Episodes

  • Getting Out of a Reading Slump

    Getting Out of a Reading Slump
    May 4 2024
    46 mins
  • Episode 135 - Here Comes the Sun

    Episode 135 - Here Comes the Sun
    Apr 5 2024

    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
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    37 mins
  • Well-Read Episode 134 - Spring 2024 Book Preview

    Well-Read Episode 134 - Spring 2024 Book Preview
    Mar 16 2024
    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 booksThe Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill (releases March 19) – The Woman in the Library by Sulari GentillSomeone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (releases April 2)Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan – Rachel Harrison booksFunny Story by Emily Henry (releases April 23) – Happy Place by Emily HenryThe Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (releases May 7) – Mika in Real Life by Emiko JeanBlack 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 HenríquezAnita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González (releases March 5) – Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl GonzálezHappily 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 GyasiHappy Medium by Sarah Adler (releases April 30) – Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah AdlerLies 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 IxtaHalle: 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
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    57 mins
  • Well-Read Episode 133 - Reading from our TBRs 2024

    Well-Read Episode 133 - Reading from our TBRs 2024
    Feb 28 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 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

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    1 hr and 7 mins
  • Well-Read Episode 132 - Deep Dive into Romance

    Well-Read Episode 132 - Deep Dive into Romance
    Feb 8 2024
    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 BonoHalle: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram
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    1 hr and 18 mins
  • Well-Read Episode 131 - 2023 Superlatives

    Well-Read Episode 131 - 2023 Superlatives
    Jan 22 2024
    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 WeinHalle: 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
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    1 hr and 21 mins
  • Well-Read Episode 130 - Our Favorite Books of 2023

    Well-Read Episode 130 - Our Favorite Books of 2023
    Dec 18 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 Kingsolver The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Ann’s picks: Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher – Sleeping BeautyLast to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling – Piranesi by Susanna ClarkeHow Can I Help You by Laura Sims – Patricia Highsmith booksTomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin – The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle ZevinHomecoming by Kate MortonVera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. SutantoThe Museum of Ordinary People by Mike GayleEmily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather FawcettDeath Comes to Marlow by Robert ThorogoodLegends & Lattes by Travis Baldree – Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree Halle’s picks: Bright Young Women by Jessica KnollThe Rachel Incident by Caroline O’DonoghueSomeday, Maybe by Onyi NwabineliYours Truly by Abby JimenezHello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – Little Women by Louisa May AlcottExiles by Jane Harper – Tana French booksYerba Buena by Nina LaCourRiver Sing Me Home by Eleanor ShearerLove, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood – Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood – Happy Place by Emily HenryTom Lake by Ann Patchett – Bel Canto by Ann Patchett What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima RaoHalle: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram
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    1 hr and 25 mins
  • Well-Read Episode 129 - Trends

    Well-Read Episode 129 - Trends
    Nov 8 2023
    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 WendigHalle: 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
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    1 hr and 5 mins