Get ready for a relaxing reading retreat this summer.
Thanks for ordering the 2026 Summer Reading Guide!
Your Summer Reading Guide PDF was delivered by email on May 14th around 10:00 a.m. EDT with the subject line “The 2026 Summer Reading Guide Is Here!” We’ve also attached the Guide below in case you can’t find that email.
We also hosted a book party—our Summer Reading Guide Unboxing event. This is our chance to kick off the reading season, walk through all of the books in the guide, and answer your questions about what you should be reading in the months to come. Watch the event below and be sure to check out the chat to see what your fellow readers thought.
Chat Transcript
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19:57:19 From Sydney Azzi : Hello from Grand Rapids, Michigan! 19:57:20 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
19:57:22 From Sarah R : Hello from San Antonio tx 19:57:23 From MaryEllen @bookmusingbyme : Hello from Wauautosa Wisconsin
19:57:25 From Claudia Adams To All Panelists : I had to bug out this afternoon but I’m back for round two! Can’t wait! 19:57:26 From Claire Pancerz : Hello from San Luis Obispo, CA! 19:57:32 From Shelbie L Howard : Hello from McKeesport, PA! 19:57:32 From Carrie Padgett : Hello from Central California! 19:57:37 From Tracy : Greetings from Louisville, KY! 19:57:39 From Lauren.Powell : Hello from Lansing MI!! 19:57:39 From Sarah : Hello from Jacksonville,FL! 19:57:45 From Amy : Hello from Tampa, FL!
19:57:46 From andi : Hi from Las Vegas!
19:57:48 From Karen L. : Hi again everyone!
19:57:51 From Kacy : Hello from Orlando Florida 19:57:52 From Rebecca McKay’s iPhone (2) : Hello from
Nashville! Home of country music and bachelorette parties 19:57:53 From windy mck : Hi from middle Georgia 19:57:53 From Caroline Lohmann : Hi from NYC!
19:57:54 From Heather Spain To All Panelists : Hello from
South Dakota
19:57:56 From Cara Duncan : Hello from Kansas City! 19:57:57 From Lynn Fullerton : Hi from Rhode Island 19:58:00 From Bobbi : Hi from Appleton, Wisconsin 🙂 19:58:01 From Will – MMD Team : @karen again?
19:58:03 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
19:58:06 From Alexander S : Hello from Indiana! 19:58:07 From Terri Watson To All Panelists : Hi from Southlake, Texas!
19:58:08 From Ola Kraszpulska : Hi from Syracuse NY 19:58:10 From WhatSandiReads : Should I be hearing sound yet? 19:58:10 From Anne O’Brien : Hello Caroline!
19:58:12 From Catherine Thomas : So excited for tonight! Here from Acworth GA
19:58:13 From Carlene Garboden To All Panelists : Hi from Ocala, FL!
19:58:17 From Lindsey Tilden : Hi from San Diego! Today was a tough day at work, but looking forward to this tonight helped get me through.
19:58:21 From Joanne Adams : Hi from Detroit, MI 19:58:21 From Tracy Kaufman : Hello from Leawood, KS! 19:58:21 From Marian To All Panelists : Hello from Michigan!!
19:58:23 From Caroline Lohmann : Hey, Anne!
19:58:30 From Melodie H. : There is sound!
19:58:32 From Carlene Garboden : Hi from Ocala, FL! 19:58:33 From Jimilyn Butt : Hello from Irving, Texas! 19:58:34 From Leigh – MMD Team : WhatSandiReads, yes! You may want to try logging out and coming back on again.
19:58:36 From Jackie : Hi from Bucks County PA! 19:58:43 From Susan Klobuchar : Hello everyone! Joining you tonight from Crozet, VA and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains! 19:58:46 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
19:58:48 From Christopher : hi, from Buffalo, NY here for Round 2.
19:58:49 From Deja Roden : Round two! Already kicked off my summer reading with a 2025 pick that I never got to…”The Other Side of
Now”
19:58:51 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Hello from Southern MD! So excited – I haven’t peeked yet.
19:58:53 From Zoom user : Hello from Roseville Ca 19:58:54 From Florence de Sève : Hello from Montreal!!! Really happy to be with everyone tonight!
19:58:54 From Kellie’s iPhone (2) : Hi from Florida! 19:58:59 From lkelley : Hello from St. Louis, MO 19:59:00 From Katy : Hello from Chattanooga!!! 19:59:03 From Angie To All Panelists : Hello from Indianapolis!
19:59:03 From Diane : I’m so excited, hello all from Boise, Idaho
19:59:03 From Brooke Kingston : Hello from Apex NC! 19:59:05 From Mary Rose Catena : Hi from Alexandria, VA 19:59:06 From kristine bihm : Hi from Atlanta! 19:59:07 From Carly : Hi from Albany, NY!
19:59:08 From Sydney Walsh : Hello from Michigan! 19:59:08 From katiecragwall : Hello from the North shore of Chicago!
19:59:10 From Catherine Thomas : I haven’t peeked yet either! 19:59:11 From dallas : Hi from Salt Lake! Excited! 19:59:11 From Amy Amorese : Hello from AZ!
19:59:12 From Amanda Hedrick : Hello from near Charlottesville, VA!! My twin babies went to bed like little angels by 7:45 when I told them that Anne the Book Fairy was coming tonight to bring mama lots of book recommendations! So excited!!
19:59:13 From Megan Kinney : Hi from Florida!
19:59:17 From famLeafour To All Panelists : Hello from SW Chicago burbs.
19:59:22 From courtney haggerty : Hello from Louisville, Kentucky!
19:59:23 From Janean To All Panelists : Hello from Minneapolis!
19:59:26 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
19:59:30 From Audrey Johnson : Hello from Tuscaloosa, Alabama
19:59:32 From Megan Kinney : Love that @Amanda! 19:59:33 From Ashlee Lewis : Hello from Columbia, South Carolina!!
19:59:34 From Amy B : Hi from Michigan!
19:59:36 From Sarah Patrick, MPH, PhD To All Panelists : Hi, from Carbondale, IL!
19:59:36 From Becky Whitlow : Back for R2
19:59:36 From Megan T.M : Yay, Amanda!
19:59:36 From Erin iPhone : Hi from Kentucky!!! 19:59:37 From Kristi : Yes Anne the book fairy!! love 19:59:38 From Amy Amorese : I couldn’t wait! I already looked – LOL!
19:59:38 From Melodie H. : Currently reading Anne’s Reading People and The Compound
19:59:40 From Cara Duncan : This is probably the first year I didn’t look at all – helped by it being a rough work day, but still, I’m proud 😀
19:59:43 From JoAnn : Hello from CT!
19:59:43 From bethany m. planton, gpc : Good evening from Louisville, Kentucky
19:59:43 From Stephanie : Hello from Flower Mound, Tx. So happy to finally be here!
19:59:44 From Bridgett : Hello from GA
19:59:47 From Laura : Hello from Michigan!
19:59:48 From B. : I caught a little of the earlier unboxing – excited to be here!
19:59:48 From Laura Kaplan : Hello from Chicagoland! 19:59:54 From Melissa Wentzel : Hi from Reston, VA! 19:59:55 From Jessica B : Hello from Westerville, Ohio!
19:59:55 From Cris : Hello friends! So excited to be here. I just opened up the guide for the first time a few minutes ago! 20:00:00 From Shannon Roe : Hi from AL!
20:00:01 From Leigh – MMD Team : I hope this event will be a balm for anyone who had a tough day!
20:00:02 From Joy McDonald : Joy in OKC
20:00:03 From Irene Rosen Marks : I looked! I couldn’t help myself.
20:00:05 From amberly : Hello from Columbus, OH! 20:00:07 From Patty Sundberg : HI FROM Baltimore 20:00:13 From Faye To All Panelists : Waving from Brisbane, Australia!
20:00:15 From Irene Rosen Marks : And hello from Philadelphia PA
20:00:17 From Ginger – MMD Team : Sorry you had a rough work day, Cara. So glad you can sink into some books tonight! 20:00:20 From Elizabeth C. : Also from Baltimore! 20:00:21 From Amanda : It’s the most wonderful time of the
year!
20:00:26 From heather : Hi from NC!
20:00:32 From Deborah Dancz : Hello from Norton Shores, west
Michigan. I took the afternoon off to attend the 1 pm unboxing and am back for more!
20:00:40 From Sarah Patrick, MPH, PhD : Hi from Carbondale, IL. Thanks, Leigh! It sure will be!
20:00:43 From Brigid- MMD Team : Hi everyone! Welcome! 20:00:44 From Bridget To All Panelists : Hello from Austin, TX!
20:00:44 From Ginger – MMD Team : Waving back!@ 20:00:46 From Amber : rough day at work crew unite! 20:00:46 From Cris : Guys I have zoom open on my laptop, the reading guide open on my iPad, and a journal open to make notes, LOL!! 20:00:46 From Andrea Rohde : Hello from Maine!
20:00:47 From Anne O’Brien :
20:00:49 From Bailey Hall : Hi from California 20:00:50 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
20:00:50 From Lynn Bain To All Panelists : Hi from Dallas, TX!
20:00:50 From Julie McTernan To All Panelists : Hi!!!
20:00:51 From Deja Roden : @Amanda
20:00:57 From Wendy Livingston : Hello from Utah! 20:01:03 From Adrian To All Panelists : Hi from Tennessee! 20:01:05 From Amelie : Hi from Farmers Branch, TX in Dallas 20:01:10 From Ginger – MMD Team : Yes it is!!
20:01:12 From famLeafour : Hello from SW Chicago suburbs. 20:01:13 From Jill Jaclin : back again – here from Princeton NJ
20:01:16 From Cheryl : Hello from South Florida! 20:01:17 From Emily To All Panelists : Hello from Chicago! 20:01:20 From Ginger – MMD Team : Never have chill around books!
20:01:22 From Denise To All Panelists : Hello from Southern Missouri
20:01:22 From Angela : Hello from Virginia! Been here MANY years!!!!! Always a treat.
20:01:23 From Megan Kinney : It’s a holiday around here! 20:01:25 From Leneigh’s iPhone To All Panelists : One of my
fave days of the year!!
20:01:27 From Audrey : Hello from Toronto!
20:01:29 From Samantha Kunio To All Panelists : Hello from Chicago suburbs!
20:01:30 From Diane : Hello from Fulshear, Texas!!! 20:01:33 From Cris : Ginger, chill is highly overrated when it comes to books!!
20:01:33 From Barb : Hi from Massachusetts
20:01:39 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : Hi from Ann Arbor! 20:01:39 From Leigh – MMD Team : I’m waving hello from the Chicago suburbs! Happy to be your Maven of Links, as always. 20:01:41 From Leneigh’s iPhone To All Panelists : Hi from
Kelowna, BC Canada
20:01:42 From Ginger – MMD Team : Don’t forget to change your chat To: Everyone.
20:01:47 From Christi : Good morning from Singapore – it is Friday here already!!!
20:01:53 From amberly : I love that Ginger and Shannan both get to do both on-camera jobs, but swapping it around! How fun! 20:01:54 From Jacey Anderson : Hello from NC!
20:01:54 From Janean :
20:01:55 From Brigid- MMD Team : So happy to be here with you all!
20:01:57 From Donna Hetchler : Hi everyone!
20:02:00 From Leneigh’s iPhone : Hi from Kelowna BC Canada 20:02:02 From Chantelle : Hi from Santa Clarita, CA 20:02:05 From Rita To All Panelists : Hi everyone from VA 20:02:06 From Katie Pritchard : Thank you, MMD team!!! 20:02:07 From Cathy’s iPad : Hello from Woodland, CA. 20:02:07 From Lauren Nolan : Hi from Atlanta, GA! 20:02:08 From Emery : Hey from Lawrenceville, GA! 20:02:09 From Stefanie Nordstrom : Hi Team MMD and TYSM!!! 20:02:12 From Bailey Hall : Thank you!
20:02:13 From Margaret Barrett : Hi from Durham, NC! 20:02:15 From Dorothy : Hello Team!! I am grateful for all of you!!!!
20:02:16 From Kathy I : Thanks Team for all the magic! 20:02:16 From Amy Amorese : Hi Christi – S’pore! My fave place in the world!!!!
20:02:17 From Natalie : Hi from Warrenton, VA
20:02:17 From Leigh – MMD Team : Don’t forget to change your chat to: Everyone.
20:02:17 From Cara Duncan : So much love to the MMD team! 20:02:18 From Charlene Wilson : Thanks team from Kent, WA
20:02:20 From Will – MMD Team : Hey everyone 20:02:21 From Sarah Bennett : Hi from Atlanta! 20:02:23 From Marissa : Hi from Philly!
20:02:24 From Julie Stonehouse : Hello and thank you to all who make this possible!!!
20:02:24 From Alisha’s iPad : Hi y’all
20:02:26 From Ellen’s iPad (2) To All Panelists : 20:02:30 From Cris : The whole gang’s here and we love it!! 20:02:32 From Cheryl To All Panelists : Hi from Hattiesburg, Mississippi!
20:02:33 From Nicole Geiger : Me!!
20:02:33 From Julie McTernan : Feels like Christmas! Fave day of the year!
20:02:34 From Jill Carter To All Panelists : 20:02:35 From Sandra S : Hi from San Diego
20:02:36 From Wendy Stonebraker To All Panelists : Me
20:02:39 From Bailey Hall : I have not looked at it! 20:02:39 From Karen L. :
20:02:39 From Lyndsay To All Panelists : I held off all day, ha!
20:02:40 From Tracy : No peeking!
20:02:40 From Angie : Thanks, team!
20:02:40 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Me – no peeking! 20:02:41 From Melodie H. : I never look!! :)))
20:02:41 From Meghan Scully : Waiting!
20:02:41 From Anne O’Brien : No peeking for me! 20:02:41 From Jessica To All Panelists : Me! 20:02:41 From Laura Baltatzis : I have not looked at it! 20:02:42 From Kasi To All Panelists : I’ve held off 20:02:42 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : Hi from East Texas! 20:02:42 From Lori Reustle : I have not looked 20:02:43 From erin To All Panelists : Held off! 20:02:43 From Leigh – MMD Team : You should have already received the Summer Reading Guide in your inbox. If you did not, please email [email protected]. Members can also login at Patreon, Book Club, or MMD Account (if you’re a la carte) and find it there.
20:02:44 From Rachel Nelson : I’ve gotten into it but not all the way through
20:02:45 From Jamie Rabourn : no peeking
20:02:45 From Carrie Padgett : I got it and read it! 20:02:45 From kristine bihm : I skimmed it but I held off! Can’t wait to really dive in
20:02:46 From John Bell : Does anyone else have a sound echo? 20:02:46 From Cris : I just opened it up when I logged in for a quick perusal!
20:02:46 From iPhone (146) To All Panelists : Hi from Detroit Michigan
20:02:47 From Krysta : I haven’t looked!
20:02:48 From Shayne Johnson : I haven’t even taken a peak!! I wanted to hear from Anne first!
20:02:49 From Cheryl : Thanks for all the hard work! It shows out in your work!
20:02:49 From Stefanie Nordstrom : Dug into it at the earlier session!
20:02:49 From Sandra S : I haven’t looked at it yet – 20:02:50 From MaryPage Hill : I’ve held off!
20:02:50 From Mariah Hanley : Haven’t opened it or the minimalist guide!
20:02:50 From Noelle Allemang :
20:02:50 From Cheryl D. To All Panelists : I am a Rule Follower!
20:02:51 From Lyndsay To All Panelists : Hello, from St. Louis!
20:02:51 From Katherine Hardee : Its BEAUTIFUL
20:02:51 From Ellen’s iPad (2) To All Panelists : Peeked 20:02:51 From Samantha Kunio : I looked at every book already.
20:02:51 From B. : I peaked
20:02:51 From Amy : Surprise me!
20:02:51 From courtney haggerty : Not looked at it yet 20:02:52 From Misti Norton To All Panelists : I looked immediately!
20:02:52 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : I’m waiting to see it live!
20:02:53 From Lauren Nolan : Not a single look today! 20:02:54 From Jill Jaclin : totally looked!!!
20:02:54 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please check out the FAQs for troubleshooting: https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/2026-summer reading-guide/#FAQ
20:02:54 From Stephanie Amargi, she/her : I haven’t looked yet!
20:02:54 From Julie McTernan : Didn’t look
20:02:54 From Stacey Bowden : Hi from Long Island 🙂 20:02:55 From Ginger – MMD Team : I’m SO impressed. 20:02:55 From Julie Patrick : I definitely peeked. 20:02:55 From Kelly Little : I looked!
20:02:55 From Dorothy : Me!!! I never look!!!
20:02:55 From Carlene Garboden : Only read the opening letter but haven’t looked at the books yet!
20:02:56 From Vanessa Jones : I’ve held off looking but I’ve
got it now
20:02:56 From famLeafour : I don’t look!
20:02:57 From Kerri : of course I looked!!!
20:02:57 From Amanda : I had to look!
20:02:58 From Cheryl To All Panelists : I didn’t look 20:02:58 From Jackie : Haven’t looked
20:02:58 From Marissa : Helllllo! From Asheville NC! 20:02:58 From Meghan Uram : never look!
20:02:59 From Lauren Christy To All Panelists : My friend and I have both looked at it!
20:02:59 From Courtney Ferreira : I never look 🙂 even printing it – blinders!
20:03:00 From Ola Kraszpulska : I was waiting
20:03:00 From amberly : I tried not to but may have a tiny bit!
20:03:01 From Charlene Wilson : no peeking
20:03:01 From Roxanne Klump To All Panelists : Watching again. Yes marked my guide!
20:03:01 From Melanie To All Panelists : Opened it instantly!
20:03:01 From Emily To All Panelists : I printed it out, btu haven’t peeped yet!
20:03:01 From MKain : I peaked….and printed
20:03:01 From Alisha’s iPad : Me
20:03:01 From erin : Printing now …
20:03:01 From Cara Duncan : No peeking from me! 20:03:01 From Claudia Sever : Nope
20:03:02 From Erin iPhone : I have no “shelf control”! I looked!!! (Briefly!
20:03:02 From Joy McDonald : Just busy with work 20:03:03 From Ellen’s iPad (2) : Peeked
20:03:03 From Amber : I quickly read it while I ate breakfast 20:03:03 From Renee Cool : No peeking! Such a busy workday! 20:03:03 From Cris : I just haven’t been home all day, LOL!! 20:03:03 From Caroline Lohmann : I only looked enough to print out the last page for notes!
20:03:06 From Kristen Sellke : Not yet!
20:03:06 From Amy Amorese : Oh yeah, I looked! 20:03:07 From Catherine Thomas : Not even a peek! 20:03:08 From Alisha’s iPad : Me
20:03:09 From Diane Geheber : looked and picked many 20:03:09 From Lynda Dugas : Read it cover to cover! 20:03:11 From Tracy Kaufman : Yes, I looked!
20:03:11 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
If you have a question, please place that in the Q & A feature. 20:03:12 From Shawntaye : Hello and thank you. I definitely looked when I couldn’t get away from work earlier for the 1 pm 20:03:14 From Maggie Yoder : I never look! The unboxing is the most fun!
20:03:14 From Emery : Just opened it to go through during unboxing!
20:03:14 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : Hi from east Texas! 20:03:16 From Jenice : For the first time, I didn’t peek. 20:03:17 From Elizabeth C. : Just opened it
20:03:17 From Angela Wilson : I waited
20:03:21 From Sarah R : Hahaha I look! I was scanning for the email at 6am
20:03:21 From Terry Jo : i didn’t peek yet!
20:03:23 From Rita : I skimmed it
20:03:23 From Julie Patrick : Hello from southern Illinois! 20:03:25 From Cheryl : I waited too
20:03:28 From Hilary : Hi from Louisiana
20:03:28 From Cara Miller : I never look ahead of time! I love the surprise!
20:03:28 From DJ Weiss : Hello from Orono, Maine! 20:03:34 From Sharon Temple : Hi from Lakeway TX 20:03:34 From Ellen Wilsterman : Was working…..had to wait. But so excited for tonight!
20:03:44 From Anne : I havent looked! But mostly because i am serving on a jury and didn’t have a chance lol i am SO grateful i
f=get to be here to enjoy the unboxing!
20:03:47 From Cheryl : Hello from Mississippi! 20:03:48 From Wendy Stonebraker : Hi from Dahlonega, GA 20:03:49 From Shelley Buchi : Hello from Prince George, BC Canada!
20:03:49 From Cheryl : SRG is beautiful! So excited to get started!
20:03:51 From Heidi’s iPhone To All Panelists : Moultonborough, New Hampshire!
20:03:53 From Christine Goldbar : Back for round two!! 20:03:54 From susim1 : I watched this morning, took notes, am watching again and I still haven’t peeked!!! I don’t even have a reason why…lol! It’s just such a special event!!!!!
20:03:54 From Ellen Wilsterman : Hi from Easton PA 20:03:57 From Shelley Buchi : Love this year’s SRG so far! 20:04:00 From Tori Kreller : I missed the 1:00pm unboxing but I am SO EXCITED to be here now! Hello from Bloomington, Indiana! 🙂 Thank you to the entire MMD team for this fun annual tradition! (I haven’t peeked at the guide yet.)
20:04:04 From Jill Jaclin : love love the categories! 20:04:05 From Julia Frances : I held off on looking till before the 1pm event but I back for the second time
20:04:17 From Ginger – MMD Team : No need for delayed gratification with questions!
20:04:18 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : from Portland OR – my 8th SRG
20:04:19 From Cathy’s iPad : I always look at the guide as soon as I can. I like having my own impressions first. 20:04:23 From Beth To All Panelists : Hello from Georgetown, Ohio!
20:04:31 From Rebecca To All Panelists : Also here from BC, Canada – Victoria!
20:04:44 From Diane : I love the polls!
20:04:45 From Christine Goldbar : This is different from this morning.
20:04:48 From Emery : Pretty much all of the above 20:04:57 From Kerri : I will know it when I see it 20:04:58 From TALIA JUDSON To All Panelists : Hi from Cape Elizabeth Maine
20:05:02 From Karen To All Panelists : Will know it when I see it
20:05:04 From Deja Roden : Yes I love the polls too 20:05:04 From Cris : Everything, so I’ll know it when I see it! I am open to all the categories.
20:05:07 From Cate : Hello from Richmond, VA!
20:05:11 From Kasi : Where were the polls? Or just respond here?
20:05:12 From Denise Gordon : Hi Cheryl…I’m also in South Florida. I think we’ve talked about that before
20:05:12 From Stefanie Nordstrom : Bonanza!
20:05:14 From Leigh – MMD Team : Please change your chat to: Everyone.
20:05:19 From Katherine Hardee : Love Shannan’s do 20:05:24 From Chris Grace (she/her) : @Cathy’s ipad that’s
funny bc it’s exactly why I don’t look
20:05:41 From Leigh – MMD Team : Be kind in the way you talk about the books mentioned today and respectful of everyone in the chat. This is the time for ENTHUSIASM!
20:05:51 From Margee : Hi, Cate! I’m from Richmond, VA, too! 20:06:04 From Cathy’s iPad : I like to see if I change my mind 20:06:06 From Cris : Any other Iowa gals here?? 20:06:13 From Morgan : Hello from Harrisburg, PA! 20:06:15 From Leigh – MMD Team : Kasi, the poll already popped up in Zoom. It doesn’t always work if you’re on a device. 20:06:18 From Babinski : Hello from southern cali 20:06:21 From Cheryl D. : 20 minutes from The Fan, RVA 20:06:24 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : Stephanie from Brooklyn! So excited to be here.
