Well-read & Unfiltered

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  Upcoming Releases We're Excited About for the Remainder of 2026! 14.09.2026 57dk

  We are looking ahead to the releases they’re most excited about for the rest of 2026, and your TBR is about to get longer!From unsettling horror and sweeping historical fiction to spicy holiday romances and highly anticipated fantasy, there’s something for every kind of reader.Along the way, we share our current reads, debate whether rereading can change your opinion of a book, and discuss the pressure on authors to deliver the next installment. Expect Shakespeare enthusiasm, romantasy FOMO, and a spirited disagreement about Christmas creeping into spooky season. Which upcoming releases are on your radar?BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEKaiju: Battlefield Surgeon — Matt DinnimanDungeon Crawler Carl — Matt DinnimanDominion of Blades — Matt DinnimanTrailer Park Fairy Tales — Matt DinnimanThe Knight and the Moth — Rachel GilligThe Knave and the Moon — Rachel GilligOne Dark Window — Rachel GilligTwo Twisted Crowns — Rachel GilligBad Tourists — Caro CarverMazywood — Tananarive DueThe Reformatory — Tananarive DueThreshing Day — Rebecca YarrosFourth Wing / Empyrean series — Rebecca YarrosA Court of Thorns and Roses / ACOTAR series — Sarah J. MaasThe Disappearers — Marlon JamesScorpion Deep — C. G. DrewsDon’t Let the Forest In — C. G. DrewsYou Did Nothing Wrong — C. G. DrewsIt’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder — Ally CarterThe Most Wonderful Crime of the Year — Ally CarterExit Party — Emily St. John MandelStation Eleven — Emily St. John MandelSea of Tranquility — Emily St. John MandelPin Feathers — Christina HenryThe Girl in Red — Christina HenryBunny — Mona AwadChristmas Staycation — Meghan QuinnHow My Neighbor Stole Christmas — Meghan QuinnMerry Christmas, You Filthy Animal — Meghan QuinnThe Nightmare Before Kissmas — Sara RaaschAmerican Hagwon — Min Jin LeePachinko — Min Jin LeeOff the Reservation — Stephen Graham JonesThe Only Good Indians — Stephen Graham JonesThe Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham JonesCardinal Rule — Liz TomfordeWindy City series — Liz TomfordeThe Two Wills — Blair FellA Court of Splintered Harmony — Sarah J. MaasThe Last King of Faerie — Cassandra ClareShadowhunters series — Cassandra ClareThe Mortal Instruments series — Cassandra ClareThe Infernal Devices series — Cassandra ClareThe Dark Artifices series — Cassandra ClareThe Wicked Powers series — Cassandra ClareThe Wolves of War — John GwynneThe Shadow of the Gods — John GwynneThe Faithful and the Fallen series — John GwynneValor — John Gwynne
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  From Page to Screen: The Best Adaptations 07.09.2026 51dk

  This week on "Well Read and Unfiltered", we debate the hits and misses of book-to-screen adaptations, from "Project Hail Mary" and "Off Campus" to "Jurassic Park" and "The Ruins". We unpack casting choices, changed endings, and what it takes to capture a story’s heart, then wrap up with a lightning round of adaptations they’re excited to watch or happy to skip. And all of this begs this question: Is the book always better?As always, please follow, like, share, and comment to help us find more avid readers and lovers of all things books! This truly helps us reach new people and improve our podcast! And be sure to follow us on Instagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast for more!BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEProject Hail Mary - Andy Weir (Sci-fi)Off-Campus Series - Elle Kennedy (Romance)Heated Rivalry - Rachel Reid (Romance)The Ruins - Scott Smith (Horror)Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton (Sci-fi)Every Summer After - Carley Fortune (Romance)The Golden Summer - Carley Fortune (Romance)Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell (Historical Fiction)Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien (Fantasy)The Hobbit - J. R. R. Tolkien (Fantasy)Harry Potter - J. K. Rowling (Fantasy)The Mortal Instruments - Cassandra Clare (Romantasy)Sword Catcher - Cassandra Clare (Fantasy)Life of Pi - Yann Martel (Psychological Fiction)Remarkably Bright Creatures - Shelby Van Pelt (Literary Fiction)Sunrise on the Reaping - Suzanne Collins (Dystopian Fiction)Verity - Colleen Hoover (Thriller)Odyssey - Homer (Epic Poem)The Love Hypothesis (Ali Hazelwood)Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros (Romantasy)The Nightingale - Kristin Hannah (Historical Fiction)Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow - Gabrielle Zevin (Literary Fiction)The God of the Woods - Liz Moore (Thriller/Mystery)The Correspondent - Virginia Evans (Literary Fiction)The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo - Taylor Jenkins Reid (Historical Fiction/Romance)Whalefall - Daniel Kraus (Survival Horror)Incidents Around the House - Josh Malerman (Horror)Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman (Sci-fi)The Villains Series - V.E. Schwab (Sci-fi/Fantasy)East of Eden - John Steinbeck (Classic)
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  Our August 2026 Reading Recap! 31.08.2026 52dk

