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’re forced to attend your ex-husband’s family wedding… in Paris? 😬✨ In this episode, I sit down with romance author Kate Clayborn to talk about her newest release The Paris Match and why messy adulthood makes the best love stories.
We dive into second chances, complicated family dynamics, and what it really means to rebuild your life in your thirties. Kate also shares how she approached writing Paris as more than just a setting—and why romance readers keep coming back to stories that feel both grounded and emotionally rich.
📚 Books Mentioned
The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅
Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅
Isola by Allegra Goodman — Buy on Amazon | Historical Fiction | Audio ✅
Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

⏱️ Time Stamps
[00:00] – Introduction to Kate Clayborn
[01:00] – Beginner’s Luck and pandemic reading memories
[02:00] – Overview of The Paris Match
[03:00] – Grumpy sunshine dynamic + character setup
[04:00] – Writing Paris as a character
[06:00] – Language, culture, and realism in Paris
[07:00] – Layla’s career and emotional avoidance
[08:00] – What a hospitalist does (and why it matters)
[09:00] – Life in your 30s vs 20s vs 40s
[11:00] – Griffin’s character and isolation
[12:00] – Kate’s reading life (romance + beyond)
[13:00] – Favorite romance subgenres and tropes
[14:00] – Auto-buy authors and recommendations
[15:00] – Where to find Kate online
Join the Conversation
Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)
Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next
Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Romantasy before it was cool? In this episode, I sit down with Elly Blake to talk about her journey writing fantasy romance—and how the genre has completely transformed over the years.
We chat about the evolution from YA fantasy to adult romantasy, what readers really want (hint: it’s the romance), and how Elly built her newest Thirstwood series from fairy tales, folklore, and a haunting “bloodthirsty forest” idea. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and magical worlds with high emotional stakes, this episode is for you.
📚 Books Mentioned
Frostblood by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy Romance | Audio ✅
Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy, Fairy Tale Inspired | Audio ✅
Curse Queen’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy, Enemies-to-Lovers | Audio ✅
Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alicia Dow — Buy on Amazon | YA Fantasy Romance, Fairytale | Audio ✅
⏱️ Timestamps
[00:00] Introduction to Elly Blake
[01:00] Her journey into fantasy & romantasy
[02:30] What “romantasy” really means
[04:30] How romance reshaped the fantasy market
[06:00] YA vs adult fantasy—what’s changing
[08:00] Overview of Thirstwood series
[10:00] The bloodthirsty forest concept
[11:30] Book 1: friends-to-enemies-to-lovers setup
[12:30] Book 2: Hades & Persephone vibes + mystery
[14:30] Coming-of-age themes in fantasy
[16:00] Reading habits: paper vs audiobooks
[17:00] Book recommendation: Alicia Dow
[19:30] Where to find Elly Blake
Join the Conversation
Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)
Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next
Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Graphic novels aren’t just for kids—and this episode completely changed how I think about them.
In this conversation, I sit down with cartoonist Sophia Glock to talk about her haunting and emotional graphic novel Before We Wake. We dive into how comics can explore big themes like grief in a way that feels accessible, immersive, and deeply personal—and why adults should absolutely be reading graphic novels.
We also talk about nostalgia (hello early 2000s 👀), the creative process behind blending art and storytelling, and where to start if you’ve never picked up a graphic novel before.
📚 Books Mentioned
Before We Wake by Sophia Glock — Buy on Amazon | YA Graphic Novel | Grief, paranormal, friendship
Maus by Art Spiegelman — Buy on Amazon | Historical Graphic Novel | Holocaust, memoir
Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Memoir | Iran, coming-of-age
Fun Home by Alison Bechdel — Buy on Amazon | Literary Graphic Memoir | Family, identity
This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki — Buy on Amazon | YA/Adult Graphic Novel | Coming-of-age
Spinning by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Memoir | Identity, adolescence
Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Novel | Historical
⏱️ Timestamps
[00:00] Intro + meeting Sophia Glock
[01:00] Why graphic novels are underrated for adults
[02:00] Writing about grief in Before We Wake
[04:00] Sophia’s creative process (writing vs drawing)
[05:30] Plot overview + lucid dreaming concept
[07:00] Setting the book in early 2000s nostalgia
[09:30] Nostalgia, pop culture, and generational memory
[12:30] Where to start with graphic novels
[15:00] YA vs adult tone in storytelling
[16:00] Where to find Sophia online
Join the Conversation
Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)
Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next
Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
From sorority sisters to bookish besties—this episode is all about finding your reading groove and building a community that keeps you turning pages.
In this episode, I sit down with Nathalie Cañadas to talk about her reading glow-up—from occasional reader to devouring 200+ books a year. We chat about audiobooks, immersive reading, Kindle Unlimited, and how joining a book club completely changed her reading life. Plus, we dive into her favorite romance reads, dark twists, and underrated gems you need on your TBR.
If you’ve ever struggled to find time to read—or didn’t know where to start—this episode is for you.
📚 Books Mentioned
Broken Romeo by Leisa Rayven — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅
Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage — Buy on Amazon | Cowboy Romance | Audio ✅
Pen Pal by J.T. Geissinger — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense | Audio ✅
Carnal Urges by J.T. Geissinger — Buy on Amazon | Mafia Romance | Audio ✅
Bourbon Boys Series by Victoria Wilder — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Suspense
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅
⏱️ Timestamps
[00:00] – Welcome + how Nathalie and I met
[02:00] – What Latin sororities actually look like
[05:30] – Nathalie’s reading journey (pre-2024 vs now)
[07:30] – Discovering audiobooks + Libby + Hoopla
[08:30] – What is immersive reading (and why it works)
[09:30] – Finding your reading groove
[10:30] – Romance genre deep dive + BookTok impact
[13:00] – Library hacks + how to get multiple cards
[15:30] – Supporting libraries + budget reading
[16:00] – Book recommendations begin
[16:30] – Broken Romeo discussion
[17:30] – Cowboy romance (Lyla Sage)
[18:30] – Dark twist reads (Pen Pal)
[20:00] – Mafia romance recs
[22:00] – Dark romcoms + Lights Out
[23:00] – Bourbon Boys series
[24:00] – Abby Jimenez spotlight
[25:30] – Inside the Baddies Book Club
[27:30] – Book club retreat + community building
[28:30] – Nathalie’s Instagram + where to follow
Follow Nathalie on Instagram: Nats Next Book
Join the Conversation
Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)
Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next
Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
What happens when romance meets real life—immigration, identity, and the courage to choose joy anyway?
In this episode, I sit down with Sonali Dev to talk about her latest novel How Simi Got Her Groom Back—a deeply emotional story about sisterhood, love, and what it really means to belong. We dive into the themes behind the book (including immigration and chosen family), plus a powerful conversation about romance as a tool for healing, self-worth, and rewriting the rules we’ve been given.
If you love romance with depth, second chances, and stories that make you feel something real—this episode is for you.
📚 Books Mentioned
How Simi Got Her Groom Back by Sonali Dev — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Women’s Fiction
The Caste and the Star by Leylah Attar — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Second Chance
Partners in Crime by Alisha Rai — Buy on Amazon | Romantic Comedy / Second Chance / Heist Romance
⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – Welcome back Sonali Dev
01:00 – Behind the scenes of her latest book release
03:00 – Writing process & juggling multiple books
04:30 – What How Simi Got Her Groom Back is about
06:30 – Immigration, legality vs. morality, and storytelling
08:00 – Why joy is an act of rebellion
10:00 – How books build empathy
11:00 – Romance novels and self-worth
13:30 – Raising your standards in love & life
15:00 – Choosing joy in everyday decisions
17:00 – Visibility, bravery, and showing up authentically
19:30 – What Sonali loves to read
21:30 – Reading across genres vs. sticking to romance
24:00 – Book rec: The Caste and the Star
27:00 – Book rec: Partners in Crime
30:00 – Where to find Sonali Dev

Join the Conversation
Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)
Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next
Subscribe & leave a review!