Welcome back to Reading the City, a weekly newsletter of bookish events in and around NYC.
Firstly, I’ve long been a fan of Elizabeth Howard’s brilliant Short Fuse Podcast, which features interviews with artists, writers, thinkers, and changemakers, and so it was a thrill when she invited me onto the show to talk about this very newsletter! We also cover the evolution of bookstores in the city, their changing role as third spaces, and the power of literary community. I hope you’ll listen here or wherever you get your podcasts.
Now onto this week: we have book launches from Jennifer Haigh, Lynn Steger Strong, Samina Ali, and Kevin Nguyen, as well as a great lineup for Miss Manhattan’s 11the birthday (Mary Gaitskill!), and a conversation I’d love to hear between Elissa Altman and Sari Botton on the craft of memoir. Also, check out the booking ahead section for events that are likely to sell out.
Lastly, I’ll be reading at a coming-of-age themed Patchwork Literary Salon at Sisters on Wednesday evening with Gina Chung and Grace Shuyi Liew, and I’d love to see some of you there!
As ever, send tips and please share the love with your bookish friends.
Monday, April 7
Miss Manhattan Non-Fiction Reading Series 11th Anniversary Party
Miss Manhattan celebrates 11 years of sharing non-fiction stories with teeny cupcakes and the great lineup of writers: Peter Trachtenberg (The Twilight of Bohemia); (Bad Behavior); Edgar Gomez (High-Risk Homosexual); and (Fragments of Wasted Devotion). Hosted by .
Free; 7.30pm; Niagara, 112 Avenue A, New York
Franklin Park Reading Series
Franklin Park comes along a week earlier than usual with authors Torrey Peters (Stag Dance), Lynne Tillman (American Genius), Robert Jones, Jr. (The Prophets), Bridgett M. Davis (The World According to Fannie Davis), Anton Solomonik (Realistic Fiction), and Caoilinn Hughes (The Alternatives). Penina Roth is founder and host. Take a shot at winning the readers' latest books in the free raffle.
Free; 8-10pm; 766 Franklin Avenue, 618 St Johns Pl, Brooklyn
Jennifer Haigh: Rabbit Moon
Jennifer Haigh (Mercy Street) presents Rabbit Moon—a tense, propulsive drama set in Shanghai, about a fractured American family, secret lives, and the unbreakable bond between two sisters—with Maria Semple (Today Will Be Different).
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Tuesday, April 8
Must Love Memoir
A monthly reading series dedicated to telling personal stories, hosted by Krystal Orwig (substack: then Krystal says) and Hope Elizabeth Kidd, this month features (Lessons for Survival), (In the Garden Behind the Moon), Florence Wetzel (Sara My Sara), Vesna Jaksic Lowe (substack:
), and poet Kristine Esser Slentz.Free; 7.30pm; Jake's Dilemma, Oak Cellar Room, 430 Amsterdam Avenue, New York
Rogue Loon Reading Series
The Rogue Loon Reading Series, hosted by writer J. T. Price, welcomes authors Ed Park (Same Bed, Different Dreams), Emily Nussbaum (Cue the Sun!), Anton Solomonik (Realistic Fiction), Harris Lahti, and Joseph Lee for a night of literature and music. Quinn Raymond will be the musical performer. Folks are invited afterwards to have a drink at the pub downstairs and there’s also food for order in the basement restaurant.
Free; 6-8pm; Salmagundi Club, 47 5th Avenue, New York
Distinguished Writers Series presents Liz Moore
A reading and discussion with Liz Moore (The God of the Woods) in conversation with Adam Haslett (Imagine Me Gone) as part of Hunter Creative Writing Program’s Distinguished Writer Series. The events are open to students and the public. Non-students should arrive early to get a day pass from security.
