As the days get shorter (the last 7 pm sunset of the year is sooner than you think) and the fall chill settles in, there’s nothing cozier than curling up with a good book. And this season, New Yorkers can build their reading stacks without spending a dime—the House of SpeakEasy Bookmobile is back, and it’s handing out free books across the city.
This Manhattan-based nonprofit has transformed a 27-foot maroon truck into a rolling library on wheels, stacked with shelves full of brand-new reads for both kids and adults. The goal? To bring the joy of reading to neighborhoods where bookstores and libraries are hard to come by–aka NYC’s “book deserts.”
Expect everything from children’s classics to buzzy new novels, sometimes paired with author talks, storytelling events, and even free book bag giveaways! New Yorkers are invited to stop by, browse, and leave with whatever titles catch their eye.
Where To Find The House of SpeakEasy Bookmobile This Fall 2025
- 📚 9/10, 11am – 2pm: Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Open Streets (Bella Abzug Park, 542 W 36th St)
- 📚 9/12, 3pm – 7:30pm: PS 32 PTA Back to School Bash (232 Barlow Avenue, SI, NY 10308)
- 📚 9/14, 12pm – 2pm: Brooklyn Book Festival BookEnd (BBB & READ 718) (336 Malcolm X Blvd, Brooklyn)
- 📚 9/20, 12pm – 5pm: BCNY – Tiger ClubHouse (+ book bag giveaway) (2025 565 Morris Ave, Bronx)
- 📚 9/21, 10am – 6pm: Brooklyn Book Festival Literary Market Place (Borough Hall, Downtown Brooklyn)
- 📚 9/30, 5pm – 9pm: PowerHouse Poetry Event (28 Adams Street, Brooklyn)
- 📚 10/8, 11am – 2pm: Hudson Yards Hell’s Kitchen Alliance Open Streets (Bella Abzug Park, 542 W 36th St)
- 📚 10/25, 11am – 2pm: 31st Ave Open Streets (31st Ave, Astoria, Queens)
- 📚 10/31, time TBD: Bed-Stuy BID: Trick or Streets (Marcy Plaza, Brooklyn)
House of SpeakEasy launched the Bookmobile in 2017 to make sure everyone, from kids to lifelong readers, has the chance to build a home library. In just the past year, they’ve distributed thousands of books across NYC neighborhoods, creating moments where strangers connect over stories.
Co-founder Amanda Foreman stated:
It feels like we’re all doing something together. No matter how different communities are, it is books that unite us all together.”
So if you’re ready to grab a cozy sweater, sip a pumpkin spice latte, and discover your next favorite story (for free!) keep an eye out for the maroon truck rolling through your borough this fall.
👉 Want to support the mission? You can donate or learn more online. Oh, and if you’re looking to chat about what you’re reading, be sure to join our very own Secret Book Club!