Jenna Bush Hager has long been known for her love of literature, and now she has a fan in none other than Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham.
During a recent event for Read with Jenna, Bush Hager revealed that Graham appreciates her book recommendations—a moment that left the Today show co-anchor thrilled.
Lauren Graham Is a Fan of Read with Jenna
Speaking at a Read with Jenna event in New York City on February 10, Bush Hager shared a special encounter she had with the beloved actress.
“I’ll just say that Lauren Graham, who was the mom on Gilmore Girls, was like, ‘I love your book recommendations,’” Bush Hager told PEOPLE.
“And I was like, ‘I loved your television show.’”
The two had previously spoken on Today with Jenna & Friends on January 31, where Bush Hager hosts a rotating list of celebrity guests following Hoda Kotb’s departure from Today. Graham, who currently stars in the comedy series The Z-Suite, expressed her enthusiasm for Bush Hager’s literary selections, reinforcing the book club’s growing influence.
A Passion for Literature and Storytelling
At the February 10 event, Bush Hager sat down with author Jessica Soffer to discuss her novel This Is a Love Story, which was selected as the Read with Jenna book club pick for February. The novel follows a decades-long romance between two characters who meet in Central Park, and Bush Hager was deeply moved by the story.
“I loved this book so much,” she said. “I was weeping … Who could tell you that you would meet two characters in their 70s and you would fall so immersed in the story and history of their love [and] everything that goes along with it, that, when you close the book, you would miss these people?”
Bush Hager praised Soffer’s ability to create an emotional and compelling narrative, stating, “Most writers cannot do that, and Jessica was able to do it. This is a beautiful love story, and I was thrilled to be able to bring it to as many readers as possible in the month of love.”
The Evolution of Read with Jenna
Since launching in 2019, Read with Jenna has grown into a powerhouse book club, introducing readers to a diverse range of authors and genres. Despite its success, Bush Hager admitted that she never envisioned leading a national book club.
“I love to read, and I also love people who love to read,” she explained. “I love having conversations with my sister [Barbara] about books that we both are really into, or my friends. I feel things aren’t linear. I wasn’t like, ‘Oh, I can’t wait to start a book club.’ It was sort of a dare.”
That “dare” has turned into a beloved literary movement, with readers across the country eagerly anticipating each new pick.
Expanding Her Literary Influence
In addition to running her book club, Bush Hager has taken her passion for literature a step further with the launch of her own book imprint, Thousand Voices Books. The imprint, created in partnership with The Random House Publishing Group, will publish books across a variety of genres, including romance, literary fiction, memoir, and even romantasy (a mix of romance and fantasy).
Her foray into publishing has only deepened her immersion in the literary world, and she acknowledged the challenge of juggling multiple book-related ventures.
“I’m putting myself in a precarious situation, working, running a national book club, and also publishing books,” she admitted. “I’ve started a mad, mad reading trend, so I need to actually write down how many books [I read].”
A Growing Community of Readers
With the continued success of Read with Jenna, the launch of Thousand Voices Books, and praise from celebrities like Lauren Graham, Bush Hager’s influence in the literary world is undeniable. Her passion for books has not only connected her with fellow readers but has also helped introduce countless people to compelling new stories.
As she continues to champion literature, her impact on the reading community only seems to be growing—one book recommendation at a time.
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