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Boston Book Festival 2025: Schedule, keynote speakers, and events
Your guide to Boston Book Festival 2025, including keynote speakers and must-see local authors and workshops at the free annual event in Copley Square.
The Boston Book Festival is gearing up for its 2025 celebration, inviting book lovers to dive into a dynamic lineup of more than 70 presentations and discussions featuring over 200 authors.
The 17th annual literary event returns to Copley Square on Saturday, Oct. 25, with special ticketed events kicking off earlier in the week on Oct. 23 and 24.
This year’s festival is headlined by some of the most influential names in literature, journalism, and entertainment. Julia Quinn, the author of the “Bridgerton” series, on Thursday, Oct. 23, and Andrew Ross Sorkin, New York Times columnist and author of “Too Big to Fail,” on Friday, Oct. 24. Sorkin will discuss his newest work, “1929: Inside the Greatest Crash in History—And How It Shattered a Nation.”
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Award-winning producer, screenwriter, and bestselling author Shonda Rhimes will close the festival on Saturday night with a powerful keynote conversation with GBH’s Culture Reporter Callie Crossley, marking the release of the 10th anniversary edition of her memoir “Year of Yes.”
Each of these special events will be held at the Back Bay Events Center and include signed copies of the authors’ latest books.
Meet this year’s Boston Book Festival keynote speakers
Saturday’s free festival in Copley Square features a roster of keynote speakers from across genres:
- Geraldine Brooks (Memoir Keynote, 3 p.m.): Pulitzer Prize winner shares “Memorial Days: A Memoir,” a deeply personal account of love and loss.
- Patricia Cornwell (Mystery Keynote, Oct. 25 12 p.m.): Internationally acclaimed author returns with “Sharp Force,” the latest in her iconic Kay Scarpetta series.
- Kiran Desai (Fiction Keynote, 12 p.m.): Booker Prize winner introduces “The Loneliness of Sonia & Sunny,” a cross-continental tale of family and identity.
- Maureen Dowd (Nonfiction Keynote, 4:30 p.m.): Pulitzer-winning journalist presents “Notorious,” a cultural critique of America’s most compelling public figures.
- Hafsah Faizal (Young Adult Keynote, 5 p.m.): The #1 New York Times bestselling author unveils “A Steeping of Blood,” concluding her vampire-heist fantasy duology.
A daylong literary celebration in Boston’s Back Bay
From 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 25, BBF will transform Boston’s Back Bay into a bustling hub of literary activity.
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Free and open to the public, the festival spans multiple venues, including the Boston Public Library, Old South Church, Trinity Church, and more. Attendees can choose from a wide variety of sessions from local authors and leaders across genres: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, memoir, children’s literature, and YA.
Highlights include multiple walking tours of Back Bay, musical performances by local artists, interactive workshops, and the beloved outdoor street fair, showcasing local publishers, literary organizations, booksellers, and food vendors. Find the full schedule of events here.
Boston Book Festival 2025: Special ticketed events
An Evening with Julia Quinn
Thursday, Oct. 23 at 7:00 p.m.
Back Bay Events Center
Tickets: $30
A candid conversation with the “Bridgerton” author about storytelling, character creation, and bringing historical romance to screen.
An Evening with Andrew Ross Sorkin
Friday, Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.
Back Bay Events Center
Tickets: $25 – $60 – Includes signed copy of “1929”
A deep dive into financial history and its modern-day parallels with one of Wall Street’s most respected voices.
An Evening with Shonda Rhimes
Saturday, Oct. 25 at 7:00 p.m.
Back Bay Events Center
Tickets: $35–$55 – Includes signed copy of “Year of Yes”
A rare public appearance by the trailblazing creator of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Scandal,” discussing growth, fear, and saying “yes.”
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