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Deep Dive into Golden Age Mysteries

Episode 152 - Books that Make us Laugh out Loud

Do you need something to help you smile right now? We sure do, so here are some of the books that have made us laugh out loud. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto Ann’s picks: Long Live Evil by Sarah Rees Brennan – Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole The Expectant Detectives by Kat Ailes – Dead Tired by Kat Ailes Halle’s picks: Me Talk Pretty One Day by David Sedaris Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano – Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich The Do-Over by Lynn Painter What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix – Rachel Harrison books Halle: Count My Lies by Sophie Stava – Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Episode 151 - Reading from our TBRs

It’s time for our yearly Reading From Our TBRs episode! Listen in as we make a tiny bit of room on our shelves. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone Ann’s picks: Final Girls by Riley Sager – The House Across the Lake by Riley Sager Harlem Shuffle by Colson Whitehead – Pulitzer Prize for Fiction – National Book Awards The Crane Wife: A Memoir in Essays by CJ Hauser – “The Crane Wife” by CJ Hauser (essay) Halle’s picks: An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson – Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore The Fiancée Farce by Alexandria Bellefleur What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Sense and Sensibility: An Annotated Edition by Jane Austen, ed. Patricia Meyer Spacks – The Favorites by Layne Fargo – Bel Canto: The Annotated Edition by Ann Patchett Halle: Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Episode 150 - Books about Female Friendship

It’s our 150th episode (!!!!!!!) and there’s no better way to celebrate that and our friendship than to discuss female friendships in books. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: The Sweet Magnolias series by Sherryl Wood The Wedding People by Alison Espach Ann’s picks: Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee American Ghoul by Michelle McGill-Vargas – Dracula by Bram Stoker We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman – Sandwich by Catherine Newman Halle’s picks: The Sweet Spot by Amy Poeppel The Kitchen Front by Jennifer Ryan – The Great British Bake Off (TV) The One Hundred Years of Lenni and Margot by Marianne Cronin – Fredrik Backman books What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter – Inspector Morse series by Colin Dexter – Inspector Morse (TV) Halle: Deep End by Ali Hazelwood – Bride by Ali Hazelwood – Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood – Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Winter & Spring 2025 Book Preview

Episode 148 - 2024 Superlatives & Reading Resolutions

We’re making reading resolutions for 2025 and giving out our 2024 book superlatives! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Women’s Prize for Fiction The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry From the Front Porch (podcast) Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Book of the Month Club The Bookshop Parnassus Books Brandon Sanderson books Jane Austen books Libba Bray books Colin Dexter books Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer Emily Henry books Ann Patchett books Most Timely Ann: Hum by Helen Phillips – Annie Bot by Sierra Greer Halle: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kristen Miller – The Change by Kristen Miller Most Disappointing Ann: The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson; The Women by Kristin Hannah – Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia Thompson Halle: Bride by Ali Hazelwood; Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood; The Postcard by Anne Berest – Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood – In Memoriam by Alice Winn Favorite Reread Ann: None! Halle: The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater; Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Biggest Surprise Ann: The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August; The Witchstone by Henry H. Neff Halle: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore – Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore – Gilmore Girls (TV) Least Favorite Ann: The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons; In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander – The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava Halle: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey Book That Lived Up to the Hype: Ann: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley; The Great Divide by Cristina Henríquez Halle: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney; James by Percival Everett – Normal People (TV) – Normal People by Sally Rooney Best Distraction Ann: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan Halle: Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal; Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas The Book That Ended a Mini Reading Slump Ann: Ghost Mother by Kelly Dwyer Halle: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter Most Unputdownable Ann: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan; We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer Halle: When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff; The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell Better Late Than Never Ann: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett – Good Omens (TV) – Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer – The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman – Coraline by Neil Gaiman Halle: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Book That Has Stayed With Me Ann: The Tusks of Extinction by Ray Nayler Halle: All Fours by Miranda July Book That We Didn’t Think We’d Like, But Then We Did! Ann: The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee and SJ Rozan Halle: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Author(s) we discovered in 2024 that we’re most excited to read more from in 2025 Ann: Kaliane Bradley; Kristen Perrin; Carmella Lowkis; Monika Kim; Cara Bastone – Fingersmith by Sarah Waters Halle: Cara Bastone; Kirsty Greenwood; Alice Wyn; Yulin Kuang; Holly Brickley; Olivia Muenter – Abby Jimenez books Hidden Gem: Ann: Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong; Ready or Not by Cara Bastone; The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd Halle: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood; Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa – The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune Best Audiobook Experience of the Year: Ann: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – Meryl Streep filmography Halle: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the Year Ann: The Bear (TV); The Traitors (TV); Kyle Maclaughlin ads for Arby’s; Moo Deng; The Eras Tour Halle: One Day (TV); Wicked (film); Nobody Wants This (TV); The Tortured Poets Department (album by Taylor Swift); BookTube; five-year journal The Book We Recommended the Most This Year Ann: Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong; The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Halle: The Wedding People by Alison Espach; Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: After Annie by Anna Quindlen Halle: The Island of Sea Women by Lisa See – Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

