Well-Read

We’re making reading resolutions for 2025 and giving out our 2024 book superlatives! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Women’s Prize for Fiction The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry From the Front Porch (podcast) Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Book of the Month Club The Bookshop Parnassus Books Brandon Sanderson books Jane Austen books Li...

Psychological suspense continues to be one of the most popular subgenres, but it can sometimes be hard to find the best. This week, we’re covering the authors we’d like to see become household names. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Sarah J. Maas books Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Ruth Ware books Mary Kubica book...

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to reading this fall! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson  (releases September 3) –  Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune  (releases September 10) The Midnight Club by Margot Harrison  (releases September 24) Tiny Threads by Lilliam Ri...

There are more celebrity book clubs than ever! We’re discussing our favorites and some celebrity book club picks we love. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Read with Jenna Oprah’s Book Club Reece’s Book Club Colleen Hoover books Sarah J. Maas books A Million Little Pieces by James Frey Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Service95 Book Club Fallon Book Club Marvel Harry Potter se...

Do you have a list of authors who are auto-buys when they release a new book? We’re delving into some of ours! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann Patchett books Emily Henry books Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Abby Jimenez books Ali Hazelwood books Liz Moore books Kate Morton books Tana French books Leigh Bardugo books Celeste Ng books Anthony Horowitz books Sarah Dessen books Sarah Ma...

The New York Times recently published their list of the 100 best books of the 21st century, and we have THOUGHTS. Let us know your impressions of the list! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver New York Times: Readers Choose Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Tomorro...

We’re trying something new this week, as we review the books we read (or didn’t read…) from our Spring Preview 2024 episode. Let us know what you think!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Ann’s picks: Funny Story by Emily Henry   The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean Halle’s picks: The Great Div...

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to, publishing June through August! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Enlightenment by Sarah Perry  (releases June 4) –  The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry –  The Essex Serpent (show) Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay  (releases June 11) –  A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay –  The Blair Witch Project (film) It’s Elemen...

With summer around the corner, we’re feeling the heat in our reading! Listen in for our selection of hot books.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman –  Neal Shusterman books How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala Halle’s picks: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston Mary Jane by Jessica Anya B...

Spring is here, so we’re thinking about books that feel like sunshine! As always, we end with what we’re reading this week.     Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Village School by Miss Read –  Fairacre series by Miss Read A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean Halle’s picks: The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh The Garden of Small Beg...

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to the most publishing March through May! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: What Should I Read Next? (podcast) Ann’s picks: The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov  (releases March 5) –  Stieg Larsson books The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill  (releases March 19) –  The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill Someone You Can Build a Nest...

We love reading books but we also love getting books off our shelves, so that means we love our annual Reading From Our TBRs episode!     Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Take It Back by Kia Abdullah –  Kia Abdullah books Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett –  Audie Awards –  Neil Gaiman books –  Terry Pratchett books –  Good Omens (TV) –  The House of the Ce...

In honor of Valentine’s Day, learn everything you need to know about the romance genre! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Webinar: Crash Course in Romance Nicholas Sparks books Colleen Hoover books Hello Stranger by Katherine Center Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James Sarah Adams books Mindy Klasky Tropes List Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling People We Meet on Vacation by Emily He...

We’re back with our superlatives episode – one of our favorites of the year!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Halle’s Instagram Women’s Prize for Fiction Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry From the Front Porch (podcast) Book of the Month Club Most Timely Ann:  Spare by Prince Harry Halle:  Fourth Wing by Rebecca Ya...

Our favorite episode of the year, full of our favorite books of the year. Happy Holidays from your friends at Well-Read!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Ann’s picks: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher –  Sleeping Beauty Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling –  Piranesi by Susanna Clarke How Can I Help...

This week, we’re talking about book trends! Whether you’re deep in romantasy or cozy everything, we’re covering some of the biggest trends in publishing right now.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros The Maid by Nita Prose Anne McCaffrey books Game of Thrones (TV) A Song of Fire and Ice series by George R.R. Martin The Inheritance Cycle series by Christ...

Depending on which co-host you ask, it’s the most wonderful time of the year: Halloween! We have plenty of books for all your spooky reading needs this season. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Episode 11 – Spooky Books for Halloween The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young ALA RUSA CODES Reading List Hocus Pocus (film) Bl...

It’s time to revisit books about books! We discuss some recent and evergreen favorites. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Ann’s picks: The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths –  Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows –  The Guernsey Li...

September puts us in the mood for back-to-school books, but why not add a mysterious twist? We’re talking dark academia titles this week!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Secret History by Donna Tartt  ( buy from Bookshop ) Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo  ( buy from Bookshop ) The Likeness by Tana French  ( buy from Bookshop ) The Magicians by Lev Grossman  ( buy from Bookshop...

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to the most publishing September through February! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Reykjavík by Ragnar Jónasson and Katrín Jakobsdottír  (releases September 5) ( buy from Bookshop ) –  Arnaldur Indriðason books –  Parnassus Books –  Ann Patchett books –  Independent People by Halldór Laxness  ( buy from Bookshop ) B...

You know the feeling…you finish a book you adored and instantly wish you could read it again for the first time. These are the books we wish we could experience again, and boy was it hard to pare them down!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern  ( buy from Bookshop ) Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn  ( buy from...