Podcast
Well-Read
Hosted by Ann Cox and Halle Carlson · EN
As librarians, books are kind of our thing. Listen in as we talk about what we're reading, make book recommendations, and all sorts of book-related fun.
15episodes
Episodes
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Authors we want to read more from
3d ago01:00:42Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Summer 2026 Book Preview
3w ago01:05:02Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Our Bookish Confessions
Apr 1200:52:57Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Episode 169 - Readalikes for Our Childhood Favorites
Mar 2900:41:05Tap to summarizeThanks 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 series by B.K. Borison – Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: L.A. Women by Ella Berman – Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Neapolitan series by Elena Ferrante Halle: Hungered by Amanda Rizkalla – Nesting by Roisín O’Donnell Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop
Transcribe →Celebrating Irish Stories
Mar 1400:57:21Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Episode 167 - Reading from our TBRs: Pink Covers
Feb 1400:54:21Tap to summarizeGet in the mood for Valentine’s Day (and to clear space off your shelves) when we tackle the pink books on our TBRs! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks: The Ex Talk by Rachel Lynn Solomon – Sarah Vowell books – Audie Cornish on NPR The Guncle Abroad by Steven Rowley – The Guncle by Steven Rowley American Fantasy by Emma Straub – New Kids on the Block (band) Halle’s picks: The Lost Ticket by Freya Sampson – Jenny Colgan books – Clare Pooley books – Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan Lovely War by Julie Berry – Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein Love and Other Brain Experiments by Hannah Brohm – Ali Hazelwood books What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: King of Ashes by S.A. Cosby – S.A. Cosby books Halle: Her Last Breath by Taylor Adams – The Last Word by Taylor Adams – Reckless Girls by Rachel Hawkins Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop
Transcribe →Episode 166 - Winter/Spring 2026 Book Preview
Jan 2501:14:46Tap to summarizeIt’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 Light by Lori Inglis Hall (releases March 17) The Midnight Show by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne (releases April 7) – Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – The Antiquity Affair by Lee Kelly and Jennifer Thorne The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke (releases April 7) – V.E. Schwab books – Cat Clarke books – Anthony Horowitz books Japanese Gothic by Kylie Lee Baker (releases April 21) – Bat Eater and Other Names for Cora Zeng by Kylie Lee Baker Halle’s picks: This Book Made Me Think of You by Libby Page (releases February 3) Keeper of Lost Children by Sadeqa Johnson (releases February 10) – The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder (releases February 10) – People We Hate at the Wedding by Grant Ginder – People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Kin by Tayari Jones (releases March 17) – An American Marriage by Tayari Jones – The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali A Far-Flung Life by M.L. Stedman (releases March 3) – The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman Whidbey by T. Kira Madden (releases March 10) – Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke (releases April 7) – Diabolical Lies (podcast) – Trad Wife by Saratoga Schaefer Unbound by Peyton Corinne (releases April 7) – Unsteady by Peyton Corinne – Unloved by Peyton Corinne What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis – Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature – The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas Halle: The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower – Gilmore Girls (TV) – Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery – Bridgerton (TV) – Twilight by Stephenie Meyer Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop
Transcribe →Episode 165 - Reading Resolutions and 2025 Superlatives
Jan 1101:26:18Tap to summarizeWe’re making reading resolutions for 2026 and giving out our 2025 book superlatives! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Lauren Bacall filmography Jane Austen books Emma by Jane Austen Libba Bray books Book of the Month Club Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James Clear Emily Henry books People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry Women’s Prize for Fiction Next Chapter Society Book Club The Wedding People by Alison Espach Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy Romanceopoly 2026 Under the Covers (blog) @booksandlala on Instagram Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Most Timely Ann: Jane Austen: A Life by Claire Tomalin Halle: The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami Most Disappointing Ann: Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez; Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See; Knife by Salman Rushdie Halle: The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese; Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry; Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab – Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Favorite Reread Ann: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen; Outlander by Diana Gabaldon – Persuasion by Jane Austen – Kristin Atherton filmography Halle: People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry; Beartown by Fredrik Backman Biggest Surprise Ann: To Say Nothing of the Dog by Connie Willis – Three Men in a Boat by Jerome K. Jerome – Terry Pratchett books – Neil Gaiman books Halle: The Rose Bargain by Sasha Peyton Smith; Grace & Henry’s Holiday Movie Marathon by Matthew Norman Least Favorite Ann: The 23rd Hero by Rebecca Anne Nguyen; Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate Halle: The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb Book That Lived Up to the Hype: Ann: The Favorites by Layne Fargo; Long Bright River by Liz Moore; A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara Halle: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino; The Will of the Many by James Islington Best Distraction Ann: The Goldens by Lauren Wilson Halle: If It Makes You Happy by Julie Olivia; Violet Thistlewaite is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz The Book That Ended a Mini Reading Slump Ann: Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall – Broadchurch (TV) Halle: Shield of Sparrows by Devney Perry Most Unputdownable Ann: Last Bus to Woodstock by Colin Dexter; A Killing Cold by Kate Alice Marshall Halle: Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino; Like a House on Fire by Lauren McBrayer; Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros – Empyrean series by Rebecca Yarros Better Late Than Never Ann: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara; The Housemaid by Freida McFadden; A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens Halle: The Beartown trilogy by Fredrik Backman; Kindred by Octavia Butler Book That Has Stayed With Me Ann: The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali; The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones Halle: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett; Audition by Kati...
Transcribe →Episode 164 - Our Favorite Books of 2025
Dec 2001:23:18Tap to summarizeThe 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 – Finlay Donovan series by Elle Cosimano Umma: A Korean Mom’s Kitchen Wisdom and 100 Family Recipes by Sarah Ahn and Nam Soon Ahn – @ahnestkitchen on Instagram – America’s Test Kitchen – Korean American: Food That Tastes Like Home by Eric Kim The Crane Wife: A Memoir in Essays by CJ Hauser – “The Crane Wife” by CJ Hauser (essay) A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher – “The Goose Girl” Halle’s picks: Stolen Focus: Why You Can’t Pay Attention – And How to Think Deeply Again by Johann Hari The Will of the Many by James Islington – Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling – Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins – Divergent series by Veronica Roth Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid The Witch’s Guide to Magical Innkeeping by Sangu Mandanna The Correspondent by Virginia Evans The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett – Margo’s Got Money Troubles by Rufi Thorpe – The Wedding People by Alison Espach Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune The Names by Florence Knapp Heart the Lover by Lily King – The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald – Writers & Lovers by Lily King What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: The Lack of Light by Nino Haratischwili – Persuasion by Jane Austen – The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili – The International Booker Prize Halle: The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop
Transcribe →Episode 163 - Cozy Reads
Dec 600:46:38Tap to summarizeAs 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
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