New York Times bestselling author, Emma Straub, spoke to us about the cognitive dissonance, joy, and research process behind her highly anticipated next novel AMERICAN FANTASY.

Emma Straub is the New York Times bestselling author of six books for adults: the novels This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, Modern Lovers, Laura Lamont’s Life in Pictures, and the short story collection Other People We Married. She is also the author of a picture book, Very Good Hats. Her books have been published in more than 20 languages.

Her latest novel, American Fantasy (Available on Apr 07, 2026), is described as “... an irresistible story about what happens when your teenage fantasy comes true after you’re already an adult.”

NAMED A MOST ANTICIPATED BOOK OF 2026 BY THE NEW YORK TIMES, PEOPLE, TIME, HARPER'S BAZAAR AND OPRAH DAILY

#1 New York Times bestselling author Taylor Jenkins Reid, called it “…a fun, delicious, big-hearted book.” #1 New York Times bestselling author Rainbow Rowell wrote, “You don't have to be a fan of something to love American Fantasy, but if you've ever truly devoted yourself to a boy band or a TV show or even a series of books, you will feel so understood by this novel.”

Emma and her husband also own Books Are Magic, the popular independent bookstores in Brooklyn, New York.

[Discover The Writer Files Extra: Get 'The Writer Files' Podcast Delivered Straight to Your Inbox at writerfiles.fm]

[If you’re a fan of The Writer Files, please click FOLLOW to automatically see new interviews. And drop us a rating or a review wherever you listen]

In this file Emma Straub, Milena and I discussed:

How an annual NKOTB fan cruise inspired the latest

Writing a book about time, love, and loss and why her mom called it her "sexiest book"

Why you can’t reverse-engineer the perfect novel

What happened when her book appeared in Season Three of the White Lotus

Hanging out at with Lin-Manuel Miranda

And a lot more!

Show Notes:

American Fantasy: A Novel – April 7, 2026 by Emma Straub (Bookshop.org)

⁠emmastraub.net⁠⁠

⁠⁠Emma Straub on Facebook⁠⁠

⁠⁠Emma Straub on Instagram⁠⁠

Milena Gonzalez | Writer | Reader | Book Reviewer

diary_of_a_book_babe on Instagram

Kelton Reid Instagram

Kelton Reid on Twitter

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices