Well-Read

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

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 Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Martian by Andy Weir Elena Ferrante books The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins 11/22/63 by Stephen King Emily Henry books Abby Jimenez books The Heaven & Earth Grocery Story by James McBride Ann’s picks: The Round House by Louise Erdrich - National Book Award - Thomas Cromwell series by Hilary Mantel - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton - Booker Prize - Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton Halle’s picks: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - Pulitzer Prize in Fiction - Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra - Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Second Chance Year by Melissa Weisner - Sliding Doors (film) Halle: The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton - Book of the Month Club - Dangerous Damsels series by India Holton Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 Divide by Christina Henríquez Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González Happily Never After by Lynn Painter The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang – People We Meet on Vacation (film) Real Americans by Rachel Khong  Happy Medium by Sarah Adler Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Ben-Hur (film) Halle: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson 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, 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 Elementary by Elise Bryant (releases July 9) Nicked by M.T. Anderson (releases July 23) – Feed by M.T. Anderson Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (releases July 30) – Landline by Rainbow Rowell The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (releases August 6) A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (releases August 6) – The Goose Girl We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft – “I Love the Nightlife” (song) – Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft Halle’s picks: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (releases June 11) Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (releases June 18) – The Change by Kirsten Miller A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston (releases June 25) – The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – Rebecca Serle books The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (releases July 2) – The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamai – Elena Ferrante books – Khaled Hosseini books The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (releases July 2) – Tana French books – Long Bright River by Liza Moore – Lisa Jewell books – Jane Harper books All This & More by Peng Shepherd (releases July 9) – The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd – Blake Crouch books The Wedding People by Alison Espach (releases July 30) The Friend Zone Experiement by Zen Cho (releases August 6) – Succession (TV) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann:  You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto – Jesse Q. Sutanto books – Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter Halle: The Most Famous Girl in the World by Iman Hariri-Kia Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

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 Blau – Taylor Jenkins Reid books State of Wonder by Ann Patchett – Commonwealth by Ann Patchett – Bel Canto by Ann Patchett – Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini Halle: Banyan Moon by Thao Thai – Real Americans by Rachel Khong – Read with Jenna Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 Beginnings by Abbi Waxman – The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Good Taste by Caroline Scott – Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus – Miss Eliza’s English Kitchen by Annabel Abbs – The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan Halle: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez – AITA on Reddit

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 In by John Wiswell (releases April 2) Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan – Rachel Harrison books Funny Story by Emily Henry (releases April 23) – Happy Place by Emily Henry The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (releases May 7) – Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith (releases May 7) The Guncle Abroad by Stephen Rowley (releases May 21) – The Guncle by Stephen Rowley Halle’s picks: The Great Divide by Christina Henríquez (releases March 5) – The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henríquez Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González (releases March 5) – Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González Happily Never After by Lynn Painter (releases March 12) – Betting on You by Lynn Painter – When Harry Met Sally (film) The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (releases April 9) How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (releases April 9) – People We Meet on Vacation (film) – Beach Read (film) – Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld – Saturday Night Live (TV) Real Americans by Rachel Khong (releases April 30) – Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong – Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi – Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi Happy Medium by Sarah Adler (releases April 30) – Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan (releases May 21) – Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan – Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan – Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope – A Room with a View by E.M. Forster What We’re Reading This Week: Ann:  Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta Halle: The Hunter by Tana French – The Searcher by Tana French Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

