Well-Read

Episode 135 - Here Comes the Sun

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...

Well-Read Episode 134 - Spring 2024 Book Preview

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...

Well-Read Episode 133 - Reading from our TBRs 2024

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...

Well-Read Episode 132 - Deep Dive into Romance

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 RomanceNicholas Sparks booksColleen Hoover booksHello Stranger by Katherine CenterFifty Shades of Grey by E.L. JamesSarah Adams booksMindy...

Well-Read Episode 131 - 2023 Superlatives

We’re back with our superlatives episode – one of our favorites of the year!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Halle’s InstagramWomen’s Prize for FictionHell Bent by Leigh BardugoThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFrom the Front Porch (podcast)Book of...

Well-Read Episode 130 - Our Favorite Books of 2023

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 KingsolverThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseAnn’s picks: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher– Sleeping Beauty Last...

Well-Read Episode 129 - Trends

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 YarrosThe Maid by Nita ProseAnne McCaffrey...

Well-Read Episode 128 Halloween Books

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...

Well-Read Episode 127 - Books About Books...Again!

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 AdamsYellowface by R.F. Kuang Ann’s picks: The Stranger Diaries by Elly Griffiths– Harbinder Kaur series by Elly Griffiths The Guernsey Literary and...

Well-Read Episode 126 - Dark Academia

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...

Well-Read Episode 125 - Fall/Winter 2023 Preview

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...

Well-Read Episode 124 - Books We Wish We Could Read Again for the First Time

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...

Well-Read Episode 123 - Books About Road Trips

Road trips are the perfect summer getaway! But if you can't hit the road right now, these books are full of long drives, snacks, singalongs, hijinks, and adventure. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Natural Born Charmer by...

Well-Read Episode 122 - Books Like Succession

If you're missing your weekly dose of the Roy family like us, here are some books that we think will help fill the void after the finale of Succession. As always, we'll end with what we're reading this week. Books...

Well-Read Episode 121 - Beach Reads

Well-Read Episode 120 - Books We Couldn’t Put Down

It’s one of the best feelings a reader can have: that feeling of finding a book that you just can’t put down. We’re discussing some of our favorites and we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media...

Well-Read Episode 119 - Spring & Summer 2023 Book Preview

Well-Read Episode 118: Read-alikes for Taylor Swift songs (with a special guest!)

Halle thought it wasn’t possible to love a Taylor Swift-themed episode any more, until her sister Heather joined in as a special guest! (Ann was there too, as a casual fan.) Listen in for book pairings for some of our...

Well-Read Episode 117 - Reading From Our TBRs

It’s back…..our occasional episode where we pick books for each other from our massive “to be read” shelves! Listen to what we liked – and what we didn’t! – and find out what we’re reading this week. Books and other media...

Well-Read Episode 116 - Collecting and Organizing our Books

Well-Read Episode 115 - Romances for People Who Don’t Read Romance

With Valentine’s Day around the corner, we have some ideas for romance novels, even if you’re not a romance reader. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: James Patterson booksElin Hilderbrand...

Well-Read Episode 114 - Resolutions and 2022 Superlatives

Well-Read Episode 113 - Our Favorite Books of 2022

Our favorite episode of the year, full of our favorite books of the year. Happy New Year from your friends at Well-Read! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: The Ballad of Perilous Graves by Alex Jennings...

Well-Read #112 - Holiday Books

Well-Read Episode 111 - Defining Confusing Genres

Well-Read Episode 110 - Halloween!

Well-Read Episode 109 - Books about Chronic Illness

This week, we’re responding to a listener request to talk about books with characters who live with chronic illnesses. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Challenger Deep by Neal Shusterman (buy...

Well-Read Episode 108 - Fall/Winter 2022 Preview

Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks:  The Witch and the Tsar by Olesya Salnikova Gilmore (releases September 20) (buy from Bookshop)– LibraryReads  Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson (releases September 27) (buy from Bookshop)– Kate Atkinson books  Jackal by Erin E. Adams (releases October 4) (buy from Bookshop)  Marmee by...

Well-Read Episode 107 - Adaptations

Thanks to a listener request (hi Ann!), we’re discussing the difficulty of adapting a well-loved book, and what makes a good transition from page to screen. We’ll end with what we’re reading this week!   Books and other media mentioned in this...

Well-Read Episode 106 - Summer Hiatus Recap

We’re finally back! After travel, work, and a wedding (!!!!), we have lots of books to fill you in on. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Bull Durham (film)Eurovision Song ContestRUSA...

Well-Read Episode 105 - Weddings

Well-Read Episode 104 - Bridgerton

Well-Read Episode 103 - On Re-reading

Well-Read Episode 102 - Immigrant and Refugee Stories

We’re exploring fiction that depicts the immigrant and refugee experience, and we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez (buy from Bookshop) Salt to the Sea by...

Well-Read Episode 101- 2022 Spring/Summer Book Preview

Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Comedy Comedy Comedy Drama by Bob Odenkirk (releases March 1) (buy from Bookshop)– Mr. Show with Bob and David (TV)– David Cross filmography– Saturday Night Live (TV)– Breaking Bad (TV) Atomic Anna by Rachel Barenbaum (releases April 5) (buy from Bookshop) The Hacienda by Isabel Cañas (releases...

Well-Read Episode 100 - Ask Us Anything

Well-Read Episode 99 - The 2022 Reading List

After a year of hard work, we’re happy to share the results of the 2022 Reading List! We’ll share the winners and the shortlist, along with our thoughts. As always, we end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other...

Well-Read Episode 98 - 2021 Superlatives

We're back with one of our favorite Well-Read traditions: book superlatives! Listen in for the books that stood out to us this year. We’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Episode 87 –...

Well-Read Episode 97 - Our Favorite Books of 2021

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: Ann’s picks: The Chicken Sisters by KJ Dell’Antonia (buy from Bookshop) The...

Well-Read Episode 96 - Books We Can‘t Wait to Read

We didn’t get a chance to do a publishing preview this season, but we wanted to share some books we’re excited to read soon. Ann picks three forthcoming titles and Halle went with books she didn’t have time for this...

Well-Read Episode 95 -People are the Most Terrifying of All

Our annual Halloween episode is back – and so are we! We have some major life updates and books that show that people are much scarier than the paranormal. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and...

Another update from Halle

Hi all  - Due to a death in Ann's family, we will be taking a brief break for the next month. Thanks and happy reading!

Well-Read Episode # 95.5 - An update from Halle

Well-Read Episode #94 -Book Pairings

Thanks to a fabulous listener suggestion (hi Rikke!), we’re pairing books that inform each other or benefit from reading them back-to-back. What books would you pair up? As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media...

Well-Read Episode #93 - Fresh Starts

Well-Read Episode #92 - Balancing Our Reading Lives

This week, we’re responding to a listener request to delve into our favorite bookish media and how we balance it all with our reading. We have some tips and recommendations to help you get the most out of your reading...

Well-Read Episode #91 - Memoirs part 2

Our memories may be terrible but these memoirs aren’t. We’re revisiting memoirs this week, and end with what we’re currently reading.     Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: The Cooking Gene: A Journey Through African American Culinary History in the...

Well-Read Episode #90 - Sports Books

Do you like sports? No? Do you like stories of drama surrounding sports? Then we have some books for you! As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ted Lasso (TV)Friday Night Lights (TV)Friday...

Well-Read Episode #89 - Spring/Summer 2021 Preview

Well-Read Episode #88 - Galentine's Day

Galentine’s Day is here! Gather your girlfriends together, or if you can’t thanks to a worldwide pandemic, pick up one of our suggestions for books about female friendships. We’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned...