Well-read & Unfiltered

This week on Well-Read & Unfiltered, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions every reader faces: How do you decide what to read next? From meticulously planned TBRs to chaotic mood reading, social media recommendations, book clubs, and the pressure of FOMO, we’re unpacking how our reading choices are shaped, and whether that’s a good thing.

Are you a planner, a mood reader, or a full-on chaos gremlin?

We’d love to hear your process! After listening to this episode, come back and join the conversation below. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, comment, save, and share this post, and please follow the podcast and leave us a rating and review because it helps more readers discover Well-Read & Unfiltered.

And as always, be sure to follow our account on Instagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast for the latest news and updates!

BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Recursion - Blake Crouch (Sci-fi)

Heartless - Elsie Silver (Romance)

Blood Over Bright Haven - M. L. Wang (Sci-fi/Fantasy)

East of Eden - John Steinbeck (Classic)

The Second Death of Locke - V. L. Bovalino (Romantasy)

Empire of the Vampire -Jay Kristoff (Fantasy)

Iron Gold - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)

The Shining - Stephen King (Horror)

Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak (Classic)

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke (Satire Fiction)

Red Rising - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)

Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman (LitRPG)

The Birds - Daphne du Maurier (Classic Horror)

Hollow Kingdom - Kira Jane Buxton (Horror

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (Fantasy)

Earthlings - Sayaka Murata (Literary Horror)
Land - Maggie O'Farrell (Literary Fiction)

The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (DDC3)- Matt Dinniman (LitRPG)

North Woods - Daniel Mason (Literary Fiction)

Trad Wife - Sarah Langan (Horror)

Trad Wife - Saratoga Schaefer (Horror)

Sarafina - Philip Fracassi (Horror)

Rise of the Ranger - Philip C. Quaintrell (Fantasy)

A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara (Literary Fiction)

The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A. Parker (Romantasy)

The Everlasting - Alix E. Harrow (Fantasy)

Our Perfect Storm - Carley Fortune (Romance)

Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy (Literary Thriller)

Malice - John Gwynne (Fantasy)

Are book reviews dead on social media, or have they simply been forced to evolve?

In this episode, we talk about how the Bookstagram algorithm favors pretty photos, quick reactions, and trope lists over thoughtful reviews. We also compare our different rating styles, discuss review burnout, and ask what really makes a book five stars.

Listeners: Are book reviews dead on social media? Comment below, and be sure to go check out our account on Bookstagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast for our latest post about this week's episode!

Books Mentioned in this Episode

The Open Era - Edward Schmit (LGBTQIA+ Romance)

Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell (Literary Fiction)

A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara (Literary Fiction)

Red Rising - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)

The Caretaker - Marcus Kliewer (Horror)

Small Town Horror - Ronald Malfi (Horror)

The Tell-Tale Butt - Chuck Tingle (Sentient Romance)

A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)

Shy Girl - Mia Ballard (Horror)

A Language of Limbs - Dylin Hardcastle (Literary Fiction)

Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One - Jack Townsend (Horror Comedy)

The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (Fantasy/Romance)

Celestial Lights - Cecile Pin (Sci-fi/(Literary Fiction)

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir (Sci-fi)

Dark Age - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)

Cold Sweat - Vera Valentine (Sentient Romance)

Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)

The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst (Cozy Fantasy)

Assistant to the Villain - Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Cozy Romantasy)

The Bloodsworn Saga - John Gwynne (Fantasy)

The Faithful and the Fallen - John Gwynne (Fantasy)

The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)

When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A. Parker (Romantasy)

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke (Satirical Fiction)

A Parade of Horribles - Matt Dinniman (Lit RPG)

The Butcher's Masquerade - Matt Dinniman (Lit RPG)

Bookstagram Accounts Mentioned in Episode

@bookwyrm.beth

Welcome to Episode 1 of Well-Read & Unfiltered! In our debut episode, we're introducing ourselves through the books and experiences that shaped us as readers. We share how we found Bookstagram, our favorite and least favorite genres, our auto-buy authors, and the stories that continue to define our reading lives. Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and join us for the very first unfiltered conversation. 📚🎙️