Books

August 26, 2026 at 6:31 a.m.

With a TV career that includes 'The Wire' and 'The Deuce,' the author returns to...

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

August 25, 2026 at 5:55 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Allie Rowbottom, author of the memoir “Jell-O Girls” and the novel “Aesthetica,” has just published “Lovers XXX.” (Photo credit Christina Bryson / Courtesy of Soho Press)

What led Allie Rowbottom to write her porn industry novel, ‘Lovers XXX’

August 24, 2026 at 2:00 p.m.

Rowbottom explains why she ended up changing her characters from singer-songwriters to adult film performers...

Ryan Lowell is the author of “Freight.” (Photo credit Jessica Russell / Courtesy of Mulholland Books)

A job in trucking helped Ryan Lowell write about a $10 million drug heist

August 24, 2026 at 11:23 a.m.

The 'Freight' author discusses his new novel and the books that made had an impact...

Nearshore is a novel by former journalist Steve Hawk, a thriller with a surfer’s twist. (Photo courtesy of Sara Luckey/Hawk)

‘Nearshore’ blends surfing and nuclear warfare in Steve Hawk’s debut novel

By Laylan Connelly

August 24, 2026 at 7:18 a.m.

Hawk, a former newspaper journalist and editor at 'Surfer' magazine, will have a book-release event...

Krista Diamond is the author of “Close Relationships With Strangers.” (Photo credit Bridget Bennett / Courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

Krista Diamond worked in national parks, then went to Vegas to write a novel

August 21, 2026 at 10:02 a.m.

The 'Close Relationships With Strangers' author said she felt like she was 'the paparazzi for...

AI companies are destroying books, says one bookseller. (Getty Images)

AI companies are destroying more books than you think, says bookseller

August 21, 2026 at 10:56 a.m.

Bookseller Scott Brown says AI scanning has destroyed tens of millions of books and it's...

Matthew Futterman is the author of “The Cruelest Game.” (Photo credit Zlata Andorova / Courtesy of Doubleday)

‘Cruelest Game’ author Matthew Futterman says tennis is ‘the hardest sport’

August 20, 2026 at 1:01 p.m.

The Atlantic reporter’s book looks at life on the tennis tour and features insights from...

“Dreamland” by author Olivie Blake. (Courtesy of Tor Nightfire and Michelle Terris)

Olivie Blake describes writing ‘Dreamland’ as a Gothic take on Hollywood

August 20, 2026 at 10:00 a.m.

The author talks to us about her latest work, plus her favorite LA spots, immigration,...

“How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University” by Theo Baker is among the top-selling nonfiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Penguin Press)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

August 18, 2026 at 6:22 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Booktown USA owner Thomas Pesce opened his store on November 1, 2003 in Anaheim. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim’s Booktown USA bookstore closes its doors after 23 years

August 19, 2026 at 1:18 p.m.

Owner Thomas Pesce, who spent 6 days a week in the shop for more than...

Author Adam Cesare. (Courtesy photo by Rhiannon Smith)

Why ‘Clown in a Cornfield’ author Adam Cesare says horror is ‘in the blood’

August 17, 2026 at 10:01 a.m.

The horror author has five books coming out between now and early 2027, plus there's...

Author and cardiologist Shirlene Obuobi is the author of “Die for Me.” (Photo credit Dee Speaks Visuals / Courtesy of Penguin Books)

‘Die for Me’ author (and cardiologist) Shirlene Obuobi prescribes romance

August 15, 2026 at 7:28 a.m.

The Ghanaian American author describes balancing her medical career with writing and cartooning.

“Biological War” by Annie Jacobsen is among the top-selling nonfiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Dutton)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

August 12, 2026 at 6:51 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Tim Sullivan, author of the DS Cross mystery novels, published his latest book, “The Tailor,” in August 2026. (Photo credit Ivan Weiss / Courtesy of Atlantic Crime)

How Sherlock Holmes and My Little Pony shaped Tim Sullivan’s DS Cross novels

August 11, 2026 at 4:27 p.m.

