Ep 505: Recs for a reader in search of "best in class" books
We love unique reading projects around here, and today's guest has maintained hers since 2021. We're going to hear all about it and explore how she's adding a new twist for 2026.
Kate Mosesso is a reader and improv comedian who lives and works in Chicago. She's a lifelong reader, and while she loves the stories on the page, she's an even bigger fan of the connections that reading fosters.
Since 2021, Kate's undertaken a community-inspired reading project: every month, she reads a book recommended by a loved one. This project has led her to a lot of great books and given her a new way to connect with people she loves: friends, family members, even favorite professors. For 2026, she's thinking of a new angle for this long-time project and is interested in discussing how to make it really work for her.
Today, we're going to explore what's happening with Kate's project, the changes she'd like to make for the year ahead, and what we can do about it. Anne recommends titles and tips to infuse Kate with confidence and enthusiasm for her reading year to come.
Find the full list of titles mentioned today and leave your recommendations for Kate on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/505.
If you're curious about what the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club is all about, today Anne shares a peek behind the scenes of this online community. From our annual readers' retreats to author talks and classes to help you make the most of your reading life, Book Club is full of things to look forward to each year. Our team Best Books of the Year event is coming up in January, an event that's only available for our online communities. And looking ahead for 2026, our Book Club members will enjoy our February Readers' Day with a Spring Book Preview themed library chat, our Summer Reading Guide unboxing, Austen in August, and more good nerdy fun. We hope you'll join us in 2026 as we celebrate 10 years of the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club. A Book Club membership also makes a fantastic last-minute holiday gift. Find out more or sign up now at modernmrsdarcy.com/club.
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Ep 504: Niche and nerdy narrative nonfiction
Historical fiction is a popular genre among many, but today's guest learned a lot about her reading life when she realized this genre wasn't for her!
Today Anne is talking with Laura Howard, an Atlanta-area faculty developer and part-time university professor. She’s always seen reading as both a personal joy and a form of connection, whether with the fellow members of her longstanding book club or with other friends and neighbors.
When Laura realized she wasn't a fan of historical fiction, she was also able to pinpoint why: she’d prefer to learn about the actual history of events before reading fiction inspired by real life. She also has a specific list of topics she’d love to explore via engrossing nonfiction books. A high priority is keeping those books on the shorter side. Laura has tried to research on her own to find titles that meet her needs, but she’s found the options online to be totally overwhelming. That brings her here today: Anne and Laura dive in to identify great nonfiction about history.
Please share your ideas for Laura by leaving a comment on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/504, where you'll also find the list of titles discussed today.
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Ep 503: Which cozy mysteries are right for me?
Breaking into a new genre can feel intimidating. Today Anne is talking with a reader who is keen to explore cozy mysteries, but isn't sure where to begin.
Amber Richcreek lives in Bellingham, Washington with her family, where she’s a pre-k teacher and enjoys baking and photography in her spare time. She’s also a lifelong reader and a fan of emotional, character-driven contemporary fiction.
Lately Amber’s been intrigued by the cozy mystery genre, but when she turns to the internet for tips on where to start, she’s quickly overwhelmed. Amber would love to get acquainted with this genre and better understand how to navigate it as a new reader in this space, and Anne is here to help.
We also know that many readers are drawn to cozy titles this time of year, so it feels like a great time to explore the various subgenres of cozy mystery.
Find the titles mentioned today and leave your recommendations for Amber on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/503.
Our shop is full of both new and returning favorites right now. Our much-loved tote bag makes a great gift—or gift-wrapping—for your favorite reader. Plus we have our new collection of Leuchtturm 1917 embossed journals in custom colors selected by our team along with t-shirts and stickers, signed copies of Anne's books, buttons and pencils, and more. Check it all out at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop and if you’re ordering for holiday delivery, please place your order as early as you can.
There's still time to call and share your stories for our upcoming episode. To tell us about a favorite title you discovered thanks to What Should I Read Next, please call us by November 23 at 502-627-0663 and leave us a short voicemail. Please call from a quiet place so we can hear everything you have to say and our listeners can hear you well on the show. We can't wait to listen to your messages.
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Ep 502: Choosing book gifts your friends will love
We all know that book gifts are the best gifts, and today Anne is talking with a devoted reader who's come to the show looking for guidance on selecting great bookish gifts for the season to come.
Meredith Amadee lives in Tucson, Arizona, where she works as a wedding photographer and hosts a book club that's come to play a big part in her life. Every year, this book club hosts a book exchange for its members, and today Meredith would love recommendations that will be perfect for these special readers in her life.
She's on the hunt for backlist selections for her fellow members, and is looking for help in choosing the specific titles. She and Anne also talk more broadly about what makes a good literary gift. We hope this conversation might be just the inspiration and empowerment you need to find great gifts for the readers in your life, too.
Find the list of titles mentioned today and leave your ideas for Meredith's book club at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/502.
We've recently restocked our shop with our popular totes, hats, and our new custom journals in a variety of beautiful colors. We also have our usual selection of t-shirts, copies of my books that are always signed when you order from us, great stickers, buttons, and more. Check out what's new and what's back in stock at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop.
Help us celebrate a major milestone coming up in the new year by lending your voice and stories to a future episode. By November 23rd, please give us a call and tell us about a favorite book that you found through What Should I Read Next. To participate, call us at 502-627-0663 and leave us a short voicemail. Please call from a quiet place so we can hear everything you have to say and our listeners can hear you well on the show. We can't wait to learn about your literary discoveries.
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Ep 501: Crafting a personal curriculum for a lifelong learner
When she discovered the idea of a personal curriculum, today's guest couldn't wait to apply this concept to her reading life.
Amy St. Amand, a primary care clinical pharmacist from Rhode Island, wants to know a little bit about a whole lot of things. She's working to build a personal learning plan that encompasses a variety of her assorted interests, and she's here today for Anne's help in developing and refining her selected topics.
Anne couldn't wait to hear more about Amy's approach, why this idea resonated with her so much, and her progress so far. After they explore Amy's project, Anne recommends a whole lot of mostly nonfiction books that will help Amy delve deeper into her chosen topics.
See the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page, which you'll find at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/501.
If you're a member of our Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club, today's topic may sound familiar in a really fun way. We touched on the idea of a personal curriculum in our recent book club class, A Close Look at Great Books. Among other topics, this class explored our community manager Ginger Horton's ongoing grad school experience focused on a Great Books curriculum, and how you can apply some of those ideas to your own reading life.
If this sounds like good nerdy fun to you, head over to ModernMrsDarcy.com/club for even more of these types of conversations.
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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. To learn more or apply to be on the show visit whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com.
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