Well-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 year. And we end with what we’re reading this week! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: The Maid by Nita Prose (buy from Bookshop) – Florence Pugh movies – Little Women (film) Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour (buy from Bookshop) – Nina LaCour books Body and Soul Food by Abby Collette (buy from Bookshop) – A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Collete (buy from Bookshop) Halle’s picks: Olympus, Texas by Stacey Swann (buy from Bookshop) – From the Front Porch (podcast) – Succession (TV) Battle Royal by Lucy Parker (buy from Bookshop) Infinite Country by Patricia Engel (buy from Bookshop) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Light from Uncommon Stars by Ryka Aoki (buy from Bookshop) Halle: Bullet Train by Kōtarō Isaka (buy from Bookshop) – Brad Pitt movies Well-Read on Faceb

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 other media mentioned in this episode: Episode 77 – Cookbooks! Ann’s picks: There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins (buy from Bookshop) – Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins (buy from Bookshop) – Scream (film) – There’s Someone Inside Your House (TV) – The Woods Are Always Watching by Stephanie Perkins (buy from Bookshop) Knife by Jø Nesbo (buy from Bookshop) – Harry Hole series by Jø Nesbo The Talented Mr. Ripley by Patricia Highsmith (buy from Bookshop) – Episode 1 – Beach Reads – The Talented Mr. Ripley (film) Halle’s picks: Last Girl Ghosted by Lisa Unger (buy from Bookshop) – Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari (buy from Bookshop) The Silence of the White City by Eva García Sáenz (buy from Bookshop) – Tana French books – Jane Harper books The Girls Are

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!

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 mentioned in this episode: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (buy from Bookshop) Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding (buy from Bookshop) My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell (buy from Bookshop) Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov (buy from Bookshop) Ann’s picks: The Seducer’s Diary by Søren Kierkegaard (buy from Bookshop) and Ehrengard by Isak Dinesen (buy from Bookshop) and BONUS City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert (buy from Bookshop) – Either/Or by Søren Kierkegaard (buy from Bookshop) – Out of Africa by Isak Dinesen (buy from Bookshop) – Seven Gothic Tales by Isak Dinesen (buy from Bookshop) Twisted by Laurie Halse Anderson (buy from Bookshop) and Long Way Down by Jason Reynolds (buy from Bookshop) The Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie (buy from

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 life. As always, we end with what we’re reading this week!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: For Real (podcast) Underground: A Human History of the World Beneath Our Feet by Will Hunt (buy from Bookshop) Audie Awards Get Booked (podcast) From the Front Porch (podcast) @shelfbyshelf (Instagram) Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy (buy from Bookshop) Middlemarch by George Eliot (buy from Bookshop) All About Agatha (podcast) Agatha Christie books Litsy Poirot (TV) The Man in the Brown Suit by Agatha Christie (buy from Bookshop) The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie (buy from Bookshop) What Should I Read Next? (podcast) Modern Mrs. Darcy (blog) When In Romance (podcast) Book Riot: The Podcast (podcast) Currently Reading (podcast) Reading Glasses (podcast) @thebookshopnashville

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 Old South by Michael W. Twitty (buy from Bookshop) – Afroculinaria (blog) – BTS (band) Between You & Me: Confessions of a Comma Queen by Mary Norris (buy from Bookshop) – The New Yorker (magazine) – Greek to Me: Adventures of the Comma Queen by Mary Norris (buy from Bookshop) – Ann Patchett books Stay Sexy & Don’t Get Murdered: The Definitive How-To Guide by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark (buy from Bookshop) – My Favorite Murder (podcast) – Mr. Show with Bob and David (TV) – Georgia Hardstark on Cooking Channel Halle’s picks: Open Book by Jessica Simpson (buy from Bookshop) – Newlyweds: Nick & Jessica (TV) – Nick Lachey (singer) – John Mayer (singer) – Dukes of Hazard (film) – Scrappy Little Nobody by Ann