  August reading brought five-star surprises, major disappointments, and plenty of unfiltered opinions. We’re recapping the romances, fantasy epics, literary fiction, sci-fi, and horror that defined our month, then revealing the one book each of us recommends above all the rest. Pour yourself a drink, prepare to add to your TBR, and join the conversation! What was your best—or most disappointing—read of August?BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE:Blood Over Bright Haven — M. L. WangThe Sword of Kaigen — M. L. WangFourth Wing — Rebecca YarrosA Photo Finish — Elsie SilverHeartless — Elsie SilverSeed — Ania AhlbornThe Unseen — Ania AhlbornThe Shuddering — Ania AhlbornBrother — Ania AhlbornThe Night We Met — Abby JimenezSay You’ll Remember Me — Abby JimenezJust for the Summer — Abby JimenezI Leave It Up to You — Jinwoo ChongThem — W. H. ChizmarScion — James IslingtonThe Will of the Many — James IslingtonThe Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 — Beth BrowerThe Renovation — Kenan OrhanMalice — John GwynneValor — John GwynneRuin — John GwynneA Time of Dread — John GwynneThe Wolves of War — John GwynneWe Burn So Bright — T. J. KluneThe House in the Cerulean Sea — T. J. KluneSomewhere Beyond the Sea — T. J. KluneThe Bones Beneath My Skin — T. J. KluneThe Knight and the Moth — Rachel GilligThe Knave and the Moon — Rachel GilligOne Dark Window — Rachel GilligTwo Twisted Crowns — Rachel GilligThe Calamity Club — Kathryn StockettThe Help — Kathryn StockettThe Murderbot Diaries — Martha Wells
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  Class is Back in Session: The Good, the Bad & "Billy Budd" 24.08.2026 55dk

  Class is back in session, and so is the assigned reading trauma!This week on Well-Read and Unfiltered, we revisit the books and plays we were required to read in high school: the ones we loved, the ones we faked our way through with SparkNotes, and the ones we’re still holding a grudge against.From 1984, Lord of the Flies, and Macbeth to Casey's and K's mutual disdain for, Billy Budd, we’re talking literary crushes, confusing symbolism, unforgettable characters, and which books we’d assign to students today.What required-reading book left the biggest mark on you—for better or worse? Tell us in the comments! 🎓🍷BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEThe Giver - Lois LowryLord of the Flies - William GoldingThe Pearl - John SteinbeckOf Mice and Men - John SteinbeckThe Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck1984 - George OrwellThe Handmaid's Tale - Margaret AtwoodThe Good Earth - Pearl S. BuckThe Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark HaddonMuch Ado About Nothing - William ShakespeareRomeo and Juliet - William ShakespeareMacbeth - William ShakespeareBilly Budd - Herman MelvilleHeart of Darkness - Joseph ConradAll the King's Men - Robert Penn WarrenTo Kill a Mockingbird - Harper LeeThe Catcher in the Rye - J. D. SalingerA Tale of Two Cities - Charles DickensLes Misérables - Victor HugoThe Metamorphosis - Franz KafkaOdyssey - HomerThe Great Gatsby - F. Scott FitzgeraldNuclear War: A Scenario - Annie JacobsenLife of Pi - Yann MartelBeartown - Fredrik BackmanProject Hail Mary - Andy WeirThe Things They Carried - Tim O'BrienAll Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria RemarqueThe Red Badge of Courage - Stephen CraneThe Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey ChaucerThe Tao of Pooh - Benjamin HoffMythology - Edith Hamilton
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  Books That Made Us Feel 17.08.2026 56dk

