Show Notes
We’re making reading resolutions for 2025 and giving out our 2024 book superlatives! Books and other media mentioned in this episode:Women’s Prize for FictionThe Covenant of Water by Abraham VergheseLonesome Dove by Larry McMurtryFrom the Front Porch (podcast)Demon Copperhead by Barbara KingsolverBook of the Month ClubThe BookshopParnassus BooksBrandon Sanderson booksJane Austen booksLibba Bray booksColin Dexter booksAtomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones by James ClearBraiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall KimmererEmily Henry booksAnn Patchett books Most TimelyAnn: Hum by Helen Phillips– Annie Bot by Sierra GreerHalle: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kristen Miller– The Change by Kristen Miller Most DisappointingAnn: The Art of Catching Feelings by Alicia Thompson; The Women by Kristin Hannah– Love in the Time of Serial Killers by Alicia ThompsonHalle: Bride by Ali Hazelwood; Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood; The Postcard by Anne Berest– Check & Mate by Ali Hazelwood– In Memoriam by Alice Winn Favorite RereadAnn: None!Halle: The Raven Cycle series by Maggie Stiefvater; Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas Biggest SurpriseAnn: The Last Gifts of the Universe by Riley August; The Witchstone by Henry H. NeffHalle: The Cinnamon Bun Bookstore by Laurie Gilmore– Dream Harbor series by Laurie Gilmore– Gilmore Girls (TV) Least FavoriteAnn: The Sky on Fire by Jenn Lyons; In a Not So Perfect World by Neely Tubati Alexander– The Truth According to Ember by Danica NavaHalle: Merry Ever After by Tessa Bailey Book That Lived Up to the Hype:Ann: The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley; The Great Divide by Cristina HenríquezHalle: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney; James by Percival Everett– Normal People (TV)– Normal People by Sally RooneyBest DistractionAnn: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernanHalle: Welcome to Glorious Tuga by Francesca Segal; Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas The Book That Ended a Mini Reading SlumpAnn: Ghost Mother by Kelly DwyerHalle: The Do-Over by Lynn Painter Most UnputdownableAnn: What Happened to Nina? by Dervla McTiernan; We Used to Live Here by Marcus KliewerHalle: When We Were Bright and Beautiful by Jillian Medoff; The Night She Disappeared by Lisa Jewell Better Late Than NeverAnn: Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett– Good Omens (TV)– Monsters: A Fan’s Dilemma by Claire Dederer– The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman– Coraline by Neil GaimanHalle: Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver Book That Has Stayed With MeAnn: The Tusks of Extinction by Ray NaylerHalle: All Fours by Miranda July Book That We Didn’t Think We’d Like, But Then We Did!Ann: The Murder of Mr. Ma by John Shen Yen Nee and SJ RozanHalle: Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar Author(s) we discovered in 2024 that we’re most excited to read more from in 2025Ann: Kaliane Bradley; Kristen Perrin; Carmella Lowkis; Monika Kim; Cara Bastone– Fingersmith by Sarah WatersHalle: Cara Bastone; Kirsty Greenwood; Alice Wyn; Yulin Kuang; Holly Brickley; Olivia Muenter– Abby Jimenez books Hidden Gem:Ann: Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong; Ready or Not by Cara Bastone; The Final Act of Juliette Willoughby by Ellery LloydHalle: How to Read a Book by Monica Wood; Ana María and the Fox by Liana De la Rosa– The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ KluneBest Audiobook Experience of the Year:Ann: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett– Meryl Streep filmographyHalle: Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the YearAnn: The Bear (TV); The Traitors (TV); Kyle Maclaughlin ads for Arby’s; Moo Deng; The Eras TourHalle: One Day (TV); Wicked (film); Nobody Wants This (TV); The Tortured Poets Department (album by Taylor Swift); BookTube; five-year journal The Book We Recommended the Most This YearAnn: Love and Hot Chicken by Mary Liza Hartong; The Ministry of Time by Kaliane BradleyHalle: The Wedding People by Alison Espach;
More from Well-Read
Like many readers, we’re eager to talk about the recent list of the 50 best thrillers of the 21st century, according to the New York Times. But we have a lot of questions… Books and other media mentioned in this episode:The New York Times: The 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st CenturyThe New York Times: The 100 Best Books of 21st CenturyGone Girl by Gillian FlynnThe New York Times: Readers Pick Their 100 Best Books of 21st CenturyThe New York Times: Let’s Talk About the 50 Best Thrillers of the 21st CenturyPeople MagazineThe Goldfinch by Donna TarttMy Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan BraithwaiteBig Little Lies by Liane MoriartyStieg Larsson booksJo Nesbø booksJussi Adler-Olsen booksRuth Ware booksHarlem Trilogy series by Colson WhiteheadDon Winslow booksFreida McFadden booksCarl Hiaasen booksSarah Pinborough booksRuth Rendell booksThe Window in the Window by A.J. FinnThe Housemaid by Freida McFaddenVerity by Collen HooverWrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllisterNone of This Is True by Lisa JewellJohn Marrs booksThe One by John MarrsThe Marriage Act by John MarrsJames Patterson booksThe Da Vinci Code by Dan BrownAlong Came a Spider by James PattersonDaniel Silva books Ann’s picks:
We love a TBR episode, and even better is a TBR episode when we pick books for each other! Listen in for our selections, and we’ll end with what we’re reading this week. Books and other media mentioned in this episode: Ann’s picks:
Somehow this year is already halfway over (!!!!!), so it’s time to check in on our reading goals and parts of our book lives.