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 Night Lights: A Town, A Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger (buy on Bookshop) Friday Night Lights (film) Ann’s picks: The Crossover by Kwame Alexander (buy on Bookshop) – Newbery Medal – YALLfest – Booked by Kwame Alexander (buy on Bookshop) Match Me If You Can by Susan Elizabeth Phillips (buy on Bookshop) – Chicago Stars series by Susan Elizabeth Phillips – Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie (buy on Bookshop) – Sarah MacLean books The Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown (buy on Bookshop) Halle’s picks: Beartown by Fredrik Backman (buy on Bookshop) – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman (buy on Bookshop) – Beartown (TV) – Us Against You by Fredrik Backman (buy on Bookshop) – Anxious People by Fredrik Backman (buy on Bookshop) Check, Please! by Ngozi Uka

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 in this episode: Parks and Recreation (TV) My Korea: Traditional Flavors, Modern Recipes by Hooni Kim (buy from Bookshop) Episode 77 – Cookbooks Bridgerton (TV) Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante (buy from Bookshop) The Story of a New Name by Elena Ferrante (buy from Bookshop) My Brilliant Friend (TV) Ann’s picks: The Milk Lady of Bangalore by Shoba Narayan (buy from Bookshop) Stealing Home by Sherryl Woods (buy from Bookshop) – Sweet Magnolias (TV) – The Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Woods Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein (buy from Bookshop) – Code Name Verity series by Elizabeth Wein – Rose Under Fire by Elizabeth Wein (buy from Bookshop) Halle’s picks: The Girls from Corona del Mar by Rufi Thorpe (buy from Bo

We love goals and years in review, especially when they involve books! Find out how we did last year with our reading resolutions and what we’re planning for 2021. As always, we’ll finish with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: RUSA CODES Reading List Get a Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert (buy from Bookshop) Julia Quinn books Bridgerton (TV) The Bachelor (TV) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy (buy from Bookshop) Tana French books Isak Dinesen books Jane Austen books Libba Bray books The Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature Modern Mrs. Darcy Reading Challenge 2021 NoveList Book Challenge The Bookshop (bookstore) Book Riot Read Harder 2021 Pop Sugar Reading Challenge 2021 What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Autobiography of Malcolm X as told to Alex Haley (buy from Bookshop) – Malcolm X (film) – Boyz n the Hood (film) Halle: The Wife Upstairs by Rachel Hawkins (buy from Bookshop) – Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (buy from Bookshop) – R

We’ve started (what we hope becomes) a new tradition: book superlatives! Listen in for the books that stood out to us for a range of reasons this year. We’ll end with what we’re reading this week.     Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Episode 68 – Out of Our Comfort Zone Part III Episode 76 – Tackling Our TBRs Part II Most Timely Ann: When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (buy from Bookshop) Halle: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue (buy from Bookshop) Most Disappointing Ann: White Elephant by Trish Harnetiaux (buy from Bookshop) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (buy from Bookshop) – Tana French books Halle: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (buy from Bookshop); Honorable Mention: The Bright Lands by John Fram (buy from Bookshop) – Friday Night Lights (TV) Favorite Reread Ann: The Likeness by Tana French (buy from Bookshop) – In the Woods by Tana French (buy from Bookshop) Halle: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (buy from Bookshop)

It’s our favorite episode of the year featuring our favorite books of the year! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: VH1 (TV) Ann’s picks: Life After Life by Kate Atkinson (buy from Bookshop) Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (buy from Bookshop) Circe by Madeline Miller (buy from Bookshop) – The Odyssey by Homer (buy from Bookshop) A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Colette (buy from Bookshop) – A Game of Cones by Abby Colette (buy from Bookshop) Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal (buy from Bookshop) – Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (buy from Bookshop) Plain Bad Heroines by Emily M. Danforth (buy from Bookshop) – I Await the Devil’s Coming by Mary MacLane (buy from Bookshop) How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny (buy from Bookshop) – Three Pines series by Louise Penny Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuiston (buy from Bookshop) – One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston (buy from Bookshop) The Turn of the Key by Ruth Ware (buy from Bookshop) – The Turn of the Screw by Henry James (buy from Booksho

