What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

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.📚 Books Mentioned Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey — Literary Fiction | Grief, IdentityThe First Bad Man by Miranda July — Literary Fiction | Unconventional WomenSelf-Help by Lorrie Moore — Short Stories | Humor & HeartbreakSorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason — Literary Fiction | Mental Health, Marriage⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Meeting Rosie Storey & debut novel introduction[01:00] Early writing life and corporate career detour[02:00] Quitting work, failed first novel, and starting again[03:00] Rejections, agents, and persistence[04:00] Dandelion Is Dead — premise and themes[05:00] Writing messy midlife stories[06:00] Why no life is neat and tidy[07:00] Book recommendation: The First Bad Man[09:00] Book recommendation: Self-Help[11:00] Book recommendation: Sorrow and Bliss[12:30] Where to find Rosie 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.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

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.📚 Books Mentioned Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura — Adventure RomanceTemple of Swoon by Jo Segura — Adventure RomanceThe Lust Crusade by Jo Segura — Adventure RomanceToe to Toe by Fallon Ballard — Contemporary RomanceWedding Dashers by Heather McBreen — Contemporary Romance What Is Love? by Jen Comfort — Contemporary Rom-Com ⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Meet Jo Segura & the rise of adventure rom-coms[01:30] Why Hollywood abandoned adventure romances[03:00] Real archaeology vs movie myths[05:00] Researching Aztec culture, the Amazon & Greek mythology[07:00] Librarians, archaeology & problem-solving heroines[09:00] Writing capable women (no damsels allowed)[10:30] What Jo reads while drafting romance[12:30] Romance & thriller recommendations[14:30] Where to find Jo 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:🎧 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. AudibleAdvertise with UsDo you have a...

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.📚 Books MentionedLove in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅Drawn Together by Juliana Smith — Contemporary Romance | Closed Door | Audio ✅Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce — YA Fantasy | Classic | Audio ✅⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & Lauren’s publishing journey[01:30] From libraries to romance writing[03:00] Why hybrid publishing works[05:00] The reality of advances & author income[07:30] Diversifying revenue streams[08:45] Gantt charts & managing multiple deadlines[11:30] Negotiating realistic publishing timelines[13:30] Introducing Love in Plane Sight[16:00] Money trauma, people-pleasing & romance heroes[19:30] Audiobooks & narration talk[20:30] Cozy book recommendations[24:00] Little Free Libraries & nostalgia reads[25:30] Where to find Lauren + upcoming eventsJoin 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!

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 EpisodeWhy 2025 became a “taste discovery” year instead of a goal-driven oneLetting go of fantasy, high-stress thrillers, and reading guiltFalling hard for cozy mysteries, millennial mysteries, and mystery rom-comsWhy pop-culture nonfiction works when fiction doesn’tHow I use boundaries (not rules) to choose what to read nextWhy I broke up with Goodreads, streaks, and daily reading pressureReading like meditation: consistency over perfectionWhat 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 ActionWant 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

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 by Laura Griffin — Crime Thriller | Cold Case | Small-Town MysteryWe Are All Guilty Here by Karin Slaughter — Psychological ThrillerWhile It Was Snowing by Julia London — Holiday Rom-ComAtmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — 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 fansJoin 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:🎧 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. AudibleAdvertise 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