The Table where We Meet: Lessons Learned from Dinner with 1000 Strangers

by Jess Janz

We all want to be known. Most of us just don't know how to begin.

When Jess Janz found herself craving deeper conversations—but trapped in a world of small talk—she took a leap. What started as a casual idea in a hair salon soon became Dinner With a growing movement where guests gather around a table, introduce themselves without ever mentioning work, and share who they are beyond the job title. No scripts, no expectations—just curiosity, courage, and a seat at the table.

In The Table Where We Meet, Jess reflects on what she's learned from hosting dinners with more than a thousand strangers across North America. With essays that are both tender and practical, she explores what it means to belong, how to ask better questions, and why connection requires us to risk being truly seen. Alongside her insights are unforgettable stories—funny, heartbreaking, deeply human—that reveal how much we all have in common when we finally let our guard down.

This is a book for anyone who's ever felt alone in a crowd, tired of surface-level chatter, or unsure how to bridge the gap between isolation and intimacy. The Table Where We Meet is a guide, a memoir, and a quiet revolution—one dinner at a time.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication July 14, 2026

Reviews

[Francis · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought that this book (and the author) provided a really beautiful perspective on life and something as complicated as the human condition. I found the questions she asked to be genuinely thought provoking and really influenced me to question some things about how I go about the world . I don't think the writing style necessarily resonated with me and occasionally. I did occasionally find some contradictions between her ethos/resolutions and the actions she would go on to describe moments later. I thought the books was opened beautifully, and the last few chapters were really a highlight for me. A worthwhile read, but not one I find myself wholeheartedly behind. A truly honest and insightful read that is not only rooted in self-reflection, but inspired me to do some reflecting of my own - and for that, I am grateful.

Thank you to HarperCollins for the arc.

[Vmndetta ᛑᛗᛛ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book somehow makes me (a very introverted person) want to go out and meet new people. Crazy.

This book made me reflect a lot on how I usually keep people I don't know at a distance. I don't even want to meet them. Reading it made me believe more in myself, like maybe I can handle meeting new people without feeling so anxious. It also hit me that strangers can actually make my days better. The stories in this book show how unique meeting strangers can be once we let our guard down a little.

I really recommend this book, especially if you want to feel more open to meeting people.

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jess Janz is wise. She’s created a viable model for reconnection among humans. I’d love to see social programs based on this book. Wonderful work!