What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

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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.

📚 Books Mentioned
Motor City Love Song by Lisa Peers — Queer Romance | Music Fiction
Life by Keith Richards — Memoir | Music History
Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby — Literary Fiction | Music Obsession
A Visit from the Goon Squad by Jennifer Egan — Literary Fiction | Music Industry
Girl in a Band by Kim Gordon — Memoir | Rock Music
⏱️ Episode Timestamps
[00:00] Meet Lisa Peers & the inspiration behind Motor City Love Song
[02:00] Detroit’s ’90s indie music scene explained
[06:30] Music, community, and surviving industry shifts
[09:00] Second-chance love & dual timelines
[14:00] Writing younger vs. older characters
[16:00] Music memoirs Lisa loves
[22:00] Final book recommendations for music lovers

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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foodie cozies, long-running series vs. short arcs, seasonal reads, and the difference between nostalgic comfort and outdated, problematic storytelling.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
Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier
Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke
Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander
Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah

📚 Books Mentioned
Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier — Cozy Mystery | Small Town | Married Sleuth | Seasonal Reads
Hannah Swensen Mysteries by Joanne Fluke — Cozy Mystery | Bakery Setting | Long-Running Series | Food-Forward
Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander — Cozy Mystery | Bakery | Found Family | Pacific Northwest
Beacon Bakeshop Mysteries by Darci Hannah — 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

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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 by Letizia Lorini — Romantic Mystery | Rom-Com with Murder | Small-Town Romance | True-Crime Vibes
Brave and Reckless by Dilan Dyer — Contemporary Romance | Cowboy Romance | Theme Park Setting
Hoax and Kisses by Elodie Colliard — Small-Town Romance | Fake Dating | Contemporary Rom-Com | Florist Hero
Poisoned Ivy by Ava Rani — Romantic Mystery | Dark Academia Romance | External Mystery Plot
Whiskey Business by Elliot Fletcher — Contemporary Romance | Scottish Romance | Small-Town Vibes
Scotch on the Rocks by Elliot Fletcher — 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

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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 by Jordyn Taylor — Queer Romance | Contemporary Rom-Com | Coming Out Story
Triple Sec by TJ Alexander— Polyamorous Romance | LGBTQ+ | Contemporary
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid — 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

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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 by Darci Hannah — Cozy Mystery | Paranormal Lite
Murder at the Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah — Cozy Mystery | Food-Forward
Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah — Cozy Mystery | Halloween
A Fatal Feast at Bransford Manor by Darci Hannah — Cozy Mystery | Food & Ghosts
A Spirited Supper at Dundoon Castle by Darci Hannah — Cozy Mystery | Scottish Folklore
The Quiche of Death (Agatha Raisin) by M. C. Beaton — Cozy Mystery |
The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie — 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

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