What To Read

With days growing shorter and sweater weather looming, it’s prime time to counteract the end-of-summer blues and plan a bookish trip. From the Art Basel for the literati in Miami to San Francisco’s Litquake to the star-studded New Yorker Festival these 10 bookish events are worth traveling for. This guide is your preview to some of the top talent appearing at these festivals, as well as some recommendations on each city's literary pilgrimages, bookish hotels and even where to grab a coffee.

Printers Row Lit Fest

When: September 7 - 8, 2024 

Where: Chicago, IL

Why you should go:

Former US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith and novelists Claire Lombardo, Luis Alberto Urrea and Rebecca Makkai are just a few of the luminaries who will be appearing at this two-day literary celebration in Chicago. Join 100,000 fellow book lovers as they gather to soak up author panels and browse books along a thoroughfare in the heart of a district that was once a hub of printing presses and book crafters. It’s the best time of year to see the city’s iconic architecture from a boat tour, enjoy outdoor Oktoberfest or even catch the Cubs playing the Yankees at Wrigley Field. 

For those who are somehow left wanting even more literary energy, there is the Carl Sandburg house, where he wrote his groundbreaking poem “Chicago,” the American Writers Museum on Museum Mile, and Ernest Hemingway’s birthplace home in nearby Oak Park to check out as well. 

Harlem Book Fair

When: September 5 - 7, 2024

Where: New York, NY

Why you should go:

As always, this year’s Harlem Book Fair, one of the nation’s premiere Black literary events, will be hosted in the heart of historic Harlem at Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. Plaza on W. 125th street in New York. The theme of this year’s programming is “rɛvəˈluʃən” which will serve as the context behind panel discussions with We Refuse author Kelly Carter Jackson, Be a Revolution author Ijeoma Oluo, CNN political analyst Natasha S. Alford, amongst others. 

This year is the first time that the Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute will partner with the festival, to showcase the work of Haitian authors including lit tastemaker and author Roxanne Gay and the legendary Edwidge Danticat, whose anticipated essay collection came out this week.  

Brooklyn Book Festival

When: September 22 - September 30, 2024

Where: Brooklyn, NY

Why you should go: The Brooklyn Book Festival is one of our favorite blockbuster book festivals in the U.S. This expansive literary gathering, the largest in New York, unfolds over a week in physical venues across all five boroughs as well as virtual events. The festival will culminate with Festival Day on September 29, in and around downtown Brooklyn’s Borough Hall, which is sure to be swarming with booklovers from around the city and world. 

New York is always a hub for readings and literary gatherings, but if you're in town in September you're going to want to make time to head uptown for The Power Broker at 50 exhibition about Robert Caro at The New-York Historical Society.

Litquake

When: October 10 - 26, 2024

Where: San Francisco, CA

Why you should go:

Founded in 1999 and formerly known as Litstock, the West Coast’s largest independent literary festival, Litquake, is now entering into its 25th year. Taking place over 16 days in small and large venues throughout San Francisco, the festival typically brings in more than 20,000 visitors and features as many as 500 authors at over 100 events, most of which are free. 

For those with young readers, make sure not to miss out on Kidquake on October 10 and 11, featuring some of the top authors and illustrators of elementary age books.

Iowa City Book Festival

When: October 14 - 20, 2024 

Where: Iowa City, IA 

Why you should go:

Home to the University of Iowa’s Writers’ Workshop and a UNESCO-designated “City of Literature,” it’s no surprise that the Iowa City's annual book festival brings some of the lit world’s biggest names to the American heartland. Fitting for Iowa City’s reputation for incubating notable authors, this year’s roster of presenters includes literacy and publishing advocate Dave Eggers and writing process guru Natalie Goldberg. 

N.B. A trip to the Iowa City isn't complete, of course, without a trip to its internationally renowned indie bookstore Prairie Lights.

The New Yorker Festival

When: October 25 - 27, 2024

Where: New York, NY

Why you should go:

The New Yorker Festival is a rite of sweater weather season in New York, an unrivaled three-day cultural experience that brings together some of the world's most fascinating authors, artists, and critics live on stage. Talent on the roster includes Sheila Heat Miranda July, Julie Mehretu, Gary Shteyngart, Amy Sederis and many more. Act quickly on this one! Tickets go fast and events with Rachel Maddow and Seth Meyers are already running a waitlist.

Boston Book Festival

When: October 26, 2024 

Where: Boston, MA

Why you should go:

Set against the backdrop of its host city’s charming streets and iconic landmarks, the Boston Book Festival takes over Beantown’s historic and intellectual hub, Copley Square, for a day. Stroll through a labyrinth of bookseller booths, grab a bite at a food truck, hit up your favorite author talks and relish the people-watching – attendees have been known to dress up as their favorite literary characters.

If you can make it a day early, Malcolm Gladwell kicks off the festival on the evening of Friday, October 25, with a stop on his book tour for the Revenge of the Tipping Point. Keynote speakers on Saturday include Louise Erdrich and Jeffrey Deaver.  

We recommend getting a room at the Omni Parker House Hotel, where Ralph Waldo Emerson, Samuel Gray Ward and Horatio Woodman once convened for their illustrious Saturday Club gatherings.

Portland Book Festival

When: November 2, 2024

Where: Portland, OR

Why you should go:

The Rose City’s annual book festival, formerly known as “Wordstock,” is the largest in the Pacific Northwest and captures well the creative and vibrant spirit of its host city with a formidable lineup of local and national authors.

If you have an extra day or two to spend in Oregon's largest – and eminently walkable – city, we recommend checking out Powell’s Books, which houses approximately one million books and claims to be the largest used and new bookstore in the world.

Texas Book Festival

When: November 16-17, 2024

Where: Austin, TX

Why you should go:

Malcolm Gladwell, Xochitl Gonzalez, Claire Messud and Rumaan Alam are just a few of the celebrated authors descending on Austin for the 28th annual Texas Book Festival, co-founded by former first lady Laura Bush and fellow librarian Mary Margaret Farabee. What better place to celebrate books and our freedom to read than this festival that is set at the Austin Capitol, which has  emerged as one of the frontlines in the national battle against book censorship and bans.

Miami Book Fair

When: November 17 - 24, 2024

Where: Miami, FL

Why you should go:

Call it Art Basel for the literati, the Miami Book Fair is a weeklong, star-studded, literary feast in the heart of Vice City. Hundreds of authors descend on the downtown campus for readings, panels, workshops, and more.

We recommend staying at The Betsy Hotel (the most literary boutique hotel in the city, known for it's Writer's Room) and grabbing a cafecito at Manolo & Rene Grill, about a 10-minute walk from the street fair. You’ll need the fuel to zig and zag from building to building. Bring an umbrella, as this one takes place at the tail end of hurricane season.