February 2026 Brunch Book Club

Our February pick is one of the most anticipated releases of 2025: The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong.

In a small Connecticut town, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on a bridge, ready to give up — until a voice calls out to him from across the water. That voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow losing herself to dementia. What follows is a luminous story about chosen family, kindness between strangers, and the fragile ways we hold one another through grief and survival.

Join us for an online discussion filled with warmth and reflection then meet us for a high-energy, all-American-style brunch at The 411, Angel. Expect music, cocktails, and cowboy boots.

See you at brunch! 🥂📚🥑

PREORDER & PREPAYMENT POLICY: To confirm your place, we require a full preorder and prepayment one week in advance of the event. If these aren’t received by the deadline, your ticket will be forfeited. A preorder form will be sent to attendees via email two weeks before the event. Please ensure you add to your contacts and check your spam to avoid disappointment.

Ocean Vuong returns with an achingly beautiful novel about chosen family, unexpected friendship, and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive

One summer evening in the town of East Gladness, Connecticut, nineteen-year-old Hai stands on a bridge, ready to jump, when he hears someone shout across the river. The voice belongs to Grazina, an elderly widow succumbing to dementia. Over the course of the year, the unlikely pair develops a life-altering bond.

The Emperor of Gladness shows the profound ways in which our lives are changed by the most unexpected of people. When Hai takes a job at a diner to support himself and Grazina, his fellow workers become the family he didn’t expect to find. United by desperation and circumstance, and existing on the fringes of society, together they bear witness to each other’s survival.

Welcome to The 411, where bottomless brunch meets a honky-tonk party. Expect DJs, live performers, and 90 minutes of all-American fun — complete with a build-your-own ice cream sundae bar.
Whether you’re sipping Margaritas, dancing to country hits, or playing pool between courses, this Angel hangout guarantees big vibes and good times for £50pp.

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Info: A guided online book discussion hosted by our founder Taragh who will run through a set of pre-prepared questions. A link to this discussion is sent out the week of our event along with the discussion questions. To receive these first please subscribe to our mailing list. If you haven't received a link please check your spam folder and ensure you have added our email address: YnJ1bmNoYm9va2NsdWJsZG4gfCBnbWFpbCAhIGNvbQ== Please note this is held online NOT at the venue.

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