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by Ann Cox and Halle Carlson
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.
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Thanks 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
Get 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
It’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) – <a href='https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61273858-the-house-of-eve?ac=1&f
We’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; <a href='https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223641064-grace-henry-s-holiday-movie-marathon
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