In what's become a bit of a tradition, members of our team are pairing up on today's episode to share the summer reads we've loved this year and talk about what summer reading means to each of us.

From the titles we haven't been able to stop thinking about to the tropes and trends of our summer reading picks, today's episode features nine of our team members doing one of the things we all love most—talking books and reading.

Today's episode features an especially long list of books, and you'll find the full list of every title mentioned today over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com.

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Today Anne is joined in conversation with Shana Ferguson, a NYC-based stage manager with a particularly bookish concern: she doesn't often feel like a "real" reader. Of course, we think any kind of reader is a "real" reader, so Anne couldn't wait to encourage Shana on her personal reading journey.

Shana loves her work backstage, and in her downtime you’ll often find her baking or drinking tea. Sometimes she’ll also have a book in her hands, but as the daughter of dedicated readers, Shana’s struggled at times to have a firm grasp on her own reading identity.

Shana would love Anne's support in getting some new insight on her reading life, and she's also eager to reconnect with the genres that she loved when she was a younger and more habitual reader: historical fiction, sci-fi, and fantasy. Anne's hopeful Shana feels like a “real" reader after their talk today, and comes away with a short stack of titles she’s excited to read next.

See the full list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/393.

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Memoir is a well-loved genre for so many readers, and today Anne is joined by R. Eric Thomas to talk about the wise, sobering, hilarious, and heartbreaking sketches in his own works, as well as some of the memoirs they each love best.

You may know R. Eric Thomas from his works Here For It or Congratulations, The Best is Over! (a 2023 Summer Reading Guide pick) which just released today. Anne couldn't stop thinking about this collection of essays, and today she and Eric enjoy a delightful conversation about his work, the art of storytelling, embracing midlife, and so much more.

We've included links to Eric's website and Instagram account, as well as the full list of titles discussed today, at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/392.

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For many guests, picking three favorite reads is a struggle, but today's guest Annie McCloskey has a unique way of tracking her all-time favorites.

Between her beloved book clubs and her well-stocked home library, Annie is quite happy with her reading life. She's been a long-time listener who's always wanted to be on the podcast and today that conversation is happening!

Anne and Annie talk about what reading looks like in Annie's life right now, the types of titles she'd love to read more of, and the mini summer reading guide Annie creates each year for the readers in her circle. Annie would love some picks that may surprise her, and Anne delivers a roundup of recommendations.

See the full list of all the titles mentioned today and leave a comment with your recommendations for Annie at our show notes page. You'll find that link at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/391.

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Today's guest has a big move on the horizon and is eager to find books that will ease that transition.

Nadia Sussman has always lived in New Zealand, but this summer she's moving to Michigan to pursue a master's degree. Nadia's never been to the United States before, and she's eager for reading recommendations that will introduce her to her new community, as well as audiobooks that will keep her entertained on the 17-hour flight from New Zealand to the United States.

In today's episode, Anne and Nadia discuss Nadia's big adventure, and Anne recommends books for this next stage in Nadia's life and career. Find the full list of the titles mentioned today, and leave your suggestions for Nadia, on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/390.

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A long-delayed family trip to Europe doubles as an opportunity to explore the literary landscape of three incredible destinations. Today, Anne and Will are here to tell you all about it.

Anne, Will, and their kids recently returned from their visit to England, France, and Spain. In addition to sightseeing, they indulged in some deeply enjoyable literary tourism. Listen in to hear more about their favorite bookstores big and small as well as the authors and titles they enjoyed and discovered along the way.

Today's full list of books (and bookstores) mentioned is available on our show notes page, whatshouldireadnexxtpodcast.com/389.

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If you've ever felt the weight of a to-be-read list, today's conversation may be just the permission slip your reading life needs.

Today Anne's chatting with Chicago-based Daniel Evola. Daniel was an early reader who got a head start on the classics, and while he's still interested in reading a number of "must-read" books, lately he's been enjoying exploring new-to-him titles and authors that deliver fresh perspectives.

Daniel hopes that having a better feel for what he's loving in his reading life will help him find more of the types of stories he's really enjoying right now. He and Anne talk about the themes he's leaning into lately, as well as how his longtime love of one genre is changing.

Anne wraps up by suggesting some new-to-him titles Daniel will enjoy as he continues his journey of discovery and excitement. You'll find the full list of titles discussed today at our show notes page, whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/388, where we'd love to see your comments and suggestions for books Daniel would enjoy.

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Striking that perfect balance between "serious literature" and light reading can be tricky, and today Anne's talking all about it with guest Jake Sloofman.

Jake, an arborist living in Brooklyn, NY, has big reading goals, but sometimes he feels stuck in between the heavy and light reads on his list. He'd love Anne's help to find both weighty literature and frothy “palate cleanser” books that will make reading feel like a vacation.

Today's conversation, which you may have heard when it originally aired as Episode 277 in April 2021, is even better the second time around. Listen in, and if you have suggestions for books that Jake may want to add to his list, we'd love to hear from you: let us know in the comments section over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/387. 

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Diving into an unfamiliar genre is a great way to expand your reading identity, but it can also feel pretty intimidating. Today, Anne's here to help curious reader Caitlin Moran explore easy entry points for unfamiliar genres.

Caitlin lives in the Pacific Northwest with her fiancé, where she enjoys reading along with her book club and finding new titles at her favorite indie bookstores. After being pleasantly surprised by her experience with a few book club choices, she’s curious what else might be out there that she’ll love, too.

In their conversation today, Anne introduces titles in genres Caitlin doesn’t typically read or has just begun to explore. Plus, they dive into one of Caitlin's current niche interests: spooky books and titles set in New Orleans.

Please share your recommended reads, especially those spooky New Orleans recommendations, over in the comments section on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/386. That's also where you'll find the full list of titles mentioned in today's show.

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Today's guest has a standing interest in books that deliver a strong sense of atmosphere, and Anne's got some new recommendations to share.

Corin Cook lives and works in Rhode Island, where she makes the most of New England's seasonal rhythms. When summer rolls around, she’s usually devouring books that help her experience the season more fully, and this summer, Corin has her sights set on Europe. 

Anne couldn't wait to talk to Corin about her immersive Summer of European Reading project. Corin's drawing inspiration from some of her favorite films and searching for books that defy tourist cliches and transport her to Europe’s bustling cities or its beautiful Mediterranean coast. Anne recommends titles that deliver a specific sort of laid-back feeling of being in Europe in the summertime.

Find that full list of titles mentioned in today's episode at our show notes page: whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/385.

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