Explore every episode of the podcast Book Riot - The Podcast

Jeff and Rebecca talk about recent watches, listens, and yes a few reads from the last few months. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca catch up on a whole bunch of news, from Fourth Wing casting to Supreme Court recusals, plus recent reading and a very cool study from a podcast listener. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Okay, the Fourth Wing show has casting We were right to be worried about Klara & the Sun Barnes & Noble’s Best Books of 2026 came out on October 1, and no one said anything Finalists for Barnes & Noble Book of the Year Pod listener crunched the data on series drop-off Authors Guild issues AI guidelines for publishers SCOTUS can’t hear copyright cases related to PRH That James Daunt profile RhymeHamster This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Vanessa discuss a so-called exposé of the publishing industry's use of AI and yet another prize-winning story that seems to have been written by AI. They also react to the first trailer for Greta Gerwig's Narnia, news of a James Baldwin biopic, and break down their recent reading. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: The first Narnia trailer AI is already everywhere in publishing Higher Ground is producing a James Baldwin movie Another prize-winning story appears to be written by AI YouTube is looking to expand into audiobooks Black Bag by Luke Kennard The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw Magic Lessons by Alice Hoffman "The People Holding Up the Internet" This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Vanessa talk about the books that are climbing the charts, picking up trophies, and powering the literary zeitgeist this month.Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to ⁠Jonesroadbeauty.com⁠ and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Vanessa talk about Anne Carson's Nobel win, the NBA shortlists, Kirkus winners, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Ask us questions for the 15th mailbag! Also vote for Zero to Well-Read in The Signal Awards, in both Best New Podcast and best Arts & Culture Podcast! Discussed in this episode: Anne Carson awarded 2026 Nobel Prize in Literature National Book Award shortlists are out Oprah’s Book Club Announces Its 125th Reading Selection Half (and quarter) star ratings have arrived at Goodreads Is there anything to say about Alix Earle? I do not care for this. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca take the occasions of Book Riot's 15th anniversary to look back at some stories from podcasts back, reflect on some favorite things we've made, and thank you all for listening. Ask us questions for the 15th mailbag! Also vote for Zero to Well-Read in The Signal Awards, in both Best New Podcast and best Arts & Culture Podcast! Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Vanessa talk 15 years of Book Riot for a minute (and bring back the old episode naming for one episode), before going over some new awardees, AI book recs, and more pizza talk then they honestly thought would happen. Discussed in this episode: Ask us questions for the 15th mailbag! Also vote for Zero to Well-Read in The Signal Awards, in both Best New Podcast and best Arts & Culture Podcast! Macarthur genius grants Center for fiction nominees Chatbots giving recs Pizza Hut LFLs I just learned about National Book Tokens. We Should Have National Book Tokens. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Thanks to our sponsor Quince. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to Quince.com. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca return to take stock of the books of the month and crown an It Book of the month. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Use code BOOKRIOT at ⁠jonesroadbeauty.com⁠ to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca have listened to the first two episodes (chapters?) of Obama's book podcast (audiobook?) and are ready to talk about it. Plus, adaptation news, The Booker Prize shortlist, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Call for questions for our 15th anniversary mailbag! Booker Prize shortlist (would be the 2nd win for Douglas or James; only 4 other authors have achieved this: JM Coetzee, Peter Carey, Hillary Mantel, Margaret Atwood) Meryl Streep cast as Aslan in Greta Gerwig’s Narnia Robert Eggers is directing a Romeo & Juliet adaptation Jonathan Franzen is almost done w/ the script for The Corrections New book from Michelle Zauner in April This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa Diaz joins Rebecca for another trip back into literary history. This time, they discuss a writer whose proximity to fame and wealth defined his career, for better and for (much, much) worse. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

So much book news! Our most anticipated book/guest pairings for Obama's imminent book podcast, NBA fiction longlist continues to be head-scratching, it is remarkable how unremarkable B&N buying another indie is, recent reading, and more. Jeff and Rebecca run down the books that are selling, generating buzz, and otherwise making literary waves right now. Rebecca even impulse purchased something during the show. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: RIP Annie Dillard Guests announced for Obama’s book podcast National Book Award longlists Winners of the 2026 Dayton Literary Peace Prize New Tara Westover memoir next spring Singapore launches 5-year campaign to nurture reading habits Barnes & Noble acquires Joseph-Beth Booksellers The Book Riot Podcast is brought to you by: For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca run down the books that are selling, generating buzz, and otherwise making literary waves right now. Rebecca even impulse purchased something during the show. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Thanks to our sponsor Warby Parker. Right now, buy one pair of glasses and get 20% off any additional pairs at WarbyParker.com/BOOKRIOT. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca dive into a busy start to fall in books: 2026 book sales, Emily Wilson's new translation of The Odyssey, Lonesome Dove adaptation news, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: the queer community is having fun with “performative males”  (s/o to Danika) Publishing industry sales up in the first half of 2026 LONESOME DOVE ADAPTATIONNNNNNN Lincoln in the Bardo casting news and more casting news Emily Wilson is writing a whole new translation of The Odyssey Study shows library ebook lending damages industry sales Ron Charles’s response: Libraries Are Not the Problem Google has launched an AI tool for ebook interactivity Nonfiction sales have transformed radically this decade This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase. Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca have gone through the lists, awards, and vibes to power rank the top 10 books of 2026. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Download the Quince app for app-exclusive offers, or go to quince.com/bookriot. Get free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. For a limited time our listeners are getting a FREE full sized Mascara on their first purchase.Just head to Jonesroadbeauty.com and use code BOOKRIOT at checkout. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca tackle the most difficult It Books month yet. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Use code BOOKRIOT at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Gift with your first purchase! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca note the passing of Dolly Parton and Tim Curry before talking about a data analysis of men in literature, bookstore etiquette, recent reading (including The Book of M by Rachel Cusk) and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Last call for 25% off annual memberships. Join today (8/31) for access to the 60+ book fall preview episode. The OG Book Riot hoodie is back for a limited time Dan Sinykin puts data to the fears that men are disappearing from the literary landscape Kirkus Prize finalists RJS PSA: “Mary Oliver: Saved by the Beauty of the World” is on PBS now This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca do a temperature check on the books that are topping charts, winning awards, getting adaptations, stirring discussion, and otherwise in the mix this month. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: The Book Riot Podcast Patreon Book Riot Hoodies are Back This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Vanessa discuss news of a Theo of Golden adaptation, the results of our audience survey about what counts as AI-written, a new platform for finding local literary events, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Tom Hanks in talks to star in Theo of Golden adaptation Titles & covers for ACOTAR 6 and 7 revealed Former bookseller launches book event platform How one professor re-engaged students in an age of AI Results of our survey about what counts as AI-written Amazon is buying and destroying used books to train AI Life of M looks to be all sizzle, no steak The Intrigue by Silvia Moreno-Garcia Go Gentle by Maria Semple The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman by Deesha Philyaw This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca open the show by discussing President Obama's forthcoming book podcast, before digging into the ramifications of Libro.fm selling ebooks, triaging 2025's book sales, talking some more about AI. And then in Frontlist Foyer, Jeff workshops his INSIDE OUT theory of reading personalities. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Final number: publishing sales increased 2.5% in 2025 Libro.fm to introduce ebooks Barack Obama is releasing a books podcast An interesting data point: AI use is not disqualifying for the Pulitzer, provided it is disclosed and assistive -- and 5 of the 2026 winners disclosed it And Hank Green has rolled out a personal AI policy that is very reasonable Study shows AI-generated stories have bias to male characters Claude is rolling out watermarks on AI-generated text Certified human writing panopticon gymnastics A 30-day protocol/bootcamp for reading more NYT tests Pangram in a serious way This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Today's episode is sponsored by Vinted. Download the Vinted app for free to start selling with no seller fees, so you keep everything you earn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A little bonus preview of our August edition of Deals, Deals, Deals, a format in which Jeff unleashes book deal announcements of notes on Rebecca. Listen to the full episode, and every bonus episode we have ever done, by becoming a member of The Book Riot Podcast Patreon. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca check in the last gasp of Emily Wilson's The Odyssey discourse, The New York Times' list of the Best Thrillers of the Century so Far, on-going developments in AI accusations in publishing, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Update: The Wilson pan of The Odyssey is so big that The Onion parodied it, and Emily Wilson wrote another one! Book with $2.4 million advance pulled over AI allegations NYT names the 50 best thrillers of the century so far Apple is developing an adaptation of Whitehead’s Harlem Trilogy Naomi Alderman’s “couch to 5k” for reading GRRM issues our regularly scheduled reminder that The Winds of Winter is never happening This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca try to identify the It Book of August 2026. And are pretty sure they didn't succeed. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about Emily Wilson's pan of Nolan's The Odyssey, before checking in on the Booker longlist, Obama's summer reading picks, and the most troubling AI/publishing story yet. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Emily Wilson hated The Odyssey, actually, and her unedited remarks to the AP Joyce Carol Oates has entered the chat And everybody wants to learn Greek Booker Prize longlist Obama summer reading list The most read books on Goodreads this year A viral BookTok hit might be largely AI-generated This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada and the UK, too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca sits down with Portland State University researchers Kathi Inman Berens and Rachel Noorda to discuss the findings in their new book, How Gen Z Discover and Consume Books. You can download How Gen Z Discover and Consume Books free from Cambridge University Press through August 6. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca enjoy The Odyssey afterglow, lament AI slop biographies, cover a bunch of adaptation news, recent reading, and much more. Jeff gets off some takes before the show gets going to talk about Amazon’s best-selling books of all-time, a formidable new AI lawsuit, sales of THE ODYSSEY editions, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Discussed in this episode: Emily Wilson’s comments on Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey Book Riot’s best adaptations of the century so far Judge approves settlement in Anthropic copyright case Scammer caught after publishing 5,000 AI slop biographies New Taylor Jenkins Reid novel in March (same day as Percival Everett) Apple already has the rights to adapt Rebecca Yarros’s next (non-Fourth Wing) novel Sony picks up The Silent Patient for fast-tracked adaptation This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff gets off some takes before the show gets going to talk about Amazon's best-selling books of all-time, a formidable new AI lawsuit, sales of THE ODYSSEY editions, recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Amazon’s 50 bestselling books of all time Publishers launch new suit against Google for using digital  to train Gemini This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca go over what books are selling, being talked about, and otherwise generating a little heat this month. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca note the fever-pitch buzz for Nolan's The Odyssey, before talking about the state of book sales, mention some new book announcements, discuss recent reading, and much more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Book sales flat in H1 New Leslie Jamison novel next year! The Millions Summer Book Preview The Most Read Kindle Books of 2026 So Far Booker Prize award money doubles with new funder Brandon Sanderson’s theory of the 20-year dragon nostalgia cycle Hachette employees unionize This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nolan's The Odyssey looms. Today we are sharing the episode we did on The Odyssey for Zero to Well-Read. Be careful out there on the wine-dark sea. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca rejoice over new Ishiguro and Everett announcements, have our concerns partially confirmed by the Klara & the Sun trailer, note PW's fall preview, and acknowledge the AI muck we are all going to have to deal with for the foreseeable future. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Klara & the Sun trailer Vincent Yu wins  Discover Prize Writer accused of AI use wins Commonwealth Prize Libby to filter AI content from app PW’s fall preview This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca run through the candidates for the It Book of July 2026. Then, they take a quick look back at their other monthly picks from the first half of the year to see how they did. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Go to quince.com/wellread for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. It's now available for our friends in Canada too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa and Sharifah discuss the latest in American reading habits, another exciting 2027 book release, a batch of buzzy trailers and adaptation news, and an update to an AI scandal linked to a literary prize. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: We're getting a new Percival Everett! Barnes & Noble's Biggest Books of Fall 2026: Fiction and Nonfiction Editions Trailers for Klara and the Sun and Sense and Sensibility Netflix will adapt The Everlasting by Alix E. Harrow Booksmaxxing: How Reading Became Sexy A third of Americans say they're reading fewer books Join the Thriftbooks 500 Billion Page Challenge Commonwealth Foundation clears writers accused of writing with AI This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca do a mid-year check-in about their favorite books of 2026 so far. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Vanessa discuss recent research that reveals surprising commonalities between 20,000 AI-generated stories, the winners of the Lambda Literary Awards and the Women's Prize for Fiction, and the most exciting 2027 book announcement so far. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at ⁠meritbeauty.com⁠. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to ⁠Quince.com/bookriot ⁠for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Kazuo Ishiguro wrote a WWII spy novel! What 20,000 LLM-generated stories have in common Google Play launches in-book AI chatbot The Correspondent wins The Women’s Prize for Fiction 2026 Lambda Literary Award winners Maggie Gyllenhaal to adapt Rachel Kushner’s Creation Lake The Love Hypothesis adaptation to hit Prime Video on Sept 23 Netflix is getting in on the horny hockey fun Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca and Vanessa break down the books topping the best-of and bestseller lists as we near the halfway point of the year. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the growth of the number of books (and authors) vying for reader dollars, continue to lament the long 2025 award season, wonder about the expansion of PRH's audio initiatives, talk about recent reading, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Amazon’s best  of the year so far US audiobooks sales increased 9% in 2025 j/k we weren’t done with 2025 book awards - Stoker Award winners and Nebula Award winners And we’re also starting this year’s: The 2026 Barnes & Noble Discover Award finalists Authors Guild survey looks at why author income is declining Reese’s Book Club launches Fan Fest event series The Marriage Plot is getting an adaptation This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa Diaz returns to regale Rebecca with the messy tale of the marriage between a well-known Harlem Renaissance poet and the daughter of a famous public thinker. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about some new best books of the year so far lists, adaptation news, recent reading, and more before talking with the new President of the American Library Association, Dr. Maria McCauley. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. Discussed in this episode: Barnes & Noble’s best books of the year so far Amazon’s picks for best book of the year so far from the last 10 years Goodreads users’ hit new books of the year so far Open Road to publish Choose Your Own Adventure ebooks New Franzen short story is an excerpt from his novel in progress Anna Kendrick to direct Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo adaptation for Netflix Netflix announces new book-to-screen hub God of the Woods casting news This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca select the It Book of June 2026. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Go to Quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about a relatively sleepy week in book news, but James Daunt bails us out by not shutting up about AI books that don't exist. To show our appreciation for your time, everyone who completes the survey will be entered for a chance to win a $50 USD ThriftBooks Gift Card. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. Discussed in this episode: James Daunt clarifies B & N’s position on AI GoFundMe for Gladys Books & Wine Spotify’s audiobooks play is working Audiobooks on YouTube are publishing’s latest piracy problem People are not happy about publishers updating YA books w/ timely references This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca preview summer adaptations to check out this year. As we move through 2026, we want to make sure Book Riot remains your go-to destination for all things bookish. Whether you’re here for the curated recommendations, the latest industry news, or our deep dives into reading culture, your feedback informs our media kit and how we represent this community. It will also shape our content and make Book Riot a place you want to be. To show our appreciation for your time, everyone who completes the survey will be entered for a chance to win a $50 USD ThriftBooks Gift Card. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the full Guardian Best Novels of All-Time List, The International Book Prize Winner, a whole rat's nest of AI-related stories, recent reading, and more. To show our appreciation for your time, everyone who completes the survey will be entered for a chance to win a $50 USD ThriftBooks Gift Card. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. Discussed in this episode: Kobo is integrating StoryGraph Judge delays payout of $1.5 billion settlement in Anthropic AI case James Daunt open to selling AI-written books in Barnes & Noble stores Commonwealth Prize honors short story collections  that appears to have been written with AI Book on truth in the age of AI contains quotes written by AI Audio in Color nonprofit grants funding to independent romance authors to self-pub their audiobooks Amazon ending support for Kindles from 2012 and prior (thanks to listener Carl for the tip)  And here’s how some Kindle users are working around it This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about what books are making waves as summer gets rolling. As we move through 2026, we want to make sure Book Riot remains your go-to destination for all things bookish. Whether you’re here for the curated recommendations, the latest industry news, or our deep dives into reading culture, your feedback informs our media kit and how we represent this community. It will also shape our content and make Book Riot a place you want to be. To show our appreciation for your time, everyone who completes the survey will be entered for a chance to win a $50 USD ThriftBooks Gift Card. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca note The Guardian's new collaborative list of the 100 greatest novels of all time, ponder PRH's delivery of "a strong business performance, updated our Fourth Wing Ever Gets Adapted odds, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. Discussed in this episode: The Guardian running down the 100 best novels of all time PRH reports strong first quarter Amazon has ordered the Fourth Wing adaptation to series, no casting news yet Florence Pugh to star in Midnight Library adaptation Margo’s Got Money Troubles picked up for season 2 Good Omens is back to wrap things up without Neil Gaiman This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca wrap up recommendation season. Discussed in this episode: The Intuitionist by Colson Whitehead Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders Julie Otsuka Susan Choi How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu The Hike by Drew Magary The Wilderness by Angela Flournoy Kin by Tayari Jones, go back to Fates & Furies by Groff Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf Pachinko by Min Jin Lee Red Mars by Kim Stanley Robinson Siracusa by Delia Ephron Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman From Scratch by Tembi Locke Beautiful Runs by Jess Walter A Room with a View by E.M. Forster Go Like Hell The Tusk That Did the Damage by Tania James By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah The Snows of Kilimanjaro by Hemingway