Hi, dear readers!
We’re writing to you on another 80° New York day that we desperately wish actually felt like fall. October promises to be the stage where the city looks her best: crisp mornings spent in the Princess Diana uniform (sweatshirt and biker shorts), walks through Central Park’s changing leaves, and of course, the release of The Life of A Showgirl, in addition to a handful of highly anticipated books on our radars.
Ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below
Included in this month’s edition:
Recap of our September WVBC pick: The Art of Vanishing
Laura’s Book Report
Local Business Love: Parcelle Wine Bar
What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists
Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!
WVBC September Pick: The Art of Vanishing
This month, we chose to read Morgan Pager’s debut, The Art of Vanishing. If you follow @nycbookgirl on Instagram, you know all about this Marketing Director at Atria Books’ journey from being behind the promotion of other writers’ books to the creation of her very own novel. Morgan thoughtfully imagined a magical realism framework for her debut that felt distinct from anything we’ve read before; readers find themselves suspended in a reality where a museum worker can enter the paintings on the walls. It’s a unlike anything we’ve read before and got us thinking more about the fusion of art & literature, as Laura is about to share below.
Laura’s Book Report
We’re trying something new in this space! Since you’ve met all of our members by now, we thought it would be fun to take turns sharing what we’ve been up to—especially as it relates to our latest literary detours.
I’m calling this my Book Report, but let’s see where it goes...
What I loved most about this month’s pick is how it inspired me to read more books about art. Kayla and I went to Morgan Pager’s book launch event for The Art of Vanishing, where she talked about her obsession with museums—specifically the Gardner Museum Heist. I already had a trip to Boston planned and decided I’d visit the museum, but first, I wanted to learn more about the heist and the museum’s history.
In the past, when I’ve visited museums, I’ve felt like I wasn’t getting everything out of the experience that I was supposed to. I didn’t want to just watch a show or read an article about the heist, so I found a historical fiction novel that had the Gardner Heist woven into the plot.
I assigned myself some summer reading and scheduled a field trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro is a twisty literary thriller set in the Boston art world, inspired by the real-life Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. It follows Claire Roth, a talented but disgraced young artist who’s hired to forge a stolen Degas painting—one that may have been part of the infamous 1990 heist. As Claire delves deeper, she uncovers secrets not just about the painting, but about the museum’s eccentric founder, Isabella Stewart Gardner. The novel blends fact and fiction, weaving in letters from Isabella herself, and while the story takes creative liberties, I’m choosing to believe she was every bit the bold, scandalous, and unconventional socialite the book makes her out to be.
On the night of March 18, 1990, two men disguised as Boston police officers talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum just after midnight. Once inside, they overpowered the guards, tied them up in the basement, and spent 81 minutes roaming the galleries. They stole 13 pieces of art, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Degas, and Manet, worth an estimated $500 million—making it the largest art theft in history. In a brutal move, several paintings were cut directly from their frames, causing irreversible damage. None of the artworks have ever been recovered, and the museum still displays the empty frames as a haunting reminder of what was lost.
I was starstruck by the empty frames (if that is even possible) and completely blown away by the opulence and grandeur of the entire museum. While Isabella didn’t actually live in what is now the museum, it was designed to resemble a 15th-century Venetian palace and was built specifically to house her art collection. (Fun fact: she did live on the fourth floor—right above the church. Yes, this palace has a church.)
As someone who is obsessed with The Gilded Age, learning about Boston’s high society only deepened my fixation. Isabella was born into a prosperous family in New York City and married the heir to an even larger fortune in Boston. She and her husband traveled the world collecting art, and she even took art history classes at Harvard.
Her will had clear instructions to make no permanent changes to the museum’s displays. It also stated that the museum should remain for the “enjoyment of the public forever.”
One of my favorite parts of the book—although likely not true—was Isabella’s “inappropriate” relationships with Edgar Degas and John Singer Sargent. Not only does she have a Self-Portrait, Aged 23 by Sargent in the collection (see above), but El Jaleo, a life-size depiction of a Spanish dancer (see below), is mounted in its own alcove—she designed the space around it.
The entire museum is over-the-top in the best possible way.
Local Business Love: Parcelle Wine Bar
This month we took our meeting at Parcelle, one of our favorite local wine bars on MacDougal Street. The interior is chic and the service is outstanding, a true neighborhood gem. Their wine list is extensive, but their menu states that they always have something special open and to inquire if you’re up for a fun surprise sip. Some highlights for us: the chilled red, prosciutto and figs, & the roasted garlic rigatoni. We were celebrating
’ birthday and they happily served our cake and candles with the coded plates and utensils we brought.P.S. This would be a great first date spot. Make sure to ask him what his favorite book is before the night’s over ;)
What We’re Reading and Loving This Month
Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!
Chelsea’s Corner
Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors is a favorite amongst a number of the WVBC gals, so I knew I had to read it. Set primarily in New York, Paris, and London, the travel girl in me loved the backdrop, but the real reason to read this book is the beautifully written and emotionally layered story that just pulls you right in. It is heartbreaking, it is messy, and the characters’ flaws shine through the story. But isn’t that what life is?
The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is a book I somehow never read, even though my love for reading started in the psychological thriller genre. I flew through the book in just a couple of days (which is rare for me!) The story had me completely locked in, and the twists & turns were just as unpredictable as they were unnerving. The movie is coming out in December, so I highly recommend reading it before then!
Laura’s Corner
Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram
They All Went To Barneys: A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Store by Gene Pressman is a tribute to one of fashion’s most iconic retail empires and my first real place of employment! With insider flair and vivid storytelling, Pressman chronicles the rise, innovation, and eventual fall of Barneys New York—blending personal memories with the store’s cultural impact. It’s both a nostalgic love letter and a savvy business reflection.
This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald was not my favorite at first, as it is centered on Amory Blaine, a self-absorbed and idealistic young man. The novel traces his privileged upbringing through Princeton University and into the disillusionments of adulthood. I did enjoy the blending of prose, poetry, letters, and dialogue—mirroring the restlessness of Amory and the Jazz Age generation he represents. About halfway through, we meet Rosalind and this is when I started to really love the book. While it wasn’t my favorite Fitzgerald and wouldn’t be the first I’d recommend, I did end up enjoying it by the end.
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors is about three sisters grappling with the sudden death of their fourth sister. I absolutely loved Coco Mellors’ writing—her prose is gorgeous and emotionally honest without ever feeling forced. The characters are so flawed, but that’s what made them feel incredibly real. They hurt each other, love each other, and try to heal. Every chapter pulled me deeper into their world. Mellors has such a gift for writing messy, beautiful human relationships, and this book stayed with me long after I finished it.
Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef by Slutty Cheff is an honest memoir about leaving a 9-to-5 marketing job, signing up for culinary school, and diving head‑first into London’s restaurant world. Between sweat, burns, relentless hours in the kitchen, sexism, and complicated romances, she wrestles with ambition, identity, mental health, and what it means to build a life you actually want. The writing is raw, vivid, funny—full of food and sex, of longing and chaos.
Night People: How to Be a DJ in ‘90s New York City by Mark Ronson is a book I’ve been excited about for a few months and not only because I have the biggest crush on Mark. I was lucky enough to attend the Book Report event at Warby Parker in SoHo days after the book came out. His story reminds you that what looks effortless later was built on obsession, patience, sweat, and community. For someone as successful as he is, his writing about that era is surprisingly honest and humble—it only made me respect him more… and deepen my crush.
Caylee’s Corner
Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass Sometimes you need to dip your toe into a fantasy world and no one does it better than Sarah J Mass. I’ve read and (mostly) loved the ACOTAR series so I was curious to try the Throne of Glass and it was a fun, easy read. I missed the world building of ACOTAR, but loved Celaena Sardothien as a main character. I’ll continue the series as a monthly palette cleanser and brain escape.
Wildflower: A Memoir by Aurora James Aurora James is the creative director and founder of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies and of the 15% Pledge, a non-profit organization that aims to close the racial wealth gap by asking retailers to commit 15% of their SKUs to Black-owned businesses. Her story is inspiring and I adore her curious mind, strong sense of self and commitment to making the world a better place. Highly rec a listen on audiobook, her voice is so cute!
Jenna’s Corner
Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram
Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman by Brooke Sheilds I was not expecting to feel passionately about this audiobook when I first decided to give it a listen, but wow was I wrong. Narrated by Brooke herself, she recounts her journey through womanhood and the many experiences that have shaped her relationship with herself and her daughters. Each chapter was more honest and real than the next, with a perfect blend of personal wisdom complemented by data and research. I’m also low key obsessed with the fact that she lives in the West Village and named her dog Tusi after Lartusi. Highly recommend!
Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly is a powerful memoir about Minka’s life underlined by her complex relationship with her mother. She starts from the beginning, recounting experiences from her childhood that tug at the heartstrings. It’s ultimately a story of love and compassion for the woman who raised her, albeit imperfectly, that brought tears to my eyes throughout multiple chapters.
Kayla’s Corner
Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!
Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America by Michael Grynbaum was a continuation of my reading Graydon Carter’s memoir about his time being at the center of the magazine world’s golden age. This one goes back all the way to Condé Nast’s founding and brings the reader through the evolution of the media giant with a theme around its excessive spending and the now antiquated notion of the endless editor expense account. My favorite chapters were those about how Si Newhouse was behind the elevation of Anna Wintour, Tina Brown, Graydon Carter, and so many more.
Notes on a Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach is the author’s debut which I wanted to read after hearing that Bad on Paper podcast was going to discuss it. We loved her sophomore novel, The Wedding People, and this one reads with the same brilliant voice. This story follows a sister speaking to her dead sister over the course of nearly two decades, ultimately turning into a breathtaking love story between her and the boy that was at the center of her sister’s demise.
All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert was an auto download for me as I’ve read every book—fiction and nonfiction—that Gilbert has ever written. This one reads distinctly different, and much darker, than her usual fare. We follow the complicated path of Gilbert falling in love with her best friend and breaking up her second marriage to be with her after she receives a cancer diagnosis. To further heighten the stakes, there is drug addiction and love addition at play.
Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz was one I was inspired to pick by Laura! This story takes place between LA and New York, following a young writer eager to make it in the big city, despite her love for the beach bum lifestyle she grew up loving in Santa Monica. Our protaganist, Jacaranda is immersed in the world of intellectuals and artists, but struggles to find her way, particularly with the enigmatic influence of a man named Max who is a master of manipulation.
If You Don’t Like This, I Will Die: An Influencer Memoir by Lee Tilghman is a book I wish I could recommend, but have to admit, I listened to purely from a voyeurist perspective because I followed Lee for a long time post-college. Once I started listening, I quickly realized her take on how she amassed (and lost) a massive following felt devoid of accountability for some of the shady things she did during those early Instagram days. This is a pass for me!
Xan’s Corner
Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!
Night People: How to Be a DJ in ‘90s New York City by Mark Ronson feels exactly like slipping into Mark Ronson’s brain at 2 a.m. and I wanted to dive right in! I consider myself a longtime M.R. fan, he is my celebrity hall pass. Electricity is on every playlist I’ve ever made. His book has that insider, nocturnal cool he’s known for, but it’s also surprisingly tender and self-aware. You can feel the pulse of New York, fame, a sense of community in the city, and also that sense of loneliness that can only be found surrounded by millions of people, and, of course, his creativity running through it. It made me nostalgic for a scene and places in the city that I was never even old enough to have ever experienced! This is the kind of book that makes you want to stay up all night, and maybe go out after!