Adriana Trigiani's You Are What You Read

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by bestselling author Kurt Andersen with his new novel, The Breakup. Kurt’s work includes: Evil Geniuses, Fantasyland and the novels True Believers, Heyday and Turn of the Century, among other books. He contributes to The New York Times and was host and co-creator of Studio 360, the Peabody Award–winning public radio show and podcast. Kurt also co-founded Spy magazine. In this conversation and in Kurt's novel, he offers us a portal into a different world, one overcoming crisis and division but ultimately still searching for ho...

On today’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to welcome Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, Barbara Kingsolver, with her new novel, PARTITA. Barbara is the author of ten bestselling works of fiction, including the novels Unsheltered, The Bean Trees, The Poisonwood Bible, and the Pulitzer Prize-winning Demon Copperhead. Barbara is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and has received the National Humanities Medal and, most recently, the National Book Foundation's Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters. She is the founder of the Higher Ground Women’s Recovery Residence in Pennington Gap, Virgi...

On today’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are not only welcoming guest author Marlon James to the show, we are also welcoming his editor, and our dear friend, Jake Morrissey. Marlon and Jake are here to talk about Marlon’s new novel, The Disappearers, the electrifying story of the murder of a gay man in 1980s Jamaica and its far-reaching consequences. Marlon James is the Booker Prize–winning and New York Times bestselling author of A Brief History of Seven Killings and the bestselling and National Book Award finalist Black Leopard, Red Wolf. James has been nam...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by bestselling author Isabel Allende with her new book, Story Telling: A Writing Life. Isabel Allende is the author of over 30 books, having sold more than 80 million copies across 42 languages. You know her work: The Wind Knows My Name, Violeta, A Long Petal of the Sea, The House of the Spirits, Of Love and Shadows, Eva Luna, and Paula. Isabel has received fifteen honorary doctorates and has been inducted into the California Hall of Fame. She is the recipient of the PEN Center Lifetime Achievement Award, th...

Today on You Are What You Read, we are joined by the ultimate book lover and book advocate, my friend Zibby Owens. Zibby is an author, publisher, bookseller, podcaster, and a force in the world of books. She is the founder and CEO of Zibby Media, which brings all of this together in her empire: Zibby Publishing; Zibby’s Bookshop, her independent bookstore in Santa Monica; the award-winning daily podcast, Totally Booked with Zibby; Zibby’s Book Club; and Zibby Retreats for book lovers. Zibby’s new memoir, Between Chapters: How I Started Over, Took Some Chances and Found the Plo...

This week on You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to welcome Jodi Picoult LIVE from her nationwide “Chapters” tour with HOLLOW BONES. This conversation was recorded live from New York City at Cooper Union with The Strand Bookstore. HOLLOW BONES is Jodi Picoult’s 30th novel. You know her New York Times best sellers: By Any Other Name, Wish You Were Here, Small Great Things, My Sister’s Keeper, and more.

On today’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are excited to welcome the great Alice Hoffman, live from The Strand bookstore in New York City. This is a conversation about Alice’s new novel, The Witches of Cambridge, this September’s Read with Jenna selection. Alice is the author of over thirty novels including The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, The Book of Magic, Practical Magic, and Practical Magic 2, the sequel to the blockbuster book and film, which  is now in theaters starring Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman and directed by Susanne Bier (who you can also hear on the po...

On today’s episode, we are excited to welcome Victoria Aveyard to the show. Victoria is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the blockbuster young adult novels: the RED QUEEN series and the REALM BREAKER trilogy. Her books have been translated into over 40 languages and counting. In this conversation, we discuss Victoria’s adult fiction debut, TEMPEST, which hits shelves today.

Thank you, dear listeners, for joining us this summer on You Are What You Read. We read your comments, and we know what books you have been reading and sharing with your book clubs. In the final weeks of summer, we are bringing back your favorite episodes and authors to the podcast. “The Best of Summer” on You Are What You Read welcomes back the biggest bestsellers of summer 2026. This week, Kathryn Stockett joins us with The Calamity Club. 

On today’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to welcome a fellow podcaster and award-winning executive producer and writer, Scott Carter. Scott is the host of Ye Gods, a podcast that explores religion and culture with amazing guests. In his latest season of Ye Gods, Scott celebrates the 250th anniversary of America with notable historians and authors for conversations that explore our nation’s political and spiritual history and share the beliefs that define their own moral compass.

