Book Riot – The Podcast

Episode: The Winter 2026 New Release Draft [Teaser]

Hosts: Jeff O’Neal and Rebecca Schinsky
Date: January 9, 2026

Episode Overview

In this teaser for Book Riot’s premium content, Jeff and Rebecca kick off their highly anticipated “Winter 2026 New Release Draft.” This annual tradition pit the co-hosts against each other in a friendly competition to assemble the most exciting lineup of forthcoming book releases. The episode revolves around their draft strategy, reflections on previous seasons, and a preview of standout picks, highlighting trends and marquee authors in the publishing world for early 2026.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Setting the Stage: Draft Rules and Expectations ([00:24]–[00:56])

• Jeff and Rebecca launch the draft after quickly agreeing nothing needs to be taken "off the board" this year—no looming mega-title (like a new Colson Whitehead) that would clearly dominate.

• They reflect on previous seasons where entire authors had to be exempted due to hype (e.g., Colson Whitehead, Zadie Smith).

  “I don’t think we have to take that one off the board. We’re coming into a really good season.” – Rebecca [01:17]

2. Fall 2025 Draft Recap: A Close Race ([01:10]–[02:42])

• The co-hosts look back on their most recent fall draft—a highly competitive season, notable for how close the voting was:

  "In our fall draft, I got 51% of the vote and you got 48.6%. That is the closest I’ve ever seen it in a draft by a lot." – Rebecca [01:50]

• Rebecca credits her narrow victory to assembling a solid roster (Angela Flournoy, Patricia Lockwood, Zadie Smith, Oyinkan Braithwaite) but notes Jeff’s equally impressive picks.

  “You had Ali Hazelwood and Susan Orlean and The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny." – Rebecca [02:14]

3. The First Pick: Kin by Tayari Jones ([02:42]–[03:31])

• Jeff uses his first pick on Kin by Tayari Jones, highlighting its significance as the author’s first new novel in several years.

  • Details: 368 pages, publishes February 24, 2026, from Knopf.
  • The novel centers on lifelong friendships and is set at Spelman College, tying into cultural and genre trends—the ascendancy of campus novels written by accomplished women authors.

  “I pick Kin by Tayari Jones with my first pick. It's been a while since we've got a new Tayari Jones, so I think it becomes an event.” – Jeff [02:43]

  “This is also about lifelong friends over time, which is really the mood of the last year and a half in upmarket commercial fiction, Rebecca.” – Jeff [03:07]

4. Anticipation Around Kin ([03:31]–[04:05])

• Rebecca enthuses about the pick, sharing her own excitement and noting author buzz:

  • Tayari Jones is active on social media, signing thousands of pre-release copies.
  • Likely to be a book club darling; Jones is a prior Oprah pick.

  “She’s been signing her arm off—just, like, thousands of people.” – Rebecca [03:47] “I wouldn’t be surprised to see this get a big book club pick. She’s been honored by Oprah in the past. Just a huge writer and it has been a little while from her, so I think folks will be happy to hear from Tayari Jones.” – Rebecca [04:12]

5. Notable Trend: Marquee Authors Returning with Short Stories ([04:05]–[04:45])

• Rebecca observes that many beloved, high-profile authors are returning this season—but with short story collections instead of novels. This shapes both draft tactics and reader anticipation.

  “On a meta note, we got a bunch of our favorite marquee authors this season, and all of them are writing short stories.” – Rebecca [04:23]

• Both agree this trend is fascinating, but acknowledge short stories are a “tougher sell,” so picks are driven by the author’s prestige.

  “So we’re going by name. Really name alone if you’re picking those.” – Jeff [04:45]

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “There are a couple that we’re going to be competing over, I think, but there’s nothing like the new Colson Whitehead that we’re just going to take off the board.”
  – Rebecca [00:47]

• “That was the season where we had Whitehead and Zadie and Franzen and Erdrich all together… That might have been the year that was the first of the new Colson Whitehead.”
  – Rebecca [01:13]

• “I follow [Tayari Jones] on social and she’s been signing her arm off—just like thousands of people.”
  – Rebecca [03:47]

Noteworthy Timestamps

• 00:24 – Draft kickoff; agreement on available titles
• 01:10–01:46 – Review of past blowout seasons vs. the close fall draft
• 01:50–02:42 – Analysis of recent winning and nearly-winning picks
• 02:42 – Jeff’s first draft pick: Kin by Tayari Jones
• 03:31 – Rebecca’s reaction; discussion on Tayari Jones’s profile and potential book club fate
• 04:23 – Comment on the influx of short story collections from major authors
• 04:45 – Acknowledgment that picks are driven by name recognition with short stories

Tone & Style

The conversation is warm, playful, and full of expertise, with both hosts showing genuine excitement for the 2026 literary season and each other’s choices.

For More

Listeners interested in the full draft, more picks, and deeper discussions can join Book Riot’s Patreon to unlock the complete episode and back catalog.