#25DaysofBookmas

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

Baby It's Cold Outside | Bingeworthy TV Shows & Movies Made for Bibliophiles

Sometimes I’m in the mood for a good movie and don’t feel like reading. I’m kind of a big mood reader when it comes to reading books. So when I’m feeling less excited to pick up a good book I take that time to watch inspirational films instead! Keep reading on to check out some bookish movies to add to your “to watchlist” for when the weather is quite frightful. ❄

Younger

This show is especially for anyone who has a deep fascination for books and the publishing industry. It follows our main character of the show who lies about her age so she can get a job at a publishing company. Little does she know the ride of a lifetime she is about to go on trying to live that lie...

I personally feel like Younger would be a show about me living my life a decade or so from now if I had followed my dreams to pursue a job in publishing because so many people guess me at around 10 years younger than I actually am. All you baby faces can relate to this as well.

Gossip Girl

For the ones who have an obsession with The Luxe books by Anna Godbersen, this series actually started off as a book series then became a TV show on the CW so it’s The Luxe, but modern day! It’s a great drama showcasing the luxurious lives of Manhattan's elite.

Gilmore Girls

If you haven’t watched this one, WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN ALL THIS TIME!?! *exhales* THIS. THIS. THIS IS A MASTERPIECE I TELL YOU. I relate so much to the main girl, Rory, who’s all about keeping up her school grades and pursuing her lifelong dream to go to Harvard to be a journalist. Such a great show to watch every time it gets to be the Fall and Winter seasons. I’ll tell you right now, you will fall in love with the characters the minute you watch them! Plus, how could you not adore the quick witted back and forth convos Rory has with her mother, Lorelai? 😍 ALL THE FEELS. BRB while I go rewatch this one AGAIN.

Inkheart

I’m not gonna lie, I was a little disappointed with how the sales ended up for this movie, BUT despite the lower ratings I absolutely loved this book series and sometimes it’s nice to pop the DVD in just so I can “watch the book.” You know what I’m talking about. Even though there were so many details they left out in the movie I still enjoy it! If you don’t watch this, at the very least buy or borrow the book series because it has wonderful world building and a great storyline. I give this series a 10 out of 10 stars!

The Devil Wears Prada

I could watch this movie 100 times and never be bored with it. It’s simply that good! It follows Andy who’s trying to get her foot into the world of magazine writing, but of all the odds gets the chance to be an assistant for the famous editor, Miranda Priestly who works for Runway magazine. At least, she’ll be an assistant if she doesn’t die trying.

Harriet the Spy

I literally had an addiction to this one because hello, Harriet the SPY! Harriet goes around, many times as a nosy neighbor, to get the dish on everyone’s lives around her. She both loses and gains friends in the end, but learns a thing or two about friendship.

Sex and the City

Sex and the City is on my watch list. DON’T LAUGH AT ME. Though, I’ve only seen some random episodes here and there it has a great cast and the fact that it’s about a reporter’s life is a huge bonus. I have a huge passion for writing, media, and books - I bet you couldn’t tell?

13 Going on 30

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS MOVIE. Adulthood with a mix of magic. Check. Magazine writer. Check. Female empowerment. Check. Cute and quirky male lead. CHECK! If you haven’t watched this one please message me once you do because I’m dying to hear your thoughts!

Treasure Island

A fantasy island with a classic story on screen? Count me in! This is great for when you’re in the mood for a well known storyline and nostalgic feels for a childhood favorite. Don’t forget the popcorn or ice cream! And if you’re daring why don’t you make a blanket fort while you’re at it?

Girlboss

I never did read the book (it’s on my huge TBR though, OKAY!?!), but I absolutely adored the hardship of this true story about the famous Sophia Amoruso who wrote the book it’s based on, Girlboss. From the beginning stages of slumming it to the days of hustling to make Nasty Gal a fashion empire you see all the ups and downs that she goes through to make it as a #Girlboss female entrepreneur. I’ll probably watch this again for the huge girl power inspo.

Easy A

Played by one of my favorite actresses, Emma Stone, stars as Olive who is a goody two-shoes high school girl who lives a pretty chill life who decides to lie to her best friend about losing her V card instead of telling her about a boring weekend at home. What starts out as an innocent little lie spirals out of control until the whole high school knows about the non-existent dirty deed. Lots of laughs and lots of old school references. It’s a modern day classic!

Also stars these great cast members: Amanda Bynes (All That), Penn Badgley (Gossip Girl), Aly Michalka (Phil from the Future), Stanley Tucci (Hunger Games and The Devil Wears Prada), Lisa Kudrow (Friends), Dan Byrd (A Cinderella Story), Cam Gigandet (Twilight)

The Help

Another great movie with the amazing Emma Stone! It’s based off the novel, The Help, which is about a writer/reporter trying to depict the true lives of POC working behind the scenes of the rich white folk back in the 1960s and takes place in Mississippi.

The Neverending Story

Based on the novel, The Neverending Story by Michael Ende, which features a high fantasy story that I hold very dear in my heart from my little childhood years. It also has prequels in this series!

The Notebook

An epic romance to stand the test of time. Featuring Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling, in one of the greatest love stories written by the one and only Nicholas Sparks! A great read and movie for romantics of all ages (well, there is that one sex scene so maybe not ALL ages…;)

You’ve Got Mail

GAAAAH. This is the most perfect bookish movie for this time of year. Basically this film is about a happenchance meeting between a small bookstore owner and a large corporate bookstore owner getting to know each other, but there’s a catch. They each don’t know that their each other’s great enemy of book selling companies.

Finding Neverland

I still need to watch this one fully, but I’ve heard many good things! Johnny Depp stars in this one in which he plays a character who’s telling many tales to a family he befriends and inspires him to write the story of Peter Pan, the famous boy who never grows up!

The Princess Bride

A timeless classic as many would say. I watched this YEARS ago and it’s a very cheesy adventurous love story. I’ve been meaning to give it another shot because everyone I know loves it to pieces. I’m probably being overly critical here then probably?

Eat Pray Love

Based off the true life story of Elizabeth Gilbert and her book, Eat Pray Love, it shows Elizabeth’s life after she proclaims she wants a divorce from her then husband. After that it’s a series of life lessons and what she’s willing to do to life her life to the fullest in order to live happily ever after while finding herself again.

I hope you enjoyed that list as much as I did writing about them! Many of these I watch over and over on a yearly basis. They have some great morals that I need to be reminded of time and time again.

Do you have an bookish movies that you watch on repeat?

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

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[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

{📷: @sincerelynicolerose} Day 11 of #25DaysofBookmas - READING MORE PRODUCTIVELY & GETTING INTO THE HABIT ⏰ I can't be the only one who's got an extreme obsession with the internet, phone, and social media...That's why I've created a list of tips on how to get more reading time in without wasting your time so you can reach your #readinggoals 📚 So take a look at the link my bio and take notes for what you should do over the holidays and new year to get more books read off your #TBR. 🗒️ #bookstagram #toberead #tobereadpile #TBRpile #YAbook #YA #YAbooks #fantasyread #fictionread #booknerd #bookaddict #bibliophile #booklover #booklove #bookworm #bookblogger #booksandflo #reader #avidreader #ireadya #bookobsessed #lovebooks #bookish #igreads #instabooks #booknerdigans #bookjunkie https://www.instagram.com/p/BrQXuXTnYWS/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=v0fd0iokhtj3

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

How to Save Money for Books (and Life in General)

If you’re anything like me you’ve got piles of books stacked up to your ceiling (may or may not be exaggerating, but if you do I won’t judge). Sometimes you just gotta take a stand and either take a break on buying buys or figure out how to get the best deals so you can keep on hoarding them into your home. I see you secretly ordering them online and hoping no one notices. Yes, I’m talking to you! When you’re ready to do some serious #booknerd adulting here I’ve got this handy list of ideas to make it happen.

BOOK BUYING BAN: WHAT I LIKE TO CALL “THE TWO-FER”

Maybe you’ve heard of it, or maybe you haven’t, but it’s a perfect way to save money on NOT buying books. You heard me right. DO NOT BUY THAT BOOK ONLINE OR AS YOU PASS BY THE SECTION AT THE STORE. I REPEAT, DO NOT BUY IT! DO NOT PASS GO! DO NOT COLLECT 200 TBR!

In all seriousness, you’ll achieve a lot in this feat. Not only will you be saving money by NOT buying books, but you’ll also be catching up on some much needed reading time. Many of us have towering piles of our TBR to get through and by limiting your selection to the books you already own, you’ll finally read the books on your backlist and learn what all the hype was about.

You don’t have the room to keep your books or don’t own a lot of them? It’s all good, go to the library! It’s a great way to save money all while still being able to reap the benefits of reading some new books without the price tag. It’s a win-win, just set a certain time frame as to when you’ll be placing your book buying ban in the calendar whether it be a week, month, or quarter of the year - I give you kudos if you make it that far! Tip: don’t forget to renew your books if you don’t finish them all by the time of their due date!

ACQUIRE A BOOKSTORE MEMBERSHIP

So it’s possible you’re not ready to quit cold turkey. That’s okay, I feel you. This will probably be a better idea for you then - sign up for a bookstore membership. Usually when you first become a member they will send you a bunch of awesome bookstore coupons to use towards your next book shopping trip. Some stores may offer them for free, but a lot of the big stores like Books-a-Million and Barnes & Noble offer theirs for about $20 per yearly membership. That’s not bad of a deal considering you spend a bunch of money on books already anyways.

Psssst - here’s a double win...lean on in because it’s a big secret...you can share your membership with other people like friends/family. If you and your friend or family member love to go book shopping split the cost between you for the membership or can be nice and invest in it on your own to share with them willingly. Usually all they need is either your membership card or a lot of times they’ll ask for your phone number to look up your account that way to apply their amazing discounts.

LIBRARY

I know, I know, I’ve already mentioned utilizing your local library, but have you checked into their events? Some libraries hold a daily, monthly, and/or quarterly book sale to rotate out old books so they can refresh their inventory. My library system has a small collection to buy at their own individual libraries (in my county we have several branches) and almost monthly the library hosts a big book sale for three days at a time at another off site location. They have an incredible deal to buy as many books as you can fit in a brown paper bag for $8.50. The moment I found out about these book sales I was SOLD.

BOOK SWAP

This is for all you lucky people that have a nearby friend who’s also into reading the same genres. Ask your friend if you could take a look at their personal library and arrange a book swap. Just don’t forget to pinky swear an oath that you won’t harm their babies. Also mention that if something were to happen due to an emergency situation that you’ll pay them back in full. Us book nerds are serious people when it comes to our page filled children.

BOOKSTORE SALES

Keep an eye out for those sneaky little bookstore sales! A lot of the big mainstream stores have a sale season and a clearance section for you to check for books with a large chunk taken off the price sticker. Books-A-Million even has a used books section which is worth a shot at finding a book or two (or ten).

GARAGE SALES

This is obviously more for the summer season, depending on your location if you experience the colder winter months like I do here in Ohio. Garage sales typically start late Spring into early Fall seasons due to people getting rid of unwanted stuff (their loss and our gain if you ask me). A lot of times people have yard sales due to their kids moving out, going off to college, etc. so there’s a good chance to look for books that they happen to be selling and just asking to be put into your waiting arms.

Some good places to find yard sales would be in your local newspaper, google search, and Facebook marketplace. Please use caution and go to a public place and with a friend/family member to be extra safe!

THRIFT BOOKSTORES

Oh my goodness. Do not get me started on thrift bookstores, but please do because I have such a great fondness for them. Similar to garage sales these magical places sell used books for half or less the price of their original book prices. I’M NOT KIDDING YOU! Quite a few times I’ve gotten books for like $1-$2 max and it was the best feeling ever! A great place to find these deals is 2nd & Charles which is located in the U.S. and you can look up their locations here. If you’re from another region or country I suggest googling “used bookstores” or “thrift bookstores” to find some stores near you.

There’s also the option of buying your books from ThriftBooks.com where they sell a huge supply of used books for all types of genres. They’re a great place to look for books that you have missing from an old series you’ve started getting into. Now they also have a “ReadingRewards” system where you earn points with all your purchases, but that’s not the best part of shopping at this site - it’s the fact that you get free shipping on all orders $10 and up (both perks are for US customers only)! Another benefit is if you add a book to your wishlist they will send you notifications for price changes and when it becomes available if they don’t have it in stock at the time you check for it.

Another idea is that from time to time you can even get some good finds at your local Goodwill store if you’re in an area with limited used bookstores.

ONLINE BOOKSTORES

A few other selections to check into would be BookDepository.com which is great for readers because they have free shipping available worldwide! A huge game changer for online book shopping is that Book Depository has large discounts off the list price of many books so go check them out!

If you have specific concerns on shipping time for your location you can find more information from them in their “Delivery and Shipping” help section.

Wordery.com is also an online bookstore to look into if you haven’t before.

LOCAL GENERAL STORES

You’d be surprised at how many times I’ve found books for a cheaper price than actual bookstores just by looking in the book section of a general store (like Walmart or Kroger). Bonus points if you’re a Kroger Plus card member to get that extra discount! If you’re not already, it’s quick and simple to sign up for one.

EBOOKS

For someone who is more willing to read books via the digital format you have a lot of choices to choose from, but I’ll list the most popular ones that I know of:

Amazon is a great one because they offer eBooks usually between $1-$3 each! They also offer free books so if that’s up your alley search for it under their Amazon Kindle ebooks.

Bookbub.com where you can stay up to date with the latest free ebooks and deals as well as for your favorite authors by setting up alerts!

Readingdeals.com also emails ebook discounted deals right to your inbox!

Goodreads.com recently teamed up with Amazon to provide you with “Kindle Daily Deals” and you can check out their page for the latest ones!

Do you know of any other tips and perks to saving money on books? Comment below!

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

Subscribe to my blog so you never miss another post!

Learn more about me - your friendly, interweb book nerd! :)

Follow me where I’m social:

Twitter: @whimsiesofanerd

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Facebook: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Have a suggestion or want to get in touch? Email me: whimsiesofanerdgirl@gmail.com

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

{📷: @anniespratt} 📚 Day 7 of #25DaysofBookmas - Holiday (& Other) Readathons to Check Out 👓 You know, sometimes reading is just more fun with more people. It doesn't always have to be a solitary hobby. All you gotta do is find the right people to read with! :) 👩‍💻 Read today's post to find 16 #readathons to join in on. Most of them are taking place soon this month so go check 'em out quick! 📗 #YAbooks #yabookstagram #yareadathon #yareadathons #bookathon #bookathons #bookishresources #bookishcommunity #yareadalong #yabookathons #yabookathon #bookaddictsareus #booknerdigans #booknerd #totalbooknerd #bookmas #blogmas #bookblogmas #christmasbookathon #christmasreadathon #readathon #readathons #readathon2018 #readathon2019 #winterreadathon #24hourreadathon #24hourreadathon2018 #christmasreading https://www.instagram.com/p/BrGpBnUnW6l/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=50bkmneqrw9

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

Tis The Season of Book Giving

It’s the most wonderful time of the year to be giving away books! For anyone who’s in the mood to be more giving this season I’ve provided some ideas that you can do both online and offline in your own local library to provide books to others or a way for the less fortunate to have the opportunities to read books when they are limited on money and supplies.

#BOOKWISH

This new movement has been a huge game changer for international readers and book bloggers! Someone started it as a way to get new books into the hands of people in other countries that either don’t have access to books on a daily basis, whether it be bookstores or libraries. The way it works is someone posts on their social media a list of books or bookish items they would like to receive with the #bookwish / #bookwishlist tag. Then people answer by providing however many items they’d like to pay for to have shipped to them! It works the other way too - if you’re willing to take part of it you can share a status stating that you’ll fulfill someone’s #bookwish and feel free to include a maximum amount you’ll pay.

BE A PART OF THE BOOK FAIRIES

I do believe in fairies! I do! I do!

This organization began in March 2017 where they made it their mission to share the love of books they enjoy most to others in their communities! It’s an amazing effort and gives me joy to know that there’s such a thing out there in the world.

To give you an idea of what they do, they randomly hide books they recommend in places for others to find and keep for free! Just keep an eye out for their special book fairy sticker and ribbon while you’re out and about! If you haven’t come across any maybe it’s time you start another brand in your local area to spread awareness. :)

For more information on how to order supplies and follow your area’s book fairies go to The Book Fairies’ website.

BOOK GIVEAWAYS

Similar to the #bookwish tag you can host random book giveaways by offering a book you own or choose to buy a new one to give away (or any other bookish item). It’s also a way to help promote your social media account and/or book blog so a lot of people list a set of requirements so they can enter to win. Usually they require you to follow, like, retweet, and tag a friend. Don’t forget to hashtag #bookgiveaway!

BOOK CHALLENGES

Another great way to promote your book blog is by hosting book challenges. You can either participate in book challenges that have already been created or you can start your own! Challenges are a really great way to help you meet new people in the book community, whether it be on Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, or any other one of your favorite social sites.

DONATIONS

Donate them to a local shelter, call ahead to be sure they take those kind of items. Sometimes organizations have certain protocols for donations. You could also give them to Goodwill to support their efforts or nonprofit organizations that accept books.

GIFTS

Do you have other bookworms in your circle? Gift or hand them to friends and family who have similar tastes.

SELL YOUR BOOKS

Another options is to sell the books for extra Christmas gift shopping money. You can sell your books to online bookstores like Thriftbooks or Amazon. You can also sell them to other local used bookstores or Barnes & Noble which started it’s book buyback program last year or so. To be sure, check with your local stores to see if they are participating.

GIVE BACK TO YOUR LIBRARY

This is my personal favorite - give your books to your local library where they can either make a profit with them in their book sales or put them on a shelf for someone else who will be interested in reading them.

FREE LIBRARY

Do something a little more out of the box and start your own free neighborhood library! There are many of these throughout the world though I’ve never seen one in person (besides at campgrounds or hotels), but I think it would be pretty neat to come across. Find a dry safe place to keep the books and put a sign up for others saying that they are free to borrow and note to them to bring them back for others to read once they’re finished with them.

Please tag me and let me know if you take part in any of these ideas! Do you have any other ways to give back to the book community?

Other Related Article(s):

Bookish’s Holiday Calendar | Bookish

I Read YA / I Gift YA Giveaways (Hosted by Scholastic Publishing) | Scholastic

Christmas Bookmarks | Book Depository

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

Subscribe to my blog so you never miss another post!

Learn more about me - your friendly, interweb book nerd! :)

Follow me where I’m social:

Twitter: @whimsiesofanerd

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Facebook: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Have a suggestion or want to get in touch? Email me: whimsiesofanerdgirl@gmail.com

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

{📷: @heftiba} 🎄 Day 5 of #25DaysofBookmas - Oh, Bookmas Tree! Oh, Bookmas Tree! 📚 Where are all my bookish DIYers? I put a little list of cute and fun ideas of what you can do to decorate a #BookmasTree. All those books and fairy lights get me all starry-eyed. 🤩 Are you putting up a Bookmas tree this season? And if you already have then tag me @whimsiesofanerdgirl in your photo/comment so I can come show it some love! 🤗 📚 😍 #OhBookmasTree #25DaysofChristmas #Nerdmas #Bookish #booknerd #bookishdiy #littlewonders #BookishChristmas #DreamingofaBookishChristmas #bookishlove #BookBlog #bookblogger #bookblogmas #blogmas #bookmas #bookmas2018 #bookstagram #bookdiy #imdreamingofawhitebookmas #booknerdmas #bookholiday #bookishholidays #tistheseasontobebookish #tistheseasontobebooked #bookworm #bibliophile #booklover #bookaddict https://www.instagram.com/p/BrA9XOnHt4J/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=clhzexhhy9rh

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

Oh, Bookmas Tree! Oh, Bookmas Tree! | DIY

Let me start off by saying that I think that the bookmas tree is seriously one of the cutest and most awesome things that people have come up with! For a really long time I had never even known of their existence and now I just adore them completely! So if you haven’t heard of a bookmas tree or are intrigued by the idea of making one keep reading on!

Obviously you’re going to want to find the base of where you’ll be building this thing. Will it be in your bedroom on a table? Or maybe you want to use it as your main Christmas tree where it will sit on the floor and if you do that’s freaking amazing (tag me @whimsiesofanerd/@whimsiesofanerdgirl in pics, mkay?).

Secondly, you’re gonna have to figure out what books you want to put on display! I think people can have a lot of great fun with this because everyone has different reading tastes so for fellow book nerd friends they can learn about new books that they may not have known about without them being showcased in your lovely home. Some ideas to get you started:

Classics - Because that’s where all great fiction originated from.

Favorites - Why not look at your faves every time you walk by them?

DNFs - And no I don’t mean the ones that are DNF’d for good, I’m talking about those book series that you never got around to finish, but stopped in the middle of for whatever reason.

TBR - My favorite choice of reads! Please don’t feel obligated to put them all in there due to us all having mountains galore to get to in the future. Instead, think hard about your top picks that you REALLY want to make time for.

Recommendations - Have your book besties or other book reviews online recommend some new picks for you to try out. Not only will you get some new books to read, but you’ll have great conversation starters for when you get back with the people who’ve sent you recs!

Outside of Your Norm - Sometimes it’s nice to take a breather and consume something completely different or new to you that you’re not use to. These are a good choice if you’ve been feeling like you’re in a reading slump.

Thriftbooks - Show those oldies some love and to get you back into reading your backlist!

Lastly comes the super fun part, getting to decorate it! Out of a lot of the ones I’ve seen people mainly focus on lighting them up with lights or fairy lights and finishing them off with a fancy topper. I think it would be awesome to dress it up even more though! Imagine the possibilities...like a reason to binge buy some new bookmarks that you’re in need of! They would be really easy to add to your tree considering you can stick them between all the pages of the books or between individual books to spruce them up. Honestly, you could put anything on your book tree. If you’re confused as to how to put them on there if it’s a decoration that won’t stay just glue the item to a popsicle stick (if you’re okay with crafting it up) then stick it in the tree!

Bonus Idea that I literally just came up with and I hope you guys love it just as much as I do...what if you sticky noted some favorite scene of a favorite/popular book and then your book nerd friends have to guess which book in the bookmas tree has the scene. P.S. - probably not a good idea to make it a center book that you can’t see unless you build the tree without books in the center. In the end they have to figure out the scene by asking you questions so It’s similar to 20 Questions with the exception of having a hints with the pile of books in front of them. Hey, I book it (get it? Instead of ship it? haha...I’m gonna walk away from the keyboard now).

Joking, kind of...anyways if you decide to make a bookmas tree hashtag #bookmastree so others can admire your handy work and get inspired to make their own! In the meantime enjoy my other blog posts from the #25DaysofBookmas series or if you’re caught up go make yourself a tree or read!

Until next time! Happy whimsies!

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

Subscribe to my blog so you never miss another post!

Learn more about me - your friendly, interweb book nerd! :)

Follow me where I’m social:

Twitter: @whimsiesofanerd

Instagram: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Goodreads: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Pinterest: @whimsiesofanerd

Facebook: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Have a suggestion or want to get in touch? Email me: whimsiesofanerdgirl@gmail.com

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

(YA) Book Subscription Boxes to Check Out

Welcome back to the #bookmas series here on Whimsies of a Nerd Girl! Today I’m going to give you the breakdown of many popular subscription boxes you can order. If you’ve been pondering on which to order you’ve come to the right place! Below you’ll find the info. on what kind of genres they offer (although I focused mainly on YA), what price range they run, and what makes each subscription special. I figured it may make it easier for you to decide on one if you’re really wanting to get a bookish box sent to you monthly or to a friend/family member you’ve been gift shopping for!

So grab a nice hot comfort beverage of your choice, whether it be tea, coffee, or hot chocolate and sip your way through these 18 book subscription boxes! :)

1. OwlCrate

What’s included: One YA novel as well as other bookish items such as “...jewelry, bookmarks, stickers, prints, toys, accessories, and all sorts of wonderful randomness!” - Owlcrate.com

Perks: Where do I begin? I’ll be honest they are probably a top fave for a lot of readers. They put so much detail into their orders and don’t get me started on their online book community.

Price: Monthly - $29.99 + shipping

3 Months Prepay - $86.98 + shipping

6 Months Prepay - $167.94 + shipping

2. And the Story Begins

What’s included: Two YA novels that are brand new with high ratings.

Perks: Saving the planet one order at a time by using 100% Eco Friendly wrapping paper + Free shipping for US Only

Price: Monthly - $16.99 + shipping if it applies to your area

3. The Book Drop aka Bethany Beach Books

What's included: One YA Book

Perks: Receiving a book while supporting an Independent bookstore.

Price: Monthly - $10.99 (for YA Book selection) + shipping

4. Book of the Month Club

What's included: One Book + Add on books (if you choose to do so).

Perks: Always free shipping (only available to US) and you get to choose one of five books for your order and the option to add other books for an additional charge.

Price: Monthly - $14.99 (<- I believe, there was no set price on the website details until you add books to cart) + Add ons (if you choose to do so)

5. Bookship

What’s included: One hard cover YA book as well as products to help you “...read, relax, and revive.” - Bookship

Perks: Info. card with a Spotify playlist

Price: Monthly - $39.99 + shipping

3 Months - $109.99

6 Months - $199.98

6. The Book(ish) Box

What’s included: One YA book + Book nerd items (Goodies + YA Book selection)

Perks: The customization of choosing how much or little you’d like in your order and what you can afford. They have selections for just getting the shirt / shirt and book / shirt and goodies / shirt, goodies, and book / etc. with shirt sizes between XS - 4X

Price: Monthly - $28.99 + shipping

3 Months Prepay - $82.00 + shipping

6 Months Prepay - $163.00 + shipping

7. FairyLoot

What’s included: One YA book and 5-6 author/book related items

Perks: They give you a unique hashtag so you can cyber meet up with another fellow FairyLoot subscriber so you can have the option to buddy read (this seriously sound like fun).

Price: (Currency conversions are estimated and should be used for informational purposes only - GBP is the original currency base)- Monthly - ~$34.06 US + shipping

3 Months Prepay - ~$102.19 + shipping

6 Months Prepay - ~$204.39 + shipping

8. Illumicrate

What’s included: One new book release and other bookish goodies (such as a tote, pins, bookmarks, etc.).

Perks: You’ll receive the UK edition of the book of any genre and possibly signed items by the author.

Price: Quarterly - $39.18 US + shipping

9. LitJoy Crate

What’s included: One YA book and 2-3 items related to the new release.

Perks: They also offer their Magical Edition and Limited Edition Specialty boxes for favorite fandoms. They give you the option to get the book only for $18.99 + shipping.

Price: Monthly - $29.99 + shipping

3 Months Prepay - $86.97 + shipping

6 Months Prepay - $167.94 + shipping

10. MyBookBox

What’s included: Two genre specified books of your choice and a special item.

Perks: They will randomly provide exclusive items depending on availability. If you subscribe to the 3 months prepay you also get a tote.

Price: Monthly - $39.95 + shipping

3 Months Prepay - $36.95 + shipping

11. Once Upon a Book Club

What’s included: One YA book, 3-5 wrapped gifts, and quote print.

Perks: The wrapped gifts come with a correlating page number to open throughout you reading the book (this is super cool). Not only that, but you also get discussion questions and read along dates for live hangouts/opening gifts with other Book Club members (honestly, this sounds like so much fun).

Price: Monthly - $39.99 + shipping

3 Month Prepay - $100.99 + shipping

6 Month Prepay - $199.00 + shipping

12 Month Prepay - $390.00 + shipping

12. ShelfLove Crate

What’s included: One newly released YA book and 4 or more bookworm goods

Perks: It’s a Fantasy & Sci-Fi genre based subscription box with a monthly theme and fandom items. Offer the option of buying only the book for a subscription for $17.99 monthly.

Price: (Book and Goods) Monthly - $29.99

3 Month Prepay - $86.97

6 Month Prepay - $167.94

13. SpearCraft Book Box

What’s included: One recently released YA book and 4+ bookish treasures.

Perks: It comes with handmade items by SpearCraft or other Etsy/online shops and genres vary if you like all genres. Offers a book only subscription and optional add on items.

Price: Monthly - $29.99

3 Month Prepay - $86.75

6 Month Prepay - $167.50

14. Unicorn Crate

What’s included: One new hardcover YA/NA book and 5-6 bookish items.

Perks: Every box comes with a Fantasy genre book and a unicorn goodie.

Price: Monthly - $36.95

3 Month Prepay - $105.30

6 Month Prepay - $203.96

15. Uppercase

What’s included: (Expert Plan) One hardcover YA book which may or may not be signed or will have a signed bookplate by author and 1-2 high quality book items

Perks: They give you exclusive content and a personal handwritten note. Offers (Book Exclusive Plan) the option of getting everything in the Expert Plan, but without the high quality book items.

Price: Expert Plan Monthly - $23.00 + shipping

Book Exclusive Plan Monthly - $13.99 + shipping

16. The Librarian Box

What’s included: A book and 4-7 bookish items (soaps, stickers, mugs, accessories, etc.).

Perks: Comes with a recipe card and local/other edible goodies.

Price: $50.00 + shipping

17. The Book Hookup

What’s included: One signed newly released book and another paperback book as well as other goodies.

Perks: You get to decide between a multitude of genre book subscriptions: Art & Photography, Feminist Literature, Fiction, Little Readers, Mystery & Suspense, Political Nonfiction, Sci-Fi & Fantasy, Timeless Favorites, and YA.

Price: Monthly ranges from $37.50 - $55.00 + shipping

Recurring ranges from $37.50 - $55.00 + shipping

12 Months Prepay ranges from $150 - $200

18. Chocolate and Book

What’s included: A book, something to eat, and something to drink.

Perks: Ships worldwide, contains chocolate, and you can choose from many genres/choices (YA, Chicklit, Thriller, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Romance, The Award Winning Books, Hidden Gem, and Surprise).

Price: Monthly - $19.58 US + shipping

3 Month Prepay - $58.73 + shipping

6 Month Prepay - $117.44 + shipping

*Please Note - some prices and availability may vary due to the time you’re reading this/location you want your package shipped to. Some subscriptions also may offer the option for individual one time purchases, but you will have to personally check for that on each box’s website.*

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

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[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

{📷: @paris_interieurs} 💗 Day 2 of #25DaysofBookmas - Self-Care for Bibliophiles 🤓 This article is for the book nerds who feel stuck on a certain set of books and are having trouble with reading slumps. Go read my latest post to find out exactly how to cure your reading blues while also taking care of yourself because let's all face it, self-care is so important for your mental health. 📖 🛁 🙌 #SelfCare #SelfCareforBibliophiles #SelfCareforBookNerds #Bookish #MentalHealth #BookCollecting #BookCollections #BookSorting #SortingBooks #ReadingSlump #ReadingSlumps #CureforReadingSlump #BookOrganization #BookCleaning #DNF #BookishCandles #TBR #Haul #Unhaul #BookTips #MindBodySoul #25DaysofBookmas #Bookmas #BookBlogmas #Blogmas #WhimsiesofaNerdGirl #happywhimsies #25DaysofChristmas https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq5Kg7snZOc/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=is4vyhmewxxs

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

{Image via @alisaanton, go check out her photos because she makes simple moments look so beautiful and majestic!} 🌨 Sorry, I've been MIA lately. But that's because I've been busy working on #Bookmas as you've probably read from my bio status. ❄ Day one for #25DaysofBookmas is now up! If you're in need of some ideas of what to do to create your very own cozy Reading den then go read it via my link in bio! ☃️ Question of the day is...what are your absolute top necessities for a book nook? I want to hear all about your recommendations! 🌬 https://www.instagram.com/p/Bq2o5pdHlmp/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=o1ksk7vpdd1s

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

Cozy Reading Den DIY | Book Nook

First of all let me start off by saying welcome to #25DaysofBookmas! If you’re new to my blog thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read up on my latest posts and if you’re a current follower thanks again for coming back!

I’m not gonna lie I thought I was pretty cool in coming up with the name of this #25DaysofBookmas series, but apparently I didn’t invent it as I had originally thought! A few years back some people had started it on Twitter as a means for adults to enjoy YA books so I guess in a way I’m sort of bringing back that tradition? *brow raise* Anyways, I just wanted you to know I’m not trying to take the credit of being the first to have ever used the hashtag, but I’m happy to bring it back to life since 2015 was the last year someone had used it! So without further ado let’s get this Bookmas party started!

Seeing as winter is a really chilly time of the year I thought it only fitting to blast off #25DaysofBookmas with a simple and fun DIY which is...creating yourself an awesome cozy reading den (aka book nook). Now you can make this as intricate and fancy as you want or more minimalist if that fits your style more. Keep reading further to build your perfect reading area!

All about that base, ‘bout that base!

#Sorrynotsorry, I couldn’t help myself there. Anywho, to begin we need to figure out exactly where this space is going. Will you be chilling on the floor? Lounging on your bed or couch? Pick a comfy spot for you and your books. If you’re not sure of a space here are some ideas:

Floor

Bed

Bay window

Corner of your favorite room (bonus points if it’s your own personal library)

Harry Potter style - in the closet

Blanket fort - b/c we all want to be a big kid, you know?

Teepee

Canopy

Sitting Arrangements

This is probably the most important part of the reading den process because the best part of reading is the relaxing. What floats your boat?:

Armchair

Couch

Lounge Chair

Floor pillow

Back pillow

Pillow nest

Blankets

Body pillow

Bean Bag chair

Butterfly chair

Hanging egg chair

Hammock/Hammock Chair

Chillbo Baggins - for when you’re limited with the other options. It’s easy and quick to set up!

Outdoor idea that I found while researching - TreePod Cabana (and now I can’t stop daydreaming about chilling in there during summer time)

Quotes & Decor

Now here’s the fun part! Spruce up that space with any of the following:

Decked out pillows

Some ideas on where to find some cool bookish ones:

Etsy

Society6

Redbubble

Amazon

Blankets

Tapestries / Posters / Signs

Dry erase board for all the musings

Lightbox

Canvases

Quotes in picture frames

Marquee board

Funko pop characters

I know an awesome book blogger who can get you 10% off - go check her out! :)

Book Homes

Something that would be sweet to put in your reading den is a place to put your books! This can be a:

Storage basket/bin

Wooden crate

Tray

Bookshelf

Table

Desk

Pile into Bookstacks if you’re limited on money/space

Tote

Ultimate book dream: Book cart - BookRiot hosted a giveaway for one a while back and I cannot tell you how disappointed I was to have not won that 😭

Here are some nifty ones I found online instead:

I’d totally buy this teal one from Target if I had the extra space for it (I can dream though, right?). It also comes in black and white.

Technically this black one from Overstock is a trolley cart, but it works the same

Lighting

Whatever lighting you choose will really set the tone for your reading zone. Below are some basic and adorable ideas:

Floor lamp

Lamp

Fairy lights

String of large light-bulbs

Book Lights for those camping feels

Be extra: Chandelier 💁

Atmosphere

This is one of my favorite parts of my own personal book nook, it’s those little details that help make up the atmosphere for reading:

Candles

Bath and Body Works

Bookish candles

Wax warmers

Wall scents

Air freshener

ASMR

Spotify Playlists

Youtube videos/playlists

Fireplace - natural or store bought

That’s basically the gist of how to create your very own reading den! Do you already have a book nook? Did you see any ideas you’d like to add to your current one? Or are you excited to get started making one? Also, if you have any other suggestions to add to this list please share them with myself and others! I’d love to hear all about them! Feel free to tag me on Twitter: @WhimsiesofaNerd or Instagram: @WhimsiesofaNerdGirl to share some lovely pictures of them because they are seriously my bookish eye candy! 😍

If you’re taking part in #25DaysofBookmas, #Bookmas, and/or #BookBlogmas link your blog in the comments below so I can check them out! I get so excited about this time of year and I can’t wait to read your posts!

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

Subscribe to my blog so you never miss another post!

Learn more about me - your friendly, interweb book nerd! :)

Follow me where I’m social:

Twitter: @whimsiesofanerd

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Facebook: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Have a suggestion or want to get in touch? Email me: whimsiesofanerdgirl@gmail.com

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

Reading More Productively | Getting Into the Habit

If you’re anything like me right now you’re shaking your head thinking, how did I not finish as many books as I had liked to this year? Or the classic “why am I not reaching my Goodreads goal?” Well, my friend, that means you have to read a lot smarter and no, I don’t mean more “intelligent books.” Having trouble getting back into reading can be a result of many things and I’ve noticed quite a few of these from my own reading habits.

LACK OF INTEREST

You might be finding yourself not having any inspiration to sitting down and having yourself a good old reading sesh. This is usually because you’re probably a mood reader and not only that, you’re bored af with your TBR list. You need to cut off and forget those books that aren’t serving you any purpose and are basically TBR place holders. If you need some more ideas on how to sort yours read one of my past posts on how to sort your TBR into a more manageable list.

FOLLOW BOOK BLOGGERS, BOOKTUBERS, AND BOOKSTAGRAMMERS

Sometimes all it takes is to follow someone who has similar tastes in books as you. Don’t waste your time following someone if you have nothing in common with your reading. It makes more sense to follow someone who digests the same genres and authors that you adore. Plus, you find another book bestie to read along with! :)

YOUR FOCUS NEEDS MORE FOCUS

Not gonna lie, this is probably my number one problem and I’m probably speaking on behalf of like 90% of other readers when I say that I have issues getting off the internet. Specifically as readers we struggle with this the most because we use the online world to find more books to discover and we are starving for knowledge or to immerse ourselves in another person’s world. This is completely okay, but taking all your spare time to check the latest tweets on Twitter? Eh, not so okay for your TBR pile. Unplug from the data and wifi so you can truly dive into that book that’s been sitting on your bedside table for over the past week.

JOIN IN ON #READATHONS

Sometimes knowing that you’ve got a community at the touch of your fingertips that’s reading at the same time as you makes the simple act of reading more fun! If you’re at a loss of which to follow go read one of my recent posts to discover some new readathons!

GRAB A READING BUDDY

So maybe you’re not the large crowd reading type? That’s okay too because there’s always the option of finding someone IRL or online to buddy read with who has similar reading tastes. A lot of times all it takes is a quick tweet/hashtag #buddyread/post/DM to ask others out there who’d want to join you.

START A BOOK CLUB OR JOIN ONE

So what if you’re an inbetweener? That’s cool, you can always create your own book club or find one that’s already established. Just search #bookclub on any of the social apps you use to find one to your liking. When in doubt look into some book clubs for your favorite genres in Facebook groups. If you need any tips on how to start a book club read another post from this #Bookmas series.

TAKE PART IN THE #READINGAFTER10 CHALLENGE

It’s funny, I’ve been telling myself to do this for like the past year. No joke. 😂 BookTuber, Ariel Bissett, started this challenge awhile back hoping to contribute more of her time reading versus wasting time elsewhere. You can search into the challenge and see what others have been up to by looking up the hashtag on Instagram. Ariel at one point explains that she fell off the bandwagon not long after, probably due to being so busy with all her creative bookish YouTube content that she’s always up to! Anyways, just because she may not be participating at this moment doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t give it a go! Let’s bring back this movement! Honestly, there’s a few awesome benefits to this. 1) Less time on social media = less exposure to blue light on your phones. This means that you have an easier time falling asleep at night. 2) More reading time. 3) Finally catching up on the top books of your TBR pile.

SUBSCRIBE TO A BOOK BOX

When you’re getting a newly released book every month you’re more inclined to read it if there’s others getting it too. Some book boxes even include fun activities and communities that you can be a part of. So if you’re feeling out of place with no close friends that read this would be a great option for you! I’ve conveniently made a list of 18 book boxes the other day that goes into detail of what they include as well as the current prices (as of November 2018).

USE SOME APPS AND PHONE SETTINGS TO DISTRACT YOU FROM ACTUALLY BEING “ONLINE”

FOREST

If you have a love for greenery and artificial woods then the Forest app is for you! This is seriously one of the most adorable productivity apps you can download on your phone or use via your browser (if you have easy access to a computer). Every day you start off with a clean slate of grass and the goal is to grow your forest as much as you can in a day. It’s fun because over time you rack up coins to buy different kinds of trees to grow! You can also sync your account from mobile to desktop if you have other stuff you want to work on like I do with book blogging! Another great perk is the ability to block yourself from certain apps and websites which is helpful against your online weaknesses.

POMODORO

This is an app a lot of people use when they need to get some sort of task finished, but it can easily be used as a timer for reading! Simple set the timer for 25 minutes and keep reading! If the timer goes off, feel free to either keep reading or move onto something else that needs to be done in your daily tasks. This is such a short time frame that it will be simple for you to dedicate only 25 minutes a day to reading or more sessions if you’d prefer.

STAYFOCUSD

For those of you that like to be on a desktop/laptop throughout the day this is another great service similar to Forest where you can block specific websites from being used while being in focus mode for specific amounts of time. This one is available as a Google chrome extension.

STAY FOCUSED

Almost the same name as the previous one I’ve mentioned as well as similar features, but they take it a step forward by letting you choose a maximum amount of time to spend on particular sites/apps as well as which days of the week. This is an app offered for Android. I have mainly android based devices so if you’re an iOS user your best bet is to search for similar apps/extensions as the ones I’ve mentioned above. Some may or may not be offered via both iOS and Android.

RAIN SOUNDS

If you’re a person that needs some kind of noise in the background, but isn’t distracting (like sound lyrics) you should look into downloading the Rain Sounds app. They have a variety of different tracks of rain in different atmospheres and environments and you can edit the specific sounds you’re hearing as well..

AIRPLANE MODE

Though, not QUITE as fun as using the Forest app you can always set your phone to airplane mode (or silent for those of you with better willpower). It’s the easiest and quickest way to get you sucked into a book.

I hope that I helped you figure out some new ways to get back into the habit of reading. I know it can be hard with the online world that we have, but your TBR pile misses you! Pay attention to it! Give it some love! :)

Check back on my socials, join my newsletter, and/or come back here tomorrow to read another #Bookmas filled post!

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

Subscribe to my blog so you never miss another post!

Learn more about me - your friendly, interweb book nerd! :)

Follow me where I’m social:

Twitter: @whimsiesofanerd

Instagram: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

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Pinterest: @whimsiesofanerd

Facebook: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Have a suggestion or want to get in touch? Email me: whimsiesofanerdgirl@gmail.com

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

Holiday (& Other) Readathons to Check Out

Readathons are a great way to have fun with the book community, whether it be reading for a day, a week, or even a month! If you need some help making your TBR pile smaller I suggest participating so you can virtually read with many others who are trying to finish off their books before the new year!

#aFairytaleathon - Every round that is held will have a set of challenges and/or group reads centered around fairytale retellings! Round 2 has yet to be announced, but will take place some time in Winter 2018 so it’s a good time to join in! To get a better idea of how it’s run watch their announcement video from their first event. | Hosted by A Bear and a Bee Books and other co-hosts listed under the video description.

#BiannualBibliothon - This one is pretty self explanatory, it's a biannual readathon with both reading and video challenges! | Hosted by Zarriah, Brittni, Catriona, Momo, Red, Dylan, and Kassie. The Winter Biannual Bibliothon will take place January 12th - 18th, 2019. The live show for the group book will be on Saturday, January 19th and timing is TBA.

#ContemporaryAThon - For reading all the contemporary books! | Hosted by @according2jewls and @chelseadolling. The last one was held in mid September 2018 over on Chelsea’s BookTube.

#Cramathon - Basically the idea is to cram as many reads in as possible. | Hosted by @dylanistweeting, @hardbackhoarder,  @theawkwardbookw, and @juliasapphire_. The next one should have had its challenges posted on November 28th or you can learn more about it here. It will take place between December 22nd - 28th, 2018!

#DEARathon [Drop Everything and Read] - Impromptu readathons throughout the year. | Hosted by @littlebookowl and @LittleRedReads on Twitter. Check out the deets.

Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon - You guessed it! It’s a readathon dedicated to consuming books for a complete 24 hour time frame! Catch the gist of how it came to be over on their website. Next one will be hosted on April 6, 2019 so mark your calendars and sign up ahead of time!

#EndofYearathon - Where you attempt to read the rest of your books by the end of the year! | Hosted by @amandalynnbxo and @whatvickyread on Twitter. The bookathon will be running between December 26th through January 1st, 2019!

#Finishathon - A biannual 5 day readathon inspired by the idea of finishing your current reading goals whatever they may be! | Hosted by the book blog Chapter Charms over on Twitter. Occasionally a #Finishathon24 is held in a 24 hour time frame.

#Magical Readathon - Dedicated to reading magical books with many prompts all inspired by Harry Potter! | Hosted by Book Roast over on BookTube. The next one takes place from December 16th - 26th, 2018 with 12 readathon prompts and you can find out more by watching Book Roast’s announcement video!

#Readathin - A readathon dedicated to thinning out your TBR pile (we all could probably use this tbh). | Hosted by @courtofbooklove, @jescamarie493, and @deuces_x. It seems as if they hold a readathon daily which are held by a different host every day - you can find the rest of the co-hosts here.

#TheReadingRush formerly known as #BookTubeAthon - BookTubeAthon was originally a readathon that held challenges periodically for people on BookTube, but recently it has underwent a transformation into The Reading Rush where they just achieved getting the funding to create a website for readers to join in an online book community. Nothing has been said of late, but know that it is in the works! Hosted by Ariel Bissett and Raeleen Lemay, you can also stay up to date with the latest happenings over at Ariel’s and Raeleen’s BookTube channels.

#Smutathon - For all the romance addicts <3 | Hosted by Riley Marie and Gingerreadslainey over on BookTube. Follow them on Twitter to get updates via @ReadalongLainey and @RileyMarie1196.

#AVeryMerryReadathon - This one is pretty self explanatory, every year it takes place sometime in the month of December. | Hosted by @TinyBookDragon, @cristydt89, @cupofwonderland, @SunWoodsLife @paperxfaerie, and @BkishPorcupine. This year’s will taking place from December 10th - 16th, 2018!

#WitchAThon - Where book nerds and witches read to appreciate the witchiest times of the year! | Hosted by Rhiannon the Wicked on Twitter (where you take part in sprints) and YouTube. The next challenges are almost in session (December 14th - 21st, 2018) so go check it out for more info. and don’t forget to prepare for the livestream session on December 21st @ 10 PM CST! The group read for this readathon is The Bear and the Nightingale (Winternight Trilogy #1) by Katherine Arden which is on my TBR so I may participate in this one!

#24hourathon - Another readathon to catch up on your reading in a 24 hour period that’s held every few months. | Hosted by @kellysbookspill & @dylanistweeting. The next one will take place on December 16th!

#24in48 #Readathon - This is a fun option for those who have trouble committing to a complete 24 hour day readathon and it’s inspired by the original Dewey’s 24 Hour #Readathon. All you have to do is read for 24 hours within 48 hours. You can participate by joining them on either their Twitter or Instagram account. Their next one will take place from January 26th - 27th, 2019! You can also check out their official page to learn more.

To take a look at a complete list of the most popular readathons visit @littlebookowl’s site where she has a complete list of them scheduled out on a convenient calendar for you! If you have your very own readathon space feel free to enter your info. into her online form so she can add it to the list! Follow Readathon News to stay up to date on all the latest readathons taking place online!

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

Subscribe to my blog so you never miss another post!

Learn more about me - your friendly, interweb book nerd! :)

Follow me where I’m social:

Twitter: @whimsiesofanerd

Instagram: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

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Pinterest: @whimsiesofanerd

Facebook: @whimsiesofanerdgirl

Have a suggestion or want to get in touch? Email me: whimsiesofanerdgirl@gmail.com

[whimsiesofanerdgirl]

We're Getting Lit | How to Start a Book Club

Welcome back to another #Bookmas session here on Whimsies of a Nerd Girl! If you’ve been wanting to start reading more or maybe you want to hang with some people who get the whole being obsessed with books thing all while reading together, then my friend it may be time to start your very own book club! And seriously, how freaking fun is that!?! I’m right there with you and I’ve been researching on good tips so I thought I’d share them today so you can get started on creating your very own book club!

GENRES

So first thing’s first. It’s probably a good idea to throw down some “ground rules” as they put it. Take the time to figure out what kind of books you want to focus on with other book club members. Will it be YA? Fantasy? Paranormal? Or maybe you want to try to start reading some more classics? You don’t have to stick to a particular genre either, the sky's the limit! Feel free to mix it up or take turns with all your favorites. There’s always the option that everyone reads whatever they want and then every meeting everyone shares their likes/dislikes and if they recommend the books they’ve read. Whatever it is that you end up deciding, make sure you make it known to potential members what books you’re looking to read with them.

LOCATION

After you’ve gotten a few people (or more) it’s time to figure out exactly where you plan on hosting this book club. Do you want it to be IRL? Kudos to people who are actually able to do that! Sometimes it’s hard due to different reading tastes if you’re lucky enough to have close friends that enjoy reading. Or you can host the book club online. This is an easier option for people who a) live far away and b) busy schedules - so you can cut out the unnecessary time of traveling to/from a physical location.

A lot of book clubs host online which can be just as fun and for all the people who enjoy staying in (raises hand proudly) they’ll enjoy it a lot more.

Here’s a list to give you some ideas:

Physical Locations:

Member Houses

Just rotate from one house of a member to the next

Coffee Shop

Pro: you’ll always have access to coffee/hot chocolate and snacks year round

Restaurant

Dinner is taken care of! #adulting

Library

The most inspiring place so you can be surrounded by books! You can always plan ahead for future reads while you’re there to put requests in or do some research by asking your library what are some good picks! Some libraries have conference or study rooms you can request a date/time for which is a bonus!

Bookstore

What can be more inspirational than the idea of being able to buy a book at the tips of your fingers for your next read?

Park

Save this for the warmer/dry months, obviously and make it a picnic!

Private Cyber Locations

Facebook group

Goodreads group

Public Cyber Locations - If you don’t mind more people joining you and to make it a bigger event!

Twitter chat

Create a hashtag for your book club and be sure to inform people the date(s) and time(s) of future meetings to take place

Instagram Live

A little more interactive because you can go live and let others join in with you. You can all take turns going live every time you virtually meet up or to be more private take it to your small hub DM group

Public Goodreads Group

Public Facebook Group

SCHEDULE

The next important thing is when are you guys all going to meet up for this book club? It might be best to take a poll for this part due to people working, going to school, having kids, etc. I think a good start would be monthly, but if that’s too often feel free to change it to every other month or every quarter of the year. Ex. - Jan / April / July / October

BOOK SELECTIONS

This is probably going to be the most boggling part is how you choose which books to read. You can do this a number of ways:

Rotate the choice between members

Popular vote

Backlist books

Series

Standalones

Newly released books

Rotate genres and vote

Highest rated book from your favorite genre(s) on Goodreads or the Bestseller’s list

Everyone writes down a book and puts it into a bowl, then you randomly select your book club pick

Read Harder Challenge

DISCUSSION

The hardest part of a book club is trying to come up with interesting discussion questions to get people talking more. If you can’t think of a whole list ask everyone to come up with a set of questions to ask the group. You also don’t have to talk just about the book in the spotlight. Here are some beginner pointers:

Favorite character(s) and why?

Favorite part of the story?

Least favorite part of the story?

Thoughts on the writing style?

What does everyone think the theme is? How did it affect them?

Are there any personal experiences that can relate to the book?

SHARE ABOUT IT

Now that you’ve went through all the finer details share about your book club to get more people to join! Share on all your social media apps and add your club to the Book Riot public book club list to get more people in the know! If you decide to start one let me know so I can check it out and share it with others!

Other Related Article(s):

Read These: Festive Christmas Books for Book Clubs | Book Riot

Discussion Starters for Every Book Club | Book Clubbish

Read my other posts in the #25DaysofBookmas series!

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