Tuesday, April 1, is the start of Carlsbad Reads Together 2025, a month-long citywide book club where everyone reads the same book at the same time, with special events and activities designed to connect the entire community through reading. 

This year’s selection is "The Cemetery of Untold Stories" by Julia Alvarez. The book follows Alma, a prolific author who, after retiring from her teaching job and writing career, inherits a plot of land in the Dominican Republic where she decides to create a cemetery for her unfinished manuscripts and notes. As always, thanks to the Carlsbad community for helping to choose this year’s book.

To encourage the whole family to participate in Carlsbad Reads Together, we’ve selected books for teens and children that fit with this year’s theme, including some written by Alvarez. (Find the full list on our program webpage.) All books can be checked out at the Carlsbad City Library.

Events and activities

As part of Carlsbad Reads Together, all month long the city will be hosting unique events and activities that celebrate reading and writing and underscore the themes in “The Cemetery of Untold Stories.” Here are a few of the highlights:

Writer’s Workshop: Getting Started! with So Say We All 
Saturday, April 5
1 to 3 p.m.
Georgina Cole Library
1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

So Say We All is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people tell their stories through performance, education and accessible media. In this “Getting Started” workshop you’ll learn how to craft your own story from a solid foundation, with tips and tricks to kickstart the writing process. 

How to Tell Your Ancestors’ Stories
Saturday, April 12
2 to 4 p.m.
Georgina Cole Library
1250 Carlsbad Village Drive

Learn the various ways to share your ancestors’ stories, including memoirs, diaries, family histories and how to capture their details in writing.

Julia Alvarez Author Talk
Thursday, April 24, 6 p.m.
Carlsbad City Library on Dove Lane
1775 Dove Lane 

One of the best parts about Carlsbad Reads Together is hearing from the author who wrote our featured book. Join us in the Ruby G. Schulman Auditorium on Thursday, April 24, to meet Julia Alvarez, the creator of “The Cemetery of Untold Stories.” She will talk about the novel, participate in a Q&A and sign copies of the book.

See the full schedule of Carlsbad Reads Together events.