Podcast: What Should I Read Next?

What Should I Read Next? is the show for every reader who has ever finished a book and faced the problem of not knowing what to read next. Each week, Anne Bogel, of the blog Modern Mrs Darcy, interviews a reader about the books they love, the books they hate, and the books they’re reading now. Then, she makes recommendations about what to read next. The real purpose of the show is to help YOU find your next read.

Ep 455: Elif Shafak on the resilience of literature

Today’s guest is the beloved author, Elif Shafak, whose latest title was a 2024 Summer Reading Guide pick. Elif’s works are so particular and set very much in a specific time and place, yet they also feel so inclusive. Elif’s stories explore universal themes like home and belonging, exile and displacement. She also leverages her…

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Ep 454: Holiday gift recommendations from our team

Our annual gift recommendation episode is here! Today, Anne is joined by members of the Modern Mrs Darcy team to respond to your requests for gift-giving ideas for the readers in your life. Thanks to all of our listeners who sent in their questions: we loved sharing our best recommendations for the readers you love….

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Ep 453: How to host a cozy reader retreat

When today’s guest, Dana Reams, told us about the cozy reader’s gathering she intends to hold later this month, our team instantly wanted to RSVP “yes.” Since we can’t all gather at Dana’s house this season, we thought we’d do the next best thing and have her on the podcast. Today, Anne is chatting with…

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Ep 452: Get a little taste of a lot of good stuff

We’ve been wanting to talk short stories for awhile here on the podcast. When today’s guest wrote in with a readerly conundrum on just this topic, it was the perfect opportunity to explore this literary topic in conversation. Jessica Crockett is joining Anne today from Chicago, where she works as a French-to-English patent translator. When…

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Ep 451: Digging into Nikki May’s delicious Mansfield Park reimagining

Today we are thrilled to welcome Nikki May to the show. Her new book This Motherless Land is a reimagining of Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park. Anne was especially intrigued by this because Mansfield Park is the novel of Jane Austen’s that seems most overlooked when it comes to retellings. Today, Anne has questions, and Nikki…

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Ep 450: Asheville on our minds + my favorite NC authors

Readers, like so many of you, we have such fondness for Asheville and the Blue Ridge mountain region, which is desperately hurting in the wake of Hurricane Helene. We’ve been thinking constantly of those affected, both in Asheville and now in Florida in the aftermath of Milton. While it feels like nothing we can do…

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Ep 449: Haunting (but not horrifying) page-turners

Ontario reader Emma Sweeney wants to explore books that incorporate elements from the horror genre. She’s not interested in books that give her nightmares, but she’s found that these stories often prompt reflective and meaningful reading experiences. Today, she and Anne talk about finding titles that include horror elements without being truly horrifying. They also…

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Ep 448: Recommend me a thriller, but make it literary

This fall, we were excited to hear from you about the books that haunt you. and today’s guest sent in a submission that caught everyone on our team’s eye. We loved her interpretation of this theme. Today, Megan Reilly is joining Anne to talk about the books that linger in your brain for years. Megan…

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LISTEN: Fall Book Preview excerpt

Last week we hosted our sixth annual Fall Book Preview, and today we’re sharing a taste of that event with you. In today’s mini-episode, you’ll hear Anne talk about three book of the 35 books in this year’s preview. Fall Book Preview is one of our marquee annual events that we host for our Modern…

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Ep 447: How to fix a chronic three-star situation

Our reading community truly spans the globe: today Anne is in conversation with Evie, who is joining us from northern Greece. Evie grew up in Boston and after visiting family in Greece over the years, she moved back herself last year. These days she enjoys the slow pace of life and social culture in her…

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