Our Favorite Books of 2024

Books about Found Families

Episode 145 - Psychological Suspense Authors We'd Like to See More From

Psychological suspense continues to be one of the most popular subgenres, but it can sometimes be hard to find the best. This week, we’re covering the authors we’d like to see become household names. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Sarah J. Maas books Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Ruth Ware books Mary Kubica books Ann’s picks: Good Girls Don’t Die by Christina Henry – Near the Bone by Christina Henry – Horseman by Christina Henry Arrowood by Laura McHugh – Safe and Sound by Laura McHugh – The Weight of Blood by Laura McHugh What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall – No One Can Know by Kate Alice Marshall Halle’s picks: Kala by Colin Walsh – Tana French books – Jane Harper books The Quiet Tennant by Clémence Michallon – Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll – Nightwatching by Tracy Sierra More Than You’ll Ever Know by Katie Gutierrez – The Push by Ashley Audrain – The Whispers by Ashley Audrain What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Puzzle Box by Danielle Trussoni – The Puzzle Master by Danielle Trussoni – Rain Man (film) – Sherlock (TV) – The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown Halle: Creation Lake by Rachel Kushner – 2024 National Book Awards Longlist for Fiction – Booker Prize 2024 shortlist – Ann Patchett books – Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Episode 144 - Fall 2024 Book Preview

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to reading this fall! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Death at the Sign of the Rook by Kate Atkinson (releases September 3) – Jackson Brodie series by Kate Atkinson Somewhere Beyond the Sea by TJ Klune (releases September 10) The Midnight Club by Margot Harrison (releases September 24) Tiny Threads by Lilliam Rivera (releases September 24) – The Devil Wears Prada (film) Be Ready When the Luck Happens by Ina Garten (releases October 1) – Ina Garten books – Barefoot Contessa (TV) – @storeboughtisfine (Instagram) A Dark and Secret Magic by Wallis Kinney (releases October 8) Hate Follow by Erin Quinn-Kong (releases October 8) – Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong (November 5) – Travis Baldree books Halle’s picks: Here One Moment by Liane Moriarty (releases September 10) – The Measure by Nikki Erlick The Night We Lost Him by Laura Dave (releases September 17) – The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave – The Last Thing He Told Me (TV) – Reese’s Book Club – Laura Dave books Entitlement by Rumaan Alam (releases September 17) Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (releases September 24) – Normal People by Sally Rooney – Normal People (TV) – Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney Heir by Sabaa Tahir (releases October 1) – All My Rage by Sabaa Tahir – National Book Award for Young People – Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature – Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir – The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater Fang Fiction by Kate Stayman-London (releases October 1) – One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London – A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston – BuzzFeed: “This Quiz Will Determine Whether You’re More Demure Fall or Brat Summer” – Twilight (film) Best Hex Ever by Nadia El-Fassi (releases October 1) Rental House by Weike Wang (releases December 3) – Chemistry by Weike Wang What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Ready or Not by Cara Bastone – Emily Henry books Halle: So Thirsty by Rachel Harrison Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Circling back on our Summer 2024 reading

Episode 142 - Celebrity Book Clubs

There are more celebrity book clubs than ever! We’re discussing our favorites and some celebrity book club picks we love. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Read with Jenna Oprah’s Book Club Reece’s Book Club Colleen Hoover books Sarah J. Maas books A Million Little Pieces by James Frey Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens Service95 Book Club Fallon Book Club Marvel Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling Twilight series by Stephenie Meyer “How Celebrity Book Clubs Actually Work” (Esquire article) Mindy’s Book Studio SJP Lit Library Science Belletrist TeaTime Book Club The God of the Woods by Liz Moore Good Morning America Book Club The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris Ann’s picks: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Bad Feminist by Roxanne Gay – The Audacious Book Club – The Help (film) – Tyler Perry films – Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV) Starling House by Alix E. Harrow – The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield Halle’s picks: All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker – The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles – William Kent Krueger books Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson – Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan – Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery Lloyd – An Academy for Liars by Alexis Henderson – Kate Morton books Halle: Five-Star Stranger by Kat Tang Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

