Ep. 545: Books that just WORK for me

Anne Bogel (0:00)

You don't have to be sad about it. I'm sad.

SPEAKER_2 (0:03)

This is just data.

Debbie Day (0:05)

I feel like I brought this half-baked theory, and now I'm expecting you to do all the research and figure it out, so sorry.

Anne Bogel (0:14)

No, this is what we do here.

Hey readers, I'm Anne Bogel, and this is What Should I Read Next? Welcome to the show that's dedicated to answering the question that plagues every reader, What Should I Read Next? We don't get bossy on this show. What we do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read. Every week, we talk all things books and reading, and we do a little literary matchmaking with one guest.

Readers, first about fall book preview and our new for 2026 cute little useful lookbook. We have been thrilled to hear from so many of you that you are really loving our fall book preview lookbook. It's smaller format this year. It's six by nine. It's inky, hand stamped, kind of zine inspired, and it invites you to dig into my selections for this season's most anticipated books and some of our team picks too.

But since it's analog, you get to mark it up, take it anywhere, dog year it if you want, and refer to it all the time, like for months or years to come. Our 2026 lookbook stands alone, more than it ever has before. You can use it independently of unboxing easy. So whether you've already experienced unboxing, are still making plans to do so, or don't plan to join in unboxing at all, this year's lookbook is for you. We also designed it from the jump as being really reasonably priced. You can get it delivered to you, including shipping for about 10 bucks. Find out more and get your copy. It is analog. We only have so many copies, and we are going to sell them out. So get your copy while supplies last at modernmissusdarcy.com/fbp.

That's for fall book preview, modernmissusdarcy.com/fbp.

Readers, lately, Will and I have been making changes to make our house feel homier. We've had fun with paint and wallpaper. We are also on the hunt for new pieces that make our space feel more hospitable and more like us, like a good coffee table. Wayfair has a ton of options to choose from, and they make it easy to narrow those down to find the pieces that you will actually love. Their Wayfair Verified program features products that are hand vetted by product specialists using a 10-point quality inspection. And you get to see real feedback from real customers, including actual photos of the items in customer spaces, and more than 20 million verified five-star reviews. Back to those coffee tables. This is a piece that plays a big role in making life feel easy and comfortable. Your coffee table holds your stack of books, candles and the matches to light them, a cup of hot tea or coffee, or anything else that turns your living room into your sanctuary. Wayfair has more than 50,000 coffee tables featured on their site, and filters to help you quickly narrow down the style, size and features you want. Whether that means round, square or rectangular, tall, short or medium, with features like shelves or hidden storage, or a whole host of other options, Wayfair has you covered. Their Torin lift top coffee table with storage looks like a great place to squirl away a few more books. While I know their Farmhouse lift top coffee table with hidden storage and sliding barn door would bring fun vibes to the right space. They also offer amazing small space solutions like the Newton solid wood end table by Wade Logan. Find pieces made for real life and get even more value with Wayfair Rewards. Join Wayfair Rewards today to get 5% back on every purchase. Head to wayfair.com to shop all things home. That's wayfair.com.

Readers, Quince makes wardrobe workhorse items I reach for over and over again. So when they refresh their offerings with new seasonal colors, I take note. From the materials they use, like Mongolian cashmere, to the timeless designs, several of my Quince items have become favorite pieces. As the weather gets cooler, I've got my eye on new pieces to add fresh color or stylish touches to my wardrobe. My favorite lightweight cotton cashmere linkstitch Stulman sweater, which I wear three seasons, is now available in a gorgeous deep brick red. That new shade comes in both standard and plus sizes, and they've also added a cute mini-stripe in sizes 1 to 3X. Quince also offers great accessories for tying an outfit together, like their belts. Their Allegra European Belt, made from leather sourced from France, is a classic choice that adapts to fit at the waist or the hip, and comes in three rich shades. If you're looking for a more modern skinny belt, their Sophia European Leather Skinny Belt comes in a wider color range, including bone and mushroom. Perfect for coordinating with winter whites. For a bit more bling in your accessories, check out the Ellie European Leather Flat Stud Belt, or the Alyssa European Leather Studded Belt. Find what you're looking for at Quince this season and save. Quince works directly with ethical factories and cuts out the middlemen, so you don't pay the markup. Find the fall pieces you'll reach for most at Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK too. And when Quince asks where you heard about them, let them know it was What Should I Read Next? It's the best way to support the show.