Today we're sharing a conversation with an author who has been discussed often here on the podcast: William Kent Krueger. 

We originally held this author talk over in Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club, and which we're sharing with you today as we explore Krueger's book This Tender Land.

This conversation feels especially timely and has been on our minds and on our tongues, as This Tender Land was inspired by Homer's The Odyssey, a timeless story that many of you tell us you're looking forward to seeing on screen this summer in the new blockbuster adaptation film.

Today's conversation and your enjoyment of it does not hang on whether you know anything at all about The Odyssey, or whether you've read anything by Kent Krueger yet. Join us as we explore the power of a good story well told, how authors make creative decisions, and the backstories behind Krueger's beloved series and his decidedly different standalone novels. You'll also hear the story behind his favorite pair of boots. 

Let us know if you're looking forward to seeing (or reading) The Odyssey this summer in the comments section. Find that along with the list of titles discussed on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/534.

For more conversations like this one, join us over in the Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club, where we're excited about our upcoming annual observance of Austen in August, followed by our Fall Book Preview in mid-September. We'd love to have you join us for our live events. Members also enjoy our robust community featuring dedicated book forums, buddy reads, classes, and more happenings. We hope you'll find your book people in Book Club. Find out more and join us at modernmrsdarcy.com/club.

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Today Anne is joined by our Patreon Community Manager, Shannan Malone for a third year as they dive into their reading lives for a midyear check-in.

We know this is a conversation that many of you have come to look forward to every year. Anne has been reflecting and planning for this episode for a long time, and she's excited about what Shannan is bringing to share today. You'll hear about what's been happening so far in each of their reading lives and where recalibration or adjustment may be called for as they head into the second half of 2026.

We'd love to hear your midyear reflections: please leave a comment on our show notes page to share an answer to any of the questions Shannan and Anne discuss today. You'll find that link along with the list of all of the titles discussed today at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/533.

Our Patreon community features more conversations with Anne and our team. We rely on our Patreon community members to keep everything running: their financial support is a critical part of how we create our episodes and pay our team. A huge thank you to everyone who is already a paid supporter, and if you're interested in more conversations like today's or want to be part of making What Should I Read Next? happen each week, we would love it if you'd consider joining us as a monthly or annual member on Patreon. Find out more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

Chapters

05:46 What Anne and Shannan are discussing in this episode

06:30 Shannan’s reading intentions for 2026

09:34 Anne’s intentions for 2026

18:33 Making space in your life (and your reading life)

20:08 Shannan’s previous five-star reads

34:45 Anne and Shannan explore midyear review questions

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We often talk about backlist books around here because there is a wealth of delight to be found in titles that aren't getting the buzz and attention of recent releases. In fact, one of our most frequent requests from listeners and prospective guests is "help me find backlist gems."

We are riffing on that theme by sharing a backlist episode with you: today Anne is resurfacing a conversation that we still talk about and hear about all the time, in part because of the guest's absolutely unique way of choosing her next read. Today Anne is chatting with reader Elizabeth Cooper, in an episode we originally aired in July 2020 as Episode 244, You Love to Read, Don't Ruin It.

Elizabeth came here looking for books she described as brain candy: books with a killer premise, pages that practically turn themselves, and totally satisfying endings. This is a great conversation, and we're excited for you to hear it again or for the first time.

Find the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/532.

Reflecting on our reading lives is an endless source of joy and discovery, and over the past few years, What Should I Read Next? Patreon community manager Shannon Malone has joined Anne for a mid-year reading check-in. They're doing that again this year, and that brand-new episode will be landing in your podcast apps next week. If you're new to this idea, check out our conversations from 2024 and 2025: those are both linked on our show notes page.

Chapters

03:27 Meet Elizabeth

10:24 Kings of the Wyld by Nicholas Eames

12:54 Mistress of Rome by Kate Quinn

17:42 The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow

32:03 Trail of Lightning by Rebecca Roanhorse

36:49 Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan

40:13 Strike Me Down by Mindy Mejia

43:48 What will Elizabeth read next?

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Today's guest is navigating a tough season, and as a result she is looking forward to a summer of books with heart that won't be too emotionally draining. Kayla Crum is searching for what she calls light but not fluffy reads, and she's not exactly sure where to find the types of titles she's looking for.

Kayla's an RN and freelance writer living in Grand Haven, Michigan, where she enjoys making the most of her Lake Michigan proximity by spending time outside with her family and reading on the beach when she can fit it into her schedule. When it comes to her summer reading quest, Kayla's identified a specific type of story that is really working well for her. Today, Kayla is hoping Anne can help her understand why this specific setting is working so well, because she'd love to discover more books that satisfy in the same way.

You'll find the list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/531.

Early summer is our busy season around here, and we know that's the case for many of you as well. Our team will be taking next week off, but we will be back in your podcast players the following week. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy exploring our archives of over 500 episodes. Visit us at modernmrsdarcy.com/podcast to explore both recent and backlist episodes.

Chapters:

04:29 Meet Kayla

07:38 Kayla’s search for books with heart during a season of grief

19:55 The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman

22:04 Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo

26:10 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

28:02  Havoc by Christopher Bollen

32:28 A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

36:45 Make Nice by Ryan Effgen

41:28 Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan

45:02 The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman

48:32 Road Ends by Mary Lawson

54:43 What will Kayla read next?

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Anne dives into the world of beach reads with Kristina Forest, contemporary romance writer and author of the 2026 MMD Summer Reading Guide title, The Summer Girlfriend.

In the Guide, Anne described it as a sweet summer romance bursting with bookishness and baked goods. The beach setting was inspired by a handful of real places and Kristina's deep and abiding love for the Jersey Shore. Anne and Kristina chat all about that today, along with some of Kristina's very favorite titles for beach reading season. Whether you need a paperback to toss in your beach bag, or you won't be going anywhere near the beach anytime soon and would welcome a vicarious vacation, today's conversation has titles you may enjoy.

Find the list of books mentioned on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/530.

Chapters

02:29 Meet Kristina Forest

05:46 Kristina’s journey to becoming an author

17:19 Kristina on writing a beach read

20:10 The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest

32:46: Kristina’s favorite beach reads

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We love a summer reading project of any style, and when Anne read the submission from today's guest and her quest for what she is calling a short summer of reading, she wanted to talk about it on the show.

Emily Henderson is a mom of four, writer, and runner with a passion for home design, and she loves a project. While Emily came to reading later in life, she's found through trial and error what really works for her, and these days that's often books in an audio format.

This summer, though, Emily would love to prioritize daily reading on the page. She's looking for short reading experiences that will not only get her reading more in print, but also serve as a satisfying substitute for social media that she wants to spend less time on.

Emily is looking for short stories, essay collections, memoirs and essays, and micro histories that deliver the quick bite-sized reading experience she is hoping to log every day of summer break. And she'd especially appreciate stories that leave her breathless or make her think about them long after she finishes. Anne has ideas she can't wait to share.

Find the list of titles mentioned and leave your suggestions for Emily on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/529.

Our 2026 MMD Summer Reading Guide, the 15th edition, is available now. Buy your 38-page Summer Reading Guide PDF digital copy at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop, and you'll also get access to the Unboxing event recording. This is also the second year we are offering a beautifully printed edition of the Guide, which you'll also find at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop. At this time, we are only able to ship to U.S. addresses.

Chapters:

04:05 Meet Emily

13:24 Emily’s short summer reading project

20:36 The History of Sound by Ben Shattuck

24:01 The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green

27:28 This is a Story of a Happy Marriage by Ann Patchett

30:58 Girl on Girl: How Pop Culture Turned a Generation of Women Against Themselves by Sophie Gilbert

39:35 Seasonal Work by Laura Lippman

43:08 So Late in the Day by Claire Keegan

45:53 World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

48:12 Small Town Girls by Jayne Anne Phillips

53:51 What will Emily read next?

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Every year we remind readers that our Summer Reading Guide isn't a list of books you should read, it's a list of books you could read. Today's guest knows that reading is personal, and that's why she's here to get Anne's help figuring out which titles from the 2026 Guide she should prioritize. 

Ashley Cornelius lives in Santa Barbara with her family, where she's a high school science teacher. Ashley reached out to tell us about the books she's loved and one she didn't from past Summer Reading Guides, and wondered if Anne could help her select books from this year's Guide that might fit her desired summer vibe.

Today, Anne is helping one particular reader decide what to read next. But more than that, she's walking you through the thought process of considering what to read next in light of what you already know about your reading life.

Find the list of titles discussed today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/528.

Chapters:

02:58 Meet Ashley

07:13 What brings Ashley to What Should I Read Next?

12:44 The River by Peter Heller

16:27 The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty

19:57 The God of the Woods by Liz Moore

22:34 The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd

38:35 Fair Chase by Travis Mulhauser

43:54 Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel

50:39 Country People by Daniel Mason

55:29 What will Ashley read next?

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Today's book lover is seeking a literary doorway into the creative world of art and museums.

Kristine Parsons doesn't have an art background. She works as a county road commission manager in Michigan, yet she is fascinated by art and museums, and finds herself drawn to immersive and engaging stories that incorporate one or both elements into the story.

Kristine loves to travel and visit museums in person, but her day-to-day life between work and two active pre-teens means that in this season, these visits are more likely to occur on the page. Today, Kristine and Anne explore stories featuring art and the creative process. If Anne has recommendations that are actually set in museums, well, so much the better.

We'd love to hear your ideas for Kristine, too: please tell us by leaving a comment on our show notes page, where you'll also find the list of titles mentioned today. That's at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/527.

We're so happy to announce that our long-awaited MMD sorority style sweatshirt is available for pre-order. A mid-weight Comfort Colors crew, choose from two shades: a soft blue called blue jean and a soft red called crimson. Both feature an MMD applique in deep navy. These are cute and comfortable, and our team is excited to wear them on cool summer nights and into the colder months of the year. We also have a new hat style and other restocked favorites: find everything at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop.

Chapters:

03:43 Meet Kristine

09:06 What brings Kristine to What Should I Read Next?

