Ep 528: What should I read this summer?

What Should I Read Next?

Anne Bogel

Arts, Books, Leisure

4.8 • 5.3K Ratings

🗓️ 2 June 2026

⏱️ 59 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

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? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	So you don't know what the books are.
0:01.7	Yeah.
0:02.5	I'm going to tell you three books today.
0:04.2	And I'll be so curious to see if stuff jumps out at you from the summer reading guide that just would not have occurred to me based on our conversation.
0:12.4	Yeah, that'll be really interesting.
0:13.7	I'm very excited about having books to like keep an ear out when we're listening or watching.
0:21.4	Hey, readers. I'm Anne Bogle, and this is What Should I Read Next?
0:26.6	Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader.
0:31.7	What should I read next?
0:33.8	We don't get bossy on the show. What we will do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read.
0:40.5	Every week we'll talk all things books and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one guest.
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