Bad On Paper Podcast - Episode Summary
Podcast: Bad On Paper
Hosts: Becca Freeman & Olivia Muenter
Episode: 2026 Publishing Trends
Date: April 8, 2026
Episode Overview
This episode dives into the key publishing trends of 2026, with a focus on what’s happening in fiction and romance. Becca and Olivia invite two industry insiders—Emily Sommer, book buyer for East City Bookshop, and Alyssa Morris, literary agent and romance trend expert—to discuss what’s selling, how book buying decisions are made, and what’s next in romance and fantasy genres. The episode is packed with recommendations, industry insights, and an engaging look at the future of books.
Host Banter: Highs & Lows (00:54–11:26)
Highs:
- Olivia:
- Enjoyed a productive trip to Charleston visiting parents and participating in a book event.
- Returned home with “renewed spring energy,” did major decluttering, reading more, and feeling optimistic about spring.
“I just started cleaning out my entire house. Donated, I can't even, thousands of pieces of clothing. The vibes are strong. The vibes are good.” — Olivia [01:13]
- Becca:
- Started writing her third book, feeling less pressured, and easing into the process.
“I hopefully have set myself some very achievable goals and I'm just wading in... But the water feels good. I’m excited.” — Becca [02:22]
- Began decorating her new apartment with help from an interior designer; excited for her space to come together.
- Started writing her third book, feeling less pressured, and easing into the process.
Lows:
- Becca:
- Ongoing struggle with hair dye not covering grays well (“clinging for dear life to white hair”).
“Is there a solution to this or is this just aging?” — Becca [07:10]
- Ongoing struggle with hair dye not covering grays well (“clinging for dear life to white hair”).
- Olivia:
- Chemical burn (“lyme burn”) on her neck from a Diet Coke with lime in the sun, resulting in a mark that looks like a “weird hickey.”
“Now I have this chemical burn on my neck which truly does look like a hickey on the front of my neck... it is truly dead center front of my neck... Who cares? But I don’t like the idea it’ll be there forever.” — Olivia [09:03]
- Chemical burn (“lyme burn”) on her neck from a Diet Coke with lime in the sun, resulting in a mark that looks like a “weird hickey.”
Publishing Trends with Emily Sommer, East City Bookshop (13:41–33:24)
What’s Selling (14:29–16:44)
- Word-of-mouth hits:
- The Correspondent continues to sell heavily, showing that “word of mouth, under the radar success” can catch fire.
- Other ongoing bestsellers: The Wedding People by Alison Ethbock, Oh, Heart the Lover by Lily King, Kin by Tayari Jones.
- Readers want “well-written stories that are very human... about our connection with each other.” — Emily [14:55]
- Notable shift:
- Romance (“romantasy”) sales have slightly dipped (e.g., Fourth Wing, Sarah J. Maas), with no immediate successor franchises.
- “Cozier” mysteries and light escapist fiction are rising as readers look for relief from real-world heaviness.
- “If I can't even read sad, then everybody needs an escape.” — Emily [18:42]
Book Buying: Art & Science (18:52–24:59)
- Decision-making involves gut instinct (“the art”) and sales data (“the science”).
- Paying attention to editors is key:
- “If Sally Kim has her fingerprints on it... I know that's true.” — Emily [20:24]
- Blurbs and print runs help gauge a book’s positioning and publisher investment.
- Quick restocking is possible on the East Coast, allowing some “wait and see” flexibility.
- Importance of balancing hidden gems with titles that have high publisher backing.
Anticipated Titles & Recommendations (25:09–32:51)
- Leave Your Mess at Home by Tolani Akinola (April 14): Nigerian-American siblings in Chicago. “It’s got these great sibling dynamics... It’s funny, it’s got great music, great food, and it made me cry.” — Emily [26:24]
- Five by Ilona Bannister (May): Real-time suspense on a London tube platform.
- London Falling by Patrick Radden Keefe: Nonfiction narrative digging into crime, finance, and changing London.
- Chloe Benjamin’s Understory expected to be a commercial success.
- “Every great author has a new book this year and we don’t have time to read them all.” — Emily [32:36]
Where to find Emily:
- In person at East City Bookshop, DC
- Instagram: @emilygsommer (“not strictly Bookstagram”)
Romance & Romantasy Trends with Alyssa Morris, Trellis Literary (36:54–58:05)
Path to Agenting (37:15–38:56)
- Alyssa’s industry experience spans editorial, marketing, scouting; moved into agenting due to the “moment for romance” and her reader-centric perspective.
What’s IN: Yearning, Originality, & Mashups (39:03–45:26)
- Current reader mood: Slight stagnation after years of dominance; readers crave something truly new (“We have romantasy—are we tired of fairies?”) and “yearning” in romance (think “Mr. Darcy hand flex”).
- Debate on narrative POV: Third person POV may actually heighten yearning due to subtlety and narrative distance.
- “The thing I see crop up over and over again on booktok is people want yearning.” — Alyssa [41:16]
- Readers want:
- “Competence porn”—characters with interesting, non-generic jobs.
- More “genre mashups”—e.g. paranormal sports romance, small town with witches.
What’s OUT: Writer Protagonists & Series Fatigue (43:17–51:54)
- Readers “tired of romances where the hero or heroine is a writer.”
- “People really want competence porn... and when I talk to people, that's something they're looking for, too.” — Alyssa [43:22]
- Traditional publishers slow to market compared to indie publishing/fanfiction, so trends bubble up quicker in those spaces.
- Series fatigue is real: increased demand for standalone (or duology) romantasy, with The Poison Daughter as a leading example.
Marketplace & Trend Dynamics (45:26–52:43)
- Traditional publishers are acquiring more “proven-hit” indie and fanfiction titles (echoes of 50 Shades of Grey era).
- BookTok remains influential, but its algorithm is waning; Reddit is a massive hub for deeper, more “niche” reader communities especially in romantasy.
- “Booktok is more mainstream. Reddit is people who are looking for something that feels more different.” — Alyssa [49:09]
Anticipated Trends & Recommendations (54:55–57:36)
- Games (June) – A major upcoming Darklina fanfic-derived novel, contemporary with “debates about Marxism and economic policy” and “incredibly sexy” scenes.
“It truly could not have been written by anyone else and stands on its own.” — Alyssa [55:15]
- Vampires are returning: Surge of new vampire romance/fantasy titles on the horizon. Elena Armis’s next book will center vampires; others include Die for Me and My Italian Vampire.
Where to find Alyssa:
- Newsletter: Romancing the Phone
- Not currently open to agent queries
Notable Quotes & Moments
- “If I can't even read sad, then everybody needs an escape.” — Emily Sommer [18:42]
- “The thing I see crop up over and over again on booktok is people want yearning.” — Alyssa Morris [41:16]
- “People really want competence porn... and when I talk to people, that's something they're looking for, too.” — Alyssa [43:22]
- “Booktok is more mainstream. Reddit is people who are looking for something that feels more different.” — Alyssa [49:09]
- “Every great author has a new book this year and we don’t have time to read them all.” — Emily [32:36]
- “I have a weird mark on my neck... you should tell people it’s a vampire bite.” — Becca [57:39] (referencing earlier banter, looping to vampire trend)
Reading Recommendations & Recent Reads (61:46–72:22)
Olivia’s recent reads:
- The Fountain by Casey Sheschka – “Tuck Everlasting for Adults”; Catskills setting.
- In Her Defense by Philippa Malika – Trial drama, life coaches, fast-paced.
- Whale Fall by Elizabeth O’Connor – Lyrical, character-driven historical fiction set in Wales.
- The Sirens by Amelia Hart – Sibling bonds & mermaids; Australia, historical and magical.
- April book club: Good People by Patmina Sabit
Becca’s recent reads:
- Once and Again by Rebecca Searle – Magical do-over, Malibu beach house.
- American Fantasy by Emma Straub – Boy band cruise; fun, vacation-ready, “middle-aged novel.”
Other Notable Segments
Life/Organization/Obsession Chat:
- Becca’s new garlic slicer gadget [60:58–61:43]
- Olivia’s notes app system for to-do lists [61:46–63:18]
Upcoming Book Club:
- Good People by Patmina Sabit (April 29th episode)
Final Thoughts
This episode is a must-listen (or read!) for anyone curious about what’s driving book buying, the ongoing power of BookTok, reader fatigue with series, and the rise of unexpected genres and trends. The interviews provide honest, insider perspectives, practical recommendations, and predictions that balance delight and savvy realism—all in Becca and Olivia’s trademark conversational, insightful style.
To connect further:
- Bad On Paper Podcast Facebook Group & Instagram @badonpaperpodcast
- Olivia Mentor: Instagram/Substack
- Becca Freeman: Instagram (@ecamfreeman), Substack, upcoming novel Back Where We Started (October)