Literary Summer 2026: Reading with Anne Sauer

Anne Sauer: *Im Leben nebenan* Wednesday

, August 13, 2026 | 7:00 p.m. |

Aachen City Library As part of the 27th Literary Summer / Literaire Zomer, Anne Sauer will read from her debut novel, *Im Leben nebenan*.

When Toni wakes up one morning, nothing is as it was before: Instead of lying next to her longtime boyfriend, she finds herself in a strange, luxurious apartment—in her hometown of all places. There, she appears to be leading a completely different life: with a family, a child, and her first great love by her side. As she tries to understand how she ended up there, a crucial question arises: What if she had made different decisions back then?

With wit, warmth, and keen insight, Anne Sauer tells of missed opportunities, alternative life paths, and the search for one’s own happiness.

Anne Sauer, born in 1989, lives in Hamburg as a freelance author and host. She is a member of various literary juries and has been recommending contemporary literature for many years, including on the podcast *Monatslese*. In 2024, she published her highly acclaimed essay on Taylor Swift. *Im Leben nebenan* is her debut novel, which landed her directly on the SPIEGEL bestseller list and earned her nominations for the aspekte Literature Prize and the Harbour-Front Debut Prize.

Tickets are available through Eventim Light. A festival pass is also available for all events of the Literary Summer, allowing you to purchase tickets for €1 per event. However, seat reservations are still required.