Jenna Bush Hager Picks 'Beautiful Book' Set in Appalachia for March Read With Jenna

Early readers praise the emotional mystery novel and correct Jenna's pronunciation of 'Appalachia'.

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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Jenna Bush Hager has announced her March book club pick, 'Wait for Me' by Amy Jo Burns, a novel set in the Appalachian region. Fans are already buzzing about the emotional story and its Appalachian setting, with some even taking to the comments to correct Jenna's pronunciation of 'Appalachia.' The book is set to release on March 3, 2026 and is now available for pre-order.

Why it matters

Jenna Bush Hager's book club has a large following, and her selection can significantly boost a book's visibility and sales. The Appalachian setting of 'Wait for Me' also highlights the growing interest in stories that explore the culture and experiences of rural America.

The details

On the February 26, 2026 episode of the Today show, Jenna Bush Hager announced that her March Read With Jenna book club pick is 'Wait for Me' by Amy Jo Burns. The novel follows the story of a rising folk singer in the 1970s and the woman who uncovers her past 20 years later. Fans praised the Appalachian setting, with one commenter writing 'LOVE an Appalachia novel!' Another corrected Jenna's pronunciation of 'Appalachia,' noting that it is an 'Indian word' and should be pronounced 'AppaLATCHA,' not 'AppaLAYshu.'

  • Jenna Bush Hager announced the March book club pick on February 26, 2026.
  • The book 'Wait for Me' by Amy Jo Burns is scheduled for release on March 3, 2026.

The players

Jenna Bush Hager

The co-host of the Today show and founder of the Read With Jenna book club.

Amy Jo Burns

The acclaimed author of 'Shiner' (2020) and 'Mercury' (2023), and the author of the upcoming novel 'Wait for Me.'

Hoda Kotb

The former co-host of the Today show, who was filling in for Savannah Guthrie during the announcement of the March book club pick.

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What they’re saying

“The honor of a lifetime!! I'm absolutely over the moon!!!!”

— Amy Jo Burns, Author (Instagram)

What’s next

The book 'Wait for Me' by Amy Jo Burns is scheduled for release on Tuesday, March 3, 2026 and is available for pre-order now.

The takeaway

Jenna Bush Hager's selection of 'Wait for Me' by Amy Jo Burns for her March Read With Jenna book club pick highlights the growing interest in stories that explore the culture and experiences of rural America, particularly in the Appalachian region. The emotional mystery novel has already generated buzz among book enthusiasts, who are eager to dive into the lyrical, character-driven storytelling that Burns is known for.