All Of It with Alison Stewart

Episode: "A Guide to What to Read this Spring"

Date: April 7, 2026
Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Jordan Loft (All Of It & Get Lit Producer)
Theme: A lively exploration of this spring’s most exciting new books—across mystery, fiction, poetry, and non-fiction—with audience recommendations and insights for every kind of reader, from literary thrill-seekers to poetry lovers and history buffs.

Episode Overview

Alison Stewart, joined by producer and book enthusiast Jordan Loft, celebrates the spring book season—a particularly rich time for new releases. The episode curates a wide variety of noteworthy new titles, amplifies listener book recommendations, and highlights upcoming literary events and trends. The conversation is rapid, vibrant, and deeply informed, with a special focus on community engagement and the pleasures of diverse reading experiences.

Key Discussion Points & Book Recommendations

1. Spring’s Big Book Release Day

• Why is today special?
  • Jordan Loft [02:27]: “April is really the month where things kick off for the spring publishing season. …today is the first Tuesday of April, you know those authors and publishing companies are looking to make a big splash…So there’s a whole big stack of books that will be landing in your local bookstore today.”
• Pro tip for book lovers: "Just as a rule of thumb, if you want to figure out when there are great new books coming out, go to your local indie bookstore on a Tuesday..." (Jordan Loft, 02:27)

2. Hot New Releases

Mystery/Thriller

• The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clark (V. E. Schwab + Cat Clark)
  • Premise: Six writers compete to finish a legendary author’s last book on a remote Scottish island. Stakes are high—murder may ensue!
  • Jordan Loft [03:16]: "They might do just about anything to be the winner...maybe some murder might ensue."
  • Alison Stewart [04:23] (in dramatic tone): “Dun dun, dun.”

Literary Fiction

• Transcription by Ben Lerner
  • A slim novel about a man on his way to interview an elderly mentor, forced off technology. Explores memory, interviews, and our tech dependence.
  • Jordan Loft [04:35]: "It’s about our overreliance on technology. It’s about conversation. It’s about the art of the interview…full of rich ethical and philosophical questions, as any good Ben Lerner novel is.”

Poetry

• Visitations by Julia Alvarez
  • First poetry book in over 20 years by an acclaimed writer, told as a “memoir in poems” chronicling her life from the Dominican Republic to the U.S.
  • Jordan Loft [05:39]: “It’s brand new poetry from one of the best poets out there to do it who hasn’t returned to the medium in a long time.”

3. Listener Book Recommendations

Listeners provide a mosaic of recommendations, reflecting the show’s communal literary spirit.

• St. Mark’s is Dead by Ada Calhoun

  • Peter, East Village [06:46]: “St. Mark’s was a very vibrant place…probably played a pivotal role in the youth movement, breaking away from parental control and whatnot. But she goes into such detail…”

• The Slip by Lucas Schaeffer

  • Meredith, South Orange [08:23]: “It was very poignant and funny, and it was just…a really good read.”

• Pod by Laline Paull

  • Virginia, Union NJ [09:17]: “It’s an incredible story from the point of view of a female dolphin…It’s breathtaking and I could never have anticipated it.”

• Keeper of Lost Children (historical fiction)

  • Laurie [14:20]: “What I love about this is that I learned something new in history that I didn’t know before, which was about the Brown Baby Project...Post-World War II Germany…”

• The Undead by Svetlana Satchkova

  • Mark, Rochester [15:38]: “Starts with an amazing conceit…what would happen if Lenin’s body came back to life…a cautionary tale about complicity and being complicit…set in Putin’s Russia.”

• This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews

  • Rachel, Port Washington [24:25]: “Story of a young woman who…wakes up in the kingdom of her book…uses her knowledge of the way the storyline goes to survive and thrive.”

4. Additional Genre Picks

Thriller

• A Killer in the Family by Amin Ahmad
  • Mumbai party boy enters New York high society, facing potential corruption and danger from his father-in-law—echoes true crime themes.
  • Jordan Loft [10:53]: “He begins to suspect something isn’t quite right with his new father-in-law…”

Historical Fiction

• Honey in the Wounded by Ji Young Han
  • Korean women with mystical powers during Japanese imperialism; recommended for fans of Pachinko and magical realism.
  • Jordan Loft [11:54]: “…good for fans of Pachinko…but also for people who enjoy a little bit of magical realism…”

International Booker Prize Highlight

• The Witch by Marie NDiaye
  • A provincial French housewife with suppressed magical powers educates her daughters—with complications.
  • Jordan Loft [13:32]: “She starts to educate them in her ways, and it doesn’t always go so well…”

5. Notable Upcoming Books (April & May)

• Last Night in Brooklyn by Xochitl Gonzalez (April 21)

  • On gentrification and change in Fort Greene, Brooklyn.
  • Jordan Loft [17:34]: “She’s really seen how that borough has changed…this latest book is about just that…”

• Go Gentle by Maria Semple (April 21)

  • Upper West Side philosopher; a world of intrigue and black-market art.
  • Jordan Loft [19:01]: “She serves as a moral tutor to wealthy twin boys…and a coven of devoted women followers…”

• Permanence by Sophie McIntosh (April 21)

  • Two women in an affair wake up in a city for secret lovers; a “dream that’s secretly a nightmare.”
  • Jordan Loft [20:15]: “How long will Clara and Frances enjoy their new life together before it starts to feel like a trap?”

• Cherry Baby by Rainbow Rowell (April 14)

  • First adult fiction from the YA favorite. Comic, sexy, and inclusive love story.
  • Jordan Loft [26:27]: “It’s a spicy love story that features a plus-sized woman, which you don’t often get…”

• A Private Man by Stephanie C. Kuia (April 14)

  • Priest-feminist affair in 1960s England, inspired by author’s grandparents.
  • Jordan Loft [26:56]: “Ooh, spicy. And you can imagine that is not something very accepted at that time.”

• John of John by Douglas Stuart (May 5)

  • Booker winner’s latest: a sensitive family drama about a closeted man returning to rural Scotland.
  • Jordan Loft [35:26]: “All his novels are very sensitive, full of family drama and emotional turmoil…”

6. New & Noteworthy Nonfiction

• Mighty Real by Barry Walters (History of LGBTQ Music)

  • Richard, Jersey City [22:08]: “It’s so new that…I don’t even have my copy yet.”

• Remembering Mr. Shawn’s New Yorker: The Invisible Art of Editing by Ved Mehta (Memoir)

  • Sima, Peter Cooper Village [22:48]: “A wonderful memoir of New York, the social culture, the literary culture.”

• Rolling Stones by Bob Spitz (April 21)

  • Definitive Stones biography; perfect for rock enthusiasts.
  • Jordan Loft [32:51]: “It’s a great book for anyone who loves rock and roll history.”

• Selling Opportunity: The Story of Mary Kay by Mary Lisa Gavenas (April 28)

  • From early adversity to the cosmetics empire.
  • Jordan Loft [33:32]: “…story of Mary Kay Ash, the founder of Mary Kay. …divorced twice, widowed three times…”

• This Land Is Your Land: A Road Trip Through U.S. History by Beverly Gage

  • Explores U.S. historical sites and how Americans relate to their history.
  • Jordan Loft [34:30]: “…explore how Americans understand our history and the areas where we are critical of ourselves or not.”

7. Poetry & Memoir

• No Obvious Distress by Amanda Quaid (Verse memoir)
  • Addresses cancer, joy, and wordplay via diverse poetic forms.
  • Arthur, East Orange [31:07]: “It’s the best poetry book I’ve read in a long time…poetry has been waiting for Amanda Quaid, and now she’s here.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Jordan Loft [04:23] (after a murder is hinted at): "Dun dun, dun. Exactly."
• Peter, East Village [07:47]: "Have you ever had her [Ada Calhoun] on as a guest?"
  • Alison: “We have had her on as a guest. Yeah.”
• Virginia, Union NJ [10:07]: “I could never have anticipated it. I really encourage people to read it.” (on Pod)
• Host [13:21]: “No. If you’re a witch and your husband says stop, maybe divorce. You should think about that.”
• Jordan Loft [19:01] (repeated theme): “A coven of devoted women followers...a lot of witches here...”
• Alison Stewart [30:41] (on foodie book clubs): “Oh, I was in that book club.”
• Arthur, East Orange [32:42]: “It’s a wonderful book. I read it all in one sitting, which I’ve never done...that’s a good sign out there.”

Listener-Recommended Titles (Some Highlights & Timestamps)

• [06:46] St. Mark’s is Dead by Ada Calhoun
• [08:23] The Slip by Lucas Schaeffer
• [09:17] Pod by Laline Paull
• [14:20] Keeper of Lost Children
• [15:38] The Undead by Svetlana Satchkova
• [24:25] This Kingdom Will Not Kill Me by Ilona Andrews
• [22:48] Remembering Mr. Shawn’s New Yorker by Ved Mehta
• [31:07] No Obvious Distress by Amanda Quaid

Community Engagement & Get Lit Info

• Live audience calls and texts throughout the episode: listeners' voices are central.
• Get Lit Event: This month’s pick is Lake Effect by Cynthia Dupree Sweeney (event April 27; borrowing info and newsletter at wnyc.org/getlit).
  • Jordan Loft [37:12]: “I feel like I’ll let Cynthia Dupree Sweeney tell us most about her book since she is the best person to share…”

Closing Notes

• Next steps: Transcript available online; subscribe to the Get Lit newsletter for even more recommendations and author events.
• Alison Stewart [38:25]: “Thank you so much for your recommendations.”
• Jordan Loft [38:31]: “Thanks Alison. And thanks so much to our listeners.”

Summary Table: Featured Books (for quick reference)

| Title | Author(s) | Genre | Notable Themes | Release | |-------------------------------|-----------------------------|---------------|-------------------------------|-------------| | The Ending Writes Itself | Evelyn Clark (pseudonym) | Mystery | Literary contest, murder | Out Now | | Transcription | Ben Lerner | Literary Fic | Memory, technology | Out Now | | Visitations | Julia Alvarez | Poetry | Memoir in poems | Out Now | | A Killer in the Family | Amin Ahmad | Thriller | NYC real estate, corruption | Out Now | | Honey in the Wounded | Ji Young Han | Hist. Fiction | Korean folklore, imperialism | Out Now | | The Witch | Marie NDiaye | Literary Fic | Magic, family, suppression | Out Now | | Last Night in Brooklyn | Xochitl Gonzalez | Literary Fic | Brooklyn, change, NYC | April 21 | | Go Gentle | Maria Semple | Literary Fic | Philosphers, intrigue | April 21 | | Permanence | Sophie McIntosh | Literary Fic | Affair, alternate world | April 21 | | Cherry Baby | Rainbow Rowell | Romance/Fic | Identity, celebrity | April 14 | | A Private Man | Stephanie C. Kuia | Romance/Fic | Priest, theologian, family | April 14 | | Mighty Real | Barry Walters | Nonfiction | LGBTQ music history | Out Soon | | Rolling Stones | Bob Spitz | Biography | Rolling Stones history | April 21 | | Selling Opportunity | Mary Lisa Gavenas | Biography | Mary Kay story | April 28 | | This Land Is Your Land | Beverly Gage | History | US sites & memory | Out Now | | John of John | Douglas Stuart | Literary Fic | Scotland, family, identity | May 5 |

This episode is a treasure trove for readers seeking new favorites, celebrating the impact of books on individual lives and community. With Alison Stewart and Jordan Loft’s welcoming tone, and voices from the public, it’s an essential guide to what’s new, diverse, and unmissable in spring reading.