://amzn.to/4qTOWVx]— Cozy Mystery | Halloween https://amzn.to/4rlCRYTA Fatal Feast at Bransford Manor [https://amzn.to/4rlCRYT] by Darci Hannah [https://amzn.to/4rlCRYT] — Cozy Mystery | Food & Ghosts A [https://amzn.to/49N8Jji]Spirited Supper at Dundoon Castle [https://amzn.to/49N8Jji] by Darci Hannah [https://amzn.to/49N8Jji] — Cozy Mystery | Scottish Folklore The Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin) [https://amzn.to/45HPy81] by M. C. Beaton [https://amzn.to/45HPy81] — Cozy Mystery | The Murder of Roger Ackroyd [https://amzn.to/3ZMR8lv] by Agatha Christie [https://amzn.to/3ZMR8lv]— Classic Cozy Mystery | ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Meeting Darci Hannah & her writing origin story [03:00] From historical fiction to cozy mysteries [05:00] Michigan lighthouses & real ghost lore [08:00] Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries setup [11:00] Murder at the Lemon Berry Tea [14:00] Halloween, ghost hunts & pumpkin pageants [18:00] Food & Spirits Mysteries concept [22:00] Writing cozy mysteries with humor [26:00] Darci’s favorite cozy mystery reads [30:00] Where to find Darci Hannah 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!

Anne of Green Gables, Reimagined for a Post-COVID World with Virginia Kantra

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Some books don’t just retell a classic — they hold your hand through a hard season. In this episode, I’m joined by Virginia Kantra to talk about Anne of a Different Island, a modern homage to Anne of Green Gables set in the shadow of COVID, nostalgia, and finding your way forward when life doesn’t follow the script. We talk about why Anne Shirley still resonates more than a century later, how stories help us process collective trauma, and why comfort reads matter — especially for readers who came of age during the pandemic. This conversation is about resilience, imagination, chosen paths, and the quiet power of books to make us feel seen. 📚 BOOKS MENTIONED Anne of a Different Island [https://amzn.to/49S0thW] by Virginia Kantra [https://amzn.to/49S0thW] — Contemporary women’s fiction | Romance elements How to Read a Book [https://amzn.to/4amqZ3c] by Monica Wood [https://amzn.to/4amqZ3c] — Literary fiction | Found family Far and Away [https://amzn.to/4k895of] by Amy Poeppel [https://amzn.to/4k895of] — Contemporary women’s fiction The Last Letter from Rachel Allworth [https://amzn.to/49NPO82] by Barbara O’Neal [https://amzn.to/49NPO82]— Emotional women’s fiction How Simi Got Her Groove Back [https://amzn.to/49PGz7l] by Sonali Dev [https://amzn.to/49PGz7l] — Contemporary romance ⏱️ EPISODE TIMESTAMPS [00:00] Welcome + Virginia Kantra’s writing journey [04:00] Why Anne of Green Gables still matters [08:30] Why Anne of a Different Island is set on Mackinac Island [16:45] Writing COVID into fiction — without retraumatizing readers [24:00] Healthy relationships vs. romanticized toxicity [33:00] Comfort reads, nostalgia, and emotional safety in books [41:00] Book recommendations for hard seasons [49:00] Classroom libraries, book bans, and why representation matters 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!