What to Read Next Podcast l Book Recommendation Show

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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
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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 Mentioned
Cozy Mysteries:
Death al Dente by Leslie Budewitz
The Rocky Road to Ruin by Meri Allen
Catch Me If You Candy by Ellie Alexander
Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander
Killing Me Soufflé by Ellie Alexander
The Diva Takes the Cake by Krista Davis
Death of a Country Fried Redneck by Lee Hollis
Death of the Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis

Thrillers:
We Were Never Friends by Kaira Rouda
The Storm by Rachel Hawkins
Anatomy of an Alibi by Ashley Elston

Romance:
The Grumpiest Billionaire by Pippa Grant
Still Into You by Erin Connor
It Seemed Like a Good Idea by Lauren Blakely
In Her Spotlight by Amy Spalding
Picnics and Promises in the Strawberry Fields by Victoria Walters
The Cherry Crush Flower Shop by Harper Graham
Mistakes Were Made by Lucy Score

Mystery
The Primrose Murder Society by Stacey Hackney

Non-fiction
All Consuming by Ruby Tandoh
Parks 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
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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
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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
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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 Conversation
Subscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)
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Subscribe & leave a review!