Ann Patchett Shares 4 Books That Belong on Your TBR List—Including the Best Upcoming 2027 Releases!
The revered novelist on what she's reading and loving right now—from dystopian tales to heartfelt memoirs
Key Takeaways
- Ann Patchett recommends 4 must-read books for your TBR—two in April 2027.
- Patchett is currently reading and loving various novels by Lydia Millet.
- She shared her picks at the “Women on the Move” event last night in NYC with Zibby Owens.
As soon as we heard Ann Patchett and Zibby Owens were getting together for a bookish talk, we knew it would be a great conversation sprinkled with inspiring reading recommendations. On Tuesday night, the two authors—who are both voracious readers and champions of books in their own right—sat down at Temple Emanu-El in New York City for a sold-out event, with more than 3,000 additional viewers tuning in virtually. The conversation was part of the Women on the Move series—and Woman’s World was there!
The pair covered plenty of literary ground during their Q&A, from Patchett’s bestselling novel Whistler to the latest publishing news, the books they’re loving right now and the upcoming releases Patchett can’t wait for the world to read. In fact, one month in particular caught Patchett’s attention: April 2027, which she teased is shaping up to be a very good month for readers. “I read six months out, so when people ask what are you reading and what are you excited about, I’m like well, I’m reading in April right now,” she told the audience.
Reading months, or even years, ahead is all part of the job for Owens, Patchett and other publishing insiders, who often get advance reader copies (ARCs) long before books hit shelves. That insider perspective is also woven into Whistler, whose protagonist Eddie Triplett works as a book editor at Random House in New York City.
Their conversation was a delight for the book-loving audience. After all, the best part of being a reader is knowing your next favorite book is always just around the corner—and Patchett gave us some new favorites to look forward to. (Their chat will also be available soon on Owens’ Totally Booked podcast!)
Curious which books are on Ann Patchett’s reading stack right now—and which upcoming reads deserve a spot on your TBR? We caught up with Patchett backstage at the event for a few must-read recommendations. Keep scrolling to find out her cannot-miss picks!
The book Patchett’s reading and loving right now
‘A Children’s Bible’ by Lydia Millet
One book Patchett is reading and recommending nonstop lately is Lydia Millet’s haunting dystopian novel, A Children’s Bible. The story follows a group of 12 children spending the summer at a lakeside mansion with their absent parents. When a catastrophic storm hits, the kid group’s ringleaders―including Eve, who narrates the story―decide to run away. As apocalyptic chaos descends, the events begin to mimic scenes from the Bible that Eve’s little brother carries around.
What Patchett said about A Children’s Bible: “Because one of my favorite books of the year was Lydia Millet’s Fair Ones,” she told us. “I am going back to read A Children’s Bible. I’m reading this right now and it’s terrific.”
3 Patchett-approved books—coming out in April!
‘Life Beyond Measure’ by Ed Yong
Science journalist Ed Yong is revered for his bestselling books about the hidden wonders of the natural world. In his New York Times bestseller An Immense World, he expands perceptions of nature and reveals the ways living things operate. His upcoming book, Life Beyond Measure, dives into the dazzling world of animals and plants again. He enhances readers’ awareness by chronicling how every living thing operates on its own scale. In the book, he details how all around us, astounding events are occurring: A 100-ton blue whale swims and sings, hummingbirds zip by faster than we can see and plants grow too slowly for us to perceive. Equal parts exhilarating, funny and profound, Yong once again shows how beautifully connected all living things are. (Out April 6, 2027)
What Patchett said about Life Beyond Measure: “This book won’t come out until April 6th. It’s by Ed Yong and I loved his last book,” she tells Woman’s World. This book is a lot of evolutionary biology—plants, trees, birds, mammals and how they find their size and their lifespans and he’s a wonderful writer. Not only is this a great book for an adult, but if you have a really smart kid who likes science, they would love this.”
‘The Sea’ by Sophie Blackall
If you’re into genre-bending books that will leave you inspired and looking at life through a new lens, Sophie Blackall’s forthcoming book—described as “a love letter to the ocean”—belongs on your TBR, according to Patchett. What can the ocean teach us about love, family and life? In The Sea, Blackall, a two-time Caldecott Medalist, embarks on a 24-day voyage that carries her through memories of her parents’ shipboard romance and reflections on her own life and loves. Along the way, she explores the sea’s many wonders, from shipwrecks and sturgeons to science, history and poetry. Told in 24 intimate chapters and brought to life with more than 100 gorgeous full-color illustrations, this is a memoir to get lost in. (Out April 6, 2027)
What Patchett said about The Sea: “Please, please get this book when it comes out. Sophie is our greatest children’s book author and illustrator,” Ann told Owens and the crowd. “She did Hello, Lighthouse, she won two Caldecotts, she had a great book called Ahoy!—I could go on forever. This new one is a nonfiction book for adults. In it, she and her husband take a ship from San Francisco to Sydney. She’s from Sydney, and she writes about their voyage and every chapter is a day on the ship. She talks about her parents, who met on a ship leaving Sydney, and that is how Sophie came into the world. But she’s also talking about the history of exploration, marine life, and the whole thing is illustrated. It is a glorious book.”
‘The Erotic History of a Country Baptist Church’ by Alan Gurganus
Ann Patchett once called Alan Gurganus “one of the best writers of our time”—and his upcoming book is his first major novel in three decades! The story traces the scandalous rise and fall of a North Carolina church from 1889 to the 1970s, following three preachers and their parishioners as faith, desire and corruption collide. With irreverent humor and richly drawn small-town characters, Allan Gurganus delivers a provocative tale of sin, secrets and the messy business of being human. (Out April 6, 2027)
What Patchett said about The Erotic History of a Country Baptist Church: “Alan Gurganus made me. He was not only my first fiction teacher, but my most important fiction teacher at Sarah Lawrence. And he has been working on this book for 38 years. And he has written many books in those 38 years but this is his book. He turned it in at 850 pages, they got it down to 340 and it is just…you just will never read anything like it.”
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