What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

• The Holiday Rom-Com That Hit Me in the Feels: Morgan Elizabeth Re-Air

  Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.This episode originally aired 9/3/2024 If you’ve ever burned yourself out trying to make the holidays perfect, this episode will hit home. A Bright Side of Christmas by Morgan Elizabeth reminded me that joy doesn’t come from doing it all — it comes from slowing down and setting boundaries.In this re-air from the What to Read Next vault, I revisit my conversation with author Morgan Elizabeth — queen of small-town, feel-good rom-coms with early-2000s movie vibes. Before our chat, I share my reflections on A Bright Side of Christmas, a story about Wren, a teacher who embodies the Christmas spirit but loses herself to people-pleasing and burnout. This one hit me hard because I’ve been there — learning that saying “no” can be an act of self-care.Then, Morgan joins me to talk about her journey from blogger to bestselling rom-com author, her signature “vibes only” writing style, and why her books feel like pumpkin-spice-scented serotonin. If you’re craving small-town romance, pop-culture nostalgia, and cozy holiday feels, this episode is for you.📚 Books MentionedA Bright Side of Christmas by Morgan Elizabeth — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Rom-Com | Small Town, Teacher/Grumpy Neighbor | KU ✅Tis the Season for Revenge by Morgan Elizabeth — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Rom-Com | Legally Blonde Vibes | KU ✅ / Audio ✅Cruel Summer by Morgan Elizabeth — Buy on Amazon | Rom-Com | Mean Girls Inspired | KU ✅ / Audio ✅Passenger Princess by Morgan Elizabeth — Buy on Amazon | Rom-Com | Grumpy Bodyguard / Road Trip | KU ✅ / Audio ✅If This Was a Movie by Morgan Elizabeth — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Rom-Com | Friends to Lovers, Hallmark Vibes | KU ✅ / Audio ✅Marriage and Masti by Nisha Sharma — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Enemies to Lovers | Audio ✅Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood — Buy on Amazon | STEMinist Romance | People-Pleaser Heroine | Audio ✅Only for the Week by Natasha Bishop — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Vacation Fling | Audio ✅Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young — Buy on Amazon | Emotional Contemporary | Grumpy/Sunshine, Single Mom | Audio ✅⏰ Timestamps & Topics[00:00] — Why I’m re-airing this episode & my reflection on A Bright Side of Christmas[02:00] — How Wren’s burnout reminded me of my own people-pleasing years[04:00] — Morgan’s rom-com universe and the comfort of her small-town worlds[06:00] — Morgan’s journey from mom blogger to full-time author[08:00] — How “vibes-only” writing keeps her stories fun and cozy[09:00] — Where new readers should start with Morgan’s books[12:00] — The story behind...

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• 💕 Sheila Roberts on The Man Next Door — The Feel-Good Mystery Everyone’s Talking About

  Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.What happens when your mom spies on the neighbor—and he might be a murderer? Author Sheila Roberts joins me to chat about The Man Next Door, a cozy mystery–meets–women’s fiction read filled with humor, heart, and multigenerational relationships.In this episode, I sit down with longtime author Sheila Roberts to talk about her writing journey—from regency romances to her modern blend of women’s fiction and mystery. We chat about the joy of writing multi-generational women, the wisdom of aging, and how stories can help us face fears and grow stronger. Sheila also shares three books she’s loving right now, including a mouth-watering Italian escape and a thought-provoking AI thriller.📚Books Mentioned:The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts — Buy on Amazon | Women’s Fiction / Mystery / HumorThe Secret of Orange Blossom Cake by Rachel Linden — Buy on Amazon | Magical Realism / Women’s Fiction | Audio ✅The Happy Life of Isadora Bentley by Courtney Walsh — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Fiction / Women’s Fiction | Audio ✅Culpability by Bruce Holsinger— Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Fiction / Thriller | Audio ✅⏰Time Stamps:[00:00] – Meet Sheila Roberts and how she became an author[03:00] – From regency romance to modern women’s fiction[06:00] – Writing strong heroines and facing fears[10:00] – How Sheila plots her stories (and keeps control!)[12:00] – The inspiration behind The Man Next Door[15:00] – Writing older women and multi-generational stories[18:00] – The joy and wisdom of aging[20:00] – Sheila’s current reading life[21:00] – Book recommendations you’ll want to add to your TBRJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:Advertise with UsDo 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🎧 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

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• My Favorite Holidate: The Joy of Cozy Escapism

  Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.I’m declaring the holiday season officially open—starting November 1. After a tough year and a long reading slump, I decided to chase joy early this year with one thing that never fails to cheer me up: holiday romances.In this kickoff episode of my holiday reading season, I share why I’m leaning hard into cozy Christmas books this November, how I’m rebuilding my relationship with joy (and Christmas itself), and what I’ve been reading on my own mini reading retreat. Then, bestselling author Lauren Blakely joins me to talk about her newest audio-first release Merry Little Kissmas and the fan-favorite My Favorite Holidate. We chat about her writing process, full-cast audiobooks, and why she loves creating spicy, escapist holiday romances that feel like “Hallmark movies with heat.”📚Books Mentioned:Merry Little Kissmas by Lauren Blakely — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Romance | KU ✅ / Audio ✅My Favorite Holidate by Lauren Blakely — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Romance | Audio ✅The Bright Side of Christmas by Morgan Elizabeth — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Romance | KU ✅The Holiday Hookup List by Alexis Daria — Buy on Amazon | Holiday Romance | Audio ✅Battle of the Bookstores by Ali Brady — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅Boys of Riverside by Thomas Fuller — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Sports | Audio ✅The Art Thief by Michael Finkel — Buy on Amazon | True Crime / Art Heist | Audio ✅⏰ Time Stamps [00:00] – Why I’m starting my holiday season early[01:00] – Rebuilding my relationship with Christmas and joy[03:00] – My holiday reading retreat and first books of the season[04:00] – Interview with Lauren Blakely begins[06:00] – Lauren’s backlist and audio-first process[10:00] – My Favorite Holidate and holiday escapism[12:00] – Merry Little Kissmas preview (grumpy hero, fake dating, hockey!)[15:00] – Lauren’s recent reads & audiobook recs[18:00] – Wrap-up and where to find Lauren onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:Advertise with UsDo you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us.

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• Inside “With Friends Like These” — A Dark Academia Thriller You’ll Devour

  Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.Toxic friendships, secret games, and deadly consequences. Alissa Lee’s debut takes domestic suspense into dark academia territory — and I couldn’t put it down, even at work.In this episode, I sit down with debut author Alissa Lee to chat about her upcoming novel — a twisty, character-driven story about five college friends whose secret game spirals into betrayal and murder. We talk about how her background working for the CIA, Capitol Hill, and Big Tech shaped her storytelling; why long-term friendships inspired her book; and how community and writing groups became her creative lifeline.If you love dark academia, female friendship drama, and slow-burn suspense, this conversation is for you.📚 Books MentionedWith Friends Like These by Alissa Lee — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Suspense / Dark Academia / Female Friendship | Audio ✅ (coming November 4, 2025)Sea Wife by Amity Gaige — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Suspense / Psychological Fiction | Audio ✅Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy — Buy on Amazon | Literary Thriller / Atmospheric Suspense | Audio ✅Broken Country by Claire Leslie Hall — Buy on Amazon | Suspense / Love Story / Gothic Vibes | Audio ✅🕰️ Timestamps[00:00] Meet debut author Alissa Lee[01:00] From CIA summers to Capitol Hill: her fascinating career path[05:00] How maternity leave reignited her passion for writing[07:00] The inspiration behind her debut: toxic friendships and authenticity[10:00] Her writing process and legal-minded plotting style[12:00] Why finding a writing community changed everything[14:00] What Alissa’s reading now — and her mini masterclass in suspenseJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review! Mentioned in this episode:Advertise with UsDo 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🎧 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

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• From Cult Fiction to Serial Killers: Starter Thrillers You’ll Love

  Disclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books.This episode was originally published on March 11, 2023If your idea of a cozy night includes a glass of wine and a fictional murder—this episode’s for you.In this Thriller Starter Pack episode, I chat with Chelsea and Olivia from Thrillers by the Bookclub to help new readers dip their toes into the dark, twisty world of thrillers. From cults to cold cases, we share the best gateway thrillers—whether you love fast-paced mysteries, eerie slow burns, or a touch of romantic suspense. If you’ve been living on romance novels and want something that’ll make your heart race for a different reason, this is your essential starter guide.📚 Books Mentioned I’ll Be You by Janelle Brown — Buy on Amazon | Psychological Thriller | Audio ✅This Might Hurt by Stephanie Wrobel — Buy on Amazon | Cult Thriller | Audio ✅The Family Upstairs by Lisa Jewell — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Suspense | Audio ✅The Last Housewife by Ashley Winstead — Buy on Amazon | Dark Academia / Cult Thriller | Audio ✅Nothing Important Happened Today by Will Carver — Buy on Amazon | Literary Thriller / Cult | Audio ✅ The Overnight Guest by Heather Gudenkauf — Buy on Amazon | Psychological Thriller | Audio ✅Hello, Transcriber by Hannah Morrissey — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense / Police Procedural | Audio ✅Beneath the Stairs by Jennifer Fawcett — Buy on Amazon | Paranormal Suspense | Audio ✅Catch Her When She Falls by Allison Buccola — Buy on Amazon | Mystery / Legal Thriller | Audio ✅Dead End Girl by L.T. Vargus & Tim McBain — Buy on Amazon | FBI Procedural / Crime Thriller | KU ✅ / Audio ✅⏱️Timestamps:[00:00] Meet Chelsea & Olivia[00:08] Why Thrillers by the Bookclub Exists[00:12] Laura’s Confession: New to Thrillers[00:13] Chelsea’s Cult-Themed Thriller Recs[00:21] Olivia’s Starter Thrillers for Every Reader[00:31] Final Thoughts & Where to Find ThemConnect with Thriller by the Book Club Podcast -https://www.instagram.com/thrillersbythebookclubpod/Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube:

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