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 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

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.📚 Books Mentioned The Fix by Mia Sheridan — Romantic Thriller | KU ✅ The Road by Cormac McCarthy — Literary Dystopian FictionThe Thorn Birds by Colleen McCullough — Epic Romance / Family Saga The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver — Literary FictionAngela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt — Memoir / Literary Nonfiction⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & Mia Sheridan’s genre journey[02:00] What defines a romantic thriller[03:30] Inside The Fix (spoiler-free premise)[06:00] Writing trauma-heavy stories as an author[08:30] Why romance provides a “soft place to land”[09:30] Reading tastes & genre flexibility[12:00] ’90s books that shaped a reader[18:30] Where to find Mia 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!

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 reading vs forcing yourself[26:00] Backlist reading as burnout recovery[29:00] Why fantasy doesn’t work for everyone[32:00] How we organize (or don’t) our TBRs[36:00] Library browsing as self-care[38:00] Letting go of “must finish” reading guiltJoin 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!

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.🔗 Try PageboundWeb: https://pagebound.coApp: Search Pagebound – Social Book Tracker in your app store⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Why I broke up with Goodreads[02:00] Meet the Pagebound founders[04:30] What makes Pagebound different[06:00] Talking about books while reading[08:00] Mood reading & finding reading twins[10:00] Lists, human recs, and no algorithms[11:30] Quests, badges & gamification[13:00] Importing Goodreads & StoryGraph[14:30] Supporting Pagebound & Royalty[15:30] Why Pagebound uses Substack[17:00] How to get started with PageboundJoin 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 episode originally aired September 21, 2020. Yes, this was Rachel Reid's very first podcast interview. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you take one of the most toxic masculinity sports cultures in the world—and rewrite it with tenderness, queer joy, and emotional honesty? 🏒💖In this retro What to Read Next author interview, I’m joined by my friend Amanda (from Escape from a Book) to chat with romance author Rachel Reid, the creator of the beloved Game Changers hockey romance series.We talk about Rachel’s lifelong love of hockey, why she wanted to challenge toxic masculinity in sports romance, and how Heated Rivalry broke every romance “rule” and somehow became a fan favorite anyway. Rachel also opens up about writing sex scenes with purpose, representing mental health and anxiety on the page, and what’s coming next—including Common Goal, Role Model, and the long-awaited sequel to Heated Rivalry.📚 Books Mentioned Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid — Rivals-to-lovers | Sports Romance | QueerGame Changer by Rachel Reid — Hockey Romance | QueerTough Guy by Rachel Reid — Hockey Romance | Mental Health RepCommon Goal by Rachel Reid — Hockey Romance | Bisexual RepRole Model by Rachel Reid — Hockey Romance | Redemption ArcThe Long Game by Rachel Reid — Sequel to Heated Rivalry | Established CoupleTwo Rogues Make a Right by Cat Sebastian — Historical Queer RomanceThe Last Kiss by Sally Malcolm — WWI Historical Queer Romance | KU ✅Spellbound by Allie Therin — Historical Fantasy Romance⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro to Rachel Reid[02:00] From hockey fan to published romance author[06:00] Why queer hockey romance matters[09:00] Writing Heated Rivalry & breaking romance rules[13:00] Mental health & toxic masculinity in sports[15:00] Crafting unforgettable sex...