"A testament to what speculative fiction can do by making the psychological physical." @reemasabrina.bsky.social's review of “Sublimination” by Isabel Kim (@torbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/08/s...

It's been a busy week here at StoryStudio! ✍️ We launched four new cohorts of Novel In A Year ✍️ We announced our 2026 StoryBoard Fellows ✍️ We announced our StoryBoard Keynote Kickoff event with 'Pemi Aguda Read all about these and more here in our newsletter: buff.ly/redDAES #writingcommunity

Hey look, it’s Hot Class Summer! @storystudiochicago.bsky.social just dropped our summer classes and we’ve got short ones, long ones, online ones, Chicago ones: An intro to creative writing with Sheree Greer that’s pay-what-you-can, Peter Mountford on the Publishable Personal Essay... 1/

RSVP is now open for our next FREE Write-Out, June 22 at Begyle Brewing. Come write with us for a few hours, grab a drink, and socialize with the StoryStudio writing community. RSVP here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F... #chicagowriters

These seven forthcoming books are all from local authors or set in Chicago, including titles from Susannah Felts, Kathleen Rooney, Dawn Turner, and Rowan Beaird.

👏 Don’t miss it: Former Flash Editor @eshanisurya.bsky.social's piece WRITING THE JOY OF CHRONIC ILLNESS AS A FORM OF RESISTANCE was published in @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social! buff.ly/eDpBqo1

"O’Farrell has written yet another haunting and deeply humane story about survival, silence, and the stories embedded within the earth itself." Olivia Zimberoff's review of “Land” by Maggie O’Farrell (@aaknopf.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/05/l...

"Feldman honors the experiences and rituals of girlhood as what they are." @meghanmcg.bsky.social's review of “Girl's Girl” by Sonia Feldman (@thedialpress.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/04/g...

Thank you @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social ! “Horror master Cynthia Pelayo brings us a sinisterly special reimagining of the classic Peter Pan story with It Came From Neverland. Pulse-pounding and wildly inventive, you won’t want to miss this book.” chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/01/1...

What a beautiful review of such a beautiful poetry collection by @jbrookewrites.bsky.social! Thank you @christopherofspace.bsky.social!

"Deeply creative people are able to tap into the current of a moment, and feel called to present an opinion about it." @arturovidich.bsky.social's interview with Courtney Maum on "Alan Opts Out" (@littlebrown.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/03/t...

ICYMI yesterday -- four new Novel In A Year cohorts are open for application! Two are in person, two are in online. Apply by July 10 and make this the year you write your novel! www.storystudiochicago.org/advanced-wri...

"Brooke asks us to remember our history so as to not lose sight of where we could go together." @christopherofspace.bsky.social's review of “I Can Tell You the Version That Will Make You Take My Side” by J. Brooke (@driftwoodpress.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/03/t...

Happy happy pub day @jenstjude.bsky.social!

Happiest of happy pub days to Novel In A Year alum Steven Lawrence Lang! His debut novel, The Art of Falling Apart, is out today from Flexible Press. Grab your copy now: buff.ly/osym4Rb

"It almost comes naturally to me, to dream and create this way." @rachellayown.bsky.social's interview with @jenstjude.bsky.social on "Where You’ll Find Us" (@kidsbloomsbury.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/02/w...

"Thoughtful, emotional, ardent, funny, and hot." Hannah Korbel's review of “No God But Us” by Bobuq Sayed (@harperbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/02/b...

"In a digital world that is feeling more and more uniform, it’s deeply refreshing to dive deep into a character’s interests, skills, and quirks." @ashhatz.bsky.social's review of the film “Tuner” is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/31/t...

@mbwwelch.bsky.social notices two trends across books coming out in June—a number of them look at the humanity and inhumanity of labor, while others look forward into what we lose and retain come the end of the world. Check out his picks at the link below! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/06/01/1...

Welcome to the party! Whether you've been a writer for decades or are looking to get started with creative writing, this class is for you. AND, the best part...the two-hour online class is pay what you can! More info and to register: buff.ly/BVmTYkw #writingcommunity

We hope to see you there! Let us know you're coming here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

"Hanna doesn’t mince many of the words in her 209-page book. It’s such a tight text, there’s no room for excess." Aaron Coats's review of “Mount Verity” by Therese Bohman, translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy (Other Press) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/29/t...

"People think... you must ‘pick a cause.’ But this is a myth. It is the illusion of a monstrous future that wants to swallow you whole." Read Mike Corrao on @ucpworkersguild.bsky.social's unionization campaign. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/29/t...

YAY! And that hat is 🔥 blockclubchicago.org/2026/05/29/c...

Our next Chicago Writers Showcase reader is Dawn Turner reading from her novel MAJESTIC HILLS (@scribnerbooks.bsky.social). Dawn is a former columnist and reporter for the Chicago Tribune and is the author of two previous novels, Only Twice I’ve Wished for Heaven and An Eighth of August.

"Just as much a portrait of the athlete as it is the world that created him." @yfbpodcast.bsky.social's review of “Mount Verity” by Dimitry Elias Léger (MCD) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/28/d...

THE WORDS OF DR. L by @karenebender.bsky.social is now available in paperback! 📚 ✨ "Narrows the gap between the speculative and the frighteningly real, drawing on the connection between parents and their children to craft stories that ache with familial love." — @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social

Our sixth installment in the Chicago Renaissance series is an essay about Alex Kotlowitz book An American Summer (2020, @vintagebooks.bsky.social) by Ben Austen. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/27/t...

"Reading My Bad felt like the cool, queer, older kid at school threw his arm around me, told me a joke, and then trusted me with a secret. Talking to Hugh about this triumph of a book felt like that too." - thank you @jenstjude.bsky.social !

"There are moments in our lives that have meaning to us that we return to and it’s easy to assume that we know what that meaning is. I often don’t." @jenstjude.bsky.social's interview with @hughryan.bsky.social is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/27/l...

Our next Chicago Writers Showcase reader @mksturdevant.bsky.social reading from her novel THE SLEEPERS (@regalhouse.bsky.social). Molly’s been nominated for a Best of the Net and a Pushcart, she is recognized as a Western Federation of Miners Union Scholar. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

"One of my goals was to really make you feel this book in your body." @jpsolheim.bsky.social's interview with Benny B. Peterson on "The Maidenheads" (@duttonbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/26/b...

"When the world is at your fingertips, what then are you limited by?" Mia Rhee's review of “The Players Club” by Rachel Mills (@atriabooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/26/t...

We're doing a new thing this summer -- a PAY WHAT YOU CAN online class! One of our star instructors, Sheree L. Greer, is teaching "Welcome to the Party: Intro to Creative Writing." This class happens Wednesday, July 15. More details and register here: buff.ly/w27mouO #writingcommunity

"Hruska is encouraging us to have faith in writing that attempts to bridge the gaps between us." Chase Browning's review of “Kafkaesque” by Maïa Hruska Translated by Sam Taylor (@eccobooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/22/f...

This is tonight!!! We hope to see you @theunderstudychi.bsky.social to celebrate @rachellayown.bsky.social's debut novel!

"Paulin has delved deeply into the river of himself, a running water full of reflection." @ryanasmussen.bsky.social's review of “Namanlagh” by Tom Paulin (@faberbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/21/n...

"A pleasurably disorienting document of survival." Spencer Williams's review of “Dog Days” by Emily LaBarge (@transitbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/21/f...

"There’s always going to be times to live an adventurous life, but the definition of what adventure is can change." Read @ianmacallen.bsky.social's interview w/ @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social on "American Rambler" (@aaknopf.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/20/w...

At the @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social, I spoke with @isaacfitzgerald.bsky.social about American Rambler. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/20/w...

"A critique of social media and a product of its purported democratizing effects." Lori Hall-Araujo's review of “Girls” by Freya India (@henryholtbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/20/e...

"System built on breaking people down and building them back up... dosing out abuse and intense stress... will inevitably breed violence & domination." Read Adam Straus's interview with Jasper Craven on "God Forgives, Brothers Don’t" (@atriabooks.bsky.social). chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/19/j...

"A colorful stage set to explore the feelings and neuroses of the main characters." Philip Janowski's review of “Canon” by Paige Lewis (@vikingbooks.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/19/i...

Join us June 2nd for the Chicago Writers Showcase!

Our next Chicago Writers Showcase reader is @cynthiapelayo.bsky.social reading from her new novel IT CAME FROM NEVERLAND (@crookedlanebooks.bsky.social) Cynthia is Bram Stoker Award winning and International Latino Book Award winning author and poet. docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

We’re thrilled for @rachellayown.bsky.social's debut novel HOW WE SEE THE GRAY forthcoming tomorrow (!!!) from @nupress.bsky.social. She’ll be in conversation at the @theunderstudychi.bsky.social w/ @meganstielstra.bsky.social on May 21 at 7:30pm—register below! www.eventbrite.com/e/a-conversa...

"A unique examination of love, love in a variety of forms." Monika Dziamka's review of “I Am Agatha” by Nancy Foley (@avidreaderpress.bsky.social) is out now. chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/18/t...

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Happiest of happy Pub Days to @chicagorevbooks.bsky.social's Managing Director @rachellayown.bsky.social. Go get your copy of Rachel's debut novel HOW WE SEE THE GRAY now!!!! chireviewofbooks.com/2026/05/15/c...

"I don’t feel anxious or nervous. More like I’ve just taken off on a wild adventure, so I better enjoy the ride." LOVE this conversation between two brilliant writers, on the occasion of @rachellayown.bsky.social's PUB DAY!!! CC: @amyegia.bsky.social open.substack.com/pub/pubcheer... #booksky