With the year just over half way through, Anne is stepping back to see how her reading year is going. Today, she and Shannan Malone are doing a little midyear check-in to see how this year has been going so far reading-wise, and what they are most excited about in the coming months.

They consider whether they're actually reading what they want to be reading this year, whether they have any intentions to pivot for fall and winter months, and if or how they reading tastes and desires have evolved since they last checked in on this.

Anne and Shannan share reflective practices or questions to help you conduct your own midyear check in, if you are so inclined. But regardless of how you approach your reading life, this is, above all, a call to ask yourself, what do you want from your books right now? Because reading time is precious, and we want to help you feel good about how you are using yours.

Learn more about conducting your own midyear check-in and get a full list of all of the books discussed in this episode at https://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/440

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In today's episode from the WSIRN vault, Anne is sharing her very first podcast conversation with Brigid Misselhorn. Like so many of our guests, Brigid came to the show through our WSIRN guest submission form. But these days she works on our team as our MMD Book Club Community Administrator. 

This is fitting, because as you’ll hear in today’s episode, Brigid is totally addicted to book clubs. At the time of this episode, she was an active member of seven book clubs. She really enjoys how participation in these communal reading groups invites memorable conversation and a structured reading life.

Brigid describes herself as a naturally slow reader, and today she's sharing a bunch of tips for finishing all those book club picks on time. She and Anne also discuss the origins of her book club addiction, the benefits of audiobooks, and balancing personal reading with book club reading, before Anne recommends titles Brigid might enjoy reading next.

You'll find the full list of titles mentioned as well as a round-up of other places you can connect with Brigid at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/439.

This episode wraps up our summer series featuring members of our team, but throughout the month of July we've also been catching up with each team member to hear about their reading life now. That's all happening over on our Patreon page. Podcasting from a business standpoint has been especially wonky lately, and the financial support from our patrons is a huge part of what keeps our show on the air each week. Bonus episodes like these team follow-ups are just one way we say thanks. And if you're interested in even more insight into how the publishing world all works, we think you'll especially enjoy our latest bonus episode, where Anne is taking you behind the scenes to talk all things book advances and royalties. Find this bonus episode and so many more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

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Today we're excited to continue our mid-summer series featuring our team members! Learning more about our team members and who shares your tastes may help you identify some good books in a way that might not land on your radar otherwise. We hope you love this conversation.

Anne is revisiting her very first conversation with Alabama reader Shannan Malone in today's conversation. Since this episode originally aired, Shannan has joined our team as our co-host and contributor, but in today's show, Shannan and Anne go back to where it all began. Shannan has broad taste and high standards, as you will hear. Even authors that she's loved in the past don't get a free pass, and maybe not even the benefit of the doubt. So today's episode goes out to all you eclectic readers who love hopping between genres. Anne and Shannan discuss the struggle of pinpointing what you dislike about a book that everyone else thinks is amazing, awkward characters that are endearing to introverted readers, and much, much more.

You'll find the full list of titles mentioned today, along with links to other episodes, blog posts, or features contributed by Shannan and other team members at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/438.

If you're curious about Shannan's reading life now, be sure to join us over in Patreon where Anne is catching up with the team members whose voices you are hearing for the month of July and hearing all about how their reading lives have changed since they were first featured on the show. Those conversations are a lot of fun—find them at Patreon.com./whatshouldireadnext.

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Welcome back to our July series brought to you by the What Should I Read Next? time machine.

This month, we're going back in our archives to share episodes with four of our team members. When these episodes were originally recorded, no one involved had any idea that these readers would be on our team eventually, so it's especially fun to re-listen knowing everything that happened after Anne and these guests first spoke on the podcast.

Today we are revisiting Anne's conversation with Donna Hetchler, which was originally Episode 83. In this episode Donna and Anne dive into Donna's then-developing plans for the epic 50th birthday bookstore road trip she had in the works. As Donna says, the planning is half the fun, and she brings us into her planning details from the specific West Coast bookstore she wants to visit, the books she wants to purchase, and the friends who will join her along the way.

This episode has become a listener favorite and continues to inspire many of you to plan your own book projects for big milestones. We think you'll love this chance to listen to Donna share about the trip that started it all.

And if you're curious what Donna and our other team members are reading lately, be sure to check out our corresponding Patreon series, where Anne will be hosting follow-ups to hear from each team member about how they feel about re-listening to their episode, and what their reading life is like now. Find that and so much more happening over at Patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

We have that link along with all of the links to the titles Donna mentioned today and other places you'll hear from Donna and our team over at our show notes page. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/437.

What Should I Read Next? is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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Today we are kicking off a summer series from the What Should I Read Next? archives: we're sharing the first episodes and sometimes the very first conversations Anne had with readers that are now members of our team.

Many of you know our team members by name, and you have a good sense of their reading tastes, too. But we also know that many of you are new around here, or haven't yet had the chance to listen to all 400-plus episodes, so you don't know our team members as well. 

Whether you've heard these episodes before or you're hearing them for the first time, we're certain you'll enjoy these introductions to some of the people who help make the book magic happen around here.

The first episode in our team series originally aired as Episode 9 from all the way back in 2016 as Anne talks with now-Modern Mrs. Darcy editor and social media manager, Leigh Kramer. At that time, Leigh was living in San Francisco, where she identified herself as a full-time book nerd, fried pickle connoisseur, and lifetime White Sox fan. While Leigh lives in Chicago now, she still has strong opinions about her books, which makes for a delightful conversation. 

