Jenna is joined by Read With Jenna authors Chris Whitaker, Alison Espach, Rumaan Alam and Jean Kwok live at the Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. They share insights into their creative process, how their own lives have influenced their writing, and the power of storytelling. They also share advice for aspiring writers, book recommendations and answer questions from the live festival audience in this special episode of Open Book with Jenna . (Event sponsored by Nashville Mus...
Jun 26, 2025•44 min
As summer kicks off, Jenna Bush Hager welcomes bestselling authors Adriana Trigiani and Isaac Fitzgerald for a conversation about the perfect summer reads. They share top book picks for the season—including recommendations for kids, grads, and dads—and they answer questions from the Read With Jenna community.
Jun 19, 2025•52 min
In this special episode of Open Book with Jenna, Tiffany Haddish joins Jenna Bush Hager live at the Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, Tennessee. Tiffany opens up about her childhood and the challenges she overcame at a young age. She shares the story of the teacher who helped her learn to read as a teenager, the first book that she ever finished, and how the library became her safe haven. Plus, she answers questions from the live festival audience in this special episode of Open Book w...
Jun 12, 2025•56 min
Live from the first-ever Read with Jenna Book Festival in Nashville, Jenna Bush Hager sits down with New York Times bestselling author Elin Hilderbrand for a heartfelt conversation about the end of her iconic Nantucket series, the joys and challenges of co-writing The Academy with her daughter, and the excitement of book-to-screen adaptations — including the Netflix hit The Perfect Couple . Elin shares how her beloved beach reads have brought readers comfort and connection through the years, and...
Jun 05, 2025•37 min
Jenna sits down with the legendary Judy Blume — the beloved author whose stories have shaped generations, opened minds, and helped countless kids feel seen. From childhood classics to bestselling adult novels, Blume’s impact is undeniable, with 29 books, over 90 million copies sold, and translations in 39 languages. Recorded at her independent bookstore, Books & Books in Key West, this heartfelt conversation explores her creative journey, deep bond with readers, and the legacy she continues ...
May 29, 2025•37 min
Jenna Bush Hager sits down with bestselling author Sarah J. Maas , the powerhouse behind Throne of Glass , A Court of Thorns and Roses , and Crescent City . As ACOTAR celebrates its tenth anniversary, Sarah reflects on her early writing days, the manuscript she scrapped, and the debut that changed everything. She opens up about the impact of BookTok, balancing motherhood with deadlines, and why fantasy and romance offer more than just escapism — they offer hope....
May 22, 2025•37 min
Jessica Soffer joins Jenna Bush Hager for a special Read with Jenna book club event to discuss her New York Times bestselling novel ‘ This Is a Love Story .’ Together, they explore the book’s themes of motherhood, memory, and identity. Jessica shares how Central Park and the city of New York deeply influenced her writing and answers live questions from readers. She also gives a glimpse into what’s next in her writing journey.
May 15, 2025•39 min
TikTok star, lifestyle creator, and podcast host Christina Najjar—widely known as Tinx—joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her debut fiction novel, Hotter in the Hamptons, which follows the story of an influencer facing cancellation. Tinx opens up about her journey into content creation, the responsibilities influencers carry, and the vital role of female friendships. She also shares her candid perspective on modern dating and some of her favorite reads!
May 08, 2025•43 min
Emily Henry is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling author who has written five consecutive number one Bestsellers. She has been dubbed the ‘Queen of the Beach Read’ and has helped redefine the romance genre. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with Emily to discuss how she began writing fan fiction in middle school, and the teachers that encouraged her along the way. She opens up about how she first discovered the romance genre, and how she has embraced writing and reading books that bring he...
May 01, 2025•38 min
“Giggly Squad” podcast hosts Hannah Berner and Paige DeSorbo join Jenna Bush Hager to discuss their new book “How to Giggle: A Guide to Taking Life Less Seriously.” The duo opens up about the importance of prioritizing friendship, how their bond grew while filming Bravo’s Summer House, and what they hope readers take away from their book. Plus, they share their advice for pursuing your dreams and creating a life you love—all with a healthy dose of laughter.
Apr 24, 2025•48 min
Jasmine Guillory is a New York Times bestselling author of nine novels including 'The Wedding Date' and 'The Proposal.' Jasmine joins Jenna to talk about her captivating new romance novel 'Flirting Lessons,' how she stayed resilient and optimistic through a hundred rejections, and how she made the leap from law to literature—and found bestseller success. Plus, she gives her best book recommendations.
Apr 17, 2025•41 min
Aliza Pressman, psychologist and author of the bestselling book “The 5 Principles of Parenting,” offers effective tools for parents to make their parenting journey less overwhelming and more enjoyable. She sits down with Jenna Bush Hager and shares valuable tips on raising resilient children by striking a balance between fostering autonomy and providing supportive parenting. Plus, she answers common parenting questions.
Apr 10, 2025•49 min
Comedian Heather McMahan has made audiences laugh with her relatable and authentic comedy for years. Jenna Bush Hager and Heather sit down to discuss her rise in comedy - from performing at her junior prom, to going on tour. They chat about how Heather knew as a kid that she was destined to be a performer, how comedy legend Joan Rivers impacted her career, and how social media helped skyrocket her career to the next level. Plus, she opens up about how she navigated the loss of her dad and how co...
Apr 03, 2025•44 min
Ego Nwodim has entertained viewers with her standout impressions and roster of hilarious original characters for the past seven seasons of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Jenna Bush Hager sat down with the hilarious Ego Nowdim to chat about her earliest memories of making people laugh, the life lessons improv taught her, and her journey from pre-med to joining the cast of Saturday Night Live. Plus, she opens up about her SNL audition process and the five critical minutes hopefuls have to showcase their t...
Mar 27, 2025•44 min
Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty novels including ‘The Nightingale,’ ‘The Four Winds,’ and “The Women.’ A former attorney, she has made it her mission to tell the often forgotten stories of women in history. Kristin sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how books were a constant in her life growing up, how her mom knew she was destined to become a writer, and how she transitioned from a lawyer to best-selling author. She also reveals the inten...
Mar 20, 2025•44 min
Rebecca Yarros is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels including ‘Fourth Wing,’ ‘Iron Flame’ and ‘Onyx Storm.’ Her latest and highly anticipated novel ‘Onyx Storm’ is the fastest selling adult novel in twenty years and sold 2.7 million copies in its first week. Rebecca sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she drew on her experience with chronic illness and life in a military family to write “Fourth Wing,” and her process to plot out five books in the series. S...
Mar 13, 2025•37 min
Jenny Han is a literary powerhouse and New York Times bestselling author of the “To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before” series and “The Summer I Turned Pretty” series. She is also the creator and co-showrunner of The Summer I Turned Pretty television series. Jenny sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she built a media empire that showcases diverse characters and young women coming into their own. She opens up about how she made the leap from writer to showrunner, what it’s been like to h...
Jan 09, 2025•39 min
Coco Mellors is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling Author. Her second novel, “Blue Sisters" was a Read with Jenna book pick. Jenna Bush Hager sat down with Coco at a Read with Jenna book club event to talk about the deep, complicated and unbreakable bonds of sisterhood, and how her own relationship with her sister shaped the book. Coco opens up about her struggles with grief and addiction, and why she wanted to tackle these difficult topics in the book. She also reveals how motherho...
Jan 02, 2025•31 min
Jamie Lee Curtis is a Hollywood legend, an Oscar & Emmy Award winning actor, and a New York Times Bestselling Author. Jamie joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her new show “The Sticky” and upcoming film “The Last Showgirl.” She reflects on her forty years of marriage, her path to sobriety, and what it was like growing up with famous parents Tony Curtis and Janet Leigh. She also opens up about her career blossoming at the age of 66, the importance of women lifting each other up, and the books ...
Dec 19, 2024•35 min
As 2024 comes to an end, we’re looking back at some of our favorite books, and literary trends from the year. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with her two friends, authors, and book lovers, Emma Straub and Isaac Fitzgerald. Emma and Isaac share how their families instilled their love of reading, the power of independent bookstores, and how to make reading a habit in the New Year. They also answer questions from Read with Jenna readers and share their recommendations for what to read in 2025.
Dec 19, 2024•54 min
Riley Keough is an Emmy nominated actress and producer, starring in hit shows like “Daisy Jones and the Six.” She’s also part of one of the most famous families in American Pop culture. Her mother Lisa Marie Presley asked her to help her write her memoir, then weeks later passed away. Riley decided to finish her mother’s memoir using her notes and recordings. Riley sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about what it was like to listen to her mom’s personal recordings for the first time, how she...
Dec 12, 2024•33 min
Actor and comedian Matt Rogers co-hosts the pop culture podcast "Las Culturistas” with Bowen Yang and stars in Netflix’s new dark comedy series “No Good Deed.” Matt joins Jenna Bush Hager to talk about his Prince of Christmas Tour, why he regrets not telling Mariah Carey about his prince of Christmas title, and his journey from prom king to pop culture podcaster. He also opens up about his disappointment at not getting hired on Saturday Night Live, but how writing his song “RockaFellaCenta” was ...
Dec 05, 2024•44 min
Jon M. Chu is a visionary director known for his blockbuster films like ‘Crazy Rich Asians,’ ‘In The Heights’ and the hugely anticipated movie musical ‘Wicked.’ He sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss how he welcomed his daughter on the movie’s premiere day, and what it was like to turn the lens on his own life and work in his memoir ‘Viewfinder.’ Chu also reveals how he discovered the story of “Wicked” before it became a Broadway hit and what it means to him to reimagine this iconic Ameri...
Nov 27, 2024•47 min
Keke Palmer is an Emmy Award Winning actress, singer, podcast host, and mother. She rose to prominence at the age of twelve through her breakout role in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ and has gone on to star in more than twenty-five films. In her latest memoir ‘Master of Me’ Keke tells her own raw and intimate story. Keke sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss how she navigated fame at a young age, how becoming a mother gave her clarity about her priorities in life, and how she’s embraced who she tru...
Nov 20, 2024•36 min
Liane Moriarty is a global sensation who has written numerous best sellers including ‘Big Little Lies,’ ‘Apples Never Fall,’ and ‘The Husband's Secret.’ Jenna sits down with Liane to discuss how her dad encouraged her love of writing when she was a kid, the impact her books have had on readers, and what it was like to have several of her books adapted for television. She also reveals her next book, a ‘Big Little Lies’ sequel.
Nov 14, 2024•35 min
Ann Patchett is a #1 New York Times Bestselling author, a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize, and was named one of the most influential people in the world by Time Magazine. Ann sat down with Jenna Bush Hager for a conversation about what inspired her latest children’s book, “The Verts: A Story of Introverts and Extroverts” and what it was like to revisit her beloved novel "Bel Canto" for the special annotated release. Ann shares how she knew she wanted to write at a very young age, the nun that in...
Oct 31, 2024•42 min
Nicholas Sparks is the king of love stories who has sold over 130 million copies worldwide. He’s a New York Times bestselling author, with twenty-four books to his name. His emotionally gripping novels have captured readers' hearts and eleven of his novels have been adapted into films. Sparks sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss the inspiration for his novels, and how his journey led him to writing the bestselling book, The Notebook . They talk about his love of reading, the impact his book...
Oct 24, 2024•33 min
Stanley Tucci is an award winning actor, author, and dad. He’s appeared in roles such as The Devil Wears Prada, The Hunger Games, and The Lovely Bones. His latest role includes, food lover, social media star, and one of America's favorite home chefs. His latest novel ‘What I Ate in One Year’ chronicles a year’s worth of meals and allows him to reflect back on a year with family and friends. Stanley sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to share his love of food and how a viral instagram post catapulted...
Oct 17, 2024•29 min
Emily Henry is a New York Times & Sunday Times Bestselling author who has written five consecutive number one Bestsellers. She has been dubbed the ‘Queen of the Beach Read’ and has helped redefine the romance genre. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with Emily to discuss how she began writing fan fiction in middle school, and the teachers that encouraged her along the way. She opens up about how she first discovered the romance genre, and how she has embraced writing and reading books that bring he...
Oct 10, 2024•38 min
“The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert and his wife of more than 30 years, Evie McGee Colbert, partner on a new cookbook, “Does this Taste Funny.” Stephen and Evie sit down with Jenna Bush Hager to share their favorite family recipes and funniest memories cooking together. Stephen and Evie reveal who holds the title of ‘best chef’ and who they’d love to invite to one of their famous dinner parties. They also share why humor is the key ingredient in their marriage.
Oct 03, 2024•29 min
