Book Soup

Julian Tepper, in conversation with Max Maduka, discusses & signs Getting Even/Letting Go

Getting Even/Letting Go is a taut, darkly comic novel about money, memory, and the psychic wreckage of a marriage long after love has ended.On a single spring afternoon in New York City, Gene Mills--a once-successful writer now living on fumes--hosts friends in his apartment while waiting for an art auction that could change everything. The paintings on the block were made by his ex-wife, now a global art star. They depict her affair, her ambition, and the life she detonated when she left him. Gene believes selling them is justice. Or survival. Or both.As the clock ticks toward the auction lots, Gene spirals through old resentments, legal threats, parental guilt, financial desperation, and the corrosive pleasure of retaliation. What unfolds is an intimate portrait of a man trying to convert emotional injury into cash, to reclaim dignity through ownership, and to convince himself that getting even might finally allow him to let go.With biting wit and relentless psychological precision, Julian Tepper explores the moral gray zones of divorce, custody, authorship, and art-world power--where love becomes leverage, memory becomes inventory, and victory may cost more than defeat. Getting Even/Letting Go is a novel about what remains when intimacy turns transactional, and whether freedom can ever be purchased without exacting a final, private price. Bio:Julian Tepper's fifth novel, Getting Even/Letting Go (Rare Bird), will be published in the fall of 2026. His writing has appeared in The Paris Review, Playboy, Brooklyn Rail, Zyzzyva, Daily Beast, Bomb, Tablet Magazine, The New York Review of Architecture, and elsewhere. His essay, "Locking Down with the Family You've Just Eviscerated in a Novel" was a "Notable Essay of 2022" in Best American Essays 2022. He was born and raised in New York City.Max Maduka is an actress and writer living in California. Twice named to the Forbes 30-Under-30, she is formerly the editor-in-chief of the American Reader, and writes on theology, literature, culture, and the arts.

UNSOUPERVISED READERS CLUB

Hosted by Book Soup Bookseller, Jessica! UNSOUPERVISED READERS SEPTEMBER EDITION WILL BE:Hungerstone by Kat DunnIt’s the height of the Industrial Revolution, and ten years into Lenore’s marriage to steel magnate Henry, their relationship has soured. When Henry’s ambitions take them from London to the remote British moorlands, a shocking carriage accident brings the mysterious Carmilla into their lives. Carmilla, who is weak and pale during the day but vibrant at night. Carmilla, who stirs something deep within Lenore.Soon, girls from the local villages fall sick, consumed by a terrible hunger, and Lenore begins to unravel. Torn between regaining her husband’s affection and the cravings Carmilla has awakened, Lenore must confront a darkness that will place her at risk.This immersive reworking of Carmilla, the queer novella that inspired Dracula, delivers a richly atmospheric look at feminine rage and the desires that feed our hunger. About the AuthorKat Dunn is the Lambda Award-winning and nationally bestselling author of Hungerstone. She has a BA in Japanese from SOAS and an MA in English from Warwick, has written about mental health for Mind, and worked as a translator for Japanese television. Kat grew up in London and has lived in Japan, Australia, and France.

Susan Orlean, in conversation with Patton Oswalt, discusses & signs Joyride: A Memoir

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR, TIME, OPRAH DAILY, GOODREADS, AND MORE"Brilliant...A high-spirited, exhilarating memoir." --The Wall Street Journal - "In Joyride, the takeaway often has as much to do with the art of living as the art of writing." --Elle - "Wise and exuberant... It's funny, as well. Just masterful." --David Sedaris - "Superbly good...Ebullient, frank, moving, and inspiring." -- Booklist (starred review)From Susan Orlean, the beloved New Yorker writer and bestselling author of The Orchid Thief and The Library Book who has been hailed as "a national treasure" by The Washington Post, comes a masterful memoir of finding her creative calling and purpose that invites us to approach life with wonder, curiosity, and an irrepressible sense of delight."The story of my life is the story of my stories," writes Susan Orlean in this extraordinary, era-defining memoir from one of the greatest practitioners of narrative nonfiction of our time. Joyride is a magic carpet ride through Orlean's life and career, where every day is an opportunity for discovery and every moment holds the potential for wonder. Throughout her storied career, her curiosity has drawn her to explore the most ordinary and extraordinary of places, from going deep inside the head of a regular ten-year-old boy for a legendary profile ("The American Man Age Ten") to reporting on a woman who owns twenty-seven tigers, from capturing the routine magic of Saturday night to climbing Mt. Fuji.Not only does Orlean's account of a writing life offer a trove of indispensable gleanings for writers, it's also an essential and practical "master class" ( The New York Times) to embracing any creative path. She takes us through her process of dreaming up ideas, managing deadlines, connecting with sources, chasing every possible lead, confronting writer's block and self-doubt, and crafting the perfect lede--a Susan specialty.While Orlean has always written her way into other people's lives in order to understand the human experience, Joyride is her most personal book ever--a searching journey through finding her feet as a journalist, recovering from the excruciating collapse of her first marriage, falling head-over-heels in love again, becoming a mother while mourning the decline of her own mother, sojourning to Hollywood for films based on her work including Adaptation and Blue Crush, and confronting mortality. Joyride is also a time machine to a bygone era of journalism, from Orlean's bright start in the golden age of alt-weeklies to her career-making days working alongside icons such as Robert Gottlieb, Tina Brown, David Remnick, Anna Wintour, Sonny Mehta, and Jonathan Karp--forces who shaped the media industry as we know it today.Infused with Orlean's signature warmth and wit, Joyride is a must-read for anyone who hungers to start, build, and sustain a creative life. Orlean inspires us to seek out daily inspiration and rediscover the marvels that surround us.Susan Orlean has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1992. She is the New York Times bestselling author of seven books, including The Library Book, Rin Tin Tin, Saturday Night, and The Orchid Thief, which was made into the Academy Award-winning film Adaptation. She lives with her family and her animals in Los Angeles and may be reached at SusanOrlean.com and on Substack at SusanOrlean.Substack.com. Patton Oswalt is an award-winning actor, writer, and comedian. From his comedy specials to more than 200 film and television roles, Oswalt chooses work that inspires him and entertains audiences. Most recently his newest special, TEA & SCOTCH, came out on YouTube and has over half a million views. He co-created M.O.D.O.K., a Marvel stop-motion animated adult comedy series for Hulu, as well as voices the titular character and co-starred on the NBC Universal comedy A.P. Bio. This is a ticketed event through Eventbrite and will take place at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, located at 540 S. Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020 Your ticket includes a paperback copy of Joyride, to be handed out at check-in. A public book signing will follow the conversation. Check-in begins at 6pm and the show begins promptly at 7pm. No refunds on the day of the event. Questions? Please email info@booksoup.com

FREE RSVP: Jason Neese discusses & signs The Travelling Audience

When Jacob's twin brother vanishes without a trace, he begins following a trail of impossible postcards scattered across America--cryptic messages that hint at apocalypse, destiny, and something deeply wrong with reality itself.Then he finds her.Naked outside his motel room in Denver, a young woman with no memory of who she is claims she's supposed to be with him. She remembers obscure details about strangers' lives but nothing about her own. As Jacob and the mysterious Mia cross a surreal, burning America in search of his missing brother, their journey spirals into a fever dream of roadside prophets, fractured identities, religious cults, motel rooms, tarot omens, and the terrifying feeling that the world is quietly unraveling beneath them.Part cosmic road novel, part psychological mystery, and part surreal romance, The Traveling Audience is a hypnotic exploration of memory, connection, fate, and what it means to exist in a universe that no longer feels stable.For readers who love strange literary fiction with the emotional weight of American Gods, the existential surrealism of Twin Peaks, and the road-trip intensity of On the Road, this is a story that lingers long after the final page. Jason Neese graduated with a BFA in creative writing from the University of North Carolina at Wilmington. He went on to become a screenwriter, director and producer for film and tv. He was co-executive producer for Netflix mega hit The Umbrella Academy. He co-produced Kevin Costner’s western epic Horizon. He more recently wrote and produced the feature film And Out Comes The Wolf starring Giancarlo Esposito and Ryan Hurst and is currently writing and directing a YA paranormal indie series called We Believe You which Kevin Costner will produce. Looking ahead, Jason with his twin brother, just sold a sci-fi time travel television show starring Nathan Fillion to Netflix which will go into production in 2027 and are attached to direct the feature film Goodman.The Traveling Audience is his debut novel.

Marcy Kelly discusses & signs The Porcelain Heart: A Mother's Memoir of Unexpected Loss

Fans of Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking and Blue Nights will find inspiration in this mother's memoir about the year following her son's sudden death. When Marcy learns her beloved forty-five-year-old son, Michael, has died, she refuses to believe it. He was her only child. Later, she blames herself because she didn't recognize the signs of his illness. She has disturbing dreams about not saving him and spirals through the various stages of grief as she waits months for the coroner to render a cause. But the fifth and final stage of grief, Marcy rejects. In her mind, if she accepts Michael's death, he won't ever return. The Porcelain Heart chronicles her raw emotional journey the year following Michael's death. Marcy endures all the firsts without him--the holidays, his birthday. She joins grief groups, remembers frightening and fun times together, questions whether she was a good mother, and tries to distract herself with travel. She creates a golf scholarship in his name and commissions a stone people and pet fountain to be built on the path where he used to hike. Her journey culminates when she takes his ashes to his favorite place, a lake in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and finally begins moving toward acceptance.

