Well-Read

Autumn is just around the corner, and it’s time to get our fall TBRs in order!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann Patchett books Taylor Jenkins Reid books Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall Broadchurch (TV) Jane Austen books The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh Succession (TV) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Rose in Chains by Julie Soto Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Ann’s picks:  Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by Samin Nosrat (releases September 16) – Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat – Salt Fat Acid Heat (TV)  The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller (releases October 7) – The Change by Kirsten Miller – Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller  All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles (releases October 7) – Death in the Spires by KJ Charles Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer (releases October 7) – Grady Hendrix books – Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix Happy People Don’t Live Here by Amber Sparks (releases October 14) – Only Murders in the Building (TV) – Angela Carter books The Unveiling by Quan Barry (releases October 14) – We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (releases November 11) – Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree  Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (releases November 25) Halle’s picks: Amity by Nathan Harris (releases September 2) – The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris – Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry – Doc by Mary Doria Russell – Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee – William W. Johnstone books  Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (releases September 2) – Commonwealth by Ann Patchett – Our Town by Thornton Wilder – Wallace Stegner books  The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (releases September 16)  The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover (releases September 23)  Heart the Lover by Lily King (releases September 30) – Writers & Lovers by Lily King An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister (releases November 11) Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz (releases November 18) I, Medusa by Ayana Gray (releases November 18) – Circe by Madeline Miller – Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – Rick Riordan books – Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian Halle: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

We’re halfway through the year, and it’s time to check in on our bookish goals and reading lives of 2025!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: 2025 ALA Annual Conference Jane Austen books Book of the Month Club Women’s Prize for Fiction Libba Bray books Agatha Christie books Emily Henry books Abby Jimenez books Strange Pictures by Uketsu Strange Houses by Uketsu Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall Gifted & Talented by Olivie Blake A Witch’s Guide to Magical Inkeeping by Sangu Mandanna The Enchanted Greenhouse by Sarah Beth Durst The Spellshop by Sarah Beth Durst Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins Left of Forever by Tara DeWitt Immaculate Conception by Ling Ling Huang Natural Beauty by Ling Ling Huang Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Women in Suite 11 by Ruth Ware The Favorites by Layne Fargo The Secret of Secrets by Dan Brown The Names by Florence Knapp One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune Heart the Lover by Lily King A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Ready or Not by Cara Bastone The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley Alchemised by SenLinYu Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood Manacled by SenLinYu Rose in Chains by Julie Soto Mate by Ali Hazelwood Bride by Ali Hazelwood Good Spirits by B.K. Borison Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer Grady Hendrix books What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker Halle: The Will of the Many by James Islington – Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

It’s already summer – how!? But we’re very ready for summer reading with our lists of the books we’re most excited about. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin The Favorites by Layne Fargo Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison Sleepless in Seattle (film) When Harry Met Sally… (film) Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami Passion Project by London Sperry Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone Ali Hazelwood Annabel Monaghan Ann’s picks: The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King (releases June 3) The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (releases June 3) – The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater – The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall (releases June 10) – Broadchurch (TV) Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (releases July 8) How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold (releases July 8) – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher (releases August 19) – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher – A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill (releases August 19) – Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill – With a Vengeance by Riley Sager Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (releases August 26) – Babel by R.F. Kuang Halle’s picks: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (releases June 3) – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Top Gun (film) The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (releases June 3) Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh (releases June 3) – Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan – Succession (TV) – Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn – Gossip Girl (TV) Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab (releases June 10) When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa (releases June 24) Rose in Chains by Julie Soto (releases July 3) – The Thrashers by Julie Soto – The Auction by LovesBitca8 (fanfiction) The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley (releases June 24) – Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley – The Mothers by Brit Bennett These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (releases July 8) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Kate & Frida by Kim Fay – Love & Saffron by Kim Fay Halle: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett – Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman – The Guncle by Steven Rowley – Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe – Run for the Hills by Kevin Wilson Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Do you need something to help you smile right now? We sure do, so here are some of the books that have made us laugh out loud. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto Ann’s picks: Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan – Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes – Dead Tired by Kat Ailes Halle’s picks: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano – Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich The Do-Over by Lynn Painter What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix – Rachel Harrison books Halle: Count My Lies by Sophie Stava – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

It’s time for our yearly Reading From Our TBRs episode! Listen in as we make a tiny bit of room on our shelves.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone Ann’s picks: Final Girls by Riley Sager – The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead – Pulitzer Prize for Fiction – National Book Awards The Crane Wife: A Memoir in Essays by CJ Hauser – “The Crane Wife” by CJ Hauser (essay) Halle’s picks: An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson – Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Sense and Sensibility: An Annotated Edition by Jane Austen, ed. Patricia Meyer Spacks – The Favorites by Layne Fargo – Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett Halle: Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

It’s our 150th episode (!!!!!!!) and there’s no better way to celebrate that and our friendship than to discuss female friendships in books.     Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Wood The Wedding People by Alison Espach Ann’s picks: Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee American Ghoul by Michelle McGill-Vargas – Dracula by Bram Stoker We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman – Sandwich by Catherine Newman Halle’s picks: The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan – The Great British Bake Off (TV) The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin – Fredrik Backman books What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter – Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter – Inspector Morse (TV) Halle: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood – Bride by Ali Hazelwood – Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood – Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop  

