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A summer to slow down and sink into what you love

A summer to slow down and sink into what you love

Update: 2025-07-01
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a person reading an open book resting on a table

Summer reading looks different for every reader, and today’s guest is looking for ways to slow down and sink into what she loves most this reading season.





Chelsea Siler, an early childhood special education teacher in Tacoma, Washington, has always found reading to be a source of joy, escape, and growth. As she looks to her summer reading selections, she’d like to focus on books that deliver these positive experiences.





For Chelsea, staying true to what she loves most on the page means finding immersive, character-driven stories she will not want to put down. I can’t wait to share ideas and hear more about Chelsea’s plans for a summer of slowly savoring what she reads next. 





If you have ideas for Chelsea, we’d love to know: please share by leaving a comment below.





<figure class="wp-block-image aligncenter size-large">What Should I Read Next #484: A summer to slow down and sink into what you love, with Chelsea Siler “What I'm looking for now is slowing down and going back to what I know really gets me excited as a reader.”</figure>






















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[00:00:00 ] CHELSEA SILER: I am thrilled to hear she's coming out with another book. I have been keeping tabs on her over the last couple of years in a very non-creepy way. But I'm very excited to hear she has another book coming out.


ANNE BOGEL: I'm glad. I'm glad.


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 will do here is give you the information you need to choose your next read. Every week we'll talk all things books and reading and do a little literary matchmaking with one guest.


[00:00:50 ] Readers, summer reading looks different for every reader. Today's guest is looking for ways to slow down and sink into what she loves most for this summer season.


Chelsea Siler is an early childhood special education teacher in Tacoma, Washington. She's always found reading to be a source of joy, escape, and growth, and she'd like these positive experiences to be reflected in her reading selections this summer.


For Chelsea, staying true to what she loves most on the page means finding immersive, character-driven stories she will not want to put down. I can't wait to share ideas and hear more about Chelsea's plans for a summer of slowly savoring what she reads next.


Let's get to it.


Chelsea, welcome to the show.


CHELSEA: Oh, Anne, thank you so much for the invitation to be here. I am really excited to get to talk to you today.


ANNE: Oh, the pleasure is mine. I'm so excited to dive in today. And also, I'm really excited about the summer reading you're envisioning for yourself. We will get to that. But first, Chelsea, would you tell us about yourself a little bit? We just want to give our readers a glimpse of who we're talking to every week on What Should I Read Next?


[00:01:57 ] I think it's so lovely to hear the variety of people and places and experiences that are all joined together in this love of books and reading.


CHELSEA: Absolutely. Well, I live in beautiful Tacoma, Washington.


ANNE: Is that a sales pitch? No, no.


CHELSEA: Not at all. But I love it. It's a great little city on the Puget Sound outside of Seattle. Been here for about 10 years.


For my professional life, I am a special education teacher. And I always say I have a little bit of a non-traditional teaching job. I work specifically with infants and toddlers who have disabilities. So rather than being in a classroom all day, I am in my car driving to families' homes and working individually with families.


I do a lot of parent coaching and support to help parents be better able to support their child's development as they grow. And it's something I love doing and find a lot of joy in.


[00:03:01 ] I also have a wonderful partner named Brian. We spend a lot of time outside. We love to hike. We've gotten into bike camping the last few years. We love to wine-taste and hunt down the best cup of coffee. And of course, I spend a lot of time reading.


ANNE: Of course you do. Okay. First, my husband, Will Bogel, is listening, and

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A summer to slow down and sink into what you love

A summer to slow down and sink into what you love

Anne Bogel