The Weekly Reader

Remember The Seventies: "Lake Effect" by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney and "Judy Blume: A Life" by Mark Oppenheimer

18 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Dispatches from a tumultuous decade in American history.

Moving Memoirs: "The Flower Bearers" by Rachel Eliza Griffiths and "Fly, Wild Swans" by Jung Chang

16 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A pair of revealing memoirs from women whose lives have been shaped by politics, literature, and love.

Friend Groups: "So Old, So Young" by Grant Ginder and "Bad Asians" by Lillian Li

05 Mar 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Friendships are like works in progress; you need to work on them from time to time.

Celebrating Black Women: "Kin" by Tayari Jones, "Firstborn Girls" by Bernice McFadden, and "Finding Me" by Viola Davis

25 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Stories about Black women surviving, and thriving, in the latter half of the 20th century.

Road Trips: "The Rest of Our Lives" by Benjamin Markovits and "Solito" by Javier Zamora

19 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

Some journeys take us to places beyond our imaginations.

Jane Gardam Trilogy: Old Filth, The Man in the Wooden Hat, and Last Friends

11 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

A classic trilogy from a beloved British author.

Invisible Threads: are The Correspondent, by Virginia Evans, Palaver, by Bryan Washington and Deeper than the Ocean, by Mirta Ojita

05 Feb 2026

Contributed by Lukas

What are the invisible threads that weave us all together?

Great New Memoirs from Iconic Entertainers

21 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

New memoirs from giants of the world of entertainment: Anthony Hopkins, Tim Curry, and Peter Wolf.

New Thrillers: "Best Offer Wins" by Marisa Kashino and "The Gallagher Place" by Julie Doar

13 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

More twists and turns than a carnival helter skelter!

Memorable Memoirs of 2025

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The cream of the crop from a very good year for new memoirs.

Memorable Memoirs of 2025

07 Jan 2026

Contributed by Lukas

The cream of the crop from a very good year for new memoirs.

Top Ten Fiction Titles of the Year 2025

30 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our book critic Marion Winik rounds up the very best fiction of the year.

Non-fiction Gift Books 2025

15 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some of the very best non-fiction for holiday gift giving or as a little treat for yourself.

European Voices: "The Lack of Light" by Nino Haratischwili and "Serge" by Yasmina Reza

02 Dec 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Big stories about big European families.

Happy 250th, Jane Austen!

25 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A new way to enjoy your favorite Jane Austen classics.

Writers' Memoirs: "Joyride" by Susan Orlean and "Book of Lives" by Margaret Atwood

19 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, you just want more. This week, The Weekly Reader has you covered.

Just For Fun: "Henry and Grace's Holiday Movie Marathon" by Matt Norman and "The Literati" by Susan Coll

17 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Like most things in life, some books are just more fun than others.

Lives and Loves: Heart the Lover, by Lily King, and Dream Count, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

05 Nov 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What's more fun, or more complicated, than falling in love?

Sappho In Space: "To the Moon and Back" by Eliana Ramage and "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lesbian love stories...in space.

Sappho in Space: are "To the Moon and Back" by Eliana Ramage and "Atmosphere" by Taylor Jenkins Reid

30 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Lesbian love stories...in space.

Super Stories: "Fools for Love" by Helen Schulman and "Mercy" by Joan Silber

21 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Novels in stories from two great writers.

Meet the Parents: "The Boy from the North Country" by Sam Sussman and "No Ordinary Bird" by Artis Henderson

14 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who's your daddy?

Mommie Dearest: "Bad Bad Girl" by Gish Jen and "Mother Mary Comes to Me" by Arundhati Roy

06 Oct 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two new books about the often fraught relationship between mothers and their daughters.

Passage to India: "The Lonelinesss of Sonia and Sunny" by Kiran Desai and "A Guardian and A Thief" by Megha Majumdar

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Continent-spanning stories about love, life, and the interconnectivity of it all.

Passage to India: "The Lonelinesss of Sonia and Sunny" by Kiran Desai and "A Guardian and A Thief" by Megha Majumdar

30 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Continent-spanning stories about love, life, and the interconnectivity of it all.

New Romance: "August Lane" Regina Black, "Sweet Heat" by Bobu Babalola, and "Jamaica Road" by Lisa Smith

16 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Romance novels are having a moment. A long, popular moment! Check out these new titles.

Gifted Children: "The Sunflower Boys" by Sam Wachman and "Life, Death and Giants" by Ron Rindo

09 Sep 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We all want the best for our children, but how do we get it?

Goin' Out West, plus Paperback Releases For Bookclubs

25 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

New releases from Michelle Huneven and Jess Walter, plus some of this year's best books now out in paperback.