Free; 6:30pm; Roosevelt House Public Policy Institute at Hunter College, 47-49 East 65th Street, Manhattan
Lynn Steger Strong: The Float Test
Lynn Steger Strong (Want) launches her latest novel, The Float Test, a rich exploration of family, betrayal, and love. Gathered after a major loss, the at-odds Kenner siblings need each other more than ever—if only they could trust one another. Lynn is joined by Rumaan Alam (Leave the World Behind). Wine reception to follow.
Free; 7.30pm; Greenlight bookstore, 686 Fulton Street, Brooklyn
Elissa Altman: Permission
Join , author of Permission: The New Memoirist and The Courage to Create, to discuss how can we grant ourselves permission to write the stories we’re compelled to tell even when we've been told we shouldn't, alongside memoirist , creator of Oldster Magazine and Memoir Land.
Free; 8-9pm; Book Club Bar, 197 East 3rd Street, Manhattan
Samina Ali: Pieces You'll Never Get Back
Samina Ali (Madras on Rainy Days) discusses her new memoir Pieces You'll Never Get Back—a harrowing and redemptive memoir, in which a new mother must reconstruct her shattered mind, her relationship to her religious upbringing, and her life's purpose—with Executive Director of the Asian American Writers’ Workshop Jafreen Uddin. (Samina will also be holding a Brooklyn launch on Friday at PowerHouse @ IC).
$5; 7-8pm; Strand Book Store, The Strand at Columbus Ave, 450 Columbus Ave, Manhattan
Alex Dimitrov: Ecstasy
The Brooklyn launch of New York City poet ’s new collection Ecstasy.
$5, redeemable in-store; 7-9pm; Powerhouse Arena, 28 Adams Street, Brooklyn
Kevin Evers: There's Nothing Like This
of the Harvard Business Review discusses his debut book, There's Nothing Like This: The Strategic Genius of Taylor Swift—chronicling the business and creative decisions that have defined each phase of Swift's career—in conversation with Ramsey Khabbaz, also of the Harvard Business Review.
Free; 6-8pm; Housing Works Bookstore, 126 Crosby Street, Manhattan
Wednesday, April 9
Patchwork Literary Salon
Curated and hosted by , Patchwork Literary Salon brings together authors across genres and career stages for brief readings and lively conversation, along with drink specials and an opportunity to connect with fellow writers and readers. April is themed around coming-of-age and features Gina Chung (Sea Change), Tyler Wetherall (me! Amphibian), and Grace Shuyi Liew.
Free, RSVP appreciated; 7pm; Sisters, 900 Fulton St., Brooklyn
Kevin Nguyen: My Documents
Kevin Nguyen (New Waves) presents My Documents—the paths of four family members diverge drastically when the U.S. government begins detaining Vietnamese Americans, in this sharp and touching novel about growing up at the intersection of ambition and assimilation—with Tracy O'Neill (Woman of Interest).
$10, redeemable in-store; 7-8pm; Books Are Magic Montague, 122 Montague Street, Brooklyn, and livestreamed free
Amor Towles with Meg Wolitzer: Table for Two
A reading and conversation with acclaimed authors Amor Towles and Meg Wolitzer (The Female Persuasion), in celebration of his new story collection, Table for Two.
From $30; 7.30pm; 92nd Street Y, 1395 Lexington Ave, Manhattan
Thursday, April 10
BOMB’s Spring Issue Launch
Featuring an exclusive preview from Lincoln in the Bardo, an opera with music by BOMB contributor Missy Mazzoli, based on the book by George Saunders, which premieres at the Metropolitan Opera in October 2026. Director Lileana Blain-Cruz joins Missy Mazzoli in conversation after the performance.
$25; 6.30pm doors; The Atrium at Ace Hotel Brooklyn, 252 Schermerhorn St., Brooklyn
This Queer Book Saved My Life Live Podcast Recording
A live podcast recording of This Queer Book Saved My Life with Mia Arias Tsang (Fragments of Wasted Devotion) and Chloé Caldwell (Women), moderated by podcast host and founder John Parker. Mia will share the life-saving impact Caldwell’s novella Women had for her.
Free, with RSVP; 6-7.30pm; DeKalb Library, 790 Bushwick Ave. at DeKalb Ave, Brooklyn
Scaachi Koul: Sucker Punch
Scaachi Koul, author of One Day We’ll All Be Dead And None Of This Will Matter, co-host of Scamfluencers podcast, and creator of
substack, discusses her newest book, Sucker Punch: a self-examination of all the fights she’s had—with her parents, her ex-husband, her friends, online strangers, and herself—in the wake of losing her job, going through divorce, and a parent's cancer diagnosis, in an attempt to understand when a fight is worth having and when it's better to walk away. Scaachi will be joined in coversation by Isaac Fitzgerald (Dirtbag, Massachusetts).$5, redeemable in store; 6.30-8pm; P&T Knitwear, 180 Orchard Street, Manhattan
Village Story Salon
This month invited authors—Jim Hicks (Lessons from Sarajevo), Julia Phillips (Bear), Jendi Reiter (Origin Story), and Danny Shot (Works)—read from recent and in-progress work on the theme of “Fools,” followed by a discussion of the writing and their inspiration and process. Hosted by Cheryl J. Fish and Jonathan Vatner.
Free; 6-7.15pm; Hudson Park Branch, New York Public Library, 66 Leroy Street, Manhattan
Poets Against Fascism
An inspirational evening of poetry readings by a variety of artists. $5 to $10 suggested donation.
Free; 7-9pm; Revolution Books New York, 437 Malcolm X Boulevard Harlem, Manhattan
Clarice Lispector: Covert Joy
Translator Katrina Dodson and Creative Writing and Criticism Professor Merve Emre discuss Covert Joy, a rereleased selection of the most glittering gems of Clarice Lispector’s short fiction.
Free; 6-8pm; Rizzoli Books, 1133 Broadway, Manhattan
Friday, April 11
Vincenzo Latronico: Perfection
Italian author Vincenzo Latronico presents first book to be translated into English Perfection—a scathing novel about contemporary existence, a tale of two people gradually waking up to find themselves in various traps, wondering how it all came to be—in conversation with Merve Emre (The Personality Brokers).
Free; 7-8pm; Community Bookstore, 143 7th Avenue, Brooklyn
Booking Ahead
✨ April 14: On the Joys of Literary Community
Celebrate the paperback publications of Clare Beams’s The Garden, Xochitl Gonzalez’s Anita de Monte Laughs Last, Crystal Hana Kim’s The Stone Home, and Lisa Ko’s Memory Piece. The authors will discuss the importance of literary community, the anxieties and joys of publishing a second novel, and more.
$6.24; 6.30-8pm; Liz’s Book Bar, 315 Smith Street, Brooklyn
✨ April 17: Reclaim Your Joy: a Reading Party
Reading Rhythms is hosting a reading party featuring Dr. Judith Joseph discussing her new book, High Functioning: Overcome Your Hidden Depression and Reclaim Your Joy. Bring any book you like, prepare to meet readers and authors, and be part of this one-off reading party.
$40, including copy of the book; 7-9pm; Somethin' Else, 445 Albee Square W, Brooklyn
✨ April 22: Marie-Helene Bertino: Exit Zero
Marie-Helene Bertino (Beautyland) celebrates the release of her new collection of short fiction, Exit Zero, in conversation with Vinson Cunningham (Great Expectations), staff writer and theatre critic at the New Yorker.
$10; 7-8.15pm; The Center for Fiction, 15 Lafayette Avenue, Brooklyn, and livestreamed
NB. Please check all details before attending, the fact checker went awol.
I’m a Brooklyn-based journalist and author. My debut novel Amphibian is out now from Ig, as well as Virago in the UK, and forthcoming from dtv in Germany. My first book, No Way Home: A Memoir of Life on the Run (St. Martin’s Press, 2018) followed my childhood as the daughter of an international pot smuggler and federal fugitive. I’m here and here on Instagram. Get in touch with any bookish events you’d like me to include!
Thank you so much for sharing, Tyler!