14:31 The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai

17:55 The Unseen World by Liz Moore

21:47 Heart the Lover by Lily King

24:47 A Marriage at Sea by Sophie Elmhirst

31:14 The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews

36:52 Lightbreakers by Aja Gabel

43:07 Dear Monica Lewinsky by Julia Langbein

48:08 What will Kristine read next?

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This week, Anne is sharing an excerpt from our 2026 Summer Reading Guide Live Unboxing. To mark our 15th Guide, we’re inviting you to listen in as she tells you all about this year's Minimalist Picks.

During our Summer Reading Guide Unboxing, Anne goes through every book and tells you why out of the hundreds of books she considered for the Guide that year, these are the ones she landed on. What makes them interesting, what is each story like, what kinds of readers might they appeal to?

In today’s excerpt, we're sharing what Anne had to say about the six titles in this year’s Minimalist Guide.

We hope this gives you an exciting preview of our 15th Summer Reading Guide. For the list of titles mentioned today and more, visit our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/526.

This year's complete Guide includes 35 new-for-2026 releases, our popular “For fans of” backlist recommendations, Awesome on Audio picks, reading retreat best practices from our team, and a splashy anniversary feature looking back on 15 years of the SRG.

If you’ve not yet gotten your Guide, you can do that now or anytime with instant digital delivery. Your a la carte purchase or membership also grants you access to our video Unboxing of the entire Guide. We’re also offering a professionally printed guide, delivered straight to your mailbox in the U.S. These are shipping now: visit our shop at modernmrsdarcy.com/shop to order yours. That's where you'll also find retreat-worthy merch, like our cozy new sorority sweatshirt, a brand new hat that I hope brings a smile to your face, restocked book darts, stickers, totes, and more more.

Chapters

03:05 What’s in the 2026 Summer Reading Guide?

04:52 The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh

07:23 Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

9:48 Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy

12:10 Land by Maggie O’Farrell

13:54 The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders

15:38 Whistler by Ann Patchett

17:58 How to get the complete 2026 Summer Reading Guide

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I am delighted to welcome our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club Community Manager, Ginger Horton, back to the show to talk about this year's 15th annual Summer Reading Guide and dive into all things summer reading.

Ginger has been collaborating on the Guide for many years now, and she played an integral role in selecting our 2026 reading retreat theme. As you'll hear today, she's also the reason we started hosting our annual Unboxing live events. We're going to get into that in detail.

Ginger is also a co-discoverer with readers, though, because just a few hours before we recorded, she saw the first draft of this year's Summer Reading Guide. She and I talk about what we love most about this year's Guide and how you can make sure you get a copy. We hope you'll enjoy this conversation and it sparks your excitement for this week's release of our 15th annual Guide.

Find the list of titles mentioned today at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/525.

If you are already a member of our Modern Mrs Darcy Book Club or our What Should I Read Next? Patreon communities, or you purchased your à la carte ticket, you are all set to get the Guide on Thursday and attend Thursday's Unboxing events at either 1:00 PM or 8:00 PM. And if neither time works for you, never fear: we'll have the recording available not too long after the events. During the Unboxing, Anne goes through all the titles in the Guide one by one, sharing more about why she chose each title, what the reading experience is like, and what kind of reader may most enjoy each book. Find out all the details you need to know at modernmrsdarcy.com/srg.

Chapters:

02:27 What to expect at the Summer Reading Guide Unboxing Event

26:09 Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan

26:54 Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy

28:36 The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders

41:40 How to get the Summer Reading Guide

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Today Anne is talking books with Lee Weick, a Michigan-dwelling former teacher and grandmother who knows that variety keeps her reading life going.

Lee loves big, long books and is most satisfied with her reading life when she's reading those big books on a regular basis. But as you will hear, Lee has learned that the rhythms of her reading life also require a nice, steady supply of books on the shorter side.

Lately, Lee is feeling stuck when it comes to finding shorter reads that still feel substantial, thought-provoking, and interesting. Anne has lots of ideas for Lee, and today she'll put a few shorter books on Lee's radar that sound right up her alley.

Find the list of titles discussed and leave your suggestions for Lee on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/524.

Our Summer Reading Guide release is just around the corner, which means it's the time of year we welcome many new members to our Patreon community. When you join us there, you get immediate access to all our past Summer Reading Guides and seasonal previews, our weekly bonus episodes, and of course, this year's 15th Summer Reading Guide and Live Unboxing event. Choose from monthly or annual membership options that help you enjoy all that we do over in Patreon while also financially supporting our show and our team. Find out more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext.

Chapters:

03:03 Meet Lee

07:25 What Lee is looking for in her reading life

16:52 Vera, or Faith by Gary Shteyngart

18:56 Patriot by Alexei Navalny

21:48 The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

25:26 The Vaster Wilds by Lauren Groff

35:31 Wedding Toasts I'll Never Give by Ada Calhoun

38:45 Fight Night by Miriam Towes

41:48 Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood

46:22 The Summer Book by Tove Jansson

48:44 What will Lee read next?

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