In this episode, Leigh and Anne discuss the nearly perfect novel that she adored and happened to be all wrong for Anne. Leigh also shares the books she read at just the right time and a variety of very real bookworm problems, before Anne recommends titles for Leigh's next read.

This episode was a really interesting time capsule because Leigh and Anne discuss some books that Leigh wouldn't choose and Anne wouldn't recommend for her today. We'll discuss those changes in her reading life more over on Patreon.

Find the full list of titles mentioned today, along with links for other places you'll find Leigh and our team, over on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/436.

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Anne is here today with a quick message.

Our team is taking this week off so we don't have an episode for you today. But don't despair—in today's mini-message, you'll hear a few ideas of where you can find your weekly dose of book-talk, including ​a great bonus episode​ featuring team member Shannan Malone and Anne tacking the question "what shouldn't I read next?" and helping patrons take their Summer Reading Guide TBRs and narrow down their list.

We'll be back next week with a full episode. In the meantime, we hope you have a stack of good books on your nightstand. Find out more about our ​Patreon community​ and Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club: we'd love to have you join one of our bookish communities.

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Today's guest is a native Parisian who is planning a road trip this summer to the northern Alps of Italy to escape the Summer Olympics. Corinne Yan is here today to get Anne's help in discovering great audiobooks to pair with this long drive.

But before diving into recommendations, Anne and Corinne chat about Corinne's dreamy book job: she works as a book restorer at the oldest French public library, the Bibliothèque Mazarine. Corinne's work allows her to restore a wide range of documents, from 78 CE papyri to Middle Age religious manuscripts to 19th century Napoleon caricatures.

In addition to crafting Corinne's summer audiobook list, she and Anne chat about Corinne's To Be Read list, which has more than 1,700 titles on it right now. Anne has ideas for how Corinne might be able to balance the occasional reread of beloved books with the intentional pursuit of new-to-her reading experiences as she strikes some titles off of this massive list.

Find the full list of titles mentioned today and connect with Corinne at the link in our show notes page, at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/435.

If you're still planning your summer reading, there's still time to get your 2024 Summer Reading Guide if you haven't already devoured your copy. Buy your guide a la carte, or join one of our reading communities, and your guide (as well as all of the archives from past years!) is included. Choose the best option to unlock your summer reading at modernmrsdarcy.com/srg.

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Reading offers a wide range of vicarious experiences, and today's guest is looking for books that make her feel warmly welcome.

Adrianne Carnes is a bookseller and marketing director for a local independent bookstore in Texas, where she loves to create an inviting space for the readers who frequent her shop. Adrianne's interest in hospitality started in her youth, when she traveled often with her parents and was charmed by her experiences.

These days, Adrianne enjoys finding inviting books as well as stories set in a hotel or restaurant, but finding the right titles feels overwhelming. Today Anne helps Adrianne navigate the massive availability of interesting books and discuss how to know she's found a title that feels worth spending time on. Anne closes with recommendations of books that offer a sense of hospitality and welcome.

Find the full list of titles mentioned today and share your recommendations for Adrianne on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/434.

What Should I Read Next? is sponsored by BetterHelp.

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Audiobook lovers, today's conversation will help you make the most of your audiobook credits, whether you love short or long listens.

Stephanie Van Parys is a devoted gardener in Decatur, Georgia, where she loves to pair audiobooks with working in the dirt. Since she discovered this way of merging her two passions back in 2020, she's never looked back: these days almost all her reading is done in audio format.

Today, Anne and Stephanie talk about the audiobooks that keep Stephanie weeding, and the fresh perspectives she'd love to bring into her listening routine. Stephanie would especially love to discover new-to-her authors from places other than the US or the UK, which you will hear more about in today's show. Anne has suggestions to keep Stephanie's summer reading in bloom.

Visit our show notes page to see how you can connect with Stephanie, and view the full list of titles mentioned in today's conversation. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/433.

Shop summer merch and check out our assortment of fun bookish items, like our Book Camp shirts, new stickers (we especially love the Read! pennant sticker), links to all of Anne's books, our archive of seasonal reading guides, and more. See what catches your eye at modernmrsdarcy.com.shop.

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Joining Anne today in a live conversation from the recent Word of South festival is listener favorite Lauren Groff!

This conversation happened in the midst of a big moment for Lauren: she was recently recognized on the Time 100 list, and her new bookstore, The Lynx, just opened in Gainesville, Florida.

Lauren and Anne talk about what led Lauren to open The Lynx and her goals for this new independent bookstore. Their discussion explores a range of readerly topics, like Lauren's love for short stories, her writing process, the intersection of music and writing, and exploring stereotypes in real life and on the page. They also touch on the connection between Lauren, Florence Welch, and the Taylor Swift song, Florida!, and Lauren shares the book she's recommending lately.

Chime in with the books you'd love to buy from The Lynx in the comments section of our show notes page, where we've also compiled the full list of titles discussed today. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/432.

If you love being among book people, you'll love our Patreon community, where we create weekly bonus episodes that keep our patrons close to the pulse of what's happening in the book world. This month, we're sharing bonus episodes that augment our Summer Reading Guide, like great books Anne didn't include in the guide and why, and a dedicated mini matchmaking session that pairs patrons with their perfect Summer Reading Guide titles. We're so grateful for our patrons and their support of our show. If you're curious, come and check out our Patreon community.

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