New York has long been a favorite setting for stories that tug at your heart or immerse you in its electric energy. Whether it's a cozy autumn romance or a sweeping historical epic, this city always delivers. Some of my favorite reads take place against the backdrop of New York’s changing seasons, with romances that heat up as the leaves turn or the first snow falls.

I adore autumn romances that capture the crisp air, city lights, and cozy vibes. But I’m equally hooked on New York's rich history, explored in epic historical fiction that sweeps you through time and introduces you to unforgettable characters. Memoirs are another must-read—after all, who doesn’t love diving into personal stories about life in a city that never sleeps? (Except during lockdown, and I’m not sure I’m ready for those books yet…)

Whether you’re drawn to the nostalgia of a New York winter, the rush of its bustling streets, or the deep history hidden in its neighborhoods, these books will transport you straight into the heart of the city. Trust me—there’s no better way to fall in love with New York, one page at a time.

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City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

A romp through 1940s New York theater life, complete with glitzy showgirls, scandal, and a reminder that you don’t have to have your life together in your 20s—or your 80s. A love letter to messy women.

Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life by Sutton Foster

Think of this as a wholesome DIY therapy session in book form. Sutton Foster stitches her way through personal turmoil with yarn and knitting needles, proving crafting might actually be the answer to life’s chaos.

I'll Eat When I'm Dead by Barbara Bourland

A satirical murder mystery set in the cutthroat world of fashion magazines. Dark, snappy, and filled with enough biting humor to make The Devil Wears Prada feel tame by comparison.

In the Unlikely Event by Judy Blume

OK, maybe not the best “travel” book, at least not at the airport or on an airplane. (Also admittedly this is mostly set in New Jersey, not New York.) Judy Blume shows us she’s not just for kids with this novel about love, loss, and a series of real-life plane crashes outside of Newark in the 1950s. It’s nostalgic, heartbreaking, and everything you'd expect from an icon.

Love, Loss, and What We Ate by Padma Lakshmi

Part memoir, part cookbook, this one’s all about flavor—whether it’s the spice in Padma’s life or her kitchen. A deliciously emotional journey through food, identity, and loss.

Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan

A historical novel with mobsters, missing fathers, and underwater divers in Brooklyn Navy Yard during WWII. It’s like The Godfather meets The Little Mermaid, but in a more literary, serious way.

Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain

Bourdain’s follow-up to Kitchen Confidential is just as brash, blunt, and gloriously unapologetic. It’s also a deeper look into his initial insights after becoming famous. You’ll feel like you’re sitting at the bar with him, listening to his (very) unfiltered thoughts on food and life.

Miracle on 5th Avenue by Sarah Morgan

I love all of the books in this series, but between the cinnamon roll heroine and the snowy holiday setting, it’s easily my favorite. When you trap a grumpy author and a hopeless romantic in a penthouse during a snowstorm, obviously romance happens. It’s Hallmark Channel-level sweet but with better writing.

My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

I come back to thinking about this book again and again, especially in a post-lockdown New York, but also everytime I take Xanax before a flight. A book about a woman who literally tries to sleep her life away? Somehow, it’s both darkly funny and completely relatable. Perfect for anyone who's ever just wanted to hit “pause” on existence. It’s also set in late 1990s/early 2000s New York.

One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston

I have my issues with this book—mostly the easily-avoidable subway descriptions and wrong directions on the Q train, but I can let them go because at least this is highly original. A sapphic love story featuring time travel on the New York City subway between a present-day noob to New York and a woman trapped in time on the Q train from the 1970s. If you ever wanted Doctor Who to focus more on romance and less on aliens, this one’s for you.

Read Between the Lines by Rachel Lacey

Shop Around the Corner fans can rejoice in this one. Small town-esque bookstore (in uptown Manhattan) meets queer romance, complete with witty banter and heartwarming moments. It’s like wrapping yourself in a cozy blanket of charm and fluff.

Season of Love by Helena Greer

A cozy holiday rom-com with family drama, Christmas spirit, and a second chance at love. Set at a Christmas tree farm owned by a Jewish family in the Adirondacks in upstate New York, it’s perfect for Hallmark fans and festive romance without the cheese overload.

Severance by Ling Ma

Part dystopian horror, part office satire, this novel takes on the zombie apocalypse with a sharp eye for how utterly absurd corporate life can be. Eerily, it came out not long before lockdown started, so soon enough, it didn’t become that hard picturing being alone in an office building in midtown.

