Event Recap: Texas Book Festival 2025 in Austin

The Texas Book Festival is one of those events that earns its label as "premier." Hosted in downtown Austin, it draws thousands upon thousands (upon thousands upon thousands, etc. etc.) of book lovers each year, transforming the area around the Capitol into a full-blown celebration of story. For more than three decades, it has stayed anchored to three core aims: connecting authors and readers, inspiring readers of all ages, and honoring the rich literary legacy that shapes Texas.

I've attended the Texas Book Festival a handful of times now, so I'm baaaaasically a pro. I've even volunteered twice, which is such a fun and different way to experience it. Across the board, what I appreciate most is watching people gather to listen to authors talk about their work. With reading being a generally solitary activity, it's great to feel the energy of girls just like me geeking out over romance, live and in person.

This year, I almost didn't make it. (Cue the gasp from the audience!) I got sick right before the festivities and genuinely worried I'd have to sit it out. Thankfully, my immune system rallied just in time. And let me tell you—your body has to be ready and rearing to go. You're walking, if not running, every which way through the crowded streets to ensure you're checking off your list of who and what you want to see.

One of the authors I bobbed and weaved through crowds to get to was rom-com aficionado Katherine Center. She was participating in a panel titled "Love, Laughs and Happily Ever Afters," and if that isn't just the cutest name. She was joined by Lyla Lee and Naina Kumar, both of whom I was mentally adding to my ever-growing TBR list because they were just that great.

I was also thrilled to attend a panel featuring Ali Hazelwood, whose stories (STEM-themed and paranormal alike) I can never get enough of. That talk was called "Double Booked: Writing for YA and Adult Audiences Across Genres," in conversation with Nic Stone and Nnedi Okorafor. What made this so compelling was how wildly different their books and creative approaches were, and yet there was so much for them to bounce off of each other.

Beyond the panels, the exhibitors and food trucks deserve their own round of applause. Naturally, I had to get both crepes and loaded fries, because where can you go wrong with either? And of course, I did a lot of wandering through booths overflowing with books and bookish merchandise. Independent presses, literary nonprofits, book shops from around Austin... I genuinely think I could've looped through the exhibitor area ten more times and still discovered something new.

While attendees get the fun part, I have no doubt there's an incredible amount of blood, sweat, and tears happening behind the scenes. Coordinating authors is no small feat, especially when you're up against flight cancellations! Still, year after year, the team makes it look effortless.

If you live in the Greater Austin area and love reading, I highly recommend that you put the Texas Book Festival on your radar for November 2026. Keep up with the author lineup, opportunities to volunteer, and more when you visit their website! (And of course, be sure to think about parking in advance.)