Reading around NYC- A Bookish Guide (Romances Part 1!)

If you are looking for some NYC based books to read- look no further! Most of these books I read with my book club (@pagingthroughthecity) where we read a new book set in NYC every month and discuss them where they are set!
Make sure to check out our July events if you are local and follow along for more bookish NYC and beyond @bookmoretravels

Book Recommendations

1. Book: Seven Days in June by Tia Williams
   Where to Read: The Brooklyn Museum
   Why? Not only are there several major scenes there- but it is also a place to celebrate Brooklyn culture and what makes it great.

2. Book: Game Changer by Rachel Reid
   Where to Read: The Canuck
   Why? Enjoy a hockey romance at NYC’s only Canadian hockey bar! Poutine optional.

3. Book: Found Time by Caroline Goldstein @cari_lara
   Where to Read: The Gem Hall
   Why? Not only is it the site of one of the MC’s dates, but a stunning place to read and reflect (honestly you can spend a whole day just walking around the museum!).

4. Book: Promise Me Sunshine by Cara Bastone
   Where to Read: The Staten Island Ferry
   Why? Lenny spends many nights on the ferry dealing with grief, and there is something about the fresh salty air that makes reading better (though you can’t sleep on it they make everyone get off once you get to Staten Island).

5. Book: Maybe Once, Maybe Twice by Alison Rose Greenberg
   Where to Read: Sheep Meadow in Central Park (bonus points if you bring your favorite Trader Joe’s snacks).
   Why? This book is partially a love letter to NYC in the summer. Join the crowds of locals enjoying the sun while reading.

Reading around NYC- A Bookish Guide (General Lit Part 1!)

If you are looking for some NYC based books to read- look no further! This list is vetted by my book club (@pagingthroughthecity) where we read a new book set in NYC every month and discuss them where they are set!

Book Recommendations

1. Book: Just Kids by Patti Smith
   Where to Read: Washington Square Park
   Why? This memoir is a time capsule of a NYC that has quickly changed, but Washington Square Park seems to be one pocket that seems similar to the energy of Patti Smith’s NYC.

2. Book: The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath
   Where to Read: Central Park, specifically Bethesda Fountain Area
   Why? Esther tries to find solace at the Boston Common after a difficult time interning in NYC. As someone who also has had mental health struggles- being out in nature has helped me.

3. Book: A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum
   Where to Read: Bay Ridge, Brooklyn- more specifically with pizza at Elegant Pizzeria.
   Why? This multigenerational story of immigration, culture and assimilation (or the lack thereof) is confined mostly to the neighborhood of Bay Ridge- a thriving community of immigrants and home to Little Palestine.

4. Book: Go Tell it on the Mountain by James Baldwin
   Where to Read: James Baldwin Park
   Why? Baldwin has been such an important literary figure and honoring him with a beautiful park in Harlem is just a small part of his legacy.

5. Book: City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert
   Where to Read: The rooftop at Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library (SNFL)
   Why? While the theater and block where most of the book action takes place was demolished for the Port Authority Bus Terminal. I think this free public rooftop is still a great place to soak up the energy of midtown Manhattan and read.