
674.7K
Downloads
184
Episodes
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.
Episodes

Apr 24, 2020
Apr 24, 2020
1 hr 6 min
By listener request, we’re doing a deep dive of Louisa May Alcott’s Little Women and the new film adaptation! And of course, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Little Women (2019 film)
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (buy from Bookshop)
Little Women (1994 film)
Little Women (1933 film)
Little Women (1949 film)
Little Women (1978 TV)
Little Women (2017 TV)
Little Women (2018 film)
Florence Pugh filmography
Laura Dern filmography
Big Little Lies (TV)
Susan Sarandon filmography
Christian Bale filmography
“Laurie Isn’t a Good Guy; He’s a Nice Guy (TM)” (Book Riot article)
Gabriel Byrne filmography
Ann’s pick:
- Meg, Jo, Beth, Amy: The Story of Little Women and Why It Still Matters by Anne Boyd Rioux (buy from Bookshop)
– Ralph Waldo Emerson books
– Henry David Thoreau books
– The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain (buy from Bookshop)
– J.K. Rowling books
Halle’s pick:
- The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O’Connor McNees (buy from Bookshop)
- March by Geraldine Brooks (buy from Bookshop)
What We’re Reading This Week:
- Ann: When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald (buy from Bookshop)
- Halle: All We Ever Wanted by Emily Giffin (buy from Bookshop)
– Emily Giffin books
– Emily Giffin’s Instagram
– Liane Moriarty books
– Jodi Picoult books
Well-Read on Facebook
Well-Read on Twitter
Well-Read on Bookshop

Apr 10, 2020
Apr 10, 2020
59 min
One of our favorite episode series is back! We’re stretching ourselves by reading books out of our comfort zones, for better or for worse. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem, and Madness (TV)
Ann’s picks:
- Magic Bites by Ilona Andrews
– Kate Daniels series by Ilona Andrews
– Fever series by Karen Marie Moning - Space Opera by Catherynne M. Valente
– Eurovision Song Contest
– “Waterloo” by ABBA (song) - The Duchess Deal by Tessa Dare
– The Governess Game by Tessa Dare
– Beauty and the Beast
– Castles Ever After series by Tessa Dare
– Beauty and the Beast (film)
– Episode 18: Out of Our Comfort Zones
– Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean
Halle’s picks:
- The God Game by Danny Tobey
- Certain Dark Things by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
– Episode 66: Spring/Summer 2020 Preview - The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix
– We Sold Our Souls by Grady Hendrix
What We’re Reading This Week:

Mar 27, 2020
Mar 27, 2020
45 min
With the world in its current state, who doesn't need a comfort read? We're discussing what we look for when we turn to books in difficult times, and we'll end with what we're reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Ann’s picks:
- Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- Hercule Poirot series by Agatha Christie
- Foyle's War (TV)
- Midsomer Murders (TV)
- Moonflower Murders by Anthony Horowitz
- The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
- The Word is Murder by Anthony Horowitz - Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid
- Jane Austen books
- Eligible by Curtis Sittenfeld
- Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
- Edinburgh Fringe Festival
- Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
- Val McDermid books - My Kitchen Year: 136 Recipes That Saved My Life by Ruth Reichl
- Gourmet Magazine
Halle’s picks:
- The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley
- Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane
- ALA RUSA CODES Reading List
- Emily Post books
- Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren
What We’re Reading This Week:
- Ann: The Paris Library by Janet Skeslien Charles (releases June 2)
- The American Library in Paris - Halle: The Return by Rachel Harrison

Feb 28, 2020
Feb 28, 2020
56 min
We’re so excited to talk about the books we’re looking forward to this spring and summer (there are soooooooooo many!) And we’ll finish with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Public Library Association (PLA) Conference 2020
We Ride Upon Sticks by Quan Barry
Episode 58 – Witches
The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan
Episode 63 – Royal Reads
Ann’s picks:
- My Dark Vanessa by Kate Elizabeth Russell
- In Five Years by Rebecca Serle
– Rebecca Serle books
– Taylor Jenkins Reid books
– The Dinner List by Rebecca Serle - Darling Rose Gold by Stephanie Wrobel
– The Act (TV) - Clap When You Land by Elizabeth Acevedo
– The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
– Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature
– With the Fire on High by Elizabeth Acevedo - Rodham by Curtis Sittenfeld
– Curtis Sittenfeld books - Mexican Gothic by Silvia Morena-Garcia
- One to Watch by Kate Stayman-London
– The Bachelor (TV) - The All-Night Sun by Diane Zinna
– Midsommar (film)
Halle’s picks:
- The Glass Hotel by Emily St. John Mandel
– Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel - If I Never Met You by Mhairi McFarlane
– Mhairi McFarlane books
– The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory - To Have and to Hoax by Martha Waters
– The Hating Game by Sally Thorne - The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett
– The Mothers by Brit Bennett - The Marriage Game by Sara Desai
- I Was Told It Would Get Easier by Abbi Waxman
– The Bookish Life of Nina Hill by Abbi Waxman - Friends and Strangers by J. Courtney Sullivan
– Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid - Transcendent Kingdom by Yaa Gyasi
– Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
What We’re Reading This Week:

Feb 14, 2020
Feb 14, 2020
51 min
In honor of Valentine’s Day, we’re talking about books that grapple with love in all its sweet, messy, delicate, difficult, and wonderful forms. As always, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Ann’s picks:
- Less by Andrew Sean Greer
– Pulitzer Prize - The Only Story by Julian Barnes
– Episode 61 – Favorite Reads of 2019
– The Graduate (film) - The Upside of Unrequited by Becky Albertalli
– Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli
– J.R.R. Tolkein books
– Leah on the Offbeat by Becky Albertalli
Halle’s picks:
- Our Souls at Night by Kent Haruf
– Our Souls at Night (film) - Normal People by Sally Rooney
– Conversations with Friends by Sally Rooney
– Normal People (TV)
– Rooney Mara filmography
– Joaquin Phoenix filmography
– Rachel Bilson filmography
– Bill Hader filmography - The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
– 500 Days of Summer (film)
What We’re Reading This Week:

Jan 31, 2020
Jan 31, 2020
55 min
As part of our Book Tourism series, we’re headed to France! Find out which books we turn to when we want to feel très chic. And of course, we’ll end with what we’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Episode 52 – Book Tourism: Southeast Asia
ALA Midwinter Conference
ALA RUSA CODES Reading List
The Passengers by John Marrs
Ann’s picks:
- Paris Letters by Janice MacLeod
– Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert
– Daniel Craig filmography
– Janice MacLeod’s Etsy shop - Nana by Émile Zola
– Moulin Rouge! (film)
– Les Rougon-Macquart series by Émile Zola
– The Ladies’ Paradise by Émile Zola
– The Paradise (TV)
– Germinal by Émile Zola
– La Bête Humaine by Émile Zola - The Provocative Colette by Annie Goetzinger
– Colette (film)
– Colette books
– Claudine series by Colette
– Gigi by Colette
– Gigi (film)
Halle’s picks:
- The Girl Who Reads on the Métro by Christine Féret-Fleury
– Amélie (film) - The Age of Light by Whitney Scharer
– Love and Ruin by Paula McLain
– The Paris Wife by Paula McLain - Amour et Chocolat series by Laura Florand
– The Chocolate Thief by Laura Florand
What We’re Reading This Week:
- Ann: You Are Not Alone by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen (releases March 3)
– The Wife Between Us by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen
– An Anonymous Girl by Greer Hendricks and Sarah Pekkanen - Halle: Mr. Nobody by Catherine Steadman
– Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman
– Reese’s Book Club

Jan 18, 2020
Jan 18, 2020
58 min
With so much royal drama in the news right now, we can't help but share our picks for some royal reads. As always, we'll end with what we're reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
The Royal We by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks
The Crown (TV)
Go Fug Yourself (blog)
The Heir Affair by Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks (releases June 16, 2020)
Red, White & Royal Blue by Casey McQuinton
Lauren Graham filmography
Mae Whitman filmography
Ann’s picks:
- The Wrath and the Dawn by Renée Ahdieh
- One Thousand and One Nights
- The Rose and the Dagger by Renée Ahdieh - The Daughter of Time by Josephine Tey
- Agatha Christie books
- Dorothy L. Sayers books
- Inspector Alan Grant series by Josephine Tey
- The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter
- Richard III by William Shakespeare - Victoria the Queen: An Intimate Biography of the Woman Who Ruled an Empire by Julia Baird
- Charles Dickens books
- Victoria (TV)
- The Favourite (film)
- Rufus Sewell filmography
Halle’s picks:
- A Princess in Theory by Alyssa Cole
- Reluctant Royals series by Alyssa Cole
- Coming to America (film)
- A Duke by Default by Alyssa Cole - Royally Screwed by Emma Chase
- Royally series by Emma Chase - Royals by Rachel Hawkins
- A Royal Night Out (film)
What We’re Reading This Week:
- Ann: Kept Animals by Kate Milliken (releases April 21, 2020)
- Halle: The Passengers by John Marrs
- And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie

Jan 3, 2020
Jan 3, 2020
55 min
Happy New Year! Ann and Halle look back at their 2019 reading and make some plans for 2020. They end with what they’re reading this week.
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Goodreads
ALA RUSA CODES Reading List
POPSUGAR 2020 Reading Challenge
Book Riot’s 2020 Read Harder Challenge
Litsy
Modern Mrs. Darcy 2020 Reading Challenge
What Should I Read Next? (podcast)
2020 Reading Women Challenge
Helen Oyeyemi books
#bookstagram on Instagram
Dewey’s 24-Hour Readathon
24in48 Readathon
Book Riot 2020 Reading Log
War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy
Jane Austen books
Catharine and Other Writings by Jane Austen
Lady Susan by Jane Austen
Jane Austen Society of North America (JASNA)
Tana French books
Isak Dinesen books
Libby Bray books
The Diviners series by Libba Bray
What We’re Reading This Week:

Dec 20, 2019

Dec 6, 2019
Dec 6, 2019
47 min
We’re getting into the spirit of the season and talking about books to read in December. Afterward, we discuss what we’re reading this week. Happy Holidays from your friends at Well-Read!
Books and other media mentioned in this episode:
Hallmark Countdown to Christmas
Ann’s picks:
- Blue Christmas by Mary Kay Andrews
– Weezie and Bebe series by Mary Kay Andrews
– Savannah Blues by Mary Kay Andrews
– Savannah Breeze by Mary Kay Andrews
– Schitt’s Creek (TV)
– Christmas Bliss by Mary Kay Andrews - We Are Okay by Nina LaCour
– Michael L. Printz Award for Excellence in Young Adult Literature - The Afterlife of Holly Chase by Cynthia Hand
– My Lady Jane by Cynthia Hand, Brodi Ashton, and Jodi Meadows
– A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
Halle’s picks:
- Royal Holiday by Jasmine Guillory
– Episode 55: Fall 2019 Book Preview
– The Wedding Party by Jasmine Guillory - One Day in December by Josie Silver
- Seven Days of Us by Francesca Hornak
– The Family Stone (film)
What We’re Reading This Week:
