Summer is here in Pittsburgh, and the days feel as long as the line at Primanti’s on game day. Whether you’re perched on your porch swing, chilling at Schenley Park, or soaking up the sunshine by one of our three rivers, there’s no better time to crack open a good book. Lucky for us, the ‘Burgh is home to a lineup of literary heavyweights. We have authors whose voices are as dynamic as the neighborhoods they call home.

We’re talking everything from hard-hitting memoirs and smoky jazz club dramas to magical family stories that span generations. So toss a book in your bag, find a shady spot, and let these six Pittsburgh authors keep you company all summer long.

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes
Jewell Parker Rhodes grew up in Pittsburgh’s Manchester neighborhood, where tight-knit families and community pride shaped her storytelling. A first-generation college grad, she’s now a beloved author of books for kids and teens. Ghost Boys tells the story of Jerome, a 12-year-old Black boy killed by a police officer who watches the aftermath of his death from the afterlife. Rhodes tackles tough issues like racism and justice with honesty and heart.

American Bastard by Jan Beatty
A fierce voice in Pittsburgh poetry, Jan Beatty’s work is rooted in her working-class upbringing. Having spent years teaching at Carlow University and conducting author readings in local bars and libraries, Beatty brings the same raw honesty to her memoir American Bastard. She unpacks her own adoption story with grit and vulnerability, and it’s guaranteed to resonate with anyone who’s ever felt like an outsider.

The Blues Walked In by Kathleen George
Kathleen George is a staple in Pittsburgh’s literary scene, with years of teaching and writing locally that make her a trusted voice. Known for her crime novels, she takes a different turn in The Blues Walked In, set in the Hill District’s 1930s jazz scene. Through the eyes of a young Lena Horne and a cast of local dreamers, George paints a vivid picture of a neighborhood that’s still a big part of the city’s soul.

Catina’s Haircut: A Novel in Stories by Paola Corso
Hailing from a family of Italian immigrants who worked in Pittsburgh’s steel mills, Paola Corso is a poet, fiction writer, and chronicler of working-class stories. Weaving together steel town grit and southern Italian folklore, Corso’s writing in Catina’s Haircut feels like swapping stories at Nonna’s table after Sunday dinner. The book follows four generations of an Italian American family, bringing mill-town neighborhoods to life with warmth and a touch of magic. It’s a summer read that feels both familiar and full of wonder.

40 Patchtown by Damian Dressick
Damian Dressick knows coal country, and it shows in 40 Patchtown. His family ties to Western Pennsylvania’s mining history give his writing an edge of authenticity that’s hard to beat. Set during the fierce 1922 coal miners’ strike in Windber, Pa., 40 Patchtown centers on 14-year-old Chet Pistakowski as he struggles to support his family through the hardships and tensions of this turbulent time.

What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker by Damon Young
If you’ve ever read Damon Young’s essays on Very Smart Brothas or his columns in The Washington Post or The New York Times, you know he’s one of Pittsburgh’s sharpest and funniest voices. His memoir-in-essays What Doesn’t Kill You Makes You Blacker is equal parts hilarious and heartfelt, with reflections on race, identity, and growing up Black in Pittsburgh. Young’s wit and honesty make this a summer read that’s as entertaining as it is thought-provoking.