Trouble in Eastern Europe: "A Dog in Georgia" by Lauren Grodstein and "Endling" by Maria Reva

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Adventures in life and love in Eastern Europe during interesting times.

Comic Novels: "Vera, or Faith" by Gary Shteyngart and "Run for the Hills" by Kevin Wilson

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Leave your everyday cares behind and enjoy a good laugh with us this week.

Adventures in Travel: "Culpability" by Bruce Holsinger and "Sky Daddy" by Kate Folk

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Travel makes you big!

Magnificent Memoirs: "Flowers and Locusts" by Martha Reid Paradis and "Not My Type" by E. Jean Carroll

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Life isn't always pretty, but a good memoir is a thing of beauty.

Magnificent Memoirs: "Flowers and Locusts" by Martha Reid Paradis and "Not My Type" by E. Jean Carroll

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Life's not always pretty, but it makes for great memoirs.

Seaside Reads: "Next to Heaven" by James Frey and "The Listeners" by Maggie Stiefvater

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Perfect companions to tuck in your tote bag this summer.

Must-Read Memoirs from Molly Jong-Fast and Sarah Wynn-Williams

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Some people are born with privilege; what they do with it makes all the difference.

Insiders: Dispatches from New York City and Hollywood

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two new memoirs that take us behind the scenes of glamour and excess from glitzy publishing in NYC to filmmaking in Hollywood.

Women on Women: new books from Elizabeth Evitts Dickinson and Sophie Gilbert

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Influential women in the world of fashion and pop culture get the credit, and scrutiny, they deserve.

Great Debuts: Aaron John Curtis and Lucas Schaefer

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Exciting debut releases from two new American authors.

For Music Lovers: "Matriarch" by Tina Knowles and "Walk Softly On This Heart of Mine" by Callie Collins

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, talent is in the blood.

New York Stories: New novels from Maxine Rosaler, Austin Kelley, and Rumaan Alaml

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Three new books that will leave you in a New York state of mind.

Funny People: "What Is Wrong With You?" by Paul Rudnick, and "Making the Best of What's Left" by Judith Viorst.

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s easy to get caught up in life’s little messes and difficulties, especially as we age. Laughter may just help!

Family Life in the UK: "Going Home" by Tom Lamont and "The Names" by Florence Knapp

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The concept of “family” can mean a variety of things to different people. What does it mean to you?

Fiction Fights Back: The Dream Hotel, by Laila Lalami, and The Antidote, by Karen Russell

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Whether you believe that technology and AI will save us or eventually ruin our lives, have we got some books for you!

Good Stories: "Atavists" by Lydia Millet and "Good Women" by Halle Hill

30 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The world is complicated, for all of us. Good stories can help!

Modern Predicaments: "Jane and Dan at the End of the World" by Colleen Oakley and "Rental House" by Weike Wang

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Have you ever found yourself in a sticky situation, wishing you could you snap your fingers or click your heels and disappear?

Cats From Japan: The Blanket Cats, by Kiyoshi Shigematsu and Mornings Without Mii, by Mayumi Inaba

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Japan they call it iyashakei – a term that can be applied to anything that is comforting and uplifting: a person, a meal, a walk in the park. The...

Listen to This: New Audio Memoirs

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Never trust the teller, trust the tale? Not when the "teller" is as compelling as the "tale!"

Weekly Reader Live at CityLit Festival 2025

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Weekly Reader's Marion Winik will be in conversation with four local writers who have been receiving raves for their new work in fiction and poetr...

Europe in Wartime: "33 Place Brugmann" by Alice Austen and "Maya and Natasha" by Elyse Durham

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

World War II and its aftermath left an indelible mark on the world and inspired countless artists to try to make sense of such a calamity.

Listening to Joan Didion

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joan Didion died in 2021, but interest in her life and work has only increased since then.

Inheritance: "The Magnificent Ruins" by Nayantara Roy and "Like Mother, Like Mother" by Susan Rieger

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We can inherit so many things from our ancestors: physical traits, like hair and eye color, a quick temper, musical talent, a bunch of money, maybe ev...

I Dream of Joni Mitchell

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Joni Mitchell gets the biographical treatment in a pair of books as unconventional as the artist herself.

Short Stories: New Books From Curtis Sittenfeld, Erika Krouse, and by Amor Towles

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We love Short Stories, and we're going to make you love them, too.

Career Opportunities: "Mona Acts Out" by Mischa Berlinski and "How to Sleep at Night" by Elizabeth Harris

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Who hasn’t dreamed of running away, leaving it all behind, totally reinventing yourself?

When Bad Things Happen to Good Writers

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Great art is often created in the wake of terrible tragedy – think Guernica, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, The Vietnam Memorial.

When Bad Things happen to Good Writers

10 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Great art is often created in the wake of terrible tragedy – think Guernica, The Lonesome Death of Hattie Carroll, The Vietnam Memorial.

