Why does it feel harder to access as I get older? And why, when I do feel it, do I immediately interrogate it or not trust that it will last?

Nostalgia is everywhere in culture right now: From the obsession with Caroline Besset to “90’s mom summer” to Zara Larson’s Lisa Frank coded aesthetic…over a third of Gen Z report being nostalgic for the 90’s despite never having lived it.

So why are we reaching backward for happiness instead of allowing ourselves to experience it now?

Last month, for the first time ever, Lit Club read a romance novel—and so many of us resisted the happy ending. “Is that really realistic!?” we all demanded! “Second chance romance!?” we cried, “getting back together with your ex is toxic to romanticize!”

And sure sometimes it is. But our brilliant 831 romance novelists pushed us to consider something else:

Don’t we deserve a little wish fulfillment?
Shouldn’t our reading life make us feel inspired, warm, joyful?

So many of us, myself included—have been trained to equate worthiness with rigor. That for something to matter, it must be difficult.

But if we’re always persevering…are we actually happy? Are we flourishing?

This month our theme is in bloom. We’ll explore what it means to be present, blossom and experience joy in the here and now. all with books at the center. The city is alive and we deserve to be too–let’s look to our books to figure out.

Author Talk: The Power of Lit Fic – 5/13
My go-to genre feels oversaturated right now, and so many lit fic books feel uninspired—dark for darkness’s sake. Join me for a conversation with sociologist and king of TikTok (Tell the Bees) Josh Lora, author Mary H.K. Choi, and creator Kimberly Bizou for a deep dive into lit fic—what we’re craving from it and why it really does matter. This event is in partnership with Audible (acca scuze me?!) at their Soho Story House Lab, and Lit Clubbers attend for free.

Book Club: Lazar by Nelio Biederma – 5/20
What happens to a Hungarian aristocratic family after they lose it all? One of the hottest young writers on the scene explores this through elements of magical realism, and I can’t wait for us to analyze it together over panoramic views of the Seaport, in partnership with our friends at Summit Books. This one is going to be so good.

Devil Wears Prada 2 Screening – 5/10
I saw an advanced screening of this movie a few weeks ago, and I have many thoughts. Was it delicious? Of course. Do I have critiques of its message? 1000% —and we have to discuss. Join TextTeddy and me for a fabulous private screening complete with an open bar, popcorn, candy, and dinner on Mother’s Day eve at IPIC and its bar, The Tuck Room. Bring your mom, your “mothah,” and all your friends. If price is an issue, just let me know, we want as many people there who want to be.

Literary Dinner on Cultural Curiosity – 5/28, Vinegar Hill House
Okay, so analog is in (eye roll), and we’ve got to know…which media is lighting your fire right now? How did you find your way to it? Join us for dinner to talk about the books, movies, and podcasts currently exciting us and what that says about each of us. TextTeddy will be there to help us capture all the recs we hear (and the vibes), and the dinner is sure to be stunning.

Literary Salons on Fashion (5/19) & Literary Adaptations (5/26)
Our next two events with Lit Society invite us to consider more deeply how and why trends recycle and the way that impacts our own tastes. Our salon on 5/19 at Temple Bar explores the intersection between fashion and reading, and our salon on 5/26 at Dilly Dally is all about book-to-screen adaptations. Expect to learn from industry experts at both and for two gorgeous, intimate evenings.

Standard Programming
A month at Lit Club isn’t complete without our book swaps, Rest & Reads, and meetups.

• Book Swap (5/6 – Apt 5): Spots left we’ll be sipping and swapping the night away with The Library Diaries in the moody vibes of Apt 5. Come hang.

• Rest & Read: 5/7 and 5/31 in the 87th Street Garden, 5/12 at Quick Eternity, and 5/21 at Cordelia. Let’s get our read on.

• Meet Ups:

  • Writer’s Meet Up with Little Nights (5/11) to explore and write about flourishing.

  • South Asian Readers Meet Up (5/28), hosted by Yosha Gunasekera to explore identity this AAPI Heritage Month.

It’s going to be a gorgeous month, and subscriber Circle, find links and your discounted tickets below. I’ll share links and general admission tickets with the wider community in the next few days.

The sun is shining, the city is outside, and so will we be gdammit!

Truly can’t wait to see you and hang,
Ya ’90s baby,
Kelly Kellz

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I haven’t talked about either. Not because they don’t matter, but rather, truthfully, because they are both so big, I haven’t even really processed them.

Blame it on the world’s longest winter. Or on the heads-down, unyielding hustle (pressure?) it takes just to get through another day in NYC as a solo entrepreneur. Either way, point is, it’s been a lot.

And I know I’m not alone in feeling that way. This past month we explored womanhood, and so many of us vulnerably shared our experiences navigating the pressures of modern adulthood: finances, relationships, health, and aging—hard on their own, compounded tenfold when swimming our way through what feels like a crumbling social structure.

The AI panic, the government shutdowns, the price of my mid salad… the politicization of seemingly every small choice we make—it can all be so overwhelming and so dang tiring.

And then.
You smell a flower.
A fresh breeze blows.
65 degrees.
And suddenly life is worth living, and what’s that? “Never Ending Sun” cued up for the 100th time?

Spring has the power to reawaken us and pull us out of dormancy.

I’m running around the reservoir again, basking in the sun, recharging, and it’s glorious. But if I’m being honest, y’all, I’m recharging with no idea what the battery is going to be used for.

What part of ourselves do we want to reawaken this spring? And why? What has been dormant within us that we want to reignite? What does it mean to begin again?

As always, we’ll look to reading to guide our thinking on these questions and more, spending Poetry Month resetting, reflecting, and renewing, all with books at the center. I’ve designed this month’s events to get us outside intentionally but with a gentle pace, and I so hope you’ll join me!

Rest & Read — all month : I feel like I’ve never needed to rest and read more in my life, so I’m quite literally hosting four of them this month (lolz). The first on 4/7 at The Met (free!), the second 4/13 with a wellness-based elixir brand, Curious Cocktails, the third 4/14 at our favorite book bar, Quick Eternity, and the final one on 4/22, Earth Day, in the absolute beauty that is the best hidden gem in NYC: the 87th Street Garden. Get me there, yesterday.

Writers Meet Up — 4/20: These are quickly becoming our new favorite event. On 4/20 (yep), we’ll come together at Quick Eternity to explore poetry and nostalgia through various prompts and writing exercises. Poets are encouraged, and writers of all backgrounds and experiences are welcome!

831 x Lit Club — Book Club (4/28) and Author Talk (4/30): I’ve recently felt a revival for romance. They’re light, fun, and the best-written ones say something true about what it means to be alive. Such is the case with romance publisher 831’s newest novella, Found Time, which tells the love story between Lili and Reid, who reunite 30 years later after meeting at a Jeff Buckley concert in the East Village. Midlife protagonists. ’90s nostalgia. NYC. Feel good. We deserve this. Join us for the book club gathering on 4/28 and the author talk with Caroline Goldstein on 4/30 to get into what it takes to write stories that reawaken and move us.

Film Screening — Margo’s Got Money Problems (4/16): I read this book two years ago and haven’t stopped thinking about it since. This month, the TV series starring Elle Fanning, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Nick Offerman comes out on Apple TV, and we’re SAT 4/16, at Cordelia. Can’t wait. We’ll discuss key takeaways on reawakening together.

Brooklyn Book Crawl — 4/19 Reawaken your child like wonder by joining us for an afternoon exploring bookish spots in Cobble Hill curated by artist, influencer and creator Aart Shop. Connection, creativity, joy!

And finally, something really special:

Literary Dinner (4/27) and Slam Poetry Evening (4/29) with Lit Society: This month Lit Club is honored to be teaming up with Lit Society, a thriving national literary community, to host two NYC-based events around poetry: a Poets Literary Dinner at Tiny’s & The Bar Upstairs in Tribeca and a Slam Poetry Evening with Nuyorican Emmy award winning poet Caridad De La Luz. Both are going to be fabulous, and you can buy your tickets right now at these links: literary dinner; slam poetry night

For the rest of our events, Subscriber Circle, find links and your discounted tickets below! I’ll share links and general admission tickets with the wider community in the next few days.

I know a lot of this post was me just saying I’m tired, but I’m truly so grateful I get to do this work, to be celebrating one whole year of Lit Club (actual reflections coming soon) and that each and every single one of you is a part of our community.

To a spring reawakening!

Your wannabe literary Zara Larson,

Kelly

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“Im not a girl. Not yet a woman.”

Herstory. And yet 25 years later, without a shred of irony in my voice, I say this: I’m not actually sure we have a collective consciousness about what defines womanhood —Britney, Ballerina Farm, or baddies alike.

• Is it motherhood and marriage?

• Financial independence and having our dream jobs?

• Leaning into our “feminine” energy?

• Is it anatomical? When the blood or wrinkles set in?

• Or is it wisdom marked by our inevitable and collective suffering?

Today, women earn nearly 60% of bachelor’s degrees in the U.S. (progress!). Yet in 2025, 58% of the women who left the workforce opted out themselves. Why?

Today women are smashing historic glass ceilings (24% of first-time homebuyers are single women!) and yet the women’s hockey team wins gold and is then mocked by their president. Why?

Girl dinner. Hot girl walks. Girlboss. Why does culture insist on infantilizing basic daily activities done by women? Or is calling my minimal makeup routine “clean girl” an act of resistance?

There is no doubt womanhood is ever-present. But speaking about it plainly has long been difficult—and feels newly charged now.

Join me this month as we attempt to untangle it all and explore what womanhood is, how it’s adapted or evolved, and how we might define it on our own terms.

Expect varied perspectives, ambiguous conclusions, and thoughtful texts to guide our discussions. Along the way, as always, we’ll make space for rest, reflection, and celebration to honor womanhood in all its complexity. Allies welcome.

Literary Dinner on Female Friendship — March 12th
Female friendships reveal so much about the texture of modern womanhood. At our literary dinner, we’ll explore their intimacy, tension, durability, and what commitment to one another asks of us. Joined by author Angela Flournoy, we’ll anchor our conversation in The Wilderness and reflect on friendship, freedom, and selfhood.

Writers Meet Up: On Women and Love — March 16th
How does womanhood shift when we fall in love? How does intimacy sharpen, soften, or unsettle our sense of self? Join us for a writers gathering centered on guided writing exercises and conversation, inspired by upcoming releases from Simon & Schuster. Expect prompts, discussion, and space to generate new work—no experience required.

Book Club: Detransition, Baby — March 18th
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters asks difficult, urgent questions about gender, desire, motherhood, and power. We’ll analyze the novel side by side at Anaïs, engaging its complexity with care and openness.

Book Swap at Credo Beauty — March 19th
Our book swap this months invites us to reflect on beauty, identity, and care. Bring books to exchange, plus any beauty empties—Credo Beauty will generously trade them for goodies. Come browse, swap, and connect in a relaxed, communal setting.

Rest & Read — March 9th and March 30th
Our signature quiet gathering returns: bring a book, read side by side, and unwind together. The March 30th Rest & Read will include a wine tasting curated by On Cloud Wine, with flights organized by literary genre.

Author Talk: On Womanhood in 2026 — March 31st
We’ll close the month with an author conversation with Rose Dommu, discussing her book The Best Woman and reflecting on womanhood in 2026—its pressures, performances, contradictions, and possibilities. Can’t wait for this.

Subscriber Circle, find links to the events and your discounted tickets below. I’ll share links and general admission tickets with the wider community in the next few days.

Womanhood is a huge topic, and I’m excited for what we’ll glean together.

Happy Women’s History Month all!

ya girlboss,

Kelly

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Liberation from this arctic weather
my phone addiction
the capitalism keeping my bills climbing

and from this dangerous administration justifying abhorrent acts of violence in the name of national protection.

How did we get here?
Why do we seem to be going backward?
Can we do… anything?

Unsurprisingly, my contemplation has led me to my shelf—scouring Morrison, Malcolm, and Walker for wisdom, notes on organizing, and clues for how to navigate the moment. Because we’ve been here before, and we’ll be here again, and their collective thesis to save us? Love.

“Love is divine only and difficult always,” Morrison states in Paradise. “If you think it is easy you are a fool. If you think it is natural you are blind.”

Love really is the simplest and most we can offer as humans, but I think we profoundly misunderstand it and its power.

How is it that love can be liberating? What actually is a nourishing, empowering love?

Join me this month as we explore these questions and more, thoughtfully interrogating texts, history, and culture for what we can glean to move forward and write a better love story for ourselves and our community.

It’s going to be meaningful, and it’s going to be fun.

Literary Dinner on Liberating Love (2/11): We’ll start out the month exploring the books that shape our current understanding of love over a three course dinner at Bowery Road. Varied perspectives and satiating conversation to be expected.

Wuthering Heights Book Club (2/18) & Film Screening (2/23): Perhaps more insightful on how not to love, we’ll analyze this text, film, and internet phenomenon for takeaways and interrogation of culture in 2026.

Our Author Talk on Romance Novels (2/19) and gathering on Heated Rivalry and the Femme Gaze (2/25) will invite us to consider the role of romance and sex in liberation. Why do these stories matter? How do they give us agency?

And with our Author talk on the Black Panther Party (2/20), we’ll turn political—exploring how liberating movements function and where love plays a role in organizing and disrupting power.

Along the way, we’ll have our signature gatherings, and some with a twist, to bring our community together in new ways:
Rest & Read (2/16) a Writers Meet Up (2/17) and a Black Readers Book Swap (2/25)

Subscriber Circle, find links to the events and your discounted tickets below. I’ll share links and general admission tickets with the wider community in the next few days.

I’m so grateful to have space to explore these big questions with you all. When agency and change feel futile, it feels radical to create spaces of deep thinking together.

Excited for what we’ll learn this month,

Ya lover girl in resident,
Kellz

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But seriously, culture does this weird thing this time of year where it creates this false sense of urgency to rapidly goal-set or rehaul our sense of self in the service of personal growth. I don’t know about you, but all of it—the ins and outs lists, the vision boarding, the loud resolution making—just makes me feel pressure, not peace; like I’m waking up on Jan 1, somehow already behind and not enough.

Intention setting can take many different forms (absolutely no shame to my collaging kings and queens), but one thing I know about my dear lit clubbers is that we like to take our time—to reflect, study, research, and think before we profess.

So that’s why this month, our theme is grounding beginnings.

Each event has been designed for us to seek wisdom from stories, enjoy the slower, quieter wintry days, and, when we’re ready, set smart and thoughtful intentions for the seasons ahead… all with books at the center.

I hope you’ll join me for this cozy, quiet month in the city. It’s going to be low-pressure, relaxing, and—fingers crossed—rewarding.

As always, can’t wait to see you there:

Rest & Read: 1/12, 1/20, and 1/27: Three times this month, so we can really ensure we’re finding opportunities for low-lift community when we definitely don’t want to leave the house. We’ll read fireside at Quick Eternity and at the cozy Cordelia in BK.

Book Club: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison, 1/15: We’re teaming up with Penguin Random House (!!) and Limousine Readings to revisit this challenging and timeless text for the lessons it can teach us in 2026. It’s going to be really meaningful.

Literary Dinner “On 2026” 1/13 : Bring a book that captures what you’re hoping for this year. We’ll share them and our reflections over a beautiful meal in the truly stunning private room at Passerine.

Author Talk: The Astro Twins 1/22: Astrology has Gen Z in a chokehold, and I’m so curious about its rewards. A professed skeptic, I’ll be in conversation with Elle and Dua Lipa’s resident astrologists—the Astro Twins—as we “forecast our future” using their new 2026 book of horoscopes. It should be fun, and I’m excited to see what I can learn from the stars.

Male Readers Meet-Up 1/17: Let’s get Scott Galloway quaking in his boots. Calling all performative males and literary it-boys—this one’s for you. No, but actually, if you’re a thoughtful guy looking to meet other smart men you can be in reading community with, roll through. Maalik is back from Miami to host. Bring a book you learned from this year.

Bookswap 1/25: This just might be our chance to try and snag any of those books on everyone’s Best of 2025 list—come hang out with Katie Romero and me for a high-energy Sunday afternoon of book swapping and wine sipping.

Literary Staycation 1/30-1/31: And finally, the pièce de résistance: our literary staycation. The theme is “NYC & Me,” and it’s my hope that it’ll help us refall in love with the city right before those months when it gets really bad. We’ll read Patti Smith’s Just Kids and bond with other readers while we stay at the chic Walker Hotel in Tribeca. I’m so hyped.

Subscriber Circle, find links to the events and your discounted tickets below. I’ll share links and general admission tickets for the rest of us within the next few days.

Happy New Year, babes. You’ve heard me say it one thousand times, but what’s a one thousandth and one… I’m so grateful for you.

Se you soon,

Your—fine, I’ll admit it—collaging killah,
Kellz

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I’ve been seeing a lot of discussion lately about the work it takes to build and be in community. As we get older and more settled into our lives and routines, taking the time to call an old friend, go to an event or simply leave the apartment because it’s cold seems to take so much effort.

Which is why I am so fucking proud of us. In 10 months this community has grown from 5 (shoutout to my og women’s book club!) to 15,000 and I am in awe of who we are and how we show up — always so present, warm, intentional, inclusive and thoughtful. The quality of our gatherings is nothing without each and every single one of you and your willingness to meaningfully connect with books at the center.

