Fantastic Female Philly Writers and Their 5-Star Reads

Can we get a standing ovation for the female Philly writers that are turning out exceptional work? Liz Moore, Kiley Reid, and Claire Lombardo are leading the charge to put Philadelphia’s writing scene on the map. While all three authors cover widely different topics (racism, dysfunctional families, and the rampant opioid crisis) their books are all so engrossing they are impossible to put down. Each of these 5-star reads is worth the read. Also worth mentioning is that Liz Moore and Kiley Reid are both currently on tour and Claire Lombardo is making a few stops as well. Jackie and I will be going to see Reid and Lombard together at Main Point Books on January 30, but we wanted to let you know about all the other book tour dates too. So check out our reviews, read their books, and go see them when they are in your town! We certainly can’t wait to see them.

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5-star Books by Female Philly Writers

Long Bright River by Liz Moore

⁣Long Bright River is gritty and real and it’s phenomenal.  I COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN.⁣ The story takes place in Philly’s Kensington neighborhood which is known for having a huge opioid problem. You can’t live in my area and not know about the epidemic spreading through our city. It’s devastating and scary and this book deals with it head-on.⁣ The story revolves around 2 sisters. One is a cop, one is an addict – both are being impacted by a string of murders in the area.⁣ This book dealt with some many issues around drug-addiction and it handles them without judging.

Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid 

Such a Fun Age is a remarkable debut contemporary fiction from Philadelphia native Kiley Reid. This novel made me think and question the role our environment plays in who we are and who we become. ⁣ The book opens with a young black woman being accused by police of kidnapping the white baby she is holding in a grocery store. It’s only after the baby’s father comes to explain that she is their nanny, that the situation is resolved. The mother vows to wake up and truly get to know her child’s nanny which leads to comedic moments and subtle commentary. I love how the author addresses racism without drilling it in.  Rather, she shows what it looks like from the overt to the subtle.

The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo

Lombardo’s debut is a tremendous book about the complicated dynamics and hidden secrets of the Sorenson parents and their 4 daughters. The story is told alternately in the present day when Jonah reunites with the daughter that gave him up in 15 years prior, and the past touching on moments in the Sorenson family history that are coming back to haunt them. Each character is deliciously flawed in a way that makes you feel like you’ve known them for years. I love that at the heart of the story, the book is about the many forms of love and how to love well.

Book Tour Dates and Locations

Kiley Reid:

Friday, January 10th. Politics & Prose. Washington, DC. 7pm.

Saturday, January 11th. MahoganyBooks. Washington, DC. 2pm.

Monday, January 13th. Literati Bookstore. Ann Arbor, MI. 7pm. *In conversation with Julie Buntin

Tuesday, January 14th. Warwicks. La Jolla, CA. 7:30pm.

Wednesday, January 15th. Book Soup. West Hollywood, CA. 7pm.

Thursday, January 16th. A Great Place for Books. Oakland, CA. 7pm.

Friday, January 17th. Antigone Books. Tucson, AZ. 6pm.

Tuesday, January 21st. The Cardigan Connection. Providence, RI. 7pm.

Friday, January 24th. Prairie Lights Bookstore. Iowa City, IA. 7pm.

Tuesday, January 28th. Towne Book Center & Café. Collegeville, PA. 7pm.

Wednesday, January 29th. Doylestown Bookshop. Doylestown, PA. 6:30.

Thursday, January 30th. Main Point Books. Wayne, PA. 7pm. *In conversation with Claire Lombardo.

Wednesday, February 5th. Madison Street Books. Chicago, IL. *In conversation with Claire Lombardo.

Thursday, February 6th. Literature Lovers’ Night Out at Community Thread. Stillwater, MN. *Reading/Signing with Rita Woods and Paul Yoon.

Friday, February 7th. Literature Lovers’ Night Out at Trinity Episcopal Church. Excelsior, MN. *Reading/Signing with Jeanine Cummins, Rita Woods, and Paul Yoon.

Friday, February 14th and 15th. Savannah Book Festival. Details TK.

Saturday, March 14th and 15th. Tucson Festival of Books. Details TK.

Liz Moore:

Tuesday, January 14th. Free Libary of Philadelphia. Philadelphia, PA. 7:30pm.

Wednesday, January 15th. Harvard Book Store. Boston, MA. 7:00pm.

Friday, January 17th. Midtown Scholar Bookstore. Harrisburg, PA. 7:00pm.

Wednesday, January 22nd. Let’s Play Books Bookstore. Emmaus, PA. 6:30pm.

Thursday, January 23rd. Free Libary of Northampton Township with Newtown Bookshop. Newtown, PA. 6:30pm.

Tuesday, January 28th. Waterstones Guildford. Guildford, UK.

Wednesday, January 29th. Waterstones Piccadilly. London, UK. 7:00pm.

Saturday, March 14th and 15th. Tucson Festival of Books. Details TK.

Saturday, March 21st. Palm Beach Book Festival: Oprah Book Club Panel. West Palm Beach, FL.

Saturday, March 28th. Montclair Literary Festival. Montclair, NJ.

Wednesday, April 22nd. Baltimore County Public Library: BC Reads. Baltimore, MD. 7:00pm.

Claire Lombardo:

Thursday, January 30th. Main Point Books. Wayne, PA. 7pm. *In conversation with Kiley Reid.

Wednesday, February 5th. Madison Street Books. Chicago, IL. *In conversation with Kiley Reid.