
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

Mar 11, 2024 • 1h 8min
A New Store and a New Publisher Both Trying to Reslice The Bookselling Pie
Book Riot editor Danika Ellis joins Jeff to talk about Allstore (a new online bookstore) and Authors Equity (a new publisher) coming at the same target from two different angles. Plus: a report on diversity in publishing and Spotify's curious new Audiobooks Tier.Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!Want to make your book club the best club? Sign up for our In the Club newsletter. In the Club will deliver recommendations for the best books to discuss in your book clubs. From buzzy new releases to brilliant throwbacks, the books highlighted in this newsletter will drive your book club discussions. We’ll also share some book club-friendly recipes and interesting bookish updates from all over. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features. In other words, we’ll keep you well-met, well-read, and well-fed. Sign up today!Discussed in this episode:First Edition!The Book Riot Podcast PatreonOur Queerest ShelvesThe Read Harder ChallengeIs This What Author-Centered Publishing Looks Like?RuPaul Launches an “Online Book Marketplace”RuPaul bookstore controversyResults of Lee & Low’s publishing diversity baseline survey and Erica’s response in The Deep DiveSpotify introduces audiobooks tier at $9.99 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 6, 2024 • 57min
Who Will Win Best Adapted Screenplay?
Jeff and Rebecca try to predict the most literary Oscar. Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!Sign up for Better Living Through Books and the BR Pod newsletterWant to make your book club the best club? Sign up for our In the Club newsletter. In the Club will deliver recommendations for the best books to discuss in your book clubs. From buzzy new releases to brilliant throwbacks, the books highlighted in this newsletter will drive your book club discussions. We’ll also share some book club-friendly recipes and interesting bookish updates from all over. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features. In other words, we’ll keep you well-met, well-read, and well-fed. Sign up today!Discussed in this episode:Ranking the Last 20 Winners of the Oscar for Best Adapted ScreenplayFirst Edition!The Book Riot Podcast Patreon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 4, 2024 • 1h 3min
Bookshop.org Is Audiobooks Curious, Ward Re-Ups, the State of Culture in 2024 & More
Jeff and Rebecca note a customer survey Bookshop.org sent to customers about their audiobook habits, decide no-new news is good news as Jesmyn Ward stays on at S&S, really resonate with Ted Gioia's "State of Culture, 2024," and more.Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!Sign up for Better Living Through Books and the BR Pod newsletterWant to make your book club the best club? Sign up for our In the Club newsletter. In the Club will deliver recommendations for the best books to discuss in your book clubs. From buzzy new releases to brilliant throwbacks, the books highlighted in this newsletter will drive your book club discussions. We’ll also share some book club-friendly recipes and interesting bookish updates from all over. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features. In other words, we’ll keep you well-met, well-read, and well-fed. Sign up today!Discussed in this episode:First Edition!The Book Riot Podcast PatreonBookshop.org appears to be interested in audiobooksJesmyn Ward signs 3-book deal with ScribnerTikTok-famous librarian quits because of harassmentAnd I think we have to talk about Ted Gioia and the state of the culture Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mar 1, 2024 • 4min
Book Club: The Book of Love by Kelly Link [bonus]
Jeff and Rebecca discuss Kelly Link's debut novel, The Book of Love. Join us on Patreon for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus episodes: https://www.patreon.com/bookriotpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

20 snips
Feb 28, 2024 • 45min
The "It" Books of March
Join Jeff and Rebecca as they discuss the most anticipated books of March, including works by Tana French, Paulo Coehlo, and Helen Oyeyemi. Dive into new releases and upcoming novels from various genres, exploring themes of identity, culture, and empowerment. Get insights into the literary world and stay updated on the latest book club picks and trends.

Feb 27, 2024 • 9min
Deals, Deals Deals: February 2024 [teaser]
Jeff and Rebecca review some of the most interesting book deal announcements from the last few months.Join us on Patreon for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/bookriotpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 26, 2024 • 1h 2min
Simon & Schuster's Odyssey Isn't Over, National Book Awards Open Up, and More
Jeff and Rebecca talk about LeVar Burton's book deal, opening up the National Book Awards, book banning news, and why no one should think this is the forever home for Simon & Schuster.Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Visit bookriot.com/readharder to sign up.Discussed in this episode:Sign up for Better Living Through Books and the BR Pod newsletterFirst Edition!The Book Riot Podcast PatreonNational Book Awards open to authors who are not US citizensLeVar Burton Signs 2-book dealWest Virginia House passes bill that allows prosecution of librariansMaryland legislators introduce the Freedom to Read ActALA releases “book résumés” to help fight book bansMarilynne Robinson remains lovelyKKR is in no hurry to sell S&S. But they will Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 21, 2024 • 1h 36min
Talking DUNE
We are re-running an episode from our short-run podcast series Adaptation Nation on Dune, covering Frank Herbert's novel and what turned out to be part one of Denis Villaneueve's adaptation. Amanda Nelson and Jenn Northington joined Jeff for this deep dive.Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Visit bookriot.com/readharder to sign up.Discussed in this episode:Sign up for Better Living Through Books and the BR Pod newsletterFirst Edition!The Book Riot Podcast PatreonFrank Herbert’s Distrust of JFKHari Kunzru on DuneMuslim Influences in DuneIs Dune a White Savior Narrative?Sidelining Arab Voices in DuneDune Book Club with Ausma Zehanat Khan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 20, 2024 • 4min
Listener Mailbag & Personalized Recommendations [Teaser]
Jeff and Rebecca dive into general questions from listeners and offer personalized recommendations, including whether any F. Scott Fitzgerald books are worth reading and what's the deal with Huck Finn?Join us on Patreon for access to early, ad-free listening and bonus content: https://www.patreon.com/bookriotpodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feb 19, 2024 • 1h 2min
Coincidences, Adaptations, and Recent Reading
Jeff and Rebecca discuss some good listener feedback on coincidences before running through a bunch of adaptation news and then talking about recent media consumption.Subscribe to the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.For more industry news, sign up for our Today in Books daily newsletter!2024 is the tenth year of the Read Harder Challenge! Join us as we make our way through 24 tasks meant to expand our reading horizons and diversify our TBRs. To get book recommendations for each task, sign up for the Read Harder newsletter. We’ll also keep you informed about other cool reading challenges, readathons, and more across the bookish internet. If you become a paid subscriber, you get even more recommendations plus community features, where you can connect with a community of passionate, like-minded readers in a cozy and supportive corner of the internet. Visit bookriot.com/readharder to sign up.Discussed in this episode:Sign up for Better Living Through Books and the BR Pod newsletterFirst Edition!The Book Riot Podcast Patreon The Elly Conway “mystery” was indeed the most interesting thing about Argylle..and even that is pretty boringOngoing: Publishers confirm that Spotify audiobook sales have been solid in terms of revenue & reaching new usersAmy Adams & Jenna Ortega in talks for Klara & the Sun adaptationWho wants to watch the Hallmark Channel’s Jane Austen adaptations with me?Lifetime gets its groove back with Terry McMillanAnd I guess we’re going to do A Gentleman in MoscowBut we will not be getting the big ACOTAR series, or maybe we will Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices