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.
18episodes
Episodes
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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
Transcribe →Episode 162 - What We Read On Our Fall Vacations
Nov 2300:48:55Tap to summarizeWe’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 on Bookshop
Transcribe →Episode 161 - The Books that Made Us the Readers We Are
Oct 501:06:53Tap to summarizeWe’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 Valley High series by Francine Pascal Sweet Valley Twins series by Francine Pascal Flowers in the Attic by V.C. Andrews Dollanganger series by V.C. Andrews Goosebumps series by R.L. Stein Richie Tankersley Cusick books Nora Roberts books Walden by Henry David Thoreau The Federalist Papers by Alexander Hamilton And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie Jane Austen books Sherlock Holmes series by Arthur Conan Doyle Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë Mary Higgins Clark books John Jakes books North and South series by John Jakes North and South (TV) A Knight in Shining Armor by Jude Devereaux Whitney, My Love by Judith McNaught Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn Frances Burney books Diane Mott Davidson books Anne Perry books The Eight by Katherine Neville Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher Sarah Dessen books Bridget Jones’s Diary by Helen Fielding Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean The Water Mirror by Kai Meyer Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova Sorrow and Bliss by Meg Mason Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells Bird Box by Josh Malerman The Silent Companions by Laura Purcell The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix The Martian by Andy Weir The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley Mary Kay Andrews books What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Kills Well with Others by Deanna Raybourn Halle: The Irish Goodbye by Heather Aimee O’Neill – Read with Jenna – Thousand Voices Books Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Instagram Well-Read on Bookshop
Transcribe →Episode 160 - Fall 2025 Preview
Aug 3100:57:41Tap to summarizeAutumn 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 Miller (releases October 7) – The Change by Kirsten Miller – Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller All of Us Murderers by KJ Charles (releases October 7) – Death in the Spires by KJ Charles Crafting for Sinners by Jenny Kiefer (releases October 7) – Grady Hendrix books – Horrorstör by Grady Hendrix Happy People Don’t Live Here by Amber Sparks (releases October 14) – Only Murders in the Building (TV) – Angela Carter books The Unveiling by Quan Barry (releases October 14) – We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry Brigands & Breadknives by Travis Baldree (releases November 11) – Legends and Lattes by Travis Baldree Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino (releases November 25) Halle’s picks: Amity by Nathan Harris (releases September 2) – The Sweetness of Water by Nathan Harris – Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry – Doc by Mary Doria Russell – Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee – William W. Johnstone books Buckeye by Patrick Ryan (releases September 2) – Commonwealth by Ann Patchett – Our Town by Thornton Wilder – Wallace Stegner books The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy (releases September 16) The Heartbreak Hotel by Ellen O’Clover (releases September 23) Heart the Lover by Lily King (releases September 30) – Writers & Lovers by Lily King An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister (releases November 11) Violet Thistlewaite Is Not a Villain Anymore by Emily Krempholtz (releases November 18) I, Medusa by Ayana Gray (releases November 18) – Circe by Madeline Miller – Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller – Rick Riordan books – Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Modern Divination by Isabel Agajanian Halle: When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridzén <a href='https://www.facebook.com/wellreadpodcast/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARBstqetJpeselfoc_xy3aynlIZjj8wwjt4...
Transcribe →Reading the Oldest Books on our TBRs
Aug 1700:45:53Tap to summarizeNo description available
Transcribe →Episode 156 - Summer 2025 Preview
Jun 5, 2025Tap to summarizeIt’s already summer – how!? But we’re very ready for summer reading with our lists of the books we’re most excited about. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week! Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray Mutual Interest by Olivia Wolfgang-Smith The Starving Saints by Caitlin Starling Marble Hall Murders by Anthony Horowitz How to Seal Your Own Fate by Kristen Perrin The Favorites by Layne Fargo Deep Cuts by Holly Brickley Dream Count by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson Black Cake by Charmaine Wilkerson First-Time Caller by B.K. Borison Sleepless in Seattle (film) When Harry Met Sally… (film) Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami Passion Project by London Sperry Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone Ali Hazelwood Annabel Monaghan Ann’s picks: The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King (releases June 3) The Listeners by Maggie Stiefvater (releases June 3) – The Wolves of Mercy Falls series by Maggie Stiefvater – The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater Death at the White Hart by Chris Chibnall (releases June 10) – Broadchurch (TV) Finding Grace by Loretta Rothschild (releases July 8) How to Survive a Horror Story by Mallory Arnold (releases July 8) – And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie – The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson Hemlock & Silver by T. Kingfisher (releases August 19) – Snow White and the Seven Dwarves – Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher – A Sorceress Comes to Call by T. Kingfisher Five Found Dead by Sulari Gentill (releases August 19) – Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie – The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill – With a Vengeance by Riley Sager Katabasis by R.F. Kuang (releases August 26) – Babel by R.F. Kuang Halle’s picks: Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid (releases June 3) – The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Carrie Soto Is Back by Taylor Jenkins Reid – Top Gun (film) The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark (releases June 3) Park Avenue by Renée Ahdieh (releases June 3) – Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan – Succession (TV) – Bridgerton series by Julia Quinn – Gossip Girl (TV) Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab (releases June 10) When Javi Dumped Mari by Mia Sosa (releases June 24) Rose in Chains by Julie Soto (releases July 3) – The Thrashers by Julie Soto – The Auction by LovesBitca8 (fanfiction) The Girls Who Grew Big by Leila Mottley (releases June 24) – Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley – The Mothers by Brit Bennett These Summer Storms by Sarah MacLean (releases July 8) What We’re Reading This Week: Ann: Kate & Frida by Kim Fay – Love & Saffron by Kim Fay Halle: The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett – Rabbit Cake by Annie Hartnett – A Man Called Ove by Fredr...
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