Podcast Summary: What Should I Read Next? – Ep 490: Our Team's Best Books of Summer (Part 1)
Main Theme:
In this much-anticipated summer episode, host Anne Bogel gathers members of the Modern Mrs. Darcy and What Should I Read Next? teams to share their favorite reads from the summer of 2025 (so far!). Their roundtable-style conversation is filled with heartfelt, insightful, and often funny reflections on books that moved, delighted, and surprised them. Each guest brings a diverse selection, ensuring recommendations for every reading taste—including family dramas, memoirs, sci-fi/horror mashups, and witty historical fiction reminiscent of Jane Austen.
Introduction & Episode Context
Host: Anne Bogel
Guests: Shannon Malone (Patreon Community Manager), Donna Hetchler (Spreadsheet Queen), Bridget Misselhorn (Community Coordinator)
Anne opens the episode explaining its purpose: to invite listeners into the bookish behind-the-scenes conversations of her team. This year, the "Best Books of Summer" picks are split over two episodes to give each book its due and keep things manageable for listeners.
[04:19] “[...] These episodes invite you into our conversation. As always, our team’s range of reading tastes ensures we share titles from a wide range of genres and styles that will appeal to all kinds of readers.” – Anne
Shannon & Donna’s Best Books of Summer So Far
(06:01-18:13)
Summer Reading Realities & Approach
- Shannon and Donna reflect on the unpredictability of summer reading: good intentions often meet real-life hurdles.
- Shannon: “...any book that you read during the summer just might be your best book of summer, because you never read that much.” [07:02]
- Donna: “Goals are made to be adjusted.” [08:35]
Shannon’s Personal Challenge
- Goal: 25 five-star reads in 2025. So far, she’s read three books during summer, only one a five-star.
- Donna provides encouragement: it’s okay to pivot—reading should be joyful, not stressful.
Donna’s Picks
1. The Eyes and the Impossible by Dave Eggers
- Why notable? A 2024 Newbery winner, this middle-grade novel captured Donna—who rarely reads in that genre—with its charming animal perspective and delightful humor.
- Features a dog, Johannes, and his animal friends living in a park.
- Audiobook narration by Ethan Hawke is highly recommended:
- Donna: “It was almost like watching an animated movie. That’s how much he [Ethan Hawke] brought it to life for me.” [11:00]
- Request: Listen to the audiobook for maximum enjoyment!
2. The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 by Beth Brower
- Synopsis: Set in 1883 England, this is a witty diary-novel.
- Donna: “This book was truly, literally laugh out loud funny to me. And it has a very, like, sly, you know, dry kind of British wit.” [17:09]
- Jane Austen fans will appreciate the style and humor.
- Tip: With eight volumes so far (Kindle Unlimited), keep going after Volume 1—the series gets even better in Volume 2.
Shannon’s Pick
A Physical Education: How I Escaped Diet Culture and Gained the Power of Lifting by Casey Johnston
- Memoir meets fitness inspiration: Johnston chronicles her shift from cardio she disliked to finding empowerment through weightlifting.
- Shannon connected deeply, prompting her to take up strength training herself.
- Shannon: “I love books that make me think differently about something or encourage me to pursue something that I dreamed about. They always end up as my best reads.” [14:03]
- “Since I’ve completed the book, I have started working out with a trainer. And at the time of this recording, I can bench press £40. That’s amazing!” [14:45]
- Recommends reading Lifting Heavy Things by Laura Kodari as a companion (“book flight”).
Anne & Bridget’s Summer Reading Picks
(20:50-38:17)
Reading Rhythms & Reflections
- Anne and Bridget both note slower reading paces this summer, but a “good variety” and no slumps.
- Bridget says she finished The Last Flight by Julie Clark in one day—her only “in a day” book this summer—which set the tone for fast-paced, immersive reading favorites.
Bridget’s Picks
1. The Last Flight by Julie Clark
- Two women, each desperate to escape their own dangerous lives, cross paths and switch plane tickets after airport security.
- Notable for gripping plot, Hitchcockian suspense, and clever use of modern-day tools (Google Docs as a device for tension).
- Bridget: “There are some aspects that involve Google Documents and Google inboxes that were so well done. I honestly never thought Google Docs could be so suspenseful.” [27:34]
- Content warnings advised for some sensitive themes.
2. Of Monsters and Mainframe by Barbara Truelove
- Sci-fi/horror with classic monsters (Dracula, Frankenstein) in a “found family” dynamic—imagine Murderbot meets gothic horror, in space.
- Unique elements include a ship’s AI, endearing side characters (shoutout to Medbot Stuart and the hilarious Steve), and effective genre blending.
- Bridget: "If you start this story, and it is truly a sci-fi/horror, there are some gruesome parts. But for me, like this scaredy-cat, it was fine. I could totally handle them." [35:44]
- Print edition recommended for fun, nerdy binary code bits.
Anne’s Picks (and a “Nerdy Literary Experience”)
The Joan Silber Reading Spree
- Improvement (2017)
- Secrets of Happiness (2021)
- Mercy (2025, forthcoming)
- Silber’s distinct relay/kaleidoscopic storytelling style: each chapter shifts to a new character linked within the web of the story, sometimes spanning continents—or centuries.
- Anne: “She writes in a relay style, as in a relay race, where one character hands the baton off to another at the end of the chapter, and they continue the story.” [29:05]
- Improvement revolves around Raina, her globe-trotting aunt, and the ripples from one fateful decision.
- Secrets of Happiness features New York family secrets—father’s double life, ripple effects.
- Mercy (coming fall): “A father is talking to his daughter and she’s like, Dad, what’s the worst thing you ever did?... He says, 'Oh, I know exactly what that is and no one is ever going to find out.'” [32:59]
- Anne is energized by Silber’s originality in both content and form.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On reading goals:
Donna: “Goals are made to be adjusted.” [08:35] -
Audiobook enthusiasm:
Donna: “If I’m telling you it’s a five-star middle-grade book, listen up, people... And if you don’t believe me, this book did win the Newbery Award in 2024.” [09:41] -
How books change lives:
Shannon: “I love when a book can be life changing. I truly believe books can be life changing and this is a perfect example of that.” [16:07] -
Genre mashups:
Bridget: “Imagine classic horror monsters, like Dracula and Frankenstein, but in space. Think Murderbot with horror monsters—that alone was enough for me to pick it up.” [34:18] -
Literary serendipity:
Bridget: “It made me wish I was a bookseller or a librarian so I could like hand sell and push it. And then I realized, wait… I can do that on the podcast!” [37:38]
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Time | Segment | |----------|------------------------------------------------| | 00:45 | Anne previews fall, introduces summer team chat | | 06:01 | Shannon & Donna discuss reading habits | | 09:41 | Donna’s first pick: The Eyes and the Impossible | | 12:04 | Shannon’s pick: A Physical Education | | 16:22 | Donna’s second pick: The Unselected Journals… | | 20:50 | Anne & Bridget’s summer reading segment | | 23:48 | Bridget’s pick: The Last Flight | | 28:45 | Anne’s Joan Silber spree | | 33:46 | Bridget’s pick: Of Monsters and Mainframe | | 38:04 | Anne & Bridget close with reflections |
Featured Book Recommendations
- The Eyes and the Impossible (Dave Eggers, audiobook by Ethan Hawke)
- A Physical Education (Casey Johnston)
- Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol 1 (Beth Brower; entire series recommended)
- The Last Flight (Julie Clark)
- Of Monsters and Mainframe (Barbara Truelove)
- Joan Silber novels: Improvement, Secrets of Happiness, Mercy (forthcoming)
- Lifting Heavy Things (Laura Kodari, for readers of A Physical Education)
Conclusion & Listener Engagement
Anne encourages readers to visit the show notes for the full title list, and share their own summer favorites. A bonus Patreon episode with more summer picks is available for supporters.
Anne closes on a loving readerly note:
“Ah, how good it is to be among people who are reading. Happy reading everyone.” [41:32]