The Montclair Literary Festival welcomes Maria Semple, bestselling author of Where'd You Go, Bernadette, as she returns with her most exuberant and life-affirming novel yet.
Go Gentle is the story of one woman’s cheerful determination to live a life of the mind only to have the heart force its way in.
A Most Anticipated Book of 2026 from The New York Times • The Washington Post • Harper’s Bazaar • TIME • BBC • Parade • Seattle Times • Lit Hub • Book Riot • Booklist
You will not want to miss this event at 5:30pm on Saturday, May 9, 2026, when the Montclair Literary Festival hosts Maria Semple in conversation with Marcy Dermansky, author of Bad Marie and Hot Air.
Tickets to hear Maria in person are $35 and include a copy of Go Gentle. Maria will be signing books after the event.
The event will be held at the Student Center Ballroom, Montclair State University, 1 Normal Ave, Montclair. Free parking available at the Red Hawk parking deck.
Buy tickets here bit.ly/MLF-Gentle.