This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Some books don’t just retell a classic — they hold your hand through a hard season. In this episode, I’m joined by Virginia Kantra to talk about Anne of a Different Island, a modern homage to Anne of Green Gables set in the shadow of COVID, nostalgia, and finding your way forward when life doesn’t follow the script.

We talk about why Anne Shirley still resonates more than a century later, how stories help us process collective trauma, and why comfort reads matter — especially for readers who came of age during the pandemic. This conversation is about resilience, imagination, chosen paths, and the quiet power of books to make us feel seen.

Anne of a Different Island by Virginia Kantra — Contemporary women’s fiction | Romance elements

How to Read a Book by Monica Wood — Literary fiction | Found family

Far and Away by Amy Poeppel — Contemporary women’s fiction

The Last Letter from Rachel Allworth by Barbara O’Neal — Emotional women’s fiction

How Simi Got Her Groove Back by Sonali Dev — Contemporary romance

[00:00] Welcome + Virginia Kantra’s writing journey

[04:00] Why Anne of Green Gables still matters

[08:30] Why Anne of a Different Island is set on Mackinac Island

[16:45] Writing COVID into fiction — without retraumatizing readers

[24:00] Healthy relationships vs. romanticized toxicity

[33:00] Comfort reads, nostalgia, and emotional safety in books

[41:00] Book recommendations for hard seasons

[49:00] Classroom libraries, book bans, and why representation matters

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Bridgerton Season 4 Is Going Full Cinderella — Here’s What to Read While You Wait

Bridgerton Season 4 is officially heading into Cinderella territory, and I’m breaking down what that means — from class divide drama to why Benedict might finally be the Bridgerton brother we root for. Joined by returning guest Julia Diaz-Young, we talk book canon vs. show changes, why Sophie Beckett is such a compelling heroine, and which historical romances perfectly capture that upstairs-downstairs energy.

If you love Bridgerton but don’t want to wait around for Netflix release schedules, we’ve got you covered with cozy, library-friendly historical romance recs you can borrow right now — no ballgown required.

An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn — Historical Romance | Cinderella trope

The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare — Historical Romance | Marriage of convenience

Bookshop Cinderella by Laura Lee Guhrke — Historical Romance | Class divide

A Kiss at Midnight by Eloisa James — Historical Romance | Fairy tale retelling

Marry Me at Midnight by Felicia Grossman — Historical Romance | Gender-swap Cinderella

[00:00] Bridgerton as a romance gateway & genre hopping

[00:02] Cozy mysteries, historical mysteries & reading moods

[00:05] Why Season 4 feels like “classic” Bridgerton

[00:07] Cinderella, class divide & Sophie’s story

[00:09] Netflix binge fatigue vs weekly releases

[00:11] Bridgerton music, pop covers & iconic scenes

[00:13] Benedict as a hero & Sophie’s strength

[00:14] Cinderella-inspired historical romance recs

[00:17] Where to find Julia & what she’s working on

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Some historical figures feel larger than life — until you finally meet the woman behind the myth.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lynn Cullen, an acclaimed historical fiction author who has spent decades uncovering the real people behind cultural legends. We dive into her latest novel about Marilyn Monroe, focusing on Marilyn’s deeply personal relationship with photographer Eve Arnold — the only woman Marilyn ever trusted to photograph her.

We talk about trauma, fame, the female gaze, and what happens when a woman known entirely through images finally gets to be seen as herself. If you love feminist historical fiction, celebrity history, or stories that reclaim women’s narratives from the male gaze, this conversation is for you.

When We Were Brilliant by Lynn Cullen — Historical Fiction | Women’s History

The Woman with the Cure by Lynn Cullen — Historical Fiction | Medical History

Writers & Lovers by Lily King — Literary Fiction | Writers & Relationships

Euphoria by Lily King — Literary Fiction | Anthropology & Love

The Marriage Portrait by Maggie O’Farrell — Historical Fiction | Women’s Lives

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson — Literary Fiction | Time & History

[00:00] Lynn Cullen’s journey from children’s books to historical fiction

[02:00] Why history is never boring (and always connected)

[05:00] Why Marilyn Monroe still fascinates us

[07:00] Eve Arnold and the female gaze

[10:00] Trauma, fame, and Norma Jeane vs. Marilyn

[14:00] Sleep, self-doubt, and the cost of celebrity

[18:00] Women artists, recognition, and late success

[22:00] Literary fiction recommendations & influences

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

Advertise with Us

Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to...

Before What to Read Next was a podcast… before author interviews, Kindle Unlimited lists, and mystery obsessions—there was one conversation that changed my reading life forever.

In this throwback episode, I’m sharing a 2016 interview that quietly reshaped how I read, why I read, and eventually, why this podcast exists at all. We talk about losing your reading life in grad school, rediscovering books as an adult, and the joy of falling headfirst into stories again—without pressure, productivity, or obligation.

This episode is for anyone who used to love reading, feels disconnected from it now, or wants permission to read purely for joy again.

Say Yes episode was originally recorded in 2016. This episode was originally aired on WTRN on March 2021.

EDITOR'S NOTE: The audio leveling is off. Unfortunately, I no longer have the raw audio from 2016 and 2021.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What happens when you don’t give up on writing—even after a failed debut attempt, agent rejections, and a long detour through corporate life? In this episode, I’m joined by London-based author Rosie Storey, whose debut novel Dandelion Is Dead is finally making its U.S. release.

We talk honestly about Rosie’s nonlinear publishing journey, the persistence it takes to keep writing after rejection, and why messy, mid-thirties lives deserve to be at the center of fiction. We also dive into Dandelion Is Dead—a sharp, emotionally layered novel about grief, identity, and the lies we tell when we’re trying to survive loss. Plus, Rosie shares three literary recommendations that balance humor and heartbreak beautifully.

Dandelion Is Dead by Rosie Storey — Literary Fiction | Grief, Identity

The First Bad Man by Miranda July — Literary Fiction | Unconventional Women

Self-Help by Lorrie Moore — Short Stories | Humor & Heartbreak

Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason — Literary Fiction | Mental Health, Marriage

[00:00] Meeting Rosie Storey & debut novel introduction

[01:00] Early writing life and corporate career detour

[02:00] Quitting work, failed first novel, and starting again

[03:00] Rejections, agents, and persistence

[04:00] Dandelion Is Dead — premise and themes

[05:00] Writing messy midlife stories

[06:00] Why no life is neat and tidy

[07:00] Book recommendation: The First Bad Man

[09:00] Book recommendation: Self-Help

[11:00] Book recommendation: Sorrow and Bliss

[12:30] Where to find Rosie online

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

Advertise with Us

Do you have a book or service that you want to share with our engaged audience? Check out our opportunities to sponsor with us.

Advertise With Us

🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

Audible

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What if Indiana Jones, National Treasure, and a swoony rom-com had a bookish baby? That’s exactly what today’s episode delivers. I’m joined by Jo Segura, author of adventure rom-coms that bring danger, banter, and kissing back into the genre.

We talk about why Hollywood stopped making true adventure romances, how Jo blends real archaeology research with rom-com pacing, and why her heroines are always smart, capable, and never damsels in distress. If you love romance with puzzles, mythology, librarians, lost treasure, and external stakes that actually matter, this episode is for you.

Raiders of the Lost Heart by Jo Segura — Adventure Romance

Temple of Swoon by Jo Segura — Adventure Romance

The Lust Crusade by Jo Segura — Adventure Romance

Toe to Toe by Fallon Ballard — Contemporary Romance

Wedding Dashers by Heather McBreen — Contemporary Romance

What Is Love? by Jen Comfort — Contemporary Rom-Com

[00:00] Meet Jo Segura & the rise of adventure rom-coms

[01:30] Why Hollywood abandoned adventure romances

[03:00] Real archaeology vs movie myths

[05:00] Researching Aztec culture, the Amazon & Greek mythology

[07:00] Librarians, archaeology & problem-solving heroines

[09:00] Writing capable women (no damsels allowed)

[10:30] What Jo reads while drafting romance

[12:30] Romance & thriller recommendations

[14:30] Where to find Jo online

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!

Mentioned in this episode:

🎧 Try Audible Today I love Audible for their original novellas, binge-worthy Plus Catalog (like Deanna Raybourn’s Veronica Speedwell series), and their amazing audiobook sales. Currently, Audible is offering a special promotion for new members and returning listeners.

Audible

Advertise with Us

Do you have a...

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

What does it really look like to make a living as a romance author in today’s publishing landscape?

In this episode, I’m joined by romance author Lauren Connolly for a candid conversation about hybrid publishing, creative sustainability, and her latest rom-com Love in Plane Sight.

We talk about Lauren’s journey from libraries to publishing nearly 30 books, why diversifying income streams matters, and how she balances self-publishing with Big Five contracts without burning out. We also dive into pilot romances, found family, money trauma, and why a Gantt chart might just save your creative life.

Love in Plane Sight by Lauren Connolly — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅

The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅

A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna — Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅

Drawn Together by Juliana Smith — Contemporary Romance | Closed Door | Audio ✅

Alanna: The First Adventure by Tamora Pierce — YA Fantasy | Classic | Audio ✅

[00:00] Welcome & Lauren’s publishing journey

[01:30] From libraries to romance writing

[03:00] Why hybrid publishing works

[05:00] The reality of advances & author income

[07:30] Diversifying revenue streams

[08:45] Gantt charts & managing multiple deadlines

[11:30] Negotiating realistic publishing timelines

[13:30] Introducing Love in Plane Sight

[16:00] Money trauma, people-pleasing & romance heroes

[19:30] Audiobooks & narration talk

[20:30] Cozy book recommendations

[24:00] Little Free Libraries & nostalgia reads

[25:30] Where to find Lauren + upcoming events

Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)

Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read Next

Subscribe & leave a review!