So this month we are celebrating—celebrating our year, celebrating our reads and celebrating our efforts, closing the year how Lit Cub began, together. Join us as we reflect on 2025 and engage in some festive fun. It’s going to be meaningful and fa-la-la-lit. (will somebody lock this girl up already?)

December Gatherings

• 12/3: Film Screening on the Housemaid — Lionsgate has invited us to a special free pre-screening of this Freida Mcfadden psychological thriller and it’s so good I literally squealed with glee.

• 12/8: Cocktail Book Swap at Temple Bar — Essentially our Lit Club holiday party, bring any book worth swapping that you have read this year. It’s going to be high energy, swanky and you already know I’ve got some surprises up my sleeve!

• 12/9: Rest and Read at NYPL Rose Reading Room — I don’t think anybody decorates for the holidays quite like the NYPL. We’ll read together side by side then connect under their stunning, gorgeous tree.

• 12/11: Book Club on Flesh by David Szalay at Cordelia Bk — The people have spoken and we’ll read what the Booker Prize calls the best book of the year and gather to analyze why.

• 12/15: Female Founders Meetup at Temple Court — Are you also a founder? Can we please talk about what we’ve learned and what books are actually worth reading? Counting down the days to this.

• 12/16: Literary Dinner on 2025 at Passerine — What’s the book that best defines your last twelve months? We’ll reflect deeply and connect over a stunning meal by Michelin-starred Chef Chetan Shetty in Passerine’s beautiful private room.

Just call me Kelly Clause bb because I ho, ho, ho, hope you love these events as much as I do. (Coal. She’s getting coal.)

🎟️ Paid subscribers, find your early access and discounted tickets below!

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November can be a tricky month. On the one hand, cozy season sets into full swing—and it’s glorious: golden leaves, chunky knits, and sumptuous meals.

But on the other, it brings something more precarious: potentially triggering family gatherings, a high-stakes election, holiday stress, and an ironically celebratory day with a dark genocidal past.

Cuffing season is here—but is our agency? How do we navigate it all? How do we process? This month, we’ll turn to our books and our community as we rethink relationships: the ones we have with our loved ones, our society, our books, and ourselves.

Each November event is designed for us to slow down, think critically, and reflect meaningfully together on the topics that make this month cozy, but complex. Wicked, our book club pick, grounds our experience, as this political allegory–turned–national cultural event invites us to rethink how we connect and show up in an ever-changing world.

I can’t wait to gather and explore with you.

November Gatherings

• 11/6: Rest and Read in the Gottemans Library at the Museum of Natural History — we’ll decompress post-election in the awe-inspiring space

• 11/8: Book Swap in the 87th Street Garden — we’ll forge new connections in our favorite outdoor nook in the city

• 11/11: Author Talk with Zachary Zane on his book Boyslut, co-moderated with psychotherapist Jack Lambert — we’ll explore mental health and sexuality

• 11/14–11/16: Autumn Retreat at Camptown in the Catskills— we’ll rediscover what it really means to rest

• 11/17: Book Club on Wicked at Quick Eternity — we’ll analyze this dark fantasy and political allegory for modern takeaways

• 11/19: Black Readers Meetup at Liz’s Book Bar — a special meetup for our Black Lit Clubbers to explore the books shaping identity in partnership with E.N.D

• 11/20: Literary Dinner on Masculinity — cutting through the cultural noise, we’ll critically discuss what this actually means in partnership with Modern Gentleman Project and Maalik Meets

• 11/24: Wicked Part 2 Screening — dinner and a movie: our own theater, endless snack and a fun way to close out the month at Nitehawk

Paid subscribers will also have an opportunity to attend Wicked on Broadway!

It’s going to be so extremely special.

🎟️ Paid subscribers, find your early access and discounted tickets below!

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Spooky season is here and we’re celebrating the Lit Club way: with gatherings that foster curiosity, strengthen our community, and spark us to have lots of fucking fun with books at the center.

This October, I’ve designed each event in the spirit of Latinx Heritage Month and the undeniable magic of fall in NYC! From book swaps under Central Park foliage, to haunted literary dinners, to Día de los Muertos Spanish-language book nights, to our very first film screening (Rosemary’s Baby!), we’ve got a month of stories, community, and connection waiting for us. Can’t wait!

