
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

May 18, 2020 • 48min
Worse Than a Promise
Rebecca and Jeff talk about the passing of Simon & Schuster CEO Carolyn Reidy, the rumblings of re-openings in the world of books, care very little about a couple of adaptation announcements, and welcome a Spanish-language version of Publisher’s Weekly.
This episode is sponsored by:
Lit Stitch
Book Riot Insiders
BookCon 2020
Links discussed in this episode:
A moment for Carolyn Reidy
San Diego libraries exploring curbside pickup
Why it’s so hard to read right now
PW to launch Spanish-language trade publication
Netflix adapting new Ferrante book
AMC Networks acquires rights to Anne Rice vampire chronicles
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May 13, 2020 • 1h 38min
Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe)
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the book and movie, Fried Green Tomatoes (at the Whistle Stop Cafe).
This episode is sponsored by:
Always Human, Volume 1 by Ari North
Libro.fm
Book Riot Insiders
TBR
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May 11, 2020 • 51min
We're Coming For You, Columbus
This week, Jeff and Rebecca rank order literary awards by prestige, talk about Becoming on Netflix, digest BEA and BookCon going online, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by:
The Girl Beneath the Sea by Andrew Mayne
Book Riot Insiders
TBR
The Paris Hours by Alex George
Links discussed in this episode:
Simon & Schuster buoyed by digital sales
BEA and BookCon go online
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May 6, 2020 • 56min
The 2020 Pulitzer Prizes
Jeff and Rebecca react to the 2020 Pulitzer Prizes. At least the ones they had reactions to.
This episode is sponsored by:
Summer Darlings by Brooke Lea Foster
Book Riot Insiders
TBR, Book Riot’s subscription service offering Tailored Book Recommendations for readers of all stripes.
Link discussed in this episode:
The 2020 Pulitzer Prizes
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May 4, 2020 • 1h 8min
The Other Side of Vocational Awe
Jeff and Rebecca talk about PW publishing and argument against #booksareessential, a particularly dunder-headed reading list banning, how months turn into other months, and more.
Email us your recommendation requests! podcast@bookriot.com
This episode is sponsored by:
The Sunday Girl by Pip Drysdale
Fight Club 3 by Chuck Palahniuk
The Hermione Granger for President 2020 campaign!
Libro.fm
Links discussed in this episode:
Follow-up: two agents on why books are not essential
Alaska school board bans 5 classics, residents respond by offering students $100 to read them all
Federal appeals court declares literacy a constitutional right
Michelle Obama’s BECOMING to be Netflix documentary
We Need Diverse Books launches emergency fund
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Apr 26, 2020 • 42min
Influential Sweaters
Jeff and Rebecca follow-up about Sweaters of Consequence, scrutinize #booksareessential, lament the through-line of the most challenged books of 2019, but end on a good thing.
This episode is sponsored by:
Sigh, Gone by Phuc Tran
Bombas
TBR
Links discussed in this episode:
Indie bookseller flowchart on how to spend your dollars for best impact
Case study on what libraries are doing right now
PRH donates 750,000 books to First Book
PW rallies behind indies with #booksareessential campaign
Amazon revealed as mystery donor of $250k to UK bookshops
ALA list of 2019’s most challenged books
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Apr 20, 2020 • 51min
Iceland's 2nd Most Famous Sweater
This week, Jeff and Rebecca mark the official cancellation of BEA for 2020, puzzle over surprisingly good print sales numbers last week, give props to a creative New England bookseller, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
This Boy by Lauren Myracle
We Didn’t Ask For This by Adi Alsaid
TBR
Book Riot Insiders
Links discussed in this episode:
Sales of print books went up last week
LSC, the country’s largest book printer, files for bankruptcy
South Carolina librarian sues over Drag Queen Story Hour firing Independent Bookstore Day holding online events Apr 25
Good idea: RJ Julia booksellers generate funds by selling books to be given away to students
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Apr 15, 2020 • 58min
Deals, Deals, Deals
Jeff presents Rebecca with 16 recently announced book deals and then....well that's it. That's the schtick.
This episode is sponsored by:
Kim Jiyoung by Cho Nam-Joo
Libro.fm
TBR
Book Riot Insiders
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Apr 13, 2020 • 47min
Oh, The Places You Won't Go
Jeff and Rebecca follow the escalating pandemic problem for Barnes & Noble, walk through the definition of "upmarket," consider a big 5 publishers layoffs and salary cuts, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Miss Austen by Gill Hornby
Afterlife by Julia Alvarez
Ruthless Gods by Emily A. Duncan
Links discussed in this episode:
Flatiron hires editor to focus on works by Latinx and BIPOC writers
Barnes & Noble has now closed more than 500 stores & furloughed corporate employees
And 5 Barnes & Noble warehouse workers in NJ diagnosed w/ COVID-19
Or maybe its 9 employees? Warehouse workers protest
Macmillan lays off some staff, cuts other salaries
Survey of indies reveals toll
And Bookshop numbers are up
Libro FM hiring 10 laid-off booksellers for one-month special project
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Apr 11, 2020 • 1min
Welcome to the Book Riot Podcast!
The Book Riot Podcast is a weekly news and talk show about what's new, cool, and worth talking about in the world of books and reading, brought to you by the editors of Book Riot. Each Monday, Jeff O'Neal and Rebecca Schinsky break down industry news, and bonus episodes air regularly digging into everything from adaptations to book clubs to interviews and more.
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