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New memoir · September 15, 2026

Nadia Bowers Memoir: Dear Dealer, What the Book Covers

Dear Dealer is actor Nadia Bowers’s memoir about her older sister’s death from a fentanyl overdose in 2015, and her search, through her sister’s phone, for the person who sold her the drugs. It expands her viral This American Life essay, mixing letters to the dealer with memoir, investigation and family history.

Book guide, not a review · Updated October 2026

At a glance
  • Book: Dear Dealer: A Memoir
  • Author: Nadia Bowers
  • Published: September 15, 2026, Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster)
  • Themes: grief, addiction, forgiveness

What is Nadia Bowers’s new book?

Dear Dealer is actor Nadia Bowers’s memoir about her older sister’s death from a fentanyl overdose in 2015, and her search, through her sister’s phone, for the person who sold her the drugs. It expands her viral This American Life essay, mixing letters to the dealer with memoir, investigation and family history.

About Nadia Bowers

Nadia Bowers is an actor, writer and voice-over artist who works in theatre, television and film. Her 2018 This American Life essay “Dear Dealer” went viral.

What the book covers

  • The 2015 death of her sister Sasha, an Ivy League-educated social worker
  • Searching her sister’s phone to identify the dealer
  • Letters written directly to the dealer
  • Addiction, grief and family trauma
  • Becoming a mother weeks after losing her sister

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Who it’s for

Readers drawn to memoirs about grief and the opioid crisis, and anyone who has lost someone to addiction.

What it shows about writing a memoir

Bowers tells much of her story as letters to one person, an unusual form that gives a grief memoir real focus. If a single relationship sits at the heart of your story, our memoir writing tips explain how to build around it.

Where to buy Dear Dealer

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Frequently asked questions

What is Nadia Bowers’s new book?

Nadia Bowers’s new book is Dear Dealer, a memoir published by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster), out September 15, 2026.

What is Dear Dealer about?

Dear Dealer is actor Nadia Bowers’s memoir about her older sister’s death from a fentanyl overdose in 2015, and her search, through her sister’s phone, for the person who sold her the drugs. It expands her viral This American Life essay, mixing letters to the dealer with memoir, investigation and family history.

When was Dear Dealer released?

Dear Dealer by Nadia Bowers was published by Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster) on September 15, 2026.

Who is Nadia Bowers?

Nadia Bowers is an actor, writer and voice-over artist who works in theatre, television and film. Her 2018 This American Life essay “Dear Dealer” went viral.

Where can I buy Dear Dealer?

Dear Dealer is available from major retailers including Amazon, Bookshop.org, Barnes & Noble and Audible, and from local bookstores.

Can I write a memoir even if I’m not famous?

Yes. Most memoirs are written by people who are not public figures, often for family or a small readership. Many people work with a memoir ghostwriter who interviews them and writes the book in their voice. Our Writer Match Quiz can help you find the right kind of writer.

This page describes the book using information from the publisher and press coverage. It is not a review, and My Book Written is not affiliated with the author or publisher.

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