| 100% | BIGGIRLSDONTCRY | 15 | 1962 #1 hit by the group hinted at in this puzzle's theme |
| 50% | LEADEROFTHEPACK | 15 | 1964 #1 hit by the Shangri-Las ... or this puzzle's theme |
| 49% | HOUSEOFCARDS | 12 | Hit Netflix show that hints at the theme hidden in the puzzle's borders |
| 44% | INNERCITIES | 11 | Urban areas (as hinted at by the circled letters in this puzzle's grid) |
| 44% | SEPTEMBER | 9 | 1978 hit by the band represented in this puzzle's circles |
| 42% | PISAITALY | 9 | Home to this puzzle's featured structure, as hinted at by the starts of the answers to the starred clues |
| 40% | TURNTURNTURN | 12 | #1 hit by the Byrds ... or directions for reading the answers to this puzzle's starred clues (always clockwise as indicated) |
| 39% | BLANK | 5 | Fill in the ___ (a hint to this puzzle's theme) |
| 39% | CURLINGSTONES | 13 | Items guided by brooms in the Winter Olympics ... or a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 39% | FRESHSTART | 10 | New beginning, as spelled by the new beginnings in this puzzle's theme answers |
| 38% | SOMETHINGSFISHY | 15 | "Hmmmmm ..." [as hinted at by the three groups of black squares in the middle of the grid] |
| 38% | DRONE | 5 | Bee formed by the letters heard at the starts of this puzzle's theme answers |
| 38% | JOHNLECARREBOOK | 15 | Theme of this puzzle, as hinted at by 17-, 23-, 45- and 59-Across |
| 38% | ZIP | 3 | Each of the numbers in this puzzle's theme |
| 38% | AQUATIC | 7 | Like the five animals in this puzzle's theme |
| 38% | USMAP | 5 | Inspiration for the jokes in this puzzle's theme |
| 37% | EARLOFCHESTER | 13 | One title for this puzzle's subject, spelled in order by the circled letters |
| 37% | SOLDIERBOY | 10 | 1962 #1 hit by the Shirelles |
| 36% | DECISIONFATIGUE | 15 | Modern term for the psychological exhaustion showcased in this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | INNERPEACE | 10 | Meditation goal hinted at by this puzzle's circles |
| 36% | TEN | 3 | Number of mispelled words in this puzzle's clues (oh, by the way, watch out for those tricky circled squares!) |
| 36% | ADDAPINCHOFSALT | 15 | Cooking instruction hinting at this puzzle's theme? |
| 36% | ALCHEMY | 7 | Pseudoscientific process hinted at by four squares in this puzzle |
| 36% | THREEMUSKETEERS | 15 | Group with a hint to this puzzle's theme |
| 36% | MIDDLEEARTH | 11 | Tolkien’s imaginary world (that hints at this puzzle’s theme) |
| 35% | POETSCORNER | 11 | Westminster Abbey section hinted at by this puzzle's architecture |
| 35% | THEMANFROMUNCLE | 15 | Hit 1960's TV show with a hint to the nine starred clues in this puzzle |
| 35% | PLANET | 6 | Item in this puzzle's theme |
| 35% | EAGLE | 5 | Score in this puzzle's theme |
| 35% | FERMI | 5 | Pioneer in this puzzle's theme |