🌱 Patch AM: Why are Back Bay readers suddenly obsessed with this haunting dystopian novel?

What's up Back Bay! Let's start this morning right by getting caught up on what's going on around town. Keep reading to stay in the loop. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• Why are Back Bay readers suddenly obsessed with this haunting dystopian novel?
• How will new fare gates change your Back Bay commute in 2026?

Also on today's calendar: United in Prevention: Human Trafficking Current Trends and Prevention Strategies Conference 2026 and 7 more events.

Today's riddle: I think I’ll wear only one boot today. 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Wednesday: Variably cloudy and breezy, with a high of 33 and low of 28 degrees.
• Thursday: Partly sunny and breezy, temps: high: 32, low: 13. ⛄️ Brr!
• Friday: Partly sunny, brisk and cold, with a high of 27 and low of 20 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

• Jacqueline Harpman's ‘I Who Have Never Known Men' is a reminder not judge a book by its cover (bostonglobe.com) — A Back Bay bookseller says demand for Jacqueline Harpman’s dystopian novel “I Who Have Never Known Men” has surged at Trident Booksellers & Cafe, especially this year. Local academics and readers connect its themes of isolation, autonomy, and rebuilding community to post-pandemic life. The book’s BookTok-fueled popularity is giving neighborhood readers a new way to process lingering uncertainties.
   

• First morning of South Station commuter rail fare gates: some hiccups, but riders persevered (bostonglobe.com) — Commuter rail riders will soon see similar fare gates at Back Bay after South Station’s new system debuted with some glitches but generally workable results. MBTA officials say the gates should improve fare collection, while riders are still adjusting to scanning phones and tickets. Back Bay and Ruggles stations are scheduled to get their own gates in 2026, affecting many neighborhood commuters.
   

📸 Around Back Bay

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🗓 Upcoming Events in Back Bay

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Wednesday April 15

• United in Prevention: Human Trafficking Current Trends and Prevention Strategies Conference 2026
  Hyatt Regency Boston Harbor, 101 Harborside Dr, Boston
  1:00 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday January 1

• CLOSED for New Years Day
  Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston

Saturday January 3

• Junk Journaling
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  3:00 pm

Tuesday January 6

• LEGO Builders Challenge (Drop-in)
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  3:30 pm

Wednesday January 7

• 2026 Discover Boating New England Boat Show, in partnership with Progressive
  415 Summer St , Boston
  12:00 pm
• Creativity Club (drop-in)
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  3:30 pm
• Boston Teachers Union: Homework Help
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  4:00 pm

Thursday January 8

• Tech Help (By Appointment)
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  10:30 am

Saturday January 10

• Saturday Science (ages 4-8)
  Egleston Square Branch Library , 2044 Columbus Avenue , Roxbury
  10:30 am
• Kids Paint Nite w/ Lydia Jane
  Fenway Community Center , 1282 Boylston Street , Boston
  2:00 pm

📣 Back Bay Shout Outs!

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🗓 Events Nearby

Wednesday December 31

• Sarah & Kathy's Intermediate Conversation class
  Watertown Free Public Library Raya Stern Trustees Room (2nd floor) , 123 Main St, Watertown, MA, 02472
  9:45 am
• Noon Year's Eve Bash!
  Codman Square Branch Library , 690 Washington Street , Dorchester
  11:00 am
• Noon Year's Eve Celebration
  Brighton Branch Library , 40 Academy Hill Road , Brighton
  11:00 am
• East Branch Storytime
  East Branch , 115 Broadway , Somerville
  11:00 am

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Back Bay PatchAM possible:

• Dependable Cleaners — (617) 471-1900
  Discover the Dependable Difference!
• Mindsee.it — (646) 663-8317
  Teach your kids they can achieve the impossible!
• Brick Marketing - Digital Agency — (781) 999-1222
  Brick Marketing, a Boston digital marketing agency.
• Dogtopia of Dedham — (475) 338-3501
  Dogtopia – Dog Daycare, Boarding, Spa & Wellness

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

🗞 Nearby News

South End

• Disney's role in fueling middle-class resentment was Media Nation's top post of 2025 (dankennedy.net)

North End

• Boston, mark your calendars: Here are big events scheduled for 2026 (wcvb.com)

Boston

Ok Back Bay! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I heard there’s only a 50 percent chance of snow.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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