Book Riot – The Podcast
Episode: The It Books of September 2025
Hosts: Jeff O’Neal & Rebecca Schinsky
Date: September 3, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky dive deep into September 2025's "It Books"—the highest-profile new releases in the literary world’s busiest month. Using their custom methodology blending critical acclaim, sales potential, cultural zeitgeist, and pure literary excitement, they narrow down a competitive field of 10 titles to crown the one true "It Book" of September. Along the way, they deliver lively debates, sharp observations, and plenty of literary banter, all while tracking notable trends in contemporary publishing.
Key Discussion Points
1. The “It Book” Methodology & Trends (01:05–03:06)
- September is “the month” for big book releases, but 2025 is less stacked than in recent years.
- Jeff shares that his process involves combing through catalog previews, industry buzz panels, and advanced lists before narrowing it all down.
- Rebecca notes the inherent subjectivity of the “It Book” pick: “That noun is sufficiently vague for purposes here. We know it when we see it, but we also have a little bit of sense of what we're looking at here.” (02:07)
- Noted: Some major releases have been pushed to October, thinning the September herd but still resulting in a strong lineup.
2. The Tournament Structure (03:06–03:13)
- Jeff presents ten books; Rebecca determines which advances in head-to-head matchups based on critical and commercial expectations, with one “winner” at the end.
The Contenders: Deep Dives & Elimination Battle
"We Love You, Bunny" by Mona Awad (06:35–08:57)
- Context: Sequel to cult-fav "Bunny," roots in dark academia but described as "funny dark academia" vs. “tart” mean-girls dark academia.
- Premise: MFA grad enters the publishing world, encountering secretive literary societies.
- Reception: Hotly anticipated, but at 496 pages and being a sort-of-sequel, the hosts doubt mainstream crossover despite strong weird-lit credentials.
- Insight: “Second book is a hard pitch, even if it’s supposedly a standalone. 500 pages is tough.” — Rebecca (08:16)
- Status: Advances automatically as first presented but will likely face elimination soon.
"Mother Mary Comes to Me" by Arundhati Roy (09:23–12:24)
- Context: Literary memoir from celebrated Booker winner, chronicling a complex relationship with her formidable mother.
- Notables: Rebecca anticipates literary acclaim and possible awards, but recognizes it’s for the "lit crowd," not casual God of Small Things fans.
- Quote: “I’m going to have to brace myself, I think, for reading this one. I might be saving it for the end of the year.” — Rebecca (11:14)
- Status: Advances, edging out Bunny due to broader literary impact potential.
"Midnight Timetable" by Bora Chung (13:00–15:08)
- Context: Short story collection from National Book Award finalist (for “Cursed Bunny”), blending literary ghost stories with an experimental edge.
- Hosts’ Take: Admired for page count and premise, but two “it book” headwinds: short stories & translation.
- Quote: “Short stories in translation are two knocks against it bookiness because they both just raised the barrier of entry for most readers.” — Rebecca (15:08)
- Status: Does not advance.
"The Academy" by Elin Hilderbrand & Shelby Cunningham (15:34–17:40)
- Context: Boarding school drama by a commercial fiction powerhouse, written with her daughter.
- Selling Points: 750,000 print run is massive, but target is the Hilderbrand “hive”—devoted but not likely to reach best-of lists; not a literary darling.
- Status: Fails to oust Roy's memoir.
"The Impossible Fortune" by Richard Osman (17:50–20:23)
- Context: Fourth book in Thursday Murder Club series, boosted by Netflix adaptation (which Jeff panned).
- Quote: “It's not a glass of vodka. It's not even an Amaretto sour. This is a tall, room temperature glass of Ensure.” — Jeff (19:01)
- Observation: Franchise appeal limited to existing fanbase; audience sees a bump for Book 1 thanks to the show, but Book 4 isn’t entry-level.
- Status: Arundhati Roy advances.
"Amity" by Nathan Harris (22:02–24:41)
- Context: Sophomore novel from author of “The Sweetness of Water,” following emancipated siblings post-Civil War.
- Hosts’ Insight: Critically promising but challenging subject matter, literary distinction but perhaps less broad reader appeal; Harris lacks “name carries” factor.
- Status: Roy’s memoir still ascendant.
"The Wilderness" by Angela Flournoy (27:58–32:14)
- Context: Long-awaited follow-up to “The Turner House.” Multi-decade story of Black female friendship, already a Kirkus Prize finalist.
- Analysis: Timely topic, literary recognition, and best-of-list potential.
- Quote: “All of those things... are knocks against it [Lockwood's book] for mainstream IT bookiness. Like Jenna Bush Hager is not going to be touting this book on the Today show, but it is very likely to get nominated for awards. It is very likely to end up on best of lists.” — Rebecca (34:53)
- Status: Advances, finally defeating Roy’s memoir.
"Will There Ever Be Another You" by Patricia Lockwood (32:14–35:34)
- Context: Wildly inventive, pandemic-brain-meltdown novel from acclaimed poet/novelist; “Prize Daddy” memoirist; previous Booker finalist.
- Enthusiasm Level: Sky-high from both hosts, especially for its literary strange-but-captivating aura.
- Quote: “Put it in my veins, man.” — Rebecca (33:31)
- Quote: “Lockwood’s really like...the star continues to rise. I don’t think that we have yet seen Apex Mountain for Patricia Lockwood.” — Rebecca (35:06)
- Status: Advances past Flournoy for the literary crown.
"All the Way to the River" by Elizabeth Gilbert (36:12–41:49)
- Context: Raw, confessional memoir exploring addiction & codependency, centered on a fraught relationship.
- Nuance: Gilbert’s familiar warmth and voice make a readable book, but its content is challenging. Despite probable bestseller status, it's less literary than Lockwood. Much group chat fodder anticipated.
- Quote: “It is as eyebrow-raising as any addiction memoir I’ve ever read. And in that way, I think it’s really brave for someone to just lay out: here are the humiliating and upsetting things that I did.” — Rebecca (37:07)
- Status: Outclassed by Lockwood’s literary achievement.
"Secretive Secrets" by Dan Brown (41:52–44:14)
- Context: Robert Langdon returns! Globe-trotting symbologist in Prague, aged franchise back with massive page count and international stakes.
- Hosts’ Tone: Gleeful, tongue-in-cheek; the definition of popcorn blockbuster.
- Quote: “I just need it to be a good Dan Brown book. Like, she'll have a ponytail, they're gonna smooch, he's gonna swim laps. Puzzles will get solved.” — Rebecca (42:46)
- No Contest: This is a publishing event, but not a literary “It Book” in the Lockwood mold.
Winner: "It Book of September 2025"
Will There Ever Be Another You by Patricia Lockwood
- Critical Factors:
- Explosive literary buzz, prior accolades, and the sense that Lockwood’s star is still rising.
- Right genre, right length, right cultural moment: “She feels weird, unpredictable, surprising.” — Jeff (35:26)
- Strong award season and best-of-year list potential.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- On Cover Design Clichés: “Polychromatic covers featuring creepy animals—stay tuned for another book coming.” — Jeff (13:55)
- On Literary Fiction Trends: “I do feel that the dominance of historical fiction may be on the wane. Just a skosh.” — Jeff (31:13)
- On Patricia Lockwood: “She wrote it insane. And edited it sane.” — Rebecca on Lockwood’s pandemic-writing process (34:39)
- On Dan Brown: “A Dan Brown book should be 688 pages, but also the font will be 650.” — Rebecca (43:52)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- It Book Methodology & Setup: 01:05–03:13
- "We Love You, Bunny" Preview: 06:35–08:57
- "Mother Mary Comes to Me" Discussion: 09:23–12:24
- Short Stories & Cover Design Riff: 13:00–15:08
- Commercial Fiction & Hilderbrand: 15:34–17:40
- Cozy Mysteries & Adaptation Chat (Osmond): 17:50–20:23
- Historical Fiction Trends: 22:02–32:14
- Lockwood Deep Dive: 32:14–35:34
- Elizabeth Gilbert Memoir: 36:12–41:49
- Dan Brown Popcorn Round: 41:52–44:14
- Wrap-Up & Honorable Mentions: 44:48–47:06
Honorable Mentions & Literary Zeitgeist Trends (44:48–46:47)
- Pop nonfiction: “The War Over TikTok”; Tim Berners Lee book; Jade Chang’s “What a Time to Be Alive”
- Big brand authors: William Kent Krueger (“Apostles Cove”), Ken Follett (“Circle of Days”)
- Other notable releases: “Water Bears” by Sasha Bonet, “Kaplan’s Plot” by Jason Diamond
- Market Trend: Publishers segmenting further, historical fiction needs new hooks, and TikTok keeps shifting the zeitgeist.
Closing Thoughts
- Patricia Lockwood’s “Will There Ever Be Another You” wins as September’s It Book, trumping bestselling memoirs and megabrand thrillers thanks to its buzz, acclaim, and singular literary energy.
- The hosts muse on their dream of “serious” literary luminaries writing Dan Brown novels—proving, as always, that the intersection of literary ambition and mass-appeal storytelling remains an endless source of fascination and fun for the Book Riot team.
Stay tuned for the next Patreon-exclusive draft episode and more bookish deep-dives from Book Riot’s all-star team.