Well-Read Episode 131 - 2023 Superlatives

We’re back with our superlatives episode – one of our favorites of the year!

 

Books and other media mentioned in this episode:

Halle’s Instagram
Women’s Prize for Fiction
Hell Bent by Leigh Bardugo
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry
From the Front Porch (podcast)
Book of the Month Club

Most Timely
Ann: Spare by Prince Harry
Halle: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Most Disappointing
Ann: The Cloisters by Katy Hays and Under Lock & Skeleton Key by Gigi Pandian
Halle: Happiness Falls by Angie Kim and Romantic Comedy by Curtis Sittenfeld
– Miracle Creek by Angie Kim
– Saturday Night Live (TV)

Favorite Reread
Ann: Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
Halle: Daisy Jones & the Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Guncle by Steven Rowley
– Daisy Jones & the Six (TV)

Biggest Surprise
Ann: Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree and Lady Tan’s Circle of Women by Lisa See
Halle: The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy by Megan Bannen
– The Undermining of Twyla and Frank by Megan Bannen

Least Favorite
Ann: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros and The Scourge Between Stars by Ness Brown
Halle: 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 Zevin
Halle: Happy Place by Emily Henry

Best Distraction
Ann: The Last Word by Taylor Adams
Halle: Katherine Center books
– Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center
– Hello Stranger by Katherine Center

The Book That Ended a Mini Reading Slump
Ann: Homecoming by Kate Morton
Halle: Adelaide by Genevieve Wheeler

Most Unputdownable
Ann: What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall and Look Closer by David Ellis
Halle: None of This Is True by Lisa Jewell and Drowning by T.J. Newman

Better Late Than Never
Ann: Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid and The Bear and the Nightingale by Katherine Arden
Halle: The Exiles by Christina Baker Kline and My Sister, the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite

Book That Has Stayed With Me
Ann: The Museum of Ordinary People by Mike Gayle
Halle: 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 Sanderson
Halle: Shark Heart by Emily Habeck

Author(s) we discovered in 2023 that we’re most excited to read more from in 2024
Ann: 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 Fawcett
Halle: 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 Bennett
Halle: Talking at Night by Claire Daverley and Chance of a Lifetime series by Kate Clayborn
– Normal People by Sally Rooney

Best Audiobook Experience of the Year:
Ann: Kala by Colin Walsh and Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley
– Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley
Halle: The Woman in Me by Britney Spears, narrated by Michelle Williams

Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the Year
Ann: “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 Year
Ann:  Last to Leave the Room by Caitlin Starling and Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree
Halle: Tom Lake by Ann Patchett

What We’re Reading This Week:

• Ann: Stateless by Elizabeth Wein
  – Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein
• Halle: Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas
  – A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J. Maas

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