As 2025 comes to an end, we’re taking a look back at some of our favorite books, and literary trends from the year. Jenna Bush Hager sits down with author and book lover Isaac Fitzgerald to share their tips for building a reading habit in the new year, their favorite books of the year, and the titles they’re most excited about in 2026!

New York Times bestselling author Freida McFadden sits with Jenna Bush Hager to share how she balances life as a physician and a thriller writer. Freida reflects on her early love of writing, how she crafts her trademark twists, and the rise of The Housemaid, now becoming a film starring Amanda Seyfried and Sydney Sweeney. She also opens up about maintaining her privacy, writing under a pseudonym, and the craziest rumors she’s heard about herself.

Designer Nate Berkus joins Jenna Bush Hager to discuss his new book, Foundations: Timeless Design That Feels Personal. He reflects on his career journey and how his passion for design began in childhood, inspired early on by his mother’s work as a designer. After college, he launched his own firm and later gained national attention through his appearances on The Oprah Winfrey Show. Nate shares the four core tenets of good design, and how to create spaces that reflect your life, your memories, and the things you love most. He and Jenna also explore their shared love of reading, how literature shapes their approach to parenting, and the impact of the stories they pass on to their children.

Rebecca Yarros is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of over twenty novels including ‘Fourth Wing,’ ‘Iron Flame’ and ‘Onyx Storm.’ Her latest and highly anticipated novel ‘Onyx Storm’ is the fastest selling adult novel in twenty years and sold 2.7 million copies in its first week. Rebecca sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how she drew on her experience with chronic illness and life in a military family to write “Fourth Wing,” and her process to plot out five books in the series. She opens up about balancing fame with motherhood, how readers have resonated with her books and why becoming an author was the dream she always had but never knew was possible.

Actress Leslie Bibb sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to reflect on her career journey, beginning with being “discovered” on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 1990. She opens up about the moments that shaped her, how she’s overcome self-doubt, and the lessons she’s learned from decades in Hollywood. Leslie shares why choosing her own path and creating clear boundaries has led to a more grounded, joyful, and authentic life. Plus, she shares her thoughts on navigating perfectionism and whether she’d ever write a book.

Jenna is joined by authors Carley Fortune, Kennedy Ryan, and Heather Aimee O’Neill live at Read with Jenna: Girl’s Night Out at Virgin Hotels New York City. They share insights into their creative process, how their own lives have influenced their writing, and the power of storytelling. They also share advice for aspiring writers, book recommendations and answer questions from the live audience in this special episode of Open Book with Jenna.

In this special live episode recorded at Read with Jenna: Girl’s Night Out at Virgin Hotels New York City, Jenna is joined by actress, producer, and podcast host Allison Williams. Allison discusses her role in the upcoming adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s beloved novel Regretting You, offering insight into bringing the emotional story to life on screen. She also reflects on her breakout years on HBO’s Girls, her journey into motherhood, and her thoughts on the term “nepo baby".

“Conform” author Ariel Sullivan sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss publishing her debut novel through Jenna’s publish imprint Thousand Voices and fulfilling her dream of becoming a writer. Sullivan opens up about how she wove her childhood and later struggle as a stay-at-home mom with postpartum depression into the story and introduced the book to Jenna during a playdate for their sons George and Hal.

Actor Jay Ellis joins Jenna Bush Hager to talk about his funny and heartfelt new memoir, ‘Did Everyone Have an Imaginary Friend (or Just Me)?’ Jay reflects on his childhood as the only child in a military family, moving from base to base and inventing new identities along the way. He opens up about how his imaginary friend, Mikey, helped him navigate loneliness and self-discovery, his path from aspiring basketball player to Hollywood actor, and the lessons he’s learned about creativity, belonging, and fatherhood.

Activist and Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to talk about her deeply personal new memoir, ‘Finding My Way.’ Malala reflects on her years at Oxford, her struggles with mental health, and finding love. She also speaks about rebuilding her life after the Taliban attack, her evolving relationship with her mother, and her ongoing commitment to girls’ education.

Ian McEwan is a Booker Prize winning author of nineteen novels, including Atonement, Enduring Love, The Children Act, and On Chesil Beach. Ian sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to talk about the inspiration for his latest novel, What We Can Know. Ian reflects on a lifetime of storytelling, from his early love of reading to his writing routine and how it feels to be an author in the age of AI. They also talk about the global impact of his books, the timeless power of literature to ask big questions about who we are and what we value, and what topics he’s excited to explore in his next novel.

Tembi Locke is a New York Times best-selling author, screenwriter, producer, actor and podcast host. Tembi sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss her new immersive audio memoir ‘Someday, Now,’ where she returns to Sicily for one last summer with her daughter before she leaves for college. Blending her intimate narration with the sounds of Sicily, it's a beautiful story of motherhood, memory, and the bittersweet art of releasing a child into adulthood. Tembi shares her experience of staying hopeful after heartbreak, finding love after loss, and the power of writing to heal.

Jenna Bush Hager reunites with former TODAY co-anchor and friend, Hoda Kotb for a deeply moving conversation about embracing new life chapters, and the beauty of slowing down. Hoda opens up about her decision to leave TODAY, her new chapter focusing on family and her new venture Joy101. Plus, she shares her inspiration for her new book ‘Jump and Find Joy” and how she is finding joy in the everyday moments.

Zac Brown is a three-time Grammy winner and frontman of the Zac Brown Band. Zac joins Jenna Bush Hager for an intimate conversation about music, family, and the journey behind his artistry. From his humble beginnings playing in coffee shops at age fourteen to his upcoming residency at the Las Vegas Sphere, Zac reflects on the milestones that shaped his path. He opens up about fatherhood, founding Camp Southern Ground, and the creative process behind his upcoming album Love and Fear, which features collaborations with icons like Snoop Dogg and Dolly Parton.

Kristin Hannah is the award-winning and bestselling author of more than twenty novels including ‘The Nightingale,’ ‘The Four Winds,’ and “The Women.’ A former attorney, she has made it her mission to tell the often forgotten stories of women in history. Kristin sat down with Jenna Bush Hager to chat about how books were a constant in her life growing up, how her mom knew she was destined to become a writer, and how she transitioned from a lawyer to best-selling author. She also reveals the intense research she does for her historical novels, and how her latest novel ‘The Women’ was more than twenty years in the making.

Ego Nwodim has entertained viewers with her standout impressions and roster of hilarious original characters for the past seven seasons of ‘Saturday Night Live.’ Jenna Bush Hager sat down with the hilarious Ego Nowdim to chat about her earliest memories of making people laugh, the life lessons improv taught her, and her journey from pre-med to joining the cast of Saturday Night Live. Plus, she opens up about her SNL audition process and the five critical minutes hopefuls have to showcase their talents.

Keke Palmer is an Emmy Award Winning actress, singer, podcast host, and mother. She rose to prominence at the age of twelve through her breakout role in ‘Akeelah and the Bee’ and has gone on to star in more than twenty-five films. In her latest memoir ‘Master of Me’ Keke tells her own raw and intimate story. Keke sits down with Jenna Bush Hager to discuss how she navigated fame at a young age, how becoming a mother gave her clarity about her priorities in life, and how she’s embraced who she truly is rather than conforming to others expectations. She shares the powerful lessons she’s learned along the way and how she has reclaimed her story, her power, and her purpose.

Jenna Bush Hager revisits her conversation with best-selling author Amor Towles at the Aspen Ideas Festival to talk about his journey from banker to writer and his unique storytelling process.

Jenna Bush Hager is revisiting her conversation with Kate DiCamillo, the beloved author behind family favorite stories like “Because of Winn Dixie” and “Mercy Watson.” Kate fills Jenna in on her journey to becoming the bestselling children’s book author and how she didn’t let 473 rejection letters stop her.

Jenna Bush Hager sits down with actor, comedian, and Jenna & Friends co-host, Matt Rogers. Rogers co-hosts the pop culture podcast "Las Culturistas” with Bowen Yang and stars in Netflix’s comedy series “No Good Deed.” He opens up about his journey from prom king to pop culture podcaster. He also shares how he redefined what success means to him after not getting hired on Saturday Night Live, and how writing his song “RockaFellaCenta” was a form of healing.