Vanessa sits down with director Kim A. Snyder and librarians Martha Hickson and Carolyn Foote to discuss the film The Librarians: how it came to be, where to watch it, and why its message is such an urgent one for our times.

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The Librarians premieres on PBS on February 9, 2026

Where to watch The Librarians screening near you

All 850 Books Texas Lawmaker Matt Krause Wants to Ban: An Analysis (2021)

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Jeff and Rebecca consider 10 finalists for the title It Book of February.

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Jeff and Rebecca try to make sense of a bunch of adaptation news before talking about recent reads, Don DeLillo's hockey smut, and more.

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Updates on the Fourth Wing adaptation 

The Testaments is coming to Hulu April 8 

Brandon Sanderson’s unprecedented adaptation deal with Apple TV

Percival Everett was the bestselling Black author of 2025

Don DeLillo wrote hockey smut in 1980

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Jeff and Rebecca talk about George Saunders' new novel, Vigil.

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Jeff and Rebecca talk about the National Book Critics Circle Award Finalists, which publishers had the most best-sellers in 2025, Katie Couric's book club, and usher in the era of The Big 6.

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NBCC Awards  finalists

Libro.fm has launched an annual subscription

Ranking the bestselling adult publishers of 2025

Katie Couric launches book club

James Daunt sees bright future for Barnes & Noble

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Vanessa returns with another surprise topic from literary history: Christopher Marlowe: Playwright, lover, thinker, spy (?).

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Jeff and Rebecca look at some 2025 sales numbers, are astounded by the rise of Heated Rivalry, applaud a new subscription box, have some harsh words for Oreo, and more.

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Print book sales rose slightly in 2025

There’s a new Heated Rivalry book coming later this year

Bridgerton author Julia Quinn has launched a romance subscription box

Book Riot’s best fantasy books of the century so far

The Royal Shakespeare Company is bringing Hamnet to U.S. stages

Give yourself the gift of this George Saunders interview

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Jeff and Rebecca run through the notable adaptations coming this year (at least the ones we know about).

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Vanessa and Sharifah sit in for Jeff and Rebecca to discuss a poll on American reading habits, this year's most anticipated books and adaptations, and more.

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A survey of American reading habits reveals 40% of Americans didn't read a single book in 2025.

Barnes & Noble's most anticipated fiction and nonfiction of 2026

Book Riot's Most Anticipated Books of 2026

Utah bans three more books at all public schools, leading the U.S. in book bans

Book Riot's guide to fighting book bans and censorship

2026 adaptation roundups from The New York Times and The Hollywood Reporter

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This is a bonus preview of our ⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon-only⁠⁠⁠⁠ episode in which Rebecca and Jeff compete to compile the best basket of 10 new releases for the season.

To listen to the full episode and all previous bonus content, ⁠⁠⁠⁠become a Patreon member here⁠⁠⁠⁠.

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Jeff and Rebecca consider 10 finalists for the title It Book of January.

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Discussed in this episode:

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