Well-read

Ann’s picks: Crossing the Wine-Dark Sea by Emily Wilson (releases September 1) Dead Beat by Leigh Bardugo (releases September 15) Bread on Uncle Milad’s Table by Mohammed Husayn Alnaas (releases October 6) Mystery Play by Elizabeth Kostova (releases October 13) Solace House by Will Maclean (releases October 13) Odette Rising by Julianne Edwards (releases October 13) Rottenheart by Kat Dunn (releases October 13) The Bookkeeper by Mary McGarry Morris (releases November 17) Halle’s picks: Sophie, Standing There by Meg Mason (releases September 29) The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw (releases September 29) Bad Words by Rioghnach Robinson (releases October 6) Once Again, Always by Amanda Gayle (releases October 6) Hollywood, Ending by John Green (releases October 6) Music Against the Night by Yiyun Li (releases October 13) Whale Harbor by Mary Beth Keane (releases November 3) Rabbit Rabbit by Jennifer E. Smith (releases December 15) What We’re Read

Like many readers, we’re eager to talk about the recent list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century, according to the New York Times. But we have a lot of questions… Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The New York Times: The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century The New York Times: The 100 Best Books of 21st Century Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn The New York Times: Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of 21st Century The New York Times: Let’s Talk About the 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st Century People Magazine The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty Stieg Larsson books Jo Nesbø books Jussi Adler-Olsen books Ruth Ware books Harlem Trilogy series by Colson Whitehead Don Winslow books Freida McFadden books Carl Hiaasen books Sarah Pinborough books Ruth Rendell books The Window in the Window by A.J. Finn The Housemaid by Freida McFadden Verity by Collen Hoover Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister None of This Is True

We love a TBR episode, and even better is a TBR episode when we pick books for each other! Listen in for our selections, and we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore – Long Bright River by Liz Moore The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill – The Woman in the Library in Sulari Gentill – Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill Enlightenment by Sarah Perry – Charles Dickens books – Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi – The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton Halle’s picks: The Briar Club by Kate Quinn – The Empress of Rome series by Kate Quinn – Kate Quinn books Sorry, Bro by Taleen Voskuni – Our Ex’s Wedding by Taleen Voskuni Masquerade by O.O. Sangoyomi What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Strange Houses by Uketsu – Strange Buildings by Uketsu Halle: Scandal of the Summer by Alexandra Vasti – Tessa Dare books – Swipe Bite by Alexandra Vasti – Judith McNaught books – Loretta Chase books Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Instag

Somehow this year is already halfway over (!!!!!), so it’s time to check in on our reading goals and parts of our book lives.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Litsy Next Chapter Society Book Club Libba Bray books @mysterymanon on Instagram @mother.horror on Instagram @ash.reads.horror on Instagram Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë Wuthering Heights (film) War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Romanceopoly 2026 @booksandlala on Instagram Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower Off-Campus series by Elle Kennedy Sarah J. Maas books New York Times Bestsellers list J.D. Robb books C.J. Box books Into the Blue by Emma Brodie Dead Weight by Hildur Knútsdóttir The Night Guest by Hildur Knútsdóttir Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke Burn Down Master’s House by Clay Cane This Land Is Your Land by Beverly Gage A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman Land by Maggie O’Farrell Rites of the Starling by Devney Perry Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell The Si

If you’re anything like us, you often read a book you love, add the author’s books to your TBR…and there they sit, unread. Thanks to a listener suggestion, we’re making goals this week to rectify that!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Meg Mitchell Moore books Ann’s picks: All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore – Runner by Ashton Lattimore – Ariel Lawhon books – The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn – The Maidens by Alex Michaelides – The Help by Kathryn Stockett – The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett The Woman in Black by Susan Hill – The Woman in Black (film) – The Various Haunts of Men by Susan Hill – Simon Serrallier series by Susan Hill – Ruth Rendell books – Inspector Wexford series by Ruth Rendell Halle’s picks: The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue – Sentimental Garbage (podcast) – Sex and the City (TV) – The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins – The Gifts series by Caroline O’Donoghue – Skipshock by Car

Thanks to a listener suggestion, we’re finding adult-audience readalikes for the books we loved as kids!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder The Little House Cookbook by Barbara M. Walker Ann’s picks: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis and The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery and Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen – The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion series by Beth Brower The Dollhouse Murders by Betty Ren Wright and You’ll Never Know, Dear by Hallie Ephron – Fear Street series by R.L. Stine – Christopher Pike books – The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell Halle’s picks: The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin and Anxious People by Fredrik Backman – Tuesday Mooney Talks to Ghosts by Kate Racculia – Janice Hallett books Sweet Valley High series by Francine Pascal and Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings – Gossip Girl (TV) The Babysitters’ Club series by Ann L. Martin and Lovelight

It’s a new year and we’re so excited about the roster of books coming out in 2026! Find out what we can’t wait to dive into this winter and spring.   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Jane Austen books Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by Samin Nosrat Amity by Nathan Harris Buckeye by Patrick Ryan The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover Heart the Lover by Lily King An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz I, Medusa by Ayana Gray Ann’s picks:  This Is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman (releases February 10) – Isola by Allegra Goodman – Sam by Allegra Goodman  The Astral Library by Kate Quinn (releases February 17) – The Empress of Rome series by Kate Quinn  Agnes Aubert’s Mystical Cat Shelter by Heather Fawcett (releases February 17) – Emily Wilde series by Heather Fawcett  My Grandfather, the Master Detective by Masateru Konishi (releases March 17)  The Shock of the Ligh

The year is almost over, and it’s time to reveal our favorite books of 2025! Happy Holidays from your friends at Well-Read!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz Jane Austen books Agatha Christie books The Eyes Are the Best Part by Monika Kim What You’re Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone Ready or Not by Cara Bastone Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia Deep End by Ali Hazelwood Rose in Chains by Julie Soto Alchemised by SenLinYu Ann’s picks: Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree – Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling Long Bright River by Liz Moore – Long Bright River (TV) The Bad Seed by William March The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali – My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante Vera Wong’s Guide to Snooping (On a Dead Man) by Jesse Q. Sutanto – Fi

As temperatures drop, we like nothing more than getting cozy with a book. Find out our suggestions for cozy reads this week!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz – Susan Ryland series by Anthony Horowitz – Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz What You Are Looking For Is in the Library by Michiko Aoyama – The Kamogawa Food Detectives by Hisashi Kashiwai – Days at the Morisaki Bookshop by Satoshi Yagisawa Cackle by Rachel Harrison Halle’s picks: A Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna – The Very Secret Society for Irregular Witches by Sanga Mandanna With Love from London by Sarah Jio Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman – While You Were Sleeping (film) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry Halle: Set the Record Straight by Hannah Bonam-Young Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

We’ve been away for a bit, thanks to our travels this fall, but that just means we have a lot of books to talk about! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The God of the Woods by Liz Moore All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker The Wedding People by Alison Espach Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone Ann’s picks: Coffin Moon by Keith Rosson A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara – Matt Bomer filmography – The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – Outlander (TV) Halle’s picks: Wreck by Catherine Newman – We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman – Sandwich by Catherine Newman Dire Bound by Sable Sorenson – Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros It’s Different This Time by Joss Richard What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley – Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley – Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley Halle: Where the Wildflowers Grow by Terah Shelton Harris Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read

We’re looking back at the formative books that made us the readers we are today, and we’ll end with what we’re reading this week! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Andrew Lang books Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder Beauty by Robin McKinley The Ordinary Princess by M.M. Kaye Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis The Wolves of Willoughby Chase by Joan Aiken The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare Ann Rinaldi books A Break with Charity by Ann Rinaldi In a Dark, Dark Room and Other Scary Stories by Alvin Schwartz Fear Street series by R.L. Stine Christopher Pike books Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler Encyclopedia Brown series by Donald J. Sobol Masterpiece Mystery! (TV) The Babysitters Club series by Ann M. Martin Sleepover Friends series by Susan Saunders The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin The Search for Delicious by Natalie Babbitt Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls Sweet V

Autumn is just around the corner, and it’s time to get our fall TBRs in order!   Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann Patchett books Taylor Jenkins Reid books Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall Broadchurch (TV) Jane Austen books The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill Katabasis by R.F. Kuang Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh Succession (TV) Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan Rose in Chains by Julie Soto Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean Ann’s picks:  Good Things: Recipes and Rituals to Share with People You Love by Samin Nosrat (releases September 16) – Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat: Mastering the Elements of Good Cooking by Samin Nosrat – Salt Fat Acid Heat (TV)  The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Mill