In this interview, I chat with Judith Viorst about Making the Best of What's Left, living the fifth fifth of your life, dealing with loneliness and redefining happiness, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her cover, the importance of community, reader response, and much more. Judith's recommended reads are: Avid Reader by Robert Gottlieb The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings. Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead. Making the Best of What's Left can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront. Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly Buzz Reads column with five new recommendations each month. Link to my articles about older protagonists in fiction and Gifting Books for Mother's Day. Connect with me on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Threads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In this interview, I chat with Judith Viorst about Making the Best of What's Left , living the fifth fifth of your life, dealing with loneliness and redefining happiness, what surprised her the most when writing this one, her cover, the importance of community, reader response, and much more.
Judith's recommended reads are:
- Avid Reader by Robert Gottlieb
- The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann
- Memoirs of Hadrian by Marguerite Yourcenar
Looking for some great winter reads? Check out my printable 17-page 2025 Winter Reading Guide with 45 new titles vetted by me that will provide great entertainment this winter. I also include mystery series recommendations, new releases in a next-in-the-series section and fiction and nonfiction pairings.
Want to know which new titles are publishing in June - October of 2025? Check out our fourth Literary Lookbook which contains a comprehensive but not exhaustive list all in one place so you can plan ahead.
Making the Best of What's Left can be purchased at my Bookshop storefront.
Looking for something new to read? Here is my monthly Buzz Reads column with five new recommendations each month.
Link to my articles about older protagonists in fiction and Gifting Books for Mother's Day .
Connect with me on Instagram , Facebook , YouTube , and Threads .
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Judith Viorst
Author
Judith Viorst is the author of the beloved Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, which has sold some four million copies; the Lulu books, including Lulu and the Brontosaurus; the New York Times bestseller Necessary Losses; four musicals; and poetry for children and adults. Her most recent books of poetry include What Are You Glad About? What Are You Mad About? and Nearing Ninety. She lives in Washington, DC.
