What to Read Next — Book Recommendations for Romance, Thrillers & Escape Reads

Laura R Yamin

You know you want to read. You just don't know what. What to Read Next is the podcast for readers who love romance, thrillers, and women's fiction — and spend more time staring at their TBR than actually reading it. I'm Laura, and twice a week I bring you book recommendations built around one thing: how you actually feel right now. Not what's new. Not what's trending. The right book for this exact mood, this exact moment, this exact week of your life. Some weeks that means asking an author what they read for joy — not what they wrote, but what they reach for when they need to escape. Their answer is always your next discovery. Some weeks it means me telling you exactly what I read, what stayed with me, what I DNF'd at 40% and why, and which one I'd press into your hands right now if we were having coffee. Romance across every subgenre. Psychological thrillers. Beach reads with actual substance. Women's fiction that makes you feel seen. The books that give you the escape you came for — and a few that'll quietly change how you see things too. New episodes every Monday and Wednesday. The Reading Receipt — my weekly reading log — drops every Thursday on Substack. Start anywhere. The right episode will find you.

  1. Sep 27

    Ghosts, Multiverses & Magic: Speculative Romance Recs | Author Interview Bridget Morrissey

    What if you could see every version of your life, including the one where your high school nemesis turns out to be the love of your life? Bridget Morrissey is back to talk about her dazzling new speculative sapphic romance. Bridget returns to the show to dish on In What World. Two former theater-kid rivals reunite as adults to find their missing drama teacher and end up tumbling through alternate realities. We talk about how she plotted a multiverse romance, and how writing adult, YA, and cozy fantasy keeps her a full-time author. We also cover the state of sapphic romance in publishing right now and her witchy YA rom-coms, perfect for spooky season. Stick around for three speculative romance recs (plus a bonus sapphic mystery series) that are ideal for your library holds list or your next audiobook. This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. 📚 Books MentionedIn What World by Bridget Morrissey — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Speculative Sapphic Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers, Second Chance | Audio ✅ Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | YA Sapphic Romance, Witchy Cozy Fantasy | Audio ✅ I Put a Spell On You by Bridget Morrissey — Preorder on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | YA Sapphic Romance, Epistolary, Valentine's Day | Releases Jan 12, 2027 Seeing Other People by Emily Wibberley & Austin Siegemund-Broka — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Paranormal Romance, Grief, Romantic Comedy | Audio ✅ In Every Possible Way by Alicia Thompson — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Magical Realism Romance, Ireland Setting | Audio ✅ Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon by Annie Mare — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Sapphic Sci-Fi Romance, Multiverse, Found Family | Audio ✅ Love a Comeback by Ruthie Knox & Annie Mare — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Sapphic Cozy Mystery, Hollywood (TV Detectives #2; start with Big Name Fan) | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome back, Bridget[00:40] Writing adult, YA, and cozy fantasy under a pen name[01:40] A day in the life of a full-time author[03:30] Writing sapphic romance in 2026 and the publishing landscape[06:50] The need for more sapphic stories[08:00] Theater-kid love and a Spring Awakening story[08:50] The pitch: In What World[09:55] How Bridget plotted a multiverse romance[11:50] Bridget's witchy YA rom-coms[13:50] Rec: Seeing Other People[15:05] Rec: In Every Possible Way[15:55] Rec: Cosmic Love at the Multiverse Hair Salon[17:00] Bonus rec: the TV Detectives series[18:00] Where to find Bridget Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    Ghosts, Multiverses & Magic: Speculative Romance Recs | Author Interview  Bridget Morrissey
  2. Sep 20

    10 National Book Award Nominees You Need to Know | Literary Fiction Longlist

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This post was an original Subtack Live that aired on September 18, 2026. Awards season has landed — and the 2026 National Book Award (NBA) fiction longlist is stacked. Deedi Reads joins the pod to break it all down. Deedi from the Deedi Reads Substack joins What to Read Next for a special crossover covering all ten titles on the 2026 National Book Award fiction longlist — from Marlon James's queer epic The Disappearers to Valeria Luiselli's Beginning Middle End. We also dig into the Hugo Awards, the biggest NBA snub of the year, and how to build a budget-friendly award-season TBR using your library 📚 Books MentionedDead Beat by Leigh Bardugo — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Fantasy, Dark Academia, Horror | Paradiso 17 by Hannah Lillith Assadi — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction | Red Ants by Kimberly Blaeser — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Short Stories, Horror Dèy by Edwidge Danticat — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction |Pretend You're Dead and I Carry You by Julián Delgado Lopera — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Magical Realism Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Short StoriesThe Disappearers by Marlon James — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Crime Beginning Middle End by Valeria Luiselli — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction Passengers by Alexander Maksik — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction |The Renovation by Kenan Orhan — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction Mad Eden by Morgan Thomas — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction | The Song of Stork and Dromedary by Anjet Daanje (trans. from Dutch) — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Literary Fiction, Translated Literature ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro — NBA fiction longlist collab with Deedi Reads[00:01] Deedi's whirlwind NBA announcement week[00:02] Reacting to Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo[00:03] The full 2026 fiction longlist, read aloud[00:04] Deedi's reads so far: Paradiso 17 & Beginning Middle End[00:06] Pretend You're Dead and I Carry You — magical realism & Latin American lit[00:08] Deedi's reading game plan — library holds, formats, timeline[00:10] NBA after-party & free livestream info[00:11] Balancing award reading with a fantasy-heavy TBR[00:12] October fantasy lineup + finishing Sabaa Tahir's Empire[00:14] Tease: Deedi's upcoming Divergent essay[00:15] Hugo Awards recap — Alix E. Harrow & The Raven Scholar[00:17] Nonfiction longlist picks + the year's biggest NBA snub (Tayari Jones's Kin)[00:19] Translated literature longlist & The Song of Stork and Dromedary snub[00:20] Wrap-up and sign-off Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    10 National Book Award Nominees You Need to Know | Literary Fiction Longlist
  3. Sep 14

    What to Read After Watching Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW) | Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. This podcast originally aired March 2026 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 👀) makes this story more relevant than ever. If you love messy friend groups, big institutions, powerful men, and complicated women trying to build something meaningful — this one is for you. Bonus Book Recommendations Check out my latest Substack episode with 2 additional bonus recommendations and my thoughts of the latest SLOMW episode drop of Season 5. https://whattoreadnextpodcast.substack.com/p/books-like-mormon-wives 🕒 Timestamps[00:00] Early podcast days & friendship origin story [02:00] Alli’s MFA journey and first abandoned manuscript [05:00] The Christian influencer rabbit hole [07:30] Influencer monetization & megachurch power [10:00] Religion, algorithms & modern politics [14:00] Community after the pandemic [21:30] Behind the Scenes podcast (BTS-TBTS) [24:00] Book recommendations: cults, ambition & satire [37:00] Where to find Alli & audiobook details 📚 Books Mentioned Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik — Book Club Fiction | Influencer Culture | Literary Fiction Little One by Olivia Muenter — Cult Fiction | Dual Timeline | Psychological Drama Paper Cut by Rachel Taff — Literary Fiction | Power & Family Dynamics Tehrangeles by Porochista Khakpour — Satire | Reality TV Culture | Pandemic Fiction Glossy by Marisa Meltzer — Nonfiction | Business Biography | Millennial CEO Workhorse by Caroline Palmer — Literary Fiction | Publishing Industry | Ambitious Female Lead Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    What to Read After Watching Secret Lives of Mormon Wives (SLOMW) | Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik
  4. Sep 8

    The Myth of the Debut Author, Explained by an Agent | Siren Says by Jennifer Herrera

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when a literary agent decides to become the author she's spent her career championing for other people? Jennifer Herrera joins us to talk genre-hopping, feminine rage, and why her new witchy fantasy almost didn't happen. Jennifer Herrera — literary agent at the David Black Agency and author of the thriller The Hunter — is back with something completely different: Siren Says, a Celtic-Welsh botanical fantasy about power, curses, and reclaiming your humanity. If you've ever wondered what agents actually do for writers (beyond "sell the book"), or you're hunting for your next romantasy pick with real teeth, this one's for you. 📚 Books MentionedSiren Says by Jennifer Herrera — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy / Romantasy (Celtic-Welsh mythology, botanical magic) | The Hunter by Jennifer Herrera — Buy on Amazon | Thriller | If Women Rose Rooted by Sharon Blackie — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Mythology & Feminism | Wild Reverence by Rebecca Ross — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy Romance (Letters of Enchantment prequel) | The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle — Buy on Amazon | Classic Fantasy | ⏱️ Time Stamps [00:00] Welcome & intro[01:00] From philosophy grad school to literary agent[02:00] Moving to NYC to break into publishing[03:00]–[05:00] Why writing rarely pays the bills — and why that's okay[06:00]–[08:00] The myth of the "debut author"[09:00]–[10:00] Why thrillers feel easy and fantasy feels hard to write[10:00] Elevator pitch for Siren Says[11:00]–[13:00] The myth of Mis, power, and reclaiming humanity[13:00]–[16:00] Romance, healthy relationships, and feminist themes in fantasy[16:00]–[20:00] What writers should expect from a literary agent[20:00]–[23:00] Networking, community, and building your author platform[23:00]–[25:00] Marketing, selling vs. giving, and how author podcasts changed[26:00]–[29:00] Book recs: If Women Rose Rooted, Wild Reverence, The Last Unicorn[29:00]–[32:00] On aging, identity, and living an interesting life[32:00] Where to find Jennifer online Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    The Myth of the Debut Author, Explained by an Agent | Siren Says by Jennifer Herrera
  5. Sep 6

    3 Monster Hunter Books for Horror Beginners | Book Goose Substack

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Ever wanted to try horror but didn't know where to start? This episode is your gentle on-ramp. Bri from the Book Goose Substack joins the show to talk about building a book community from scratch — and brings three monster hunter reads perfect for horror-curious readers. If you love found-family adventure stories, a dash of romance, or eerie underground worlds but want something that won't keep you up at night, this episode is for you. 📚 Books MentionedA Fable for Hollow Creatures by R.R. Schaeffer — Buy on Amazon | Dark Fantasy/Horror | Releases Oct 27, 2026 (Mostly) Human Resources by Grace Viall — Buy on Amazon | Borrow on Libby | Horror/Fantasy, light Romance | What Feeds Below by Tatiana Schlote-Bonne — Buy on Amazon | Horror/Fantasy | Releases Oct 6, 2026 ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro[00:01] Bri's blogging journey: from Blogger to horror blog to Substack[00:07] Substack community & the ARC conversation[00:09] Book Goose publication & upcoming virtual book club[00:12] How Bri finds hidden-gem books to recommend[00:16] Bookseller mindset & intro to today's trope[00:17] Trope reveal: Monster Hunters[00:17] Book 1: A Fable for Hollow Creatures[00:19] Book 2: (Mostly) Human Resources[00:21] Book 3: What Feeds Below[00:24] Where to find Bri online & outro CONNECT WITH BRI https://bookgooseblog.substack.com/ Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    3 Monster Hunter Books for Horror Beginners | Book Goose Substack
  6. Sep 1

    5 Pirate Romantasy Reads You Need on Your TBR | The Siren's Kiss by Leslie Vedder

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Pirates, mermaids, sea witches, and a slow-burn enemies-to-lovers romance — this episode has everything. Leslie Vedder joins us to talk about The Siren's Kiss, a sapphic fantasy romance she describes as Pirates of the Caribbean meets The Little Mermaid, following a cursed pirate and a fierce mermaid who team up to take down ancient sea gods. We dig into her love of anime and manga, her upcoming graphic novel, and get five (okay, six) can't-miss pirate and fantasy-romance recommendations for your TBR. 📚 Books MentionedThe Siren's Kiss by Leslie Vedder — Buy on Amazon | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy Romance / Sapphic / Pirates Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Romantasy / Pirates The Mermaid, the Witch, and the Sea by Maggie Tokuda-Hall — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Sapphic / Pirates The Devourer by Alison Ames — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Sapphic / Pirates In Deeper Waters by F.T. Lukens — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy Romance / Mermaids The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | YA Fantasy / Historical Piracy / Trans MC A Harvest of Hearts by Andrea Eames (bonus) — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Search on Libby | Fantasy Romance ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome back Leslie Vedder[00:30] What she's been up to since her debut trilogy[01:00] Elevator pitch for The Siren's Kiss[01:30] Sapphic pirates and badass female pirate captains[02:00] Pirate history research and the reality behind the myth[03:30] Anime and manga influence on her writing[05:00] Upcoming sapphic Robin Hood graphic novel ⚠️ genre departure[07:00] Book recommendations: pirates and mermaids[10:30] Where to find Leslie online Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    5 Pirate Romantasy Reads You Need on Your TBR | The Siren's Kiss by Leslie Vedder
  7. Aug 26

    2026 Hugo Awards: The Best Novel Nominees, Ranked | Fantasy & Sci-Fi

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Six books, one vote, and a whole community weighing in — Deedi's back to break down this year's Hugo Awards Best Novel nominees. Our resident awards correspondent Deedi (@DeediReads) returns to walk us through the 2026 Hugo Awards — sci-fi and fantasy's biggest fan-voted prize. We cover how Hugo voting actually works, break down all six Best Novel nominees, and Deedi tells us which one she's rooting for (and which one she thinks will actually win). Perfect for anyone who loves a good genre awards deep-dive or is just looking for their next fantasy or sci-fi read. 📚 Books MentionedThe Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy The Raven Scholar by Antonia Hodgson — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy/Mystery A Drop of Corruption by Robert Jackson Bennett — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy MysteryThe Tainted Cup by Robert Jackson Bennett — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Mystery | 2025 Hugo winner, prequelThe Incandescent by Emily Tesh — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Death of the Author by Nnedi Okorafor — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Science Fiction Shroud by Adrian Tchaikovsky — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Science FictionCinderhouse by Freya Marske — Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Novella The River Has Roots by Amar El-Mohtar— Buy on Amazon | Buy on Libro.fm | Fantasy Novella ⏱️ Timestamps [00:00] Welcome back, Deedi — our official awards correspondent[00:01] Why the Hugos are different from literary prizes[00:02] How Hugo voting actually works (Worldcon membership, nominating)[00:03] All the Hugo categories beyond Best Novel[00:05] Popular vote pros and cons — vs. the Goodreads Choice Awards[00:07] This year's six Best Novel nominees, announced[00:08] Novella category as an easier entry point (Cinderhouse, The River Has Roots)[00:09] How Deedi fits 6 award books into a realistic reading pace[00:13] Deedi's "three words" method for choosing what to read next[00:17] Letting go of reading identity and genre guilt[00:19] Revisiting YA dystopia — Hunger Games, Divergent, and a brewing essay[00:22] Breaking up with Amazon and the Kindle ecosystem[00:26] Why indie bookstores give you more than just books[00:27] Supporting indie authors outside Amazon[00:32] Deedi's personal favorite — and her prediction for the win[00:35] Where to find Deedi online Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    2026 Hugo Awards: The Best Novel Nominees, Ranked | Fantasy & Sci-Fi
  8. Aug 10

    Silent Book Club for Two: My New Favorite Reading Ritual

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Laura's back with a solo update on slowing down, making reading friends in a new city, and two mysteries that actually caught her off guard. In this episode, Laura shares how she's navigating a season of burnout, the low-key monthly reading date she's started with a friend (dubbed "Silent Book Club for Two"), and gives full reviews of two standout reads — a cozy small-town mystery obsessed with designer dogs, and a millennial mystery starring a very unlucky crossing guard. If you're looking for your next cozy or millennial-mystery pick, or just want a simple way to build more reading time into your life, this one's for you. 📚 Books MentionedMurder Bites by Mimi Montgomery | Cozy Mystery | Audio ✅Don't Cross Mo Ellery by Birdie Horne | Mystery | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro + August update[01:00] Birthday PTO and navigating a season of burnout[02:00] Making local reading friends through her yoga studio[03:00] How the "Silent Book Club for Two" reading date started[04:00] Why a one-on-one reading date beats a full book club[05:00] Murder Bites by Mimi Montgomery — setup and premise[06:00] Murder Bites — the reveal that actually surprised her[07:00] Don't Cross Mo Ellery — setup and premise[09:00] Currently reading Dungeon Crawl Carl + KU cancellation + sign-off Join the ConversationSubscribe 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!

    Silent Book Club for Two: My New Favorite Reading Ritual
4
out of 5
63 Ratings

About

You know you want to read. You just don't know what. What to Read Next is the podcast for readers who love romance, thrillers, and women's fiction — and spend more time staring at their TBR than actually reading it. I'm Laura, and twice a week I bring you book recommendations built around one thing: how you actually feel right now. Not what's new. Not what's trending. The right book for this exact mood, this exact moment, this exact week of your life. Some weeks that means asking an author what they read for joy — not what they wrote, but what they reach for when they need to escape. Their answer is always your next discovery. Some weeks it means me telling you exactly what I read, what stayed with me, what I DNF'd at 40% and why, and which one I'd press into your hands right now if we were having coffee. Romance across every subgenre. Psychological thrillers. Beach reads with actual substance. Women's fiction that makes you feel seen. The books that give you the escape you came for — and a few that'll quietly change how you see things too. New episodes every Monday and Wednesday. The Reading Receipt — my weekly reading log — drops every Thursday on Substack. Start anywhere. The right episode will find you.

You Might Also Like