  Some books entertain us. Others absolutely wreck us. 📚💔This week on Well Read & Unfiltered, we’re talking about the books that made us feel: the ones that shattered our hearts, made us angry, left us speechless, or somehow became the stories we still think about years later.We ask ourselves (and the listeners!): Why do certain books affect us so deeply? And how much do our own experiences shape the way we connect with them?We also talk comfort reads, rereading old favorites, trigger warnings, and whether a book can ever be too emotionally devastating.Be sure to sound off in the comments: What book made the biggest emotional impact on you? The one that broke your heart, made you ugly cry, filled you with rage, or simply stayed with you long after you finished it?And be sure to follow us on Instagram at wellreadandfunfilteredpodcast!BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS PODCASTThe Women — Kristin Hannah The Nightingale — Kristin HannahThe Great Alone — Kristin Hannah Hamnet — Maggie O’FarrellA Little Life — Hanya YanagiharaTheo of Golden — Allen LeviThe Kite Runner — Khaled HosseiniA Thousand Splendid Suns — Khaled HosseiniAnd the Mountains Echoed — Khaled Hosseini A Language of Limbs — Dylin Hardcastle My Friends — Fredrik Backman All the Colors of the Dark — Chris Whitaker Shark Heart — Emily Habeck Bird Box — Josh MalermanTo Shake the Sleeping Self — Jedidiah Jenkins Small Town Horror — Ronald MalfiRed Rising — Pierce BrownGolden Son — Pierce BrownMorning Star — Pierce BrownI Was a Teenage Slasher — Stephen Graham JonesThe Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham Jones American Rapture — C.J. LeedeLiveship Traders Trilogy — Robin HobbFarseer Trilogy — Robin HobbRealm of the Elderlings — Robin Hobb The House in the Cerulean Sea — TJ Klune The Spellshop — Sarah Beth DurstProject Hail Mary — Andy WeirDungeon Crawler Carl — Matt Dinniman The Caretaker — Marcus KliewerBeartown — Fredrik BackmanTender Is the Flesh — Agustina Bazterrica The First Witch of Boston — Andrea CatalanoThe Fury of the Gods — John GwynneIt Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over — Anne de Marcken 
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  Top 5 Books of 2026 (So Far!) 11.08.2026 1sa 5dk

  We're a little more than halfway through the year means one thing: it’s time to crown our favorite books of 2026...thus far!In this episode of Well Read & Unfiltered, we each share:Our Top 5 books of the yearOne honorable mentionOur biggest reading disappointmentsThe stories we still can’t stop thinking aboutFrom literary fiction and horror to fantasy, sci-fi, romance, and nonfiction, this episode has recommendations for every kind of reader.Now we want to hear from you: What’s your favorite book you’ve read in 2026 so far? Drop it in the comments because we’re always looking to add more books to our TBR.Aaron's Top 5:"Theo of Golden" by Allen Levi"The Bloodsworn Trilogy" by John Gwynne"Light Bringer" by Pierce Brown"Nuclear War: A Scenario" by Annie Jacobsen"Last Seen" by Christopher CastellaniHonorable Mention: "So Old, So Young" by Grant GinderKaren's Top 5:"A Parade of Horribles" by Matt Dinniman"Between Two Fires" by Christopher Buehlman"A Short Stay in Hell" by Steven L. Peck"Good Boy" by Neil McRobert"Vengeful" by VE SchwabHonorable mention - "Project Hail Nary" by Andy WeirCasey's Top 5:"One Dark Window" by Rachel Gillig"Light Bringer" by Pierce Brown"Dark Age" by Pierce Brown"Rites of the Starling" by Devney Perry"In Her Own League" by Liz TomfordeHonorable Mention: "The Shippers" by Katherine Center
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  Our July 2026 Reading Recap! 04.08.2026 1sa 1dk

