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 EPISODE

Project 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)

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. Wang
• The Sword of Kaigen — M. L. Wang
• Fourth Wing — Rebecca Yarros
• A Photo Finish — Elsie Silver
• Heartless — Elsie Silver
• Seed — Ania Ahlborn
• The Unseen — Ania Ahlborn
• The Shuddering — Ania Ahlborn
• Brother — Ania Ahlborn
• The Night We Met — Abby Jimenez
• Say You’ll Remember Me — Abby Jimenez
• Just for the Summer — Abby Jimenez
• I Leave It Up to You — Jinwoo Chong
• Them — W. H. Chizmar
• Scion — James Islington
• The Will of the Many — James Islington
• The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 1 — Beth Brower
• The Renovation — Kenan Orhan
• Malice — John Gwynne
• Valor — John Gwynne
• Ruin — John Gwynne
• A Time of Dread — John Gwynne
• The Wolves of War — John Gwynne
• We Burn So Bright — T. J. Klune
• The House in the Cerulean Sea — T. J. Klune
• Somewhere Beyond the Sea — T. J. Klune
• The Bones Beneath My Skin — T. J. Klune
• The Knight and the Moth — Rachel Gillig
• The Knave and the Moon — Rachel Gillig
• One Dark Window — Rachel Gillig
• Two Twisted Crowns — Rachel Gillig
• The Calamity Club — Kathryn Stockett
• The Help — Kathryn Stockett
• The Murderbot Diaries — Martha Wells

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 EPISODE

The Giver - Lois Lowry

Lord of the Flies - William Golding

The Pearl - John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men - John Steinbeck

The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck

1984 - George Orwell

The Handmaid's Tale - Margaret Atwood

The Good Earth - Pearl S. Buck

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon

Much Ado About Nothing - William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet - William Shakespeare

Macbeth - William Shakespeare

Billy Budd - Herman Melville

Heart of Darkness - Joseph Conrad

All the King's Men - Robert Penn Warren

To Kill a Mockingbird - Harper Lee

The Catcher in the Rye - J. D. Salinger

A Tale of Two Cities - Charles Dickens

Les Misérables - Victor Hugo

The Metamorphosis - Franz Kafka

Odyssey - Homer

The Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

Nuclear War: A Scenario - Annie Jacobsen

Life of Pi - Yann Martel

Beartown - Fredrik Backman

Project Hail Mary - Andy Weir

The Things They Carried - Tim O'Brien

All Quiet on the Western Front - Erich Maria Remarque

The Red Badge of Courage - Stephen Crane

The Canterbury Tales - Geoffrey Chaucer

The Tao of Pooh - Benjamin Hoff

Mythology - Edith Hamilton

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 PODCAST

• The Women — Kristin Hannah 
• The Nightingale — Kristin Hannah
• The Great Alone — Kristin Hannah 
• Hamnet — Maggie O’Farrell
• A Little Life — Hanya Yanagihara
• Theo of Golden — Allen Levi
• The Kite Runner — Khaled Hosseini
• A Thousand Splendid Suns — Khaled Hosseini
• And 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 Malerman
• To Shake the Sleeping Self — Jedidiah Jenkins 
• Small Town Horror — Ronald Malfi
• Red Rising — Pierce Brown
• Golden Son — Pierce Brown
• Morning Star — Pierce Brown
• I Was a Teenage Slasher — Stephen Graham Jones
• The Buffalo Hunter Hunter — Stephen Graham Jones 
• American Rapture — C.J. Leede
• Liveship Traders Trilogy — Robin Hobb
• Farseer Trilogy — Robin Hobb
• Realm of the Elderlings — Robin Hobb 
• The House in the Cerulean Sea — TJ Klune 
• The Spellshop — Sarah Beth Durst
• Project Hail Mary — Andy Weir
• Dungeon Crawler Carl — Matt Dinniman 
• The Caretaker — Marcus Kliewer
• Beartown — Fredrik Backman
• Tender Is the Flesh — Agustina Bazterrica 
• The First Witch of Boston — Andrea Catalano
• The Fury of the Gods — John Gwynne
• It Lasts Forever and Then It’s Over — Anne de Marcken 

In this episode of Well Read & Unfiltered, we each share:

• Our Top 5 books of the year
• One honorable mention
• Our biggest reading disappointments
• The stories we still can’t stop thinking about

From 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:

1. "Theo of Golden" by Allen Levi
2. "The Bloodsworn Trilogy" by John Gwynne
3. "Light Bringer" by Pierce Brown
4. "Nuclear War: A Scenario" by Annie Jacobsen
5. "Last Seen" by Christopher Castellani

Honorable Mention: "So Old, So Young" by Grant Ginder

Karen's Top 5:

1. "A Parade of Horribles" by Matt Dinniman
2. "Between Two Fires" by Christopher Buehlman
3. "A Short Stay in Hell" by Steven L. Peck
4. "Good Boy" by Neil McRobert
5. "Vengeful" by VE Schwab

Honorable mention - "Project Hail Nary" by Andy Weir

Casey's Top 5:

1. "One Dark Window" by Rachel Gillig
2. "Light Bringer" by Pierce Brown
3. "Dark Age" by Pierce Brown
4. "Rites of the Starling" by Devney Perry
5. "In Her Own League" by Liz Tomforde

Honorable Mention: "The Shippers" by Katherine Center

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 EPISODE

The 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)

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 EPISODE

Yesteryear - 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

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 EPISODE

Recursion - 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 (Horror

The 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)

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 Episode

The 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 Episode

@bookwyrm.beth