Person
Every book Jen Harlan recommended on podcasts
Jen Harlan appears on The Book Review as a well-read critic with a distinct passion for speculative fiction, magical realism, and deeply emotional, character-focused narratives that resonate with readers seeking comfort or psychological depth. Recommending books that share thematic elements with Matt Haig's work, Harlan highlights V. E. Schwab's fantasy novel 'The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue', describing it as the author's least heavy fantasy work. She also enthusiastically recommends Nicole Krauss's 'The History of Love', calling it one of her all-time favorite books and a frequent recommendation she shares with everyone she knows. Continuing her exploration of fantastical and imaginative fiction, Harlan recommends T. J. Klune's novel 'We Burn So Bright', highlighting her appreciation for his contributions to the fantasy and science-fiction world. Finally, she recommends Ashley Poston's novel 'The Someday Garden', pointing to its secret garden setting and pocket universe premise about a woman who moves to Maine to manage a nature estate. Through these selections, Harlan showcases a deep affinity for imaginative storytelling that explores emotional healing and magical realism.
Books recommended by Jen Harlan
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The History of Love
The History of Love by Nicole Krauss is a poignant novel that weaves together the lives of various characters connected by a mysterious book.
Recommended“This is one of my all-time favorite books and one of the books I recommend to everyone I know, which is The History of Love by Nicole Krauss. This book came out in 2005.”
Where to get it
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The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.
Recommended“The first of which is The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab, who is predominantly a fantasy writer. She's also written some sci-fi... Addie LaRue is, I would say, probably the least heavy fantasy of her books.”
Where to get it
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The Someday Garden
The Someday Garden by Ashley Poston is a contemporary novel featuring a magical realism setup centered around a secluded nature sanctuary and a woman starting a new chapter in her life.
Recommended“If you like her she has a new book coming out on June 16th called The Someday Garden which is a secret garden again like a little a very teeny tiny pocket universe in this case about a woman who moves to Maine to be the sort of head groundskeeper at this nature estate”
Where to get it
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We Burned So Bright
We Burned So Bright by T.
Recommended“Another one of my my favorites from the fantasy sci-fi world. Yeah, what's up with the initials here? Tell me about T.J. Klune... I'm actually going to talk about his newest one, which just came out in April. It's called We Burn So Bright.”
Where to get it
Appearances
| Episode | Podcast | Date | Books |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matt Haig on ‘The Midnight Library,’ Mental Illness and Winnie-the-Pooh | The Book Review | 2026-05-15 | 4 |