Episode
Ep 531: Seeking light but not fluffy summer reads for a good escape
- Podcast
- What Should I Read Next?
- Published
- Jun 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3601
- Processing state
not_requested- Canonical source
- http://whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/531
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Summary
Today's guest is navigating a tough season, and as a result she is looking forward to a summer of books with heart that won't be too emotionally draining. Kayla Crum is searching for what she calls light but not fluffy reads, and she's not exactly sure where to find the types of titles she's looking for. Kayla's an RN and freelance writer living in Grand Haven, Michigan, where she enjoys making the most of her Lake Michigan proximity by spending time outside with her family and reading on the beach when she can fit it into her schedule. When it comes to her summer reading quest, Kayla's identified a specific type of story that is really working well for her. Today, Kayla is hoping Anne can help her understand why this specific setting is working so well, because she'd love to discover more books that satisfy in the same way. You'll find the list of titles mentioned today on our show notes page at whatshouldireadnextpodcast.com/531. Early summer is our busy season around here, and we know that's the case for many of you as well. Our team will be taking next week off, but we will be back in your podcast players the following week. In the meantime, we hope you enjoy exploring our archives of over 500 episodes. Visit us at modernmrsdarcy.com/podcast to explore both recent and backlist episodes. Chapters: 04:29 Meet Kayla 07:38 Kayla’s search for books with heart during a season of grief 19:55 The Ice Cream Queen of Orchard Street by Susan Jane Gilman 22:04 Same As It Ever Was by Claire Lombardo 26:10 The Correspondent by Virginia Evans 28:02 Havoc by Christopher Bollen 32:28 A Witch's Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna 36:45 Make Nice by Ryan Effgen 41:28 Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan 45:02 The Inn at Lake Devine by Elinor Lipman 48:32 Road Ends by Mary Lawson…