Book Riot - The Podcast

Vanessa returns with another surprise topic from literary history: Christopher Marlowe: Playwright, lover, thinker, spy (?).

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Discussed in this episode:

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Jeff and Rebecca look at some 2025 sales numbers, are astounded by the rise of Heated Rivalry, applaud a new subscription box, have some harsh words for Oreo, and more.

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Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to get the most out of your reading life.

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Print book sales rose slightly in 2025

There’s a new Heated Rivalry book coming later this year

Bridgerton author Julia Quinn has launched a romance subscription box

Book Riot’s best fantasy books of the century so far

The Royal Shakespeare Company is bringing Hamnet to U.S. stages

Give yourself the gift of this George Saunders interview

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Jeff and Rebecca run through the notable adaptations coming this year (at least the ones we know about).

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The Book Riot Podcast is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network.

Discussed in this episode:

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Vanessa and Sharifah sit in for Jeff and Rebecca to discuss a poll on American reading habits, this year's most anticipated books and adaptations, and more.

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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:

Check out Zero to Well-Read and its brand new companion newsletter, and follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.

A survey of American reading habits reveals 40% of Americans didn't read a single book in 2025.

Barnes & Noble's most anticipated fiction and nonfiction of 2026

Book Riot's Most Anticipated Books of 2026

Utah bans three more books at all public schools, leading the U.S. in book bans

Book Riot's guide to fighting book bans and censorship

2026 adaptation roundups from The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter

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This is a bonus preview of our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon-only⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode in which Rebecca and Jeff compete to compile the best basket of 10 new releases for the season.

To listen to the full episode and all previous bonus content, ⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patreon member here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Jeff and Rebecca consider 10 finalists for the title It Book of January.

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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:

Check out Zero to Well-Read!

The Book Riot Podcast Patreon

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Jeff and Rebecca look at what we know of the 2026 publishing calendar to pick 10 books we are most excited about (with some quibbling and caveats). Lots to like this year.

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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:

Check out Zero to Well-Read!

The Book Riot Podcast Patreon

Come to Powell's to see Gabriel Tallent in Conversation with Jeff O'Neal

Vigil by George Saunders

On Morrison by Namwalli Serpell

Language as Liberation by Toni Morrison

Kin by Tayari Jones

Brawler by Lauren Groff

Python's Kiss by Louise Erdrich

London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe

My Dear You by Rachel Khong

Go Gentle by Maria Semple

On Witness and Respair by Jesmyn Ward

Country People by Daniel Mason

Cool Machine by Colson Whitehead

Exit Party Emily St. John Mandel

American Hagwon by Min Jin Lee

Transcription by Ben Lerner

Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez

Depths of Wikipedia by Annie Rauwerda

Lake Effect by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney

The Glorians by Terry Tempest Williams

The Natural Way of Things by Charlotte Wood

Screen People by Megan Garber

Inside the Box by David Epstein

Land by Maggie O'Farrell

The Missed Connection by Tia Williams

The Typing Lady by Ruth Ozeki

Whistler by Ann Patchett

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Jeff and Rebecca discuss the award-winning books, pop culture phenomena, book club picks, and crossover hits of 2025 and attempt to identify the ones that might someday join the canon.

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Jeff and Rebecca talk about how the story of the year in books was that there really wasn't a story. Except the big one. AI. Plus, NBCC longlists, getting boomers off slop, recent reading, and more.

Follow the podcast via RSS, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify.

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:

Check out Zero to Well-Read!

The Book Riot Podcast Patreon

NBCC fiction longlist

PW names the top 10 bookselling stories of the year

The Wedding Date is getting a Netflix adaptation

The Book Gossip of 2025

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This is a bonus preview of our ⁠⁠⁠Patreon-only⁠⁠⁠ episode in which Jeff and Rebecca talked about the books they wanted to read but didn't, they want to read and might still, they definitely are OK not reading, and other subtleties of which books went unread in 2025.

To listen to the full episode and all previous bonus content, ⁠⁠⁠become a Patreon member here⁠⁠⁠.

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