  July gave us everything: five-star classics, bizarre sci-fi, heartbreaking historical fiction, horror that left us speechless, and a few books that missed the mark!In this episode we’re sharing our biggest surprise reads, the books that didn’t quite live up to the hype, our favorite book of July, and the books we’re most excited to read next.What’s the best book you read in July? Let us know in the comments wherever you listened to this podcast! And be sure to follow us on Instagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast to get the latest updates!BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEThe Luminous Dead - Caitlin Starling (Horror)The Starving Saints - Caitlin Starling (Horror)Jurassic Park - Michael Crichton (Sci-fi)Congo - Michael Crichton (Sci-fi)My Friends - Fredrik Backman (Literary Fiction)Beartown - Fredrik Backman (Literary Fiction)A Man Called Ove - Fredrik Backman (Literary Fiction)After I Do - Taylor Jenkins Reid (Romance)Forever, Interrupted - Taylor Jenkins Reid (Romance)A (Dead) Thing Like Me - E. G. Young (Cozy Horror)
The Boyhood of Cain - Michael Amherst (Literary Fiction)The Sixth Nik - Daniel Kraus (Sci-fi Horror)Whalefall - Daniel Kraus (Sci-fi Horror)A Darker Shade of Magic - V. E. Schwab (Fantasy)Villains Series - V. E. Schwab (Sci-fi Fantasy)Of Blood and Fire - Ryan Cahill (Fantasy)Red Rising - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi)The Lord of the Rings - J.R.R. Tolkien (Fantasy)The Fall - Ryan Cahill (Fantasy)John Dies at the End - Jason Pargin (Horror Comedy)There Are No Giant Crabs in This Novel - Jason Pargin (Horror Comedy)East of Eden - John Steinbeck (Classic)Pachinko - Min Jin Lee (Historical Fiction)Off to the Races - Elsie Silver (Romance)Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell (Historical Fiction)Lost Lambs - Madeline Cash (Satire Fiction)Angel Down - Daniel Kraus (Historical Horror)Valour - John Gwynne (Fantasy)Malice - John Gwynne (Fantasy)The Only Way Out Is Up - Django Wexler (Sci-fi)Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman (Sci-fi)John of John - Douglas Stuart (Literary Fiction)Young Mungo - Douglas Stuart (Literary Fiction)Shuggie Bain - Douglas Stuart (Literary Fiction)
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  Bookish Characters -The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly 27.07.2026 1sa 1dk

  Episode 4 is all about the characters that stay with us long after we finish a book.We dive into what makes a truly unforgettable character, debate whether flawed protagonists are better than perfect heroes, celebrate our favorite sidekicks (human and animal), and reveal the book characters we simply can’t stand. From Red Rising and Dungeon Crawler Carl to Project Hail Mary, The Sword of Kaigen, Fourth Wing, Lord of the Rings, and more, it’s a fun, spoiler-light conversation about the fictional people who make us laugh, cry, rage, and keep turning the pages.BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODEYesteryear - Caro Claire Burke (Satire Fiction)The Knight and the Moth - Rachel Gillig (Romantasy)One Dark Window - Rachel Gillig (Romantasy)The Faithful and the Fallen Series - John Gwynne (Fantasy)The Mean Ones - Tatiana Schlote-Bonne (Horror)Mile High - Liz Tomforde (Romance)A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)A Court of Silver Flames - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)Giovanni's Room - James Baldwin (Literary Fiction)The Sword of Kaigen - M. L. Wang (Fantasy)Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir (Sci-fi)Red Rising - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)Fourth Wing - Rebecca Yarros (Romantasy)Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman (Sci-fi)The Bloodsworn Trilogy - John Gwynne (Fantasy)Lord of the Rings - J. R. R. Tolkien (Fantasy)The Devils - Joe Abercrombie (Fantasy)Between Two Fires - Christopher Buehlman (Horror/Fantasy)A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara (Literary Fiction)Deep End - Ali Hazelwood (Romance)We Are Legion (We Are Bob) - Dennis E. Taylor (Sci-fi)The Stormlight Archive series - Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)Adrift - Will Dean (Thriller)The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook - Matt Dinniman (Sci-fi)North Woods - Daniel Mason (Historical Fiction)Land - Maggie O'Farrell (Literary Fiction)
Of Blood and Fire - Ryan Cahill (Fantasy)Malice - John Gwynne (Fantasy)Our Perfect Storm - Carley Fortune (Romance)Sarafina - Philip Fracassi (Horror)Fabulous Bodies - Chuck Tingle (horror)ACCOUNTS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE@thewindedbibliophile
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  The Next Read Dilemma 20.07.2026 1sa