Book Soup + Harmony Gold Present: Christopher Lloyd discussing In My Own Time: A Memoir

Emmy Award-winning actor Christopher Lloyd--one of the most iconic performers of his generation--shares an intimate portrait drawn from the defining moments of his life, from his early years in theater to his time on the sets of iconic television and film, his struggles with addiction, and an isolated childhood of privilege.Whether appearing as a disembodied head in Wednesday or taking on the title role in a stage production of King Lear, Christopher Lloyd has become known for portraying larger-than-life characters with a singular intensity and imagination. Now, for the first time, Christopher shares stories from his life that he has rarely spoken about before.In My Own Time begins with Christopher's childhood at Waveny, the sprawling Connecticut estate. Raised primarily by governesses and wandering the grounds, he became a quiet observer of the people and relationships around him, including the complicated dynamic between his creative mother and his stern father.With New York already a familiar part of his world, Christopher immersed himself in the demanding life of the theater. On stage he developed the intensity, imagination, and fearlessness that would come to define his work. From there, Christopher's career expanded across television and film, where audiences came to know him as the intense and unpredictable Taber in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, the eccentric and beloved Reverend Jim Ignatowski on Taxi, and the wild-eyed genius Doc Brown in the Back to the Future trilogy--performances that helped define some of the most enduring films and television of their time.Christopher Lloyd offers a rare and deeply personal reflection on a life spent both onstage and on screen, told with charm, dry wit, and honesty. In sharing the stories behind his work, his struggles, and the people and places that shaped him, In My Own Time reveals the thoughtful and deeply observant man behind the iconic characters. Bio:Christopher Lloyd is an Emmy Award-winning actor whose career spans more than five decades across theater, television, and film. Widely regarded as one of the most distinctive character actors of his generation, he is known for creating some of the most iconic roles in entertainment, including Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in the beloved Back to the Future trilogy and Reverend Jim Ignatowski on the television series Taxi. His performances also include the unforgettable Taber in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Judge Doom in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, and Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. A three-time Emmy Award winner and four-time nominee, Lloyd most recently received a 2024 nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor for his role in the Max comedy series Hacks. This is a ticketed event through Eventbrite and will take place at Harmony Gold, located at 7655 W. Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90046.There is limited onsite parking.Check-in begins at 6pm. Please arrive early for a good seat. Your ticket includes a copy of In My Own Time: A Memoir which you will receive at check-in on the night of the program. You must be present to claim your book. Your book will include a signed bookplate.There will not be a book signing following the discussion.

TICKETED EVENT: Jeff Garlin signs Jeff Garlin: Best Seat in the House: Moments No One Asked Me to Capture...But I Did Anyway

NEW DATE! An inside look at comedy's biggest stars through candid never-before-seen photographs with hilarious personal stories that capture the heart of life on and offstage. Beloved for his iconic roles including Jeff Greene on HBO's Curb Your Enthusiasm and Murray Goldberg on ABC's The Goldbergs and for his decades on the stand-up stage, Garlin is known for his humor, heart, and magnetic presence. Less known is his passion for photography and his gift for capturing the unscripted moments that define life behind the curtain. For years, Garlin has quietly documented backstage life and private gatherings with comedy's biggest stars and Hollywood's most familiar faces. Now, for the first time, he's gathered his best work alongside personal anecdotes--captured in conversation with podcast host Sam Fragoso--that reveal the humor and tenderness of Garlin's closest friends, collaborators, and mentors. Featuring iconic images from the Curb Your Enthusiasm series finale and portraits of luminaries including Larry David, Mel Brooks, Brad Pitt, Jerry Seinfeld, Bob Odenkirk, Christie Brinkley, Carl Reiner, Sarah Silverman, Jerrod Carmichael, and many more, this book is a love letter to comedy and its creators. Each image reflects the wit, warmth, and spontaneity that define Garlin's voice-- onstage, onscreen, and now behind camera. This is a ticketed in-store event through Eventbrite. You must have an Eventbrite ticket to be in the book signing only. Tickets purchased through a third party will not be considered valid.No memorabilia. Please leave it at home. Photos from the line are okay.

Alex Pappadamas & Joan Lemay discuss & sign Friends of the Devil: West Texas Cowboys, Brown-Eyed Women, and Other Sunshine Daydreamers from the Songs of the Grateful Dead

Overheard LA Book Club Book Swap!

Bring a book, take a book. Custom bookmarks, haiku station, light bites & drinks, and more!

Roger Padilha & Mauricio Padilha discusses & signs Jean Louis: Hollywood's Bombshell Designer

The untold story of the visionary designer who redefined Hollywood glamour, elevating costume design into a true art form.Jean Louis's creations illuminated more than 180 films across three decades and resulted in some of the most remembered garments during Hollywood's Golden Age--from Rita Hayworth's smoldering satin column dress in Gilda to Marilyn Monroe's iconic nude illusion gown worn to sing "Happy Birthday" to President Kennedy. Jean Louis: Hollywood's Bombshell Designer features dozens of film stills, fashion sketches, and movie posters illustrating the career of an artist that helped define the femme fatales, showgirls and ingénues of American cinema's most famous films.Arriving at a timely moment amid a renewed resurgence surrounding Marilyn Monroe's legacy as her centennial approaches in 2026--an anniversary sure to heighten fascination with Old Hollywood style and the ever present influence of Jean Louis on the modern red carpet: Nicole Kidman, Margot Robbie, Beyonce, Sydney Sweeney, and Rihanna have all channeled Jean Louis' bombshell styles recently and Kim Kardashian made headlines when she wore Monroe's Jean Louis gown to the Met Gala.A tribute to craftsmanship, beauty, and style, the book stands as a glamorous testament to the enduring brilliance of Jean Louis and the timeless spell of Hollywood's most radiant era.

Byron Bowers, in conversation with Julie Seabaugh and Alma Har'el, discusses & signs The Hardest Part of Schizophrenia Is Spelling Schizophrenia: A Memoir

Comedian and actor Byron Bowers' wild, funny, and fearless memoir proves that healing can be a psychedelic experience--and that sometimes the only way to tell the truth is to laugh about it.Byron Bowers is a comic's comic--the guy other comedians watch from the back of the room wondering how he just pulled that off. His sets dive into spirituality, race, the dollar, and manhood--and sometimes he wings half of it on the spot. Most comics turn pain into jokes. Byron turns it into something stranger and deeper. And it all started with his father, a paranoid-schizophrenic visionary who accidentally taught him how to break reality open.Part confession, part stand-up set, The Hardest Part of Schizophrenia is Spelling Schizophrenia takes readers from a childhood shadowed by loss in Georgia to the surreal absurdities of Hollywood. Each stop along the way is shaped by survival: hoop dreams and a basketball scholarship, hustling crack on a Christian campus, getting shot at, and standing on the edge of both suicide and homicide.Determined not to let his past define him, Byron made it his mission to turn pain into purpose. He started grinding in Atlanta's comedy clubs, earning his stripes one late-night set at a time, before heading west where he became a regular at the legendary Comedy Store and began landing breakout film and television roles.Byron dismisses the idea that reality's rules can't be rewritten. His story educates, enlightens, and ultimately inspires anyone who refuses to let adversity stand between them and the peace found in the journey itself.

Jane Wiedlin signs TMI: Memoirs of a Go-Go (Ticketed In-Store Book Signing Only)

An intimate, behind-the-scenes glimpse into life as the rhythm guitarist, songwriter, and co-founder of the all-female, multi-platinum-selling band the Go-Go’s—both onstage and off.The Go-Go’s were the first all-woman rock group to hit number one on the Billboard charts while playing their own instruments and performing original songs. As guitarist and lyricist, Jane Wiedlin helped define that revolution. In her memoir, she shares the raw, unvarnished journey of an artist who overcame it all.From the early L.A. punk scene, Jane’s song “Our Lips Are Sealed” catapulted the band to fame. The Go-Go’s hit dizzying heights, only to splinter apart in a whirlwind of touring, tension, and chaos rivaling any band of the era. Yet Jane’s story goes far beyond the stage.TMI is a vivid account of rock excess and Hollywood drama. Jane opens up about childhood tragedy, mental health struggles, shattered relationships, and her own relentless reinvention. She tells how she taught herself music from scratch, worked as a “slave” in a world-famous BDSM dungeon, and became the world’s first atheist minister. Through it all, Jane Wiedlin’s story is as candid, defiant, and unforgettable as the music that defined a generation. This is a ticketed in-store book signing only. Tickets are available through Eventbrite. You must have a ticket purchased through Book Soup/Eventbrite to join the signing line. Tickets purchased through third parties are considered invalid.Please be careful of scams. Your ticket includes one signed copy of TMI to be handed out at check-in and signed at the event. Ms. Wiedlin will greet guests and take a photo with them. Please have your camera out and ready to hand to a staff person who will snap the photo. Because we want everyone to have a chance to meet Ms. Wiedlin, we kindly request no plus ones and no memorabilia. Each person in line must have a ticket. If you have questions please email: info@booksoup.com

Illeana Douglas discusses & signs Jungle Red!: The Making of Mgm's the Women

The year 1939 produced such outstanding film classics as Gone with the Wind, The Wizard of Oz, and Wuthering Heights. No less critically acclaimed that year was The Women. A largely forgotten masterpiece , The Women is a glamorous but stinging satire about women forced by society to be defined by men. Jungle Red! The Making of MGM's The Women restores this classic to its rightful place in Hollywood history, and its lasting legacy as a template for later female-driven projects like Sex and The City, and The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills. Four MGM screenwriters, including a failing F. Scott Fitzgerald and an on-the-rise Donald Ogden Stewart, fought over their vision of The Women. Jane Murfin was completing her script when Anita Loos was brought in to work with her on a new draft for George Cukor, then recently fired from Gone with the Wind and determined to use The Women to get his career back on track. He became, as one newspaper called him, the lion tamer to the ladies. With sophisticated direction by Cukor, lavish fashions by Adrian, and gorgeous sets by Cedric Gibbons, its all-star cast was led by Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford, Rosalind Russell, Paulette Goddard, and Joan Fontaine. Not a single male actor appeared, proving that women didn't need men to rule the box office. Gossip columns were filled with stories about fierce on-set rivalries, which proved fairly combustible, leading one columnist to refer to the set as "a female kennel," with behind the scenes antics as fierce and flamboyant as the film itself. The Los Angeles Times wrote, " The Women is a vitriolic masterpiece!" Now, it's time to fall in love with The Women all over again! In Jungle Red! The Making of MGM's The Women, and using never-before-seen photographs, memos, and script notes, Douglas writes not only how the film came together, but captures how the lives of the people who made it intersected before, during and after, and how the conflicts on-set and off resulted in the greatest film ever made about women . . . by a man! Illeana Douglas has starred in films like Cape Fear, To Die For, Grace of My Heart, and Ghost World, as well as TV shows Goliath, Entourage, and Six Feet Under. She’s done memorable interviews and introductions for Turner Classic Movies, Criterion, Kino Lorber, and Trailers From Hell. She’s the author of I Blame Dennis Hopper: And Other Stories from a Life Lived In and Out of the Movies, and Connecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark Suburbia.

Largo Presents: In conversation with MURRAY HILL & KATHLEEN HANNA: Showbiz!

Two friends. Two icons. One-night-only. Join comedian and NYC showbiz legend MURRAY HILL for a very special celebration of his new memoir, Showbiz! My Life as a Middle-Aged Man, in conversation with punk rock icon, author, and longtime friend KATHLEEN HANNA. Expect a hilarious, candid, and completely unpredictable conversation about showbiz, survival, friendship, feminism, reinvention, and making it through. Come for the books, stay for the stories, and witness two originals who've spent their lives doing things their own way. Showbiz! Following the conversation, Murray and Kathleen will take questions from the audience, then Murray will personally sign copies of Showbiz! for everyone who buys a book. Legendary LA independent bookstore BOOK SOUP will be on hand selling Murray’s memoir as well as the paperback edition of Kathleen’s bestselling memoir, Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk. ABOUT THE AUTHORSMurray Hill is a one-man entertainment machine: comedian, host, actor, writer, producer, and walking time capsule of classic showbiz charm. Television audiences know him as the lovable Fred Rococo on HBO’s award-winning Somebody Somewhere, and from his appearances on Life & Beth (Hulu), Drag Me To Dinner (Hulu), Elsbeth (CBS), Welcome to Flatch (FOX), and King of Drag (Revry). NBC News selected him as one of modern history's 30 most iconic and influential drag performers, and New York magazine included him in the Fifty Most Iconic Gender Benders of All Time list.Kathleen Hanna is a pioneering musician, writer, artist, and feminist activist whose fearless voice helped ignite the Riot Grrrl movement and reshape punk rock. As the frontwoman of the influential bands Bikini Kill and Le Tigre, and later The Julie Ruin, Hanna has spent more than three decades challenging sexism, championing self-expression, and inspiring generations of artists and activists. In 2024, Hanna published her acclaimed memoir, Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk, which became an instant New York Times bestseller and chronicles her life, music, activism, and the experiences that shaped her revolutionary creative voice. Murray photo by Don Spiro, Kathleen photo by Jason GothenburgWill Call Opens/Seat Assignments Begin: 6PMDoors Open For Drinks: 7PMShowtime: 8PMWhen you arrive at WILL CALL on the night of the show, seats will be assigned to you first come first served, from the front of the theatre to the back starting when WILL CALL opens. If you want to sit closer, be sure to arrive earlier.

Lisa M. Stulberg, in conversation with David Monahan, discusses & signs How to Win a Culture War: LGBTQ+ Social Change Through Pop Culture

How elite athletes and entertainment industry movers and shakers work to win the culture war for LGBTQ+ social justice.The unquestionable runaway television hit of late 2025 was Crave/HBO Max's Heated Rivalry, a show that tells the love story of two queer ice hockey players. This show--and the wider social context around it--would have been unthinkable without the courageous writing, art, and advocacy of previous generations of LGBTQ+ people and their allies in the entertainment industry. In How to Win a Culture War, sociologist Lisa M. Stulberg argues that, despite substantial barriers, past and current creatives and athletes are changing American culture through their contributions to arts, sports, and politics.Stulberg conducted in-depth interviews with 170 culture workers--including television, film, and theater actors and creators; musicians; elite athletes; and activists over the span of 14 years. These include stars such as Will & Grace's Eric McCormack, Orange Is the New Black's Lea DeLaria, Olympic diver Greg Louganis, and several former NFL players, as well as the TV and movie writers, producers, and directors behind some of pop culture's boldest moves. These culture makers take six primary steps toward LGBTQ+ social change: they become visible, use available platforms, change their workplaces, overachieve, become normal, and stay queer. In this work, they are opening up the culture, changing hearts and minds, and building community, even amid a fresh round of ruthless political attacks on LGBTQ+ people.Providing rich behind-the-scenes insight and cultural material, Stulberg outlines an urgently needed playbook for how to win a culture war.

HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING FAN HOUR

Help us celebrate the film release of Sunrise on the Reaping with a special fan event in partnership with Lionsgate! We'll have special prizes and treats for all of the Hunger Games fans in your family.This is a fan event, the author of the book will not be present. THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING will revisit the world of Panem 24 years before the events of The Hunger Games, starting on the morning of the reaping of the 50th Hunger Games, also known as the Second Quarter Quell. The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping Reader’s Guide https://hungergames.movie/readersguide THE HUNGER GAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING opens in theaters on November 20th. FOLLOW #THEHUNGERGAMES: SUNRISE ON THE REAPING ONLINEOfficial Site | Facebook | X | Instagram | TikTok | @BoutiquePublicity

TICKETED BOOK SIGNING: Rikki Rockett signs Ghost Notes: My Life in Poison

From the suburbs of Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania, to the neon glare of Los Angeles, Rikki Rockett's journey is as raw and relentless as the beat of his drums. Before becoming the flamboyant, fire-breathing drummer of Poison, Rockett was a restless kid with a taste for rebellion and an obsession with music that refused to let him go. In Ghost Notes, Rockett pulls no punches as he recounts the wild ride from basement bands and dishwashing jobs to forming one of the most iconic glam-metal acts of the 1980s. Beyond the sex, drugs, and rock'n'roll, he also confronts the shadows: fractured family ties, addiction, betrayal, cancer, brushes with death, and a lifelong search for meaning beyond the stage. Brutally honest, darkly funny, and packed with never-before-told stories, Ghost Notes is both confession and celebration - a backstage pass to a life lived loud, fast, and without apology. Rikki Rockett is a founding member and drummer of the multi-platinum rock band Poison, one of the most iconic acts of the 1980s and beyond. With over forty-five million albums sold worldwide and countless sold-out tours, Rockett's high-energy playing and flamboyant style have left an indelible mark on rock history. Beyond music, he is an entrepreneur, martial artist, cancer survivor, and storyteller whose journey from small-town Pennsylvania to global superstardom embodies both grit and reinvention. Ghost Notes is his first memoir. Each ticket entitles the ticketholder to one copy of Ghost Notes which will be available for collection on the day. Please note: Rikki Rockett will sign copies of the book only; please do not bring additional merchandise with the expectation this will be signed.You will be required to show your ticket on the day of the event, to gain entry, and as proof of purchase.The queue will be formed on a first come, first served basis, with priority given to those who require accessibility supportThere will be queueing required before you meet the author. We will aim to keep you updated on your waiting time, but please come prepared to queue. There will be an element of outside queuing; please come dressed appropriately for the weatherTicketholders must be present at the event to receive their signed copy of the book. If you are unable to attend, please contact info@booksoup.com. Refunds can only be accepted before the day of the event.Tickets are strictly non-transferable; do not buy tickets from any resale sites or external vendors. If you have any access requests please do let us know how we can support your visit by emailing info@booksoup.com

TICKETED EVENT: Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, & Will Friedle, in conversation with Emily Longeretta, discuss & sign Book Meets World: The Definitive Inside Story of the Hit Sitcom Boy Meets World

The actors who played Topanga, Shawn, and Eric on Boy Meets World expand on their hit podcast, Pod Meets World, in a nostalgic behind-the-scenes history of the much-loved 90s sitcom, featuring untold stories and never-before-seen photos."I know Mr. Feeny would've given this book an A+. Good job, kids. Class dismissed!" --William Daniels, Mr. FeenyBoy Meets World ran from 1993 to 2000, ushering its audience of tweens and teens into the new millennium. Over the course of its seven seasons, viewers fell in love with Cory Matthews and his friends and family--rooting for Topanga and Cory, brooding with Shawn, learning from Mr. Feeny, and laughing at the increasingly over-the-top character that was Eric. Today, the show continues to evoke warm feelings of nostalgia over a quarter of a century after it ended.Building on their incredibly successful podcast, Pod Meets World, Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong, and Will Friedle are here to share what it was like behind the scenes of the hit sitcom. The three podcast co-hosts and former cast members revisited the show they grew up on by watching the episodes (most of them for the first time ever) and interviewing dozens of the people who worked on Boy Meets World. And now they've written down all the memories--from hidden lobsters to prank wars to on-set notes sessions to castings that almost happened, and so much more.Reading Book Meets World is a glimpse behind the curtain from three friends who were there when it all happened, just as warm and funny an experience as watching the show for the very first time.Behind-the-Scenes Stories: From inside jokes that showed up on screen to epic notes sessions to laughter and tears on set, rediscover this fan-favorite sitcom with inside stories pulled from Pod Meets World interviews of the cast and crew, as well as brand-new interviews exclusive to this book.Never-Before-Seen Photos: Through dozens of personal photos from the set, including some that have never been shared before, get a nostalgic and candid look behind the scenes.Heartwarming Nostalgia: These three friends starred on Boy Meets World but only recently watched every episode for the first time. Their journey through the series they helped make is one of laughter, sweet memories, and even some tears. Join them as they rediscover and embrace the 90s sitcom so many love.DANIELLE FISHEL is best known for her iconic role as Topanga on the '90s TGIF staple, Boy Meets World. She'd later reprise the role for Girl Meets World, a millennial reboot that ran for 3 seasons on the Disney Channel. Since 2017, Danielle has moved behind the camera, directing over fifty episodes of multi-camera television including Disney Channel's Wizards Beyond Waverly Place & Raven's Home (for which she was nominated for 2 Emmy's), ABC's Shifting Gears and NBC's Lopez vs Lopez. She co-hosts the hit iHeart Podcast, Pod Meets World, alongside her best friends and former costars, Will Friedle and Rider Strong - and hosts her own interview show, Teen Beat with Danielle Fishel. She most recently competed in the 34th season of Dancing with the Stars and it changed her life. No biggie.After being cast as Gavroche in Les Miserables at nine years old, RIDER STRONG began his career as an actor, becoming best known for his roles on Boy Meets World and the cult horror film, Cabin Fever. Moving behind the camera, Rider wrote and directed short films that have played over 60 festivals worldwide. He returned to his roots, this time as a director, for three seasons of the Emmy-nominated Girl Meets World. In addition to his screenwriting, Rider's writing has appeared in The Believer, Bullet Magazine, Shondaland, and more. His play Never Ever Land premiered at Theatre Unleashed in the fall of 2019. He is the creator and co-host of the podcasts Literary Disco and Pod Meet World. In 2026, iHeart released The Red Weather, an eight-part audio crime series written, directed, and starring Rider.WILL FRIEDLE's extensive career has spanned three decades in sitcoms, movies, animated series and video games. He is best known as the underachieving older brother Eric Matthews on the classic TGIF staple Boy Meets World. Will also starred in classic movies such as Trojan War, My Date with the President's Daughter and H.E. Double Hockey Sticks. Will is also a prolific VO actor having done hundreds of animated projects, starting in the mid-nineties as Batman for a new generation in the now iconic Batman Beyond. Other roles include Bumblebee in Transformers: Prime, Deadpool in Ultimate Spider-Man and Star-Lord in Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy. But to a generation of Disney fans, he'll always be Ron Stoppable, sidekick to hero Kim Possible. Will can currently be heard as the co-host of the iHeart podcasts Pod Meets World, with Danielle Fishel and Rider Strong, and Magical Rewind with Sabrina Bryan. Emily Longeretta is an award-winning journalist based in Los Angeles. She serves as the Director of Features at Variety, co-hosts the Variety "Awards Circuit" podcast and has a weekly segment on CBS LA. Her cover stories include a powerful sit-down with Carol Burnett, an intimate career reflection with Mariska Hargitay and an exclusive discussion with Jennifer Aniston, her first following the death of Matthew Perry. Emily has co-hosted Variety's live "Power of Women" event and can be seen regularly on “Good Morning America,” "Today," “Access Hollywood,” “Entertainment Tonight" and "Extra." This is a ticketed event through Eventbrite and will take place at the First Congregational Church of Los Angeles, located at 540 S. Commonwealth Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90020Your ticket includes a copy of Book Meets World, to be handed out at check-in. A public book signing will follow the conversation.In order to keep the signing line moving and to make it possible for all attendees to meet the authors, we kindly request no memorabilia and no posed photos.Check-in begins at 6pm and the show begins promptly at 7pm. There is limited free on-site parking at the church.No refunds on the day of the event.Questions? Please email info@booksoup.com

James Cahill discusses & signs The Beverly Hills Housewife: Hockney's Californian Muse and the World Beyond the Pool

In the summer of 1966, David Hockney paid a visit to a wealthy Los Angeles art collector. Her name was Betty Freeman. He had intended to paint her swimming pool, but was rapidly entranced by Freeman herself.Hockney, soon to embark on a series of Los Angeles paintings that would become icons of their time and place, immortalized Freeman in Beverly Hills Housewife (1966-67), a sunlit vision of the collector on the terrace of her modernist home. Evoking the light and easy glamour of 1960s Los Angeles, the painting is one of the artist's most seductive works, but it has always carried an air of mystery. Who was the woman in pink?Like Hockney driving through the Hollywood Hills, James Cahill meanders--interweaving the artist's discovery of Los Angeles with Freeman's own evolution from aspiring pianist to photographer, philanthropist, and collector--but never loses focus on the art. Oscillating between art history and anecdote, this is an eclectic study of an artist, his enigmatic muse, and the beginning of a friendship that would shape the course of each of their lives.James Cahill is a British art critic, curator, and author. He has written for Apollo, CURA, Elephant, Frieze, The Burlington Magazine, Times Literary Supplement, and others, and is the author of Tiepolo Blue, Lives of the Artists: David Hockney, and Ways of Being: Advice for Artists by Artists.

Tomás Mier discusses & signs Madonna: Into the Groove: An Intimate Portrait of the Queen of Pop

See the Material Girl up close and personal as she exploded to superstardom. In 1985, the world finally took notice of Madonna, and she met Ken Regan, one of the most versatile professional photographers of the 20th century. This trove of his beautiful, timeless images, most never before published, follows her through an array of unforgettable moments—studio poses, bedroom positions, fitness routines, onstage performances—highlighting her raw, magnetic sexuality. The accompanying text by Rolling Stone writer Tomás Mier brilliantly traces the development of her signature style. He shares exclusive new interviews with producer Nile Rodgers, choreographer Brad Jefferies, stylist Maripol, and others. He offers fresh insights into Madonna’s whirlwind romance with Sean Penn, why the Mondrian session became the most successful shoot of Regan’s career, and even how the infamous Penthouse and Playboy photos affected her performance at Live Aid, where, behind the scenes, Regan shot her at the center of one of the most remarkable group photos of all time. This definitive collection of their work together captures in detail exactly how the Queen of Pop grabbed the world’s attention and never let go.

Saskia Wilson-Brown, in conversation with Steve Gontarski, discusses & signs The Cultures of Perfume: Scents That Shaped History

A people's history of perfume--what the art of olfaction can teach us about ourselves and our common humanity. How do Las Vegas casinos convey the sensation of fresh water in the middle of a desert? What is the connection between unripe produce and the new popularity of green-smelling perfumes? And why do we love putting these scents and more on our skin?This illustrated field guide to 36 distinct scent notes tells the story of smell and humanity's fascination with perfume through anecdotes, historical research and folk knowledge. With a smart and politically savvy style, author Saskia Wilson-Brown argues for scent as an art on a par with all other forms of art, and demonstrates how its appreciation and creation can be enjoyed by everyone. Nine thematic sections--Among the Elements; In Sickness and in Health; Seduction; Magic and the Supernatural; Religion; Power; Trade Paths; The Golden Age of Consumerism; and The Stories We Tell--move from the ancient origins of scent-making to the birth of the perfume industry and beyond to the speculative scents of outer space. Readers learn of the economic, chemical, political and psychological components of the dreamy florals, sparkling aldehydes, animalic musks and other materials behind some of the world's most recognizable scents. Designed by Brian Paul Lamotte, The Cultures of Perfume features a "Smell More" section after each chapter, in which readers can follow their interests (and their noses) to find recommendations for scents by independent brands. Saskia Wilson-Brown founded the Los Angeles-based Institute for Art and Olfaction as a nonprofit advancing access and experimentation in perfumery. Her work has been featured in the New York Times, W, Paper, the Hollywood Reporter, Art in America and more. Steven Gontarski is an artist, musician and perfume aficionado. He sees perfumery as an art form that both mirrors and shapes culture. Through his YouTube channel and work with niche perfume retailer Luckyscent, including hosting their podcast 'It's Just Perfume,' Steven presents fragrances in a broad context pulling from perfume history, entertainment, fine art and personal memories.

Chip Jacobs discusses & signs Later Days

USA Today Bestseller and winner of the 2025 American Writing Awards Prize for General Fiction! In an evocative follow-up to his Los Angeles Times bestselling Arroyo, Chip Jacobs returns with a gripping tale of brotherhood, recklessness, and footloose souls in the anything goes of late-seventies Southern California.As their elite, all-boys prep school turns coed, transforming from suburban Lord of the Flies to gender-roiled soap opera, two unlikely friends--Luke Burnett and Denny Drummond--alternate rescuing each other from self-destruction amid troubled home lives. Eager to maximize their era as invincible seniors at Stone Canyon Prep, they and their pals commandeer Bob's Big Boy, explore the secret world beneath Caltech, stumble into a possibly supernatural lab animal, and grapple with near-ODs at a playoff game. Just as our heroes manage to graduate, their bond is shattered by a wild gunshot that'll haunt them for decades.Twenty years later, Luke is a high-powered journalist with a nosediving career, while Denny, a visionary software engineer with plenty of explaining to do, is socked with devastating news. Desperate to make amends for that misbegotten bullet while he can, Denny enlists his estranged friend's help, culminating in an unforgettable meeting with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross that helps them decode what existence means while reconnecting with what matters most.Later Days is a powerful exploration of the ties that bind and break us. Perfect for readers drawn to rollercoaster friendships, forgiveness, and the raw beauty of life skimming its edges to Near-Death Experience. With insight into Pasadena's buried histories and the psychological baggage of growing up in the shadows of "Great Men" fathers, Jacobs' second novel is as emotionally resonant as it is intellectually sharp.Chip Jacobs is a genre-crossing author and prize-winning journalist. His first novel, Arroyo, about Pasadena, California's mysterious Colorado Street Bridge, was a Los Angeles Times bestseller, CrimeReads most anticipated book and Independent Book Publisher Award honoree. Among his other books are the international bestselling Smogtown, which he co-wrote with William J. Kelly and is under development for a streaming series, the acclaimed black-comedy, true-crime story, The Darkest Glare, and the Indies Book of the Year Finalist, Strange As It Seems. Jacobs' reporting and subjects have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Marketplace, CNN, LA Weekly, the Los Angeles Daily News, and elsewhere. Learn more at chipjacobs.com.