3 Good Things with Emma Straub
"People (strangers!) often stop me and my family on the street to tell us that our outfits make them smile."
Emma Straub is a NYT bestselling — and beloved! — author of several books you’ve probably read and loved, like This Time Tomorrow, All Adults Here, The Vacationers, and Modern Lovers. (Did you know she’s written children’s picture books, too?) Aside from writing excellent books, Emma also runs Books Are Magic, the popular independent Brooklyn bookstore she owns with her husband.
In fact, one of my first orders of business during my solo-cation to NYC this fall, was to pop by the Cobble Hill location. The space lived up to its reputation: it felt warm, alive, and buzzing with possibilities; the staff picks beckoning to be added to my ever-growing TBR, and that impossibly cute children’s reading nook tucked away at the back of the store. I could have spent hours in there, but I practiced some restraint and left with a few books for Lily in tow and excellent store merch tucked into my tote.
This is the effect of Books Are Magic and of Emma Straub, who has shared in past interviews that the bookstore is essentially a reflection of her own personality: bubbly, welcoming, quirky, and pink!
Read on for some of Emma’s favorite things right now, including “life-changing jeans,” the best (and sweetest) gift Emma has ever received, and her favorite Brooklyn neighborhood spots… Plus, she answers the burning questions that you sent in.
—Alisha
Emma Straub’s 3 Good Things
Do you know that a shiny little sock can really turn your day around? They can. I have several pairs of shiny, sparkly little socks from Le Bon Shoppe, and my 9-year-old son loves them too. A teesny razzle dazzle never hurt anyone.
Everywhere I go, someone compliments my Ina Siefart phone chain. Hands-free lifestyle, baby!!!
The Beast in Me, Netflix. Call me a 45-year-old woman who was deeply affected by My So Called Life if you must, but I just cannot get enough of Claire Danes. I love her face, I love the way she walks, I love her crying (of course), I love her low voice. Add in the absolutely glorious Matthew Rhys and some murder, and you’ve got an A+ TV show.
Get to Know Emma
On holiday rhythms (and a little escape)…
“We always go to my in-laws in Florida for Christmas, and because we own two bookstores, things are always very, very, very hectic right up to the last minute, so by the time we get to Florida, it feels like parachuting out of high anxiety.
My favorite thing to do when we get there is to go straight to my favorite consignment store in West Palm Beach, Dina C. Fab + Funky. I never ever leave empty-handed. You asked about holiday traditions! Does that count?
I love to buy presents, and this year many of them are vintage basketball items found on eBay and Etsy, for my b-ball-obsessed 9-year-old.”
A sweet gift she’ll never forget…
“Last year, for my birthday, my 11-year-old made me a ceramic cannoli necklace. I know I’ve done at least some of my parenting right.”
The children’s books she loves and recommends…
“There’s a new Dory Fantasmagory out, for kids roughly 6–10, those are the funniest chapter books on earth. X. Fang is out here writing the greatest picture books in the world—check out her We Are Definitely Human and Broken. Jon Klassen and Mac Barnett and Carson Ellis can do no wrong.”
On her *excellent*, colorful, and cheerful sense of style…
“Recently, I said to my husband, I’m going to start dressing like an adult. Two hours later, I left the house in pink pants and green socks and my bright multi-colored puffer jacket. It’s just not in me to reign it in. I yam what I yam! And what I yam is colorful. It really does make me feel happier on a daily basis.
People (strangers!) often stop me and my family on the street to tell us that our outfits make them smile. Who am I to withhold that pleasure??!!
Some of my favorite places to shop for clothes: RIP Bird, I miss Bird every day. Blockshop makes my favorite dress and my favorite jacket. Recently, I’ve bought a few ridiculous pairs of pants from Le Bon Shoppe, and those are making me happy these days. A lot of what I wear is vintage, and my favorite vintage shop is Lovefield, in Kingston, NY. I go to Rachel Comey for dress-up clothes, and unluckily for my wallet, they are right across the street from my bookstore, in the old Bird space.”
About the immersive research she did for her upcoming novel, American Fantasy (out April 7th, 2026):
“I went on a New Kids on the Block cruise, and I feel about it the same way I felt about giving birth to my first child: that was kind of weird and sometimes even gross and painful, but I would do it again in a heartbeat.”
Any updates on Doug Cheese?? (IYKYK)
“Ha! I think he’s got bigger fish to fry at the moment. I do want to say that 99% of the famous people who shop at Books Are Magic are extremely lovely people and I will never put their names in my newsletter.”
Bonus Q’s from Downtime Readers
Q: Best-kept secret, hidden gem spots in Cobble Hill/Carroll Gardens? - Arabella
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