Well-Read Ann Cox and Halle Eisenman

It’s that time again…the books we’re looking forward to the most publishing March through May!
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:What Should I Read Next? (podcast)
Ann’s picks:
The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov (releases March 5)– Stieg Larsson books
The Mystery Writer by Sulari Gentill (releases March 19)– The Woman in the Library by Sulari Gentill
Someone You Can Build a Nest In by John Wiswell (releases April 2)
Bless Your Heart by Lindy Ryan– Rachel Harrison books
Funny Story by Emily Henry (releases April 23)– Happy Place by Emily Henry
The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean (releases May 7)– Mika in Real Life by Emiko Jean
Black Shield Maiden by Willow Smith (releases May 7)
The Guncle Abroad by Stephen Rowley (releases May 21)– The Guncle by Stephen Rowley
Halle’s picks:
The Great Divide by Christina Henríquez (releases March 5)– The Book of Unknown Americans by Christina Henríquez
Anita de Monte Laughs Last by Xóchitl González (releases March 5)– Olga Dies Dreaming by Xóchitl González
Happily Never After by Lynn Painter (releases March 12)– Betting on You by Lynn Painter– When Harry Met Sally (film)
The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo (releases April 9)
How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang (releases April 9)– People We Meet on Vacation (film)– Beach Read (film)– Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld– Saturday Night Live (TV)
Real Americans by Rachel Khong (releases April 30)– Goodbye, Vitamin by Rachel Khong– Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi– Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
Happy Medium by Sarah Adler (releases April 30)– Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler
Lies and Weddings by Kevin Kwan (releases May 21)– Crazy Rich Asians series by Kevin Kwan– Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan– Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope– A Room with a View by E.M. Forster
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann:  Shut Up, This Is Serious by Carolina Ixta
Halle: The Hunter by Tana French– The Searcher by Tana French
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We love reading books but we also love getting books off our shelves, so that means we love our annual Reading From Our TBRs episode!
 


 


Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Ann’s picks:
Take It Back by Kia Abdullah– Kia Abdullah books
Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett– Audie Awards– Neil Gaiman books– Terry Pratchett books– Good Omens (TV)– The House of the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune
Old Lovegood Girls by Gail Godwin– From the Front Porch (podcast)– Ann Patchett books
Halle’s picks:
The Bandit Queens by Parini Shroff– My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
The Truth and Other Hidden Things by Lea Geller– Lori Gelman books– Class Mom by Lori Gelman
Shrines of Gaiety by Kate Atkinson– Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas– Booklist– Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: Here In Avalon by Tara Isabella Burton– Tara Isabella Burton books
Halle: When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff– Yellowface by R.F. Kuang
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In honor of Valentine’s Day, learn everything you need to know about the romance genre!
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Webinar: Crash Course in RomanceNicholas Sparks booksColleen Hoover booksHello Stranger by Katherine CenterFifty Shades of Grey by E.L. JamesSarah Adams booksMindy Klasky Tropes ListHarry Potter series by J.K. RowlingPeople We Meet on Vacation by Emily HenryThe Wedding Party by Jasmine GuilloryThe Hating Game by Sally ThorneThe Hating Game (film)Ali Hazelwood booksLove, Theoretically by Ali HazelwoodWith Love, from Cold World by Alicia ThompsonWritten in the Stars by Alexandria BellefleurBoyfriend Material by Alexis HallThe Fiancée Farce by Alexandria BellefleurAct Your Age, Eve Brown by Talia HibbertA Week to be Wicked by Tessa DareKnockout by Sarah MacLeanThe Singles Table by Sara DesaiBattle Royal by Lucy ParkerIt Happened One Summer by Tessa BaileyRole Playing by Cathy YardleyScandalized by Ivy OwensRomancing Mr. Bridgerton by Julia QuinnBridgerton (TV)How to Catch a Queen by Alyssa ColeThe Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi MatthewsThe Bodyguard by Katherine CenterFunny You Should Ask by Elissa SussmanJasmine Guillory booksTia Williams booksHelen Hoang booksSusan Elizabeth Phillips booksChristina Lauren booksMia Sosa booksOlivia Dade booksNatalie Caña booksBeverly Jenkins booksAdriana Herrera booksEvie Dunmore booksCourtney Milan booksJane Austen booksGeorgette Heyer booksJulia Quinn booksCat Sebastian booksTessa Dare booksSarah MacLean booksLisa Kleypas booksJudith McNaught booksJude Deveraux booksJulie Garwood booksMary Balogh booksNora Roberts booksAmanda Quick booksJayne Ann Krentz booksRomancing the Stone (film)Carla Neggers booksSarah J. Maas booksBlood and Ash series by Jennifer L. ArmentroutFreya Marske booksOlivia Atwater booksKresley Cole booksJ.R. Ward booksBride by Ali HazelwoodLana Harper booksApril Asher booksHaunting Adeline by H.D. CarltonTwisted series by Ana HuangElsie Silver booksRebekah Weatherspoon booksDone and Dusted by Lyla SageDevney Perry booksJennifer Lohmann booksMariana Zupata booksIcebreaker by Hannah GraceSarina Bowen booksElle Kennedy booksWindy City series by Liz TomfordeTwilight Saga series by Stephenie MeyerKimberly Lemming booksIce Planet Barbarians series by Ruby DixonDiana Biller booksAna María and the Fox by Liana De la RosaWe Could Be So Good by Cat Sebastian
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: Surrender: Forty Songs, One Story by Bono
Halle: The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
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We’re back with our superlatives episode – one of our favorites of the year!
 
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Halle’s InstagramWomen’s Prize for FictionHell Bent by Leigh BardugoThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFrom the Front Porch (podcast)Book of the Month Club
Most TimelyAnn: Spare by Prince HarryHalle: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros
Most DisappointingAnn: The Cloisters by Katy Hays and Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi PandianHalle: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim and Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld– Miracle Creek by Angie Kim– Saturday Night Live (TV)
Favorite RereadAnn: Ninth House by Leigh BardugoHalle: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Guncle by Steven Rowley– Daisy Jones & the Six (TV)
Biggest SurpriseAnn: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa SeeHalle: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen– The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen
Least FavoriteAnn: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Scourge Between Stars by Ness BrownHalle: Mean Baby by Selma Blair
Book That Lived Up to the Hype:Ann: How to Sell a Haunted House by Grady Hendrix and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle ZevinHalle: Happy Place by Emily HenryBest DistractionAnn: The Last Word by Taylor AdamsHalle: Katherine Center books– Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center– Hello Stranger by Katherine Center
The Book That Ended a Mini Reading SlumpAnn: Homecoming by Kate MortonHalle: Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler
Most UnputdownableAnn: What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall and Look Closer by David EllisHalle: None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and Drowning by T.J. Newman
Better Late Than NeverAnn: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine ArdenHalle: The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
Book That Has Stayed With MeAnn: The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike GayleHalle: Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
Book That We Didn’t Think We’d Like, But Then We Did!Ann: The Deep Sky by Yume Kitasei and Gods of the Wyrdwood by RJ Barker– Mistborn by Brandon SandersonHalle: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck
Author(s) we discovered in 2023 that we’re most excited to read more from in 2024Ann: Nilima Rao, T. Kingfisher, Heather Fawcett– A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao– Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett– Emily Wilde’s Map of the Otherlands by Heather FawcettHalle: Sarah Adler and Jessica Joyce– Mrs. Nash’s Ashes by Sarah Adler– You, With a View by Jessica Joyce
Hidden Gem:Ann: A Death in Denmark by Amulya Malladi and Role Playing by Cathy Yardley and Better the Blood by Michael BennettHalle: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley and Chance of a Lifetime series by Kate Clayborn– Normal People by Sally RooneyBest Audiobook Experience of the Year:Ann: Kala by Colin Walsh and Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley– Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline BoulleyHalle: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, narrated by Michelle Williams
Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the YearAnn: “Planet of the Bass” by DJ Crazy Times (song)   Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour (film)   Barbie (film)   The Shop Around the Corner (film)   Remember the Night (film)   Bob’s Burgers (TV)Halle: Lessons in Chemistry (TV)   Daisy Jones & The Six (TV)    The Bear (TV)    The Great Canadian Baking Show (TV)    First Draft (podcast)    Sentimental Garbage (podcast)    –The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue    – You’ve Got Mail (film)    – Sleepless in Seattle (film)
The Book We Recommended the Most This YearAnn:  Last to Leave the Room b

Our favorite episode of the year, full of our favorite books of the year. Happy Holidays from your friends at Well-Read!




 




Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseAnn’s picks:
Thornhedge by T. Kingfisher– Sleeping Beauty
Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling– Piranesi by Susanna Clarke
How Can I Help You by Laura Sims– Patricia Highsmith books
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin– The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
Homecoming by Kate Morton
Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers by Jesse Q. Sutanto
The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopaedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett
Death Comes to Marlow by Robert Thorogood
Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree– Bookshops & Bonedust by Travis Baldree
Halle’s picks:
Bright Young Women by Jessica Knoll
The Rachel Incident by Caroline O’Donoghue
Someday, Maybe by Onyi Nwabineli
Yours Truly by Abby Jimenez
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano– Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Exiles by Jane Harper– Tana French books
Yerba Buena by Nina LaCour
River Sing Me Home by Eleanor Shearer
Love, Theoretically by Ali Hazelwood– Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood– Happy Place by Emily Henry
Tom Lake by Ann Patchett– Bel Canto by Ann Patchett
What We’re Reading This Week:
Ann: A Disappearance in Fiji by Nilima Rao
Halle: Faking Christmas by Kerry Winfrey
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