Belletrist Book Club Launches Monthly Series at Fifth Avenue Hotel with Preppy Theme

Last week, Emma Roberts and Karah Preiss, the minds behind the celebrity book club Belletrist, hosted their inaugural monthly gathering at New York's Fifth Avenue Hotel, coinciding with the peak of fashion month. The attendees embraced a preppy aesthetic, donning pleated skirts, coordinating blazers, neckties, and rugby jumpers. Collaborating with journalist Mikaela Dery's Fashion Fiction series, the hotel provided a stunning backdrop in its palazzo-style conservatory, adorned with opulent furnishings and a dimly lit bar. Among the notable guests were writers Adam Eli, Jalil Johnson, and Rob Franklin, cultural commentator Aminatou Sow, fashion consultant Bonnie Morrison, podcast host Avery Trufelman, musician Leslie Mendelson, and actor Madeline Wise. The evening featured readings from classic prep literature, including Patricia Highsmith's The Talented Mr. Ripley and Bret Easton Ellis's American Psycho, alongside satirical takes on prep culture. Despite the ongoing literacy crisis in the U.S., the popularity of celebrity book clubs persists, with more meetings scheduled for the year. Photography was provided by Daniel Paik, courtesy of Belletrist.