What Should I Read Next?

Every week, we promise to give you the information you need to choose your next read. Sometimes, that means information about a specific title (like the premise, interesting backstory, or a sense of the atmosphere.) But other times, the information you need is only discovered through thoughtful reflection on your reading patterns, and developing personalized adjustments.

Today’s guest Erin Schlesener spent a looooong time experimenting before she found a reading routine that fit her needs. Once she had the how locked in, the question shifted to what she should read. Those of you who consider yourselves “slow” readers, you know this struggle — you know you’ll only get through about a dozen books this year, how do you narrow them down to what will be most enjoyable to you? Well, we're tackling that problem today, and Anne is recommending 3 titles to Erin that won’t frustrate or disappoint. 

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/220

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next andbecome a supporter atPatreon.com/whatshouldireadnext! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and and invites to our quarterly ask us anything live events. The next live stream is February 5th, so become a supporter on Patreon and start thinking up your question.

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You might remember way back in Ep 60, guest Mel Joulwan and I talked about her love for books with a "strong sense of place". Mel realized she loves to travel in her literary life, and in the years since we chatted on WSIRN she’s made that the priority in big, delightful ways, along with her husband Dave Humphries. Mel and Dave are joining us today to chat about their reading journey together, fulfilling their long-time dream to move across the Atlantic, and their new destination-reading podcast aptly named Strong Sense of Place. Plus, they're recommending 3 books with great atmosphere they think I'll enjoy.

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/219

Hear more about Mel and Dave's new project Strong Sense of Place on their podcast that debuted this week, or via their website, Instagram, and Twitter!

Readers, on today’s episode we’re talking about travel reading. Well I have my own travel coming up and I want to make sure you’re in the loop. My book tour for Don’t Overthink It is booked. I’m going to wonderful bookstores I’ve been to in the past and I’m excited to say we have great events planned at new and new-to-me stores and cities, including New York City, Milwaukee, and Madison CT. Don’t Overthink It is out March 3rd and in-person events start that week. Get the details at modernmrsdarcy.com/events. I hope to see you live and in person at one of these book tour stops this spring!

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next and become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and opportunities to help us make the show–like today's title which was chosen by our Patreon supporters.

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It’s always fun to read through your guest applications. You fill our inbox with stories, goals, hilarity, and so much heart. One particularly memorable application didn’t come from today’s guest Anna Mittler — it came from one of her best friends, Charlotta, asking if we could make WSIRN a part of Anna’s upcoming bachelorette party. It took a full year to stitch the pieces together and get this episode to your ears, and we hope you love Anna’s story as much as we loved making it happen. 

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/218

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next and become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and livestreams with Anne and WSIRN's producer, Brenna.

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Around here we believe that when you improve your reading life, it does good things for the rest of your life. Today’s guest Pamela Hernandez has found creative ways to pull together reading goals and fitness goals in her personal training business. Pamela loves to read about women who mirror herself and her clients–seasoned female characters who live life on their terms, work to make the best of their life circumstances, and thrive. Today Anne recommending 3 books that fit the bill, plus a self-help book that hopefully won’t leave Pamela shaking her head in disappointment. 

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/217

You can follow Pamela on Instagram @thrivefit, and hear more from her on her podcast Fit in 417, where book segments are part of the regular rotation. 

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next and become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and livestreams with Anne and WSIRN's producer, Brenna. Next week we'll be livestreaming a Winter Book Preview so become a supporter today.

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The new year is here and that means another milestone is just around the corner. Anne's newest book Don't Overthink It: Make Easier Decisions, Stop Second-Guessing, and Bring More Joy Into Your Life comes out on March 3rd. In celebration and anticipation on today's episode Anne is sharing chapter 13 Small Shifts Toward Simple Abundance.

Anne chose this chapter because there's a funny story in here that inspired the beautiful cover design AND because while most people are familiar with the negative aspects of overthinking—worry, rumination, second-guessing–in the book she also wanted to talk about setting overthinking aside in order to bring more peace, joy, and love into our lives. Overthinkers too often think themselves out of life’s simple pleasures, but she wanted to examine how to smartly think our way into them. This chapter is a joy and we can't wait to share it with you.

Preorder bonuses:

Pre-order your copy now at your local indie, Barnes and Noble, or Amazon. Or for a signed copy order from my local store, Carmichael's, and to get the book and a box full of beautiful goodies check out the Page 1 Don't Overthink It bundle.

And when you preorder, save your receipt! You’ll need it to claim your bonuses. After you preorder, go to overthinkbook.com to enter your information and claim your bonuses.  

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Today we’re revisiting a topic near and dear to our hearts here at WSIRN HQ, and a PERFECT conversation for this time of the year, when the best-of lists start rolling out and everyone is gearing up for a new calendar year of reading. Anne chatted with 14 different readers about how they track their books, and we hope their perspectives will give you some new ideas to start your 2020 reading year strong! 

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and photos of some tracking methods mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/215

Sign up for the Reading Challenge at ModernMrsDarcy.com/CHALLENGE and get your own MMD Reading Journal!

Thanks to our sponsors:

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Today you get to hear from a guest who is very near and dear to the show, Anne's husband Will.

Will has been involved with What Should I Read Next since BEFORE the beginning of the show. First he was the sounding board, then he was the trial guest, then he dropped into your feed for the first time in episode 61—and if you haven’t listened to that yet, start downloading it while you listen to this.

But none of that is why we had him back on the show. Will engineered his best reading year to date and when Anne mentioned this people began begging her to bring him back on the show.

This is such a fun conversation—Anne and Will talk about finding your own “reading lane,” reading journals and revisiting star ratings, and the very specific type of book Will can’t help picking up but is often disappointed in.

I mention rethinking star ratings in this episode. Since we recorded, I shared my updated thoughts here: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/star-ratings/

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/214

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next and become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and livestreams with Anne and WSIRN's producer, Brenna. The next livestream happens early January so become a supporter today.

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Anne chats with reader and children’s book writer Kate DiCamillo about the books that inspired her to dream up stories, the hopeful work of writing for children, and what she learns from readers about her own books. She has so much to share about the value of friendship with other people who work differently than you do, and her advice is applicable whether you’re an aspiring author or simply a reader looking to build a bookish community in your own personal life. 

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/213

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next and become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and livestreams with Anne and WSIRN's producer, Brenna.

You can find Kate on Facebook and on Twitter @KateDiCamillo.

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Hopefully you haven’t put that wrapping paper away yet… because today we’re bringing you even MORE bookish gift-giving ideas!

This episode is specially geared toward the people many WSIRN listeners consider the hardest to buy for — your nonfiction readers, true crime lovers, political thriller fanatics, and doorstop history book deep-divers. Sometimes these are called “dad books” or “dude books”, and our inbox was definitely FULL of people desperate for recommendations for their dads, brothers, and grandfathers… but genre knows no gender, and around here the expert we trust for nonfiction, crime, and intrigue is none other than Traci Thomas from The Stacks podcast!

Click over to the podcast website for the transcript and full list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/212

Give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next and become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and livestreams with Anne and WSIRN's producer, Brenna.

Hear more of Tracy at The Stacks Podcast, and find her on Twitter @stackspodcast and Instagram @thestackspod. And be sure to check out The Stacks' book drive to support Rocketship Delta Prep. 

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Anne has a delightful & deep conversation with guest Sarah Bessey about writing personal nonfiction, and what might spur an author to write a book unlike anything they’ve written in the past. Last week, Anne talked about books can expand hearts and minds, and Sarah has so much to share with about what books have shifted her perspectives for the better. CanLit lovers rejoice — they're also touching on the books everyone is talking about in Canada!

Click over to the podcast website for a list of books mentioned in this episode: http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/211

To give yourself the gift of more What Should I Read Next become a supporter on Patreon! Supporters get bonus episodes, behind the scenes looks at how the podcasts are made, and livestreams with Anne and WSIRN's producer, Brenna.

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