Los Angeles Review Of Books Submissions Novels & Stories

LA Review of Books doesn't run on a public wishlist of topics, which honestly makes it tougher to pitch them. From what I've pieced together reading their issues and following editors on social media, they're far less interested in standard new-release roundups. They lean toward essays that tie a book into wider cultural, political, or philosophical currents. A review of a new biography isn't just about the subject; it's a lens to examine, say, how we memorialize flawed genius now versus twenty years ago. They publish long-form criticism that feels like a substantial piece of writing in its own right, not just consumer advice.

I'd say the unifying thread is intellectual ambition. They want arguments, not just summaries. Submissions that treat the 'review' as a starting point for a larger, original idea seem to fare better. I remember one piece that used a niche history of cartography to talk about digital surveillance metaphors—that's the kind of unexpected connection they go for. Your analysis needs to be as compelling as the book itself.

Look at their 'Philosophy of Education' or 'Marginalia' sections for tone. They’re not afraid of academic rigor but despise jargon. The prose must be accessible yet dense with insight. It’s a high bar, but hitting it means you’re in fantastic company.

Submitting there requires understanding they’re looking for a certain scholarly-but-accessible cultural criticism, not just a straightforward book review. I sent a piece last year that got a form rejection, and looking back, I think I was trying too hard to be clever with structure instead of letting the argument breathe. They seem to prefer essays that situate a book within a wider cultural conversation—like, not just what 'The Candy House' is about, but how it reflects our current digital exhaustion. My draft was more summary than thesis.

Also, the prose style matters. It can’t be too academic-jargony, but it also can’t read like a blog post. There’s a sweet spot of intellectual rigor with narrative flow. I’ve heard from a friend who got published there that editors really weigh in on structure, so if your piece isn’t structurally solid from the get-go, it’s an easy pass for them. They probably get hundreds of submissions a month.

A lot of the advice out there feels like it’s written for people who already have an MFA and a list of credits. What finally worked for me was way simpler. I just started reading the damn publication like it was my job. Not skimming—actually reading full pieces, figuring out which section editors handled what, and noticing the kind of narrative pace they prefer. Their 'Avidly' section wants a different voice than the main reviews. I botched my first three tries by sending a dry, academic-ish take to a section that’s all about personal, meandering cultural criticism.

I also stopped treating the cover letter like a formality. Mine used to be 'Here’s my piece on X, thanks for your time.' Now I write a tiny, sharp paragraph that situates the piece in a current conversation, mentions a recent LARB piece it’s in dialogue with (not flattery, actual dialogue), and states clearly why I’m the person to write it. No bio boasting—just a credential or lived experience that’s actually relevant. The rejections became nicer, then I got a ‘this isn’t right for us but send more,’ and then a yes. It’s a walled garden, but you can learn the layout.