Episode 141 - Auto-Buy Authors

Do you have a list of authors who are auto-buys when they release a new book? We’re delving into some of ours! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann Patchett books Emily Henry books Tom Lake by Ann Patchett Abby Jimenez books Ali Hazelwood books Liz Moore books Kate Morton books Tana French books Leigh Bardugo books Celeste Ng books Anthony Horowitz books Sarah Dessen books Sarah MacLean books Ruth Ware books Ann’s picks: The Little Stranger by Sarah Waters – Fingersmith by Sarah Waters – The Paying Guests by Sarah Waters – The Night Watch by Sarah Waters Still Life by Louise Penny – Chief Inspector Armand Gamache series by Louise Penny – How the Light Gets In by Louise Penny The Diviners by Libba Bray – The Diviners series by Libba Bray – Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray Halle’s picks: The Best Man by Kristan Higgins – Katherine Center books – Look on the Bright Side by Kristan Higgins – Blue Heron series by Kristan Higgins What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty – Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty – Rainbow Rowell books – Big Little Lies (TV) Code Name Hélène by Ariel Lawhon – The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon – The Wife, the Maid, and the Mistress by Ariel Lawhon – I Was Anastasia by Ariel Lawhon What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Plus One by S.C. Lalli – Sonya Lalli books – The White Lotus (TV) – The Guest List by Lucy Foley Halle: Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

Episode 140 - NYT Best Books of the 21st Century

The New York Times recently published their list of the 100 best books of the 21st century, and we have THOUGHTS. Let us know your impressions of the list! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver New York Times: Readers Choose Their 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir The Martian by Andy Weir Elena Ferrante books The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins 11/22/63 by Stephen King Emily Henry books Abby Jimenez books The Heaven & Earth Grocery Story by James McBride Ann’s picks: The Round House by Louise Erdrich - National Book Award - Thomas Cromwell series by Hilary Mantel - Bel Canto by Ann Patchett - Commonwealth by Ann Patchett - The Dutch House by Ann Patchett The Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton - Booker Prize - Birnam Wood by Eleanor Catton Halle’s picks: The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne - A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri - Pulitzer Prize in Fiction - Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa Lahiri A Constellation of Vital Phenomena by Anthony Marra - Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Second Chance Year by Melissa Weisner - Sliding Doors (film) Halle: The Ornithologist's Field Guide to Love by India Holton - Book of the Month Club - Dangerous Damsels series by India Holton Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

Episode 139 - Wrapping up our Spring 2024 Reading

We’re trying something new this week, as we review the books we read (or didn’t read…) from our Spring Preview 2024 episode. Let us know what you think! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: New York Times 100 Best Books of the 21st Century Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez Ann’s picks: Funny Story by Emily Henry The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean Halle’s picks: The Great Divide by Christina Henríquez Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González Happily Never After by Lynn Painter The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang – People We Meet on Vacation (film) Real Americans by Rachel Khong Happy Medium by Sarah Adler Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Seventh Veil of Salome by Silvia Moreno-Garcia – Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Ben-Hur (film) Halle: Everyone in My Family Has Killed Someone by Benjamin Stevenson Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Episode 138 - Summer 2024 Book Preview

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to, publishing June through August! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Enlightenment by Sarah Perry (releases June 4) – The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry – The Essex Serpent (show) Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay (releases June 11) – A Head Full of Ghosts by Paul Tremblay – The Blair Witch Project (film) It’s Elementary by Elise Bryant (releases July 9) Nicked by M.T. Anderson (releases July 23) – Feed by M.T. Anderson Slow Dance by Rainbow Rowell (releases July 30) – Landline by Rainbow Rowell The Truth According to Ember by Danica Nava (releases August 6) A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher (releases August 6) – The Goose Girl We Love the Nightlife by Rachel Koller Croft – “I Love the Nightlife” (song) – Stone Cold Fox by Rachel Koller Croft Halle’s picks: Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe (releases June 11) Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller (releases June 18) – The Change by Kirsten Miller A Novel Love Story by Ashley Poston (releases June 25) – The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston – Rebecca Serle books The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali (releases July 2) – The Stationary Shop by Marjan Kamai – Elena Ferrante books – Khaled Hosseini books The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (releases July 2) – Tana French books – Long Bright River by Liza Moore – Lisa Jewell books – Jane Harper books All This & More by Peng Shepherd (releases July 9) – The Cartographers by Peng Shepherd – Blake Crouch books The Wedding People by Alison Espach (releases July 30) The Friend Zone Experiement by Zen Cho (releases August 6) – Succession (TV) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: You Will Never Be Me by Jesse Q. Sutanto – Jesse Q. Sutanto books – Such a Bad Influence by Olivia Muenter Halle: The Most Famous Girl in the World by Iman Hariri-Kia Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop

Episode 137 - Hot Books

With summer around the corner, we’re feeling the heat in our reading! Listen in for our selection of hot books. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: Dry by Neal Shusterman and Jarrod Shusterman – Neal Shusterman books How to Fail at Flirting by Denise Williams Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala Halle’s picks: The Pairing by Casey McQuiston Mary Jane by Jessica Anya Blau – Taylor Jenkins Reid books State of Wonder by Ann Patchett – Commonwealth by Ann Patchett – Bel Canto by Ann Patchett – Tom Lake by Ann Patchett – Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Woman on the Ledge by Ruth Mancini Halle: Banyan Moon by Thao Thai – Real Americans by Rachel Khong – Read with Jenna Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram

Episode 136 - Getting Out of a Reading Slump

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 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