Book Riot - The Podcast: NetGalley Launches Booktrovert Consumer Marketing Platform, BookTok's Obsession with Marginalia, and More
Release Date: June 30, 2025

Hosts: Rebecca Schinsky and Danica Ellis
Episode Overview: In this episode, Rebecca Schinsky and Danica Ellis delve into several pressing topics in the publishing world, including NetGalley's new consumer marketing platform Booktrovert, the rising trend of marginalia on BookTok, Sarah J. Maas’s significant licensing deal, and a noteworthy federal lawsuit involving AI and copyright infringement. The hosts also share their favorite queer books of 2025, providing listeners with insightful recommendations.

1. NetGalley Launches Booktrovert

Key Discussion Points:

• Introduction to NetGalley and Edelweiss: Rebecca and Danica begin by clarifying what NetGalley is—a platform primarily for book influencers, professional booksellers, librarians, and reviewers to access pre-publication ebooks for reviews and promotions. Edelweiss serves a similar purpose but is more focused on the internal industry needs, such as bookstore buyers.

• Booktrovert Overview: NetGalley’s parent company, Firebrand, has introduced Booktrovert, aimed at addressing publishers' needs for more effective consumer marketing tools. Designed as a consumer-facing platform, Booktrovert offers ebook giveaways, interactive games like bookish bingo, and Goodreads-style shelf-building features.

• Critique and Skepticism: Danica expresses skepticism about the platform’s effectiveness, highlighting that it seems primarily focused on advertising and giveaways without offering substantial new features beyond existing platforms like Goodreads or StoryGraph. She remarks, “It just feels like, hello, will you sign up so that we can advertise to you?” [09:44].

• Publishers’ Intent vs. User Experience: Rebecca criticizes the separation between NetGalley and Booktrovert, noting that influencers—who are key to Booktrovert’s success—are not being incorporated into NetGalley’s professional community. She states, “They are very intentionally keeping NetGalley separate... we have seen that influencers are professionals” [12:12].

Notable Quotes:

• Rebecca: “This looks like a book discoverability solution from 2007 to me.” [10:34]
• Danica: “It just does not seem very robust.” [08:34]

Conclusion: The hosts conclude that while Booktrovert aims to provide publishers with new marketing avenues, its current implementation may lack the necessary features and integration to truly engage consumers and influencers effectively.

2. Sarah J. Maas’s Exclusive Licensing Deal

Key Discussion Points:

• Deal Details: Sarah J. Maas, renowned for her "A Court of Thorns and Roses" (ACOTAR) series, has signed a multi-year exclusive licensing deal with IMG Licensing. This agreement grants IMG access to her entire fictional universe, aiming to expand into various merchandise categories such as apparel, home decor, wine and spirits, collectibles, and immersive fan experiences.

• Unprecedented Scope for an Adult-Focused Author: Unlike typical licensing deals seen with franchises like Harry Potter or Star Wars, Maas’s agreement is unusual for an adult-oriented series. Rebecca notes, “We don’t usually see authors whose books are aimed at primarily adult audiences get this kind of licensing deal” [23:20].

• Timing and Adaptations: The timing of the deal raises questions, especially since previous adaptation efforts (e.g., Hulu’s attempt) were canceled. Danica points out the unusual sequence, “It's strange to me that it's been so slow” [24:04].

Notable Quotes:

• Rebecca: “This makes a ton of sense to me.” [23:20]
• Danica: “It's really not the way, you know, the Hunger Games or something like that.” [25:25]

Conclusion: The licensing deal signifies a major milestone for Maas and highlights the evolving landscape of author merchandising, even for adult fantasy series. The hosts express curiosity about the motivations and future implications of this agreement.

3. BookTok’s Obsession with Marginalia

Key Discussion Points:

• Rise of Marginalia on BookTok: The hosts explore how the trend of annotating books—writing notes, highlighting passages, and using colored tabs—has gained immense popularity on TikTok’s BookTok community. This aesthetic has led to the availability of themed annotation kits on platforms like Etsy.

• Benefits of Annotating: Danica shares her surprise at the trend, reflecting on her personal aversion to writing in books from her time as a used bookstore employee. Rebecca, however, discusses how annotating enhances engagement with the text, making reading a more interactive experience.

• Creative Expression and Community Building: The trend fosters creativity and connection among readers. Rebecca mentions, “This is just fascinating to me and it makes me wonder, like, what is the next component of bookish culture that BookTok will figure out” [38:25].

Notable Quotes:

• Danica: “I have such an inability to write in books.” [30:22]
• Rebecca: “I'm an OG book annotator.” [32:03]

Conclusion: Marginalia has transcended its traditional roots to become a visual and interactive trend within the BookTok community, enhancing reader engagement and fostering a sense of community through shared aesthetic practices.

4. Federal Lawsuit Against Anthropic Over AI Training Data

Key Discussion Points:

• Case Summary: A federal court judge ruled in favor of Anthropic in a lawsuit filed by a group of authors alleging that Anthropic illegally used their books to train the Claude large language model. The judge determined that using legally acquired books for training AI models falls under fair use, but royalty-free datasets containing pirated copies violate copyright laws.

• Implications for the Publishing Industry: The ruling presents a mixed outcome. While it permits the use of legally obtained materials, it highlights the illegality of using pirated content. Rebecca emphasizes the need for clear regulations, stating, “There are so many more cases that need to make their ways through the courts before we have anything that looks like real settled law about this” [44:11].

• Future Outlook: The hosts anticipate further legal battles and the likelihood that the Supreme Court will eventually need to address these issues to provide definitive clarity.

Notable Quotes:

• Rebecca: “This is discouraging to see a judge say your copyrighted material can be used without your permission as long as they buy a copy” [43:19].
• Danica: “Feels like doing something illegal is already illegal. But here we are.” [43:19].

Conclusion: The lawsuit underscores the ongoing tension between AI advancements and copyright laws, signaling the necessity for updated legislation to address the challenges posed by AI training methodologies.

5. Favorite Queer Books of 2025

Key Discussion Points:

• Top Picks: Danica highlights two standout queer books of the year:

  • Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid
  • Barrier Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab

• Additional Recommendations: She also mentions The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong and An Oral History of Trans Non Binary Genderqueer and Two Spirit People of Color by Carol Robertis, expressing interest in its audiobook format.

• Personal Favorites:

  • Sympathy for Wild Girls by Deborah McGee: A collection of short stories centered on queer Black women, praised for its depth and emotional resonance.
  • Awakened by Osworth: A "romantasy" featuring trans witches battling an evil AI, noted for its unique narrative voice and playful language.
  • The Ten Incarnations of Rebellion by Vaishnavia Patel: An alternate history novel exploring the complexities of rebellion and moral dilemmas in a reimagined India.

Notable Quotes:

• Danica: “I would love to have studied in a class because I feel like there's so much packed into them.” [47:23]
• Rebecca: “That was so much fun to read and to talk about with you and Vanessa.” [51:52]

Conclusion: The hosts celebrate a diverse range of queer literature released in 2025, highlighting both mainstream successes and hidden gems that offer profound narratives and rich representation.

Final Thoughts: Rebecca Schinsky and Danica Ellis provide a comprehensive and insightful discussion on current trends and significant developments in the publishing industry. From critically examining new platforms like Booktrovert to celebrating impactful queer literature, the episode offers valuable perspectives for book enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

Notable Quotes Recap:

• “It just feels like, hello, will you sign up so that we can advertise to you?” – Danica Ellis [09:44]
• “We want the NetGalley community to remain as professional as we can, while the Booktrovert community can be everyone and their mother.” – Christina Radke via Rebecca Schinsky [11:22]

For More Information:
To dive deeper into the topics discussed or to engage with the hosts, visit Book Riot Podcast or email podcast@bookriot.com.