What To Read Next Podcast

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you’re forced to attend your ex-husband’s family wedding… in Paris?

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Romantasy before it was cool? In this episode, I sit down with Elly Blake to talk about her journey writing fantasy romance—and how the genre has completely transformed over the years.We chat about the evolution from YA fantasy to adult romantasy, what readers really want (hint: it’s the romance), and how Elly built her newest Thirstwood series from fairy tales, folklore, and a haunting “bloodthirsty forest” idea. If you love enemies-to-lovers, forbidden romance, and magical worlds with high emotional stakes, this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Graphic novels aren’t just for kids—and this episode completely changed how I think about them.In this conversation, I sit down with cartoonist Sophia Glock to talk about her haunting and emotional graphic novel Before We Wake. We dive into how comics can explore big themes like grief in a way that feels accessible, immersive, and deeply personal—and why adults should absolutely be reading graphic novels.We also talk about nostalgia (hello early 2000s

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.From sorority sisters to bookish besties—this episode is all about finding your reading groove and building a community that keeps you turning pages.In this episode, I sit down with Nathalie Cañadas to talk about her reading glow-up—from occasional reader to devouring 200+ books a year. We chat about audiobooks, immersive reading, Kindle Unlimited, and how joining a book club completely changed her reading life. Plus, we dive into her favorite romance reads, dark twists, and underrated gems you need on your TBR.If you’ve ever struggled to find time to read—or didn’t know where to start—this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when romance meets real life—immigration, identity, and the courage to choose joy anyway?In this episode, I sit down with Sonali Dev to talk about her latest novel How Simi Got Her Groom Back—a deeply emotional story about sisterhood, love, and what it really means to belong. We dive into the themes behind the book (including immigration and chosen family), plus a powerful conversation about romance as a tool for healing, self-worth, and rewriting the rules we’ve been given.If you love romance with depth, second chances, and stories that make you feel something real—this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a neuroscientist writes a romance set in academia? In this episode, I’m chatting with debut author Hannah Brohm about Love and Other Brain Experiments—a workplace romance inspired by the chaotic world of research labs, anonymous peer reviews, and the surprising ways love can show up when you least expect it.We talk about Hannah’s journey from cognitive neuroscience to romance writing, how academia shaped the story, and why romance became a comforting escape during grad school and the pandemic. Plus, we dive into her reading life—from workplace romcoms to cozy mysteries—and she shares a few book recommendations that belong on your TBR.If you love smart romcoms, STEM heroines, and enemies-to-lovers tension, this conversation is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you love mystery-romance heroines who are juggling work, family, and the occasional international investigation, you’re going to love today’s episode. I’m joined by author Sam Tschida to talk about the latest installment in the Gabby Green series and the chaos that comes with writing spy-adjacent romantic mysteries.In this conversation, Sam shares how she built the second Gabby Green adventure—from tropical settings and Hollywood wellness culture to espionage twists and unexpected romance. We also talk about writing messy but lovable heroines, the reality of balancing motherhood with high-stakes careers, and why cozy mystery fans love returning to the same sleuth again and again.We also chat about writing inspiration, the real-life research behind spy stories, and the books we’ve been loving lately.⏱️ Episode Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & catching up with Sam Tschida[00:01] Writing the second Gabby Green

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a rom-com meets a slasher movie? In this episode, I’m joined by debut author Shaylee Thompson to talk about her wildly fun genre-bending novel How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates — a slasher rom-com set during a speed-dating event gone horribly wrong.We chat about how Shaylee blended two formula-driven genres, her journey from English teacher to full-time writer, and why sometimes the book that becomes your debut isn’t the first book you wrote. If you love horror movies, rom-coms, and stories that break the rules, this conversation is packed with behind-the-scenes insights.Plus, Shaylee shares a few book recommendations for readers who love horror comedy, meta storytelling, and genre-bending fiction.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.If you’ve ever masked your anxiety while looking wildly “high-functioning,” this episode is going to hit.Today I’m chatting with returning guest Cat Sebastian about her new contemporary romance Star Shipped — a slow-burn, forced-proximity love story between two actors on a long-running sci-fi show who “hate” each other in the most domestic way possible.We talk about why Cat took a risk moving from historical to contemporary romance, how fandom and sci-fi shaped this book, and why she wanted to write a character with anxiety, OCD, and migraines who doesn’t magically “heal” by the final chapter. This is a conversation about radical acceptance, surviving in a noisy world, and finding love without fixing yourself first.If you loved the emotional intensity of hockey romances but want celebrity PR chaos instead, this one’s for you.⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcoming Cat back + what she’s been up to[00:01] Inside Star Sh

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when book bans aren’t just headlines — but federal law?In this episode, I’m chatting with historical fiction author Shelley Noble about The Sisters of Book Row, a novel set in 1915 New York during the height of the Comstock censorship laws. We talk about rare bookstores, banned poetry, Margaret Sanger, and why 100-year-old history feels… uncomfortably familiar today. If you care about protecting books, women’s voices, and literary legacy — this one will stay with you.We also dive into Shelley’s unexpected path to publishing (spoiler: it started with a dare), why she left mysteries for historical women’s fiction, and her favorite historical mystery comfort reads.⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Shelley’s journey from dancer to published mystery author[03:00] Writing historical mysteries vs. women’s fiction[06:30] Discovering the Tiffany Girls & shifting genres[07:45] The Comstock Laws explained[09:30] Mar

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when influencer culture, megachurch ambition, and algorithm-driven community collide?This week, I’m joined by longtime friend and fellow early-podcaster Alli Hoff Kosik to talk about her debut novel, Too Blessed to Stress — a sharp, nuanced story about faith, friendship, ambition, and the very online world we’re all living in.We talk about how her MFA journey led her here, why religion in fiction felt like a “risky” topic just a few years ago, and how influencer culture (hello Mormon wives and MomTok

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Queer joy, Hollywood theater, and why romance doesn’t have to earn its happy ending.In this episode, I’m joined by returning guest Amy Spalding to talk about In Her Spotlight, her latest sapphic romance set at the intersection of celebrity culture, live theater, and second-chance love. We dig into why queer joy matters, how power dynamics shift when fame enters the room, and why it finally feels possible to tell coming-out stories without centering tragedy.We also chat about reading across genres, unexpected nonfiction rabbit holes, and Amy’s favorite sapphic and bisexual romances to add to your TBR—especially if you love stories about ambition, community, and women figuring it out together.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Quick Note Before You Press Play: The audio quality on this episode isn’t my usual standard (thank you for your grace

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when you drop a retired serial killer into a luxury retirement home full of former investigators? You get chaos, secrets… and one very suspicious death.In this episode, I chat with British comedian-turned-mystery author Fergus Craig about his latest cozy crime novel, I’m Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home. We talk about writing a likable serial killer, the art of “cracked cozy” mysteries, and how parody crime novels unexpectedly launched his fiction career. If you love cozy mysteries with a dark twist — and characters who blur the line between wrong and relatable — this one’s for you.We also dive into his favorite reads (including a book he calls the best he’s ever read), and why sometimes escape fiction is exactly what readers need right now.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a swoony rom-com set in Venezuela meets fake dating, music, and telenovela-level drama? I’m joined by debut author Maria José Morillo to talk about romance, bilingual reading, and writing against the odds.In this episode, I’m chatting with Maria José Morillo, a Venezuelan author making her Big Five debut with The Ex-Perimento. We talk about growing up bilingual, discovering romance through Harry Potter and Twilight, and what it means to write English-language romance from Venezuela.We also dive into celebrity rom-com tropes, Latin American pop culture (yes, Miss Universe matters), and how Maria José went from fanfiction to landing a traditional publishing deal. If you love high-concept rom-coms, global romance, or behind-the-scenes publishing journeys, this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a pandemic side project turns into a full-time creative career? In this episode, I’m joined by fantasy romance author Kate Golden to talk about writing through uncertainty, leaving a stable career, and why urban fantasy is having a moment.We get into Kate’s journey from working as a studio executive in Hollywood to indie publishing A Dawn of Onyx, landing a traditional book deal with Berkley, and finally quitting her day job to write full-time. We also dive deep into Half City, her dark academia–meets–urban fantasy trilogy set in a reimagined New York City — complete with demon hunters, secret colleges, forbidden romance, and Buffy-level vibes.This conversation is for readers who love grounded fantasy, creative career pivots, and honest talk about monetizing passion projects without losing your mind.Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.subst

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Making adult friends is hard — but it doesn’t have to be lonely.In this Galentine’s Day special, I’m joined by my friend Jules from Friday Night Readers to talk about how we met as adults, how to build meaningful female friendships, and the six books that celebrate the complicated, beautiful, soul-shaping power of friendship.We share how sliding into DMs, podcast interviews, book communities, and even fitness classes can turn into real-life connection. If you’re craving community, feeling isolated, or just want book recommendations centered on female friendships (from literary fiction to cozy mysteries), this episode is for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when love, music, and unfinished business collide—20 years later?In this episode, I’m joined by novelist Lisa Peers to talk about Motor City Love Song, a sapphic second-chance romance set against Detroit’s indie music scene—then and now.We dive into the late ’90s Detroit garage-rock era, the rise and fall of live music venues, and what it means to revisit the love and choices that shape who we become. If you love music-driven novels, queer romance with emotional depth, and stories about creative communities surviving change, this one’s for you.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Cozy Mysteries 101: Finding the Series That Actually Works for YouIf you’ve ever wanted to get into cozy mysteries but didn’t know where to start — or bounced off one that just didn’t work — this episode is for you. Amy from Novel Gossip joins me to break down what actually makes a cozy mystery work (and why some beloved classics… don’t anymore).We talk about cozy mystery conventions, foodie cozies, long-running series vs. short arcs, seasonal reads, and the difference between nostalgic comfort and outdated, problematic storytelling. Plus, we compare three major cozy series we read together — including one we’re obsessed with and one we’re officially done with.This episode is perfect for readers who love low-stress mysteries, strong sense of place, found family vibes, and a little romance on the side.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when a true-crime podcaster is forced to host a romance podcast… and a real murder hits close to home? In this episode, I’m joined by author Letizia Lorini to talk about her rom-com-meets-mystery debut A Killer Kind of Romance — a smart, funny love story with serial-killer vibes and a guaranteed happily ever after.We talk about Letizia’s journey from criminology to romance writing, how her background in white-collar and environmental crime shaped this story, and why mixing romance, comedy, and murder works better than you’d think. If you love rom-coms with a dark edge, true-crime energy, and an external mystery driving the romance, this one’s for you.