Everything Washington, D.C. Read in 2025
By Allison Yates
What should D.C. dweller read to feel more at home in the city?
Just ask Chelsey Stone, inaugural Read & Run on the Road organizer. This Read & Run Tours program allows runners across the U.S. to host Read & Run Tours-like events where they live—all with the goal of using movement and stories to better connect to the places they call home.
After relocating to D.C. with her husband, Chelsey took full advantage of the city: “countless literary events, free museums, tons of run clubs,” she says. And of course, devouring the many books (and bookstores) set in our nation’s capital.
[Related: Best Bookstores to Visit in D.C.]
Here are the Washington, D.C. books inspiring Chelsey’s 2025 Read & Run on the Road events in Washington, D.C. Missed her events this year? Stay tuned for details on upcoming events kicking off in Spring 2026.
Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC by JoAnn Hill
What it’s about: Unique Eats and Eateries of Washington, DC guides readers through the city’s eateries—and the talented and heartwarming stories of the people behind them.
Why Chelsey loved it: Chelsey first heard JoAnn Hill speak at the DC Public Library West End branch—and this inspired her to try all of the amazing restaurants, bakeries, cafes, and bars she describes in her book.
Lost in the City by Edward P. Jones
What it’s about: Comprised of short stories, this book is an exploration of the lives of ordinary Black folks living in Washington D.C. Originally published in 1992, the universal themes of loss and survival withstand the test of time.
Why Chelsey loved it: “The book is so beautiful—and often heartbreaking—in its portrayal of the fictional lives of residents in DC’s Shaw neighborhood. Thirteen unconnected chapters capture a snapshot of each character’s trials and tribulations—from a child’s first day of school, to woman who cannot seem to get lost in her own town, to an aimless teenager who loses a talented friend.”
Arlington County Chronicles by Charlie Clark
What it’s about: “Each week in the early 2010s Clark provided readers a chronicle of his community’s history, politics and culture. This compilation of Clark’s column begins, ‘Arlington, Virginia, isn’t a community one instantly associates with history.’” [Chelsey Stone]
Why Chelsey loved it: Referencing Clark’s notion that Arlington isn’t always associated with history, she says that “Clark’s stories reveal the fascinating history that does exist here,” and as someone who lives in Arlington, she was eager to explore that history while running with D.C. readers & runners.
The Hopefuls by Jennifer Close
What it’s about: “The Hopefuls is about a young married couple that moves from NYC to DC because it’s the husband’s lifelong dream to run for office. The narrator (the wife) was reluctant to move and has a lot of complaints about DC: the constant politicking, the weather, and the metro—to name a few.” [Chelsey Stone]
Why Chelsey loved it: This book reminded Chelsey of when she was reluctant to move from Chicago to San Diego. “I had a hard time adjusting and really missed Chicago, so it felt good to read a book about someone who does nothing but complain about her new city because that’s all I wanted to do in San Diego.” she explains. She hopes that readers who “feel alone in their uncertainty toward their new home won’t feel so alone.”
Creatures of Passage by Morowa Yejidé
What it’s about: “This story revolves around Nephthys, who drives anyone in need all over Anacostia; Amber Kinwell, whose dreams accurately predict death; and Dash, who is too young to understand the danger he’s in.” [Chelsey Stone]
Why Chelsey loved it: This story allows you to “envision 1970s Anacostia as we run the same streets Nephthys’s haunted Plymouth ferried troubled passengers through.”
Chelsey with DC Scavenger.
DC Scavenger by JoAnn Hill
What it’s about: “Washington, DC Scavenger goes beyond the typical guidebook; it's an interactive treasure map spanning seventeen distinct neighborhoods throughout our nation's capital.” [Bookshop.org]
Why Chelsey loved it: This is a way to do a scavenger hunt that “makes you look at your old and familiar neighborhoods anew or gets you out to explore ones you’ve yet to visit.” [Chelsey Stone]
Reveille in Washington by Margaret Leech
What it’s about: This book “focuses on the everyday politics and preoccupations of Washington during the Civil War. From the stench of corpse-littered streets to the plunging lace on Mary Lincoln’s evening gowns, Margaret Leech illuminates the city and its familiar figures—among them Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, William Seward, and Mary Surratt—in intimate and fascinating detail.” [Bookshop.org]
Why Chelsey loved it: This book led her to monuments, buildings, and museums off the beaten path dedicated to memorializing the Civil War.
22 Walks in Washington, DC That You Must Not Miss by Paige Muller and Andrea Seiger
What it’s about: “DC insiders and adventurers Paige Muller and Andrea Seiger take you on 22 self-guided walks that blend the city’s rich history and vibrant culture, with some dishy tidbits thrown in for good measure. You’ll discover lesser-known facts behind popular icons and uncover wonderful spots, often hiding in plain sight.” [Bookshop.org]
Why Chelsey loved it: Reading this book inspired her to create a program traversing the storied past of DC’s 16th Street, part of the L’Enfant Plan (developed in 1791). She saw “embassies, sculptures of ducklings and elephants, and architectural beauties like the Scottish Rite House of the Temple and the Chastleton apartments.” [Chelsey Stone]