Synopsis
What to Read Next Podcast is hosted by Laura Yamin. In this show, you will find bite size book reviews, book recommendations in the romance, young adult and literary fiction genre. We have weekly guests come on the show and share their favorite books.
Episodes
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#624 Author Interview: Jewel E Ann
05/04/2023 Duration: 18minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I enjoyed catching up with author Jewel E Annl, discussing her busy life as a mother, teacher, and writer. We talked about her process of revisiting old manuscripts and turning them into new releases, as well as the challenges of transforming novellas into full-length novels. Jewel also shared her approach to writing across genres, explaining that she writes based on her mood and what she's interested in at the moment, allowing her to create authentic stories and cater to different audiences with varying tastes. Jewel’s latest release is If This is Love which is a forbidden, heartwrenching romance. We also explored the world of romance novels, discussing favorites from authors like Aly Martinez, Kate Stewart, and Jennifer Hartman, as well as works from Jody Pic
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#623 Author Interview: Lauren Kung Jensen
04/04/2023 Duration: 22minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, we dive into the world of romantic comedies and their impact on author Lauren Kung Jessen, the writer behind Lunar Love. We discuss her passion for movies and food, which led her to create her blog, A Dash's of Cinema, where she whips up dishes inspired by films. As a film major in college, Lauren's love for rom-coms has shaped her views on love and relationships. We also explore the resurgence of romantic comedies in publishing and their significance in providing representation of diverse characters and experiences. We delve into the world of Lunar Love, a romantic comedy about two Chinese Zodiac matchmakers with different approaches to helping people find love. We discuss the importance of cultural elements and traditions in the book, the research process beh
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#622 Author Interview: Piper Rayne
03/04/2023 Duration: 17minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I enjoyed exploring the world of co-authoring with the fantastic author duo Piper Rayne. We delved into their writing process, upcoming releases, and book originations and discussed their decision to launch a Kindle Unlimited pen name. We also took a deeper look at their Kingsmen series, which revolves around the lives of three football players and their romantic relationships. We touched on their upcoming projects, including the Mafia Academy series. Don't miss out on our conversation about book recommendations and where to find Piper and Rayne online. Join us for an insightful journey into the ever-evolving world of publishing and co-authoring!SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel; https://www.whattoreadnextblog.co
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#621 Favorite Reads for March 2023 I Why My Reading Has Slowed Down?
02/04/2023 Duration: 19minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I dive into my favorite books from the past month, exploring various genres and themes, from sports romances like Hail Mary by Kandi Steiner to indie romances like Until You by Catharina Maura. I also discuss my experience with the addictive Zodiac Academy series and share updates on our "Do You Even Read Romance?" book club. Additionally, I touch on the importance of finding a balance between reading for pleasure and reading non-fiction. As a special treat, I invite listeners to join us for the Epigraph Literary Festival, which is free on April 27-29, 2023. If you're enjoying the episode, please feel free to share it with friends and join us for the festival!PODCAST SPONSOR:Epigraph Literary FestivalIf, your idea of a good time, is spending time with book peop
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#620 Best Romance Novels Book Boyfriends (March 2023)
31/03/2023 Duration: 27minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, we dive into the world of romance novels and explore the concept of book boyfriends. We discuss our favorite books and series, like The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren* and the Zodiac Academy by Caroline Peckham and Susanne Valenti. We discuss the diverse spectrum of book boyfriends in romance novels, from alpha males to cinnamon roll heroes, and how our preferences can change depending on our mood. We also touch on the importance of communication, conflict resolution, and self-actualization in these characters, as well as the influence of romance novels on our own relationships and expectations. Join us as we delve into the world of book boyfriends and the lessons we can learn from them!*Affiliate Links SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlo
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#619 5 Literary Fiction Novels Perfect for Romance Readers
30/03/2023 Duration: 27minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I explore the world of literary fiction and romance, focusing on engaging stories with strong, passionate, and relatable female protagonists. We discuss the evolution of both genres to include more diverse representation and the importance of embracing challenges and personal growth in midlife. We delve into captivating novels like All This Could Be Different by Sarah Thankam Matthews*, Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin*, and The Sentence by Louis Erdrich*. If you're a fan of romance or literary fiction, you won't want to miss this episode filled with compelling stories and unforgettable characters!*Affiliate LinksSHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusi
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#618 Thrilling Tales: Exploring Strong Female Protagonist
29/03/2023 Duration: 13minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I had a fantastic conversation with Ashley, who runs the Tampa chapter of the Thrillers by the Book Club. We explored strong female protagonists in thriller novels and shared our top recommendations for books featuring complex, unlikable, and multifaceted female characters. Some of our favorite picks include Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Craft* The Hunting Wives by May Cobb, The Turnout by Megan Abbott,* My Sweet Girl by Amanda Jayatissa*, and People Like Her by Ellery Lloyd* Don't miss this episode packed with thrilling book recommendations.*Affiliate LinksSHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/sunnyLice
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#617 Author Interview: Tijan
28/03/2023 Duration: 13minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I had the pleasure of chatting with author Tijan about her writing journey, which began after college when she started using her parents' old computer to get the stories and characters in her head out into the world. Tijan shares her experiences writing on platforms like Fiction Press, Live Journal, and Wattpad, and how her self-published book, Fallen Crest High*, skyrocketed her career.Tijan’s latest book is Hockey with Benefits*, a new adult friends-with-benefits romance. Tijan shares a few of her backlist titles for you to pick up after reading Hockey with Benefits*.We also explored the benefits and challenges of being a hybrid author, working with both traditional and self-publishing. Tijan talks about the support she receives from a team in traditional pub
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#616 Author Interview: Stella Holt
27/03/2023 Duration: 11minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I enjoyed chatting with Stella Hote, an author who has been writing for a long time and reading romance. We discussed her journey to becoming a published author and her exciting new series launching with Tule. Stella shared her love for romance novels, spanning from historical to modern and everything in between. We also delved into her upcoming books, including "Last First Kiss" and "Battle of Hearts," as well as her writing process and the importance of embracing change and learning from professionals in the industry. To wrap up, Stella shared some fantastic romance book recommendations and where you can find her online. Don't miss this episode if you're an avid romance reader or want a behind-the-scenes look at the life of a romance author!*Affiliate Links S
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#615: Books Like Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score (Small Town Grumpy Sunshine Romance Recommendations)
26/03/2023 Duration: 13minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I'm excited to launch a new weekly series where I'll be recommending books similar to popular romance novels. First, we'll discuss the 2022 breakout hit "Things We Never Got Over" by Lisa Score* and its sequel, "Things We Hide in the Light.* " I'll also share four book recommendations for fans of the single parent, grumpy hero, and small-town romance stories, including "Juniper Hill" by Devney Perry*, "Charmed" by Laura Pavlov*, "Ignite" by Melanie Harlow*, and "Heartless" by Elsie Silver*. If you're a mood reader craving more romance, this episode is for you! Remember, you can find even more recommendations in the accompanying blog post, Books Like Things We Never Got Over by Lucy Score (Grumpy- Small Town Romances). Don't hesitate to send me your suggestions
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#614 Author Interview: Brianna Labuskes
25/03/2023 Duration: 21minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. In this episode, I chatted with author Brianna about her journey from journalism to writing psychological thrillers and historical fiction. This spring, Brianna will have two books out: The Librarian of Burned Books* (Historical Fiction) and See It End* (Psychological Thriller, Book 3 in the Dr. Gretchen White series) We discussed the importance of research in both genres and how her background in journalism has helped her transition into fiction writing. We also touched on the timely topic of book banning and censorship, drawing parallels between the 1930s and today, and the power of controlling information. We then dived into discussing our favorite books in the Game Changers series by Rachel Reid*, a male/male hockey romance collection with comforting aspects and deeper issu
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#613 Author Interview: Ren DeStefano
24/03/2023 Duration: 12minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Today we are chatting with Ren DeStefano. Ren has been a published author since 2011, but this year, she debuted her adult thriller, How I’ll Kill You, which explores a family of serial killers. In this episode, we chat about the following:How Ren’s passion for true crime led her to write her first thriller How she picked the trope of a serial killer and turned it upside down by choosing a family as opposed to a lone wolfWhat was Ren’s path to true crime from Unsolved Mysteries, Investigative Discovery, and podcastsSome of Ren’s favorite true crime podcastsRen’s writing process of writing How I’ll Kill You**Affiliate Link SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Cre
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#612 Author Interview: Greer Rivers
23/03/2023 Duration: 08minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to buy books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Today’s guest is Greer Rivers. Greer writes dark, spicy romance. Her latest is Rouge*, part of a retelling series of tragedies that are dark romances with a happily ever after. In this episode, we chat about the following: How Greer ended up writing within the dark romance nicheHow did her career as a former criminal lawyer influence her writing How her books are darkWe chat about Rouge, what to expect from this book, and why you should read it.Greer’s writing process, from fast drafts to spending a lot of time editing*Affiliate LinkSHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/sunnyLicense code: 0RDRBKGH6NGQCAXRBecome a supporter of t
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#611 Author Interview: Melissa Cassera
22/03/2023 Duration: 21minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Today’s guest is debut author Melissa Cassera. Melissa’s debut novel. Control* is an upper YA/New Adult paranormal romance full of twists and turns and self-discovery set in an elite boarding school. In this interview, we chat about the following: How Melissa transitioned to writing fiction after years of writing screenwriting What has been the process of writing a trilogy from putting together a series bibleWhy cliffhangers seem to work on TV and film but not on books When will the trilogy be completeOur share love for Turkish Soap Operas Where to watch Turkish Soap Operas? For English listeners, you can find them on YouTube. If you are a Spanish speaker, Peacock has quite a few. *Affiliate LinksSHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel
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#610 Author Interview: Lila Riesen
21/03/2023 Duration: 08minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Today we are chatting with debut author Lila Riesen. Lila’s new YA novel is Free Radicals*, a coming-of-age novel with Afghan representation. In this interview: we chat about the following:Lila’s writing journey to get publishedWhy she started out writing fantasy romances and the process that led her to write and sell her debut novelWhat Free Radicals* is all aboutWhy Lila chose to write within the YA nicheSome fun YA book recommendations Based on Lila’s book recommendations, you should also check out our interview with Krytal Marquis (episode #577, available on Spotify)*Affiliate Links SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzman
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#609 Author Interview: Krista and Becca Ritchie
20/03/2023 Duration: 17minToday’s guests are Krista & Becca Ritchie. Krista and Becca are a writing duo that writes new adult contemporary romance that is angsty and full of character development. They are best known for the Addicted and Calloway sisters series. In this episode, we chat about the following:Each sister’s interests and how they influence their writingWhy writing books is a family affairHow they conceived the Addicted series almost ten years agoHow reader’s word of mouth provided the Addicted series a Cinderella storyWe chat about the Like Us series and how different this series is in comparison to the Addicted seriesTheir upcoming series from what to expect, what shows did it inspireRELATED CONTENTPlease check out our series guide to the Addicted/Calloway universe created by Krista and Becca Ritchie (blog, Spotify episode #226)SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzm
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#608 Living in Our Hockey Era with @fitteacherrachel
19/03/2023 Duration: 18minToday, I am chatting with content creator Rachel Baldwin (@fitteacherrachel). We both are living in our Hockey Romance era, and we are sharing the latest Hockey Romance new releases you must add to your TBR.In this episode, we chat about the following:Rachel’s reading journeyHow reading helped her find an identity outside of being a mom of threeHow she manages to read while living in a busy seasonHer unique and chaotic rating systemHow she listens to audiobooks as a way to make mom's life betterWhy we should DNF more booksRachel’s Reading Spreadsheet - Perfect if you are looking for spicy book recommendationsWhat led her to offer Special Edition Book BoxesWhy Hockey Romance is a Top-Tier Sports RomanceFive book recommendations that are all available on Kindle UnlimitedA listener note, I have read all five book recommendations that Rachel made. These are excellent recommendations. Some books are chunky (500+), some read fast, while others may take a while. They are all spicy.SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://Wha
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#607 Starter Guide to Sports Romance on KU with Buzzing About Romance
18/03/2023 Duration: 44minToday I am excited to chat with Becky from the Buzzing About Romance Podcast. Becky is here to share the ultimate guide for Sports Romance on Kindle Unlimited.In this episode, we chat about the following:How did the Buzzing About Romance Podcast start, and it was rebrandedWe talk about Becky’s reading journey from Historical Romance, YA Dystopian, Charlaine Harris's True Blood seriesHow we both discovered and used Kindle UnlimitedWe talk about how to search for books on AmazonWhere do we find our book recommendationsSeries recommendations available on Kindle Unlimited for the following sports: football, baseball, winter sports, hockey romance books. ’SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/sunnyLicense code: 0RDRBKGH6NGQCAXRBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-to-read-next-podcast-l-book-recommendation-show--5263998/sup
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#606 Author Interview: Laura Pavlov
17/03/2023 Duration: 15minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Today’s guest is romance author Laura Pavlov. Her latest release is Into the Tide*, a brother’s best friend, small-town romance.In this episode, we chat about the following:Laura’s writing journey Based on Laura’s backlist, she shares the various starting points for reading her books.If you love billionaire romances, then begin with Legacy (Montgomery Brothers)*If you love small-town romances, there are two starting points: Frayed (Willow Springs)*Always Mine (Honey Mountain) *We chat about what to expect from the Cottonwood Cove series What was the setting inspiration for the Honey Mountain and Cottonwood Cove series Lots of indie romance book recommendations *Affiliate LinksSHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattore
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#605 Author Interview: Audrey Carlan
16/03/2023 Duration: 21minDisclosure: We are part of the Amazon Affiliate/LTK Creator programs. We will receive a small commission at no cost if you purchase a book. This post may contain links to purchase books & you can read our affiliate disclosure here. Today’s guest is romance author Audrey Carlan. Audrey’s serial, The Marriage Auction, is the top serial on Kindle Vella. In this episode, we chat about the following:Audrey’s writing journey How Fifty Shades of Grey inspired Audrey to write romanceWhat is Kindle Vella?How does Kindle Vella work for a reader?How to write a successful Kindle Vella?What is The Marriage Auction all about?Alien and thriller book recommendations *Affiliate Links SHOWNOTES AND BOOK LINKShttp://WhattoReadNextBlog.comCheck out our YouTube Channel;https://www.whattoreadnextblog.com/youtubeMusic from Uppbeat (free for Creators!):https://uppbeat.io/t/hartzmann/sunnyLicense code: 0RDRBKGH6NGQCAXRBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/what-to-read-next-podcast-l-book-recommendat