8 Bookish Podcasts for the Lover of Literature

Brought to you by the team at OverDrive (the creators of the Libby library app), this podcast features lively chats between librarians and frequent guest authors. The hosts discuss recent book releases, book world news, and their personal favorite reads.

They excel at providing highly personalized book recommendations and often incorporate pop culture references—like suggesting books based on movies you already love. With fun, current-event-tailored episodes like “Page to Screen” or “TV Shows with Book Tie-Ins,” there is something here for every type of reader.

If you ever suffer from "reader's block," this podcast arms you with everything you need to pick your next great read. Hosted by Anne Bogel—the creator behind the wildly popular Modern Mrs. Darcy blog—the show relies on a unique format: Anne interviews a guest about three books they love, one book they hate, and what they are reading now, before prescribing three perfect recommendations.

Anne is a lover of both classic and modern literature, meaning her recommendations span a massive variety of genres. It’s an intelligent, comforting, and highly functional podcast for avid readers.

Lit Up offers stimulating discussions between host Angela Ledgerwood and her frequent guest authors, providing brilliant insights into the writing process and the books they personally love.

If you are a fan of contemporary literature and deep-dive interviews, this is the podcast for you. The conversations often venture down fascinating literary tangents, making you feel like you are sitting in a cozy coffee shop chatting with a group of brilliantly creative writers. Grab a cup of coffee and tune in.

Although this podcast officially concluded its run in 2016, its archive of nearly 400 episodes remains a goldmine for book lovers. Each episode features two hosts—both veterans of the publishing industry—having smart, insightful conversations about literature, bookstores, publishing trends, and more.

Because good literature never really goes out of style, the vast majority of their recommendations and advice remain perfectly relevant today. It's an excellent back-catalog to binge when you need timeless literary commentary.

True to its name, this podcast is heavily fueled by witty banter. The hosts discuss their favorite reads (both new and old), books to help you escape the craziness of the modern world, and practical advice on how to carve out more time to read.

Episodes often run longer than an hour, but thanks to the hosts' engaging personalities and excellent chemistry, the time flies. The Readers will undoubtedly inspire you to pick up a book and read more frequently.

Fandom podcasts have exploded in popularity over the last few years, and Dear Mr. Potter remains a standout for the ultimate Harry Potter fan. Rather than just reviewing the books, this show takes a microscopic, seminar-style look at the themes, traditions, and literary history that helped J.K. Rowling shape the world of Hogwarts.

Each episode acts as an engaging literary deep-dive, moving chronologically through the chapters. The hosts carefully pull out significant quotes, discuss the background behind pivotal scenes, and analyze character development in real-time. If you want to squeeze every drop of thematic brilliance out of your favorite fantasy series, this is the way to do it.

(Note: The creator of this series also hosts a fantastic podcast for Lord of the Rings nerds titled “There and Back Again.” If you love this deep-dive format, be sure to look for similar fandom podcasts covering modern BookTok favorites!)

This is the ultimate podcast for lovers of short stories. Every month, The New Yorker's fiction editor, Deborah Treisman, invites an esteemed writer to choose a story from the magazine’s archives to read and discuss.

They dissect what makes the prose so effective, the hidden meanings within the text, and the structural elements of short fiction. It functions like an audiobook with a high-level literary analysis attached to the end. It's the perfect intellectual companion for a long drive.

Novel Conversations is an Evergreen Podcasts Original and the perfect show for anyone who loves classic literature! From the avid reader who has tackled all the great classics and wants a quick refresher, to the newcomer who wants a solid plot summary before diving into a difficult text, this show is an absolute must-listen.

Novel Conversations gives you the entire story in a condensed, highly entertaining format. Complete with added historical insights, favorite passages, and fascinating author trivia, each episode wraps up in just 35 to 45 minutes. It is essentially the audio best friend of SparkNotes or CliffsNotes, designed to make the world's greatest stories accessible to everyone. With multiple seasons available to binge, you can catch up on everything from George Orwell’s 1984 to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice during your next commute.

Host Cindy Burnett chats with authors about their latest works in this fast-paced, insightful podcast. It's a fantastic resource for discovering new reads before they hit the bestseller lists and for learning about the latest trends in the publishing industry.