We love a summer reading project of any style, and when Anne read the submission from today's guest and her quest for what she is calling a short summer of reading, she wanted to talk about it on the show.

Emily Henderson is a mom of four, writer, and runner with a passion for home design, and she loves a project. While Emily came to reading later in life, she's found through trial and error what really works for her, and these days that's often books in an audio format.

This summer, though, Emily would love to prioritize daily reading on the page. She's looking for short reading experiences that will not only get her reading more in print, but also serve as a satisfying substitute for social media that she wants to spend less time on.

Emily is looking for short stories, essay collections, memoirs and essays, and micro histories that deliver the quick bite-sized reading experience she is hoping to log every day of summer break. And she'd especially appreciate stories that leave her breathless or make her think about them long after she finishes. Anne has ideas she can't wait to share.

Find the list of titles mentioned and leave your suggestions for Emily on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/529.

Our 2026 MMD Summer Reading Guide, the 15th edition, is available now. Buy your 38-page Summer Reading Guide PDF digital copy at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop, and you'll also get access to the Unboxing event recording. This is also the second year we are offering a beautifully printed edition of the Guide, which you'll also find at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop. At this time, we are only able to ship to U.S. addresses.

Chapters:

04:05 Meet Emily

13:24 Emily’s short summer reading project

20:36 The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck

24:01 The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

27:28 This is a Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

30:58 Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert

39:35 Seasonal Work by Laura Lippman

43:08 So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan

45:53 World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

48:12 Small Town Girls by Jayne Anne Phillips

53:51 What will Emily read next?

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Every year we remind readers that our Summer Reading Guide isn't a list of books you should read, it's a list of books you could read. Today's guest knows that reading is personal, and that's why she's here to get Anne's help figuring out which titles from the 2026 Guide she should prioritize. 

Ashley Cornelius lives in Santa Barbara with her family, where she's a high school science teacher. Ashley reached out to tell us about the books she's loved and one she didn't from past Summer Reading Guides, and wondered if Anne could help her select books from this year's Guide that might fit her desired summer vibe.

Today, Anne is helping one particular reader decide what to read next. But more than that, she's walking you through the thought process of considering what to read next in light of what you already know about your reading life.

Find the list of titles discussed today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/528.

Chapters:

02:58 Meet Ashley

07:13 What brings Ashley to What Should I Read Next?

12:44 The River by Peter Heller

16:27 The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

19:57 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

22:34 The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

38:35 Fair Chase by Travis Mulhauser

43:54 Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

50:39 Country People by Daniel Mason

55:29 What will Ashley read next?

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Today's book lover is seeking a literary doorway into the creative world of art and museums.

Kristine Parsons doesn't have an art background. She works as a county road commission manager in Michigan, yet she is fascinated by art and museums, and finds herself drawn to immersive and engaging stories that incorporate one or both elements into the story.

Kristine loves to travel and visit museums in person, but her day-to-day life between work and two active pre-teens means that in this season, these visits are more likely to occur on the page. Today, Kristine and Anne explore stories featuring art and the creative process. If Anne has recommendations that are actually set in museums, well, so much the better.

We'd love to hear your ideas for Kristine, too: please tell us by leaving a comment on our show notes page, where you'll also find the list of titles mentioned today. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/527.

We're so happy to announce that our long-awaited MMD sorority style sweatshirt is available for pre-order. A mid-weight Comfort Colors crew, choose from two shades: a soft blue called blue jean and a soft red called crimson. Both feature an MMD applique in deep navy. These are cute and comfortable, and our team is excited to wear them on cool summer nights and into the colder months of the year. We also have a new hat style and other restocked favorites: find everything at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop.

Chapters:

03:43 Meet Kristine

09:06 What brings Kristine to What Should I Read Next?

14:31 The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

17:55 The Unseen World by Liz Moore

21:47 Heart the Lover by Lily King

24:47 A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

31:14 The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews

36:52 Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel

43:07 Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

48:08 What will Kristine read next?

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This week, Anne is sharing an excerpt from our 2026 Summer Reading Guide Live Unboxing. To mark our 15th Guide, we’re inviting you to listen in as she tells you all about this year's Minimalist Picks.

During our Summer Reading Guide Unboxing, Anne goes through every book and tells you why out of the hundreds of books she considered for the Guide that year, these are the ones she landed on. What makes them interesting, what is each story like, what kinds of readers might they appeal to?

In today’s excerpt, we're sharing what Anne had to say about the six titles in this year’s Minimalist Guide.

We hope this gives you an exciting preview of our 15th Summer Reading Guide. For the list of titles mentioned today and more, visit our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/526.

This year's complete Guide includes 35 new-for-2026 releases, our popular “For fans of” backlist recommendations, Awesome on Audio picks, reading retreat best practices from our team, and a splashy anniversary feature looking back on 15 years of the SRG.

If you’ve not yet gotten your Guide, you can do that now or anytime with instant digital delivery. Your a la carte purchase or membership also grants you access to our video Unboxing of the entire Guide. We’re also offering a professionally printed guide, delivered straight to your mailbox in the U.S. These are shipping now: visit our shop at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop to order yours. That's where you'll also find retreat-worthy merch, like our cozy new sorority sweatshirt, a brand new hat that I hope brings a smile to your face, restocked book darts, stickers, totes, and more more.

Chapters

03:05 What’s in the 2026 Summer Reading Guide?

04:52 The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

07:23 Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

9:48 Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy

12:10 Land by Maggie O’Farrell

13:54 The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders

15:38 Whistler by Ann Patchett

17:58 How to get the complete 2026 Summer Reading Guide

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I am delighted to welcome our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager, Ginger Horton, back to the show to talk about this year's 15th annual Summer Reading Guide and dive into all things summer reading.

Ginger has been collaborating on the Guide for many years now, and she played an integral role in selecting our 2026 reading retreat theme. As you'll hear today, she's also the reason we started hosting our annual Unboxing live events. We're going to get into that in detail.

Ginger is also a co-discoverer with readers, though, because just a few hours before we recorded, she saw the first draft of this year's Summer Reading Guide. She and I talk about what we love most about this year's Guide and how you can make sure you get a copy. We hope you'll enjoy this conversation and it sparks your excitement for this week's release of our 15th annual Guide.

Find the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/525.

If you are already a member of our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club or our What Should I Read Next? Patreon communities, or you purchased your à la carte ticket, you are all set to get the Guide on Thursday and attend Thursday's Unboxing events at either 1:00 PM or 8:00 PM. And if neither time works for you, never fear: we'll have the recording available not too long after the events. During the Unboxing, Anne goes through all the titles in the Guide one by one, sharing more about why she chose each title, what the reading experience is like, and what kind of reader may most enjoy each book. Find out all the details you need to know at modernmrsdarcy.com/srg.

Chapters:

02:27 What to expect at the Summer Reading Guide Unboxing Event

26:09 Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

26:54 Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy

28:36 The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders

41:40 How to get the Summer Reading Guide

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Today Anne is talking books with Lee Weick, a Michigan-dwelling former teacher and grandmother who knows that variety keeps her reading life going.

Lee loves big, long books and is most satisfied with her reading life when she's reading those big books on a regular basis. But as you will hear, Lee has learned that the rhythms of her reading life also require a nice, steady supply of books on the shorter side.

Lately, Lee is feeling stuck when it comes to finding shorter reads that still feel substantial, thought-provoking, and interesting. Anne has lots of ideas for Lee, and today she'll put a few shorter books on Lee's radar that sound right up her alley.

Find the list of titles discussed and leave your suggestions for Lee on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/524.

Our Summer Reading Guide release is just around the corner, which means it's the time of year we welcome many new members to our Patreon community. When you join us there, you get immediate access to all our past Summer Reading Guides and seasonal previews, our weekly bonus episodes, and of course, this year's 15th Summer Reading Guide and Live Unboxing event. Choose from monthly or annual membership options that help you enjoy all that we do over in Patreon while also financially supporting our show and our team. Find out more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

Chapters:

03:03 Meet Lee

07:25 What Lee is looking for in her reading life

16:52 Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

18:56 Patriot by Alexei Navalny

21:48 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

25:26 The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

35:31 Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun

38:45 Fight Night by Miriam Towes

41:48 Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

46:22 The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

48:44 What will Lee read next?

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After completing a classics reading project, today's guest really wants to keep her reading momentum while also bringing more non-classics back into her reading life.

Today we're trying something new and inviting a team member alongside Anne to help tackle one reader-specific reading dilemma. As you'll hear today, Anne couldn't help but notice that guest Cheryl Drury's tastes and recent reading project shares a lot in common with team member Ginger Horton's reading life.

Ginger is our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club community manager, and she has recently been immersed in the classics due to her current enrollment in a Great Books graduate study program. That's why Ginger seems like exactly the right reader to bring along for this conversation with Cheryl.

Cheryl hails from Charleston, South Carolina. While she's always been a reader, she'd never really dabbled much in classics or Great Books until 18 months ago, when she embarked on a challenge to read through a year-long list of more than 100 influential books. The project energized Cheryl's reading life, but now she's not quite sure where to go next.

Anne, Ginger, and Cheryl talk about how Cheryl may retain some of the structure from her classics project as well as where she can have more flexibility to follow where her reading whimsy takes her. Plus, they'll offer title ideas that may feel like just the right bridge between what Cheryl's been reading lately and what she'd love more of in the months ahead.

Find the list of titles discussed today and share your ideas for Cheryl on our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/523.

