Culture Study Podcast All the Latest Book & Publishing Trends, Explained
Jul 23, 2025
Join literary agent Alyssa Morris, an expert on book culture and author of the Romancing the Phone substack, as she dives deep into the hottest trends in the publishing world. Discover how platforms like TikTok are reshaping reading culture and influencing genres. Alyssa discusses the rise of collector culture in books and how celebrity endorsements affect trends. She also explores modern marketing strategies, the visual appeal of romance covers, and the exciting intersection of fan fiction and mainstream publishing, all while sharing tips to boost your book club.
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Bookshelf Wealth as Status
- 'Bookshelf wealth' on social media signals personal taste and intellectual status through styled bookshelves and special editions.
- This trend also reflects a divide between digital reading and the fetishization of physical book collecting as a status symbol.
Influencers Surpass Celebrity Book Clubs
- Celebrity book clubs like Oprah and Reese's have lost influence to diverse social media book influencers.
- Influencers cater to niche genres, fostering tailored reading communities and new subgenre popularity.
Fandom Marketing in Publishing
- Using popular fandom names in book marketing is often a deliberate tactic to attract those fanbases.
- Publishers produce themed content to meet fan desires despite legal IP complexities, sometimes via book packagers.
