We’re a community of readers who are committed to Jewish stories.
Jewish books deserve space—in our homes, in our conversations, and on our shelves. But in today’s publishing landscape, these books need champions. Nu Reads is a curated, reader-powered book subscription series that builds community, strengthens the Jewish literary market, and ensures Jewish voices are heard—and read.
Nu: A classic Jewish expression that means “So?” “Well?” “What’s new?” or “Tell me already!” It’s a question, a nudge, an invitation to begin. At Nu Reads, it’s all of the above. Because when it comes to Jewish books, we’re always asking: “Nu—what should I read next?”
A kaleidoscopic portrait of a modern American family—steadfast, complicated, begrudging, and loving—from the bestselling author of Isola.
Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a thirty-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way.
When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives—divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs, and ballet recitals—their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible.
With This Is Not About Us, master storyteller Allegra Goodman—whose prior collection, The Family Markowitz, was heralded as “one of the most astute and engaging books about American family life” (The Boston Globe)—returns to the form and subject that endeared her to legions of readers. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters—a big-hearted book about the love that binds a family across generations.
Since The Family Markowitz and Kaaterskill Falls, Allegra Goodman has masterfully chronicled Jewish families as they navigate faith, identity, and interpersonal dynamics. This Is Not About Us continues this storytelling tradition, introducing us to the members of the Rubinstein family—spread out in different cities, navigating various personal crises—as they seek to connect with one another yet sometimes find it difficult to do so. Written with Goodman’s signature warmth, humor, and generosity, This Is Not About Us offers a dazzling portrait of one very specific Jewish family and leaves you feeling like this book is about all our families.