Alice Hoffman at The Brattle Theatre

Harvard Book Store welcomes Alice Hoffman, bestselling author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, for a discussion of her heartwarming new essay collection, The Best Dog in the World: Essays on Love, where fourteen beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions. She will be joined in conversation by her book contributors Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including By Any Other Name, Mad Honey, and My Sister’s Keeper, Laura Zigman, author of the acclaimed books Small World, Separation Anxiety, and Animal Husbandry, and Ann Leary, New York Times bestselling author of a memoir and four novels including The Good House.

There are two ticket options for this event.

1. Book-Included Tickets: Includes admission for one and one hardcover copy of The Best Dog in the World pre-signed by Alice Hoffman.
2. Admission-Only Tickets: Includes admission for one.

Note: Books bundled with tickets may only be picked up at the venue the night of the event, and cannot be picked up in-store beforehand. Ticket holders who purchased a book-included ticket and are unable to attend the event will be able to pick up their book at Harvard Book Store up to 30 days following the event. This offer expires after 30 days. Please note we cannot guarantee signed copies will be available to ticket holders who do not attend the event.

Fourteen beloved authors celebrate the life-changing bond with their canine companions in this heartwarming essay collection edited by New York Times bestselling author and lifelong dog lover Alice Hoffman.
Anyone who has ever been fortunate enough to share their life with a dog knows the experience is both profound and transformative. Here, in this charming collection of essays, fifteen celebrated authors share unforgettable tales of the dogs who left their pawprints on their hearts.
With contributions from Isabel Allende, Chris Bohjalian, Bonnie Garmus, Roxane Gay, Emily Henry, Ann Leary, Tova Mirvis, Jodi Picoult, Elizabeth Strout, Amy Tan, Adriana Trigiani, Nick Trout, Paul Yoon, and Laura Zigman, The Best Dog in the World captures the full range of the canine-human connection, from the joy of welcoming a new puppy to the heartache of saying goodbye to a beloved friend.
A love letter to the loyal companions who enrich our lives and teach us about empathy, joy, and unconditional love, this anthology is the perfect gift for dog lovers everywhere, offering a blend of laughter, tears, and inspiration that will resonate with anyone who has been fur-ever touched by the love of a dog.

Alice Hoffman is the author of thirty works of fiction, including Practical Magic, The Dovekeepers, Magic Lessons, and The Book of Magic. Visit her website: AliceHoffman.com.

Jodi Picoult is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of twenty-nine novels, including By Any Other Name, Mad Honey (co-authored with Jennifer Finney Boylan), Wish You Were Here, The Book of Two Ways, A Spark of Light, Small Great Things, Leaving Time, and My Sister’s Keeper, and, with daughter Samantha van Leer, two young adult novels, Between the Lines and Off the Page. She lives in New Hampshire with her husband.

Laura Zigman is the author of Small World (a New York Times Group Text pick and Editor’s Choice), Separation Anxiety, Animal Husbandry (which was made into the movie “Someone Like You,” starring Hugh Jackman and Ashley Judd), Dating Big Bird, Her, and Piece of Work. She has collaborated on several works of non-fiction, including Eddie Izzard’s New York Times bestseller, Believe Me; and has been a contributor to the New York Times and other publications. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her seventh novel, The Author Weekend, will be published in May 2026.

Ann Leary is the New York Times bestselling author of a memoir and four novels including The Good House. Her work has been translated into eighteen languages, and she has written for The New York Times, Ploughshares, NPR, Redbook, and Real Simple, among other publications. Her essay, “Rallying to Keep the Game Alive,” was adapted for Prime Video’s television series, Modern Love. Her novel The Good House was adapted as a motion picture starring Sigourney Weaver and Kevin Kline. She lives with her husband in New York. Visit her online at AnnLeary.com.

Masks are encouraged but not required for this event.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Harvard Book Store