
Book Riot - The Podcast
News in the world of books and reading, including hot industry releases, adaptations, publishing industry events, and more with Book Riot’s Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Shinsky.Book Riot is the largest independent editorial book site in North America and home to a host of media, from podcasts to newsletters to original content, all designed around diverse readers and across all genres.
Latest episodes

Jul 16, 2025 • 56min
The Top Ten Books to Read to Be Well-Read
Jeff and Rebecca try to answer the fun but impossible question of what are the top 10 books someone might read first on their path to becoming well-read. This was originally a Patreon-only members post. To get more like this, subscribe to the Book Riot podcast Patreon.
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Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 14, 2025 • 1h 15min
The Best Books of the Year So Far: Live at Powell's!
Jeff and Rebecca are joined by Book Riot's Managing Editor Vanessa Diaz and Powell's Book Buyer Keith Mosman to talk about their favorite books of the year so far.
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Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 9, 2025 • 1h 13min
Summer 2025 Mailbag
Jeff and Rebecca answer listener questions.
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Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
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Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
The Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 7, 2025 • 1h
Project Hail Mary Gets a Trailer, AI Is Fair Use (for now), and more book news of the week
Jeff and Rebecca talk about several notable adaptations news items, legal rulings in AI and LBGTQ titles, recent reading, and more.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Discussed in this episode:
The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell’s on July 9th!
Judge rejects authors’ claims that Meta violated copyright law by using their books to train AI
SCOTUS says parents can opt students out of positive-affirming lessons about LGBTQ+ issues
Project Hail Mary trailer!
Trailer for Christopher Nolan’s adaptation of The Odyssey leaks online
Jennifer Aston to star in Apple+ adaptation of I’m Glad My Mom Died
The Möbius Book by Catherine Lacey
Six Frigates by Ian W. Toll
The Doorman by Chris Pavone
The Summer of 1787 by David O. Stewart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jul 2, 2025 • 47min
The It Books of July 2025
Jeff and Rebecca try to figure out what the It Books of July will be.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th!
Discussed in this episode: Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 30, 2025 • 1h 7min
NetGalley Launches Booktrovert Consumer Marketing Platform, BookTok's Obsession with Marginalia, and More
Danika Ellis joins Rebecca to talk about NetGalley's new consumer marketing platform, the latest decision in an AI copyright lawsuit, BookTok's obsession with marginalia, and more.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Discussed in this Episode:
Netgalley launches consumer marketing platform Booktrovert
Sarah J. Maas signs major licensing deal
Judge rules use of copyrighted materials to train AI without authors’ permission is fair use, but using pirated copies violates copyright law
Let’s talk about marginalia and the latest BookTok trend
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab
Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong
So Many Stars by Caro de Robertis
Sympathy for Wild Girls by Demree McGhee
Awakened by A.E. Osworth
Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavi Patel
Among Friends by Hal Ebbott
The Original by Nell Stevens
Tusk Love by Thea Guanzon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 25, 2025 • 47min
The Books of the Year So Far
Jeff and Rebecca compare their lists of the biggest, buzziest, most newsworthy books of 2025 so far. Looking for the best books of the year so far? Join us Powell's on July 9th.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 24, 2025 • 9min
Richard Linklater's BEFORE Trilogy [Teaser]
Jeff and Rebecca talk about their shared love for Richard Linklater's Before Trilogy (Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Before Midnight).
This is a bonus preview of a Patreon-only episode of the Book Riot Podcast. To get the whole episode and every single other Patreon-exclusive thing ever posted by the BR Pod, go here to sign up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 23, 2025 • 54min
TikTok's Publishing Imprint Folds, BookCon Returns, and More Book News
Vanessa Diaz joins Rebecca to discuss the demise of 8th Note Press, the resurrection of BookCon, a recent win in the fight against book bans, and more.
Get your tickets to join us at Powell's on July 9th for a conversation about the best books of the year so far.
Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.
Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Looking to elevate your reading life? Tailored Book Recommendations delivers reading recommendations hand-picked just for you by real human book nerds. Plans start at just $18!
Check out Strong Sense of Place wherever you get your podcasts, or visit strongsenseofplace.com
This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Discussed in this Episode:
BookCon is coming back
ByteDance is closing 8th Note Press
Voters reject book bans in MAGA-heavy California county
Right-wing “See You at the Library” event returns in 2025, partnered with US Dept of Education
Reese’s Book Club launching companion podcast
Ali Hazelwood run off Instagram for having an opinion about Peeta and Gale from the Hunger Games Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 18, 2025 • 1h 20min
The Most Recommendable Books of the Century (So Far)
We are bringing our special live recording of The Most Recommendable Books of the Century So Far out from behind the Patreon wall for all listeners to try to entice you to come to our next live recording at Powell's on July 9th: The Best Books of the Year (so far).
Sign up for the Book Riot Podcast Newsletter and follow the show on Instagram and Bluesky.
Get more industry news with our Today in Books daily newsletter.
Tailored Book Recommendations has the chops to find the right read for your loved one this Father’s Day. Gift TBR today starting at just $18!
Discussed in this Episode:
The Book Riot Live at Powell’s July 9th: The Best Books of the Year (so far) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices