Podcast Summary: What Should I Read Next?

Episode 505: “Recs for a reader in search of ‘best in class’ books”

Host: Anne Bogel
Guest: Kate Mosesso
Date: December 2, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Anne Bogel welcomes Kate Mosesso, a Chicago-based reader and improv comedian, to discuss Kate’s ongoing reading project centered around soliciting book recommendations from people she knows. Kate is eager to add a new twist for 2026 by seeking “best in class” books from genres she tends to avoid—like fantasy, sci-fi, and narrative nonfiction—hoping for guidance into uncharted reading territory. The conversation explores how to find truly satisfying reads, make peace with personal taste, and embrace the joys of readerly connection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Kate’s Reading Life and Community Project

• Kate’s Background

  • Lifelong reader, marketing manager, Chicagoan, improv comedian (Second City alum).
  • Was a Jeopardy! contestant in 2012 during the Alex Trebek era.

    “I was so grateful that I was on during the Alex Trebek era…just having that experience and meeting him was just unbelievable.” (08:14, Kate)

• Reading Project Origin – Since 2021, every month Kate reads a book recommended by someone she knows: friends, family, professors, even drawing from memories of her late grandmother’s bookshelf.

  “It has steered me to some fantastic reading. And it also creates another connection between me and the person who recommended the book. And I love that.” (15:14, Kate)

• A Social Twist for 2026

  • For next year, Kate wants to gather recommendations from her favorite celebrities, especially comedians, by seeking out interviews or essays where they share favorite books.

  “I thought for next year it might be fun to make a list of my favorite celebrities and try to find out what books they loved…Nora Ephron wrote a fantastic essay about how much she loved The Adventures of Kavalier and Clay.” (17:39, Kate)

• The Power of Community Recommendations

  • Kate values how shared reading creates bonds:

    “I think reading has a reputation for being solitary, but it connects people.” (19:06, Kate)

Seeking “Best in Class” Books & Expanding Genres

• Desire for Quality over Quantity

  • Kate wants to escape genre ruts and avoid mediocre, formulaic books, especially in the domestic noir genre.

    “Instead of reading deeply into a genre that has some good and some bad books, what I should be doing is reading widely and reading the best books in lots of genres.” (21:38, Kate)

  • She’s looking for the very best entry points into genres she doesn’t usually approach, notably historical fiction, fantasy/sci-fi, and narrative nonfiction.

• Making Peace with Taste

  • Anne and Kate discuss the liberation in accepting personal taste, even when it diverges from critical consensus or popular opinion.

    “It’s like permission, you know? If you didn’t like that book, don’t read it again and try to figure out what’s great about it…Just accept it and find what you do like and kind of trust your intuition, I guess.” (26:52, Kate)

• Best-in-Class Books and Universal Appeal

  • The allure of books that transcend genre or subject (like Seabiscuit):

    “Occasionally a book comes along…that really kind of transcended the subject matter and got people interested in it who wouldn’t normally be—best in class.” (25:20, Kate)

Kate’s “Love/Hate” Book List

(Segment begins: 27:43)

Three Books Kate Loves

1. Evening Class by Maeve Binchy

   • Found family, Irish setting, happy endings, multiple perspectives, and deep character connections.

   “It just makes me so happy every time I read it.” (33:41, Kate)

2. A Very Young Dancer by Jill Clements

   • Photojournalistic, behind-the-scenes look at a young ballerina’s journey.

   “I remember being fascinated by the kind of background detail that the book gave you.…I still really love a book where you get a lot of behind the scenes detail about some really interesting experience.” (36:04, Kate)

3. The Godfather by Mario Puzo

   • Compelling storytelling, textured details, and family saga.

   “On top of being a great story, it is a book that gets you thinking about the reasoning behind a family that would choose to operate this way…and also just a really fascinating snapshot.” (37:35, Kate)

One Book That Wasn’t a Good Fit

• The Five-Star Weekend by Elin Hilderbrand
  • Clichéd plotlines and unlikable characters:

    “Sometimes issues with the writing just kind of get in the way…there were a lot of just very cliched plot lines…The characters were just kind of awful to each other.” (39:15, Kate)

Recent Read

• The Plot by Jean Hanff Korelitz
  • Page-turner, food for thought, sequel (“The Sequel”) ready to go.

Anne’s Book Recommendations for Kate

(Recommendations segment begins at 44:06)

1. Crooks by Lou Berney (Crime/Saga, Family, Found Family) [45:01]

• Multi-generational organized crime family in Oklahoma City; rotating character perspectives; lighter-hearted than typical noir, rooted in relationships and found family.

  “I thought this was such a fun crime novel with heart that takes you in deep with these…characters you want to root for.” (47:15, Anne)

2. The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch (Fantasy, Heist/Caper) [48:00]

• First in a series; “Robin Hood meets Ocean’s Eleven with a fantasy mafia.” Fast-paced, clever, and great for readers new to fantasy.

  “…A fantastic, exciting, plot-driven, accessible fantasy novel with a heist.” (48:22, Anne quoting past guest)

3. The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp (Narrative Nonfiction, Creativity, Behind the Scenes) [50:04]

• Esteemed choreographer shares routines, discipline, creativity, and insights drawn from her day-to-day work and influences—including unexpected sources.
  > “She goes through her daily routine…how she structures her life and approaches her work…to do that day after day.” (50:25, Anne)
• Why? Echoes Kate’s love of behind-the-scenes detail and connection to dance/art.

4. Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine (Fantasy, Books about Books, Series Starter) [54:53]

• In a world where book ownership is forbidden and the Great Library hoards power, Jess trains as a scholar while spying for his family of book smugglers; found family, high stakes, and a blend of fantasy and historical fiction vibes.
  > “This is the fantasy book about books…No one is allowed to own books. And the Great Library…decide[s] what information and books the masses have access to…” (55:01, Anne)

Brief Mention

• A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna (fantasy/found family)—Kate had already read The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches, found it pleasant if unmemorable.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On reading projects and life transitions:

  “I felt like I was outgrowing kids books and adult books were just like this monolith…How do I find a book here that I’m going to enjoy and understand?” (10:24, Kate)

• On the comfort of dissent from the literary consensus:

  “That really kind of made me feel better when I would hear those episodes…if you didn’t like that book, don’t read it again.…Just accept it and find what you do like and kind of trust your intuition, I guess.” (26:52, Kate)

• Anne on shared taste:

  “I’m noticing you really like the textural details…in describing A Very Young Dancer, how you love these portraits of people at work and like any behind the scenes information, we’re filing that away.” (38:03, Anne)

• Kate on family and reading:

  “Every time I talk to my family, what are you reading?…My best friend Meg…the first thing I even remember about her is that we both loved Ramona Quimby.” (19:06–19:41, Kate)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 05:35 — Anne introduces Kate, who explains her reading project and background
• 10:24 — Kate describes her transition from kids’ books to adult books and the role of teachers
• 15:14 — The origins of Kate’s “recommendation a month” project
• 17:39 — The new twist: seeking celebrity book recommendations
• 21:38 — Kate discusses genre frustration and genre expansion
• 26:52 — Anne and Kate on accepting personal taste
• 27:43 — Kate’s favorite and least favorite recent reads
• 44:06 — Anne’s tailored book recommendations

Episode Flow & Tone

• Warm, conversational, often humorous and gently self-deprecating
• Deep interest in the personal stories behind reading habits
• Empowering: Focus on honoring one’s own reading taste and curiosity
• Attentive to listeners’ shared struggles—genre overwhelm, making peace with taste, the allure of community recommendations

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is an ideal listen for anyone grappling with “so many books, so little time.” Through Kate’s story and Anne’s skillful book matchmaking, it affirms the value of reading for connection, encourages curiosity in new genres, and gently dispels the guilt of not loving acclaimed books. The book recs are tailored for readers seeking both comfort and challenge. Whether you’re looking for found family sagas, heist-fantasy, narrative nonfiction with creative insight, or stories literally about the power of books, you’ll find something to add to your own TBR list here.

Book Recommendations List

From Kate’s favorites:

• Evening Class by Maeve Binchy
• A Very Young Dancer by Jill Clements
• The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Anne’s Recommendations:

• Crooks by Lou Berney
• The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
• The Creative Habit: Learn It and Use It for Life by Twyla Tharp
• Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
• (Briefly mentioned) A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna

Next up for Kate:

“I think I’m going to start with Twyla Tharp.” (57:56, Kate)

For the full list of titles from this episode, visit whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com.