Snow in August by Pete Hamill

One of the first books I read when I moved to New York, by one of New York’s ultimate authors. A coming-of-age tale in post-WWII Brooklyn, where friendships cross cultural boundaries, and magical realism seeps into everyday life. Heartfelt and rich, it’s like a love letter to the melting pot that is New York.

The Chiffon Trenches by André Leon Talley

Fashion gossip meets personal memoir as Talley dishes on his time at Vogue and the larger-than-life personalities in fashion. Scandalous, glamorous, and touching—leaving you feeling Talley always deserved better.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett

Sibling bonds, a stepmother you’ll love to hate, (and honestly sometimes you’ll be upset with the sister too), and a house that haunts its characters for decades. The story moves from Pennsylvania to New York City over the course of the second half of the 20th century. A beautiful exploration of family, loss, and the past’s grip on the present.

The Emperor's Children by Claire Messud

Upper-crust Manhattanites struggling with privilege, ambition, and identity pre-9/11. It’s a biting, clever snapshot of people who seem to have it all, but are falling apart at the seams. (But you don’t feel bad for them either way.)

The Flamethrowers by Rachel Kushner

Motorcycles, Italian radicals, and the New York art scene collide in this daring, adventurous novel. It’s a high-speed chase through the ’70s counterculture, with moments of brutal beauty. (Also an ideal companion read/follow-up for fans of Elena Ferrante’s My Brilliant Friend—specifically the third book, Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay) to better understand Italy in the 1970s.)

The Interestings by Meg Wolitzer

A group of creative teenagers meet at summer camp and spend the rest of their lives trying to figure out if their ambitions will ever match their realities. Spoiler: life isn’t always fair, but it’s interesting.

The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin

A sweeping family saga about four siblings (one of whom runs an anonymous sex blog in New York) that explores love, loyalty, and how far we’ll go to protect those we care about. It’s introspective, emotional, and perfect for fans of slow-burning drama that mostly takes place in present day New York but also has flashbacks to the siblings’ lives around the country (including 1980s San Francisco and a climate change-heavy future in upstate New York).

The Most Spectacular Restaurant in the World by Tom Roston

The fascinating history of the iconic Windows on the World restaurant, which used to sit at the top of the North Tower of the World Trade Center, is told with a blend of nostalgia and culinary history. It’s an important read for anyone fascinated by food, culture, or New York City.

The Rules of Magic by Alice Hoffman

Witches, love curses, and family drama in New York City, New England, and Paris. Hoffman’s prequel to Practical Magic is pure enchantment with more than a touch of heartbreak.

The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham

I read this one years ago but the cancer plot still eats away at me. Two siblings in New York in 2004, grappling with life, loss, and their search for meaning. Cunningham weaves beauty into the mundane, creating a quiet but profound story about the human condition.

The Vanity Fair Diaries: 1983-1992 by Tina Brown

A decade of high society, media intrigue, and celebrity gossip, all through the lens of the legendary editor. Maybe this is why geriatric millennials still thought it was a good idea to get into journalism before we knew better. If you want to know how the other half lived in the ’80s, this is your ticket. (It’s almost unimaginable now that magazine editors would enjoy the kind of benefits that Brown did as EIC of Vanity Fair and later The New Yorker.)

Those Who Wait by Haley Cass

Quite possibly my favorite sapphic romance writer, I’ll read anything by Haley Cass. That said, I had no idea until well after I read the book that this is secretly based on a Sansa-Margaery (Game of Thrones) fan-fic of hers!?! Either way, it’s a delightful and heartwarming slow-burn romance. I’m usually not into political drama (one of the FMCs is running for mayor of New York), but the politics don’t entirely make sense here, so it’s easy to go with it.

Taste: My Life Through Food by Stanley Tucci

A New York-state native, Tucci takes us through his life, bite by bite, in this delightful memoir. Full of humor, warmth, and, of course, mouthwatering recipes. Warning: you will get hungry.

Very Valentine by Adriana Trigiani

A shoemaker’s apprentice, her big Italian family, and the romantic streets of Italy as well as New York’s West Village—Trigiani serves up a novel that’s equal parts heartwarming and stylish, just like a great pair of custom shoes.

Favorite Travel Reads: Set in New York