After screen projects ranging from Derek Jarman to a Shrek script, the author has just...

Chang-rae Lee is the author of “A Tender Age.” (Photo by Michelle Lee / Courtesy of Riverhead)

How author Chang-rae Lee embraces his past with new novel ‘A Tender Age’

August 11, 2026 at 6:31 a.m.

The author will be appearing at Skylight Books in Los Angeles on Aug. 17 to...

“Meet Me in the Garden” by Nina LaCour. (Courtesy of Kristyn Stroble and Flatiron Books)

Author Nina LaCour explains how her family’s migration to LA inspired new book

August 6, 2026 at 10:59 p.m.

The author will be at Bel Canto Books to discuss "Meet Me in the Garden"...

“The Power of Caring: Who Cares, Why It Matters, and How Conscious Caring Creates a Fulfilling and Connected Life” by Dr. Tony Nader is among the top-selling nonfiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Hay House LLC)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

August 5, 2026 at 2:58 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

International mysteries. (Courtesy photos)

10 international book series that transport readers without leaving home

By Marla Jo Fisher

August 19, 2026 at 2:56 p.m.

Readers can enjoy these thrills just by sitting in their armchairs and opening a book.

People hike the Guy Fleming Trail at the Torrey Pines State Natural Reserve, which is free to visit with the California State Library Parks Pass. (Ana Ramirez / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

How to borrow free hiking kits and free state parks passes

By Marla Jo Fisher

August 3, 2026 at 9:27 a.m.

Did you know you can check out a free pass to visit one or more...

Check out 12 books of translated crime and detective fiction for a fresh take on the genre. (Covers courtesy of the publishers)

12 crime, mystery and detective novels in translation to read this summer

August 19, 2026 at 3:41 p.m.

Need to take a trip abroad that doesn't require a passport? Commit to some crime.

Here are 17 books arriving in bookstores August 2026. (Courtesy of the publishers)

17 new books for August 2026 including dogs, dragons, vampires and toads

July 31, 2026 at 9:47 a.m.

Best-selling writers and award-winning authors are publishing new fiction, nonfiction and more this month.

“The Unknown” by author Riley Sager. (Courtesy of Penguin Random House)

Why Riley Sager says ‘The Unknown’ is the ‘quintessential Riley Sager book’

July 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m.

The latest thriller ties together spirtualism and modern day Hollywood in a dual timeline full...

Author Cal Flyn with horse Pinto on Colorado Trail while researching “The Savage Landscape.” (Courtesy of Cal Flyn / Viking)

Cal Flyn explored the Earth’s wild places to write ‘The Savage Landscape’

July 30, 2026 at 9:37 a.m.

The author spent years on a global journey investigating volcanoes, icebergs, raging seas and beyond.

“Cool Machine,” the final installment of Colson Whitehead’s “Harlem Triology,” is among the top-selling fiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

July 28, 2026 at 6:08 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Author Taylor Jenkins Reid signs books at Village Well Books & Coffee during the Los Angeles Independent Bookstore Crawl. (Photo courtesy of Village Well Books & Coffee)

Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl delivers crowds, Christmas-sized sales

July 28, 2026 at 6:43 p.m.

The book crawl, which was launched by 13 bookstores, attracted thousands of book lovers.

Patrick Horvath, creator of the comic book series “Beneath the Trees Where Nobody Sees” and writer of the new series “Archie In Hell.” (Photo by Peter Larsen / Southern California News Group)

Comic creator Patrick Horvath on his serial killer bear and ‘Archie In Hell’

July 25, 2026 at 8:06 p.m.

He came to San Diego Comic-Con for panels and signings on "Archie" as well as...

Comic book artist and writer Mimi Pond signs books at the Drawn & Quarterly book at San Diego Comic-Con on Friday, July 24, 2026. Her most recent book, “Do Admit: The Mitford Sisters and Me,” is nominated for best reality based work at the Eisner Awards on Friday. (Photo by Peter Larsen / Southern California News Group)

Mimi Pond brings Eisner-nominated ‘Do Admit!’ graphic novel to Comic-Con

July 24, 2026 at 9:55 p.m.

The graphic novel explores the history of the six Mitford sisters and how they'd played...

“Strangers: A Memoir of a Marriage” by Belle Burden is among the top-selling nonfiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of The Dial Press)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

July 22, 2026 at 1:17 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Colson Whitehead is the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning author of “Underground Railroad” and “The Nickel Boys,” and his latest novel is “Cool Machine.” (Photo by Chris Close / Courtesy of Doubleday)

How ‘Cool Machine’ pulls Colson Whitehead back in for one last heist

July 21, 2026 at 12:40 p.m.

The winner of two Pulitzer Prizes says he was inspired by some iconic films for...

Claire Vaye Watkins is the author of “Yellow Pine.” (Photo by Alyson Aliano / Courtesy of Riverhead Books)

How Claire Vaye Watkins’ Mojave Desert home inspired ‘Yellow Pine’

By Diya Chacko

July 20, 2026 at 9:45 a.m.

The novelist and UC Irvine professor discusses tensions between clean energy and conservation.

“Crash Into Me” is the second novel by author Robinne Lee.(Photo by Theo & Juliet/cover image courtesy St. Martin’s Press)

‘The Idea of You’ author Robinne Lee returns with ‘Crash Into Me’

July 20, 2026 at 9:37 a.m.

The writer and actress speaks about the about the challenges of writer's block and why...

Scott Broker is the author of “The Disappointment.” (Photo credit Martha Tesema / Courtesy of Catapult)

Why ‘The Disappointment’ author Scott Broker cut a line from his book

July 17, 2026 at 2:32 p.m.

The Book Pages is a free newsletter with stories about bestsellers, authors, bookstores, libraries and...

A sign on the door is posted for an old-time customer at Booktown USA in Anaheim on Friday, June 26, 2026. The sign has been posted for years. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Anaheim’s Booktown USA bookshop solves a years-old mystery before closure

July 16, 2026 at 2:08 p.m.

For years, owner Thomas Pesce had been looking for a customer named Larry who'd requested...

“Something Is Killing the Children: Hope Is a Knife” by James Tynion IV and Kiersten White. (Photos courtesy of Random House)

‘Something Is Killing the Children’ adds a novel twist to the Slaughterverse

July 16, 2026 at 1:14 p.m.

The new novel — a collaboration between bestselling authors James Tynion IV and Kiersten White...

“Country People” by Daniel Mason is among the top-selling fiction titles this week. (Courtesy of Random House)

This week’s bestsellers at America’s independent bookstores

July 14, 2026 at 6:18 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Dr. Stefan Bean, at their offices in Costa Mesa on Friday, May 1, 2026, is the superintendent of the Orange County Department of Education. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

How Orange County Superintendent Stefan Bean realized that real leadership means helping others rise

July 14, 2026 at 2:33 p.m.

In writing his memoir 'Lifted to Lead,' the former teacher-turned-administration discovered how important it is...

“I Would Die If I Were You: Notes on Art and Truth-Telling” is the latest nonfiction release by author Emily Rapp Black. She is a professor of creative writing at the University of California-Riverside, where she also teaches in the School of Medicine. (Photo by William Waldron/Cover image courtesy Counterpoint)

‘I Would Die If I Were You’ author Emily Rapp Black refuses easy answers

July 14, 2026 at 1:26 p.m.

The nonfiction book explores how writing and creativity can help people process loss, grief and...

Amitav Ghosh, the first English-language writer to win India’s Jnanpith Award, is the author of both novels and works of nonfiction. His most recent novel is 2026’s “Ghost-Eye.” (Photo credit Ivo van der Bent / Courtesy of FSG)

How past-life memories play a role in Amitav Ghosh’s new novel ‘Ghost-Eye’

July 15, 2026 at 6:14 p.m.

Ghosh has written about past-life memories and climate change before, but this novel is one...

Gabrielle Korn is the author of “Long Island Girls.” (Photo credit Lindsey Byrnes / Courtesy of St. Martin’s Press)

Gabrielle Korn says an LA music festival helped inspire ‘Long Island Girls’

July 13, 2026 at 10:46 a.m.

The Southern California-based author recalls how the Just Like Heaven festival got her thinking about...

Matt Damon as Odysseus and Zendaya as Athena, in a scene from "The Odyssey."

Who is Telemachus, again? Circe? A guide to the characters of Christopher Nolan’s ‘The Odyssey’

By Associated Press

July 10, 2026 at 11:42 a.m.

The film hits theaters on July 17.

13 bookstores kick off first-ever Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl July 24-26. (Courtesy of LA Indie Book Crawl / Getty Images)

Los Angeles Indie Book Crawl will kick off first-ever event on July 24-26

July 17, 2026 at 6:00 p.m.

The three-day event encourages readers to visit bookstores they might not have been to before.

“This Vast Enterprise: A New History of Lewis & Clark” by Craig Fehrman is among the top-selling nonfiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Avid Reader Press)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

July 8, 2026 at 9:40 a.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Check out these new poetry collections to spice up your TBR list. (Courtesy of the publishers)

20 new books of poetry to add to your 2026 TBR reading lists

July 10, 2026 at 5:57 p.m.

What would happen if you read more poetry in 2026? Let's all give it a...

Victoria Chang is the author of multiple books of poetry, including 2026’s “Tree of Knowledge.” (Photo credit Pat Cray / Courtesy of FSG)

Victoria Chang describes the loss at the heart of ‘Tree of Knowledge’

July 10, 2026 at 5:43 p.m.

The acclaimed poet discusses her new book, as well as art, nature and a piece...

The Flower Street entrance through the Maguire Gardens at the Richard J. Riordan Central Library of the Los Angeles Public Library in Los Angeles on Sunday, December 4, 2022. (Photo by Leonard Ortiz, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Freebie of the week: Celebrate the 100th anniversary of the downtown LA library

By Marla Jo Fisher

July 7, 2026 at 10:19 a.m.

The beautiful downtown Los Angeles Central Library is throwing a Centennial Festival on Saturday, July...

Kendra Langford Shaw’s “The Pillagers’ Guide to Arctic Pianos.” (Courtesy photo)

Why a city official turned novelist feels like ‘Parks & Rec”s Leslie Knope

July 7, 2026 at 9:46 a.m.

Kendra Langford Shaw, a Billings, Montana city councilmember, has just published a novel, 'The Pillagers’...

Outsider Editions/Doubleday is reissuing the critically acclaimed short story collection, “Squandering the Blue,” by Kate Braverman on July 14, 2026. (Photo by Chris Felver/Getty Images)

Why Kate Braverman’s ‘Squandering the Blue’ still feels dangerous 35 years later

July 7, 2026 at 9:52 a.m.

A new reissue revives one of Los Angeles literature's overlooked writers who challenged others to...

Ron Currie is the author of “We Will See You Bleed.” (Photo by Tristan Spinski / Courtesy of G.P. Putnam’s Sons)

‘We Will See You Bleed’ author Ron Currie on reading Judy Blume’s ‘Forever’

July 6, 2026 at 10:30 a.m.

'A good story will always outgrow the container you put it in,' says the author...

“Coyoteland” is the latest novel by California author Vanessa Hua. (Photo by Marc Puich / Courtesy of Flatiron)

How Vanessa Hua explores problems in a California suburb in ‘Coyoteland’

July 3, 2026 at 8:00 a.m.

Amidst the stories of the parents and their children, Hua explores issues of the economy,...

New books to look for in July 2026. (Courtesy of the publishers)

16 new books for July 2026 including romance, mystery, fantasy and more

July 1, 2026 at 2:24 p.m.

Best-selling writers and award-winning authors are publishing new fiction, nonfiction and more this month.

Yeganeh Torbati (L) and Bozorgmehr Sharafedin are coauthors of the nonfiction book, “Stolen Revolution: Betrayal and Hope in Modern Iran.” (Photo credit Maansi Srivastava / Courtesy of Doubleday)

‘Stolen Revolution’ authors say Iranians will keep resisting harsh regime

July 1, 2026 at 9:00 a.m.

Bozorgmehr Sharafedin and Yeganeh Torbati convey the history of the country and its people through...

Rapper Tupac Shakur attends a voter registration event in South Central Los Angeles on Aug. 15, 1996, left, and Duane “Keffe D” Davis appears in District Court for his involvement in the 1996 killing of Shakur in Las Vegas on Feb. 18, 2025. (AP Photo)

Book that Tupac Shakur murder suspect wrote is clear for use in the trial, judge rules

By Associated Press

July 1, 2026 at 8:58 a.m.

A judge ruled that a memoir by Tupac Shakur murder suspect is admissible in trial.

“Regime Change” by Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan is the top-selling nonfiction title at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Simon and Schuster)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

June 30, 2026 at 6:14 p.m.

See the top-selling releases among hardcover fiction and nonfiction, plus trade and mass market paperbacks...

“Fabulous Bodies” by Chuck Tingle will hit bookshelves July 7. (Courtesy photo)

How ‘Fabulous Bodies’ author Chuck Tingle uses horror to prove love is real

June 30, 2026 at 10:49 a.m.

Known for wearing sunglasses over a pink cloth mask, the anonymous author has carved out...

Anaheim’s Booktown USA bookshop is being forced to close after 23 years

July 2, 2026 at 11:04 a.m.

Owner Thomas Pesce says he doesn't know how he'll get his nearly 30,000 books out...

James Wolff is the author of “Spies and Other Gods.” (Photo credit Andrew Mason / Courtesy of Atlantic Crime)

The reason why ex-spies become spy novelists, revealed by a former spy

June 26, 2026 at 10:29 a.m.

'Spies and Other Gods' author James Wolff, which is not his real name, answers The...

Looking for books to read as America celebrates its 250th anniversary? Here are 50 to choose from. (Courtesy of the publishers)

50 books for America250: Novels and nonfiction telling the nation’s stories

June 29, 2026 at 5:40 p.m.

This collection of fiction, history, biography and more offers a variety of looks at life...

A vintage 1954 U.S. postage stamp commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition. (Getty Images)

How ‘This Vast Enterprise’ adds new Lewis and Clark Expedition perspectives

June 24, 2026 at 6:08 p.m.

Craig Fehrman's new biographical history widens the points of view of this classic American adventure...

Cartoonist R. Sikoryak, seen in the right-hand illustration, has just published “Declaration / Emancipation Illustrated,” which combines comic book and cartoon characters with the complete texts of The Declaration of Independence, The Emancipation Proclamation and The Gettysburg Address. (Courtesy of Drawn & Quarterly)

Why the Declaration of Independence now includes comic book characters

June 24, 2026 at 8:56 a.m.

Cartoonist R. Sikoryak illustrates three important American documents using characters like Wolverine and Mickey Mouse.

“Land,” by Maggie O’Farrell is among the top-selling fiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Knopf)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

June 23, 2026 at 6:22 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Rick Atkinson is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and historian whose Revolutionary War history has been adapted into a graphic novel of the same name. (Photo by Elliott O’Donovan / Courtesy of Ten Speed Press)

Pulitzer Prize-winner Rick Atkinson reflects on Revolutionary War’s violence

June 22, 2026 at 7:30 a.m.

Ahead of America's 250th anniversary, the journalist and historian discusses a new adaption of his...

Jackie DesForges is the owner of Librairie, a bookstore in Silver Lake’s Sunset Junction, which opened May 30, 2026. She’s seen at the store on June 13, 2026. (Photo by Erik Pedersen/SCNG)

Is this LA’s smallest bookstore? Silver Lake’s tiny Librairie makes it big

June 21, 2026 at 3:55 p.m.

The 180-square-foot bookstore, which just opened in Sunset Junction, sells books, cards and items to...

Authors Chuck Tingle and Liz Kerin ask Kyle Kouri and CJ Leede questions about their recently releases novels, “The Problem Drinker” and “Headlights” during an event at Vroman’s Bookstore in Pasadena, June 16, 2026. (Sarah Batcha/Southern California News Group)

Vroman’s brings together horror besties CJ Leede, Kyle Kouri, Chuck Tingle and Liz Kerin

June 22, 2026 at 9:24 a.m.

Partners and former Angelenos CJ Leede and Kyle Kouri stopped in Pasadena to talk to...

In “Red Sheet,” James Ellroy unleashes his imagination on Los Angeles in 1962 amid a post-Cuban Missile Crisis panic about communist cells and a mythical hit squad activated in the city. Detective Freddy Otash is added to the LAPD investigation to do whatever takes, legal and more often not, to find the answers. (Photograph by Marion Ettlinger, book image courtesy of Alfred A. Knopf Publisher)

In the 1962 LA of James Ellroy’s ‘Red Sheet,’ cops clash with communists

June 17, 2026 at 9:13 a.m.

Set during the Red Scare days of late 1962, 'Red Sheet' employs fictional characters out...

After writing pop hits with Sheryl Crow, David Baerwald decided to write a six-hundred-page historical novel, “The Fire Agent.” (Photo credit Brian Beker / Courtesy of Spiegel & Grau)

David Baerwald cowrote hits with Sheryl Crow. Now he’s exploring the past

June 17, 2026 at 8:04 a.m.

His latest project is far from the pop charts: A six-hundred-page historical novel, 'The Fire...

“Daughters of the Sun and Moon” by Lisa See is among the top-selling fiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Scribner)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

June 16, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

“Twin Peaks” co-creator Mark Frost is related to FDR’s right-hand man and brings personal experience and family lore to “The Yankee Sphinx.” (Photo credit Blake Morrow / Courtesy of Flatiron Books)

The real-life story behind ‘Twin Peaks’ co-creator Mark Frost’s FDR novel

June 16, 2026 at 12:18 p.m.

The TV veteran is related to the former president's right-hand man and brings personal experience...

A first edition of Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights, is on display for sale at Christie’s auction house, with copies estimated at 400,000–600,000 GBP (540,000–810,000 USD) in London, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

A rare first edition of ‘Wuthering Heights’ complete with spelling mistakes is up for auction

By Associated Press

June 16, 2026 at 10:34 a.m.

This edition has been in a private library since shortly after its publication in 1847.

Chiara Barzini, author of “Aqua: A Story of Water and Lost Dreams.”

‘Aqua’ author Chiara Barzini traveled California to write about LA water

June 19, 2026 at 11:36 a.m.

The book is about Los Angeles, infrastructure, desire, and the stories we build in order...

Reyna Grande, author of “The Distance Between Us” and “A Dream Called Home,” has a new memoir, “Migrant Heart.” (Photo credit Ara Arbabzadeh /Courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

How Reyna Grande’s ‘Migrant Heart’ drew inspiration from Sandra Cisneros

June 25, 2026 at 9:35 a.m.

The award-winning author of 'The Distance Between Us' will be appearing in Pasadena and Anaheim...

Errant Press’s Alan Sobrino, who creates an array of books from nontraditional formats, appeared at the LitLit book festival on June 6, 2026. (Photo by Erik Pedersen / SCNG)

Errant Press’s Alan Sobrino fled Mexico’s violence to make books in LA

June 12, 2026 at 7:01 a.m.

In the Book Pages newsletter this week, everything is a book.

Books for fans of TV and film. (Getty Images)

12 novels and nonfiction books for the movie and TV fan in your life

June 11, 2026 at 7:31 a.m.

If you’re an aficionado of screens both big and small, you can still get your...

Novelist Lisa See’s new book, “Daughters of the Sun and Moon,” tells the stories of Petal, Dove and Moon, three Chinese women from different backgrounds, living in Los Angeles in 1870 where they are eventually caught up in the Chinese Massacre of 1871. The characters all are based on four Chinese women who actually lived in Los Angeles at the time, and the events portrayed including the massacre are likewise based on the historical records. (Photo by Patricia Williams, book jacket courtesy of Scribner)

How Lisa See’s new novel explores the lives of 3 Chinese women in 1871 LA

June 19, 2026 at 5:58 p.m.

In 'Daughters of the Sun and Moon,' See weaves together characters inspired by a handful...

Francine Prose’s “Five Weeks in the Country” is based on real events. (Photo credit Frances F. Denny / Courtesy of Harper)

How Francine Prose brought Charles Dickens and Hans Christian Andersen to life

June 10, 2026 at 7:45 a.m.

In Prose's 'Five Weeks in the Country,' the Danish writer is an unwelcome houseguest in...

“Whistler.” the latest novel by by Ann Patchett, is the top-selling fiction title at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Harper via AP)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

June 9, 2026 at 6:23 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Novelist Karen Tei Yamashita explores the incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II in “Questions 27 & 28.” (Photo credit Chris Hardy / Courtesy of Graywolf Press)

Why Karen Tei Yamashita reexamined WWII Japanese American incarceration

June 9, 2026 at 10:33 a.m.

'Questions 27 & 28' contains a large cast of characters and spans genres as it...

Author Tom Perrotta is the author of the new novel “Ghost Town.” (Photo credit Beowulf Sheehan / Courtesy of Scribner)

‘Ghost Town’ author Tom Perrotta shares a strange but true book story

June 6, 2026 at 8:26 a.m.

The author shares some of his favorite books in the Book Pages Q&A.

Red Hen Press is launching a GoFundMe to cover its budget shortfall. (Courtesy of Red Hen Press)

Pasadena’s Red Hen Press, facing financial crisis, launches GoFundMe

June 8, 2026 at 7:24 p.m.

The nonprofit, which has published Percival Everett and many others, has seen its funding shrink...

26 books we recommend for June 2026. (Courtesy of the publishers)

30 novels, mysteries, romance and nonfiction books for your June TBR list

June 5, 2026 at 9:46 a.m.

From murder mysteries and randy romances to scary sci-fi and moving memoir, we have plenty...

“The Land and Its People: Essays” by David Sedaris is the top-selling nonfiction title at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Little, Brown and Company)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

June 2, 2026 at 6:19 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Ann Patchett is the author of “Bel Canto,” “Tom Lake,” and, most recently, “Whistler.” (Photo by Emily Dorio / Courtesy of Harper)

Ann Patchett reveals the love story at the heart of her novel ‘Whistler’

June 2, 2026 at 4:28 p.m.

The author of 'Bel Canto,' 'The Dutch House' and 'Truth & Beauty' discusses her Southern...

New books about the Fab Four include “Where the Music Had to Go: How Bob Dylan and the Beatles Changed Each Other―and the World”; “The Beatles by Jim Marshall: Live at Candlestick Park 1966” and “With a Little Help from Their Friends: The Beatles and the People Who Made Them.” (Courtesy of the publishers)

3 new books on the Beatles explore final concert, friendships and Bob Dylan

June 2, 2026 at 11:53 a.m.

From a photo book on San Francisco's Candlestick Park goodbye to the effects of others...

Ruta Sepetys is the author of “Salt to the Sea,” “Ashes in the Snow,” and, most recently, “A Fortune of Sand.” (Photo by Laura Smith / Courtesy of Ballantine)

‘A Fortune of Sand’ author Ruta Sepetys dug up old secrets for new novel

May 30, 2026 at 11:03 a.m.

It took more than a decade to research the files and details needed to build...

The latest from author CJ Leede, “Headlights,” comes out on June 9.

How Stephen King helped influence CJ Leede’s new book ‘Headlights’

May 28, 2026 at 12:11 p.m.

The author talks about everything from the playlists she creates for her novels to surviving...

The new “Inventing America: The Comic Book Revolution” during a preview at the Skirball Cultural Center on Tuesday, May 19, 2026. (Photo by Hans Gutknecht, Los Angeles Daily News/SCNG)

Skirball explores how comic books shaped our history in ‘Inventing America’

May 27, 2026 at 12:15 p.m.

Look! Up in the Sepulveda Pass! It's the Skirball Cultural Center's new exhibition 'Inventing America:...

“John of John” by Douglas Stuart is among the top-selling fiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Grove Atlantic)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

May 26, 2026 at 6:15 p.m.

See the top-selling releases among hardcover fiction and nonfiction, plus trade and mass market paperbacks...

Nonfiction books for summer 2026. (Courtesy of the publishers)

20 nonfiction books about food, sports and more for your summer reading

May 25, 2026 at 7:31 a.m.

Discover 20 recently published or forthcoming nonfiction books to pick up at your local library...

Kim Raymont and Debbie Friedman, San Clemente, in 1978. The two women were the first to guard for San Clemente State Park. (Photo courtesy Ed Vodrazka)

New book ‘Guarded’ details experiences of California’s first women lifeguards

By Laylan Connelly

June 4, 2026 at 4:33 p.m.

Debbie Friedman, who guarded San Clemente and Huntington state beaches, is hosting two book signings...

Anna Dorn’s latest novel is “American Spirits.” (Photo by Sally Sum / Courtesy of Simon & Schuster)

‘American Spirits’ author Anna Dorn on Donna Tartt, Joan Didion and more

May 29, 2026 at 5:05 p.m.

The author discusses her favorite books.

There are 100 Southern California independent bookstores on our 2026 map. (Illustration: Getty Images)

Map: 100 Southern California independent bookstores to visit in 2026

June 9, 2026 at 7:16 p.m.

Bookmark and save the updated map to find bookshops in Los Angeles, Orange County, the...

“Take Me to Your Leader: Perspectives on Your First Alien Encounter” by Neil deGrasse Tyson is among the top-selling nonfiction titles at Southern California’s independent bookstores. (Courtesy of Simon 6 Books)

This week’s bestsellers at Southern California’s independent bookstores

May 19, 2026 at 6:13 p.m.

See the top-selling hardcover and paperback fiction and nonfiction releases for the sales week that...

Chef Jose Andres new book, “Spain My Way: Eat, Drink, and Cook Like a Spaniard,” combines Spanish recipes with stories about the history and culture of Spanish cuisine. (Photo by Joan Pujol-Creus)

Chef José Andrés shares Spanish recipes and lore in ‘Spain My Way’ cookbook

May 21, 2026 at 3:05 p.m.

The World Central Kitchen founder describes rushing to help when the Palisades and Eaton fires...

Willy Vlautin’s new book is “The Left and the Lucky.” (Photo credit Bobby Abrahamson / Courtesy of Harper)

Willy Vlautin reveals the story behind his novel ‘The Left and the Lucky’

May 19, 2026 at 8:33 a.m.

The author and musician talks about nearly joining a cult and the 'jackassery' involved with...

Garry Trudeau, the creator of the comic strip “Doonesbury” attends an event at Amazon Studios, on Nov. 7, 2013 in North Hollywood, California (Frank Micelotta/Invision/AP)

Ready to travel into the secret life of Garry Trudeau and ‘Doonesbury’?

By Rick Kogan

May 19, 2026 at 10:48 a.m.

A biography delves into the private life of the "Doonesbury" cartoonist. We spent a day...

Here are 13 new mystery books to add to your TBR list.

13 new mystery novels and thrillers to add to your summer TBR book list

By Diya Chacko

May 18, 2026 at 10:04 a.m.

From LA noir to cozy crime stories, you'll want to look for these in your...

Jordan Harper is the author of “A Violent Masterpiece.” (Photo credit Brian Hennigan / Courtesy of Mulholland Books)

Why Jordan Harper spent late nights out in LA for ‘A Violent Masterpiece’