Find your tickets to our October events below!

Haunted Literary Dinner RSVP

Author Talk RSVP

Noche en Español RSVP

Housing Works Rest and Read RSVP

Central Park Book Swap RSVP

Book Club at June Wine RSVP

Rest & Read 10.20 RSVP

Rest & Read 10.27 RSVP

Film Screening RSVP

Upgrade your subscription to save your spot! We’ll be exploring book stores, brunching, leaf peeping and experiencing the magic of peak autumn in upstate NY! (where I went to school k-12!)

Upgrade your subscription to save your spot and experience that Agatha Christy drip. It’s going to be so fun.

Can’t wait!

Your resident Sanderson sister,

Kellz

Why is this post paid? Lit Club is now 10k strong (!!!) and as we keep growing, it is my commitment that our gatherings remain intimate, well curated and low-cost for you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to get your first pick of events and to support what we’re building together! Will there will also be special pop up perks for paying subs? Hard yes bbs!

Register for any and all events that speak to you below!

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August 12: Book Club — I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

​This August, we’re reading I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman—a dystopian sci-fi novel set in a barren, post-apocalyptic world. ​We’ll gather at Frog Wine Bar in Bed-Stuy to reflect on the book’s themes—and why this haunting 1995 novel has so powerfully captured the current zeitgeist nearly 30 years later. (Seriously, BookTok can’t get enough. See The Cut's take here.) Bring your questions, your wonder, and your hot takes. The conversations is bound to be supes thought provoking.

🕕 6:30–8:30 PM
📍Frog Wine, Bed-Stuy
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes drinks and guided programming

August 13: “Americana” Literary Dinner at Brooklyn Crab

What does it mean to be American at a cultural moment as fraught as this one? What stories are shaping our understanding of this country—and our relationship to it? This dinner is an invitation to pause, reflect, and process together, looking to literature as our guide. Bring any book that speaks to your evolving sense of “Americana”—past, present, or future.We’ll share and make meaning together over lobster and crisp beers, overlooking the water at Brooklyn Crab in Red Hook. It should be a rich and layered discussion—with even better food and company! Join us. It’s gonna get deep, bb.

🕕 7–9 PM
📍Brooklyn Crab, Red Hook
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes drinks, dinner and guided programming

August 26: Author Talk — Get it Out by Andréa Becker

Introducing Lit Club Author Talks! This month we’ll be joined by Andréa Becker, sociologist and author of Get It Out: On the Politics of Hysterectomy for a powerful conversation on women’s health, medical autonomy, and the intersection of gender, race, and care. We’ll dive into her research, what led her to this work, and what this highly common yet under-discussed surgery reveals about how bodies are treated—and who gets to decide. My fellow social scientists, this ones for us.

🕕 6:30–8:15 PM
📍Sullaluna Bookshop and Bistro, West Village
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes a signed copy of the book, light refreshments, and guided programming

August 27: Rest and Read

The city is loud. Let’s quietly read together. Join us in the tranquility of 87th Street Garden for an evening of silent reading, light refreshments, and low-key connection. We’ll have private access to the garden—bring whatever you’re reading, find a spot, and unwind. After some solo reading time, we’ll break into small groups for casual conversation about our reads. Inspired by Reading Rhythms, this is a simple way to slow down midweek, meet new people, and plug into the Lit Club community. Let’s get coze.

🕕 6:30–8 PM
📍87th Street Graden
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket includes light refreshments and guided programming

August 31: Central Park Book Swap & Gameplay

Now a Lit Club staple—this event really is as fun as it looks on the 'gram! Join us in Central Park for an easy, joyful afternoon of book swapping and gameplay. Bring a blanket and a book to swap. We’ll sip, snack, and trade books—then keep the energy going with card and board games under the trees. Come one, come all. You’re bound to walk away with lots of new reads, new connections, and—tbh—probably a little tipsy. Can’t wait.

🕕 4–6 PM
📍Central Park, lawn off West 87th
🎟RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes drinks, snacks and guided programming

Gratitude

The way this community has grown over the past few months is honestly astounding.

We are thoughtful and smart.
Curious and open.
Fun asf.

Truly—and earnestly (there goes my favorite word!)—I really do feel like we’re making New York City feel more like home for all of us. From the new friendships sparked at these events, to the aha moments in conversation, to the community partners who rave about y’all… it’s clear: this is only the beginning.

Lit Club isn’t just about books.
It’s about building something together—a space to be culturally curious, ask tough questions, engage with the messiness, and connect meaningfully through the power of reading. And now more than ever, that matters.

Thank you for being you.

Let’s keep building together,
Kellz
Founder, Lit Club NYC

July 15: La Dolce Vita Literary Dinner at SullaLuna

Things in the world are feeling heavy. This dinner is an invitation to remember life’s sweetness (la dolce vita!)—even when it feels like we’re drowning. Bring a book (or personal writing) that helps you find lightness, joy, or pleasure. We’ll share them over cocktails, guided conversation, and a summery meal at Sullaluna, the gorgeena Italian book bistro in the West Village. We may not be escaping to Italy, but we can escape through our books, our community, and a beautiful meal. Join us.

🕕 7–9 PM
📍Sullaluna Bookshop and Bistro, West Village
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes drinks, dinner and guided programming

July 23: Book Club — Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

This month, we’re reading Ocean Vuong’s Emperor of Gladness—a lyrical, aching novel about grief, longing, and memory. We’ll gather on the Cherry on Top rooftop in Bushwick for an open-air discussion of Vuong’s language, structure, and the emotional currents that run through his work. Bring your thoughts, your questions, and your honesty. There will be drinks, a stunning sunset view, and space to reflect—together. I’ll bring the tissues. (You can listen to Oprah’s conversation with Vuong here)

🕕 6:30–8:30 PM
📍Cherry on Top, Bushwick
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes drinks and guided programming

July 26: Lit Latinas Literary Brunch

Our Literary Latina meetups are back—this time with a garden brunch centered on the books, voices, and stories that make us feel gorgeous and orgullosas.
Bring a book, excerpt, or piece of personal writing that fills you with Latin pride. Over unlimited drinks and a pan-Latin brunch at Palo Santo—a dreamy brownstone restaurant in Brooklyn—we’ll share our texts, celebrate our cultures, and reflect together. The goal? To walk away with deeper bonds—with fellow Latina readers, with our roots, and with ourselves. (Think pupusas, sangria, coconut French toast, chilaquiles…sabrosísima!)

🕕 12–2 PM
📍Palo Santo Brooklyn
🎟 RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes unlimited drinks, brunch and guided programming

July 27: Central Park Book Swap & Gameplay

June’s park picnic book swap was so much damn fun, we’re doing it again. Join us in Central Park for an easy, joyful afternoon of book swapping and gameplay. Bring a blanket and a book to swap. We’ll sip, snack, and trade books—then keep the energy going with card and board games under the trees. (Feel free to bring your favorites games!) Our community is full of curious, thoughtful, and fun people—this is one of the best ways to connect, especially if you’re new. Come solo or bring a friend and ofc, the good vibes. Everyone’s welcome.

🕕 4–6 PM
📍Central Park, lawn off West 87th
🎟RSVP here → EVENT LINK; Ticket price includes drinks, snacks and guided programming

Gratitude

Lit Club has always been about people—people who read, who reflect, who care. And like our city, this community is beautifully diverse: across gender, age, culture, and background. I’m continually impressed by how you show up and come together—open, thoughtful, curious, intelligent, and authentic, with books at the center. I learn so much from each of you.

Thank you for creating such an inclusive and welcoming space of books, beauty, and belonging. It’s truly remarkable to witness—and if you’re new, take this as your sign to join us. I promise you’ll be made to feel right at home! (The wine stays flowing, bbs)

Can’t wait to see you soon,
Kelly

Founder, Lit Club NYC

June 4: Open Book Club — James by Percival Everett

Join us for an open-air discussion of James—an extraordinary reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, told through the eyes of Jim. We’ll explore how Everett rewrites history, power, and language to center Black consciousness and reclaim narrative agency. We’re gathering at the 87th Street Community Garden on the UWS—a tucked-away green space that feels like the city’s best-kept secret. There will be light bites, good people, and thoughtful conversation.

🕕 6–8 PM
📍 87th Street Community Garden (West 87th St between Columbus & Central Park West)
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

June 17: Pride & Prose at Astoria Bookshop

Let’s celebrate Pride in reading community! Bring a book, excerpt, or piece of personal writing that has shaped your understanding of Pride—what it means, how it’s lived, and how it’s loved. We’ll share readings aloud and reflect on the themes that emerge. (Get your Ocean Vuong ready!)

We’re gathering at Astoria Bookshop, a queer woman-owned independent bookstore that’s been a literary haven in Queens since 2013. Come early to browse, buy, and support this incredible local business! This gathering is rooted in queer storytelling and open to all—LGBTQ+ readers, allies, and anyone moved by the power of Pride on the page.

🕕 6–8 PM
📍Astoria Bookshop, Queens
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

June 25: Wellness Book Night at The PhysioLab

Let’s head into the heat of summer with a healthy body, mind, and soul. Bring a book that’s shaped your understanding of wellness—whether it challenged your thinking, affirmed your experience, or offered a new way to care for yourself. From fitness and food to healing and hope, we’ll share short reflections and explore how literature can expand our definitions of health.

We’re gathering at The PhysioLab, a physical therapy and training studio rooted in intentionality and community. Expect mint tea, wellness-inspired treats, and a calm, grounding space to reflect and connect. Open to all.

Dress comfy, come as you are.
🕕7–8:30 PM
📍The PhysioLab, West Village
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

June 29: Park Picnic Book Swap

Come celebrate summer’s peak with a casual book swap in Central Park, surrounded by our growing reading community. Bring a book you’ve loved and feel is worth sharing—we’ll sip, snack, swap, and connect, with books at the center of it all in the beating heart of our gorgeous city.

🕕 4–6 PM
📍Central Park, lawn off West 87th
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

See you soon!

The people in this community are magnificent—so smart, thoughtful, fun, and authentic, deeply engaged with the books and ideas that shape how we live. It is truly such a joy to gather together.

We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of this month’s events. Whether you come to listen, share, or simply be in community, you belong!

Can’t wait to connect soon.
With love,
Kelly

May 15: Latina Readers Poetry Night

Bring a poem that shaped your latinidad—something that stirred your spirit, honored your roots, or helped you find your voice. We’ll read them aloud, reflect together, and explore resonant themes in community.
We’re gathering at Café con Libros, a Black- and Latina-owned feminist bookstore in Crown Heights—a sanctuary for liberation, literature, and sisterhood.
Open to Latina-identifying readers.

🕕 6–8 PM
📍 Café con Libros (724 Prospect Place, Brooklyn)
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

May 21: Open Book Club — James by Percival Everett

We’re reading James, Percival Everett’s brilliant and blistering reimagining of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—told through the eyes of Jim. We’ll explore its resonant themes, connections to Twain, and what it reveals about race, power, and storytelling today.

We’re gathering at the 87th Street Community Garden on the UWS—a tucked-away green space that feels like the city’s best-kept secret. There will be light bites, good people, and thoughtful conversation.

Open to all!

🕕 6–8 PM
📍 87th Street Community Garden (West 87th St between Columbus & Central Park West)
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

May 22: Jewish Readers Dinner — Jewish in 2025

What does it mean to be Jewish in this moment? What texts shape your identity, your rituals, your questions? Let’s talk about it! Bring a book or excerpt that’s shaping your understanding of Jewishness today—something that challenges you, grounds you, or makes you feel seen.

We’ll gather for a guided conversation over dinner, sharing reflections and lived experiences at Gertie in Williamsburg—a Jewish-owned spot known for modern takes on Ashkenazi comfort food and a mission rooted in care and community. Their covered back patio is gorgeous and ready for us!

Open to Jewish-identifying readers. All expressions of Jewish identity are welcome—religious, cultural, questioning, and everything in between.

🕕 7–9PM
📍 Gertie (357 Grand Street, Brooklyn)
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

May 29: Literary Dinner — On Parenthood

What makes someone want to become a parent? How does it change you? What shapes our ideas of what it means to raise—or be raised—well? Whether you’re a parent, child-free, deciding on kids, healing from your own parents, or honoring them—this dinner is for you.

Bring a book or excerpt that’s shaped how you think about parenthood, identity, or legacy. We’ll gather for a private dinner of guided conversation at Hudson Clearwater, a cozy West Village spot tucked behind a garden.

Open to all! Ticket includes dinner, drink(s), and guided programming.

🕕 6–8PM
📍 Hudson Clearwater (447 Hudson Street, NYC)
✨ RSVP here → EVENT LINK

See you soon!

Lit Club is growing into something really special—meaningful gatherings, beautiful conversations, and real connection, all with books at the center.

We’d love to see you at one (or more!) of this month’s events. Whether you come to listen, share, or simply be in community, you belong!

Can’t wait to connect soon.
With love,
Kelly + Lit Club NYC
📚 @litclub.nyc