
Hosted by Laura R Yamin · EN

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your dream bookshop was hiding inside the pages of a book? This week's guest is making that fantasy feel very real.London-based bookworm and Substack newsletter writer Alicia joins us to share her love of a very specific and very delightful trope: woman quits job to open a bookshop. If you've ever fantasized about leaving it all behind for a life surrounded by shelves and the smell of old paper, Alicia has three gorgeous, lesser-known reads that will feed that daydream beautifully. From translated Japanese fiction to a moving Korean novel, these books explore healing, community, and the quiet courage it takes to build a life you actually want — even when you're not sure you're ready.📚 Books MentionedThe Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada — Buy on Amazon | Nonfiction / Memoir | A quiet, insightful look at the world of bookselling and how small changes create big impact.Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa — Buy on Amazon | Japanese Translated Fiction / Contemporary | A healing, character-driven story about a woman who finds herself — slowly — through books.Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum — Buy on Amazon | Korean Translated Fiction / Contemporary | A raw, courageous story about a woman who opens a bookshop from a place of grief and finds herself living her values anyway.⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & introduction — meet Alicia from London[01:00] What Alicia reads: contemporary, literary, historical fiction & nonfiction[02:00] Alicia's nonfiction picks: memoirs, economics, music[03:30] What led Alicia to start Reads with Alicia on Substack[05:00] Building a bookish community online — Substack, BookTok & beyond[07:00] Alicia's Seasonal Reads with Friends collaboration series[08:30] The episode's trope: "Woman quits job to open a bookshop"[10:00] Book #1 — The Bookshop Woman by Nanako Hanada[13:00] Why book recommendations are an act of care[14:00] Book #2 — Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa[16:00] Book #3 — Welcome to the Hyunam-Dong Bookshop by Hwang Bo-reum[19:30] Living your values even in hard times[20:00] Where to find Alicia online & wrap-upJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your love stories came with secret societies, art forgery rings, and a twist you never saw coming? Author Ava Rani joins us to talk books, balance, and why she refuses to write a boring romance.Ava Rani is an author who does it all — indie publishing, traditional publishing, and somehow fitting it in between a medical career and motherhood. In this episode, she walks us through her Biotech Billionaires series (think Gossip Girl meets Succession, Scandal, and Crazy Rich Asians), her standalone Out of Her League (a surgeon, a soccer star, and a fake-dating trip to Paris — need we say more?), and her New Adult mystery-romance Poisoned Ivy, which she lovingly describes as Never Have I Ever meets Rory Gilmore's Yale years. If you love sharp heroines, enemies-to-lovers slow burns, and plots that actually keep you guessing, this episode is for you.📚 Books MentionedThe Spare by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon| Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance | Biotech Billionaires #1The Heir by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance | Biotech Billionaires #2The Charmer by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Billionaire Romance | Biotech Billionaires #3Out of Her League by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance / Sports Romance / Fake Dating | Check KU & Audio availabilityPoisoned Ivy by Ava Rani — Buy on Amazon | New Adult Romance / Mystery | The Legacy Series #1 | Audio ✅ (available on Libro.fm/library apps)Gilded Lilly by Ava Rani — Forthcoming | New Adult Romance / Bodyguard Romance | The Legacy Series #2⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & introducing Ava Rani[00:01] Ava's writing life, motherhood & Nancy Meyers goals[00:02] How she balances it all: schedules, productivity & the sloth era[00:05] Social media detox & the "Brick" app hack[00:06] Intro to the Biotech Billionaires series[00:07] The Heir — Henry, Selena & the PR romance[00:09] The Spare — Marcus, Sloan & the Darcy-coded runner[00:11] The Charmer — Xander, Penelope & the rewritten love story[00:13] The Gossip Girl comparisons (Succession, Scandal, Crazy Rich Asians)[00:14] Out of Her League — Issa the surgeon meets soccer star Austin Cade[00:16] The fake-dating setup: a wedding in Paris & one bed[00:19] Issa's career journey & the child-free storyline[00:22] Why Ava wrote a heroine grappling with being child-free[00:25] How career milestones deserve the same celebration as weddings[00:26] Poisoned Ivy — secret societies, campus chaos & a twist[00:27] Meet Malena: part Rory Gilmore, part Davy Vishwakumar[00:29] The masquerade, the catacombs & Conrad Hastings (aka Fixed Logan)[00:31] The art forgery mystery unravels[00:33] Gilded Lilly — Sabrina's book, a bodyguard & a suspicious Duke[00:35] Forbidden romance, yearning & Anastasia vibes[00:36] Where to find Ava Rani onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if your perimenopause symptoms weren't just symptoms — what if you were turning into a werewolf? Author Sam Beckbessinger joins us to talk about her debut adult novel Femme Feral, and it might be the most cathartic book you read this year.Sam and I dive deep into why the medical industry has failed women at midlife, the reality of millennial burnout, and why female rage horror is having such a deserved moment. If you're a woman in your 30s, 40s, or beyond who has ever been dismissed by a doctor, told to "just lose some weight," or felt the crushing weight of doing 200% while getting zero credit — this episode is going to feel like a long exhale. We also get into Sam's reading life: from the buzzy Dungeon Crawler Carl series to feminist short story collections you need to know about.📚 BOOKS MENTIONEDFemme Feral by Sam Beckbessinger — Buy on Amazon | Horror / Women's Fiction | Audio ✅Dungeon Crawler Carl series by Matt Dinniman — Buy on Amazon | Sci-Fi / LitRPG / Adventure | KU ✅ | Audio ✅She's Always Hungry by Eliza Clark — Buy on Amazon | Dark Fiction / Short Stories / HorrorHer Body and Other Parties by Carmen Maria Machado — Buy on Amazon | Literary Horror / Short Stories | KU ✅ | Audio ✅Gods of Want by K-Ming Chang — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Short Stories / Queer FictionStag Dance by Torrey Peters — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Historical / Queer Fiction | Audio ✅⏱️ TIMESTAMPS[00:00] Welcome & introduction — Sam Beckbessinger joins the show[00:45] Why female rage and perimenopause inspired Femme Feral[02:00] How the medical industry gasligths women at midlife[03:00] The history of women being excluded from medical trials[04:30] The book's premise — Ellie, the werewolf, and repressed rage[06:30] What Femme Feral is (and isn't) — horror content notes[08:00] Millennial burnout, the "you can have it all" generation, and reckoning[10:00] Funny and dark: luring toxic bosses into alleyways[11:00] Generational work culture — Gen Z vs. Millennial vs. Gen X bosses[12:00] Writing Femme Feral as personal excavation and self-discovery[13:30] Healthcare, for-profit medicine, and the gynecologist problem[15:00] Laura's story: taking a demotion and finding freedom[16:00] The chapter headings — perimenopause symptoms as a buffet (and a doctor's checklist)[17:00] Sam's reading life — what genres she loves and why[18:00] Deep dive on Dungeon Crawler Carl — what it is and why you should read it[20:30] Horror short story recommendations: She's Always Hungry & Gods of Want[22:30] The indie bookshop trick: ask for the hidden gem that nobody buys[24:30] Stag Dance by Torrey Peters — a bridge book for historical fiction fans[25:30] Where to find Sam online + wrap-upJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if a rom-com could feel like a movie in your ears? That's exactly what debut novelist and TV screenwriter Ash Perez set out to create with Speak Now, and you are going to want to listen to this one.In this episode, Laura chats with Ash Perez about Speak Now, an audio-first queer rom-com published by Simon & Schuster featuring a full cast of actors, sound effects, and production that rivals a Hollywood film. Born out of the 2023 writer's strike, Speak Now blends Ash's screenwriting background with a lifelong love of 90s/early 2000s rom-coms. Think second-chance romance, Nancy Meyers vibes, a luxury hotel kitchen, and a HEA you absolutely deserve. This episode is perfect for audiobook lovers, rom-com fans, and anyone who's been sleeping on audio-first fiction.📚 Books MentionedSpeak Now by Ash Perez — Buy on Amazon | Queer Rom-Com | Audio ✅ (Audio-first/only; also available via Spotify Premium and library request)Poison for Breakfast by Lemony Snicket — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction/Novella | Audio ✅Murder Bot Diaries series by Martha Wells — Buy on Amazon | Science Fiction | Audio ✅Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston — Buy on Amazon | Queer Rom-Com | Audio ✅The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster — Buy on Amazon | Classic Fiction | Audio ✅⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & introduction to Ash Perez[00:45] What is Speak Now? Audio-first rom-com explained[01:30] How the 2023 writer's strike led to this book[03:15] Why rom-coms & audio are a perfect pairing[05:00] Co-directing the production & what it felt like[05:45] The plot of Speak Now: queer second-chance romance, chef, boutique hotel[07:00] Casting a queer audio romance — voice tonality challenges[09:00] Why romance deserves the full audio-movie treatment[10:00] Rom-com influences: My Best Friend's Wedding & The Wedding Planner[12:00] Ash's reading life: from Harry Potter to self-help burnout[13:00] Poison for Breakfast & the novella that brought Ash back to fiction[13:45] Murder Bot series, Kevin R. Free & audiobook narrator fandom[14:30] Red, White & Royal Blue & reading outside your genre[15:30] Reading as a millennial: productivity guilt & reclaiming fiction as a hobby[16:30] Library love — how to request Speak Now at your local library[17:30] Spotify Premium audiobooks & accessibility[18:30] Reading before bed vs. doomscrolling — why books win[20:00] Where to find Ash Perez online & wrap-upConnect with Ash Perez Instagram: @itsashlyperezTikTok: @notashperezConnect with Simon AudioInstagram: @Simon.AudioTikTok: @Simon.AudioJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.She writes historical mysteries set in post-war Paris, Civil War Washington DC, 1930s England, AND Victorian London — and somehow, Colleen Gleason/Cambridge makes every single era feel like home.In this episode, Laura sits down with bestselling author Colleen Gleason (also writing as Colleen Cambridge) to talk about her four historical mystery series, what makes amateur sleuths compelling, why post-war Paris is basically its own character, and how Agatha Christie's housekeeper ended up solving murders. If you love richly atmospheric historical mysteries with a romantic thread, strong female leads, and satisfying endings — this one is for you.📚 Books MentionedThe Spirit of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge — Buy on Amazon | Historical Mystery | An American in Paris Mysteries #4Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge — Buy on Amazon | Historical Mystery, Agatha Christie-inspired | Phyllida Bright Mysteries #1Lady Darling Inquires After a Killer by Colleen Gleason — Buy on Amazon | Historical Mystery, Victorian | Lady Darling Mysteries #1Lady Darling Vexes a Villain by Colleen Gleason — Pre-order on Amazon | Historical Mystery, Victorian | Lady Darling Mysteries #2Just One Damned Thing After Another by Jodi Taylor — Buy on Amazon | Historical Fiction, Time Travel, Humorous | Chronicles of St. Mary's #1A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers — Buy on Amazon | Hope Punk, Literary Science FictionThe Thursday Murder Club by Richard Osman — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery | Thursday Murder Club #1The Last Beekeeper by Julie Carrick Dalton — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction, Dystopian, NatureThe Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap — Buy on Amazon | Historical Gothic Fiction, Victorian Scotland⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & intro — Colleen in Michigan, Laura in Tampa[00:53] Writing under two names: Colleen Gleason vs. Colleen Cambridge — and why[02:45] The pen name strategy: getting on the shelf near Agatha Christie[03:45] Marketing background and the business of writing[04:15] What drew Colleen to historical mystery — history + murder + romance = her sweet spot[05:30] The four series at a glance: 1930s England, 1950s Paris, Civil War DC, Victorian London[06:30] What makes historical crime-solving uniquely fun — no DNA, no computers[08:00] The Quinn & Gates Mystery Series: Civil War Washington DC, Lincoln's inaugural ball[10:00] An American in Paris Mysteries deep dive — Tabitha Knight, Rosie the Riveter, and Julia Child[12:00] Tabitha's backstory: French mother, Michigan roots, Willow Run Bomber Plant[13:15] The Spirit of French Murder — the fourth book, the French Resistance, and the Nine Bluets[14:30] Why post-war Paris is its own character — and why locals didn't trust the police[16:00] Lady Darling Mysteries — a Victorian Dowager Marchioness, amateur sleuth, Sherlock-era London[18:30] Lady Danbury meets murder mysteries — the pitch for the Lady Darling series[20:00] Phyllida Bright Mysteries — Agatha Christie's fictional housekeeper solves murders[22:00] The Civil War series — all three books, dark themes, and romantic arc[23:30] The romantic thread in all of Colleen's historicals — slow burn, strong women, satisfying endings[24:00] What Colleen reads — book club pick philosophy, "This Is Not Oprah's Book Club"[25:30] Comfort reads: Nora Roberts, JD Robb, Elizabeth Peters/Barbara Michaels[27:00] Listener recs: Chronicles of St. Mary's, A Psalm for the Wild-Built, The Thursday Murder Club[28:30] The Last Beekeeper and The Resurrection — book club recent reads[31:30] Signature cocktails for the Paris series + book release parties[32:00] Where to find Colleen online + wrap-upJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What if the Duke was a woman — and the courtesan trying to blackmail her was the love interest? If that premise just made you sit up straighter, this episode is for you.Anna Cowan joins us to talk about The Duke, her long-awaited second novel — a queer Regency romance that flips the classic historical hero archetype on its head. This one is for readers who love the lush world of Regency fiction but are hungry for something that feels fresh, politically charged, and unapologetically modern in its sensibilities. We dig into Anna's world-building process, the evolution of historical romance as a genre post-Bridgerton, and what it means to write a female Duke who's conceptually hot in exactly the way the brooding Regency hero always was.Anna also shares a stack of book recommendations spanning classic historicals, gay hockey romance, and Kindle Unlimited reads that will genuinely spark your brain.📚 Books MentionedThe Duke by Anna Cowan — Buy on Amazon | Queer Historical Romance / Regency | KU ✅Black Silk by Judith Ivory — Buy on Amazon | Classic Historical Romance | Backlist gemFool Me Twice by Meredith Duran — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance | Beauty & the Beast vibesTempting the Bride by Sherry Thomas — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance | Amnesia / enemies-to-loversGame Misconduct (Penalty Box #1) by Ari Baran — Buy on Amazon | Gay Hockey Romance | Audio ✅ — narrated by Cooper North⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] Welcome & Anna Cowan introduction[00:45] About The Duke — the premise: female Duke + French courtier blackmail romance[01:30] World-building a queer Regency where female nobles are the norm[03:00] Character deep-dive: the Duke of Howard vs. Céline — power dynamics & political intrigue[04:30] The romance hero archetype reimagined — what makes a character "conceptually hot"[06:00] Anna's history with romance reading — from Dolly Fiction to Julia Quinn & Lisa Kleypas[08:00] Historical romance in 2026: genre reckoning, post-Bridgerton, mass market decline[10:00] Writing modern sensibilities into historical fiction — Emma Alban, KJ Charles & beyond[12:00] The Kindle Unlimited rabbit hole — queer romance, omegaverse & niche reads[14:30] Anna's classic historical romance recommendations: Judith Ivory's Black Silk[15:30] Meredith Duran's Fool Me Twice & Sherry Thomas's Tempting the Bride[17:30] Gay hockey romance rec: Ari Barron's Game Misconduct + the audiobook[19:00] Sherry Thomas's Lady Sherlock series & the case for more historical romance[20:00] Where to find Anna Cowan onlineJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A cozy mystery with a messy friendship, a locked-room setting, and just enough murder to keep things interesting? I’m in.In this episode, I sit down with Molly Harper to talk about her pivot from paranormal romance to murder mysteries and her newest release, A Cute Little Murder. We dive into millennial mysteries, toxic friendships, “final girl” energy, and why sometimes you just need a little murder in your reading life—without the gore.📚 Books MentionedA Cute Little Murder by Molly Harper — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery / Millennial Mystery | Audio ✅A Proposal to Die For by Molly Harper — Buy on Amazon | Cozy Mystery / Millennial Mystery | Audio ✅The Farmhouse by Chelsea Conradt — Buy on Amazon | Domestic Horror | Audio ✅⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] – Introduction to Molly Harper[01:00] – Transition from romance to murder mysteries[02:30] – Inspiration behind A Cute Little Murder[04:00] – Final girl trope and character dynamics[05:00] – Locked-room mystery settings explained[06:30] – Toxic friendships and character growth[09:00] – Why this mystery feels cozy but modern[10:00] – Molly Harper’s writing journey[12:00] – From journalist to full-time author[14:00] – Audible originals and writing for audio[15:00] – Book recommendations (domestic horror)[16:00] – Where to find Molly Harper online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Looking for your next addictive summer thriller with rich people behaving badly vibes? This one set at the Cannes Film Festival delivers glam, secrets, and a murder you won’t see coming.In this episode, I sit down with Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau to talk about her transition from YA romance to twisty adult thrillers and her latest novel We Will Never Tell. We dive into how she crafts suspense, builds layered characters, and why she loves writing about “the people behind the people” in glamorous spaces. Plus, she shares some of her favorite recent reads—including thrillers and book club fiction you’ll want on your TBR ASAP.📚 Books MentionedWe Will Never Tell by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau — Buy on Amazon | ThrillerThe French Honeymoon by Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau — Buy on Amazon | ThrillerGood People by Patnmeena Sabit — Buy on Amazon | Literary Fiction / Mystery ElementsSomebody Worth Killing by Jessica Payne — Buy on Amazon | Thriller / Domestic SuspenseBest Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary / Thriller ElementsFinding Grace by Loretta Rothschild — Buy on Amazon | Literary / Thriller / Romance Blend⏱️ Time Stamps[00:00] — Intro + Anne-Sophie Jouhenneau returns to the podcast[01:00] — Transition from YA romance to thrillers[02:00] — How to write suspense, twists, and structure[05:00] — Inside We Will Never Tell + Cannes setting[06:30] — The “people behind the people” concept[09:00] — Cannes glam vs reality (parties, work, chaos)[11:30] — Why this is the perfect summer thriller[12:30] — Book recommendations begin[17:00] — Where to find Anne-Sophie Jouhanneau onlineLink to Anne-Sophie's previous WTRN episode on SpotifyJoin the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.A chaotic wedding, secret crushes, and one very inconvenient almost-divorce—this episode is for rom-com lovers who live for messy, multi-POV drama.In today’s episode, I chat with Mallory Kass (also known as Kass Morgan) about her transition from YA to adult romance, her new book Save the Date, and why writing adult relationships hits differently than coming-of-age stories. We also get into rom-com tropes, ensemble casts, and even the possibility of adding a murder subplot (yes, really).If you love layered romantic stories, dreamy settings, and a little emotional chaos, this one’s for you.📚 Books Mentioned Save the Date by Mallory Kass — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅Royal Summer by Kass Morgan — Buy on Amazon | YA Romance | Audio ✅The Trouble with Anna by Rachel Griffith — Buy on Amazon | Historical Romance | Audio ✅The Write Off by Kara McDowell — Buy on Amazon | Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅Cross Your Heart and Hope He Dies by Jenny Elder Moke — Buy on Amazon | Mystery Romance | Audio ✅⏱️ Timestamps[00:00] – Intro + Meet Mallory Kass[01:00] – Transition from YA to adult romance[02:00] – Differences between YA and adult storytelling[05:00] – Breaking down Save the Date (multi-storyline rom-com)[06:30] – Writing challenges with multiple POVs[07:30] – Making character voices distinct[08:30] – Why romance needs emotional tension (not random chaos)[09:30] – The rise of mystery + romance mashups[10:30] – Jeopardy experience + fun behind-the-scenes moment[13:30] – Book recommendations you need to add to your TBR[15:00 – Where to find Mallory Kass online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!

This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.What happens when the one that got away becomes the inspiration for your bestselling book boyfriend… and then walks back into your life?In this episode, I sit down with Kara McDowell to talk about her latest novel, The Write-Off—a second chance romance packed with college nostalgia, writer drama, and all the angst we love. We dive into dual timelines, messy twenties, and why sometimes love only works the second time around.We also chat about balancing writing and motherhood, the “glass vs. plastic balls” metaphor for life, and Kara shares her favorite contemporary romance reads right now.📚 Books Mentioned The Write-Off by Kara McDowell — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅Is She Really Going Out With Him? by Sophie Cousens — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center — Romantic Comedy | Audio ✅Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia — Small Town Romance | Audio ✅Birding with Benefits by Sarah T. Dubb — Contemporary Romance | Audio ✅⏱️ Time Stamps[00:00] – Meet Kara McDowell & writing from the sidelines[01:00] – Balancing writing, motherhood & deadlines[02:00] – The “glass vs. plastic balls” life metaphor[03:00] – Inside The Write-Off (plot + inspiration)[05:00] – Book boyfriend inspired by real life[06:00] – Why second chance romance hits differently[07:00] – College vs adult love stories[08:00] – Kara’s reading habits & favorite genres[09:00] – Is She Really Going Out With Him? rec[10:00] – Why The Rom-Commers is a perfect romcom[12:00] – Ali Hazelwood & dual timeline romance[14:00] – Cozy small-town vibes in If It Makes You Happy[17:00] – Birding with Benefits & fake dating trope[18:00] – Where to find Kara online Join the ConversationSubscribe to our Substack for exclusive recommendations. (wtrnblog.substack.com)Follow & Subscribe: What to Read Next Blog | YouTube: What to Read NextSubscribe & leave a review!