Coming of Age: "Playworld" by Adam Ross and "The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus" by Emma Knight

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Remember the 1980s? Remember college? Even if you weren’t alive, or never attended university, you’ll feel like you’ve gone back in time with th...

Coming of Age: "Playworld" by Adam Ross and "The Life Cycle of the Common Octopus" by Emma Knight

29 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Coming of age can be a challenge, no matter where, or when, you do it.

Immigration Matters: "Mothers and Sons" by Adam Haslett and "Homeseeking" by Karissa Chen

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Immigration is and always has been such a complex issue, you may not even realize how much it touches your everyday life.

A Few We Missed

10 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Our Evenings, by Alan Hollinghurst, and Pony Confidential, by Chrstina Lynch

Local Authors

07 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we'd like to turn your attention to a pair of local authors whose work reflects and illuminates the world around...

Majestic Memoirs: "Patriot" by Alexei Navalny and "Cher: The Memoir, Part One" by Cher

13 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a pair of  high-profile memoirs that reveal the complex lives of two vastly different, widely inf...

The Holiday Spirit: "Time of the Child" by Niall Williams and "Love You A Latke" by Amanda Elliot

05 Dec 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ah, December! On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels to help get you in the mood to celebrate the season, however, and whatev...

Naomi & Me: "I Know About a Thousand Things: The Writings of Ann Alejandro of Uvalde, Texas" and "Everything Comes Next: Collected and New Poems" by Naomi Shahib Nye

26 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a unique collaboration involving the celebrated poet Naomi Shahib Nye, Ann Alejandro, and our own Mari...

Family Life: "Intermezzo" by Sally Rooney and "The Wildes" by Louis Bayard.

20 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about the complicated ways we share our lives, and love, with others: Intermezzo, by Sa...

Road Trips: "Goyhood" by Reuven Fenton, and "How Does That Make You Feel, Magda Eklund?" by Anna Montague

15 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels that prove, once again, that sometimes, you just need a good road trip to sort yourself...

Celebrity Memoirs Part Two: Chung, Tucci, Bourdain, Pacino

12 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of our series about celebrity memoirs, we review four more superstar tell-all's that are well worth your time, whether you enjoy them ...

Celebrity Memoirs Part One: "From Here to the Great Unknown" by Lisa Marie Presley and Riley Keough and "All I Ever Wanted" by Kathy Valentine

01 Nov 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader we review two new engaging memoirs from the entertainment industry: From Here to the Great Unknown, by Lisa Marie...

Medicine Women: "The Waters" by Bonnie Jo Campbell and "The Love Elixir of Augusta Stern" by Lynda Cohen Loigman

24 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about female practitioners of folk remedies and herbal medicine and the special roll th...

Transitions

17 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new books about changing times, changing attitudes, and changing lives: Mona of the Manor, by Armi...

Small Towns, Big Stories

14 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two books, one a new novel and the other a re-issue of a somewhat overlooked classic about some of the...

For Mature Audiences: "We Were the Universe" by Kimberly King Parsons and "Olive Days" by Jessica Elisheva Emerson

02 Oct 2024

Contributed by Lukas

To the casual outside observer, middle class suburbia can look like a fairly boring place, but what’s really going on behind those well-tended garde...

Reality Adjacent: "Colored Television" by Danzy Senna and "Small Rain" by Garth Greenwell

27 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader we review two new novels that blur the lines between what's real and what's not: Colored Television, by Danzy Sen...

Friends and Stories: "Mina's Matchbox" by Yoko Ogawa and "Tell Me Everything" by Elizabeth Strout

20 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about the powerful, mysterious bonds we form with others throughout our lives and the w...

Podcasters and Ghostwriters: "Listen for the Lie" by Amy Tintera and "I Want You More" by Swan Huntley

16 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

 On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels that tap into the current media zeitgeist, from true crime podcasts to ghost writers:...

Women, Politics, and Power: "One Way Back" by Christine Blasey Ford and "True Gretch" by Gretchen Whitmer

06 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new powerful memoirs about some of the unique challenges women face in the world of politics and p...

Great Memoirs: "The Friday Afternoon Club" by Griffin Dunne and "Do Something" by Guy Trebay

04 Sep 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new incredible memoirs about wealth, privilege and its abiding pain: The Friday Afternoon Club, b...

New England Vacations: "Sandwich" by Catherine Newman and "The Wedding People" by Alison Espach

27 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this beach-ready edition of The Weekly Reader we review two new novels that take us to the sunny shores of coastal New England: Sandwich, by Cathe...

Talk to the Animals: "Bear" by Julia Phillips and "The Horse" by Willie Vlautin

13 Aug 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about mysterious visitors and life changing relationships with both two legged and fou...

