Book Riot Settings: A Complete Guide for Beginners
You’ve seen the name in audiobook circles, spotted the colorful covers on social media, and maybe wondered if Book Riot is an app you need to download. Here’s the short version: Book Riot isn’t a listening platform—it’s a massive editorial site covering books, publishing, and reading culture. But for audiobook lovers, it’s a goldmine of recommendations, and knowing how to navigate its features can save you from wasting a credit on a dud.
This guide walks you through the essential Book Riot settings and tools you should know as a beginner, so you can spend less time scrolling and more time listening.
Why Audiobook Fans Should Care About This Literary Media Site
Book Riot is an independent media company that publishes daily articles, newsletters, podcasts, and book lists. Think of it as a literary magazine that updates constantly, with a strong focus on genre fiction, diverse voices, and practical reading advice.
For audiobook listeners, the site matters for three specific reasons:
1. Curated audiobook lists — Editors regularly publish roundups like “20 Audiobooks Narrated by the Author” or “Best Mysteries on Audio.” These aren’t generic bestseller roundups; they’re organized by mood, genre, or narration style.
2. Narrator-focused reviews — Unlike Amazon reviews that often ignore performance, Book Riot writers frequently discuss narration quality in detail. You’ll learn whether a narrator’s pacing suits the material or if their character voices fall flat.
3. Deals and sales tracking — Their daily newsletter often flags Audible sales, free listens, and subscription discounts that you might otherwise miss.
The “settings” you need to configure aren’t inside an app—they’re about how you filter, subscribe, and search the site to get the most relevant content for your listening habits.
The Two-Minute Newsletter Setup That Changes Everything
The fastest way to make Book Riot work for you is to subscribe to the right newsletters. The site offers several, and each one has a distinct focus. For a time-pressed multitasker, two stand out:
- Book Riot Daily — A morning email with links to new articles, list posts, and industry news. It’s a quick skim, not a deep read. You can scan it in under three minutes during your commute.
- The Audible — Book Riot’s dedicated audio newsletter, covering audiobook news, narrator interviews, and listening recommendations. This is the one that matters most for your purposes.
If you only have time for one, choose the daily digest. It catches the audiobook-specific posts without requiring you to dig through the site yourself.
To manage your subscriptions, scroll to the footer of any Book Riot page, click “Newsletters,” and check or uncheck the options. You can also adjust email frequency in the confirmation email they send you. The whole process takes about two minutes.
Here’s the branch point: After you subscribe, check your inbox for the confirmation email. If you see a preference center link, click it and set your frequency to weekly if daily feels like too much. If the email only has a confirm button, click it and move on—you can always adjust later by scrolling to the footer of any Book Riot newsletter and clicking “Manage Preferences.” Don’t let a full inbox scare you off; the daily email takes less time to skim than a single social media scroll.
Searching the Site Like an Editor (Not a Tourist)
Book Riot’s search bar is functional but not fancy. The trick is to use specific search terms that match how their editors tag posts.
Instead of searching “audiobooks,” try:
- “audiobook recommendations” — Returns list posts with multiple titles.
- “best audiobooks” — Seasonal roundups appear here.
- “narrator interview” — Behind-the-scenes looks at performance choices.
- “audiobook deals” — Time-sensitive sales posts.
You can also browse by genre tags. For example, if you’re into cozy mysteries, search “cozy mystery audiobook” and you’ll find curated lists that include narrator notes. A recent list on the site highlighted The Thursday Murder Club series, where narrator Lesley Manville’s dry wit carries the ensemble cast—exactly the kind of detail that helps you decide before spending a credit.
One warning: Book Riot’s search doesn’t always surface older posts. If you’re looking for something from more than a year ago, use Google and type `site:bookriot.com audiobook` followed by your topic. That works far better than the site’s native search.
A common mistake here: typing broad terms like “best books” and then getting overwhelmed by hundreds of results. Narrow your search to include the format (“audiobook”) plus a mood or genre (“thriller,” “feel-good,” “narrated by author”). If your first search returns nothing useful, swap one keyword for a synonym—try “listening” instead of “audiobook,” or “audio” instead of “listening.” The site’s tagging isn’t perfectly consistent, so a little keyword flexibility goes a long way.
The Podcasts That Fit Your Commute
Book Riot produces several podcasts, and for audiobook fans, two are worth your playlist space:
- Book Riot: The Podcast — A weekly show where editors discuss new releases, reading trends, and occasionally cover audiobook-specific topics like narration styles or listening speed.
- All the Books! — A shorter weekly episode focused on new releases. If you want to know what’s coming out on audio each Tuesday, this is your fastest briefing.
Both are available on every major podcast app. You don’t need any special settings—just subscribe and let them accumulate. For commuters, the 30–45 minute runtime of All the Books! fits neatly into a one-way drive.
How to verify these are working for you: After two weeks of listening, ask yourself whether you’ve added at least one new title to your want-to-listen list. If the answer is no, try a different episode format—Book Riot: The Podcast is more conversational, while All the Books! is pure information. One will click better depending on whether you want entertainment or efficiency during your drive.
Making Credit Decisions Without the Paralysis
Here’s where Book Riot becomes a practical tool rather than just entertainment. When you have one credit left and you’re paralyzed by choice, use their lists to narrow down options.
A concrete example: Say you’re in the mood for a memoir but want something with excellent narration. Search Book Riot for “memoir audiobook” and you’ll likely find a list that includes Born a Crime by Trevor Noah, narrated by the author. That’s a reliable choice because Noah’s comedic timing and multilingual performance add layers the print version can’t convey.
The key is to cross-reference Book Riot’s praise with Audible’s sample feature. Read the review, then listen to the first two minutes of the sample. If the narrator’s voice matches your preference, you’ve made a solid credit decision.
Try Audible Free for 30 Days — Start your free trial on Amazon and get two free audiobooks.
A warning about review bias: Book Riot editors are professional readers, which means their tastes sometimes skew literary. If you’re a pure genre fiction fan, look for their specific genre roundups rather than general “best of” lists. A glowing review of a slow-burn literary novel won’t help you if you want a fast-paced thriller for your commute. Match the reviewer’s described preferences to your own before committing a credit.
Choosing Your Listening Speed Without Ruining the Book
Book Riot articles often mention listening speed, but they rarely give concrete advice on how to choose yours. Here’s the practical breakdown:
- 1.0x speed — Best for dense nonfiction, complex fantasy, or books with heavy dialect. You need time to process.
- 1.25x speed — A gentle boost that most people don’t notice. Good for literary fiction.
- 1.5x speed — The sweet spot for genre fiction, thrillers, and memoirs. You retain most details but save significant time.
- 2.0x speed — Only for re-reads, simple plots, or books you’ve already consumed in print. At this speed, emotional beats can flatten.
If you’re new to faster listening, don’t jump straight to 1.5x. Increase by 0.1x every few days. Your brain adapts, but it needs time to recalibrate to the narrator’s rhythm.
Book Riot’s own editors have discussed this in podcast episodes, but the advice is scattered. The general consensus across their content: faster is fine, but never speed up a book you’re genuinely enjoying just to “finish it.” That turns pleasure into a chore.
The failure mode to watch for: You push to 1.5x on a book with a complex plot, then realize 30 minutes in that you’ve missed a key character introduction. The symptom is confusion, the cause is speed, and the fix is simple—drop back to 1.25x or rewind 10 minutes. There’s no shame in slowing down; the goal is retention, not speed records. If you find yourself constantly rewinding at a certain speed, that speed is too fast for that particular book. Adjust per title, not per habit.
The Membership Question: What You Actually Get
Book Riot offers a paid membership called Riot Readers, which includes perks like exclusive merch, quarterly book boxes, and early access to events. For audiobook listeners specifically, the value is questionable.
The membership doesn’t include audiobook credits, discounts on Audible, or exclusive audio content. What you get is community access and physical swag. If you’re a time-pressed multitasker who just wants listening recommendations, the free content covers 95% of your needs.
Skip the membership unless you want the book box or you’re active in their online community. Your credit budget is better spent on actual audiobooks.
When to escalate: If you’re considering the membership because you think it includes audio perks, stop—it doesn’t. If you’re considering it for the community, check their free social media channels first. The Book Riot Discord and Twitter communities are active and free. Only pay if you specifically want the quarterly physical book box, which ships curated titles and goodies. That’s the one feature with tangible value for physical book lovers, not audio-focused listeners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Book Riot free to use?
Yes, all articles, newsletters, and podcasts are free. The optional Riot Readers membership adds physical perks but isn’t required for access.
Does Book Riot have its own audiobook app?
No. Book Riot is a media site, not a listening platform. They recommend books and discuss audio quality, but you’ll need Audible, Libby, Spotify, or another service to actually listen.
How often does Book Riot post audiobook-specific content?
At least a few times per week. Audiobook lists appear regularly, and the Book Riot: The Podcast episodes frequently touch on audio topics. The daily newsletter is the easiest way to catch these posts.
Can I filter Book Riot to only show audiobook articles?
Not directly. The site doesn’t have a dedicated audiobook category page. Use the search terms mentioned above or rely on the newsletter to surface relevant posts.
Is Book Riot biased toward Audible?
They cover all platforms, including Libby, Scribd, and Spotify. However, because Audible dominates the market, it appears more frequently in their recommendations. That’s a reflection of the industry, not a sponsorship arrangement.
Book Riot won’t replace your listening app, but it can replace your indecision. Use its newsletters for daily discovery, its search for targeted recommendations, and its reviews to vet narrators before you spend a credit. The settings that matter most aren’t on the site—they’re the habits you build around it. Check it once a week, note two or three titles, and let your ears do the rest.