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What Should I Read Next?

Ep 518: Striking a feel-good balance in your reading life

What Should I Read Next?

Anne Bogel

Arts, Books, Leisure

4.85.3K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2026

⏱️ 53 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Indie bookstore owner Nikkya joins Anne today to talk about the pain points in her reading life. Nikkya reads widely for her work as owner of Obodo Serendipity Books in Stratford, Connecticut. She is most at home as a reader in her go-to nonfiction spaces, where she knows what she likes and is able to find it. After having a real aha moment six months ago, Nikkya has been trying to strike a delicate balance between her professional reading and reading for pleasure. And it's only going okay. She's especially feeling the friction of seeking to push into genres she's less familiar with, like historical fiction, romance, and mysteries and thrillers. Today she and Anne explore what successful branching out might look like, with specific title recommendations that may feel like doable, pleasurable steps in a new direction. Find the list of titles mentioned and leave a comment sharing your suggestions for Nikkya at our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/518. Around here we believe in the power of understanding your reading life, and our Patreon community is designed for readers like you. It's a space to enjoy more conversations about the books we love and why we love them. Our Friday bonus episodes are grouped around themes, like Industry Insights, our Starter Guide series, One Great Book episodes, ongoing episodes of Mini Matchmaking, and more. On top of enjoying these bonus episodes and big events like our Spring Book Library Chat and Summer Reading Guide, the financial contributions of our Patreon members are a significant part of how we pay our team, continue to create the show each week, and keep the bookish conversations flowing. To everyone who's already a member, thank you. If you're not yet, we'd love to invite you to join us. Find out more at patreon.com/whatshouldireadnext. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

What role is reading play in your life? And what is that looking like these days?

0:03.7

Yeah, prior to opening a bookstore. Is this a before and after story?

0:08.3

This is a before and after story.

0:14.3

Hey, readers. I'm Ann Bogle, and this is What Should I Read Next?

0:19.6

Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader.

0:24.5

What should I read next?

0:26.4

We don't get bossy on this show.

0:28.4

What we will do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read.

0:33.3

Every week we'll talk all things books and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one guest.

0:45.9

Readers, around here, we believe in the power of understanding your reading life,

0:49.7

which we do through this weekly podcast as well as through reflections on the modern Mrs. Darcy blog and our membership communities. Our Patreon community is designed for readers like you. It's a

0:59.8

space to enjoy more conversations about the books we love and why we love them. Our Friday bonus episodes

1:05.1

feature fascinating book conversations grouped around themes. We've got industry insights where I take

1:10.8

a closer look at what's

1:11.8

happening in the publishing industry and how it impacts your reading life. Our starter guide series

1:16.9

offers guidance on how to get started in new to you genres. In one great book episodes, I pull one

1:22.3

book I love off my personal bookshelves and tell you all about it in 10 minutes or less.

1:26.8

Sometimes our team members

1:27.8

get in on that action too. And I love our ongoing episodes of mini matchmaking, dear book

1:33.2

therapist, and Ask Anne Anything. On top of enjoying these bonus episodes, big events like our spring

1:39.2

book preview and summer reading guide, and other seasonal unboxings and live events, our Patreon members are a

1:45.1

critical part of how we make everything happen here at What Should I Read Next HQ? In a quickly

...

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