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 Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Old Lovegood Girls by Gail Godwin – From the Front Porch (podcast) – Ann Patchett books Halle’s picks: The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff – My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite The Truth and Other Hidden Things by Lea Geller – Lori Gelman books – Class Mom by Lori Gelman Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson – Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas – Booklist – Life After Life by Kate Atkinson What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Here In Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton – Tara Isabella Burton books Halle: When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff – Yellowface by R.F. Kuang Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 Henry The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory The Hating Game by Sally Thorne The Hating Game (film) Ali Hazelwood books Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood With Love, from Cold World by Alicia Thompson Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefleur Boyfriend Material by Alexis Hall The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur Act Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia Hibbert A Week to be Wicked by Tessa Dare Knockout by Sarah MacLean The Singles Table by Sara Desai Battle Royal by Lucy Parker It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey Role Playing by Cathy Yardley Scandalized by Ivy Owens Romancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia Quinn Bridgerton (TV) How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa Cole The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews The Bodyguard by Katherine Center Funny You Should Ask by Elissa Sussman Jasmine Guillory books Tia Williams books Helen Hoang books Susan Elizabeth Phillips books Christina Lauren books Mia Sosa books Olivia Dade books Natalie Caña books Beverly Jenkins books Adriana Herrera books Evie Dunmore books Courtney Milan books Jane Austen books Georgette Heyer books Julia Quinn books Cat Sebastian books Tessa Dare books Sarah MacLean books Lisa Kleypas books Judith McNaught books Jude Deveraux books Julie Garwood books Mary Balogh books Nora Roberts books Amanda Quick books Jayne Ann Krentz books Romancing the Stone (film) Carla Neggers books Sarah J. Maas books Blood and Ash series by Jennifer L. Armentrout Freya Marske books Olivia Atwater books Kresley Cole books J.R. Ward books Bride by Ali Hazelwood Lana Harper books April Asher books Haunting Adeline by H.D. Carlton Twisted series by Ana Huang Elsie Silver books Rebekah Weatherspoon books Done and Dusted by Lyla Sage Devney Perry books Jennifer Lohmann books Mariana Zupata books Icebreaker by Hannah Grace Sarina Bowen books Elle Kennedy books Windy City series by Liz Tomforde Twilight Saga series by Stephenie Meyer Kimberly Lemming books Ice Planet Barbarians series by Ruby Dixon Diana Biller books Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa We Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Surrender: Forty Songs, One Story by Bono Halle: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 Yarros Most Disappointing Ann: The Cloisters by Katy Hays and Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian Halle: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim and Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld – Miracle Creek by Angie Kim – Saturday Night Live (TV) Favorite Reread Ann: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo Halle: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Guncle by Steven Rowley – Daisy Jones & the Six (TV) Biggest Surprise Ann: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See Halle: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen – The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen Least Favorite Ann: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown Halle: Mean Baby by Selma Blair Book That Lived Up to the Hype: Ann: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Halle: Happy Place by Emily Henry Best Distraction Ann: The Last Word by Taylor Adams Halle: Katherine Center books – Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center – Hello Stranger by Katherine Center The Book That Ended a Mini Reading Slump Ann: Homecoming by Kate Morton Halle: Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler Most Unputdownable Ann: What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall and Look Closer by David Ellis Halle: None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and Drowning by T.J. Newman Better Late Than Never Ann: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden Halle: The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Book That Has Stayed With Me Ann: The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle Halle: Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli Book That We Didn’t Think We’d Like, But Then We Did! Ann: The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei and Gods of the Wyrdwood by RJ Barker – Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson Halle: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck Author(s) we discovered in 2023 that we’re most excited to read more from in 2024 Ann: Nilima Rao, T. Kingfisher, Heather Fawcett – A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao – Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett – Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather Fawcett Halle: Sarah Adler and Jessica Joyce – Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler – You, With a View by Jessica Joyce Hidden Gem: Ann: A Death in Denmark by Amulya Malladi and Role Playing by Cathy Yardley and Better the Blood by Michael Bennett Halle: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley and Chance of a Lifetime series by Kate Clayborn – Normal People by Sally Rooney Best Audiobook Experience of the Year: Ann: Kala by Colin Walsh and Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley – Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley Halle: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, narrated by Michelle Williams Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the Year Ann: “Planet of the Bass” by DJ Crazy Times (song)    Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (film)    Barbie (film)    The Shop Around the Corner (film)    Remember the Night (film)    Bob’s Burgers (TV) Halle: Lessons in Chemistry (TV)    Daisy Jones & The Six (TV)     The Bear (TV)     The Great Canadian Baking Show (TV)     First Draft (podcast)     Sentimental Garbage (podcast)     –The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue     – You’ve Got Mail (film)     – Sleepless in Seattle (film) The Book We Recommended the Most This Year Ann:  Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree Halle: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Stateless by Elizabeth Wein – Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Halle: Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas – A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 You by Laura Sims – Patricia Highsmith books Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin Homecoming by Kate Morton Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree Halle’s picks: Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – Little Women by Louisa May Alcott Exiles by Jane Harper – Tana French books Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood – Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood – Happy Place by Emily Henry Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – Bel Canto by Ann Patchett What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao Halle: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 Christopher Paolini Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Lord of the Rings series by J.R.R Tolkein Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai Debbie Macomber books Sweet Magnolias (TV) Virgin River (TV) The Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Woods Virgin River series by Robin Carr A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared by Jonas Jonasson The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto The Summer Seekers by Sarah Morgan The Mostly True Story of Tanner and Louise by Colleen Oakley Killers of a Certain Age by Deanna Raybourn Miss Marple series by Agatha Christie The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning by Margareta Magnusson Helen Mirren filmography A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas Zodiac Academy series by Caroline Peckham Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins @beachreadsandbubbly on Instagram Jennifer L. Armentrout books Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll The Quiet Tenant by Clémence Michallon Notes on an Execution by Danya Kukafka Serial (podcast) Role Playing by Cathy Yardley People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Get Out (film) Only Good Indians by Stephen Graham Jones Victor LaValle books Mexican Gothic by Silvia Morena-Garcia Out There Screaming: An Anthology of New Black Horror edited by Jordan Peele Circe by Madeline Miller Queen Hereafter by Isabelle Schuler Macbeth by William Shakespeare Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell Assistant to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Black River Orchard by Chuck Wendig Halle: Three Holidays and a Wedding by Uzma Jalaluddin and Marissa Stapley – Uzma Jalaluddin books – Maggie Knox books – Karma Brown books Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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) Bleeding Hart Yard by Elly Griffiths Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths The Postscript Murders by Elly Griffiths Ann’s picks: Bad Cree by Jessica Johns Overdue by Richie Tankersley Cusick – Christopher Pike books – Goosebumps series by R.L. Stine – Fear Street series by R.L. Stine – The Mall by Richie Tankersley Cusick – The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux – Silent Stalker by Richie Tankersley Cusick – Inferno by Dante Alighieri Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo Halle’s picks: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell The Witch of Wild Things by Raquel Vasquez Gilliland Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll – The Whispers by Ashley Audrain – The Push by Ashley Audrain What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Black Sheep by Rachel Harrison Halle: Meet the Benedettos by Katie Cotugno – Keeping Up with the Kardashians (TV) – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen – The Kardashians (TV) – Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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 Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (film) The Last Word by Taylor Adams Halle’s picks: The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer – Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl – The House in the Cerulean Sea by T.J. Klune The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn – Booklist (magazine) – One Summer in Savannah by Terah Shelton Harris – The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer The Dictionary of Lost World by Pip Williams – The Bookbinder by Pip Williams What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Lone Women by Victor LaValle – Midsommar (film) – The Devil in Silver by Victor LaValle Halle: The Unmaking of June Farrow by Adrienne Young – Weyward by Emilia Hart – Practical Magic (film) – Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman – Practical Magic series by Alice Hoffman Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

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) Dead Poets Society (film) Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Joanna Gaines Ann’s picks: The World Cannot Give by Tara Isabella Burton (buy from Bookshop) Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson (buy from Bookshop) – Truly Devious series by Maureen Johnson Babel by R.F. Kuang (buy from Bookshop) – The Secret History by Donna Tartt (buy from Bookshop) – Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell by Susanna Clarke (buy from Bookshop) – Great Expectations by Charles Dickens (buy from Bookshop) Halle’s picks: The Cartographers by Peng Shephard (buy from Bookshop) Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian (buy from Bookshop) – Dexter series by Jeff Lindsay – Dexter (TV) Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey (buy from Bookshop) – The Secret Place by Tana French (buy from Bookshop) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Cloisters by Katy Hays (buy from Bookshop) – The Met Cloisters Halle: The Lost Husband by Katherine Center (buy from Bookshop) – Halle’s Instagram – Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center (buy from Bookshop) – Hello Stranger by Katherine Center (buy from Bookshop) – Katherine Center books – The Rom-Commers by Katherine Center (buy from Bookshop) Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram