u/theatlantic

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Hi Reddit! As members of The Atlantic’s books team, we’re always looking out for books to read and write about. 

I (Lily Meyer) am a translator, critic, and the author of two novels, including The End of Romance, which was published earlier this year. I’ve written essays on dozens of novels, most recently Mieko Kawakami’s Sisters in Yellow (which I argued is one of the many new stories about women living together that offers an alternative vision to the nuclear family). I’ve also explained what makes Tayari Jones’s latest book, Kin, such a steely portrait, and I reviewed Andrew Martin’s Down Time, which I believe is the best book yet about the coronavirus pandemic. 

As for me (Emma Sarappo), I’m an editor on the books team, where I frequently work with critics and journalists on essays and reported stories. I also help compile and edit many of The Atlantic’s book lists, including our catalog of 65 essential children’s books and our list of the 136 great American novels. I also recently helped curate our picks for the best books to read this summer—and I personally recommend that you read Emma Copley Eisenberg’s collection of short stories, Fat Swim, or Bobuq Sayed’s novel, No God But Us.

We’re happy to discuss the books we’re reading, the upcoming titles we’re excited for, our thoughts on the current state of book reviews, and, of course, the books you should pick up next.

Ask us anything!