What Should I Read Next?

It's our first guest from Down Under! Today Anne talks books with Fiona Thoms, a party-planning, paleo cooking, PTA president mum of three kids who lives in Sydney, Australia. You may recognize Fiona’s voice from Episode 62, because she recommends two books to Anne in our special What Should ANNE Read Next episode.

Today's topics: the pleasures and perils of the Australian literary life, reading fictional books about real-life travel destinations, how Fiona's life bears an uncanny resemblance to the Liane Moriarty novel Big Little Lies, and more.

See the full list of titles discussed today and tell Fiona your recommendations for what she should read next on the podcast site.

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Connect with Fiona: Instagram

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Today's guest is Annie Spence, author of Dear Fahrenheit 45: Love and Hate in the Stacks, a collection of breakup notes and love letters to books she encounters in her day-to-day as a public librarian.

This week Anne learns all about how Annie became a public librarian. They also discuss the difficulty of recommending books when you’re in a HUGE reading slump yourself, bizarre nonfiction, and seasonal reading patterns.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what you think!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

Connect with Annie: Blog | Twitter | Book

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Anne kicked off her first visit to Malaprop's Bookstore in Asheville, NC in a big way - a WSIRN liveshow! You can read more details about what the show was like in this Modern Mrs. Darcy post.

This episode is a fast and furious speed round of literary matchmaking for SEVERAL guests at the live event - get ready to live vicariously through your fellow WSIRN fans (and prepare your Goodreads - your TBR might grow 10 sizes today.)

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what you think!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

Connect with Malaprop's Bookstore: Website | Twitter | Facebook

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Holland Saltsman from the Novel Neighbor in St Louis joins Anne to talk about their favorite books of the year, supporting local bookstores, and the bookish gifts they can’t wait to give and receive this year. Whether you’re shopping for a book lover, making your own wish list, or want to indulge in a whole bunch of readerly enthusiasm, this episode will be a treat.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles and bookish gifts discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU will be giving this year!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

Connect with Holland and The Novel Neighbor: Website | Twitter

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Shannon Navin is a Columbus mom and technology professional who came to Anne with a specific request: to recommend great books that Shannon and her ten-year-old son can enjoy TOGETHER.

Anne and Shannon discuss the magic of bonding over books with children, what you need to have a great reading experience at any age, and what it looks like to establish your own reading life.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Katherine should read next!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

Connect with Shannon: Blog | Twitter | Goodreads

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Today Anne chats with Rider Strong, a director & screenwriter (you might know him from Boy Meets World) who spends free time reuniting with readerly college friends on his books and reading podcast Literary Disco. As a busy dad, Rider says his reading life “needs work”, and the books he wants to read have multiplied from a single shelf to an entire room.

Today Rider and Anne discuss being baffled by YA, the making of a bookish best friend, good TV vs. good books, & much more.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Katherine should read next!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

Give Rider's podcast Literary Disco a listen.

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Alexandra Rodriguez is an English teacher and grad student in the Indianapolis area whose reading life underwent a big change a few years ago. Today, Anne explores how reading 150 books in a year represented a silver lining for Alexandra during a really difficult time, and how a nudge from an old boss pointed her to take her literary life in a new direction. 

Also discussed: Diverse Books Club, books that make you laugh and cry almost at the same time, light-hearted books that carry meaningful lessons, and authors that don’t hold anything back.  

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Katherine should read next!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram  

Connect with Alexandra at Booked Up Blog - Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram  and Diverse Books Club - Instagram | Goodreads

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Today Anne chats with Katherine Riling, a mom, math teacher, and new Alaska resident whose go-to genre is historical fiction — but she doesn’t want to read it ALL the time. Katherine's three favorites are seasonally appropriate, and have something strangely specific in common…

Also discussed: libraries vs. used bookstores, copycat books that miss the mark, the perfect climate for curling up with a thick book, & more.

Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Katherine should read next!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram

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Anne is joined by a familiar voice -- Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project and, most recently, The Four Tendencies, a new personality framework in which she investigates how different people—or in today’s case, fictional characters—respond to internal and external expectations. Gretchen visited the show last Fall in Episode 52 for KidWeek, as a VORACIOUS reader of children’s literature. But today Anne and Gretchen broadening her horizons to talk about books for all ages -- and books where specific “tendencies” are on display.

Also discussed: literary obsessions, teen historical fiction, human nature, and Gretchen's specialties -- habits and happiness.

 Click over to the podcast website for the full list of titles discussed in this episode, and leave us a comment to let us know what YOU think Gretchen should read next!

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram

Connect with Gretchen: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Podcast

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Anne and WSIRN's producer Brenna Frederick take a look back at memorable moments from the first 100 episodes of What Should I Read Next. From behind-the-scenes moments to reading-saved-my-life emails, memorable two-star reviews, bloopers, frequently asked questions, and what Anne wishes she handled differently in the first one hundred episodes. PLUS they give a sneak peek at what lies in WSIRN's future.

Readers, thanks for joining us on this amazing ride, and for reminding us today and every Tuesday why it is so good to be among people who are reading.

Click over to the podcast website to check out the list of past episodes discussed, and leave us a comment to share your favorite WSIRN stories.

Connect with Anne: Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | WSIRN Instagram

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