Well-Read Episode #86 - 2020 Superlatives

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.     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) Well-Read on Facebook Well-Read on Twitter Well-Read on Bookshop Well-Read on Instagram