
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

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).
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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!
Check out Strong Sense of Place wherever you get your podcasts, or visit strongsenseofplace.com
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

Jun 17, 2025 • 39min
E. Lockhart on the WE WERE LIARS Adaptation
It's a Book Riot podiverse crossover event! The adaptation of E. Lockhart's YA sensation We Were Liars debuts later this week. Kelly Jensen sat down with Lockhart for a recent episode of the Hey YA! podcast. Enjoy!
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:
We Were Liars by E. Lockhart
Family of Liars by E. Lockhart
We Fell Apart by E. Lockhart
Hey YA Interview with Gayle Forman
We Were Liars on Prime Instagram
My Sister the Serial Killer by Oyinkan Braithwaite
The Summer I Turned Pretty by Jenny Han
Again, Again by E. Lockhart Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 16, 2025 • 1h 21min
Late Show Book Clubs, An Anti-Book Ban Lawsuit Wins, and More Book News. PLUS: How You Make a Best Books of the Year So Far List
Jeff and Rebecca talk about recent reading, why late night talk shows might be interested in doing book clubs, a victory in court against book bans, and more book news. Then, Jeff talks to Al Woodworth, Managing Editor of the Amazon Books team, about their picks for the Best Books of 2025 so far and how their team makes those selections.
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.
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!
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:
St. Francis, MN school district drops book banning policy & returns books to shelves in respond to lawsuit
Carla Hayden speaks out about firing
Stephen Colbert launches the Late Show Book Club
The Book Riot Live at Powell’s July 9th: The Best Books of the Year (so far)
Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
The Book of Alchemy of Suleika Jaouad Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 11, 2025 • 1h 15min
So...Is it Good?: BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL by V.E. Schwab
Rebecca Schinksy, Vanessa Diaz, and Danika Ellis go deep on V.E. Schwab's highly anticipated new book to answer the question: So, is it good?
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.
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!
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:
The Book Riot Live at Powell’s July 9th: The Best Books of the Year (so far)
Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V. E. Schwab Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 9, 2025 • 59min
AI Disasters, Amazon's Best Books of the Year So Far, and More Book News
Danika Ellis joins Jeff to talk about a spate of book-related AI disasters, Amazon's list of the best books of the year, Michelle Obama's recently-announced book, and much 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.
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!
Check out Strong Sense of Place wherever you get your podcasts, or visit strongsenseofplace.com
Discussed in this Episode:
The Book Riot Live at Powell’s July 9th: The Best Books of the Year (so far)
Book Riot’s In the Club, In Reading Color, and Our Queerest Shelves Newsletters
Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge
Salman Rushdie’s attacker sentenced to 25 years
Chicago Sun-Times runs AI-generated summer reading list w/ fake books
And business insider thing too
AI clone books showing up on amazon:
Amazon’s Best Books of the Year & Goodreads most popular books of the year so far
Michelle Obama’s new book
The Two Kinds of Book Auctions
James Cameron to adapt THE DEVILS
13 Signs You Used ChatGPT to Write Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 6, 2025 • 38min
Jeff’s “I Wish I Could Read All Day” Books of June 2025
This episode comes over from the First Edition feed: Jeff solos his way through listing a bunch of books coming in June that, were time and space no object, would go on the TBR for sure.
Subscribe to First Edition via RSS, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify.
For episode extras, subscribe to the First Edition Substack.
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 Podcast
The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell’s on July 9th, 2025
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 4, 2025 • 59min
The Beach Read Episode
Jeff is joined by Book Riot editors Danika Ellis and Erica Ezeifedi to talk about what makes a beach read, beach reads picks, and memorable beach reading moments.
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.
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!
Check out Strong Sense of Place wherever you get your podcasts, or visit strongsenseofplace.com
Discussed in this Episode:
The Book Riot Live at Powell's July 9th: The Best Books of the Year (so far)
The Best Beach Reads of All Time
The Hey YA Podcast
Book Riot's In the Club, In Reading Color, and Our Queerest Shelves Newsletters
Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 3, 2025 • 6min
Recent Reading and Some Media Diet Updates [Teaser]
This is a bonus preview of the Book Riot Podcast's most recent Patreon-only episode. Jeff and Rebecca catch up with each other's recent reading and give some non-book media takes. For example: Fountain of Youth. Woof.
To listen to the full episode and get access to literally every Patreon-only thing we have done over the last three years, go to Patreon to sign up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jun 2, 2025 • 58min
Talking Audiobooks with Spotify & FLASHLIGHT by Susan Choi
Jeff and Rebecca talk to Spotify's Associate Director for Audiobooks Editorial Katie del Rosario about curating audiobooks for Spotify, getting people to try audiobooks, spotlighting special titles, and more. Then, Jeff and Sharifah talk about Flashlight by Susan Choi, one of the most anticipated releases of the summer.
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.
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!
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:
Spotify Audiobooks
Flashlight by Susan Choi
The Book Riot Podcast Live at Powell's on July 9th. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

May 28, 2025 • 58min
The It Books of June 2025
Jeff and Rebecca consider a loaded roster of June books to pick the It Book of the month.
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.
Trust your reading list to the experts at Tailored Book Recommendations who have recommended over 160,000 books to readers of all kinds. Let TBR match you with your next favorite read! Get started for only $18 at mytbr.co!
Discussed in This Episode:
The Book Riot Podcast Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices