Podcast Summary: Book Riot - The Podcast Episode: The 2025 Book Riot Fantasy League Book Draft
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Hosts: Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Shinsky
Guests: Sharifah Williams, Laura McGrath

Introduction

The episode kicks off with promotional segments from Nordstrom and Lowe's, which the hosts promptly skip to dive into the main content. Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Shinsky introduce the special episode focused on the 2025 Book Riot Fantasy League Book Draft, a unique event where participants draft teams based on upcoming book releases.

Jeff O’Neal (00:01):
“Summer's here and Nordstrom has everything you need for your best dress season ever...”

Rebecca Shinsky (00:31):
“Member week is here at Lowe's. Don't miss your chance to get up to 40% off...”

Launching the Fantasy League

Rebecca introduces the concept, highlighting that this is the culmination of 15 years of Book Riot's dedication to books and readers. They welcome guests Sharifah Williams, Book Riot's Executive Director of Content, and Laura McGrath, a professor and data scientist.

Rebecca Shinsky (01:25):
“Today is the culmination of so much that we care about. We didn't even know we needed this.”

The team explains the mechanics of the fantasy league, where each participant has 12 picks from books published in 2025. Points are awarded based on various categories such as awards nominations, Goodreads lists, book club selections, and sales performance.

Sharifah Williams (03:46):
“We are drafting teams for a fantasy book league based on the new releases of the calendar year 2025.”

Draft Mechanics and Strategy

Rebecca outlines the point system, mentioning categories like the Pulitzer Prize, National Book Award, and Goodreads Choice Awards. She emphasizes the creation of a publicly available spreadsheet for participants to track and manage their drafts.

Rebecca Shinsky (02:05):
“It's easy, too, with free shipping and free returns in store. Order, pickup and more. Shop today in stores online@nordstrom.com or download the Nordstrom app.”

(Note: The transcript seems to repeat ads and content overlaps; adjusting accordingly.)

Sharifah references a Patreon episode where the team discussed scoring strategies in detail, allowing listeners to delve deeper if interested.

Sharifah Williams (03:46):
“There is an episode in the Patreon from a couple of months ago where Jeff and Laura and I talked our way through this.”

Participants' Draft Strategies

Each participant shares their approach to selecting books:

• Laura McGrath (04:47):
  “I felt a bit like the Kool Aid man coming through the wall into this whole process.”
  Laura relies heavily on intuition and "vibes," focusing on books that consistently appear on anticipated lists and social buzz.

• Jeff O’Neal (06:23):
  “I am kind of half categories and half vibes. So I’m like Mr. Spock, half human, half Vulcan.”
  Jeff splits his picks between fiction and nonfiction, aiming for a balanced team that includes literary novels, commercial novels, debuts, history, cultural criticism, and celebrity memoirs.

• Rebecca Shinsky (08:47):
  “We're not going to do them all right now. We may talk about them as we explain our picks...”
  Rebecca adopts a catalog-based approach, selecting books month by month, and aims to diversify her picks beyond just award contenders like Reese Witherspoon selections.

Draft Picks and Selections

The core of the episode revolves around each participant making their draft picks. Below are some notable selections with timestamps and key discussions:

1. Sharifah Williams (12:53):
   “Sharifah will go first and then Laura, then Rebecca, then me.”

   • First Pick: Katabasis
     Sharifah chooses Katabasis as a speculative fiction pick, anticipating it will engage her demographic and score well across various categories.

2. Jeff O’Neal (14:41):
   “I have debuts and because I split fiction and nonfiction equally, I feel like I have to go with a big seller.”

   • First Pick: The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros
     Despite being a YA rom-com, Jeff believes it will perform well in sales and possibly in awards.

3. Rebecca Shinsky (16:23):
   “I really like this book and I think it's going to be around.”

   • Second Pick: King of Ashes by SA Cosby
     Rebecca opts for a thriller with strong sales potential and mentions its appearance on Obama's recommended lists.

4. Laura McGrath (20:08):

   • Second Pick: Ocean Vuong's Emperor of Gladness
     Confident in its award potential and commercial success, Laura selects this literary novel.

5. Other Notable Picks:

   • Sharifah: Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil by V.E. Schwab (16:23)
   • Rebecca: Audition by Katie Kitamura (17:13), Sunrise at the Reaping by Suzanne Collins (17:57)
   • Jeff: Flashlight by Susan Choi (33:49), Having It All by Corinne Lowe (78:13)
   • Laura: Good Girl by Aria Eber (39:34), Everything Is Tuberculosis by John Green (69:40)

Strategies and Reflections

Throughout the draft, participants reflect on their strategies and emotional responses to their selections:

• Jeff: Balances data-driven choices with intuitive picks, aiming for a diverse and competitive team.

• Rebecca: Focuses on a mix of award contenders and popular sellers, occasionally making strategic deviations to cover multiple categories.

• Sharifah: Leans towards books with broad appeal and potential for awards, while also considering sales and adaptation opportunities.

• Laura: Combines anticipated awards with commercial potential, emphasizing quality and buzz around her picks.

Rebecca Shinsky (85:34):
“I think I was even looking at too many books, like, during the draft at that point.”
Rebecca acknowledges the overwhelming number of excellent books and the challenge in narrowing down choices.

Emotional Check-In and Conclusion

As the draft concludes, the hosts and guests share their feelings about the selections:

• Laura McGrath:
  “I'm feeling as chaotic at the end as I felt going in, so I guess stasis can be a good thing.”
  Expresses satisfaction with a diverse and strategic list despite the chaos.

• Sharifah Williams:
  “I feel really strong.”
  Confident in her picks covering multiple categories and anticipating competitive performance.

• Jeff O’Neal:
  “I feel like I'm probably half and half of things. I feel really confident about showing up on this board and some total dark horses.”
  Balances confidence with the acknowledgment of some risky picks.

• Rebecca Shinsky:
  “I really like my list.”
  Conflicted but happy with the overall selections, despite some uncertainty about specific picks.

Final Thoughts

The episode wraps up with the hosts expressing excitement and anticipation for how the drafted books will perform throughout the year. They hint at future check-ins and the evolution of their fantasy league as more books are released and gain traction in the literary community.

Sharifah Williams (87:34):
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Jeff O’Neal (88:04):
“This was really fun.”

Listeners are encouraged to join the Book Riot Patreon for more detailed discussions and to stay tuned for additional content related to the fantasy league and other book-related news.

Highlighted Quotes:

• Rebecca Shinsky (01:25):
  “Today is the culmination of so much that we care about. We didn't even know we needed this.”

• Sharifah Williams (06:23):
  “I am kind of half categories and half vibes. So I’m like Mr. Spock, half human, half Vulcan.”

• Jeff O’Neal (14:43):
  “I did a little bit differently for those who've listened to that regularly is the Stephen King's Ali Hazelwood Emily Henry's...”

• Rebecca Shinsky (16:23):
  “King of Ashes by SA Cosby is the new thriller...”

• Sharifah Williams (57:53):
  “He was, I think.”

• Jeff O’Neal (78:13):
  “Having it all. I feel like books that do this are going to be really impactful.”

This detailed summary encapsulates the essence of the 2025 Book Riot Fantasy League Book Draft episode, highlighting the participants' strategies, key selections, and their reflections on the draft process. Whether you're a dedicated listener or new to the podcast, this summary provides a comprehensive overview of the discussions and insights shared during the episode.