20:06:24 From Kathy Fulena : Curious- How many are on this zoom?
20:06:27 From Kelsi Messer : Iowan here!
20:06:29 From kat : what was the winner of the poll?? my child
came in, and i got distracted.
20:06:30 From Marissa : Yay for book people!
20:06:36 From Anne O’Brien : Hello Stephanie!
20:06:37 From Caroline Lohmann : Hi, Stephanie! 20:06:37 From Dorothy : Hi Cathy!!! I love that you like to look first!
20:06:38 From Ginger – MMD Team : We’re still voting in the poll!
20:06:40 From Cris : Hey Kelsi!
20:06:44 From Kristi Durham : Dialing in from Williamsburg, VA!
20:06:45 From SBGelhar : Hello from Oshkosh WI area! 20:06:50 From Janice’s iPhone : Hello from Massachusetts. So happy to be here!
20:06:51 From kat : ooh, thank you, ginger! haha 20:06:52 From Sabrina : First time here from Arizona! So excited
20:07:02 From susim1 : So Cal in Temecula loving MMD in every way!!
20:07:04 From Nicole Geiger : I skipped my IRL book club to be here!
20:07:07 From Bobbi : Love your stance on AI! Thank you for all of your hard, human work!
20:07:08 From Cathy’s iPad : Hi Dorothy!
20:07:08 From Lisa Kaftori : Hi from Southern Cali 20:07:11 From Cate : Hi Margee!!
20:07:11 From Amy Amorese : It’s a great statement – perfect! 20:07:13 From Julie’s iPhone To All Panelists : Same Margee
and Cate and Cheryl. RVA in the zoom
20:07:13 From hdoogan : Welcome Sabrina! You’re in for a treat!
20:07:18 From iPhone (146) : Hi from southeast Michigan 20:07:20 From Cris : And we SO appreciate it!! 20:07:22 From Brigid- MMD Team : We are humans who love what
we do
20:07:25 From Isabella Tucker : Thank you for that!!! 20:07:26 From kat : also, hey, i’m kat based in nj. my third year (i think?). looooove it every year!
20:07:26 From Cheryl D. : I WISH everyone had the AI Mission Statement!
20:07:27 From Kasi : Thanks Leigh! I missed it but it’s okay! 20:07:27 From Amber : Thank you for your stance on AI!! 20:07:30 From Ginger – MMD Team : It is one of the few things
involving AI that actually makes me HAPPY.
20:07:30 From Priya Kumar Bradfield : Love Temecula! I’m from LA.
20:07:31 From Erin iPhone : Question—if we’re in a bit of a reading slump…what is your top suggestions for a quick jump back in… audiobook suggestion? Top book in print?
20:07:37 From Lisa Sanders To All Panelists : My dad died last week and I am hoping this cheers me up
20:07:38 From Cheryl : Hi Denise! I am in Palm Beach Gardens. You?
20:07:42 From Katie Pritchard : I so appreciate your AI statement!
20:07:44 From kat : we just came back from LA yesterday! 20:07:44 From Karen To All Panelists : Seattle WA!! 20:07:44 From Leigh – MMD Team : MMD’s statement about AI: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/statement-about-artificial-intelligence/ 20:07:46 From afink1 : Hi everyone from Duluth, MN! Yay–hi Ginger in the chat!
20:07:46 From Rebecca McKay’s iPhone (2) : Weird world that we even have to state these things with AI.
20:07:46 From Cortney Bowman To All Panelists : Thank you for the AI stance! I love this!
20:07:48 From Jackie Chetzron : We value your human work and appreciate it!
20:07:51 From Ginger – MMD Team : If you have questions for Anne, place those in the Q & A feature at any time.
20:07:53 From susim1 : @Priya! Yayyyyy!
20:08:00 From Leigh – MMD Team : Book Club Community Agreement: https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/community-agreement/ 20:08:12 From Katherine Hardee : Like minded
20:08:19 From Kristie Kercheval To All Panelists : Long time listener. First time Book Club Member from SoCal
20:08:35 From Jenn Abe : Hello everyone from Concord California! Excited to be here to catch what I missed this morning! 20:08:43 From Cheryl D. : since I didn’t look, . . any BC or Vancouver, Canada book.
20:08:47 From Ginger – MMD Team : Don’t forget to change your chat To: Everyone.
20:08:59 From Chris Grace (she/her) : I’m always hoping for a surprise pick that’s totally unexpected but seems intriguing and unusual for me.
20:09:00 From Brigid- MMD Team : Cheryl and Denise we have to get together!!
20:09:08 From Ginger – MMD Team : Whoo hoo!
20:09:19 From Jill Jaclin : wow!!! What a treat! 20:09:23 From Jill Jaclin : Go Anne!
20:09:24 From Katherine Hardee : Take care of yourself Anne 20:09:27 From Cris : Good to have the backup, but so glad you’re feeling well tonight, Anne!!
20:09:29 From susim1 : @Priya Kumar Bradfield, where in LA? I grew up in Whittier and have a son who lives in Burbank!! 20:09:29 From Amanda Hedrick : What is the MMD tech support email address? I’ve been having issues logging into the book club site
this evening
20:09:34 From Deja Roden : Oh wow! So we get a live Anne
Bogel!
20:09:43 From Ginger – MMD Team : Amanda, email us at [email protected]
20:09:48 From Amanda Hedrick : Thank you, Ginger!!
20:09:52 From Leneigh’s iPhone : We appreciate you 20:09:57 From Dorothy : You’re awesome Anne, but take care of your voice!
20:10:11 From Christopher : I also had trouble logging into MMB Book Club. Had to use Patreon Login
20:10:14 From Cheryl : Yes, Brigid! I am home all summer. 20:10:24 From Cheryl D. : omg! Yes, I want a local WSIRN meetup club! Actually, I want HERE for “ALL HENRICO READS!” 2027 20:10:32 From Barb : I was also unable to log into the site 20:10:42 From Jenna Ezis King : Same! Couldn’t log in recently 20:10:43 From Margee : Cheryl – me, too!
20:10:56 From Jessica B : FYI I was unable to log onto the bookclub site tonight as well. It was just giving an error message. I had to join the event via the link in my e-mail.
20:10:57 From Denise Gordon : I haven’t looked yet 20:11:08 From Ginger – MMD Team : General troubleshooting: if you’re having trouble logging on, clear your cache, update your browser, or try a different browser and see if that helps! And of course, email us at support if you’re having any other problems! 20:11:09 From Angela Potter : Hi all! Checking in from southern California
20:11:11 From Lisa Kaftori : Thanks to the whole MMD team
20:11:12 From Melodie H. : Same login issue!
20:11:17 From Denise Gordon : Cheryl – I’m in Palm Beach Gardens also. Maybe this is the year we get to meet in person. 20:11:20 From Cheryl : Yes, Margee!
20:11:26 From Lynn Fullerton To All Panelists : I couldn’t log in either. Thank you for letting me know it’s not just me!
20:11:31 From Margee : Hooray, Cheryl! <3
20:11:32 From Bailey Hall : Is there anything for a young adult daughter and mom to enjoy together?
20:11:32 From Priya Kumar Bradfield : My question: Is there any way to get the older SRGs? I spent a couple of hours last night after joining the Patreon, going through your previous posts (the time spent and the number of books I added to my TBR already made the membership fee worth it!) but I don’t think the 2012-2018 ones are on Patreon.
20:11:34 From Leigh – MMD Team : People having trouble logging in might be due to outdated browsers.
20:11:40 From Brigid- MMD Team : My pleasure!
20:11:41 From kat : same login issue. 403 error. 20:11:46 From Margaret Silkstone To All Panelists : Hello from Chapel Hill, NC!
20:11:55 From Ellen Wilsterman : Sharon,
20:12:17 From Unknown-Host (2) : I showed my husband the digital SRG and tried to explain what the hoopla was about. He looked perplexed.
20:12:25 From jaime : Oh thank god – i’m getting the same 403 error! i couldn’t figure out what was up
20:12:37 From MaryBeth Musumeci, GWU SPH To All Panelists : Unfortunately my browser is up-to-date, and I also have been getting the error all day (tried different browsers on iPad, laptop & phone). 20:12:39 From jaime : i ended up connecting through the email 20:12:42 From Sarah R : Yes I was wondering about older ones as well!! I started joining these a few years ago and love them but you can never have enough books
20:12:45 From Jacey Anderson : Basic comment: I am still and always impressed with Anne’s reading ability and how she churns through so many titles!
20:12:58 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Same Jacey 20:13:04 From Rachel Stevenson To All Panelists : Is there some place on paetron where we can find all the book lists that MMD makes; like the spring book list?
20:13:05 From Bailey Hall : I agree Jacey!
20:13:05 From Amy Amorese : Ditto!
20:13:06 From Leigh – MMD Team : You can get printed versions of the 2022-2025 Summer Reading Guides: https://
members.modernmrsdarcy.com/shop/#printed
20:13:09 From Bobbi : Agreed!
20:13:13 From Ginger – MMD Team : Fun fact: we didn’t always do a Summer Reading Guide PDF, but you can find the ones that do exist
from 2018 in the member communities. You can also buy some in the shop, Priya.
20:13:32 From Shelley Buchi : Same Jacey! So much envy for the fast readers out there!
20:13:36 From Carolina Landeen, MD : Hello everyone 20:13:43 From kat : (unless it’s an issue with individual IP addresses, this indicates a server-side issue.)
20:13:48 From Leigh – MMD Team : Content warning resources: Storygraph
Goodreads
Does The Dog Die? https://www.doesthedogdie.com/
Book Trigger Warnings: https://booktriggerwarnings.com/Welcome Trigger Warning Database: https://triggerwarningdatabase.com/ 20:14:17 From Stefanie Nordstrom : Papers rustling, yes! 20:14:23 From Cris : Drumroll…
20:14:31 From Babinski : Woohoo
20:14:38 From Tynisha Coleman : Listening while I’m about to drive home!
20:14:39 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: Fair Chase by Travis Mulhauser (April 28)
20:14:40 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Grateful to hear from some slow readers like me – I think Ginger says she’s a slow reader (sorry if I’m misremembering)
20:14:47 From Carrie Cahill Mulligan : Hello (again!)from soggy NH!
20:14:55 From Angela Potter : Love Peter Heller! Great start 🙂
20:15:26 From Sarah B : you had me at Charlotte McConaughey 20:15:39 From Priya Kumar Bradfield : @ginger where can I find the member communities on Patreon?
20:15:56 From Leigh – MMD Team : The Trouble Up North by Travis Mulhauser
20:16:19 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: Fair Chase by Travis Mulhauser (April 28)
20:16:21 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : I don’t enjoy Peter Heller or McConaughey – helpful to know this one’s not for me 🙂 20:16:27 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung (May 12) 20:16:32 From Holly – MMD Team : Rachel, check out the Patreon Seasonal Guides and Previews collection for past Guides! 20:16:41 From Leigh – MMD Team : What Should I Read Next #357: Welcome to Three Pines, with Louise Penny https://modernmrsdarcy.com/ 357-episode/
20:16:45 From Shelley Buchi : I’ve heard so much about Louse Penny but have never read one!
20:16:49 From Caroline Lohmann : I’m reading this one now! 20:16:49 From Leigh – MMD Team : Your Louise Penny Starter Kit: https://modernmrsdarcy.com/louise-penny-starter-kit/ 20:16:56 From Sarah Patrick, MPH, PhD : Louise Penny is great! 20:17:01 From Cris : Shelley, same here… I’ve had her on my
list for ages!
20:17:06 From Katherine Hardee : How is it Caroline? 20:17:26 From Anne O’Brien : I started reading Louise Penny because of MMD! Love her.
20:17:35 From Caroline Lohmann : It’s a page turner so far! It reminds me a bit of her book with Hillary Clinton.
20:17:54 From Renee Cool : I read an eARC & it was SO suspenseful!
20:17:54 From Katherine Hardee : Nice. I love everything she writes
20:17:58 From Melodie H. : I haven’t read anything by Penny that is outside of her Three Pines series
20:18:02 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: The Last Mandarin by Louise Penny and Melissa Fung (May 12) 20:18:04 From Sandra S : Clinton’s collab was pretty good. 20:18:32 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: The One Day You Were My Husband by Rosie Walsh (May 19) 20:18:43 From Leigh – MMD Team : The One Day You Were My Husband is a 2026 SRG Minimalist Pick
20:18:45 From Rachel Stevenson To All Panelists : I picked this one up as an audiobook ( I hope its good in that format) 20:18:46 From Lisa Kaftori : Loved the book Louise Penny & Hillary Clinton wrote together.
20:18:55 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : So pumped for this
one now – Thanks Anne wasn’t excited upon seeing it elsewhere 20:18:57 From Shannan – MMD Team : Lisa, I enjoyed that one as well.
20:19:11 From Jennifer : State of Terror was so good. 20:19:12 From Carrie Cahill Mulligan : @Anne o’Brien— Same!
20:20:02 From Amanda Hedrick : You had me at ‘twins’! 20:20:16 From Elizabeth C. : wow, this one sounds fun 20:20:19 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: The Fine Art of Lying by Alexandra Andrews (May 5)
20:20:54 From Sarah R : Ohhhhh I still think about Maud Dixon all the time!!!!
20:21:00 From JoAnn : Love E.M. Forster!
20:21:03 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : I love EM Forster! 20:21:13 From Caroline Lohmann : Hi, Sigrid!
20:21:20 From Katherine Hardee : Maude Dixon was great 20:21:36 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : Hi, Caroline! Great to “see” you!
20:21:44 From Lisa Kaftori : Adore E. M. Forster–“ Only connect.”
20:22:04 From jaime : Hey Sigrid!
20:22:07 From Leigh – MMD Team : Mystery & Suspense: The Camino by Anya Niewierra, translated by Eileen Stevens (August 25) 20:22:13 From jaime : Hey Caroline!
20:22:27 From Caroline Lohmann : Hi, Jaime! Happy SRG Day! 20:22:35 From jaime :
20:22:37 From Amy B : Hey Sigrid and Jaime!
20:22:49 From Caroline Lohmann : Hi, Amy!
20:22:53 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : Hi, Jaime! And Amy! So glad you’re all here!
20:23:06 From jaime : Hey Amy!
20:23:07 From Amy B : Hi Caroline!
20:23:12 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : We should have a group zoom, Caroline, Jaime, and Amy!
20:23:21 From Anne O’Brien : There is a MMD book club-er walking the Camino right now! Shout out to Carol Toomey! 20:23:28 From Mitzi Vincent To All Panelists : Hi, Mitzi from Louisiana
20:23:35 From Caroline Lohmann : Yay, Carol!
20:23:40 From Amy B : Group zoom, fun!
20:23:41 From Cheryl D. : I do a Camino everywhere!!! What’s the Sense of place? Which Camino Path, Trail or Way?
20:23:45 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : Carol is a badass! 20:23:46 From Caroline Lohmann : We totally should. 20:23:52 From Rhonda Cravey : These all sound wonderful! 20:24:02 From Leigh – MMD Team : Historical Happenings: A Founding Mother by Stephanie Dray and Laura Kamoie (May 5) 20:24:10 From Nicole Geiger : Oh! They are coming to my library!!
20:24:13 From Leigh – MMD Team : Abigail Adams by Woody Holton https://modernmrsdarcy.com/books/abigail-adams/
20:24:26 From Anne O’Brien : I LOVE Abigail Adams. 20:24:28 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : What else has Stephanie Dray written? I know I’ve read something by her 20:24:29 From Cris : I read my first Stephanie Dray recently and I am really excited for this one!
20:24:38 From Cate To All Panelists : Probably the Camino Frances
20:24:45 From Breon Randon : My daughter is named after Abigail Adams
20:24:59 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : I love that, Breon! 20:25:02 From Deja Roden : “Founding Mother” just popped up as
available at the library for me today!”
20:25:02 From Cris : Sigrid, I read Becoming Madam Secretary 20:25:02 From Lisa Kaftori : A Founding Mother sounds very interesting and perfect for this year,
20:25:17 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : Cris – right! That’s the one I was thinking of. Thank you!
20:25:20 From Breon Randon : Thanks Sigrid!
20:25:29 From Leigh – MMD Team : Historical Happenings: Liberty Street by Heather Marshall (June 16)
20:25:47 From Cortney Bowman To All Panelists : Liberty Street sounds soooooo good!
20:25:56 From Lynda Dugas : Plan on reading A Founding Mother and visiting Abigail Adam’s birthplace and museum in Quincy Ma near Boston
20:25:59 From Shannon Kampf : So excited to see a Canadian author on the list set in my home!
20:26:04 From Sarah B : Heather Marshall can do no wrong! 20:26:22 From Cris : Oh Lynda, that would be an awesome field trip to go with the book!
20:26:35 From Anne O’Brien : Great idea to visit Quincy @lynda. Now I want to do that.
20:26:44 From Audrey : Woohoo shout out to Toronto and Chatelaine Magazine!
20:26:56 From Shannon Kampf : Chatelaine!
20:27:01 From Caroline Lohmann : I loved her book Looking for Jane.
20:27:08 From Leigh – MMD Team : Historical Happenings: Tata by Valérie Perrin, translated by Hildegarde Serle (June 23) 20:27:11 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : Love this cover 20:27:13 From amberly : Give me all the sun! No such thing as a too sunny ending for me these days!
20:27:30 From Cris : I haven’t read any of those, but the story sounds good!
20:27:51 From Shayne Johnson : I love Valerie Perrin 20:28:55 From Amy B : Amberly I agree.
20:28:58 From Ellen’s iPad (2) : Loved both The Postcard and fresh water for flowers. Excited!
20:28:58 From Misti Norton : I’m reading A Founding Mother now, and it’s wonderful
20:29:09 From Denise Gordon : Brigid – yes!! So glad we have 3 of us. I’m here most of the summer other than some 3 or 4 day weekend trips to Orlando.
20:29:19 From Leigh – MMD Team : Historical Happenings: Song for Another Home by Bora Lee Reed (July 21)
20:29:45 From Brigid- MMD Team : Denise I was loving your Epcot pics!
20:30:26 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Ty for tracking the books & categories Leigh!
20:30:34 From Leigh – MMD Team : You’re welcome! 20:30:49 From Brigid- MMD Team : PBG Cheryl message me on Book Club or Instagram at @brigid_emily and we will set something up with Denise and any other nearby MMD’ers
20:30:50 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : I want to read all the historical!
20:31:18 From Sandra S : Love the Shore theme – great idea 20:31:19 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : *historicals 20:31:22 From Leigh – MMD Team : Seaside Stories: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (May 26)
20:31:25 From Denise Gordon : Brigid – Thank you!! It was so fun. It was a Mother/Daughter trip with my youngest who just graduated high school. We did 4 hours in MK and the night at Epcot. I can’t believe she’s 18 and graduated.
20:31:32 From Leigh – MMD Team : Dolly All the Time is the MMD Book Club June 2026 selection. Annabel Monaghan will join us for a
live discussion on June 25. https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/book/ dolly-all-the-time/
20:31:37 From Carrie Padgett : I’m excited for Dolly All the Time. I love Annabel Monaghan!
20:31:45 From Sandra S : you get stickers on covers!!! 20:31:55 From Jenn Abe : All of the covers in this category
are so delightful!
20:31:57 From Leigh – MMD Team : MMD Book Club sticker sheets: https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/product/mmd-book-club-sticker sheets/
20:32:18 From Leigh – MMD Team : Dolly All the Time is a 2026 SRG Minimalist Pick
20:33:01 From Sandra S : Yay == a Rhode Island book! I am always doing 50-state challenges, but I’m out of good RI books 20:33:11 From amberly : I’m #194 on the library holds list for
this one
20:33:29 From Leigh – MMD Team : Whoa, Amberly!! 20:33:35 From JoAnn : Sandra S – These Summer Storms is set in RI
20:33:36 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Haha Amber 20:33:36 From Ola Kraszpulska : that’s a great challenge, doing 20th century now
20:33:42 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Amberly* 20:33:45 From Annie McCloskey : I think it’s a paperback original!
20:33:52 From Shayne Johnson : Its a paperback – buy at your indie
20:33:54 From Leigh – MMD Team : Seaside Stories: Dolly All the Time by Annabel Monaghan (May 26)
20:34:07 From Leigh – MMD Team : Seaside Stories: Summerland Cove by Ellen Baker (June 2)
20:34:10 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Thanks for the tip Shayne!
20:34:17 From Caroline Lohmann : I was born in Rhode Island and lived there as a kid, so I’ll enjoy this setting!
20:34:54 From Leigh – MMD Team : Caroline, are you watching Real Housewives of Rhode Island? I’m loving it!
20:35:04 From Shayne Johnson : Can you tell I work at an indie
bookshop Ashley ?
20:35:09 From Caroline Lohmann : I’m not, but maybe I should be!
20:35:42 From Leigh – MMD Team : Seaside Stories: The Summer Girlfriend by Kristina Forest (June 9)
20:36:02 From Jenn Abe : I’m 31st in line for Dolly (ebook) but I’m thinking I need physical copies of this summer’s book club picks to put stickers on!
20:36:22 From Cris : That’s a wild side gig, LOL! 20:36:30 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : @Shayne former
librarian
20:37:07 From Adrienne Ellis : My library has started a new thing where they purchase Libby licenses a few days after the release date. I can set notifications, but I can’t put the books on hold until the library acquires them.
20:37:32 From Sandra S : are paid bridesmaids a thing? 20:37:34 From Cate To All Panelists : Same, Adrienne! 20:37:40 From Cris : Adrienne, I think mine may do the same thing… some are not available until after pub date.
20:37:44 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : I’m wondering the same thing Cris lol
20:37:49 From Leigh – MMD Team : Seaside Stories: The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (June 30)
20:37:51 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : sandra* 20:37:57 From Cate : Same Adrienne!
20:38:00 From Maggie Yoder : This one sounds sooo good! 20:38:04 From Katherine Hardee : Yes Adrienne. My library is doing the same
20:38:04 From Leigh – MMD Team : Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson https://modernmrsdarcy.com/books/pineapple-street/ 20:38:13 From Meghan Uram : I loved Pineapple Street! 20:38:17 From Jackie Chetzron : Loved Pineapple Street! 20:38:23 From Anne O’Brien : I loved Pineapple Street! Bring me all the rich people problems!
20:38:23 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : Jenny Jackson writes excellent rich people behaving badly.
20:38:24 From Denise Gordon : I loved pineapple street 20:38:28 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : My favorite genre! 20:38:32 From Stacy : I love rich people behaving badly books! 20:38:36 From Jackie Chetzron : yes, Stephanie! 20:38:41 From Mariah Hanley : Loved pineapple street and rich people behaving badly books!
20:38:47 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : This is among my 8 TBR adds from this SRG
20:38:51 From Anne O’Brien : Main character named Caroline! 20:38:59 From Leigh – MMD Team : Seaside Stories: The Shampoo Effect by Jenny Jackson (June 30)
20:39:06 From Caroline Lohmann : LOL, Anne O!
20:39:22 From Lisa Kaftori : I heard of paid
mourners( wailers) , but not paid bridesmaids…
20:39:48 From Vanessa Jones : Which one had many characters that we might not like? Summer Girlfriend or Shampoo Effect? 20:40:08 From Vanessa Jones : Oh got it!
20:40:27 From Deja Roden : I have never heard of paid mourners…how interesting
20:40:59 From Leigh – MMD Team : Julie Van Huizen’s episode of WSIRN https://modernmrsdarcy.com/421-episode/
20:41:07 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : I will be googling
these things later
20:41:11 From Boxeth, Tracy : I love how Anne chooses the
category titles differently each year:)
20:41:15 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans serious and earnest):
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (May 5)
20:41:18 From hdoogan : I love the spectrum idea! Very helpful 20:41:18 From HannahV : is that spectrum within each category? 20:41:31 From Emery : Love the serious/playful spectrum concept!
20:41:47 From Jenn Abe : I love the spectrum concept! 20:41:47 From bethany m. planton, gpc : @HannahV No, just in this category.
20:41:54 From Meghan Uram : This was lovely.
20:42:00 From HannahV : thank you!
20:42:11 From Anne O’Brien : I can’t wait to read this. 20:42:13 From Wendy Stonebraker : Love the spectrum idea also! 20:42:14 From Barbara Edwards : @Leigh your links and timing = incredible!!
20:42:15 From Stefanie Nordstrom : The spectrum is SO helpful!!!
20:42:22 From Annie McCloskey : Elizabeth Strout is an auto buy for me!
20:42:24 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans serious and earnest):
The Things We Never Say by Elizabeth Strout (May 5)
20:42:27 From amberly : I appreciate that this section of the guide is in spectrum order, instead of publication order! 20:42:34 From Lisa Kaftori : Deja, professional mourners are called moirologists
20:42:43 From Catherine : Just love love this spectrum scale in this category! Very appreciated!
20:42:57 From Angela Wilson : Me too Annie. I love her! 20:43:01 From AnnMarie : Leigh is the master of “Link Slinging”!!
20:43:11 From Deja Roden : Will be YouTubing “moirologist”
later
20:43:11 From Jenn Abe : I lean toward quirky and playful although I am willing to read some serious and earnest books so this is very helpful!
20:43:16 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Same here Annie! 20:43:27 From Jessica B : I’m # 451 on hold for Things We
Never Say at my library . Excellent readers around here. 20:43:27 From Jackie Chetzron : The spectrum concept I didn’t know I needed
20:43:29 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : I’m interested in a
scale for all categories
20:43:30 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans serious and earnest):
City of Widows by Nadia Hashimi (July 28)
20:43:34 From Colleen : My husband is watching a very
important hockey game and he just yelled “Oh ****” right as Anne was saying this was the first non Crosby, Maine book. It was very funny 20:43:43 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nadia Hashimi joined MMD Book Club for a conversation about Sparks Like Stars in July 2021: https:// members.modernmrsdarcy.com/book/sparks-like-stars/
20:43:51 From Jenna Ezis King : Lol I can picture it Colleen 20:43:56 From Leigh – MMD Team : LOL Colleen
20:44:06 From Maggie Yoder : I for sure will be looking up fiction books about moirologists!
20:44:15 From Becky Whitlow : I kept trying to search “windows” instead of “widows”
20:44:21 From Jenna Ezis King : I didn’t know this Leigh! I’ve got to watch that author talk
20:44:51 From Leigh – MMD Team : Hope you enjoy, Jenna! 20:45:02 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans serious and earnest):
Whistler by Ann Patchett (June 2)
20:45:12 From Leigh – MMD Team : Whistler is a 2026 SRG Minimalist Pick
20:45:12 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : Excited for Whistler!
20:45:17 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Yay Ann Patchett! 20:45:18 From Caroline Lohmann : So looking forward to this! 20:45:20 From Amanda Hedrick : One of the best of the year! I can’t wait for this one!
20:45:25 From Donna Hetchler : All the heart eyes for that cover.
20:45:32 From Melodie H. : Preordered this from Parnassus!! 🙂 20:46:05 From Bailey Hall : I am so excited to read Whistler. I love Ann Patchett.
20:46:07 From Katherine Hardee : Way to go Melodie! 20:46:09 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Melodie I used to live in Nashville 🙂
20:46:18 From Heidi : I’m loving all of these English teacher books!
20:46:19 From Sandra S : ooo good idea – I’m going to order from Parnassus too!
20:46:20 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Saw Ann talk at lit fest
20:46:41 From Lisa Kaftori : Deja, you might look up lloradoras too. I came across this custom while researching for a project on grief and mourning.
20:47:02 From Leigh – MMD Team : If you preorder from Parnassus, you can get a signed copy too! https://parnassusbooks.net/ whistler
20:47:14 From Jacki : I love that the horse has little to do with it. My husband has a published book and it also ended up with a random horse on the front. I’ll have to let him know that if it happens to Ann, it’s totally fine, lol
20:47:21 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary
Fiction (leans serious and earnest):
Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez (April 21)
20:47:26 From Katherine Hardee : Reading this now! 20:47:28 From Nicole Geiger : I finished this last week! 20:47:29 From Leigh – MMD Team : Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez was the MMD Book Club July 2024 selection: https:// members.modernmrsdarcy.com/book/olga-dies-dreaming/
20:48:00 From Shannan – MMD Team : This was a great author chat and nice to hear that early.
20:48:00 From Stephanie : I started reading Last Night in Brooklyn yesterday. It makes so much more sense knowing the Gatsby tie-in now.
20:48:09 From Lisa P : Great idea ordering Whistler from Parnassus!
20:48:14 From Cara Duncan : I really enjoyed this one! Been waiting impatiently since the author talk 🙂
20:48:18 From Melodie H. : HOW FUN to get to see the book after hearing her talk about it!
20:48:24 From amberly : I didn’t love last year’s Gatsby retelling, so I’m hopefully that this one will land better 20:49:02 From Amanda Hedrick : I’ve listened to Xochitl Gonzalez’s other books on audio and they were SO much fun in that format – it sounds like this one follows that trend too 20:49:07 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans serious and earnest):
Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez (April 21)
20:49:37 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans quirky and playful):
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel (May 5)
20:49:49 From Sandra S : I cannot wait – I love her. 20:49:53 From Melodie H. : I was there!!!! SO MUCH FUN! 20:49:55 From Amanda Hedrick : AH I LOVED this book!! She is becoming one of my favorite authors!
20:50:13 From Melodie H. : The book is so good!!! I LOVED it 20:50:14 From Leigh – MMD Team : That’s fun, Melodie! I was there too.
20:50:16 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Imaging all possibilities made me think of I Have Some Questions for You 20:50:18 From Anne O’Brien : Hmmm…
20:50:25 From Jenna Ezis King : I just realized this book is based in Austin, Texas!
20:50:27 From Liz Manion To All Panelists : 20:50:28 From Sandra S : OMG an older protagonist in a Laurie Frank book Yay yay yay
20:50:34 From Cris : That’s both hilarious and absolutely terrifying!!
20:50:37 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans quirky and playful):
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel (May 5)
20:50:37 From Julie Patrick : I have this ARC! Got a copy
since I’m an LFL steward.
20:50:40 From Liz Manion :
20:50:54 From Jenna Ezis King : My worst nightmare, lol 20:50:57 From Courtney To All Panelists : My thoughts exactly, Cris
20:50:57 From Sandra S : What is an LFL steward? 20:50:58 From Melodie H. : I was a little unsure based on the description, but loved it!
20:51:05 From Michelle Wilson : I really enjoyed it but she used politics like a cudgel and they are my politics but would still say it’s a YES read
20:51:10 From Julie Patrick : Little Free Library! 20:51:17 From Lisa P : Lol, Jenna!
20:51:25 From Bobbi : This premise really blows my mind. But Annie B Jones said the same thing Anne is saying… just roll with it apparently
20:51:27 From Cris : Oh really Michelle? I don’t like being beaten over the head with politics even if I agree with them. 20:51:32 From amberly : I’m not even 77, and this is still my
worst nightmare
20:51:57 From Mariah Hanley : I read it in a day and enjoyed it immensely!
20:52:08 From Nicole Geiger : That sold me
20:52:08 From Amanda Hedrick : I thought that the explanation about how she was able to become pregnant actually sounded medically plausible – it sounds wild, but trust me, it totally works! 20:52:12 From Sarah R : Interesting. Do you think the politics overpower the story? It sounds like something I could like but also totally off-base for my tastes…..but my favorite books have been those books for me!!
20:52:19 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans quirky and playful):
Enormous Wings by Laurie Frankel (May 5)
20:52:19 From Jackie Chetzron : I love the way Laurie handles serious topics with a light touch
20:52:39 From Sharhonda Woods : This sounds like a great story!
20:52:39 From Caroline Lohmann : Ooh, those were two of my favorites from last year!
20:52:44 From Michelle Wilson : That was how it felt to me. Everything Anne is saying is true and great but I still thought heavy handed around politics
20:52:48 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans quirky and playful):
Paradise Pawn by Meg Richardson (July 14)
20:52:49 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Striking cover! 20:53:23 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : This seems like it could be a comp for Kristen Arnett. Full of quirk!
20:53:29 From Brigid- MMD Team : My Patron Saint name 20:53:40 From Amanda Hedrick : I love how we’re seeing picks
from smaller publishers! Feels like such under the radar gems with comparison to all of the marketing we see for novels from big five publishers
20:54:03 From Brigid- MMD Team : Hear, hear Amanda!! 20:54:05 From Katie Ineich : @Amanda that’s a great point!! 20:54:17 From Dorothy : Totally agree Amanda!!! 20:54:28 From Lisa Kaftori : I agree Amanda!
20:54:40 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans quirky and playful):
Leave and Come Back by Lavanya Lakshmi (June 16)
20:56:08 From Leigh – MMD Team : Literary & Contemporary Fiction (leans quirky and playful):
Country People by Daniel Mason (July 7)
20:56:20 From Anna : I read Country People already and it’s my best of 2026 so far. Funny and a love letter to language. 20:56:25 From Amanda Hedrick : I’m in the middle of Country People now! Really enjoying it
20:57:35 From amberly : This sounds bonkers in the best way 20:57:51 From Sandra S : SOunds wonderful
20:57:59 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Skilled + silly = Skilly, my favorite tone for books!
20:58:06 From Leigh – MMD Team : If you have a question, please place that in the Q & A feature.
20:58:13 From Julia Frances : @Amberly I fully agree!! 20:58:18 From Amanda Hedrick : It’s so different from his prior novel North Woods (which I also loved), so sounds like he’s got quite the range as an author
20:58:19 From Diane Geheber : oh boy my favorite 20:58:32 From windy mck To All Panelists : What flavor of Spendrift tonight?
20:58:36 From Annie McCloskey : Love myself some MESSY! 20:58:37 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
Sisters of a Halved Heart by Nayantara Roy (June 2)
20:58:51 From Leigh – MMD Team : Sisters of a Halved Heart is the MMD Book Club July 2026 selection. Nayantara Roy will join us for a live discussion on July 30. https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/book/ sisters-of-a-halved-heart/
20:58:52 From Colleen : Nothing makes me feel better more than a messy messy messy book
20:58:59 From Leigh – MMD Team : Sisters of a Halved Heart is a 2026 SRG Minimalist Pick
20:59:40 From Shannan – MMD Team : LOL Colleen! 20:59:51 From Jenna Ezis King : Haha, same here Colleen 20:59:55 From Boxeth, Tracy : I am so excited about this book. I also love a backwards story from a crazy incident.
21:00:10 From Heidi : My library holds list is getting very long
21:00:22 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
Returns and Exchanges by Kayla Rae Whitaker (May 19)
21:00:24 From Shayne Johnson : I love an epilogue! 21:00:31 From Amelie : Heidi, me too!
21:00:55 From Shannan – MMD Team : LOL Heidi!
21:01:11 From Leigh – MMD Team : We may or may not have a Kentucky book list coming up on the blog soon…
21:01:22 From Ginger – MMD Team : This Kentucky girl is happy about that!
21:01:29 From Kay : Same Heidi – growing by the minute! 21:01:42 From Shawntaye Hopkins : Oh that makes so much sense now because I just saw she was going to be at Joseph Beth here in Lexington
21:01:46 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Always overly ambitious with how many SRG titles I try to read
21:01:51 From Nicole Geiger : My Libby is tapped out! 21:01:54 From Cathryn Lasky : There are soooo many good books out this summer!! I’m reading The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett, and American Fantasy by Emma Straub, and so excited to read Whistler by Ann Patchett that comes out in a couple weeks. Now all the great books in the SRG, and book club picks…… yikes…. I can’t read fast enough!
21:02:15 From Cris : Cathryn, same. Too many and my list keeps getting longer!
21:02:34 From Kay : There ARE a ton of good books being released – and some on the longer side. I need to retire and read. 21:02:38 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
The Missed Connection by Tia Williams (June 16)
21:02:40 From Sandra S : I just finished The Calamity Club and IMG — love love love. I kee thinking about the cast for the adaptation 21:02:48 From Caroline Lohmann : Yay! Love Tia Williams! 21:02:57 From Anne O’Brien : I adore Tia Williams!! 21:03:01 From Leigh – MMD Team : Tia Williams was a part of What Should I Read Next #351: Book Club Favorites: LIVE from Bookmarks! https://modernmrsdarcy.com/351-episode/
21:03:05 From Heidi : Ooh! This one is already ON my holds list!
21:03:09 From Jenna Ezis King : Kay – I’m gonna have to quit my job this rate!
21:03:44 From Jackie Chetzron : I am still working on the spring library chat list as those holds are just now coming in 21:03:52 From Cris : I am basically retired and I gotta tell
you, it’s still not enough time!
21:04:03 From Nicole Geiger : Oh some of mine won’t be here until September or October!
21:04:18 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
The Missed Connection by Tia Williams (June 16)
21:04:36 From Ellen Wilsterman : I’m retiring June 30….so excited to have more reading time! Still not sure that I can keep up
with all my starred choices!
21:04:55 From Ginger – MMD Team : Congratulations, Ellen! 21:04:56 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
Main Characters by Bobby Palmer (June 30)
21:04:57 From Jackie Chetzron : Congratulations, Ellen 21:05:00 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : Congrats Ellen! 21:05:20 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : The Missed Connection sounds so fun. My first Tia Williams, maybe? 21:05:21 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Yay Ellen! 21:05:23 From Cris : Ellen, congrats… just in time for plenty of summer reading!
21:05:25 From Leneigh’s iPhone : I love this concept 21:05:26 From Jenna Ezis King : My family and I are going to Costa Rica for 10 days. I think I’m gonna let them go ahead on the excursions so I can behind and knock out some books on my TBR! 😉 (jk, I’m joining them)
21:05:34 From Anne O’Brien : It’s time @Stephanie! 21:05:42 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
Main Characters by Bobby Palmer (June 30)
21:05:53 From Shannan – MMD Team : You gotta do what you gotta do, Jenna.
21:05:56 From Jenna Ezis King : So excited about this one! 21:05:58 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : There is no reason that I haven’t, Anne!!!
21:06:09 From Cris : Priorities, Jenna…
21:06:54 From Leigh – MMD Team : Messy Messy Relationship Fiction:
Take What You Can by Naima Coster (August 4)
21:07:31 From Caroline Lohmann : So many Brooklyn books! 21:07:52 From Jenna Ezis King : I don’t now what this says about me but I want to read ALL the books in the messy, messy category
21:08:14 From Ginger – MMD Team : This is me always, Jenna. 21:08:26 From Ginger – MMD Team : So juicy (and discussable!) 21:08:27 From Nicole Geiger : Same Jenna! Since I love messy
family drama, I assumed I would
21:08:27 From Diane Geheber : me too Jenna
21:08:48 From Cathryn Lasky : I’m here for all the Brooklyn books. My daughter lives there – and has for the past 15 years – so I’ve gotten to know some of it through my trips to visit ehr. 21:08:49 From Jackie Chetzron : me, too, Jenna 21:08:56 From Wendy Livingston : same here Jenna! ha 21:09:04 From Nicole Geiger : And…these will be me too 21:09:04 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : I like this category title
21:09:07 From Leigh – MMD Team : Magical & Strange: Land by Maggie O’Farrell (June 2)
21:09:18 From Leigh – MMD Team : What Should I Read Next #513:
Maggie O’Farrell on writing for the page and screen https:// modernmrsdarcy.com/513-episode/
21:09:25 From Renee Cool : So excited for Land! 21:09:28 From Leigh – MMD Team : Where to start with Maggie O’Farrell https://modernmrsdarcy.com/completist-authors-maggie-o farell/
21:09:37 From Shannon Kampf : I have tickets to see her speak and get a signed copy 🙂
21:09:44 From Leigh – MMD Team : Land is a 2026 SRG Minimalist Pick
21:09:51 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Enjoy, Shannon 21:09:59 From Caroline Lohmann : Ooh, Shannon, I would love to hear her speak!
21:10:11 From Shannon Kampf : I’m so looking forward to it! 21:10:20 From amberly : This is reminding me of The Cartographers a little bit
21:10:43 From Sigrid Michelle Anderson : I saw O’Farrell in Edinburgh years ago, and I was totally hooked. She’s very wry and smart
21:10:54 From Jenn Abe : I love this category! 21:11:01 From Leigh – MMD Team : Magical & Strange: The Great Wherever by Shannon Sanders (July 7)
21:11:10 From Leigh – MMD Team : The Great Wherever is the MMD Book Club August 2026 selection. Shannon Sanders will join us for a live discussion on August 27. https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/book/ the-great-wherever/
21:11:22 From Leigh – MMD Team : The Great Wherever is a 2026 SRG Minimalist Pick
21:11:52 From Meghan Uram : This reminds me of a Annie Hartnett or Sarah Addison Allen read.
21:12:05 From Cris : This sounds like so much fun 21:12:10 From Jenn Abe : The Great Wherever might be my most anticipated read! Possibly because of how hooked I am on the Ghosts TV show!
21:12:17 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Yes Meghan – I was thinking Unlikely Animals. I love snarky ghosts!
21:12:28 From hdoogan : Me too Jenn!
21:12:29 From Ginger – MMD Team : Love that show too, Jenn! 21:12:35 From Leigh – MMD Team : Magical & Strange: The Memory Bookshop by Song Yu-jeong, translated by Shanna Tan (July 7)
21:12:37 From Jenna Ezis King : Yesss Unlikely Animals! I had just read that one
21:12:48 From Cara Duncan : Same, Jenn! Makes me want to do a rewatch.
21:12:57 From Melodie H. : I am so excited about The Great Wherever! Super pumped it was picked for book club :)) 21:13:01 From Jenn Abe : Ooh Meghan I love Annie Hartnett and Sarah Addison Allen!
21:13:29 From Amanda Hedrick : I LOVE these kind of Korean/
Japanese fiction novels! So cozy yet one that still makes you think 21:13:50 From Leigh – MMD Team : Magical & Strange: Fishbone Cinderella by Elizabeth Lim (July 28)
21:14:34 From Cara Duncan : Oooh. That one had me immediately by the cover and the settings.
21:15:11 From Leigh – MMD Team : Magical & Strange: Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty (August 4) 21:15:25 From Leigh – MMD Team : Gravity is the Thing by Jaclyn Moriarty was in the 2019 SRG https://modernmrsdarcy.com/books/ gravity-is-the-thing-a-novel/
21:16:07 From Anne O’Brien : You had me at time travel agency
21:16:08 From Laura Baltatzis : Jaclyn Moriarty’s middle grade book series that starts with The Extremely Inconvenient Adventures of Bronte Mettlestone are some of my very most favorite books of all time!
21:16:16 From Monique SC : Sounds like I might explore this category, new for me !
21:16:30 From Leigh – MMD Team : That’s fun, Monique! Hope they work well for you.
21:16:47 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nonfiction & Memoir: Against Breaking: On the Power of Poetry by Ada Limón (April 7) 21:16:58 From Monique SC : Thanks @Leigh
21:17:46 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nonfiction & Memoir: Small Town Girls: A Writer’s Memoir by Jayne Anne Phillips (April 21) 21:17:56 From Leigh – MMD Team : Night Watch by Jayne Anne Phillips won the Pulitzer in 2024
21:18:00 From Shannan – MMD Team : I enjoyed AGAINST BREAKING. 21:18:33 From Carrie Bell : The writing is so good in this memoir
21:18:44 From Jenna Ezis King : Very interested in this one – I’ve heard of Night Watch but haven’t read it yet
21:18:49 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : I’m going to try and read 9 SRG titles this year, to match my 9th SRG (correction as
earlier I thought it was 8 )
21:19:01 From Leigh – MMD Team : Love that plan, Ashley! 21:19:02 From Jeni : can’t wait to read this
21:19:04 From Melodie H. : Night Watch is on my 26 in 26 pile 21:19:09 From Ola Kraszpulska : Went to college at Marshall University in West Virginia
21:19:15 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nonfiction & Memoir: Small Town Girls: A Writer’s Memoir by Jayne Anne Phillips (April 21) 21:19:23 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nonfiction & Memoir: The Traveler: One Man’s Quest for Humanity from the South Seas to Revolutionary Paris by Andrea Wulf (June 9)
21:19:37 From Leigh – MMD Team : The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf https://modernmrsdarcy.com/books/the-invention-of-nature/ 21:19:55 From Monique SC : how many pages? like Nature! 21:19:56 From Jenn Abe : I’m thinking about starting a special SRG reading journal this year
21:19:57 From Ginger – MMD Team : West Virginia is so beautiful. We drive through there a lot and every time I comment, “WV is surely about to be the Next Big Thing” because it feels like an underrated gem.
21:20:01 From Will – MMD Team : Loved Invention of Nature and Traveler is on my TBR
21:20:10 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Hi Will! 21:20:16 From Megan Kinney : Love that idea Jenn 21:20:19 From Ginger – MMD Team : I wondered if you were going to read this one, Will! Wulf is such a great writer.
21:20:31 From jaime : I have never been disappointed by a Knopf book
21:20:34 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nonfiction & Memoir: Trash!: A Garbageman’s Story by Simon Paré-Poupart, translated by Pablo Straus (June 16)
21:20:39 From Milo Evans : Hi Laura!
21:20:43 From Will – MMD Team : Probably going to read Trash too 😉
21:20:54 From Wendy Livingston : Trash has such a great cover 21:20:55 From Shannan – MMD Team : That’s great that you know that Jaime!
21:20:58 From Jenn Abe : Jaime that’s so interesting! 21:21:01 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Agree good cover 21:21:06 From amberly : Why can I hear Joey from Friends trying to pronounce this author’s name?
21:21:23 From Renee Cool : That’s awesome Anne!
21:21:28 From bethany m. planton, gpc : @Amberly 21:21:29 From Leigh – MMD Team : LOL now I can hear Joey too 21:21:41 From Jackie Chetzron : Every time I see Knopf, I think of Julia Child getting her first book deal
21:21:44 From Melodie H. : Amberly! HAHA
21:21:50 From Lisa Kaftori : Shannan, is Against Breaking by Ada Limon?
21:21:50 From Jenn Abe : LOL Amberly!
