We kicked off the new year with a reading retreat in Greensboro, NC with 32 fabulous readers from 14 different states! Did I know that the Olympics AND the Super Bowl were happening during this specific weekend when I planned it? Absolutely not 🤣 but I think this group was the right crowd… more into reading than football, LOL!
If you’re curious about how book·cation works, keep reading. I’d love to share all about our weekend together as we connected, relaxed, and read 😉
Friday Afternoon
As everyone checked into the hotel, we had an exclusive pop-up book fair with a local bookstore! Persnickety Books – run by the amazing Shawna and her family – came to the resort and set up the cutest little shopping opportunity for us. Everyone got to come and browse before dinner while supporting the local book community; win-win!
Friday Night
Nothing says ‘welcome to book·cation’ like getting to open the most fun swag bag as you enter the room 🙌🏼 Our attendees found their seats and immediately got to start going through all their goodies! Each attendee received a new release from 3 different publishers as well as a book from a local, North Carolina author which was so special. To check out all the titles, click here!
We did a little welcome toast, ate the most delicious pasta buffet, and then did a raffle of a book sent by Celadon Books! (They didn’t have enough for everyone, but we won’t complain- it was fun to do a drawing and surprise people.)
Each table had bookish discussion questions to help kick off conversation and after dessert, we all dispersed to go and explore the resort to find the best reading spots. They had huge fireplaces in the lobby that were perfect 👌
Saturday Morning
In the morning, a few of us gathered for a yoga session that was so relaxing and invigorating (do those two words contradict themselves? 🤣) Everyone had tons of reading time to themselves before we gathered for lunch. This meal didn’t have assigned seats or discussion cards, just another opportunity to connect in a really authentic, genuine way. When we were done eating we gathered briefly in the lobby for a quick group shot before everyone settled in for a cozy afternoon.
Saturday Afternoon
Our afternoon book club was such a highlight of the weekend for me. We had local author Sarah McCoy join us as we discussed her latest historical fiction book, ‘Whatever Happened to Lori Lovely?‘ It truly felt like Sarah and I had known each other for years! We chatted about her inspiration and writing process, but we talked at length about her special relationship with Mother Dolores- aka Hollywood actress Dolores Hart who starred alongside Elvis Presley in movies in the 60’s and inspired the story.
Honestly, the conversation could’ve flowed for hours! After we wrapped up with some quick questions to get to know her, she took time to sign all our books. If you haven’t read any of Sarah’s books, I highly recommend you change that 😉 She pours so much of herself into her writing; it’s powerful!
Saturday Night
As everyone came in, they dropped off their book at our ‘Blind Book Exchange’ table. This is an optional activity, but one of my favorites! You wrap up your book so no one knows what it is, but you also fill out an insert (given to you ahead of time) that asks you to explain why you chose it. I think there’s nothing better than being gifted a book someone loves 🥰
For dinner, we sat based on favorite genre and had genre-themed discussion questions on the table. In addition to just being able to chat about all the books we love, we also created ‘must read’ lists. Each table had to put together a list of the Top 5 books they’d recommend to someone looking to get into their genre. If you’d like the list, click here!
Once dinner wrapped up, everyone circled back to the Blind Book Exchange table – a little more excited, a little more curious, and ready to choose their surprise read. Watching everyone swap stories and walk away with a book someone else deeply loved felt like the perfect way to close out our final evening together. It was cozy and a little chaotic in the best way!
Instead of our usual, casual Sunday breakfast send-off, this retreat ended a little more quietly. This gave me space to step into a special milestone and celebrate ten years of marriage with Eric. Having him witness the magic that is book·cation was so incredibly special! We spent the rest of the long weekend celebrating not just another wonderful retreat, but also our relationship. It felt like the perfect reminder that these retreats aren’t just about being able to escape routine, but about making room for the moments that matter most.
If this recap has you imagining yourself here – slow mornings, stacks of books, and a community that instantly feels like home – you can explore upcoming book·cation retreats and start planning your own chapter next.
It was truly a magical weekend! Such wonderful fellow readers and easy conversation. So much time to find a special place in the resort and read without being interrupted…..heaven. My want to read list has definitely expanded. Good food, great company and a SPA. Loved every moment❤️