Jeff and Rebecca power rank the 10 most important, influential, and otherwise impactful books of 2016. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 11, 2026•59 min
Vanessa sits down with director Kim A. Snyder and librarians Martha Hickson and Carolyn Foote to discuss the film The Librarians : how it came to be, where to watch it, and why its message is such an urgent one for our times. 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 ...
Feb 09, 2026•57 min
Jeff and Rebecca consider 10 finalists for the title It Book of February. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Feb 04, 2026•35 min
Jeff and Rebecca try to make sense of a bunch of adaptation news before talking about recent reads, Don DeLillo's hockey smut, and more. 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 . The Book Riot Podcast Patreon Updates on...
Feb 02, 2026•48 min
Jeff and Rebecca talk about George Saunders' new novel, Vigil . 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 . The Book Riot Podcast Patreon This content contains affiliate links. When you buy through these links, we may ear...
Jan 28, 2026•51 min
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists, which publishers had the most best-sellers in 2025, Katie Couric's book club, and usher in the era of The Big 6. 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 , ...
Jan 26, 2026•2 hr 4 min
Vanessa returns with another surprise topic from literary history: Christopher Marlowe: Playwright, lover, thinker, spy (?). 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 . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm...
Jan 21, 2026•45 min
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. 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 and its brand new companion newsletter , and...
Jan 19, 2026•52 min
Jeff and Rebecca run through the notable adaptations coming this year (at least the ones we know about). 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 and its brand new companion newsletter , and follow along on Instagram , TikTok , and YouTube . Learn more a...
Jan 14, 2026•49 min
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. 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 and its brand new companion newsletter , and follow alon...
Jan 12, 2026•1 hr 2 min
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 . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jan 09, 2026•5 min
Jeff and Rebecca consider 10 finalists for the title It Book of January. 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 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jan 07, 2026•50 min
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. 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 Come to P...
Jan 05, 2026•47 min
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. Subscribe to The Book Riot Newsletter for regular updates to help you get the most out of your reading life. Email us: zerotowellread@bookriot.com Zero to Well-Read is a proud member of the Airwave Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 29, 2025•1 hr
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 Rio...
Dec 22, 2025•52 min
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 . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Dec 19, 2025•7 min
This is a bonus preview of our Patreon-only episode in which Jeff and Rebecca talk about their favorite non-book things of 2025. To listen to the full episode and all previous bonus content, become a Patreon member here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 18, 2025•6 min
Jeff and Rebecca list their favorite books of the year, and then are joined by a series of Book Riot editors to share their picks: Kelly Jensen, Danika Ellis, Erica Ezefedi, Sharifah Williams, and Vanessa Diaz. 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 ! ...
Dec 17, 2025•1 hr 49 min
Jeff and Rebecca talk about Book Riot's 2025 Read Harder Challenge, PW's 2025 Salary & Job Survey, a new Gen Z book club, and resurrect the spirit of Annotated for a very cool story about the women who invented the audiobook. 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 Z...
Dec 15, 2025•57 min
Rebecca sits down with Vanessa Diaz to discuss the adaptation of Hamnet , in wide theatrical release this week. They talk about the film as a standalone piece of art, how it works as an adaptation, the key differences between the book and the movie, and how to tell if it's for you. 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. We’ve got the chops to match the book lover in your life ...
Dec 10, 2025•59 min
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the Goodreads Choice Winners, the NYT's 10 Best of the Year, NPR's excellent year-end round-up before talking to Katie del Rosario of Spotify about the year in audiobooks and Spotify's Audiobooks Wrapped. 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 ou...
Dec 08, 2025•59 min
Jeff and Rebecca look back on their It Books selections from 2025 to see what they got right and wrong. But first, take a look at a pretty uninspiring slate of December new releases. 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 Patreo...
Dec 03, 2025•55 min
Jeff and Rebecca wrap up the 2025 Holiday Recommendations. 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 In the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez 2 AM at the Cat’s Pajamas by Marie-Helen Bertino The Elegance of the Hedgehog ...
Dec 01, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Jeff and Rebecca are back with another holiday recommendation show. Part 2 coming on Monday. 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 Little Blue Truck Little Pea by Amy Rosenthal I Love You, Stinky Face by Lisa McCourt Wi...
Nov 26, 2025•53 min
Jeff and Rebecca inhale a slew of best books of the year lists. 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 Book Riot’s Best Books of 2025 National Book Award winners Shein partners with Alibris to sell books Lit Hub’s Book T...
Nov 24, 2025•1 hr 2 min
Vanessa Diaz is back to talk with Jeff and Rebecca about what magical realism is, where it comes from, and how to talk about it. 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 One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriela Garcia Mar...
Nov 19, 2025•59 min
Vanessa Diaz sits in for Rebecca this week and talks to Jeff about the challenges of making a best books of the year list before getting into the news of the week. 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 Amazon’s best boo...
Nov 17, 2025•57 min
This is a bonus preview of our Patreon-only episode in which Jeff and Rebecca talk about what they've been doing with their lives recently, outside of the world of books. To listen to the full episode and all previous bonus content, become a Patreon member here . Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Nov 14, 2025•7 min
Jeff and Rebecca talk about the books they still want to get to before 2026 gets here. 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 Flesh by David Szalay Maggie by Katie Yee Kaplan's Plot by Jason Diamond Who is Government? by...
Nov 12, 2025•39 min
We're in a lull of current publishing industry news, so Jeff and Rebecca speculate about upcoming book awards, year-end announcements, and the book of the year, as well as touch on the impact of AI on writing. 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 ! T...
Nov 10, 2025•59 min
