Thank you, Bookstagram

For those who live life without their nose in a book or phone app: There is this amazing Instagram community known as “Bookstagram”. Much like what it sounds like, it’s a place on Instagram where bookworms, booknerds, aspiring writers, known authors, and readers for fun gather virtually to talk BOOKS.

I started following a couple through my personal accounts over a year ago. Seeing these gorgeous pictures, book recs, and random bookish thoughts was always great when scrolling.

Then 2020 happened - and maybe I’ll discuss this in a separate post but long story short - life got hard. As an event planner I found myself with a lot of free time. A thing previously unknown to my travel based, fast paced career. Among one too many glasses of wine (whoops) a place I turned to for comfort, escape, betterment, and understanding was my bookcase.

I started out re-reading some books I’d already read, it took out any element of surprise in an upsetting world. But soon I needed something new. I found a dozen Booksta accounts, Best of [insert topic here] lists, and texted several friends. And then made a monstrous purchase at my local bookstore and hunkered down on a hot weekend in July and read endlessly.

Then I went back to some Booksta accounts and started commenting, DMing, and sharing things about said books and authors. And they replied! So happy to hear about how their recs came through. This went on for a couple months off and on. Then someone asked “Where do you post your reviews?”

...Me? Post reviews? Anytime I started sharing, or oversharing, about books and authors people within earshot did that kind nod-along-thing until I was done. Why would I think about sharing beyond that… But this was the spot to do it! Right here (there) on Booksta.

I pondered this for a another couple weeks. And after some reassurance from best friends and Booksta, I thought “okay let’s go”.

So I brushed my hair for the first time in weeks, grabbed some candles and ish, and swiped books off various surfaces and took some pictures of some books! I made an account and posted my bookish thoughts, and I am not sure I’ve ever made such a great social media decisions as that.

I’ve enjoyed months of virtual book clubs, Booksta chats, convos on posts, and overall engaging with other Boostagrammers about reading.

Thank you, Bookstagram and all the Bookstagrammers, for all the support and sharing and caring. You are truly the best place on the internet.