What To Read Next Podcast

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a pandemic side project turns into a full-time creative career? In this episode, I’m joined by fantasy romance author Kate Golden to talk about writing through uncertainty, leaving a stable career, and why urban fantasy is having a moment.We get into Kate’s journey from working as a studio executive in Hollywood to indie publishing A Dawn of Onyx, landing a traditional book deal with Berkley, and finally quitting her day job to write full-time. We also dive deep into Half City, her dark academia–meets–urban fantasy trilogy set in a reimagined New York City — complete with demon hunters, secret colleges, forbidden romance, and Buffy-level vibes.This conversation is for readers who love grounded fantasy, creative career pivots, and honest talk about monetizing passion projects without losing your mind.Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.subst

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Making adult friends is hard — but it doesn’t have to be lonely.In this Galentine’s Day special, I’m joined by my friend Jules from Friday Night Readers to talk about how we met as adults, how to build meaningful female friendships, and the six books that celebrate the complicated, beautiful, soul-shaping power of friendship.We share how sliding into DMs, podcast interviews, book communities, and even fitness classes can turn into real-life connection. If you’re craving community, feeling isolated, or just want book recommendations centered on female friendships (from literary fiction to cozy mysteries), this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when love, music, and unfinished business collide—20 years later?In this episode, I’m joined by novelist Lisa Peers to talk about Motor City Love Song, a sapphic second-chance romance set against Detroit’s indie music scene—then and now.We dive into the late ’90s Detroit garage-rock era, the rise and fall of live music venues, and what it means to revisit the love and choices that shape who we become. If you love music-driven novels, queer romance with emotional depth, and stories about creative communities surviving change, this one’s for you.

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 YouIf 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Bridgerton Season 4 Is Going Full Cinderella — Here’s What to Read While You WaitBridgerton Season 4 is officially heading into Cinderella territory, and I’m breaking down what that means — from class divide drama to why Benedict might finally be the Bridgerton brother we root for. Joined by returning guest Julia Diaz-Young, we talk book canon vs. show changes, why Sophie Beckett is such a compelling heroine, and which historical romances perfectly capture that upstairs-downstairs energy.If you love Bridgerton but don’t want to wait around for Netflix release schedules, we’ve got you covered with cozy, library-friendly historical romance recs you can borrow right now — no ballgown required.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Some historical figures feel larger than life — until you finally meet the woman behind the myth.In this episode, I’m joined by Lynn Cullen, an acclaimed historical fiction author who has spent decades uncovering the real people behind cultural legends. We dive into her latest novel about Marilyn Monroe, focusing on Marilyn’s deeply personal relationship with photographer Eve Arnold — the only woman Marilyn ever trusted to photograph her.We talk about trauma, fame, the female gaze, and what happens when a woman known entirely through images finally gets to be seen as herself. If you love feminist historical fiction, celebrity history, or stories that reclaim women’s narratives from the male gaze, this conversation is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you love romance but want to dip your toes into mystery without gore, trauma, or thriller chaos—this episode is for you.In this conversation, I’m joined by Jenny Elder Moke, author of the millennial cozy mystery-romcom She Doesn’t Have a Clue and her upcoming release Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies. We talk about why mystery is not the same as thrillers, how “millennial cozies” are changing the genre, and why her books are the perfect gateway for romance readers who want puzzles, banter, and emotional payoff—without nightmare fuel.We also dig into why Jenny chose to write standalone companion novels instead of a single sleuth series, the rise of cozy mysteries set in big cities, and the nonfiction rabbit holes (poison! art theft!) that inspire her storytelling.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you don’t give up on writing—even after a failed debut attempt, agent rejections, and a long detour through corporate life? In this episode, I’m joined by London-based author Rosie Storey, whose debut novel Dandelion Is Dead is finally making its U.S. release.We talk honestly about Rosie’s nonlinear publishing journey, the persistence it takes to keep writing after rejection, and why messy, mid-thirties lives deserve to be at the center of fiction. We also dive into Dandelion Is Dead—a sharp, emotionally layered novel about grief, identity, and the lies we tell when we’re trying to survive loss. Plus, Rosie shares three literary recommendations that balance humor and heartbreak beautifully.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and a swoony rom-com had a bookish baby? That’s exactly what today’s episode delivers. I’m joined by Jo Segura, author of adventure rom-coms that bring danger, banter, and kissing back into the genre.We talk about why Hollywood stopped making true adventure romances, how Jo blends real archaeology research with rom-com pacing, and why her heroines are always smart, capable, and never damsels in distress. If you love romance with puzzles, mythology, librarians, lost treasure, and external stakes that actually matter, this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What does it really look like to make a living as a romance author in today’s publishing landscape? In this episode, I’m joined by romance author Lauren Connolly for a candid conversation about hybrid publishing, creative sustainability, and her latest rom-com Love in Plane Sight.We talk about Lauren’s journey from libraries to publishing nearly 30 books, why diversifying income streams matters, and how she balances self-publishing with Big Five contracts without burning out. We also dive into pilot romances, found family, money trauma, and why a Gantt chart might just save your creative life.

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.

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.

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.

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 re

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.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Tropical Christmas romance, but make it mermaids + bartenders + island chaos. In this episode, I’m chatting with Lizzie Stanley, Natalie Parker, and Christina Berry about their Merry Mermaids holiday novella series—aka the underserved niche of Christmas reads where nobody is pretending it’s snowing.We get into how they built a shared rom-com universe around The Salty Palms (a bar where “Happy Mermaid Hour” is absolutely a thing), plus what makes each novella hit: insta-love-turned-slow-burn injuries, reverse grumpy/sunshine with a town “bitch” heroine, and a marriage of convenience featuring ace-spectrum rep and a yacht-owning boat captain.