21:21:52 From Leigh – MMD Team : Nonfiction & Memoir: Trash!: A Garbageman’s Story by Simon Paré-Poupart, translated by Pablo Straus (June 16)
21:21:58 From Leigh – MMD Team : Lisa, yes!
21:22:14 From hdoogan : After reading Mailman, I’m curious to read Trash. Maybe a mini-reading project on reading memoirs about different jobs!
21:22:31 From Bailey Hall : My TBR is now 20 books longer! LOL!
21:22:33 From Melodie H. : hdoogan – That sounds like a fun project!
21:22:37 From Leigh – MMD Team : If you have a question, please place that in the Q & A feature.
21:22:40 From Shannan – MMD Team : I think I have just added another book to my TBR.
21:22:53 From Katherine Hardee : Awesome job Anne
21:22:59 From Jenna Ezis King : Soooo many great ones in this guide!
21:23:15 From Amy’s iPhone : Thank you team for all of this hard work! I’m so excited by multiple titles.
21:23:15 From Rhonda Cravey : I just added at least 30 books to my TBR list!
21:23:19 From Leigh – MMD Team : The 2026 Summer Reading Guide is exclusively for our members and a la carte purchasers. Please avoid spoilers when sharing about it on social media and don’t feed it to any Large Learning Models (like ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini). Thank you for supporting the work we do!
21:23:24 From Sandra S : I think I’m glad I waited to open the pdf.
21:23:24 From Katherine Hardee : yummy
21:23:25 From Jenn Abe : Hdoogan love that idea! 21:23:26 From Margee : Thank you, Anne! What a great lineup! 21:23:30 From Brigid- MMD Team : I love that Fuji Apple one!
21:23:30 From Natalie :
21:23:41 From Nicole Geiger : @hdoogan – include All the Beauty in the World by Patrick Bringley – it’s great and about guards at The Met
21:23:42 From Leneigh’s iPhone : What’s her favourite book in the guide?
21:23:56 From hdoogan : Thanks Nicole!
21:23:59 From Lisa Kaftori : Thanks Shannan!
21:24:24 From Jenn Abe : I’m so glad I was able to attend both
events today!
21:24:25 From Megan Kinney : I add the pub dates to my calendar
21:24:27 From Christine Goldbar : Spreadsheet?
21:24:34 From Maggie Yoder : Nicely done MMD Team! 21:24:34 From Becky Whitlow : If you use Libby use the “NOTIFY ME”
21:24:36 From MaryEllen @bookmusingbyme : I keep a spreadsheet 21:24:37 From Katherine Hardee : Reminders in my phone 21:24:38 From Colleen : I use a site called Book Notification – you track by author and it makes a personalized calendar for you 21:24:38 From Leigh – MMD Team : I keep a note in my phone for each year’s anticipated books and it’s in chronological order. 21:24:39 From Amy Amorese : Yep! I put it on my Calendar! 21:24:40 From Melodie H. : I have a release date page in my reading journal 🙂
21:24:42 From Caroline To All Panelists : Preorder!! 21:24:45 From Lisa : Some Libby’s let you put up early, and then I put them in my day planner!
21:24:48 From Mariah Hanley : FYI to anyone who participates in challenges on Storygraph, i have a public minimalist reading guide challenge— Modern Mrs. Darcy Minimalist Reading Guide 2014-2026. Updating it tonight with 2026 minimalist picks.
21:24:50 From Liz : I create alerts on my Libby app so I know when the ebook is released
21:24:51 From Amy Amorese : Yes, also preordering 21:24:52 From Sarah T : check out book notification – you get weekly emails of your upcoming books!
21:24:55 From amberly : I thought I would use the Enthusiasm Meter to narrow down my library holds and preorders, but almost all of these books got a 4 or 5!
21:25:12 From Jenna Ezis King : Amberly same here lol. 21:25:27 From Shannan – MMD Team : Amberly, that is what usually happens.
21:25:28 From Leigh – MMD Team : Patreon bonus about publishers: https://www.patreon.com/posts/varied-of-your-85815727 21:25:34 From Katherine Hardee : ALL of these books look amazing
21:25:40 From Sandra S : I’m surprised how many are not available for holds yet – in San Diego.
21:25:47 From Lisa Kaftori : Shannan, I was just able to borrow Against Breaking from my library, to read on my kindle:) 21:25:57 From Nicole Geiger : Lisa, me too on audio! 21:26:14 From Jackie Chetzron : so many that I didn’t already know about-the gift of Anne’s talents
21:26:24 From Leigh – MMD Team : 25 things readers should know about publishing: https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/event/25-things readers-should-know-about-publishing/
21:26:34 From Cris : Okay, I need to scoot out of here. Thank you Anne and team MMD for a wonderful kick off to our summer reading! 21:26:44 From Shannan – MMD Team : Glad to hear that Lisa. I am just getting into reading poetry and this was GREAT! 21:27:03 From Lisa P : Sandra are if you are using Libby you can use the “deep search” and “notify” buttons
21:27:30 From Sandra S : I put a lot of notifies, but haven’t done a deep search – thanks for the tip
21:28:01 From Sandra S : But also my print library – looks like they have no budget to buy books this year – boo hoo 21:28:05 From Lisa : Last year I was dealing with grief and overwhelm so almost all books were not-right time! Instead I spent LOTS of time watching past Survivor Seasons. Don’t regret last summer choices but excited for Summer Reading this summer!!!! 21:28:44 From Sandra S : @Lisa – and I’m watching Survivor 50 tonight (darn my adult children for getting me into this series) 21:28:44 From Brigid- MMD Team : I never regret watching Survivor as well Lisa!
21:28:45 From Miranda : I LOVE the UK cover of The Great Wherever
21:29:09 From Jackie Chetzron : So glad you are in a good place this summer, Lisa
21:29:12 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Lisa, hope this is a great and healing reading summer
21:29:20 From Lisa : Survivor 50 second to last episode
Wednesday for me and then SRG book… it’s a good week! 21:29:34 From Julie Patrick : Yes, Lisa!
21:29:46 From Jacki : Lisa, this was better than watching those two going home in the same episode. Still crying about it. 21:30:09 From Sandra S : Same Lisa — and I have to finish Mad Maple as it’s going tot be sucked backinto the cloud tomorrow – and I want to know!!!
21:30:15 From Katherine Hardee : Love that!
21:30:36 From Monique SC : @Lisa… fellow Survivor fan 21:30:46 From Sandra S : No survivoer spoilers please! 21:30:52 From Jackie Chetzron : It is helpful! 21:30:53 From Melodie H. : No survivor spoilers please!!!! 21:31:10 From Sandra S : LOL @Melanie
21:31:25 From Sandra S : @Melodie. sorry
21:31:32 From Melodie H. : @Sandra I would cry, haha 21:31:53 From MaryEllen @bookmusingbyme : When are y’all starting summer? After today?
21:31:59 From Leigh – MMD Team : Anne is wearing Charlotte Tilbury Matte Revolution in Pillow Talk today and in the video https://bit.ly/4snDQZU
Ginger is wearing Maybelline Color Sensational The Mattes Lipstick in Lust for Blush https://amzn.to/3RQsNHe
Shannan is wearing BeautyCounter Beyond Lipgloss in Mulberry. (The company is in transition and it’s not for sale right now.) 21:33:32 From Lisa : My college kids (I’m a campus minister) had their last finals today! So summer is starting for me! 21:33:50 From Jenna Ezis King : My summer starts when the kids get out of school – which is in two weeks!
21:33:57 From Tynisha Coleman : Those in the MMD book club. What’s your favorite part of it? I’m considering it.
21:34:15 From MKain : Summer starts for us June 19th! June 18th is end of year for our district
21:34:28 From Renee Cool : I’m a HS teacher, so one month from now when we get out of school – can’t wait!
21:34:50 From Laura Kaplan : High school teacher. 8 more days of school (including finals) for me!
21:34:51 From Megan Kinney : My summer schedules started this week, so it’s fitting to have this SRG celebration
21:34:54 From MaryEllen @bookmusingbyme : MMD bookclub I love the people in this community
21:35:00 From Jenna Ezis King : MMD Book Club has great author talks and workshops! Always something happening every month. Some great discussions in the discussion boards too.
21:35:06 From Lorraine : @Tynisha: author interviews 21:35:13 From Alisha’s iPad : @Tynisha the community 21:35:21 From Tynisha Coleman : Thank you for sharing!!! I appreciate reading these comments.
21:35:23 From Chris Grace (she/her) : Tynisha, I like the
author talks, member meet-ups (informal small group zoom chats), and being able to ask for recs or reading advice from everyone 21:35:27 From Angela : @Tynisha, it’s the kindest place on the internet
21:35:30 From amberly : Tynisha, there are a lot of things I love about book club, but the author chats are my favorite. Hearing the behind-the-scenes about their writing process and what inspired their work is so interesting
21:35:31 From Lisa Kaftori : Nicole, maybe we can share our thoughts on Against Breaking with each other & with Shannan too. If the two of you are open to this idea.
21:35:37 From Sandra S : I love the book talks. And the people. I’ve joined a lit society I met through MMD and I now have weekly coffees and have met up with another woman – we met up at Parnassus in fact. She’s now one of my closest friends 21:35:40 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : The workshops, forums, classes, events. I have been in since day 1
21:35:45 From Nicole Geiger : Lisa, I’d be in for that! 21:35:48 From Ellen Wilsterman : My Summer is starting when I retire from corporate life on June 30…..but summer reading will also continue in October when we go on a long cruise (14 days)! Really looking forward to all the extra reading time.
21:35:52 From Jenna Ezis King : Sandra I love that! 21:35:53 From Becky Whitlow : Tynisha – I love the author events – hearing their perspectives and more behind the story, also the community and finding people who are reading the same books or have a perspective on books you’re considering
21:36:19 From Jenna Ezis King : Congrats Ellen! 21:36:37 From Katie Ineich : @Tynisha the community and the author events/interviews
21:36:47 From Deja Roden : Minimalist picks
21:36:55 From Courtney Ferreira : Time per day I say go minutes not books
21:36:56 From Michelle Wilson : Minimalist guide? 21:37:01 From Lori Roe : GOAL: Read one, then another . . . One book at a time.
21:37:16 From Jenna Ezis King : Read for 30 minutes a day. 21:37:17 From Anne O’Brien : That’s what I was thinking @Lori 21:37:19 From Sandra S : Yes – everything everyone is saying Tynisha. I check the forum every morning and there ar eoften great discussion questions. I just love hearing about and sharing about books. this is the place. Kind, respectful and always curious. 21:37:20 From Jennifer : SSR goal
21:37:24 From Jess Parker : I like that!
21:37:29 From Christopher : MMB Book Club, conversations especially Reading this Week. You get not just recommendations but also get to know about members lives.
21:37:47 From Renee Cool : And finding the right book helps so much!
21:37:48 From Megan Kinney : mmmm. I needed to hear that too!
Experiences!
21:37:52 From White, Kylie : What books in the SRG are best on audio?
21:37:55 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : Minutes per day vs number of books
21:37:58 From Shannan – MMD Team : LOVED THAT focus on experience, over the achievement of Summer Reading! I am GOING TO DO THAT!!!!
21:38:06 From Sarah Bennett : Lose your phone too 21:38:11 From Becky Whitlow : I wouldn’t pick a number, I’d just always have a book that you’re in the process of reading with the next one ready for when you’re done. If you get bogged down don’t feel bad if you DNF and move on to the next one
21:38:11 From Amy Mills : Beautiful advice!
21:38:14 From Stefanie Nordstrom : Dwell!
21:38:15 From Melodie H. : I choose a pile of books for the month and consider it “The Menu of the Month.” It might be 15 books long, but I only read 9 of them and I don’t let myself be sad about not reading them all. I purposefully choose too many to finish each month. Some might roll to the menu for the next month and some might
not! They will come back to me if they are meant too 🙂 21:38:16 From Leigh – MMD Team : Kylie. there’s an Awesome on Audio section in the Guide.
21:38:16 From Vanessa Jones : I would try to make it so easy on myself that is almost stupid easy to read. If that means all digital, then go with digital. Maybe moving your app that you read on to your front page of your phone. Maybe placing books by your nightstand. Make it the easiest on yourself that you can! 21:38:18 From Christine Goldbar : @Sarah YES!
21:38:20 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : I love you Shannan 21:38:29 From Julie’s iPhone To All Panelists : 20-30 min chunks during certain parts of the day. Walks with audiobooks 21:38:44 From Lisa Kaftori : Love the idea of reading experiences as goals!
21:38:49 From Jenna Ezis King : Great suggestions Vanessa 21:38:50 From Milo Evans : there was a conversation at the 1:00 about getting off our phones so we can read more! 21:38:51 From Julie Patrick : Good question.
21:39:06 From Jackie Chetzron : agreed
21:39:10 From Shannan – MMD Team : LOL!
21:39:14 From Megan Jones : I’m very anti shiny cover 21:39:15 From Robin : I found re-reading to be such a help at the beginning of the year to build momentum. And graphic novels/manga if that is your jam (it is mine).
21:39:17 From Jenn Abe : I’m not a fan of shiny. So many fingerprints!
21:39:23 From Anne O’Brien : I like my books to be matte!! 21:39:28 From Cathryn Lasky : Ann Patchett just dropped an ig story about her experience narrating Whistler.
21:39:28 From Ola Kraszpulska : in “these precious days” sha
talks about covers 🙂
21:39:53 From Megan Kinney : OOoooo thanks @Cathryn 21:40:01 From Lisa Kaftori : Great Nicole!
21:40:29 From Janean : Tom Lake was shiny, too, and I hated that! The art was so pretty, but the glossy coat diminished it. 21:41:54 From Melinda Murphy : Many thanks to the MMD team for another great summer reading guide!
21:42:02 From Christine Goldbar : I wonder why Ann Patchett decided to narrate her audiobook.
21:42:16 From Dawn texaspurlgurl : Today is Second Christmas for me!
21:42:27 From Anne’s iPhone To All Panelists : Loved Mad Mabel on audio!
21:42:46 From Nicole Geiger : @Lisa Kaftori, sent you a
message on MMD
21:43:16 From Christine Goldbar : Good question! 21:43:41 From Sandra S : Thanks so much for doing this for us MMD team – your are wonderful!
21:43:54 From Jenna Ezis King : Than you all for another great SRG session! Can’t wait to start my summer with such great books. 21:44:11 From Lisa Kaftori : What does gimlet eyed mean? 21:44:38 From Kim’s iPad (3) : Just looked it up, piercing gaze
21:44:39 From Stephanie Daniels (she/her) : What do we owe to other people feels like a timely question.
21:44:44 From JoAnn : @Christine – after Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, she thought that was too big an ask for another narrator to follow.
21:44:50 From Sandra S : I think there are many more very good books with older protagonists – which I like cuz I’m old 21:45:14 From Bailey Hall : FYI: I don’t know if this has been mentioned but Parnassus/Libro,fm is gifting the audiobook of Whistler when the print book is pre-ordered. The information/how-to is on the Parnassus website.
21:45:21 From Christine Goldbar : @JoAnn Ha! That’s probably true!
21:45:21 From Lisa P : I hear ya Sandra! Lol
21:45:33 From Sandra S : Thanks Bailey
21:45:35 From Alexander S : Thank you for another fantastic unboxing! The SRG is just wonderful! Can’t wait for my holds to come in and start reading!
21:45:44 From JoAnn : Oooh, Thanks, Bailey!
21:45:58 From Christine Goldbar : How many books have you added to your TBR??
21:46:15 From Becky Whitlow : 17
21:46:21 From Allison Walters : 19
21:46:31 From Sandra S : a lot
21:46:40 From Caroline Lohmann : 21
21:46:41 From Lisa Kaftori : This has been so wonderful! Thank you Everyone! Love this community so much
21:46:44 From Christine Goldbar :
21:46:46 From Bailey Hall : 20!
21:46:50 From Stefanie Nordstrom : 12
21:46:55 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : 9 or 10 phwew that it wasn’t more, it usually is !
21:46:56 From Sandra S : I hope to see you around Tynisha!!! 21:46:58 From Katherine Hardee : So excited!!! 21:47:05 From Sarah T : 12 and 3 maybes
21:47:06 From Chris Grace (she/her) : This was such a delight – thank you all for the work that goes into it. I’m so excited for new-to-me titles, as well as much-anticipated favorite authors. 21:47:08 From John Bell : I’m from WV so I IMMEDIATELY bought Small Two Girls!
21:47:17 From Christine Goldbar : I have 10 “for sure” but lots of “maybes”
21:47:20 From Cheryl D. : Land by Maggie O’Farrell is for me! 21:47:23 From Annie McCloskey : Thanks so much to Anne and her team. What a lovely evening and so many books to add to my summer fun! xo
21:47:32 From Jackie Chetzron : This has been another wonderful bookish event with the best book people! Thank you MMD!! 21:47:35 From Becky Whitlow : I ordered two
21:47:37 From Kim’s iPad (3) : @Sondra, me too! 21:47:46 From Erica Harvey : Always the highlight of the season! Thank you, Anne, and the entire MMD team!
21:47:50 From amberly : I had 22 at a 4 or 5 on the Enthusiam Meter
21:47:51 From Katherine Hardee : Thank you MMD team…You guys are the best
21:47:52 From Lisa P : thank you, thank you!
21:47:55 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : THANK YOU ALL 21:47:55 From Amanda Hedrick : This is just the beginning!! 21:47:58 From amberly : THANK YOU!!!!
21:48:00 From Sandra S : Lots of good “small state” books this year to add to 50-saate chanllenges. WV, RI, and more!!! 21:48:01 From Jackie Chetzron : Book party!
21:48:02 From Renee Cool : Thank you all so much for your hard work!!
21:48:04 From Leigh – MMD Team : The Summer Reading Guide Unboxing Watch Party is this Saturday at 11 am EDT: https:// members.modernmrsdarcy.com/event/summer-reading-guide-unboxing-watch party-4/
The Summer Reading Guide member meetup is May 20 at 7 pm EDT: https:// members.modernmrsdarcy.com/event/summer-reading-guide-member-meetup-3/ 21:48:04 From Bailey Hall : Thank you so MUCH! Summer reading is the BEST!
21:48:06 From Stefanie Nordstrom : Thank you so much!!! 21:48:10 From Amanda Hedrick : Y’all are the best!! Thank you MMD crew!!
21:48:11 From Lisa Kaftori :
21:48:11 From Maggie Yoder : Tynisha … you will love it. I was on the fence before I joined and have never regretted it 21:48:12 From Diane : So much fun – thank you all!! 21:48:13 From Amy : Wonderful, as always! Thanks for all your work..
21:48:13 From Katie Ineich : This was so wonderful, thank you so much MMD Team!!
21:48:14 From Brigid- MMD Team : Thank you all! 21:48:15 From MaryEllen @bookmusingbyme : I get to go to the watch party for the first time!!!
21:48:19 From Carrie Padgett : Thank you all! Lots added to my TBR!
21:48:20 From Miriam Elliott :
21:48:20 From Rebecca : Thank you all – loved catching it live this year!
21:48:20 From Allison Walters : Thank you Anne and team!!!! 21:48:21 From Christine Goldbar : Thank you, MMD Team!
21:48:22 From Lacinda :
21:48:22 From Ola Kraszpulska : Thank you
21:48:26 From Julie Stonehouse : Thank you so much!!!! 21:48:26 From Meghan Scully : I look forward to this every year…thank you so much! What a great night. 🙂
21:48:28 From Cheryl : Wonderful!,, So excited to get started!,
21:48:29 From Melodie H. : SO MUCH FUN! SO EXCITED TO START SUMMER READING 🙂
21:48:30 From Alyse Hendrick To All Panelists : Thank you!!!!
21:48:30 From Julie McTernan : Thank you!
21:48:30 From Jenice : Have a wonderful reading summer! 21:48:34 From Katie Ineich : Happy Reading Everyone! 21:48:36 From Carrie Cahill Mulligan : Book people are the best people! xo
21:48:37 From Julie Patrick : Good night!
21:48:38 From Brigid- MMD Team : So happy to be here! 21:48:39 From HannahV : Thank you!!
21:48:39 From Ali : Thank you, Anne & MMD Team! 21:48:41 From Faye : Thank you
21:48:42 From cheryl : Thank you!
21:48:42 From Tori Kreller : Thank you so much for this! Always a great time!! 🙂
21:48:43 From Angie Kading : Thank you!! 21:48:43 From Alyse Hendrick To All Panelists : 21:48:45 From Melodie H. : Thank you mmd team 🙂 21:48:46 From Lindsey Nettles : Thank you!!! <3 21:48:46 From Stacey Tavares : Thank you all! That was so fun!!!
21:48:47 From Lisa M : Thank you for another delightful SRG! 21:48:47 From Lisa P : What a team!!!!!
21:48:47 From Jackie Chetzron : wonderful kickoff to summer and summer reading
21:48:47 From Cheryl : Thanks so much!
21:48:48 From Caroline Lohmann : Thanks to Anne and the team! 21:48:48 From jaime : Thank you!
21:48:49 From Katie Pritchard : Thank you, MMD team! 21:48:49 From Brigid- MMD Team : Happy reading everyone! 21:48:49 From Holly – MMD Team : Always a joy – hooray for Summer Reading!
21:48:49 From Courtney : Thank you Anne and MMD team! Such an awesome gift to readers!!
21:48:51 From Anne O’Brien : Thank you!!
21:48:52 From MKain : Thank you!!
21:48:53 From AnnMarie : Thank you MMD Team!!!!!!! 21:48:54 From MaryEllen @bookmusingbyme : This was so fun! 21:48:55 From Maggie Yoder : Let the reading begin! 21:48:55 From matthewgarofalo : Thank you!
21:48:57 From erin : Such a big effort! Thank you, MMD team!! 21:48:58 From Deja Roden : Thank youuuuu
21:49:01 From Roxanne Klump To All Panelists : Thank you so much!!! Loved it! Can’t wait to get reading!!!
21:49:04 From Ashley | Moonwise Massage : Congrats on 15 years!
21:49:05 From Susan Klobuchar : Thank you so much, Anne and team!
21:49:06 From Megan Towles : Thank you Anne and team!! 21:49:07 From Shannan – MMD Team : You’re welcome! Thank you, everyone!
21:49:08 From Mary Rose Catena : Thanks so much! 21:49:09 From Will – MMD Team : Happy summer reading all! 21:49:10 From John Grooms : Thank you to Anne and Team! 21:49:16 From Jackie Chetzron : congratulations on 15 years! 21:49:23 From amberly : Hooray!!!
21:49:33 From Leigh – MMD Team : Thanks for joining us! 21:49:39 From Katie Ineich : Huzzah!
21:49:40 From Meghan Scully : WHOOP!
21:49:42 From Leigh – MMD Team : Purchase a print copy of the guide: https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/product/2026-summer-reading guide-printed-magazine/
21:49:53 From Monique SC : Thanks MMD GN
21:49:54 From Leigh – MMD Team : MMD Sorority Sweatshirt https://members.modernmrsdarcy.com/product/mmd-sorority-sweatshirt/ 21:49:58 From Jackie Chetzron : so cute
21:50:01 From Will – MMD Team : That’s my Friday, shipping guides…
21:50:04 From Cathryn Lasky : OMG — LOVE the MMD Sorority Sweatshirts!
21:50:04 From Megan T.M : Thank you! See you on Saturday!