Here’s every story that was chosen as No. 1 in our weekly Top 5 email.
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Final Girl, Terrible Place
I was expecting a handy theory. What I found was a way of seeing that would help me decode a script I’d been stuck in for much of my life.
Racism in Romance, or Why Is the Duke Always White
White people: how many people still think “Fabio!” when they hear “romance novel,” raise your hands. Thought so.
When Readers Support Longreads, We Can Nurture Strong Relationships with Writers
There’s a direct link between our readers’ commitment to Longreads and our ability to commit your favorite writers.
Sharing Our Stories Was Supposed to Dispel Our Shame
Emily Gould reconsiders the likelihood of women’s first-person writing bringing about change.
The Top 5 Longreads of the Week
This week, we’re sharing stories from Greg Miller, Melissa del Bosque, Katherine Rosman, Laura Marsh, and Alexander Huls.
‘I Was Interested in the People Who Are Stuck With These Memories.’
Steph Cha discusses her new novel “Your House Will Pay,” the LA Riots, the Korean American Angeleno community, her 3,600 Yelp reviews, and pushing back against gatekeepers in publishing.
Moving Literary Life Off the Page
For one poet, conducting a satisfying literary life off-page required living life outside the classroom.
How the Guardian Went Digital
Remaking itself from a little leftie newspaper to a powerhouse of internet journalism required experimentation, transparency, and embracing uncertainty.