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are excited to welcome the great RICHARD RUSSO. You know Richard’s work: Somebody’s Fool, Chances Are…, Everybody’s Fool, and That Old Cape Magic; two collections of stories; and the memoir Elsewhere, among others. In 2002, Richard received the Pulitzer Prize for Empire Falls, which, like Nobody’s Fool, won multiple awards for its screen adaptation, and in 2023 his novel Straight Man was adapted into the television series Lucky Hank. In 2017 he received France’s Grand Prix de Littérature Américaine. Richard’s new novel, Under the Falls, i...

This week on You Are What You Read, we are joined by Jayne Anne Phillips to talk about her new memoir, Small Town Girls. Jayne is the author of Black Tickets, Machine Dreams, Fast Lanes, Shelter, MotherKind, Lark and Termite, Quiet Dell, and Night Watch, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 2024. Jayne’s work has been a finalist once for the National Book Award and twice for the National Book Critics Circle Award. The recipient of Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Arts, Howard, Bunting, and Rockefeller Foundation Fellowships, she is a member of the American Academy of Arts and...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are excited to welcome fashion icon Audrey Smaltz. Audrey bas been a trailblazer in the fashion industry for over sixty years, founding the Ground Crew, a backstage operation of high-end modeling shows. Audrey's Ground Crew has teamed up with designers including Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Donna Karan, Vera Wang, Giorgio Armani, and more. Audrey was a student of the first Black model Ophelia DeVore and worked for the Grace del Marco Modeling Agency. In 1970, Smaltz was hired as the Fashion Editor for the Ebony Magazine and c...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Lisa Scottoline with her latest, This Changes Everything. The author of 38 novels, Lisa is the President of Mystery Writers of America and has been named a Thriller Master by International Thriller Writers. Lisa is a former trial lawyer and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and its law school, where she taught Justice & Fiction, a course she developed. Lisa co-wrote a series of humorous memoirs with her daughter, novelist Francesca Serritella. We hope you read Francesca’s books, The Ghosts of Harva...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to introduce the #1 New York Times bestselling author, Daniel Silva, with his latest book, RANSOM. Daniel’s novels include the beloved Gabriel Allon series, The Cellist and A Death in Cornwall, among others. His books are critically acclaimed bestsellers around the world and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by #1 New York Times bestselling author Ann Patchett. You know Ann’s novels: Tom Lake, The Dutch House (which was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize), and her latest, Whistler, among others. Ann has been the recipient of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Women's Prize for Fiction in the UK. President Joe Biden awarded Ann the National Humanities Medal in recognition of her contributions to American culture. Her work has been translated into more than thirty languages, and Time magazine named Ann one of the 100 Most I...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are proud to welcome former First Lady of the United States, Dr. Jill Biden. Dr. Biden is the New York Times bestselling author of Where the Light Enters and her children’s books Don’t Forget, God Bless Our Troops, Joey: The Story of Joe Biden, and Willow the White House Cat. She served as Second Lady of the United States from 2009 to 2017. As First Lady, she advocated for military families, the Biden Cancer Moonshot, community colleges, and women’s health research—and maintained a full-time career teaching English as a com...

Lisa Jewell is back with another thriller to enjoy this summer! It Could Have Been Her might just be her best yet. You know Lisa’s #1 New York Times bestsellers: Don’t Let Him In, None of This Is True, The Family Upstairs, and Then She Was Gone. Lisa’s novels have sold more than fifteen million copies internationally, and her work has also been translated into over thirty languages.

To celebrate the 79th Tony Awards tomorrow, we are joined by the great Broadway writer, producer and actor, Rick Elice. You know Rick’s work: Jersey Boys, The Addams Family, Peter and the Starcatcher, The Cher Show, Water for Elephants and Smash, among many others. This is a conversation about the theater, the creative life and why they matter. 

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to welcome Bruce Feiler! Bruce is the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, including Life Is in the Transitions, The Secrets of Happy Families, and Walking the Bible. His three TED Talks have been viewed more than five million times, and he teaches the TED Course “How to Master Life Transitions.” Bruce joins us today with his brand new book, Time to Gather. We spoke to Bruce live at Barnes & Noble on the Upper West Side in Manhattan This is a conversation in community about r...