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 Libba Bray books Colin Dexter books Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer Emily Henry books Ann Patchett books Most Timely Ann: Hum by Helen Phillips – Annie Bot by Sierra Greer Halle: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kristen Miller – The Change by Kristen Miller Most Disappointing Ann: The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson; The Women by Kristin Hannah – Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson Halle: Bride by Ali Hazelwood; Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood; The Postcard by Anne Berest – Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood – In Memoriam by Alice Winn Favorite Reread Ann: None! Halle: The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater; Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Biggest Surprise Ann: The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August; The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff Halle: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore – Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore – Gilmore Girls (TV) Least Favorite Ann: The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons; In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander – The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava Halle: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey Book That Lived Up to the Hype: Ann: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley; The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez Halle: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney; James by Percival Everett – Normal People (TV) – Normal People by Sally Rooney Best Distraction Ann: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan Halle: Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal; Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas The Book That Ended a Mini Reading Slump Ann: Ghost Mother by Kelly Dwyer Halle: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter Most Unputdownable Ann: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan; We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer Halle: When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff; The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell Better Late Than Never Ann: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett – Good Omens (TV) – Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Coraline by Neil Gaiman Halle: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Book That Has Stayed With Me Ann: The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler Halle: All Fours by Miranda July Book That We Didn’t Think We’d Like, But Then We Did! Ann: The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee and SJ Rozan Halle: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Author(s) we discovered in 2024 that we’re most excited to read more from in 2025 Ann: Kaliane Bradley; Kristen Perrin; Carmella Lowkis; Monika Kim; Cara Bastone – Fingersmith by Sarah Waters Halle: Cara Bastone; Kirsty Greenwood; Alice Wyn; Yulin Kuang; Holly Brickley; Olivia Muenter – Abby Jimenez books Hidden Gem: Ann: Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong; Ready or Not by Cara Bastone; The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd Halle: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood; Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa – The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Best Audiobook Experience of the Year: Ann: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – Meryl Streep filmography Halle: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the Year Ann: The Bear (TV); The Traitors (TV); Kyle Maclaughlin ads for Arby’s; Moo Deng; The Eras Tour Halle: One Day (TV); Wicked (film); Nobody Wants This (TV); The Tortured Poets Department (album by Taylor Swift); BookTube; five-year journal The Book We Recommended the Most This Year Ann:  Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong; The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Halle: The Wedding People by Alison Espach; Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: After Annie by Anna Quindlen Halle: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See – Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram  

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 books Ann’s picks: Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry – Near the Bone by Christina Henry – Horseman by Christina Henry Arrowood by Laura McHugh – Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh – The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall – No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall Halle’s picks: Kala by Colin Walsh – Tana French books – Jane Harper books The Quiet Tennant by Clémence Michallon – Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll – Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez – The Push by Ashley Audrain – The Whispers by Ashley Audrain What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni – The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni – Rain Man (film) – Sherlock (TV) – The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Halle: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner – 2024 National Book Awards Longlist for Fiction – Booker Prize 2024 shortlist – Ann Patchett books – Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop  

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 Rivera (releases September 24) – The Devil Wears Prada (film) Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (releases October 1) – Ina Garten books – Barefoot Contessa (TV) – @storeboughtisfine (Instagram) A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney (releases October 8) Hate Follow by Erin Quinn-Kong (releases October 8) – Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (November 5) – Travis Baldree books Halle’s picks: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (releases September 10) – The Measure by Nikki Erlick The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave (releases September 17) – The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave – The Last Thing He Told Me (TV) – Reese’s Book Club – Laura Dave books Entitlement by Rumaan Alam (releases September 17) Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (releases September 24) – Normal People by Sally Rooney – Normal People (TV) – Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney Heir by Sabaa Tahir (releases October 1) – All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir – National Book Award for Young People – Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature – Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir – The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London (releases October 1) – One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London – A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston – BuzzFeed: “This Quiz Will Determine Whether You’re More Demure Fall or Brat Summer” – Twilight (film) Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi (releases October 1) Rental House by Weike Wang (releases December 3) – Chemistry by Weike Wang What We’re Reading This Week: Ann:  Ready or Not by Cara Bastone – Emily Henry books Halle: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

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 series by J.K. Rowling Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer “How Celebrity Book Clubs Actually Work” (Esquire article) Mindy’s Book Studio SJP Lit Library Science Belletrist TeaTime Book Club The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Good Morning America Book Club The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris Ann’s picks: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay – The Audacious Book Club – The Help (film) – Tyler Perry films – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV) Starling House by Alix E. Harrow – The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Halle’s picks: All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker – The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – William Kent Krueger books Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson – Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan – Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd – An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson – Kate Morton books Halle: Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 MacLean books Ruth Ware books Ann’s picks: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters – Fingersmith by Sarah Waters – The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters – The Night Watch by Sarah Waters Still Life by Louise Penny – Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny – How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny The Diviners by Libba Bray – The Diviners series by Libba Bray – Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray Halle’s picks: The Best Man by Kristan Higgins – Katherine Center books – Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – Blue Heron series by Kristan Higgins What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty – Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Rainbow Rowell books – Big Little Lies (TV) Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon – I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Plus One by S.C. Lalli – Sonya Lalli books – The White Lotus (TV) – The Guest List by Lucy Foley Halle: Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram