
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

Apr 30, 2018 • 56min
#258: Something You Can Hold in Your Hands
This week, Jeff and Sharifah talk about big Comey sales numbers, Circe tops the NYT list, The Great American Read, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by:
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya
Adjustment Day by Chuck Palahniuk
Girls Burn Brighter by Siobha Rao
Links discussed in this episode:
Comey book sells more than 600K copies in first week
Follow-up: How #metoo has affected sales for Alexie, Dashner, others in publishing
PBS releases Top 100 for Great American Read
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Apr 23, 2018 • 40min
#257: The Thin Edge of the Camel
This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about this year's Pulitzer winners, Amazon Prime subscriber stats, and reading....IN SPACE.
This episode is sponsored by:
The Girl Who Smiled Beads by Clemantine Wamariya
Book Riot's Mystery/Thriller giveaway
Links discussed in this episode:
Follow-up: literal courtroom drama as producers offer to stage Mockingbird adaptation for judge
Pulitzer winners
New Google tool Talk to Books scans 100,000 volumes to answer your questions
Amazon says it has 100 million amazon prime subscribers
PRH UK launches a scheme to get more diverse candidates into publishing. Literally. It is called THE SCHEME.
Cool thing: Story Time….in SPACE
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Apr 16, 2018 • 45min
B for Billion
This week, Jeff and Rebecca get Rebecca up to speed on Nobel nuttiness and Circe mysteries, try to digest huge adaptation news, puzzle out another Amazon dust-up, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by:
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Circe by Madeline Miller
Book Riot's Mystery Giveaway
Links discussed in this episode:
King of Sweden steps in to break Nobel deadlock
Amazon temporarily de-lists new Cassandra Clare book over confusion about self-publishing venture
Amazon to produce $1 Billion Adaptation of The Three-Body Problem
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Apr 10, 2018 • 59min
Sticking it to the Man
This week, Jeff and Jenn talk about a strange snag in Circe pricing and #metoo related turmoil at the Nobel.
This episode is sponsored by:
Book Riot Insiders
Links discussed in this episode:
Will & Grace showrunner donates a whole bunch of Marlon Bundo books
#metoo comes to the Nobel Prize
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Apr 2, 2018 • 52min
#254: Killing Goliath with the Tipping Point
This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk season 2 of Annotated, the difficulty of doing personalized book recommendations at scale, the on-going concern about Amazon buy buttons, The New York Times coverage of #metoo in publishing, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by:
The Vestigial Heart by Carme Torras
Instaread
Links discussed in this episode:
Annotated Season 2!
NYT covers publishing’s response to sexual harassment
Follow-up: Publishers urged to monitor Amazon buy buttons
New Barnes & Noble app intended to make finding your next read less overwhelming
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Mar 26, 2018 • 57min
#253: Gay Bunnies and Ingenuity
This week, Rebecca and Jenn discuss the rescinding of awards, diversity in romance, books about Marlon Bundo, and more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Force of Nature by Jane Harper
Disarmedby Izzy Ezagui
Educated by Tara Westover
Links discussed in this episode:
Follow-up: American Indian Literature Association rescinds Alexie’s 2008 Book of the Year Award
Follow-up: The Paris Review seeks woman editor
AWP dismisses executive director of more than 20 years
Romance so white?
John Oliver’s Mike Pence-trolling Bunny Book Steals #1 Spot from Comey
Don Quixote helps uncensor a book
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Mar 19, 2018 • 49min
A New Meridian
This week, Jeff and Rebecca begrudgingly discuss the Harper Lee estate, imagine terrifying robot booksellers, express adaptation fatigue, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
All Grown Up by Jamie Attenberg
The Neighbors by Hannah Mary McKinnon
Links discussed in this episode:
Follow-up: Little Fires Everywhere goes to Hulu
Alexie declines Carnegie Medal
Harper Lee’s estate sues over Broadway version of Mockingbird
Stats! Nearly 1 in 5 American now listen to audiobooks
Bookstore staffed with robots to open in Beijing
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Mar 12, 2018 • 60min
Cathartic Muppet Arms
This week, Jeff and Rebecca digest some new Barnes & Noble projects, get welcome good news in the form of a new Marilynne Robinson novel, and continue to be frustrated by New York Times bestseller lists.
This episode is sponsored by:
Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi
The Wicked Deep by Shea Ernshaw
Everything is Horrible and Wonderful by Stephanie Wittels Wachs
Links discussed in this episode:
Follow-up: Sherman Alexie’s accusers go on record
MARILYNNE ROBINSONNNNNNNNNNNN
And plans to open new prototype stores
Barnes & Noble announces new in-store book clubs
And adaptation of Little Fires Everywhere, yay Celeste Ng!
NYT to introduce audiobooks bestsellers list
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Mar 5, 2018 • 1h
You Made It Worse
This week, Jeff and Amanda follow-up about Scribd, try to figure out how to feel about Sherman Alexie’s statement, praise Dolly Parton, and much more.
Book Riot Podcast BINGO
This episode is sponsored by:
Girls Burn Brighter by Shoba Rao
A Lab of One’s Own by Patricia Fara
I Stop Somewhere by TE Carter
Links discussed in this episode:
Sherman Alexie….says something
Michelle Obama memoir, BECOMING, due in November
Dolly Parton donates 100 Millionth (!) book and announces partnership with Library of Congress
Golden Man Booker
Joe Hill releases vinyl-first short story audiobook
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Feb 26, 2018 • 1h 9min
A Funereal Mood
This week, Jeff and Rebecca talk about further #metoo fallout, relay some info about B&N from little birdies, ponder the hair-sharing economy of revolutionary America, and much more.
This episode is sponsored by:
Sometimes I Lie by Alice Feeney
Libby
A Girl Like That by Banaz Thathena
Links discussed in this episode:
Follow-up: James Dashner dropped by publisher
The Lemony Snicket problem
Jon Scalzi gives Myke Cole a big blog feature…about writing strong female characters….after Cole apologizes for sexual harassment
Follow-up: He Who Shall Not Be Named drops suit against S & S
Iowa citizens petitioning to separate LGBTQ books from collection and halt new acquisitions without public input
Copies of Mary Shelley’s original Frankenstein text to be published
Weird: George Washington’s hair found in old NY library book
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