[title]
Although always a city that has prided itself on its literary lineage—home to countless book launches, iconic bookstores and the kind of settings that feel made for both reading and being written about—New York City seems to be undergoing something of a literary revival in recent years. While headlines continue to sound alarms about a loneliness epidemic, New Yorkers are increasingly gathering in bars, cafés and bookstores to listen to authors and writers read aloud to crowds. These literary events, ranging from curated readings and book talks to public discussions and intimate dinners, are popping up all over the city. And it’s not just because Vogue recently declared reading “cool” again.
Take BookCon, for example. The annual fan convention has been on hiatus since 2020 but just returned to New York City earlier this month after selling out of tickets four months in advance. The event drew 25,000 attendees over the course of two days, with lines stretching around the corner.
On a global level, according to a 2024 report by the Berkeley Economic Review, BookTok has also pushed book sales up by 21 percent. It is no surprise, then, that these newly voracious readers actually want to get together to discuss the books that have been enthralling them.
“There’s a thirst for community, particularly among younger crowds in their 20s and early 30s, whose social lives were likely impacted by the shift from in-person to virtual learning and work from home requirements,” said Penina Roth, the founder of the Franklin Park Reading Series, which has been around since 2009. “Many new events like reading series, public book clubs and reading parties that weren’t as popular pre-COVID have now launched. In general, Gen Z seems to be reading more and turning away from online activity, I think likely because of the vitriol on social media and a desire for more real world interaction. Reading is also becoming a less solitary activity.”
Roth is jumping on the bandwagon with a new seasonal backyard reading series set to kick off on May 4 at the Crown Inn. Unlike her Franklin Park project, which usually features published writers, this new series will focus on emerging talents.
Throughout her work, Roth has noticed two main shifts: her events have been drawing more "civilians" over publishing industry folks and they are now also the sites of increased book sales.
Interestingly enough, many of these now-popular literary events take advantage of social media to spread the word.
“We somehow have built a community of people who are really interested in talking to each other, meeting people and connecting over art and over the writers that they hear from,” said Heather Akumiah, one of the co-founders of Limousine Readings. “I think people want to interact in person over something that's mostly, usually virtual or very solitary.”
At their March event, Smoke Show, which was in partnership with cannabis dispensary Gotham Chelsea and free to attend, I asked two friends how they found out about Limousine Readings.
“We went to college together for creative writing, and I found this reading series [through] Instagram,” one of them said. It was something to kind of tether us to something that we all liked. It was just a ritual to meet up. There was an excuse for us to hang out and experience a live form of art.”
According to Kelly Chervin, the founder of Lit Club NYC, a local "literary community for the culturally curious" that boasts over 20,000 Instagram followers, the online world has definitely helped boost interest in books.
"There are a lot of troubling things about the Internet, but I think that Booktok and Bookstagram have brought about a beautiful egalitarianism to literature," she said. "Bookstores, authors, and libraries are now able to engage and reach everyday readers in ways they never have before. And as a result, I think over the past few years we've noticed a rise in the interest of reading, and a real community of readers has emerged online where folks are engaging in discourse through reviews, comments, and stitching. Any space where folks can keep that conversation going and do so in real life is appealing!”
The city’s bars and restaurants seem to be getting in on the action as well. One of the most popular such events around town is Pete’s Reading Series, hosted by Pete’s Candy Store, the Williamsburg watering hole. The program is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.
The series, like Franklin Park’s, has a low barrier to entry: you just show up (early, if you want a seat), get a drink, sit and listen. The simplicity is part of the reason why co-host and author Brian Gresko believes the event draws such a big audience. The post-COVID reservation culture is at an all time high, so indulging in an activity that doesn’t require much planning, mental energy or extra money certainly fulfills a new need.
“This is a very ancient thing that we have been doing for as long as there have been people,” said Gresko, who has co-hosted and curated the reading series for about 12 years. “People have come together to tell stories and that's exactly what we're doing. We're just gathering at the foot of an artist to hear their work and there's something really beautiful and kind of ancient and human about that.”
As New York continues to grapple with rising costs, digital fatigue and an increasingly fragmented social landscape, these gatherings offer something deceptively simple: a room full of people, a shared story and the rare chance to be fully present.