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The Book Show

Emma Straub - American Fantasy

By Joe Donahue
Published April 14, 2026 at 3:00 PM EDT
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Book cover for 'American Fantasy' by Emma Straub
Riverhead Books

Novelist Emma Straub’s new novel, ‘American Fantasy,’ is set aboard a nostalgic cruise devoted to a 1990s boy band. At its center is Annie, newly divorced and searching for direction, as music, memory, and unexpected connections reshape her sense of who she is - and who she might become.

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The Book Show book showthe book showemma straubfandomnostalgia
Joe Donahue
Joe talks to people on the radio for a living. In addition to countless impressive human "gets" - he has talked to a lot of Muppets. Joe grew up in Philadelphia, has been on the area airwaves for more than 25 years and currently lives in Washington County, NY with his wife, Kelly, and their dog, Brady. And yes, he reads every single book.
See stories by Joe Donahue
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