The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver Dark Star Safari by Paul Theroux Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe Unbound by Steph Jagger Riverman by Ben McGrath In the Shadow of the Mountain So Old, So Young by Grant Ginder Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez Great Expectations by Vinson Cunningham Life in the Three Dimensions by Shegihiro Oishi So Good They Can’t Ignore You by Cal Newport Congratulations, By the Way by George Saunders Letters to a Young Poet by Rainer Maria Rilke The List of Things That Will Not Change The Vanderbeerkers of 141st Street By Karina Yan Glaser Dragon Pearl The Eyes of the Impossible Daughter of the Deep The Story That Cannot Be Told Who is Government by Michael Lewis Two Women Living Together by Kim Hana and Hwang Sunwoo The Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Greta & Valdin by Rebecca K Reily The Sparrow, Wild Dark Shore Whidbey The Dream Hotel The Night Watchman by Louise Erdrich The Women of Brewster Place by Gloria Naylor The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan The Pirate Queen by Ariel Lawhon On Stranger Tides by Tim Powers Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon Interpreter of Maladies, Tenth of December Almost Famous Women Lost in the City by Edward P Jones The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler Eat a Peach by David Chang Life is Meals by James & Kay Salter Chocolat by Joanne Harris Kitchens of the Great Midwest by J Ryan Stradal Go Gentle by Maria Semple Less by Andrew Sean Greer Pincher Martin by William Golding Black No More by George Schuyler Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino The English Understand Wool by helen dewitt Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel Still Life with Woodpecker by Tim Robbins Transcription by Ben Lerner Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy Butcher's Crossing by John Williams This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca talk about the 2026 Pulitzer prizes, best books of the year so far, summer book previews, and more of the week's book news. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Pulitzer winners NYT best books of the year so far 5 publishers and Scott Turow sue Meta & Mark Zuckerberg over AI copyright infringement TikTok releases first BookTok bestseller list (note, UK only) PW’s big summer preview Greta Gerwig’s Narnia moves to 2027 This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jeff and Rebecca try to pick the It Book of May 2026. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Part 1 of our Spring 2026 Moms, Dads, and Grads recommendations extravaganza. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Emma Straub Taylor Jenkins Reid The Wedding Date by Jasmine Guillory Go Gentle by Maria Semple Marie Helene Bertino God of the Woods by Liz Moore Abby Jimenez Sarah McLean The Hacienda by Isabel Canas Claire Lombardo The Fraud by Zadie Smith A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles Nickel Boys by Colson Whitehead Sag Harbor by Colson Whitehead Percival Everett. Maybe also Matrix by Lauren Groff. The Dog Stars by Peter Heller I, Claudius by Robert Graves The Road by Cormac McCarthy Small World by Jonathan Evison, The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese Behind the Bedroom Wall by Larry Woiwode Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol Alone Time by Stephanie Rosenbloom This Land is Your Land by Beverly Gage The Women I Think About at Night by Mia Kankimaki James by Percival Everett Han Kang Katie Kitamura The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood  Palaver by Bryan Washington Roman Stories by Jhumpa Lahiri Stone Yard Devotional by Charlotte Wood I Heard Her Call My Name by Lucy Sante Light Years by James Salter Splinters by Leslie Jamison Literary Theory by Terry Eagleton Professing Literature by Gerald Graff Playing in the Dark by Toni Morrison No One Tells You This by Glynnis MacNicol Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed edited by Megan Daum This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks to our sponsor, Merit Beauty. Right now, Merit Beauty is offering our listeners their Signature Makeup Bag with your first order at meritbeauty.com. Head to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Prof. Laura McGrath joins Jeff to talk about her new book, Middlemen: Literary Agents and the Making of American Fiction. Literary agents try to stay out of the spotlight, but they shape what you read. We talk about why agents came into being, how they have developed over time, and how American fiction wouldn't be the same without them. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. 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. Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vanessa Diaz sits in for Rebecca to talk with Jeff about The Women's Prize shortlist, Practical Magic 2, the most banned books of 2025, how human it is for people to know that reading is good for them and still not do it, recent reading, and more. Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Join The Book Riot Podcast Patreon for bonus content and ad-free listening. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life. The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Discussed in this episode: Women’s Prize Shortlist World Book Day Study aka nothing means anything 2026 Hugo Awards finalists top 11 banned books of 2025 (ALA) The Crystal Light collab, because sure, why not (wider trend of ‘interesting’ collabs - Hellmans’ Mayo, Yankee Candle, Prego - see block in flagship ) Practical Magic 2 trailer (vanessa hyperventilating) The Pitt’s Dr Abbott (Shawn Hatosy) voicing audio erotica on Quinn app This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may earn an affiliate commission. Use code THEBOOKS for 20% off at Cozy Earth. Go to quince.com/bookriot for free shipping and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices