What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

Laura R Yamin
  • 4.0 (62)
  • BOOKS
  • UPDATED DAILY

What to Read Next Podcast is a book recommendation podcast for mood readers who are always looking to add new books to their TBR. In each episode, Laura Yamin shares quick book recommendations so you can topple your TBR. This podcast is perfect for Romance and Mystery readers with the occasional romantasy episode.

  1. Why Locked-Room Mysteries Still Work with Molly Harper | Millennial Murder Mysteries

    1D AGO

    Why Locked-Room Mysteries Still Work with Molly Harper | Millennial Murder Mysteries

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A cozy mystery with a messy friendship, a locked-room setting, and just enough murder to keep things interesting? I’m in. In this episode, I sit down with Molly Harper to talk about her pivot from paranormal romance to murder mysteries and her newest release, A Cute Little Murder. We dive into millennial mysteries, toxic friendships, “final girl” energy, and why sometimes you just need a little murder in your reading life—without the gore. 📚 Books MentionedA Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery / Millennial Mystery | Audio ✅ A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery / Millennial Mystery | Audio ✅ The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Horror | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] – Introduction to Molly Harper [01:00] – Transition from romance to murder mysteries [02:30] – Inspiration behind A Cute Little Murder [04:00] – Final girl trope and character dynamics [05:00] – Locked-room mystery settings explained [06:30] – Toxic friendships and character growth [09:00] – Why this mystery feels cozy but modern [10:00] – Molly Harper’s writing journey [12:00] – From journalist to full-time author [14:00] – Audible originals and writing for audio [15:00] – Book recommendations (domestic horror) [16:00] – Where to find Molly Harper 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!

    17 min
  2. Cannes, Murder & Secrets: A Summer Thriller | We Will Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

    6D AGO

    Cannes, Murder & Secrets: A Summer Thriller | We Will Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Looking for your next addictive summer thriller with rich people behaving badly vibes? This one set at the Cannes Film Festival delivers glam, secrets, and a murder you won’t see coming. In this episode, I sit down with Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau to talk about her transition from YA romance to twisty adult thrillers and her latest novel We Will Never Tell. We dive into how she crafts suspense, builds layered characters, and why she loves writing about “the people behind the people” in glamorous spaces. Plus, she shares some of her favorite recent reads—including thrillers and book club fiction you’ll want on your TBR ASAP. 📚 Books MentionedWe Will Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau — Buy on Amazon | Thriller The French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau — Buy on Amazon | Thriller Good People by Patnmeena Sabit — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Mystery Elements Somebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne — Buy on Amazon | Thriller / Domestic Suspense Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary / Thriller Elements Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild — Buy on Amazon | Literary / Thriller / Romance Blend ⏱️ Time Stamps[00:00] — Intro + Anne-Sophie Jouhenneau returns to the podcast [01:00] — Transition from YA romance to thrillers [02:00] — How to write suspense, twists, and structure [05:00] — Inside We Will Never Tell + Cannes setting [06:30] — The “people behind the people” concept [09:00] — Cannes glam vs reality (parties, work, chaos) [11:30] — Why this is the perfect summer thriller [12:30] — Book recommendations begin [17:00] — Where to find Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau online Link to Anne-Sophie's previous WTRN episode on Spotify 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!

    19 min
  3. Messy Wedding Rom-Coms You’ll Love | Save the Date by Mallory Kass/Kass Morgan

    APR 13

    Messy Wedding Rom-Coms You’ll Love | Save the Date by Mallory Kass/Kass Morgan

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A chaotic wedding, secret crushes, and one very inconvenient almost-divorce—this episode is for rom-com lovers who live for messy, multi-POV drama. In today’s episode, I chat with Mallory Kass (also known as Kass Morgan) about her transition from YA to adult romance, her new book Save the Date, and why writing adult relationships hits differently than coming-of-age stories. We also get into rom-com tropes, ensemble casts, and even the possibility of adding a murder subplot (yes, really). If you love layered romantic stories, dreamy settings, and a little emotional chaos, this one’s for you. 📚 Books Mentioned Save the Date by Mallory Kass — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Royal Summer by Kass Morgan — Buy on Amazon | YA Romance | Audio ✅ The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffith — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance | Audio ✅ The Write Off by Kara McDowell — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke — Buy on Amazon | Mystery Romance | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] – Intro + Meet Mallory Kass [01:00] – Transition from YA to adult romance [02:00] – Differences between YA and adult storytelling [05:00] – Breaking down Save the Date (multi-storyline rom-com) [06:30] – Writing challenges with multiple POVs [07:30] – Making character voices distinct [08:30] – Why romance needs emotional tension (not random chaos) [09:30] – The rise of mystery + romance mashups [10:30] – Jeopardy experience + fun behind-the-scenes moment [13:30] – Book recommendations you need to add to your TBR [15:00 – Where to find Mallory Kass 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!

