Even though reading is a solitary activity, you’re never truly alone as a reader. You’re never the only reader who prefers dog-eared pages to bookmarks or the only reader who reads the last page first. 

Today’s guest used to feel self-conscious about her affection for stories that explore difficult themes. But we know that Rachel Matthews isn’t the only reader who enjoys darker fiction. In fact, I’m willing to bet that some of you have been waiting for an episode with a reader just like Rachel. 

Check out the full list of books from today's show at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/285

If Rachel's dark side sounds like your book twin be sure to follow her on Instagram.

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Over the last year, we’ve talked to readers who voraciously devour romance, mystery, and graphic novels to escape real life—and readers who struggle to pick up a single book, even if they know it’s one they’ll love. There’s no right way to respond to stress as a reader, and today’s guest is here to share encouragement and insight for readers experiencing burnout. 

Journalist Anne Helen Petersen writes the weekly email newsletter Culture Study and recently published Can’t Even: How Millennials Became the Burnout Generation—today, we discuss how all of us, millennial or otherwise, have experienced the burnout associated with a global pandemic and seen its effects in our reading lives.

No matter how your reading life has changed, or stayed the same, over the last year, you’ll find comfort in today’s episode, as well as insight into your experience this past year.

Visit the show notes page on our website to get the full list of books discuss and to read along with a full-show transcript.

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This episode has literally been years in the making: today I'm thrilled to welcome Ginger Horton, our Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club community manager, to the show!

The 2021 Summer Reading Guide is about to drop, and in this celebratory episode, Ginger shares her three favorite backlist summer reading guide selections, and I recommend three books I think she’ll love from this year’s summer reading guide. Of course, we can’t help squeezing in extra book talk, as we often do, so listen in for a pile of both backlist and brand new summer reading recommendations.

Be sure to visit the podcast website at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/283 for today's complete book list.

To get in on the summer reading fun be sure you're subscribed to our weekly newsletter so you'll get the Summer Reading Guide when it comes out May 24th. You can also join us live for the Summer Reading Guide Unboxing and get an expanded guide early by becoming a member of our Patreon community.

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I think many of you will relate when you hear today's guest say he’s “a little bit obsessed with books.” This is definitely a good thing for Jeremy Anderberg because not only is reading a source of enjoyment and intellectual satisfaction, it’s also a key part of his job as a writer and podcast producer. He writes for The Art of Manliness blog, produces The Art of Manliness podcast, and publishes the "Read More Books” newsletter.

Today we discuss the difference between finding what you like to read versus what you feel you should read. We also discuss finding seasonal rhythms in your reading life, finding books so compelling it feels like the pages turn themselves, and why Jeremy finds it so satisfying to give his reading life some structure with “projects” he plans for himself. 

To see all of Jeremy's project books and Anne's recommendations visit the show notes page at https://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/282

To read Jeremy's book reviews, follow him on Instagram and Twitter, or subscribe to his weekly newsletter.

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Lecturer, author, and researcher Heather Williams has left trails of books across the globe as she travels for work, but today she’s bringing us three favorite essay collections she can’t live without. 

Heather’s love of bite-sized reading experiences is contagious. If you’ve never picked up an essay collection, she just might convince you to do so today. We also discuss her preference for reliable narrators, a surprising fascination with Russian literature, and a book that made Heather laugh a little too loudly while reading on a plane. 

I happen to love personal essays just as much as Heather, and I can’t wait for you to listen in on our conversation, readers. For a list of all of the books, essay collections and novels, head to the show notes page on our website: https://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/281

Follow Heather Williams on Twitter to learn more about her research.

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After becoming an avid WSIRN listener, today's guest realized she was watching less TV and reading more books. To keep her momentum going, she connected with other listeners, found her favorite reading categories, and now sits down with Anne to chat about a classic WSIRN problem: the compulsion to finish every book she starts.

Today we're joined by Stacy Wittenberg, who talks to Anne about that inclination and about a reading challenge she’s taken on for this year. Anne recommends books that will take her on epic historical journeys, plus an audiobook that will have her neighbors asking What is she laughing at? when she listens on her daily stroll.

Stacy shares extra titles in each of her reading categories, so get your TBR lists ready and be sure to pull up the podcast website to see the list of all the title she (and Anne) share. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/280.

As a listener, Stacy has been connecting with other fans of the show online. Now that you've heard her, if you'd like to connect with Stacy follow her on Instagram.

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Over the years Ahtoosa Dale sent in multiple submissions to be on What Should I Read Next, each one reflecting her ever-evolving reading taste. Since that first submission way back in 2016, her reading life has changed tremendously.

Now, as a lawyer and a mom with a packed schedule, she’s more willing than she once was to set certain books aside. And as an adult, she’s looking for relatable characters—especially if the book explores the immigrant experience. But Ahtoosa will never say no to a good mystery, or a book that explores the range of human emotions. 

Ahtoosa specifically requested books that will give her a good cry, so on today's episode I’m recommending a few heartfelt books to bring on the tears, plus a propulsive page-turner in one of her go-to genres.  

Find the list of books we talk about today and a full transcript that you can follow along while you're listening on our website. 

You can fill out your own guest submission form on our website.

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Mindy Mejia enjoys propulsive, fast-paced books with strong characters—and she writes them, too! Mindy writes thrillers, or as she calls them “murdery books,” but she reads from a whole banquet of literature.

Anne got to talk with her about setting reading intentions, sampling books—which, as you’ll hear, is a bit of a euphemism—and learning about surprisingly fascinating topics as we read. As always, she recommends a handful of books we think Mindy will love, including an upcoming thriller that Anne loved, a nonfiction book she wasn't expecting to be talking about today, and selections from a genre that doesn’t get mentioned all that often around here.

To see a list with those titles and all of the books we mentioned visit the show page at https://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/278.

Find out what Mindy Mejia is reading and writing on Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads, or her website.

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Today Anne is talking with Jake Sloofman, an arborist living in Brooklyn. They discuss his big reading goal, the pressure to read “serious literature,” and how to alternate light and heavy reads for a balanced reading life. So Anne serves up a mix of weighty literature and frothy “palate cleanser” books to keep things balanced.

View the full list of titles and a transcript of the episode on our website https://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/277.

You can follow Jake on Instagram.

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Podcast producer and PhD student Sara Aeder always finds time for reading, thanks to audiobooks and a passion for turning the pages. She has a special fondness for books that explore the “exquisite pain of a teenage crush” and let her live vicariously through fictional drama, but Sara’s taste in books goes way beyond young adult lit. 

Today on the podcast, Sara shares three books she loves that cover the main themes of her reading taste, and I recommend several titles that I think she'll love.

We mention over 40 titles in today’s episode, from all-time favorites to books that fell flat. Listen in to find out which book Sara threw across the room and be sure to check out the full list of every single book we talk about on our website. 

You can follow Sara on Instagram or check out her work at Tablet Podcasts.

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