What to Read Next — Book Recommendations for Romance, Thrillers & Escape Reads
About
You know you want to read. You just don't know what. What to Read Next is the podcast for readers who love romance, thrillers, and women's fiction — and spend more time staring at their TBR than actually reading it. I'm Laura, and twice a week I bring you book recommendations built around one thing: how you actually feel right now. Not what's new. Not what's trending. The right book for this exact mood, this exact moment, this exact week of your life. Some weeks that means asking an author what they read for joy — not what they wrote, but what they reach for when they need to escape. Their answer is always your next discovery. Some weeks it means me telling you exactly what I read, what stayed with me, what I DNF'd at 40% and why, and which one I'd press into your hands right now if we were having coffee. Romance across every subgenre. Psychological thrillers. Beach reads with actual substance. Women's fiction that makes you feel seen. The books that give you the escape you came for — and a few that'll quietly change how you see things too. New episodes every Monday and Wednesday. The Reading Receipt — my weekly reading log — drops every Thursday on Substack. Start anywhere. The right episode will find you.
Episodes
- Speak Now: The Queer Audio Rom-Com You Need to Hear | Author Interview with Ash Perez
Host Laura interviews debut novelist and screenwriter Ash Perez about their audio-first queer rom-com, Speak Now. The discussion covers the production of the audio drama, the influence of early 2000s rom-coms, and personal reading recommen…
- Agatha Christie's Housekeeper Solves Murders? | Colleen Cambridge/Gleason: Historical Mystery Author Interview
Host Laura interviews author Colleen Gleason, also known as Colleen Cambridge, about writing historical mystery series set in various eras. The conversation explores her pen name strategy, the appeal of amateur sleuths, and details regardi…
- Beyond Bridgerton: Classic Historical Romance Hidden Gems | The Duke by Anna Cowan
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. What if the Duke was a woman — and the courtesan trying to blackmail her was the love interest? If that premise just made you sit up str…
- Why Locked-Room Mysteries Still Work with Molly Harper | Millennial Murder Mysteries
Author Molly Harper joins the What to Read Next podcast to discuss her transition from paranormal romance to writing cozy murder mysteries. The conversation covers the themes of her latest release, A Cute Little Murder, including the locke…
- Cannes, Murder & Secrets: A Summer Thriller | We Will Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau
Author Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau discusses her transition from YA romance to writing thrillers, including her latest novel, We Will Never Tell. The episode explores the book's glamorous Cannes Film Festival setting, the craft of suspense, and…
- Messy Wedding Rom-Coms You’ll Love | Save the Date by Mallory Kass/Kass Morgan
This episode features an interview with author Mallory Kass, also known as Kass Morgan. She discusses her new book "Save the Date", her transition from young adult to adult romance writing, and the nuances of creating multi-perspective rom…
- The Angsty Romance You Need This Year | The Write Off by Kara McDowell
Kara McDowell discusses her novel, The Write-Off, which features a second-chance romance with college nostalgia and writer drama. She also talks about balancing writing and motherhood, and shares her favorite contemporary romance reads.
- 32 Books Later… My Best & Worst Reads of 2026 so far!
This episode reviews 32 books read in the first quarter of 2026, covering best and worst reads across genres like cozy mysteries, thrillers, and romance. It highlights standout books and reading experiences from the period.
- Inside The Paris Match with Kate Clayborn | Contemporary Romance
In this episode, Kate Clayborn discusses her novel, The Paris Match, exploring themes of second chances and family dynamics. The conversation also covers writing Paris as a character and the emotional richness of contemporary romance novel…
- Magical Forest Fantasy Books with Love Stories with Elly Blake
Elly Blake joins the podcast to discuss her experience writing fantasy romance and how the genre has developed. She also shares insights into creating her Thirstwood series, drawing inspiration from fairy tales and folklore.
- Graphic Novels for Beginners (Start Here) with Sophia Glock
This episode features a conversation with cartoonist Sophia Glock about graphic novels, including her work "Before We Wake." The discussion covers how graphic novels can explore themes like grief, their accessibility for adults, and recomm…
- From Reading Slump to 200 Books a Year with Nathalie Canadas
Nathalie Canadas shares her experience of increasing her reading from an occasional hobby to over 200 books annually. The discussion includes insights into audiobooks, immersive reading, Kindle Unlimited, and the impact of joining a book c…
- Romance, Sisterhood and How Simi Got Her Groom Back with Sonali Dev
In this episode, Sonali Dev discusses her novel How Simi Got Her Groom Back. The conversation covers themes of sisterhood, love, immigration, and chosen family, as well as romance as a tool for healing and self-worth.
- STEM Romance and the Chaos of Academia | Love and Other Brain Experiments byHannah Brohm
This episode features an interview with debut author Hannah Brohm about her novel "Love and Other Brain Experiments." The discussion covers her transition from cognitive neuroscience to romance writing and how academia influenced her book.
- Spy Romance Meets Cozy Mystery: The Gabby Green Series by Sam Tschida
This episode features author Sam Tschida discussing her Gabby Green series, which combines spy romance and cozy mystery. The conversation covers writing process, character development, and balancing life with a high-stakes career.
- A Slasher Rom-Com? Inside How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates by Shailee Thompson
Shailee Thompson discusses her debut novel, "How to Kill a Guy in 10 Dates," a slasher rom-com. She shares insights into combining the rom-com and slasher genres, her journey to becoming a full-time writer, and book recommendations.
- The Slow Burn Celebrity Romance You Need | Star Shipped Cat Sebastian
Cat Sebastian discusses her new contemporary romance, Star Shipped. The book features a slow-burn, forced-proximity love story between two actors on a sci-fi show.
- Book Bans in 1915? The Story Behind It | The Sisters of Book Row by Shelley Noble
This episode features a discussion with historical fiction author Shelley Noble about her novel "The Sisters of Book Row," which is set in 1915 New York during the Comstock censorship laws. They discuss book bans, Margaret Sanger, and the…
- Megachurch Drama Meets MomTok Energy | Too Blessed to Stress by Alli Hoff Kosik
Alli Hoff Kosik joins the podcast to discuss her debut novel, "Too Blessed to Stress," which delves into themes of faith, friendship, ambition, and online culture. They explore how influencer culture and megachurch dynamics are reflected i…
- A Love Letter to Sapphic Romance and Live Theater with Amy Spalding | Celebrity RomCom
Amy Spalding joins for a discussion on "In Her Spotlight," a sapphic romance exploring queer joy, celebrity culture, and live theater. The conversation covers power dynamics, nuanced coming-out stories, and recommendations for sapphic and…
- The Sex Lessons Trope — Done Right | A Little Buzzed by Alys Murray
Alys Murray discusses her romance novel A Little Buzzed, the evolution of the sex toy industry, and writing sex-positive romance with emotional arcs. The conversation also includes other romance novel recommendations.
- Can a Serial Killer Be “Cozy”? Dark Comedy Meets Cozy Mystery | Fergus Craig
In this episode, host Laura Tremaine interviews author Fergus Craig about his novel "I'm Not the Only Murderer in My Retirement Home." They discuss the concept of "cracked cozy" mysteries, crafting a likable serial killer protagonist, and…
- Writing Romance from Venezuela with Maria José Morillo | Celebrity RomCom
Maria José Morillo, a Venezuelan author, discusses writing English-language romance from Venezuela. She shares her journey from fanfiction to publishing, insights on celebrity rom-com tropes, and Latin American pop culture.
- Buffy Meets Dark Academia: Inside Half City with Kate Golden
In this episode, fantasy romance author Kate Golden discusses her transition from a studio executive in Hollywood to a full-time author. She shares her experiences with indie publishing and securing a traditional book deal, and talks about…
- How to Make Adult Friends (Plus 6 Book Recs!) | Friday Night Readers
This episode discusses how to make adult friends and build meaningful female friendships, featuring insights from the hosts and recommendations for books that celebrate friendship. The conversation covers how to form connections, including…
- Second-Chance Love, Queer Romance, and ’90s Music Nostalgia | Lisa Peers
Lisa Peers discusses her novel, "Motor City Love Song," which explores a second-chance, queer romance within the Detroit indie music scene. The conversation covers the 90s garage-rock era, changes in live music venues, and revisiting past…
- Cozy Mystery Starter Guide: Series We Loved (and Quit) | Honest Thoughts on Hannah Swansen Series
This episode provides a guide to cozy mysteries, covering topics such as series conventions, foodie cozies, and seasonal reads. It also discusses specific series like the Hannah Swensen Mysteries and Bakeshop Mysteries.
- Rom-Com Meets Murder: A Killer Kind of Romance with Letizia Lorini | Romantic Mystery
This episode features author Letizia Lorini discussing her debut novel, A Killer Kind of Romance. She shares insights into her journey from criminology to romance writing and how her background influenced the book, which combines romance,…
- Queer Romance, Bi Identity, and Being Seen with Jordyn Taylor | Winter Queer RomCom
Jordyn Taylor discusses her adult debut, See You at the Summit, and the importance of bisexual representation in romance. The conversation covers bi-erasure, "double discrimination," and claiming identity. Taylor also shares insights from…
- This Cozy Mystery Author Turned Haunted Lighthouses Into Comfort Reads | Darci Hannah
In this episode, author Darci Hannah discusses creating cozy mystery series with elements like haunted lighthouses and bake shops. She shares her journey from writing historical fiction to crafting popular cozy mysteries.
- Anne of Green Gables, Reimagined for a Post-COVID World with Virginia Kantra
Virginia Kantra joins the podcast to discuss her novel, Anne of a Different Island, a modern homage to Anne of Green Gables. The conversation explores why Anne Shirley remains relevant, how stories help process trauma, and the importance o…
- Get Ready for Bridgerton Season 4 + Cinderella Historical Romance Recs
This episode discusses predictions for Bridgerton Season 4, focusing on its potential Cinderella storyline and recommending historical romance novels that fit the theme. It also covers differences between the book canon and the show, and t…
- Reclaiming Marilyn Monroe Through the Female Gaze with Lynn Cullen | Historical Fiction
In this episode, author Lynn Cullen discusses her historical fiction novel about Marilyn Monroe. The conversation covers Monroe's relationship with photographer Eve Arnold, themes of trauma and fame, and the concept of the female gaze.
- Millennial Cozy Mysteries for Romance Readers with Jenny Elder Moke | Mystery RomCom
In this episode, Jenny Elder Moke discusses millennial cozy mysteries. She explains why these books appeal to romance readers and how they differ from thrillers, focusing on puzzles, banter, and emotional payoff without intense elements.
- Before the Podcast: How I Fell Back in Love With Reading as an Adult (2016 Throwback)
This throwback episode explores rediscovering reading as an adult. It covers how a 2016 interview reshaped the host's reading life and led to the creation of the podcast.
- The Long Road to a Debut Novel (and Why It’s Worth It) with Rosie Storey
Rosie Storey joins the podcast to discuss her non-linear publishing journey, including her debut novel "Dandelion Is Dead." She shares insights on persistence in writing, navigating rejections, and the importance of depicting messy mid-thi…
- Adventure Rom-Coms Are Back (In Book Form) with Jo Segura
Jo Segura joins the podcast to discuss adventure rom-coms, combining archaeological research with rom-com pacing, and creating strong heroines. The conversation covers why Hollywood abandoned true adventure romances and features Jo Segura'…
- How Romance Authors Actually Make a Living with Lauren Connolly
This episode features romance author Lauren Connolly discussing how authors make a living in the publishing industry. Topics include hybrid publishing, creative sustainability, and managing various income streams.
- How I Finally Figured Out What I Like to Read
This episode discusses a host's reading taste reset, focusing on what they learned in 2025 and how they are shaping their reading life for 2026. Topics include discovering a preference for cozy mysteries, moving away from other genres, and…
- Inside the Research Behind Innocence Road by Laura Griffin
Laura Griffin, a former crime reporter, discusses her research process for writing thrillers, including police work and cold cases. She also shares how the setting of remote West Texas influenced her novel, Innocence Road.
- The Fix & the Rise of Romantic Thrillers with Mia Sheridan
Mia Sheridan joins the podcast to discuss her transition from writing emotional romance novels to romantic thrillers, including her latest release, The Fix. She elaborates on how she constructs mysteries with romantic resolutions and why s…
- Reading Paralysis Is Real — Here’s How We Reset
This episode features a conversation about reading paralysis and how the hosts choose what to read. They discuss various aspects of reading, including ARCs, backlist titles, cozy mysteries, and the impact of libraries and audiobooks.
- Pagebound: The Anti-Algorithm Reading App
This episode introduces Pagebound, a new book tracking app. The app focuses on community discussion and gamified reading challenges as an alternative to algorithm-based platforms.
- Why Heated Rivalry Changed Sports Romance | Rachel Reid's First Podcast Interview (2020)
In this episode, Rachel Reid discusses her book, Heated Rivalry, and its impact on sports romance. She also talks about challenging toxic masculinity in sports romance and writing sex scenes.
- Tropical Christmas Romances (With Mermaids!) | Christina Berry, Natalie Parker and Lizzie Stanley
Christina Berry, Natalie Parker, and Lizzie Stanley discuss their "Merry Mermaids" holiday novella series. This series features tropical Christmas romance stories.
- Merry Mayhem: Small-Town Christmas Chaos (Romcom!) | Erin Nicholas
In this episode, romance author Erin Nicholas joins to discuss her holiday romantic comedy, "Merry Mayhem." She also shares insights into the romance industry and the appeal of small towns during Christmas.
- A Holiday Romance for People Who Hate Christmas | Holiday Unscripted by Natasha Madison
In this episode, Natasha Madison discusses her holiday romance novel "Holiday Unscripted." She also talks about Christmas travel, family dynamics, and shifts in romance novel trends, including alpha heroes and dark romance.
- Single Dads, Small Towns & Christmas Romance with Amy Knupp
Amy Knupp discusses her career transition from Harlequin to indie publishing, focusing on direct sales and her "Single Dads of Dragonfly Lake" series. She talks about the business of romance and her small-town romance novels.
- Hallmark Vibes: Christmas Camp & Royal Romance with Karen Schaler
Karen Schaler, author of "A Christmas Prince" and "Christmas Camp," discusses her royal romance novel, "A Ruff Royal Christmas." She also shares her experiences transitioning from a war correspondent to a Christmas romcom writer and her ap…
- Pumpkin Spice, Mint to Be, and YA Comfort Reads with Katie Cicatelli-Kuc
Katie Cicatelli-Kuc discusses her YA novels, including "Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice" and "Mint to Be." She also talks about comfort reads that helped her through difficult times, spooky reads, and YA and middle grade recommendations.