This year marks our 10th anniversary of Book Club. It has been so much fun along the way, and we've got great events queued up to celebrate this year. Plus, this is a wonderful time to join because it's Summer Reading Guide season. For more from Ginger and more Book Club fun, join us at modernmrsdarcy.com/club.

Chapters:

07:43 Meet Cheryl

12:10 Cheryl’s decision to read the classics

21:08 Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes

23:38 The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

26:15 A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

30:05 Dead Wake by Erik Larson

46:34 1000 Books to Read Before You Die by James Mustich

51:42 Q's Legacy by Helene Hanff

54:15 Hagseed by Margaret Atwood

55:52 What will Cheryl read next?

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We often hear from readers who wish to avoid heavier topics in their reading lives, and today Anne is talking with a guest hunting for books that feel light, warm, and stimulating, but not overly stressful.

Angela Frith hails from Lexington, North Carolina, where she works as a K-12 curriculum developer and is a member of our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and What Should I Read Next? Patreon communities.

As she considers her reading life this year, Angela is hoping for titles that feature the warmth she loves, without the chaos that also sometimes marks titles in her favorite genres of memoirs, found family stories, historical fiction, or fantasy.

Anne has ideas to share. You'll find the full list of titles mentioned on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/522.

Our Patreon community is full of exciting ways to get more books in your life, from our weekly bonus episodes on a variety of themes to seasonal events like our upcoming Summer Reading Guide. Your monthly or annual support helps us pay our team and keep the lights on around What Should I Read Next? HQ. We are so grateful to all of you who are or have been Patreon members. If you're not a current member of our community, this is a great time of year to join. Find out more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

Chapters

03:49 Meet Angela

09:06 Angela’s reading dilemma

18:52 I Miss You When I Blink by Mary Laura Philpott

21:22 Shadow of Night by Deborah Harkness

23:04 The First Ladies by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray

26:10 Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier

40:12 Eddie Winston Is Looking for Love by Marianne Cronin

45:48 Shopgirls by Jessica Anya Blau

50:34 The Comfort of Crows: A Backyard Year by Margaret Renkl

55:18 What will Angela read next?

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Many of you will well understand our team's excitement when we saw today's guest submission land in our inboxes. Today, Anne is talking with Kate Scarth, chair of L.M. Montgomery Studies at the University of Prince Edward Island. 

They discuss Kate's work as well as some of Kate's favorite Montgomery retellings and homages, but their main focus today is on Kate's reading life. She's interested in building out a deep reading roster for the kinds of books she especially enjoys. Books featuring literary women, books where an investigation or detective work is a big part of the story, books that center on a house, and nonfiction about creative and artistic women in history. She's also very interested in finding more books with magical realism and ghosts. Anne has ideas to share.

Find the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/521, where you can also leave a comment to share your ideas for Kate.

We're so excited to tell you about a live event happening this spring. On May 7th, Anne will be joining Laurie Frankel in conversation at Parnassus Books in Nashville on tour for her new novel, Enormous Wings. We love to tell you about new additions to the calendar on the podcast, but if you want to make sure you don't miss any news, be sure to subscribe to our email list at modernmrsdarcy.com/subscribe so you'll be the first to know all our What Should I Read Next? news and happenings.

Chapters

04:45 Meet Kate

24:00 The Postcard by Anne Berest

28:11 A Ghost in the Throat by Doireann Ní Ghríofa

30:47 The Five by Hallie Rubenhold

35:02 All Fours by Miranda July

46:38 Grown Women by Sarai Johnson

51:08 North Woods by Daniel Mason

57:24 Possession by A.S. Byatt

1:00:19 What will Kate read next?

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Today's guest would love to add more four and five-star picks to her reading list and she's curious about techniques that might help get her there.

Kelly Krause is a first grade teacher who lives in Northwest Arkansas with her family. When Kelly discovers a winning author, it feels like a slam dunk to read the rest of their work. But when it comes to branching out in new directions, Kelly is not as confident.

She's wondering whether devoting more time to reflecting on her reads by analyzing what's worked well or practicing the art of writing book reviews will help her pick more winning titles. Anne can't wait to explore this with Kelly today, along with sharing titles and authors Kelly may enjoy.

Find the list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/520.

Our 15th Summer Reading Guide is coming your way next month! Creating this guide each year is truly a labor of love. Our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club and What Should I Read Next? Patreon community members are automatically invited, and we'll also be offering our popular a la carte ticket. To make sure you get the 15th anniversary edition in your inbox and to find out how to join us for our live unboxing event, visit modernmrsdarcy.com/srg.

Chapters

02:25 Meet Kelly

04:47 Kelly’s reading dilemma

07:09 The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams

08:44 The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan

10:04 The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

12:27 The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley

28:06 The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

35:35 Kate & Frida by Kim Fay

38:58 Grief Cottage by Gail Godwin

50:29 What will Kelly read next?

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