January | 2021 | Well-Read

We’ve started (what we hope becomes) a new tradition: book superlatives! Listen in for the books that stood out to us for a range of reasons this year. We’ll end with what we’re reading this week.

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Books and other media mentioned in this episode:

Episode 68 – Out of Our Comfort Zone Part III
Episode 76 – Tackling Our TBRs Part II

Most Timely
Ann: When No One Is Watching by Alyssa Cole (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: The Pull of the Stars by Emma Donoghue (buy from Bookshop)

Most Disappointing
Ann: White Elephant by Trish Harnetiaux (buy from Bookshop) and Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia (buy from Bookshop)
– Tana French books
Halle: The Starless Sea by Erin Morgenstern (buy from Bookshop); Honorable Mention: The Bright Lands by John Fram (buy from Bookshop)
– Friday Night Lights (TV)

Favorite Reread
Ann: The Likeness by Tana French (buy from Bookshop)
– In the Woods by Tana French (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: The Southern Book Club’s Guide to Slaying Vampires by Grady Hendrix (buy from Bookshop)

Biggest Surprise
Ann: The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: The Idea of You by Robinne Lee (buy from Bookshop)

Least Favorite
Ann: Space Opera by Cathrynne M. Valente (buy from Bookshop)
– Eurovision Song Contest (TV)
Halle: The Deep by Rivers Solomon (buy from Bookshop)
– Drexciya (techno group)
– “The Deep” (song by clipping.)

Best Distraction
Ann: The Heir Affair by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (buy from Bookshop)
– The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: Paris is Always a Good Idea by Jenn McKinlay (buy from Bookshop) and All Adults Here by Emma Straub (buy from Bookshop)

The Book That Ended a Mini Reading Slump
Ann: Sex and Vanity by Kevin Kwan (buy from Bookshop)
– A Room With a View by E.M. Forster (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: Would Like to Meet by Rachel Winters (buy from Bookshop)

Better Late Than Never
Ann: On What Grounds by Cleo Coyle (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: The Duke Who Didn’t by Courtney Milan (buy from Bookshop)

Book That Has Stayed With Me
Ann: When We Were Vikings by Andrew David MacDonald (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: Florence Adler Swims Forever by Rachel Beanland (buy from Bookshop) or Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (buy from Bookshop)

Book That We Didn’t Think We’d Like, But Then We Did!
Ann: The Duke and I by Julia Quinn (kind of) (buy from Bookshop)
– Bridgertons series by Julia Quinn
– Bridgerton (TV)
Halle: Fortune Favors the Dead by Stephen Spotswood (buy from Bookshop)
– The Human Son by Adrian J. Walker (buy from Bookshop)

Best Quality Read of the Year
Ann: War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy, duh (buy from Bookshop)
– Jane Austen books
Halle: The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (buy from Bookshop)

Our Favorite Non-Book Media Property of the Year
Ann: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (TV) and Sarah Cooper anything
– Will Ferrell filmography
– Sarah Cooper on TikTok
– Sarah Cooper: Everything’s Fine (TV)
Halle: Normal People (TV) and Ted Lasso (TV)
– Normal People by Sally Rooney (buy from Bookshop)
– Major League (film)
– Jason Sudeikis filmography
– “An American Coach in London” (commercial)
– The Great British Bake Off (TV)
– folklore (Taylor Swift album)
– evermore (Taylor Swift album)

The Book We Recommended the Most This Year
Ann: A Deadly Inside Scoop by Abby Colette (buy from Bookshop) and Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal (buy from Bookshop)
Halle: Code Name Helene by Ariel Lawhon (buy from Bookshop) and A Good Marriage by Kimberly McCreight (buy from Bookshop) and The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune (buy from Bookshop)

What We’re Reading This Week:

Ann: Everything Leads to You by Nina LaCour (buy from Bookshop)
– Nina LaCour books
– John Wayne filmography
– Patsy Cline discography
Halle: The Eighth Detective by Alex Pavesi (buy from Bookshop)
– Agatha Christie books
– The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield (buy from Bookshop)
– Magpie Murders by Anthony Horowitz (buy from Bookshop)

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Month: January 2021

Episode 87 – 2021 Resolutions and Year in Review

Episode 86 – 2020 Superlatives