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are so excited to welcome Isaac Fitzgerald with his new memoir, American Rambler: Walking the Trail of Johnny Appleseed. Isaac is the New York Times bestselling author of Dirtbag, Massachusetts and the children’s book How to Be a Pirate. He has also co-authored the books Pen & Ink: Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them and Knives & Ink: Chefs and the Stories Behind Their Tattoos. Isaac appears frequently on The Today Show—you might have seen us with Isaac earlier this year with 2026 book recs and on Jenna Bush Hager’s Open...

Kathryn Stockett is back! The New York Times bestselling author of The Help returns with a new novel, The Calamity Club, which hits bookshelves today. Kathryn’s first novel The Help, has sold over 15 million copies worldwide, was translated into 35 languages and adapted into the major motion picture starring Octavia Spencer, Emma Stone, Viola Davis, Jessica Chastain and more. The Calamity Club is Kathryn Stockett at her most confident, heartfelt, and hilarious—the triumphant return of one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. 

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to bring you our LIVE conversation with the great Susan Lucci at the Adelphi University Writers & Readers Festival. Susan Lucci is the most famous face in daytime television history and held audiences spellbound for over forty years as the iconic Erica Kane on ABC’s award-winning daytime drama All My Children. In May of 1999, on her nineteenth nomination, she won the Emmy for Best Actress, receiving the longest standing ovation in television history. She is the author of the New York Times bestselling memoirs All My Life ...

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Emma Straub with her new novel, American Fantasy. Emma is the New York Times-bestselling author of This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than twenty languages. She and her husband own one of our favorite indie bookstores, Books Are Magic in Brooklyn, New York.

This Holy Week on You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to welcome bestselling author, lecturer and community organizer, Sister Helen Prejean. You know Sister Helen’s books: Dead Man Walking (which was adapted into the Academy Award-winning film), The Death of Innocents, and River of Fire: My Spiritual Journey. The graphic edition of Dead Man Walking was recently released with stunning illustrations by award-winning artist, Catherine Anyango Grünewald, with a script by Rose Vines that faithfully intertwines the original with the present. Sister Helen is known around the world for her tireless work against the death penalty, an...

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Ruthie Rogers with her all-new book, Table 4 at The River Cafe: Conversations about Food and Life. 

Ruthie Rogers is the co-founder of The River Cafe in London and an award-winning chef. She is also the host of the podcast Ruthie’s Table 4 and the author of thirteen cookbooks, including The River Cafe Cookbook, River Cafe 30, and The River Cafe Look Book. She was awarded an MBE in 2010 and a CBE in 2020. You can follow her on Instagram @RuthieRogers.

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Annabelle Gurwitch with her latest book, "The End of My Life is Killing Me: The Unexpected Joys of a Cancer Slacker". Annabelle is an actress and author, and known most notably for her stint co-hosting "Dinner and a Movie" on TBS and for her years as a regular commentator on NPR. In "The End of My Life is Killing Me", Annabelle upends the notion of living each day as if it were your last—she discovers you can carpe too much diem, and she embrac...

In honor of tomorrow's 98th Academy Awards show, we are joined by film historian and acclaimed New York Times bestselling biographer Scott Eyman on this episode of You Are What You Read. In this conversation, we take a look back on Hollywood history through the lens of Joan Crawford, Scott's latest subject in his new biography, "Joan Crawford: A Woman’s Face". Scott is the author of eighteen books including the bestsellers "John Wayne: The Life and Legend", "Pieces of My Heart", and "You Must Remember This", which Scott co-wrote with actor Robert Wagner. Scott is a former literary cri...

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by New York Times bestselling author, Allison Pataki, with her new novel, IT GIRL. Allison's books include The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post and Finding Margaret Fuller. IT GIRL follows the rise of Evelyn Talbot, America's first self-made female celebrity and model, amidst “the Crime of the Century”.

Rebecca Serle’s new novel, ONCE AND AGAIN, hits shelves next week. You know Rebecca’s work, the New York Times best sellers: Expiration Dates, One Italian Summer, In Five Years, The Dinner List, and her young adult novels The Edge of Falling and When You Were Mine. In ONCE AND AGAIN, the women of the Novak family are each born with a gift: they can, just once, turn back time. This novel fits perfectly into the canon of Rebecca Serle, making us reflect on the decisions we make and decide how far we will go to save the ones...

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by Tayari Jones and her new novel, the Oprah's Book Club selection, Kin. Tayari is the author of five novels, including An American Marriage, which was an Oprah’s Book Club selection and also appeared on Barack Obama’s summer reading list and his year-end roundup. An American Marriage won the Women’s Prize for Fiction, the Aspen Words Literary Prize, and an NAACP Image Award and has been published in two dozen countries. Tayari is the C.H. Candler Professor of English and Creative Writing at Emory

February is Black History Month, and here with us today on You Are What You Read is Professor of African American literature and Dean of the Graduate School at Howard University, Dr. Dana A. Williams. Dr. Williams joins us for a conversation about her book,Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer's Legendary Editorship, a biography about the great Toni Morrison and the lesser-known details of her work as a writer and an editor. Today, February 18th, happens to be Toni Morrison’s birthday—and we are thrilled to pay tribute to her in this episode.

This Presidents' Day on You Are What You Read, we are joined by former presidential speechwriter, political commentator, talk show host, and New York Times bestselling author, Chris Matthews. Chris is the author of Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, Kennedy & Nixon: The Rivalry that Shaped Postwar America, and Hardball: How Politics Is Played, Told by One Who Knows the Game. Chris was both a presidential speechwriter and top aide to Speaker of the House Thomas P. “Tip” O’Neill Jr. For a generation, he hosted Hardball with Chris Matthews on MSNBC, which is now exclusively on Subst...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, Father James Martin joins us with his new memoir, Work in Progress: Confessions of a busboy, dishwasher, caddy, usher, factory worker, bank teller, corporate tool, and priest. Father Jim is a Jesuit priest, editor at large of America magazine, consultor to the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communication, and host of The Spiritual Life podcast. His books include Learning to Pray, Jesus: A Pilgrimage, and The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything. In this conversation filled with humility and humor, Father Jim reminisces about the summer jobs that prepared him for his calling to...

Dr. Ezekiel Emanuel joins us this week on You Are What You Read with his new book, Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life. In this practical and entertaining guide to healthy living, Dr. Emanuel reveals that many of the tools for a long and meaningful life are already within reach. Dr. Emanuel is a vice provost and professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a bioethicist, health policy expert, and oncologist, and was one of the architects of the Affordable Care Act. 

On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by social media sensation and New York Times bestselling author, Melani Sanders. Melani’s latest book The Official We Do Not Care Club Handbook is a “Hot-Mess Guide for Women in Perimenopause, Menopause, and Beyond Who Are Over It”! Melani is a digital creator and founder of the “We Do Not Care Movement”. Her viral “We Do Not Care” reels and posts capture the humor, heart, and chaos of perimenopause, menopause, midlife, motherhood, and real life. 

Laura Dave continues Hannah Hall’s pulse-pounding journey in the riveting and deeply moving sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling blockbuster and Apple TV+ show, The Last Thing He Told Me. On this week’s episode of You Are What You Read, Laura joins us for a conversation about The First Time I Saw Him—an instant best seller and thrill to read.

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans is #1 on the New York Times best seller list this week, and you will discover why in this episode of You Are What You Read. The book is about a retired law clerk named Sybil, who reflects on her life through letters. She writes to family, friends, and even authors, revealing her regrets, joys, and a painful past she must confront to find forgiveness. Virginia talks about her journey as a writer through her experiences with family, work and books. 

2026 reading has started off strong. This week on You Are What You Read, we are thrilled to host Ben Markovitz with his novel, THE REST OF OUR LIVES, which has been one of the biggest novels this January. THE REST OF OUR LIVES was a finalist for the Booker Prize, a Barnes & Noble Book Club Pick, a Late Show Book Club Pick, and a national best seller. Ben Markovits is the author of eleven novels, including Fathers and Daughters, You Don’t Have to Live Like This, and The Sidekick. He has also published essays, stories, poetry, and reviews in The...

On this week's episode of You Are What You Read, we are joined by the Emmy-nominated and #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Meltzer with his latest, The Viper. You know Brad’s work: his thrillers, his nonfiction, and his children’s books, the Ordinary People Change the World series. This is a conversation about Brad's books, his process, and his connection with his beloved readers.