

Book Riot - The Podcast
Book Riot
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 Schinsky.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.
Episodes
Mentioned books

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

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!
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!
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!
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