Take Me to the Beach: "The Same Bright Stars" by Ethan Joella and "Swan Song" by Elin Hilderbrand

31 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of the Weekly Reader, we review two new novels perfect for a summer read, at home or at the beach: The Same Bright Stars, by Ethan Joe...

Women of Sports: "Headshot" by Rita Bullwinkel, and "Coming Home" by Brittney Griner

26 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a novel and a memoir that take us deep into the world of women and sports: Headshot, by Rita Bullwink...

Poor Dear Planet: "Pearce Oysters" by Joselyn Takacs and "Beep" by Bill Roorbach

18 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about the future effects of climate change, both real and imagined: Pearce Oysters by J...

Great American Novels: "Long Island Compromise" by Taffy Brodesser-Akner and "Familiaris" by David Wrobliewski

11 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review new work from two American authors that are possibly even better than their debuts: Long Island Compr...

Epic India: "The Covenant of Water" by Abraham Verghese and "Victory City" by Salman Rushdie

08 Jul 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels that capture the enormous complexities and immense landscapes of India: are The Covenan...

Women Warriors: "Daughters of Shandong" by Eve Chung and "The Women" by Kristin Hannah

26 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about women facing incredible uncertainty with grace, power, and fearlessness under sta...

Hot Summer Reads: "Come and Get It" by Kiley Reid and "Margo Has Money Troubles" by Rufi Thorpe

25 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Ah, summer. when if we are lucky, our work loads gets a little lighter, and our reading gets a little lighter, too. On this edition of The Weekly Read...

Stranger Things: "Real Life and Other Fictions" by Susan Coll and "The Husbands" by Holly Gramazio.

12 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels full of weird events, bizarre coincidences, and almost unbelievable outcomes: Real Lif...

A Trio of Thrillers: "One of Our Kind" by Nicola Yoon, "Death in the Air" by Ram Murali, and "The God of the Woods" by Liz Moore

05 Jun 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review three new thrillers: One of Our Kind, by Nicola Yoon, Death in the Air, by Ram Murali, and The God of...

New Gay Comic Novels from Stephen Rowley and Stephen McCauley

30 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two hot new, hotly anticipated gay comic novels: The Guncle Abroad, by Stephen Rowley, and You Only C...

New Memoirs from Salmon Rushdie and Daniel Handler

21 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

Sometimes, you think you know a lot about a favorite author, and then, they write a memoir. On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new, r...

Eat the Rich: Wives Like Us, by Plum Sykes, and Lies and Weddings, by Kevin Kwan

15 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

The extreme lifestyles of the rich and famous can be somewhat fascinating.  On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new books about the u...

Midlife Adventures: "The Lady Waiting" by Magdalena Zyzak, and "All Fours" Miranda July

08 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new novels about taking a midlife crisis and unexpected adventures: The Lady Waiting, by Magdalena...

Loss: "Fi, A Memoir of My Son" by Alexandra Fuller and "My Beloved Monster" by Caleb Carr

01 May 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review two new extraordinary memoirs about the exquisite joy of true love and the nearly unbearable pain of l...

Real Characters: "Candy Darling" by Cynthia Carr, and "To Anyone Who Ever Asks" by Howard Fishman

24 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review new biographies about two women who led mysterious lives in the glamorous, gloriously seedy New York c...

Sloane Crosley Special: "Grief is for People," "The Clasp," and "I Was Told There Would Be Cake"

18 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

American author Sloane Crosley is best known for her humorous essays and stories, but her new book takes a different tack. On this edition of The Week...

The World of Work: "Help Wanted" by Adelle Waldman and "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story" by Kara Swisher

10 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader we review two new books that take us behind the scenes of two very different and oddly intriguing work environmen...

Funny Women: "Worry" by Alexandra Tanner and "Sylvia's Second Act" by Hillary Yablon

03 Apr 2024

Contributed by Lukas

There are many good reasons to read a book: to study history, learn a new skill, practice our empathy, have a good cry, or, perhaps, a good laugh. On ...

Black American Fiction: "James" by Percival Everett and "Neighbors and Other Stories" by Diane Oliver

28 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, we review a novel and a collection of short fiction from two important black American writers finally getting th...

On Immigration: "The Prince of Los Cocuyos" by Richard Blanco, "Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here" by Jonathan Blitzer and "A Map of Future Ruins" by Lauren Markham

22 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, our book critic Marion Winik recommends three books that just might help you make some sense of the crisis at ou...

Fabulous Fables: "The Bullet Swallower" by Elizabeth Gonzalez James and "The Fox Wife" by Yangsee Choo

13 Mar 2024

Contributed by Lukas

On this edition of The Weekly Reader, our book critic Marion Winik reviews two new fabulous books that blend folklore and family history into tantaliz...