What Should I Read Next? – Ep 495: Fall Book Preview Sneak Peek

Host: Anne Bogel
Date: September 23, 2025

Episode Overview

In this special episode, host Anne Bogel opens the doors to her highly anticipated Fall Book Preview, offering listeners a sneak peek into her process, the Modern Mrs. Darcy team’s ethos, and an authentic taste of the live book unboxing event. Anne discusses the evolution and purpose of the Fall Book Preview, reveals her thoughtful selection process for this season's 35 handpicked titles, and transparently addresses the increasing influence of artificial intelligence in the literary world. The episode concludes with Anne introducing the first three books in the "Literary and Contemporary Fiction" category.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Spirit and History of the Fall Book Preview

• Anne recounts the origins of the Fall Book Preview—born in 2019 after a publishing trade event—which has grown into a trusted seasonal tradition for the community.
  • “Back then I just returned from...a big publishing trade show...and I thought, gosh, our community would love to hear more about what it was like for me to go to this insider publishing event.” [00:45]
• The event gives readers an insider’s glimpse into publishing buzz, under-the-radar gems, bookseller recommendations, and personal favorites.
• Importance of cutting through noise: As book lists grow longer each year, Anne aims to offer “gentle guidance” that helps readers find what’s truly right for them.

Authenticity and Team Values

• The episode reflects the interactive and community-driven nature of Modern Mrs. Darcy, with behind-the-scenes banter, introductions, and genuine reactions from the team.
  • Surprise cameo by Lee Kramer, the team’s editor and social media manager, highlights the close-knit, grassroots feel of the event. [02:43]
  • Anne highlights, “There’s so much love in there...If it comes and...there’s a little bit of extra love, it’s because Will and Lee were doing [the shipments] together while I was signing cards.” [13:00]
• Transparency is emphasized throughout, with Anne openly discussing logistics, team roles, and the process for accessing the Fall Book Preview booklet.

Reader Engagement & Live Event Vibe

• Live polls and chat interactions are woven throughout, e.g.:
  • “We want to see your comments, we want everybody to respond with bookish enthusiasm...” [15:42]
  • A real-time poll reveals literary/contemporary fiction as the crowd favorite (with mystery/thriller and historical fiction also highly anticipated). [19:09]
• The playful, bookish energy is tangible—Anne describes it as a “big book party.” [13:36]

Anne’s Book Selection Process

• Anne meticulously curates ~35 titles from “literally thousands,” using publisher catalogs, personal reading, and recommendations—but not including series installments this year.
• She shares that 26 of the 35 titles have been fully read by her, underscoring the integrity and depth behind her recommendations. [22:11]
• The guiding value: Respect for readers’ time and trust.
  • “We really see a huge part of our work is equipping you to thoughtfully approach your reading life and select books that feel good for you right now.” [29:49]

Stance on Artificial Intelligence

• Anne makes a clear, public statement regarding the team’s policy on AI:
  • “We do not use generative AI around here. Period. The end.” [03:27]
  • She explains concerns about plagiarism, the devaluation of creative work, and requests listeners not to input their content into AI tools: “Every word we write and every book we recommend comes out of our brains the old-fashioned way, not from generative AI tools or algorithms.” [25:35]
• The team published an official AI statement to reinforce transparency and trust within the community.

Community Q&A and Ongoing Conversation

• Emphasizes collaboration with readers: “Let my team and I, in our human fallible, thoughtful, readerly brains, be your collaborators in this endeavor of the reading life.” [30:08]
• Readers are encouraged to ask questions during the event, with a promise of a bonus Q&A Patreon episode (free for all Fall Book Preview participants this season). [30:51]

Memorable Quotes

• “You want all the behind-the-scenes details. And I thought, can I bring back like a dispatch and tell you what I learned? And I did.” —Anne Bogel [10:19]
• “We want to be really transparent about how we work...Every word we write and every book we recommend comes out of our brains the old-fashioned way, not from generative AI tools or algorithms.” —Anne Bogel [25:35]
• “Let my team and I, in our human fallible, thoughtful, readerly brains, be your collaborators in this endeavor of the reading life.” —Anne Bogel [30:08]
• “We’re going to have a good time talking books and you’re going to recognize possibilities for your reading life in an hour and a half that you don’t know about right now.” —Anne Bogel [10:43]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:08-02:00] – Anne introduces the episode and context for the Fall Book Preview
• [03:00-03:40] – Overview of the event experience, team introductions, and live chat references
• [13:00-15:00] – Shipping, physical preview booklet logistics and fun team anecdotes
• [15:42-19:46] – Housekeeping, live polls, genre category popularity results
• [22:11-25:00] – Anne’s book selection process and preview structure
• [25:35-29:49] – Direct statement on artificial intelligence, plagiarism, and respect for creative work
• [32:56-38:32] – Introduction and mini-reviews of the first three literary/contemporary fiction picks

Featured Books: Literary and Contemporary Fiction

1. To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage

Published by Avid Reader, September 2
Anne’s take:

• A sweeping debut featuring a Cherokee woman striving to join NASA.
• “Those threads are largely relational...the wannabe astronaut...navigating tricky relationships, especially with her college girlfriend, her influencer sister, and a mother with big secrets…” [33:19]
• Praised for its “sweep and heft...at 448 pages, I appreciated how it has that room to flesh them all out.” [33:47]

2. Mercy by Joan Silber

Published by Counterpoint, September 2
Anne’s take:

• “Going to be on my best of the year list...top 10.” [33:59]
• Novel opens with a haunting confession about “the worst thing [the father] ever did” in 1974 New York, echoed through connected short stories in shifting POVs.
• Grapples with big questions: “How much should our lives be defined by the worst thing we ever did? And how might we all be connected in ways that are mysterious and invisible to us...?” [35:58]
• “Silver is introspective, thoughtful, and in my opinion, these may be a little quiet, ish, but never boring...” [35:37]

3. The Academy by Ellen Hildebrand and Shelby Cunningham

Published by Little, Brown, September 16
Anne’s take:

• A boarding school novel co-written with Hildebrand’s daughter.
• “This reads very much like her Nantucket novels—gossip, scandal, relationships going terribly...both platonic and romantic.” [36:48]
• First print run of 750K+ reflects publisher excitement.
• Includes “tons of name chats, locations...restaurants and bars and clubs and fashion designers and other luxury brands and elaborately described meals. So fun.” [37:31]
• Set up as the start of a series: “Oh my gosh, you’re gonna make me wait for what is clearly going to be book two...” [38:16]

Tone and Energy

Anne's signature warmth, approachability, and gentle authority shine throughout. The episode is packed with bookish enthusiasm, transparency, and the spirit of community that has characterized What Should I Read Next? since its inception. The language is conversational, welcoming, and engaging, peppered with humor and genuine emotion—especially when tackling tough topics like AI.

Summary Takeaways

This sneak peek immerses listeners in the joyful, collaborative world of Modern Mrs. Darcy’s Fall Book Preview, blending practical advice, literary passion, and candid reflections on digital publishing realities. Anne Bogel’s hand-curated recommendations and her emphasis on trust, transparency, and community offer reassurance amid the overwhelming abundance of new books, making this episode a unique, reader-first guide to the coming season.

For access to the full list and more details:
Join the Modern Mrs. Darcy community or purchase the Fall Book Preview at modernmrsdarcy.com/FBP.