    16 min
  4. The Angsty Romance You Need This Year | The Write Off by Kara McDowell

    APR 11

    The Angsty Romance You Need This Year | The Write Off by Kara McDowell

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What happens when the one that got away becomes the inspiration for your bestselling book boyfriend… and then walks back into your life? In this episode, I sit down with Kara McDowell to talk about her latest novel, The Write-Off—a second chance romance packed with college nostalgia, writer drama, and all the angst we love. We dive into dual timelines, messy twenties, and why sometimes love only works the second time around. We also chat about balancing writing and motherhood, the “glass vs. plastic balls” metaphor for life, and Kara shares her favorite contemporary romance reads right now. 📚 Books Mentioned The Write-Off by Kara McDowell — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center — Romantic Comedy | Audio ✅ Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia — Small Town Romance | Audio ✅ Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Time Stamps[00:00] – Meet Kara McDowell & writing from the sidelines [01:00] – Balancing writing, motherhood & deadlines [02:00] – The “glass vs. plastic balls” life metaphor [03:00] – Inside The Write-Off (plot + inspiration) [05:00] – Book boyfriend inspired by real life [06:00] – Why second chance romance hits differently [07:00] – College vs adult love stories [08:00] – Kara’s reading habits & favorite genres [09:00] – Is She Really Going Out With Him? rec [10:00] – Why The Rom-Commers is a perfect romcom [12:00] – Ali Hazelwood & dual timeline romance [14:00] – Cozy small-town vibes in If It Makes You Happy [17:00] – Birding with Benefits & fake dating trope [18:00] – Where to find Kara 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!

    19 min
  5. 32 Books Later… My Best & Worst Reads of 2026 so far!

    APR 8

    32 Books Later… My Best & Worst Reads of 2026 so far!

    This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I read 32 books in Q1 2026—and I’m breaking down the cozy mysteries, thrillers, romances, and standout 5-star reads you need on your radar. In this episode, I’m sharing my honest reading recap from the first quarter of the year, including what worked, what didn’t, and the books I’m still thinking about. From bingeing cozy mysteries in Puerto Rico to discovering new favorite romances and thrillers, this is your inside look at what’s worth adding to your TBR. 📚 Books MentionedCozy Mysteries: Death al Dente by Leslie Budewitz The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen Catch Me If You Candy by Ellie AlexanderSticks and Scones by Ellie AlexanderKilling Me Soufflé by Ellie AlexanderThe Diva Takes the Cake by Krista DavisDeath of a Country Fried Redneck by Lee HollisDeath of the Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis Thrillers: We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda The Storm by Rachel HawkinsAnatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston Romance: The Grumpiest Billionaire by Pippa GrantStill Into You by Erin ConnorIt Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren BlakelyIn Her Spotlight by Amy SpaldingPicnics and Promises in the Strawberry Fields by Victoria WaltersThe Cherry Crush Flower Shop by Harper GrahamMistakes Were Made by Lucy Score Mystery The Primrose Murder Society by Stacey Hackney Non-fiction All Consuming by Ruby TandohParks and Rec by Jennifer Keishin Armstrong 5⭐ Reads: Rachel West and the Fallen Starlet by Emma Mills (Mystery)Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik (Women’s Fiction)The Heir by Sophia Travers (Romance - KU)Hunter’s Treasure by Olivia Jackson (Romance)Before We Wake by Sophia Glock (Graphic Novel)This Story Will Save Your Life by Tiffany Crum (Thriller) ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] – Intro + Q1 reading recap overview [01:00] – Cozy mystery binge in Puerto Rico [02:00] – Books that didn’t work for me [03:00] – 4-star cozy mysteries [03:30] – Thriller recommendations [04:30] – Cozy mystery series I loved [05:00] – Romance reads (billionaire, rockstar, small town) [07:00] – Cottagecore + flower shop romances [08:00] – Mother-daughter mystery rec [09:00] – Nonfiction reads [10:00] – Small town romance highlight [11:00] – 5-star reads overview [13:30] – First graphic novel experience [14:30] – Thriller with immersive audio [15:00] – Wrap up + final thoughts 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!

    16 min
  6. Inside The Paris Match with Kate Clayborn | Contemporary Romance

    APR 6

    Inside The Paris Match with Kate Clayborn | Contemporary Romance

    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? 😬✨ In this episode, I sit down with romance author Kate Clayborn to talk about her newest release The Paris Match and why messy adulthood makes the best love stories. We dive into second chances, complicated family dynamics, and what it really means to rebuild your life in your thirties. Kate also shares how she approached writing Paris as more than just a setting—and why romance readers keep coming back to stories that feel both grounded and emotionally rich. 📚 Books Mentioned The Paris Match by Kate Clayborn — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Beginner’s Luck by Kate Clayborn — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ Isola by Allegra Goodman — Buy on Amazon | Historical Fiction | Audio ✅ Left of Forever by Tarah DeWitt — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Time Stamps[00:00] – Introduction to Kate Clayborn [01:00] – Beginner’s Luck and pandemic reading memories [02:00] – Overview of The Paris Match [03:00] – Grumpy sunshine dynamic + character setup [04:00] – Writing Paris as a character [06:00] – Language, culture, and realism in Paris [07:00] – Layla’s career and emotional avoidance [08:00] – What a hospitalist does (and why it matters) [09:00] – Life in your 30s vs 20s vs 40s [11:00] – Griffin’s character and isolation [12:00] – Kate’s reading life (romance + beyond) [13:00] – Favorite romance subgenres and tropes [14:00] – Auto-buy authors and recommendations [15:00] – Where to find Kate 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!

    15 min
  7. Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake

    APR 2

    Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake

    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. 📚 Books Mentioned Frostblood by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Fantasy Romance | Audio ✅ Forest King’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy, Fairy Tale Inspired | Audio ✅ Curse Queen’s Daughter by Elly Blake — Buy on Amazon | Romantasy, Enemies-to-Lovers | Audio ✅ Until the Clock Strikes Midnight by Alicia Dow — Buy on Amazon | YA Fantasy Romance, Fairytale | Audio ✅ ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Introduction to Elly Blake [01:00] Her journey into fantasy & romantasy [02:30] What “romantasy” really means [04:30] How romance reshaped the fantasy market [06:00] YA vs adult fantasy—what’s changing [08:00] Overview of Thirstwood series [10:00] The bloodthirsty forest concept [11:30] Book 1: friends-to-enemies-to-lovers setup [12:30] Book 2: Hades & Persephone vibes + mystery [14:30] Coming-of-age themes in fantasy [16:00] Reading habits: paper vs audiobooks [17:00] Book recommendation: Alicia Dow [19:30] Where to find Elly Blake 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!

    21 min
  8. Graphic Novels for Beginners (Start Here) with Sophia Glock

    MAR 31

    Graphic Novels for Beginners (Start Here) with Sophia Glock

    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 👀), the creative process behind blending art and storytelling, and where to start if you’ve never picked up a graphic novel before. 📚 Books Mentioned Before We Wake by Sophia Glock — Buy on Amazon | YA Graphic Novel | Grief, paranormal, friendship Maus by Art Spiegelman — Buy on Amazon | Historical Graphic Novel | Holocaust, memoir Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Memoir | Iran, coming-of-age Fun Home by Alison Bechdel — Buy on Amazon | Literary Graphic Memoir | Family, identity This One Summer by Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki — Buy on Amazon | YA/Adult Graphic Novel | Coming-of-age Spinning by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Memoir | Identity, adolescence Charity and Sylvia by Tillie Walden — Buy on Amazon | Graphic Novel | Historical ⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Intro + meeting Sophia Glock [01:00] Why graphic novels are underrated for adults [02:00] Writing about grief in Before We Wake [04:00] Sophia’s creative process (writing vs drawing) [05:30] Plot overview + lucid dreaming concept [07:00] Setting the book in early 2000s nostalgia [09:30] Nostalgia, pop culture, and generational memory [12:30] Where to start with graphic novels [15:00] YA vs adult tone in storytelling [16:00] Where to find Sophia 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!

    17 min
See All (902)

4
out of 5
62 Ratings

About

What to Read Next Podcast is a book recommendation podcast for mood readers who are always looking to add new books to their TBR. In each episode, Laura Yamin shares quick book recommendations so you can topple your TBR. This podcast is perfect for Romance and Mystery readers with the occasional romantasy episode.

Information

You Might Also Like