Hey River Bend friends!

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 3rd Annual Author Stage! We were so glad to bring authors to you on Hubbard Green — before the thunder and lightning. Don’t worry. We saved the books. Since Autumn will bring a whole host of more River Bend author events, it feels like the perfect time to (re)introduce myself! 

Hi! I'm Kaitee, the Events Coordinator and Social Media Manager here at River Bend. You may already know me from the shop. If you’ve hovered near the fantasy section, chances are I’ve tried to put a V.E. Schwab book in your hands. Or you’ve seen my face pop up on our Instagram. Either way, I’m happy to say hello and tell you about our exciting fall events line up!

We're beyond thrilled to host best-selling authors Lauren Groff, Lisa Taddeo and Jenny Minton Quigley at Real Art Ways October 6 to celebrate The Best Short Stories 2023. We're doubly excited River Bend’s own Jillian Puzzo, our West Hartford shop Manager, will be moderating for us. This is a ticketed event, so be sure to register here!

Also in September and coming in October:

— Join local legend Nancy Tandon for a Spooky Lawn Party on Saturday, Sept. 23 at 11 AM! Bring all your best nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs for some ghost story madlibs!

— (I’m really excited about this one!) On Sept. 29, join acclaimed chef and author Silvia Baldini over in the Inspired Kitchens show room space for a food-night! Silvia is going to whip us up an appetizer from the new Les Dames d'Escoffier New York Cookbook and chat with local food writer and editor Beth Hillson about the book and recipes from leading women in the culinary arts. Space is very limited, so snag your spot by registering now!

— Don’t miss our Seagarden Party on October 3 to celebrate Michelle Barry’s newest book in the Plotting the Stars series in West Hartford (with Nancy Tandon!) Fun kicks off at 4:30 PM.

— Tune in October 18 at 7 PM for an incredible virtual event: Being Ace: A panel discussion featuring River Bend fave S.J. Taylor with Madeline Dyer, K. Hart, and Anju Imura. Register here! Don’t miss our Being Ace pre-order campaign for an exclusive art print!

Phew. That’s all for now, but we have even more coming: We’ll also be popping up at the West Hartford Public Library's Nick Hornby event as well as CT Lit Festival, Playhouse on Park, and the Connecticut Museum. And our Book Truck will be out and about and at Apple Harvest Fest! 

Visit our events page and Follow us on Instagram to keep up on all the fun stuff! Read on below for more details and some of our newest Staff Picks. We'll see you at the shops and about, and I’ll still be the one with V.E. Schwab in the fantasy section. Come chat!

— Kaitee, Events Coordinator

and Social Media Manager

River Bend Bookshop

The Ghost of Spruce Point by Nancy Tandon

Les Dames d'Escoffier NY Cookbook by Silvia Baldini

Plotting the Stars 2: Seagarden by Michelle Barry

Can't make the event? You can still order a signed copy of books by any author

at the bottom of the event page and leave Ernio a note in the comments on your order. :)

→ If you are attending, order tickets & books directly in the Eventbrite widget on the page.

Audrey: Vaster Wilds Wilds by Lauren Groff

"A visceral story of survival unlike any I've ever read. Groff's writing is so sharp —so precise and unflinching — I could not tear my eyes from the page. I love a book that leans into the grit and grotesque beauty at the core of human experience. And wow, does Vaster Wilds do just that.

Hands down, one of my favorite books of the year."

Elsa: The Rachel Incident by Caroline O'Donoghue

"A lyrical read set in Ireland, Rachel bites off more than she can chew having to navigate 3 relationships. The one between her roommate turned best friend, her English professor, and his wife. O'Donoghue reminds us of our youth and the messiness that comes with it. She also teases us about our desires and the lengths we are willing to go to protect and taste them. It's brilliant truly."

Deb: The Guest by Emma Cline

"If John Cheever and F. Scott Fitzgerald had a spooky summer baby, it would be The Guest.

Kline's taut prose is alarming and absorbing in the best of ways. Protagonist Alex is a cipher for our misdeeds and our fears.

A riveting beach reach with substance and style."

Taryn: Paris: The Memoir by Paris Hilton

"You truly don't know what someone has been through, and Paris Hilton proves this in her memoir. Between the glitz and glam and the harrowing trauma that Paris has experienced in her life is someone who was undiagnosed and misunderstood.

You will gather that Paris is as human as we all are and has done what she can to survive being a person in the limelight."

Nora: The Great Transition by Nick Fuller Googins

"I'm not usually a dystopian novel reader but this one, anchored in our current world through the pop culture interests of a teenage girl protagonist, had my wide-eyed attention.

It follows three family members as they go on an intense, fast-paced journey reckoning with what it means to do enough to save the planet and how far we go for those we love."

Veronica: Helltown: The Untold Story of a Serial Killer on Cape Cod by Casey Sherman

"I could've done without some of the gory details in this '60s-set tale, but what truly fascinated me was the undulating background of what was happening at the time: the war, social movements, the disenfranchisement, the Manson family, and how the lives of Norman Mailer and Kurt Vonnegut wove into this tale. Solid hanging-by-the-edge of summer read."

David: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel García Márquez

"A man is investigating a murder that took place 27 years ago: shortly after getting married, Bayardo San Roman returns his bride for not having been pure. The first lover is identified, and everyone in town knows that the lover is going to die, but no one bats an eye. Why?

I read this book back in High School for my AP English class. Since that reading in 2008, I have never forgotten this book."

Ernio: Roaming by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

"This does wonderful things for the adult graphic novel form — a story about friendship, love, and change spans the course of 5 days.

Two school friends reunite on a trip to NYC, but a tag-along adds a new element to their dynamic.

You’ll feel young —  maybe as dumb as you once were — again as you read. Drawn marvelously and told with breathing room. You'll want to devour more by the Tamakis."

Mary: Tomb Sweeping: Stories by Alexandra Chang

"Objects and relationships become symbols of deeper concerns in this book of short stories. In one tale, cat's personalities reflect those of their disgruntled owners. In another, a celebration of a husband's life occurs long before any sign of his death. Most intriguing is the 'Asian Recycling Lady,' which is told in reverse slowly revealing her life prior to can-collecting. All stories are beautifully simple, yet reveal so much about human nature."

Shop Hours: Tuesdays-Saturdays 10-6 and

Sundays: 10-4 in Glastonbury | 12-4 in West Hartford