Missing Pages
4.8/5
Critic Rating
An investigative podcast hosted by world-renowned literary critic and publishing insider Bethanne Patrick. Book bans are on the rise across America. With the rise of social media, book publishers are losing their power as the industry gatekeepers. More and more celebrities and influencers are publishing books with ghostwriters. Writing communities are splintering because members are at cross purposes about their mission. Missing Pages is an investigative podcast about the book publishing industry. The show is produced by The Podglomerate.
Critic Reviews
Score: 5
Devin • Podstack • Nov 9, 2023
"(Season 2) I’m not a big reader and I’m not on BookTok but I’ve definitely heard of Colleen Hoover. I had no idea her rise to fame all started with some self-publishing...you learn about this unique example of how publishing and social media are interacting now. The key might be the emotionally charged reactions her books cause..."
Score: 5
PR Staff • PodcastReview.org • Nov 1, 2023
"(Season 2) returns with a quirky second season that delves into a world of copyright law, ghostwriters, and self-publishing. Missing Pages is an engaging, educational listen for those curious about the future of publishing."
Score: 5
Lauren Passell • Podcast The Newsletter • Oct 30, 2023
""The first season of Missing Pages was a true-crime / publishing hybrid (inject this directly into my veins) and the new one, just launched, is about a splintering happening in the world of publishing, where book publishers are losing their power as industry gatekeepers and authors are publishing their books in untraditional ways, harnessing the power of social media... I think everyone will be fascinated to hear the story of Colleen Hoover, who broke all the rules to create a book empire through self-publishing and her social media influence. She was the first self published author to hit #1 in the New York Times best seller’s list. (It’s a really cute story that starts with Colleen trying to help her grandmother download a book on her Kindle.) Bethanne Patrick gets the full story that explains this new publishing pipeline and how power is shifting to the readers. It’s something that’s unsettling for the book industry and authors who have succeeded the old fashioned way, and it’s already impacting what’s making money, getting published by big houses, and what is getting marketing support from those big houses. The lesson: write the book you want to read. Make the podcast you want to hear. Listen to that here."…"
Score: 5
Alice Florence Orr • The Podcast Review Blog • Oct 27, 2023
"Paradigm Shift: The Colleen Hoover Story...Colleen Hoover created a book empire through self-publishing, in part due to the power of social media. Is her career a sign of a changing landscape where publishing gatekeepers are losing power while readers are gaining power?"
Score: 5
Hannah Verdier • The Guardian • Oct 26, 2023
"Patrick tells a compelling story, opening with the tale of Colleen Hoover, who kickstarted a stellar career with self-publishing."
Score: 5
Ron Charles • Washington Post • Oct 26, 2023
"(Updated) This entertaining podcast hosted by my friend Bethanne Patrick explores curious elements of the literary world. Monday’s episode examines the phenomenal success of romance-thriller writer Colleen Hoover, whose books once held six of the top 10 spots on the paperback bestseller list."
Score: 3.5
Rebecca Lavoie, Kevin Flynn, Lara Bricker & Toby Ball • Crime Writers On • Sep 22, 2022
"The stories about the scandals in the publishing industry were very interesting, but they felt incomplete. The details about the alleged misdeeds were conspicuously missing. It's a good series, but it may leave you doing additional research."
Score: 4.4
Ximena Smith • Stuff NZ • Sep 18, 2022
"While such wider questions are of course noble and important to ask, I found that they often seemed to fall short and have a dissatisfying conclusion in Missing Pages...With that in mind, I’d advise approaching this series as a source of fun and entertainment, rather than anything deeper. …"
Score: 5
PR Staff • PodcastReview.org • Sep 7, 2022
"In the show’s own words, Missing Pages exposes the book publishing stories that are “unfit for print” –– and it’s thrilling. …"
Score: 4.8
Nicholas Quah • Vulture • Aug 17, 2022
"It’s plenty fun, almost trashy fun, and definitely interesting if you’re into the material. You might get some satisfaction from how the series tries to build out a larger argument, or indictment, about the publishing industry’s many sins; that element of the show can be hit or miss. Glad they’re there, though."
Score: 4.8
Keelin • Mentally? A Magpie. • Aug 15, 2022
"In some ways a true crime “who done it”, we are taken on a familiar feeling path where a case is built and defense is made. This is an easy story to follow, tying in some current events for a full understanding of the elite world we are talking about. Missing Pages won’t be the podcast for everyone - the polish just isn't as lustrous as others. It’s a good one to try if you want a mystery without death or some insight into the darker sides of the publishing industry."
Score: 5
Hollie Richardson • The Guardian • Aug 11, 2022
"...Bethanne Patrick reinforces the lesson of never judging a book by its cover by untangling some of the publishing industry’s biggest scandals."…"
Score: 5
Ron Charles • Washington Post • Aug 11, 2022
"...gobsmacking stories..."