When you're having a rough week (and aren't we all?), there's nothing better than sinking into a guilty pleasure read. Or is there such a thing? We'll discuss, and end with what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Mary Kay Andrews books Twilight by Stephenie Meyer (buy at Bookshop) Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James (buy at Bookshop) America's Next Top Model (TV) Eurovision Song Contest Hannah Swensen series by Joanne Fluke Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones Pacific Rim (film) Pretty Little Liars series by Sara Shepard Agatha Christie books Jane Austen books What We’re Reading This Week: Ann:  Spell Booked by Joyce and James Lavene (buy at Bookshop) - Retired Witches Mystery series by Joyce and James Lavene Halle:  Hench by Natalie Zina Walschots (buy at Bookshop) - Pop Culture Happy Hour (podcast) - Man of Steel (film) Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well

Halloween is here! Halloween is here! Get into the spirit with us as we explore some deliciously creepy books. As always, we’ll finish with what we’re reading this week.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell (buy from Bookshop) Ann’s picks: Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (buy from Bookshop) – Episode 66 – Spring/Summer 2020 Preview – Wilkie Collins books – Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier (buy from Bookshop) Come Closer by Sara Gran (buy from Bookshop) – A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay (buy from Bookshop) The Girl from the Well by Rin Chupeco (buy from Bookshop) – The Ring (film) – Ring by Kōji Suzuki (buy from Bookshop) – The Grudge (film) – There’s Someone Inside Your House by Stephanie Perkins (buy from Bookshop) Halle’s picks: Unspeakable Things by Jess Lourey (buy from Bookshop) – Room by Emma Donoghue (buy from Bookshop) The Last Time I Lied by Riley Sager (buy from Bookshop) – Rosemary’s Baby (film) – Home Before Dark by Riley Sa

With so many of our travel plans canceled this year (RIP Ukraine trip), many of us are heading outside for our vacations. We're talking about books that get us back to nature and we'll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Wine Country (movie) Walden by Henry David Thoreau (buy from Bookshop) Ann’s picks: Force of Nature by Jane Harper (buy from Bookshop) - Aaron Falk series by Jane Harper - Jane Harper books Minnow by James E. McTeer II (buy from Bookshop) - Pat Conroy books Wolf Winter by Cecilia Ekbäck (buy from Bookshop) - Svartåsen series by Cecilia Ekbäck Halle’s picks: One by One by Ruth Ware (buy from Bookshop) - Episode 78 - Fall/Winter 2020 Book Preview Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed (buy from Bookshop) - Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens (buy from Bookshop) - Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn (buy from Bookshop) - The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins (buy from Bookshop) - Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice

If we can't go back to school in September, we can at least live it through campus novels! We share some of our favorites and what we're reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo (buy from Bookshop) - Leigh Bardugo books - A Darker Shade of Magic by V.E. Schwab (buy from Bookshop) Dear Committee Members by Julie Schumacher (buy from Bookshop) - The Shakespeare Requirement by Julie Schumacher (buy from Bookshop) - C.S. Lewis books Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell (buy from Bookshop) - Carry On by Rainbow Rowell (buy from Bookshop) - Wayward Son by Rainbow Rowell (buy from Bookshop) - Attachments by Rainbow Rowell (buy from Bookshop) - Landline by Rainbow Rowell (buy from Bookshop) Halle’s picks: Catherine House by Elizabeth Thomas (buy from Bookshop) Magic for Liars by Sarah Gailey (buy from Bookshop) - Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Admission by Jean Hanff Korelitz (buy from Bookshop) - Admission (film) - Admission by