I found myself with some more free time on my hands than usual over summer break. Everyday I went swimming, I saw people all around me lying on their towels, book in hand, engrossed in whatever worlds they were in. I endeavoured to see the titles of each as I walked past to gather inspiration for my next read. It had been a little while since I’d picked up a book and I wanted the first one back to be brilliant. But rather than squint at strangers’ covers, I thought I would call on my friends…
After putting up on my social media that I was on the hunt for a good book recommendation, responses flooded in. The books that kept coming up was one by Dolly Alderton titled Everything I know about love as well as lots by Trent Dalton and Colleen Hoover. As a single woman in her 20s, I thought Alderton’s book would be perfect for me to dive into and hopefully teach me a thing or two about the complexities of the current dating scene. What I didn’t realise was how hilarious her writing would be. I would call it the equivalent to Sex and the City for my generation of 20-something females. It comes, from me and my friends, highly recommended!
After sharing Alderton’s book on my Instagram stories, many friends reached out to tell me how much they loved reading her book or how much they desperately wanted to read it! I made sure to say to those who had still yet to read it that they should certainly read it after me. I wondered if they might have any titles I would love to read in return… And thus the idea for a book swap was born!
Before I had the idea to host a book swap, I had always wanted to organise a book club. Picture this: to gather with friends and new acquaintances around a dining table discussing books with wine and snacks against a backdrop of records… In fact, my first job at thirteen was at an independent bookstore in Brisbane named Riverbend Books where I worked for eight years until I finished university. There used to be regular groups of women who gathered at the back of the store. The wooden table would be scattered with wine glasses and prosecco, possibly a cheeseboard, and many books that the ladies would aquire before or after their meet as they would be temptingly surrounded by the words and ideas of so many authors in one physical place. I never got to attend a book club of my own there. And when I moved on from working there to live on the coast, I heard no mention of a book club anywhere.
While I still hope to one day organise a book club, for now I would love to arrange a little book swap online with my community. So for anyone who would like to send off one of their favourite titles in return for a book close to someone else’s heart, please send me through your name, email and postal address via the form below! I will make sure a book is sent out to you and provide you the details of somebody else to reciprocate the love.
Looking forward to adding a little more joy to your life…
Love Clo xx