Literary Houston

Inside the Mind of The New Yorker’s Most Houston Writer

Before he became the voice of Manhattan irony in The New Yorker, he was shaped by a city that few literary critics have given enough credit.

04/09/2026 By Travis Alexander

Get Your Sticker

Want to Support Houston's Art Scene? Vote.

With multiple Harris County elections ahead, HouArts and local leaders push voters to prioritize funding, preservation, affordable housing, and arts education.

02/27/2026 By Meredith Nudo

The Must List

Houston’s Jewish Book & Arts Festival Returns with Authors, Art, and Flavor

Now in its 53rd year, the Ann and Stephen Kaufman Jewish Book & Arts Festival brings global voices, food, film, and family programming to the Evelyn Rubenstein JCC.

10/30/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Eat, Drink, Hou

What to Eat, Drink, and Do in Houston This Weekend: September 5

Mind-blowing ramen, $7 smashburgers, live music, lit fests, and cocktails in a cinematic setting—your guide to the best weekend in Houston.

09/05/2025 By Brittany Britto Garley

The Must List

Jaipur Literature Festival Returns to Houston for More Book-Filled Fun

Yes, it’s called the Jaipur Literature Festival. No, you don’t have to fly to India to enjoy all the many thought-provoking festivities. There will be a slew of events here at home.

09/03/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Bayougraphy

Katherine Center and the Lure of the Rom-Com

The Houston writer tried reading a romance novel, and it changed everything.

08/28/2025 By Holly Beretto

Take A Look

Support Local: The Best Independent Bookstores in Houston

With as many stellar indie bookstores as there are in Houston, you can find pretty much any read you could possibly want—and maybe a few you didn't even know you needed.

08/07/2025 By Meredith Nudo, Amarie Gipson, and Daniel Renfrow

Dolla Dolla Bills

Houston Creatives Balance and Blend Their Day Jobs with Their Art

Being an artist can be financially precarious even for the most talented, but these creators show it’s possible to thrive even as they pursue careers elsewhere.

06/26/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Fundamental

These Houstonians Create Oases Among the City’s Literacy Deserts

In a county where one in three adults is functionally illiterate, Book Cycle, Class Bookstore, and Birthday Bash Box are all making books accessible to more people.

05/05/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Bayougraphy

Chitra Banerjee Divakaruni Has Led an Extraordinary Literary Life

This University of Houston professor has won prestigious book awards while advocating for the rights of domestic violence survivors.

02/14/2025 By Holly Beretto

Bayougraphy

Abby Endler Introduces Us to the Criminal Types She Hangs With

From Houston to New York to Scandinavia, the podcaster is one of the most prominent voices bringing the crime fiction genre to new and seasoned readers alike.

01/10/2025 By Meredith Nudo

YA Angst

Houston Author Jennifer Mathieu’s New Book Is All About Eco-Anxiety

Down Came the Rain tells the story of two climate activist high schoolers struggling with the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey.

09/25/2023 By Daniel Renfrow

NATIONAL LIBRARY WEEK

‘I Want It to Be a Safe Space’: Ashley Hoskins on the Power of Libraries

Meet the Third Ward resident who founded the Houston chapter of The Free Black Women’s Library.

04/07/2022 By Amarie Gipson

Read the room

The New Partnership Fighting Houston's Illiteracy Problem

Thousands of adults in the city are functionally illiterate. Houston’s Adult Literacy Blueprint aims to address that.

06/03/2021 By Raven Wuebker

Your Next Reading List

Read These 10 Black Protagonist-Driven YA Books with Your Kids

Local librarians recommend powerful and inspiring coming-of-age stories.

02/09/2021 By Rebekah Kibodeaux

Finding the way

Meet the Groundbreaking Publisher Who Built an Empire of Hispanic Literature

As a child, Nicolás Kanellos couldn't find books that accurately portrayed his Hispanic heritage. As an adult, he sought out and published the ones that did.

10/08/2020 By Emma Schkloven