What To Read

As winter's final page turns, now is the perfect time to plan a literary roadtrip or weekend escape to one of the great spring book festivals happening across the U.S. From the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts, to the Rocky Mountains in between, here are a few of the festivals and events that are worth traveling for!

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

April 26-27, Los Angeles, CA

This year, the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is celebrating its 30th anniversary. As always, the festival will take place on the campus of the University of Southern California and will feature some of the top authors of our time. The program includes critically acclaimed authors including Amor Towles, whose narrative craftsmanship has captivated millions; Katie Kitamura, master of taut psychological prose; Sloane Crosley, whose razor-sharp wit continues to redefine modern essay writing; and Alex Segura, whose genre-bending work bridges noir and literary fiction with remarkable dexterity. Keep an eye out for the Belletrist x Tertulia booth, where we'll be giving out prizes!

The Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne Archive at the NYPL

Opens March 26, New York, NY

After years of preparation, the New York Public Library has finally unveiled the archive of literary power couple Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. The archive's impressive scope—336 boxes of carefully preserved materials—offers unprecedented insight into two of America's most influential literary minds. Among its treasures are intimate photographs, handwritten drafts revealing their creative process, and revealing typescripts from Didion's groundbreaking interviews with cultural icons including folk legend Joan Baez, psychedelic pioneers The Doors, and even former Manson Family member Linda Kasabian, whose testimony helped convict Charles Manson.

For Didion devotees who have long analyzed her surgical prose and cultural criticism, and scholars of Dunne's incisive journalism and screenwriting, this archive represents more than mere memorabilia—it provides a deeper understanding of how these literary giants shaped modern American letters while navigating a creative partnership that defined an era of cultural reporting.

Ahead your visit, make sure to check to check out our list of must-reads for Didion fanatics, including the new biography that unpacks Didion’s connection to Hollywood.

Bay Area Book Festival

May 31-June 1, Berkeley, CA

Set against the stunning backdrop of downtown Berkeley, the Bay Area Book Festival is returning for its 11th year with a theme of "Changing the Narrative." The organizers' ambition is to shift "the narrative from despair to determination, from defeatism to action, from fear and hate to creativity and joy." Headlining this year's event are Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sympathizer, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and prominent author and social commentator, Roxane Gay, who just launched a new collection called The Portable Feminist Reader.

Santa Fe International Literary Festival

May 16-18, Santa Fe, NM

This year's Santa Fe International Literary Festival features one of the most star-studded lineups of the year. Making the journey to New Mexico's capital are Pulitzer Prize–winners Jonathan Eig, Viet Thanh Nguyen, and Cristina Rivera Garza, National Book Award-winners Colum McCann and Percival Everett, and Gabrielle Zevin and Miranda July, who wrote two of the hottest books of the past several years.

Nantucket Book Festival

June 12-15, Nantucket, MA

Take advantage of the glittering beaches, delectable sea food, and charming lighthouses on this famed Massachusetts island before high season! This year's Nantucket festival kicks off with an event with one of Nantucket's patron saints, the queen of beach reads, Elin Hilderbrand, who has set many of her wildly popular books on the island.