Book cover for The Breakup by Kurt Andersen, featuring a yellow cover split down the middle, set against a painted cityscape and a curving road.

Kurt Andersen’s “The Breakup” Explores a Mutual Split, Both Personal and Political A family travels across the former United States after “disunion” has occurred in this not-so-distant future.

Kelly Roark August 17, 2026

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A person with medium skin, short gray and black hair, and glasses stands with arms crossed, wearing a gray jacket and a diagonal strap across their chest against a plain background.

Ignatius Aloysius on “Bone Dust Mother” and Chicago’s Inaugural South Asia Literary Festival Aloysius discusses writing his new poetry collection, curating the literary festival hosted by Chicago’s South Asia Institute and much more.

Christine Sneed August 13, 2026

Collage of torn photos: a person in a cowboy hat, a vintage portrait with a gun, repeated nude figures, a silhouette riding a bucking horse, and blue spiral patterns. Text reads Bisquick: An American Seance, C. Russell Price..

Even Ghosts Will Ghost You C. Russell Price's new poetry collection is a hilarious, insightful and "ruthlessly alive" exploration of heartbreak featuring a queer ghost cowboy.

Brendan Tynan Buck August 10, 2026

Book cover for Majestic Hills by Dawn Turner, featuring two silhouettes facing opposite directions with houses on top of their heads and a purple and pink gradient background.

“Majestic Hills” Paints a Haunting Suburban Portrait Dawn Turner's tale of a Black couple moving to suburban Chicago is inspired by a period early in her own marriage.

Emily McClanathan August 3, 2026

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Illustrated book cover showing several people reading or walking in a quiet, tree-lined urban setting. The title reads Budi Darma Olenka, with “Penguin Classics” and translator Tiffany Tsao noted below.

Budi Darma’s Work Is Found in Translation, From Indonesia to Indiana The renowned Indonesian writer is breaking through thanks to new English-language versions of his Bloomington, Indiana-set books translated by Tiffany Tsao.

A person sits in a beach chair covered with a colorful striped towel, reading a book on a sunny sandy beach. A purple cup and a bag with belongings are beside them, with turquoise sea and boats in the background.

Booking at the Beach: Chicago Authors with New Novels Explore the City’s Formidable Reading Tastes Four local authors with novels releasing this summer try to define the kind of books our city likes to read while lounging Lake-side.

Three hardcover notebooks with different colored spines (yellow, burgundy, and blue marbled) are stacked on a wooden surface. The top notebook features the initials RLS on a brown label.

Barrovian Books Is Finding the Somewhat Lost Art of Bookbinding to Be A Fine Business Barrovian, with its focus on handbound books, launched in 2023, just as the trend toward stationery and other decidedly non-digital forms of expression have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity.

The Public I: Poets Laureate and Chicago’s Literary Legacy

Book cover for Cloudthief: A Novel by Nathaniel Rich. The background features a dark, mirrored forest with orange lights and an ominous sky. The text is in light blue.

Nathaniel Rich’s Data Center Heist Illuminates the Tech Industry’s Shadow Autocracy With wry precision, "Cloudthief" descends into the abyss and shines light on the American zeitgeist.

Amanda Norton July 30, 2026

A woman in a red dress stands in a field facing the ocean. The book title Tenderness is at the top, and the authors name Rowan Beaird is at the bottom. The words A Novel appear to the right of the figure.

“Tenderness” Taps Into a Nuptials’ Dark Side Rowan Beaird knows that if a wedding is to go awry, an isolated island setting at least makes for great literature.

Brendan Tynan Buck July 27, 2026

An older man in a white shirt stands smiling in a bright office with large windows showing a city skyline; bookshelves and chairs fill the cozy room.

A Poet Grows in Skokie: An Interview with Edward Hirsch on His Memoir, “My Childhood in Pieces” With ten published books of verse, several poetry anthologies, and numerous scholarly and critical works to his name, Edward Hirsch is a major force both as a maker and popularizer of poetry. “My Childhood in Pieces” takes the Chicago-born Hirsch out of his comfort zone.

Hugh Iglarsh July 23, 2026

Book cover for Man Overboard! by Kathleen Rooney. The title appears above green waves, with a swimmer in pink below. A lifebuoy and a quote praising the book are at the top.

“Man Overboard!” Throws Readers Into the Deep End Kathleen Rooney spins a tale of depression and resilience that begins on the deck of a cruise ship.

Amanda Norton July 20, 2026

Illustrated book cover showing several people reading or walking in a quiet, tree-lined urban setting. The title reads Budi Darma Olenka, with “Penguin Classics” and translator Tiffany Tsao noted below.

Budi Darma’s Work Is Found in Translation, From Indonesia to Indiana The renowned Indonesian writer is breaking through thanks to new English-language versions of his Bloomington, Indiana-set books translated by Tiffany Tsao.

Ted C. Fishman July 16, 2026