  This week on Well-Read & Unfiltered, we’re tackling one of the biggest questions every reader faces: How do you decide what to read next? From meticulously planned TBRs to chaotic mood reading, social media recommendations, book clubs, and the pressure of FOMO, we’re unpacking how our reading choices are shaped, and whether that’s a good thing.Are you a planner, a mood reader, or a full-on chaos gremlin?We’d love to hear your process! After listening to this episode, come back and join the conversation below. If you enjoyed the episode, don’t forget to like, comment, save, and share this post, and please follow the podcast and leave us a rating and review because it helps more readers discover Well-Read & Unfiltered.And as always, be sure to follow our account on Instagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast for the latest news and updates!BOOKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODERecursion - Blake Crouch (Sci-fi)Heartless - Elsie Silver (Romance)Blood Over Bright Haven - M. L. Wang (Sci-fi/Fantasy)East of Eden - John Steinbeck (Classic)The Second Death of Locke - V. L. Bovalino (Romantasy)Empire of the Vampire -Jay Kristoff (Fantasy)Iron Gold - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)The Shining - Stephen King (Horror)Doctor Zhivago - Boris Pasternak (Classic)Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke (Satire Fiction)Red Rising - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)Dungeon Crawler Carl - Matt Dinniman (LitRPG)The Birds - Daphne du Maurier (Classic Horror)Hollow Kingdom - Kira Jane Buxton (HorrorThe Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (Fantasy)Earthlings - Sayaka Murata (Literary Horror)
Land - Maggie O'Farrell (Literary Fiction)The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook (DDC3)- Matt Dinniman (LitRPG)North Woods - Daniel Mason (Literary Fiction)Trad Wife - Sarah Langan (Horror)Trad Wife - Saratoga Schaefer (Horror)Sarafina - Philip Fracassi (Horror)Rise of the Ranger - Philip C. Quaintrell (Fantasy)A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara (Literary Fiction)The Ballad of Falling Dragons - Sarah A. Parker (Romantasy)The Everlasting - Alix E. Harrow (Fantasy)Our Perfect Storm - Carley Fortune (Romance)Wild Dark Shore - Charlotte McConaghy (Literary Thriller)Malice - John Gwynne (Fantasy)
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  Are Book Reviews Dead on Social Media? 13.07.2026 1sa 5dk

  Are book reviews dead on social media, or have they simply been forced to evolve?In this episode, we talk about how the Bookstagram algorithm favors pretty photos, quick reactions, and trope lists over thoughtful reviews. We also compare our different rating styles, discuss review burnout, and ask what really makes a book five stars.Listeners: Are book reviews dead on social media? Comment below, and be sure to go check out our account on Bookstagram at @wellreadandunfilteredpodcast for our latest post about this week's episode!Books Mentioned in this EpisodeThe Open Era - Edward Schmit (LGBTQIA+ Romance)Hamnet - Maggie O'Farrell (Literary Fiction)A Little Life - Hanya Yanagihara (Literary Fiction)Red Rising - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)The Caretaker - Marcus Kliewer (Horror)Small Town Horror - Ronald Malfi (Horror)The Tell-Tale Butt - Chuck Tingle (Sentient Romance)A Court of Thorns and Roses - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)Shy Girl - Mia Ballard (Horror)A Language of Limbs - Dylin Hardcastle (Literary Fiction)Tales from the Gas Station: Volume One - Jack Townsend (Horror Comedy)The Song of Achilles - Madeline Miller (Fantasy/Romance)Celestial Lights - Cecile Pin (Sci-fi/(Literary Fiction)Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir (Sci-fi)Dark Age - Pierce Brown (Sci-fi/Fantasy)Cold Sweat - Vera Valentine (Sentient Romance)Throne of Glass - Sarah J. Maas (Romantasy)The Spellshop - Sarah Beth Durst (Cozy Fantasy)Assistant to the Villain - Hannah Nicole Maehrer (Cozy Romantasy)The Bloodsworn Saga - John Gwynne (Fantasy)The Faithful and the Fallen - John Gwynne (Fantasy)The Way of Kings - Brandon Sanderson (Fantasy)When the Moon Hatched - Sarah A. Parker (Romantasy)Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke (Satirical Fiction)A Parade of Horribles - Matt Dinniman (Lit RPG)The Butcher's Masquerade - Matt Dinniman (Lit RPG)Bookstagram Accounts Mentioned in [email protected]
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  Introducing Well-read & Unfiltered and Your Hosts: Aaron, K, Casey, and Hillary! 07.07.2026 53dk

  Welcome to Episode 1 of Well-Read & Unfiltered! In our debut episode, we're introducing ourselves through the books and experiences that shaped us as readers. We share how we found Bookstagram, our favorite and least favorite genres, our auto-buy authors, and the stories that continue to define our reading lives. Grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and join us for the very first unfiltered conversation. 📚🎙️