{"id":2046353,"date":"2025-09-24T13:15:26","date_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:15:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/?p=2046353"},"modified":"2025-09-24T13:15:26","modified_gmt":"2025-09-24T13:15:26","slug":"what-happened-when-i-went-to-a-book-retreat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/what-happened-when-i-went-to-a-book-retreat\/","title":{"rendered":"What Happened When I Went to a Book Retreat"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div data-journey-body=\"standard-article\">\n<section data-ad-exclude=\"true\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-15\"\/>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"1\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">My favorite recent trend in the book space is definitely the rise of the reading retreat. If you\u2019ve been on Bookstagram or <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/entertainment\/books\/a63703786\/barnes-and-noble-opening-new-stores-tiktok\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/entertainment\/books\/a63703786\/barnes-and-noble-opening-new-stores-tiktok\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"BookTok\" data-node-id=\"1.1\" class=\"body-link css-h40fkh emevuu60\">BookTok<\/a> lately, you\u2019ve probably seen book lovers retreating to the mountains or the woods with a bunch of new friends, glass of wine in hand. The scenic outlooks, campfires, and book swaps are enticingly scrollable on social media, but they&#8217;re even better in person. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"2\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">I was lucky enough to be hosted at book retreat, and I\u2019m happy to report it\u2019s more than just hype. As the books editor for Good Housekeeping, I do a ton of reading and chatting about books both at work and at home. <strong data-node-id=\"2.1\">Even though I work with books professionally, a reading retreat was still a game changer for my reading and self-care, and I already want to do another one next year.<\/strong><\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-16\" data-node-id=\"3\" class=\"embed\">\n<aside class=\"css-epuhkm e94w1mj9\">\n<h6 class=\"css-y4ppz4 e94w1mj7\"><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-before\" class=\"css-0 eagam8p0\"\/><span class=\"css-8lle59 e94w1mj5\">Your Next Great Read<\/span><span aria-hidden=\"true\" data-theme-key=\"title-design-element-after\" class=\"css-0 eagam8p1\"\/><\/h6>\n<\/aside>\n<\/section>\n<section data-node-id=\"5\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-17\">\n<h2 title=\"What Is a Reading Retreat?\" data-anchor-id=\"what-is-a-reading-retreat\" class=\"body-h2 css-1fy16un emt9r7s1\">What Is a Reading Retreat?<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"6\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">A reading retreat or book retreat is exactly what it sounds like. It\u2019s a short trip, often a long weekend, focused on reading in a beautiful place. It encourages unplugging and connecting with fellow book lovers, with built in time for reading and discussing favorite books. <\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"watch-next\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-18\" data-node-id=\"7\" class=\"embed\"\/>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"8\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">I was invited to a book retreat called <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=74968X1525078&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.hyatt.com%2Fcampunwritten\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/newsroom.hyatt.com\/campunwritten\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Camp Unwritten\" data-vars-ga-product-id=\"5226b0a7-ec24-4eb5-85e9-8b26970dcd87\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-node-id=\"8.1\" data-href=\"https:\/\/newsroom.hyatt.com\/campunwritten\" data-product-url=\"https:\/\/newsroom.hyatt.com\/campunwritten\" data-affiliate=\"true\" data-affiliate-url=\"https:\/\/go.redirectingat.com?id=74968X1525078&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fnewsroom.hyatt.com%2Fcampunwritten\" data-affiliate-network=\"{&quot;afflink_redirect&quot;:&quot;\/_p\/afflink\/xi7I\/hyatt-a-new-chapter-begins-world&quot;,&quot;site_id&quot;:&quot;8342522f-11a7-4c85-8c15-51f36ee1d53f&quot;,&quot;network&quot;:{&quot;name&quot;:&quot;Skimlinks&quot;}}\" data-vars-ga-product-price=\"$0.00\" data-vars-ga-product-retailer-id=\"ab4b24e3-00b3-4a06-a33d-8068702f2853\" data-vars-ga-link-treatment=\"(not set) | (not set)\" class=\"body-link product-links css-h40fkh e1aq0z090\">Camp Unwritten<\/a>, hosted by Reese\u2019s Book Club and Hyatt. It was held at an <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.undercanvas.com\/camps\/columbia-river-gorge\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.undercanvas.com\/camps\/columbia-river-gorge\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Under Canvas\" data-node-id=\"8.3\" class=\"body-link css-h40fkh emevuu60\">Under Canvas<\/a> glamping destination in Oregon\u2019s beautiful Columbia River Gorge.<\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"9\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Every reading retreat is different, which is part of the fun! My book retreat looked like sleeping in a personal tent with a king-size bed, with beautiful mountain views during the day and a starry sky at night. <\/p>\n<div data-embed=\"composite\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-19\" data-node-id=\"10\" class=\"embed css-0 e17cny3g2\">\n<div class=\"css-1yt7om e17cny3g0\">\n<div class=\"size-medium css-103j9yb e17cny3g1\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-4aolxf e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-uwraif e1fodxfw3\"><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-jgyodr e1geg53v2\">Sarah Vincent<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"size-medium css-103j9yb e17cny3g1\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-4aolxf e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-uwraif e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"a seating area around a campfire\" title=\"a seating area around a campfire\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1338\" height=\"1004\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-3-07-07-pm-68b74099885bb.png?resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-3-07-07-pm-68b74099885bb.png?resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-3-07-07-pm-68b74099885bb.png?resize=980:* 1120w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-3-07-07-pm-68b74099885bb.png?resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<p><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-jgyodr e1geg53v2\">Sarah Vincent<\/span><\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"12\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">I ate charcuterie at a local winery and picked a bouquet at a lavender farm with a new friend who works at an indie bookstore. I hiked to a scenic waterfall with YA author Olivie Blake, who later treated us to an exclusive Q+A and a themed dinner. In the book swap, I grabbed a collector\u2019s edition of a book I love and shared one of my favorite <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/entertainment\/books\/g65254447\/summer-reading-1751301235\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/entertainment\/books\/g65254447\/summer-reading-1751301235\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"summer reads\" data-node-id=\"12.1\" class=\"body-link css-h40fkh emevuu60\">summer reads<\/a> I&#8217;ve been dying to talk about. And throughout the retreat, I met so many other book lovers while making crafts, enjoying happy hour, and roasting s&#8217;mores. <\/p>\n<section data-node-id=\"13\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-20\">\n<h2 title=\"What Are the Benefits of a Reading Retreat? \" data-anchor-id=\"what-are-the-benefits-of-a-reading-retreat\" class=\"body-h2 css-1fy16un emt9r7s1\">What Are the Benefits of a Reading Retreat? <\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"14\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Reading when I was a kid felt like falling into another world. Everything else literally disappeared around me. Reading as an adult unfortunately isn\u2019t quite as magical. For me, and I think many other people, reading looks more like keeping one eye on the clock for the end of my lunch break or my stop on the train while fighting off a mental list of things I need to do later. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"15\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">On the book retreat, reading wrapped in a blanket by the campfire under the stars or by lantern light in my luxury tent recaptured that feeling of being totally transported by books. I branched out from my usual reading tastes for the retreat and found myself enjoying something totally unexpected. <\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"body-image\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-21\" data-node-id=\"16\" class=\"embed\">\n<div size=\"medium\" data-embed=\"body-image\" class=\"align-center size-medium embed css-y6m8k e1fodxfw4\">\n<div class=\"css-uwraif e1fodxfw3\"><img draggable=\"true\" alt=\"under canvas columbia river gorge at night\" title=\"under canvas columbia river gorge at night\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2044\" height=\"1360\" decoding=\"async\" data-nimg=\"1\" style=\"color:transparent;width:100%;height:auto;\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-4-12-48-pm-68b74fd3c9d37.png?resize=640:* 640w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-4-12-48-pm-68b74fd3c9d37.png?resize=768:* 980w, https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-4-12-48-pm-68b74fd3c9d37.png?resize=980:* 1120w\" src=\"https:\/\/hips.hearstapps.com\/hmg-prod\/images\/screenshot-2025-09-02-at-4-12-48-pm-68b74fd3c9d37.png?resize=980:*\" class=\"css-0 e1g79fud0\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"css-swqnqv e1fodxfw2\"><figcaption data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-figcaption\" class=\"css-1am3yn9 e1g9hcy40\"><span data-theme-key=\"photo-credit-creditor\" class=\"css-jgyodr e1geg53v2\">Steven Piper<\/span><\/figcaption><p>Under Canvas Columbia River Gorge at night<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"17\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Seeing the Milky Way as I fell in love with a surprising genre reconnected me with that totally transportive feeling of reading as a little kid. And beyond both giving and getting countless book recommendations, I read two books in three days: one start to finish on the cross-country plane ride and another during the actual retreat. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"18\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">It was also so restorative to unplug from my phone and to spend time in a community of other book lovers. When I got home, I was inspired to do more reading in nature, and I\u2019ve since spent several days reading outside on a picnic blanket. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"19\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">It felt so good to totally destress and just get absorbed in a book. I definitely recommend a reading retreat for anybody who loves to read and could use an escape, and I want to plan one every year. <\/p>\n<section data-node-id=\"20\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-22\">\n<h2 title=\"How to Plan a Book Retreat\" data-anchor-id=\"how-to-plan-a-book-retreat\" class=\"body-h2 css-1fy16un emt9r7s1\">How to Plan a Book Retreat<\/h2>\n<\/section>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"21\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">There are two ways to go on a book retreat: Join a guided experience, or DIY one. If you want to go solo, I recommend joining a planned experience. It was a great way to meet people and take the stress out of solo traveling. All I had to plan was what books to bring. <\/p>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"22\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">However, if you want to go on a retreat with a larger group of friends, it might make sense to plan your own experience by booking an AirBnb or VRBO in a scenic location. These are my best tips for planning your own reading retreat:<\/p>\n<ul data-node-id=\"23\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"23.0\"><strong data-node-id=\"23.0.0\">Pick somewhere with limited internet. <\/strong>It\u2019s a little daunting to unplug. But the biggest enemy to reading is your phone, because it\u2019s so easy to pick up. A location with limited reception cuts down distractions like social media, TV, or the news so you can totally escape into your reading. (If you read on a <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/home-products\/g32291883\/best-ebook-readers-kindles\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-vars-ga-outbound-link=\"https:\/\/www.goodhousekeeping.com\/home-products\/g32291883\/best-ebook-readers-kindles\/\" data-vars-ga-ux-element=\"Hyperlink\" data-vars-ga-call-to-action=\"Kindle\" data-node-id=\"23.0.2\" class=\"body-link css-h40fkh emevuu60\">Kindle<\/a>, make sure your books are pre-downloaded!)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul data-node-id=\"24\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"24.0\"><strong data-node-id=\"24.0.0\">Decide if you want to read the same book. <\/strong>If you love a book club discussion, pick a book everyone should read before or during the retreat. For a lower pressure option, have everyone pick their own book from a genre you theme the retreat around, like mystery or romance. Or, just have everybody bring whatever they\u2019re reading right now, no matching required.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul data-node-id=\"25\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"25.0\"><strong data-node-id=\"25.0.0\">Plan themed activities. <\/strong>Even if you love to read for hours a day, eventually your eyes will need a break. This is the perfect opportunity for a craft, happy hour, hike, winery tour, campfire, or bike ride! Mix up a literary cocktail or make a bookmark to engage your creativity and chat about what you\u2019re reading.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul data-node-id=\"26\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"26.0\"><strong data-node-id=\"26.0.0\">Do a book swap.<\/strong> Have everybody bring an extra book to exchange. Not only is it a great way to find new reads, it\u2019s also a fun way to learn more about your friends\u2019 favorites. <\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul data-node-id=\"27\" class=\"css-kw9lqy emevuu60\">\n<li data-node-id=\"27.0\"><strong data-node-id=\"27.0.0\">Schedule quiet time.<\/strong> If you know your friends love to chat, don\u2019t be afraid to make a schedule with designated reading time to make sure you, you know, actually read during your retreat.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p data-journey-content=\"true\" data-node-id=\"28\" class=\"css-6wxqfj emevuu60\">Wherever you go, the most important part is to have a good book, a beautiful view, and great company. You might just find yourself planning another one as soon as you get home.<\/p>\n<section data-embed=\"editorial-link\" data-lazy-id=\"P0-23\" data-node-id=\"29\" class=\"embed\">\n<aside class=\"css-q14sem e94w1mj1\"\/><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<p><em> \u2018 The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n<p><em> \u2018 Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.goodhousekeeping.com \u2019 <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>My favorite recent trend in the book space is definitely the rise of the reading retreat. If you\u2019ve been on Bookstagram or BookTok lately, you\u2019ve probably seen book lovers retreating to the mountains or the woods with a bunch of new friends, glass of wine in hand. The scenic outlooks, campfires, and book swaps are [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2046354,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"jnews-multi-image_gallery":[],"jnews_single_post":[],"jnews_primary_category":[],"jnews_social_meta":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[25172],"tags":[379337,379339,285977,286903,285684,379338],"class_list":["post-2046353","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-entertainment","tag-content-type-how-to-service","tag-contentid-4d38fa2e-58a5-4e04-bb58-58b58c8e24c4","tag-displaytype-standard-article","tag-hasproduct-true","tag-locale-us","tag-shorttitle-how-to-try-a-book-retreat-and-why-you-should"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/What-Happened-When-I-Went-to-a-Book-Retreat.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046353","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2046353"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2046353\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2046354"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2046353"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2046353"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/celebrity.land\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2046353"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}