Jenna Bush Hager has long been a passionate advocate for reading, and her book club, Read With Jenna, has become a phenomenon in the literary world. 

With over 86,000 members in its Facebook community alone, the club has inspired readers across the country to embrace books and discover new authors. 

Now, as the club marks its sixth anniversary, Jenna is celebrating the milestone in a big way.

A Star-Studded Literary Celebration

To honor the occasion, Jenna invited 11 authors she has previously featured to Today at the Plaza in New York City for a special book signing event. 

Among the esteemed authors were Laila Lalami, Megan Abbott, Diane Marie Brown, Essie Chambers, 

Nicole Dennis-Benn, Nikki Erlick, Alison Espach, Lauren Grodstein, Ethan Joella, Jean Kwok, and Emma Knight.

During the event, Jenna expressed her deep gratitude to the authors and readers who have supported the book club over the years.

“I love all of you and some of our authors who aren’t here,” she said. “Thank you so much for coming six years in. Read With Jenna has changed my life.”

An Outpouring of Love from Fans and Authors

Jenna’s influence on the literary world has been undeniable, and fans wasted no time in celebrating the achievement with her. Social media was flooded with congratulatory messages, with readers and writers alike expressing their appreciation for her impact on the book world.

“Happy six years! So many wonderful books and authors!” one fan wrote. Another chimed in, “Proud of you and grateful for the work you are doing to inspire!”

The outpouring of support reflects just how much Read With Jenna has meant to the literary community. From skyrocketing book sales to helping unknown authors gain recognition, Jenna’s club has left an indelible mark.

A Book Club Born from a Dare

The idea for Read With Jenna came about in an unexpected way. According to Jenna, it all started with a challenge from Today producer Libby Leist. Leist had come across two conflicting reports—one suggesting that people were reading more than ever and another claiming that younger generations weren’t interested in books.

Jenna, confident that reading was still alive and well, decided to put the theory to the test.

“I was like, ‘I’m telling you, we’re reading more, and people still love to read. So let me start a book club and see how it goes,’” she recalled.

Her very first book selection, The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin, quickly proved her point. After Jenna chose it, the novel shot up Amazon’s rankings from near obscurity to the number two spot.

Since then, Read With Jenna has continued to propel books into the spotlight. According to her Today co-host Craig Melvin, nearly two-thirds of the books Jenna has featured have become New York Times bestsellers, and more than half have received film or television adaptation deals.

Support from Family and Friends

Jenna’s mother, former First Lady Laura Bush, has been one of her biggest supporters. During the book club’s fifth anniversary last year, Laura shared a heartfelt video message, praising her daughter’s efforts to encourage reading.

“By sharing your favorite books, you’re inspiring more Americans to fall in love with reading,” she said. “So here’s to another five years of happy reading for you and all the Today show viewers. Love you.”

Jenna’s dedication to books extends far beyond her book club. She recently made another significant leap in the literary world by launching her own publishing imprint, Thousand Voices, in partnership with Random House.

Expanding Her Literary Influence

With Thousand Voices, Jenna is taking her love for books to the next level by helping new and diverse authors break into the industry. She aims to provide a platform for emerging voices, using the connections she has built through Read With Jenna to support and uplift writers.

“I’ve worked with authors and agents, with readers, with indie bookstore owners,” she said on Today. “I’ve made all these relationships as we’ve tried to build the book club, and I think it would be amazing to utilize them to help with these writers that I’m publishing.”

Several books are already in the pipeline under her imprint, with the first, Conform by Ariel Sullivan, set for release in October 2025. Additional titles are scheduled for publication in 2026, signaling an exciting new chapter for Jenna’s career in the book world.

A Legacy of Literary Inspiration

As Read With Jenna enters its sixth year, its influence continues to grow. What began as a simple experiment has transformed into a movement, helping readers discover incredible stories and giving authors a well-deserved platform.

Through her book club, her new publishing imprint, and her unwavering passion for literature, Jenna Bush Hager has cemented her place as a champion of reading. As she continues her journey, one thing is clear—her impact on the literary world is far from over.

With a dedicated community of book lovers behind her and an ever-expanding influence in publishing, the future of Read With Jenna looks brighter than ever. Here’s to many more years of celebrating books, authors, and the joy of reading.

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