Hi Jay, thanks for taking the time to chat! Tell us about yourself!

Hi! No problem. I’m a 30 year old bookworm from Melbourne, Victoria. I’ve been reading most of my life and still have the first book I was ever given. I have 2 cats and a dog, Coal, Wynd and Lucy who love to get in on my stories from time to time. My favourite genres are paranormal romance, fantasy and crime. My favourite authors are Nalini Singh, Lynsay Sands and Lora Leigh. I work in the medical industry as an admin person and when I’m not reading I love to see stage shows and go camping. I’m also a huge country music fan and have been to several festivals. I’m not sure what else to include but I’m also a huge Disney fan and I love Alice in wonderland and beauty and the beast! My favourite animals are leopards, elephants and foxes (oh my!)

How long have you been on bookstagram, and what’s your favourite part of it?

I joined bookstagram back on the first of January 2017, I can’t believe it’s been that long! My favourite part would definitely have to be the people I’ve met, there are some real gems out in the book community and I’ve loved becoming a part of this family and being able to discuss our favourite books!

What’s a book you’ve recently read, and can you describe it in a couple of sentences?

I recently read Deliverance of the Blessed by A B Endacott and it’s a journey of grief and the different ways we process it and the limits people will go to while in that situation. I really connected with the main character and how they were feeling.

If you could only choose one book to recommend to others, what would you choose, and why?

I always hate these questions, how am I supposed to choose 1? I always recommend Slave to Sensation by Nalini Singh but if Paranormal Romance is not your thing then The Hating Game by Sally Thorne for Contemporary or The Dry by Jane Harper for Crime/Murder Mystery or Stalking Jack the Ripper for YA.

Do you have a bookish pet peeve?

I hate when they change covers mid way through or the books are different sizes! I need matchy matchy!

Lastly, what’s your favourite way to read?

Anyway I can! I’m not fussy, I’ll read paperback, hardback, ebook or audio. Whatever is most accessible at the time I need it.

The post Meet The Aussie Bookstagrammer: @jayjaysbooknook appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hey Ali! Thanks for taking the time to chat with us! Please tell our readers about yourself!

Hey Lou! Thanks for having me I’m Ali, and I’m from South Australia! I’m a mum of one, and work in insurance. My main hobby outside work is reading – I’ve loved reading since I was little, and I always have a ridiculously large TBR pile! I will get to them… one day haha! Outside of reading I love Walking (I’m currently using the Walk to Mordor app and it’s a lot of fun if you’re a Lord of the Rings fan like me) and I also love Cooking and Baking.

How long have you been on bookstagram, and what’s your favourite part of it?

I’ve been on bookstagram almost 18 months and it’s been a lot of fun (even if it costs me a lot of money because of all the new books I see… and candles and booksleeves and all the other wonderful merch)! My favourite part has to be the people I’ve met! Everyone I’ve met is so awesome and supportive and I just really love chatting to them. During the various lockdowns over the last year it’s been nice to have that support.

What’s a book you’ve recently read, and can you describe it in a couple of sentences?

A Storm of Silver and Ash by Marion Blackwood (The Oncoming Storm series) – it’s a reread haha! A sassy smartalec master thief who gets caught up in some scheming and travels meeting assassins, elves and royals! Highly recommend, this series is one of my favourites!

If you could only choose one book to recommend to others, what would you choose, and why?

Only one? This is a really hard question haha! I would probably have to go with The Lord of the Rings – it’s my all time favourite and it’s just such a classic. It’s just beautifully written and I love that Tolkien created so much history for this world (along with the languages)!

Do you have a favourite bookish pet peeve?

Stickers on book covers!!!! Like, okay, a price sticker on the back, do that. But I really dislike stickers on the front because it ruins the look of the cover, and I am not good at taking them off, I’m too impatient!

Lastly, what’s your favourite way to read?

Usually rugged up in bed or on the couch, with a pot of tea nearby

The post Meet The Aussie Bookstagrammer: @imladrislibrary appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Hey Star! Thanks for taking the time to chat! Please tell us about yourself!

Hi! Thank you for having me! I am an Aussie from a town in rural SA, I’m in my 30s, and that is a petrifying thought. I’m a lesbian, whose main passion is queer books, and, of course, #LoveOzYA books, too (the combo is even better to me!).

In my spare time (lol, what is that?) I like to do crossword puzzles, but my main ‘hobby’ is reading. Legend has it that I was born with a book in my hand, but you’d have to ask my mum

How long have you been on bookstagram, and what’s your favourite part of it?

I’ve been here for 6 years, but I started being a lot more active around the start of 2019. I love making friends for the first time in my life. It’s wonderful finding other book enthusiasts to talk about books we love – or even ones we don’t. I’ve found so many amazing people, and so many amazing book recommendations through bookstagram!

What’s a book you’ve recently read, and can you describe it in a couple of sentences?

(Just one?) I recently read (and loved) Sweet and Bitter Magic by Adrienne Tooley. It’s about two magical girls who come together to try and end a plague that is sweeping over their town. One was outcast from her coven for the magic she did in the past, and the other has hidden her magic her entire life. It was so whimsical and wonderful. I loved it.

If you could only choose one book to recommend to others, what would you choose, and why?

That’s easy – One Last Stop by Casey McQuiston. Yes it isn’t out until the 1st of June, but I was lucky enough to read an early copy, and it is literally my most perfect book ever. It has a hint of speculative feelings, drag queens, so many amazing queer characters, and a romance that is so swoon worthy I find myself thinking about it so often it isn’t funny. I’ve pre-ordered three copies – that is how excited I am for it.

Do you have a favourite bookish pet peeve?

Does stickers on books count? Or the stickers that aren’t stickers but are actually printed on covers? I hate that a lot. Also mismatched heights in book series – what’s up with that?

Lastly, what’s your favourite way to read?

Lately it’s via audio book. If you had told me of this time last year that I’d be reading about 85% of my books via audio book I would’ve wondered what the heck you were on about. But things change, and I changed, and now audio books is literally my favourite way to read a book. I’ve read so many books on my back list like this, as well as many amazing new releases (the audio book of One Last Stop is a pre-order of mine, too). I’ve found I have enjoyed many books in ways I may not have if I had read them with my eyes rather than my ears.

Plus, there’s just something awesome about having someone read to you.

The post Meet The Aussie Bookstagrammer: @littlemissstar55 appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

At @wildlandpages you get to follow 28-year-old Iina. She is originally from Finland but has been living in the UK for the past few years. Iina is a huge language nerd and has studied four languages in school and a few more since then too and she is on the lookout for her next language to learn! She is a big coffee drinker; did you know that Finland is the country where they drink most coffee per capita in the world? But living in the UK has also made her really love Earl Grey tea. Iina not only love books, coffee, tea, dogs, and plants, but she also loves stamps. She inherited her grandmother’s stamp collection and to this day keeps any fun-looking stamps that comes her way. 

We love your feed! Great photos with loads of books, coffee, plants and a cute dog. As a plant lover, which plant would you say is your favourite?

Thank you so much, that’s so kind! I try to lure my flatmate’s cute dog Chili into my photos whenever possible. I’m afraid I can’t choose a favourite plant though! I really love all my cute succulents and cacti since I actually manage to keep them alive, but recently also got into more leafy plants such as the Monstera plant, they look really majestic.

Why did you start your book Instagram?

I had been following a few bookstagrammers on my personal feed, and really loved the friendly vibe bookstagram seemed to have. I finally decided to make the jump in January 2018 when I felt like I needed a new hobby. I’ve always been a very visual person so bookstagram felt like a natural home for me, and it’s been great to chat about books with like-minded people and find new recommendations almost daily on my feed.

Which types of books are you usually drawn to?

I love books that have interesting characters and that can teach me something about history, a new culture, or anything under the sun, really – many of my favourites have been quite unexpected! According to my reading stats, most of my reads are contemporary fiction and I do love that, but also like dipping into nonfiction, cosy crime like Agatha Christie, and fantasy at times as well, as well as any book with a really beautiful cover… A very small niche I love are books inspired by Russian folklore, such as Deathless by Catherynne Valente and Katherine Arden’s Winternight trilogy. 

When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time doing?

I love to knit and have really embraced this during this pandemic, making several jumpers and pairs of socks! I also love going on long walks and the occasional TV binge, of course.

Are there any book or books that you are looking forward to reading in 2021? 

Of new books, I’m really excited to read Sistersong by Lucy Holland. My main ambition is to read the books I have collected along the years as I have almost too many unread ones on my shelves… Of those, I’m really looking forward to The Overstory by Richard Powers, Pajtim Statovci’s Bolla, and Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood. 

If you could grab a coffee with any author, dead or alive, who would it be? 

Oh, this is such a tough question! I will cheat and pick one of each: for the dead ones, I would love to meet Tove Jansson and be inspired by her creativity. For the ones still alive… I will go for Jackie Kay, as I would love to tell her how much I’ve loved her poetry and chat more about writing with her. 

The post Meet The Bookstagrammer: @wildlandpages appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

João Ribeiro is the 36-year-old behind the great bookstagram @beardbetweenthelines. If you don’t already follow João you can expect a lot of book recommendations and pictures of coffee, but also great tips on writing. As an avid reader and writer, he has some great hacks to share and while you might think that he is a writer for his occupation, but no, he is a lawyer! Get to know this smart and creative bookstagrammer in our interview below!

Why did you start your book Instagram?

I always loved reading and writing and I started taking it more seriously about ten years ago. But I don’t have many friends who like reading and writing like I do, so I thought it was interesting to find those people on social media. I used to follow book feeds in my personal account on Instagram and I always felt like sharing my readings and my writing in an account of my own. So after thinking about it, I created my account. Then it became my daily writing exercise and a good habit, and I’m doing it ever since.

You have a great feed. How did you find your style?

Thank you. I really love how it turned out. It was hard in the beginning; I didn’t know what I was doing. But then I started thinking of my account as my personal brand. So I started working on elements that I wanted for my photos (like the coffee that I always drink, the book, the tablet I use to write my stuff, a wooden table). Then I started playing with editing apps to get the same “branding” result with colors and editing. After experimenting a lot I finally found a style that I loved and started using it on all my photos.

What book genre do you prefer reading?

I really like any well written book, but I’m more into literary fiction than genre. I like books that are worth it for their literary merit, and that don’t follow a formula. But I do love any kind of good book.

When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time doing?

Everything else. *laugh* Writing, creating content, watching movies and series, listening to music, being a father and a husband. Sometimes I’m working, I’m a full-time lawyer, and I have to spend a lot of time on that too. And I also play a lot of chess and pool too.

Is there any book or books that you are looking forward to reading in 2021?

In 2021, I decided to dedicate myself to a reading project to read Brazilian classics. I’ve made a list of the best classics I should read or reread, I’m definitely looking forward to it.

If you could grab a coffee with any author, dead or alive, who would it be?

Hemingway, Machado de Assis, or Umberto Eco. Any of them would be amazing.

The post Meet The Bookstagrammer: @beardbetweenthelines appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Behind the lovely bookstagram @whatsallyreadnext you will find 30-year-old Sally who lives in London. An account filled with beautiful book covers, a great mix of books that gives a strong reading desire, and of course, Sally’s two cute cats.

Sally really loves bookstagram and so much that she has hosted close to 10 bookstagram meet-ups in London over the past couple of years, and have met many wonderful bookstagrammers as a result. It’s not only Sally who loves bookstagram, but bookstagram loves Sally because in 2020 she won ‘Bookstagrammer of the Year’ at @londonbookfair!

Firstly, we love your cute cats, Loki and Gatsby! We are guessing you are a fan of The Great Gatsby?

Aww, thank you, my cats do appear on my bookstagram quite often! The Great Gatsby is fantastic, beautifully written and I love the 1920s era that the book takes place in. I read it quite a long time ago now so it’s probably due a reread soon.

Why did you start your book Instagram?

I started it on a whim over three years ago whilst on holiday as I wanted a platform to visually document what I was reading. I had followed a couple of bookstagrammers on my personal Instagram but didn’t realise just how big the bookstagram community was until I joined it! It really is one of the friendliest and most welcoming communities on Instagram.

When buying new books, what are you looking for?

I would say that recommendations from bookstagram definitely draws me to pick up a book. The incredible variety of recommendations has helped me to branch out my reading into genres and authors that I hadn’t really explored before. I always have so many recommendations to look out for when book shopping. That’s one of the best things about bookstagram – I will never run out of book suggestions!

When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time doing?

I love the theatre so usually I would be seeing a musical in London’s West End (fingers crossed that they will reopen again this year!). I’m also part of a choir based in London called West End Musical Choir and have performed with them live on TV a couple of times as well as charity performances around the city. I’ve made some wonderful friends from choir and we have still managed to rehearse virtually despite the pandemic!

If you could invite any five authors or characters (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?

Ooh, how I wish that I could have all of these people in a room together! It would have to be Min Jin Lee, Haruki Murakami, Khaled Hosseini, Michelle Obama and Jung Chang. I find them all so inspirational and I’ve loved their books!

And lastly, which book is the best book you read in 2020?

I would have to say Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens which I’ve been recommending to everyone, including my boyfriend, who also loved it! The descriptions are so vivid that I felt like I was there in the North Carolina marshes and I loved the characterisation of the protagonist Kya. The mystery surrounding her character definitely kept me gripped throughout the book.

Don’t forget to follow Sally at Instagram @whatsallyreadnext

The post Meet The Bookstagrammer: @whatsallyreadnext appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

You have probably heard, but micro-influencers are the new thing! With over 1200 followers, the 33-year-old Kelly at @Xoxokellynina takes you on a bookish journey through great book recommendations and lovely photos, and leaves you with a friendly and warm feeling. Although she lives in the US, she loves all thing British: books, slang, travel, everything except the food. She loves history and her favourite historical figure is Anne Boleyn. Her love for history began early; when she was a kid she was obsessed with the movie Anastasia and was convinces that she was the lost Grand Duchess.

Firstly, we know you really love the UK, but what about it do you like the most? And what city do you recommend visiting (when we are allowed to travel again)?

There’s just something about the UK that speaks to my soul. There’s a Welsh word, ‘hiraeth,’ that essentially means a longing or homesickness for a place you’ve never been and that’s how I felt about the UK prior to traveling and still feel it when I’m not there. I’m fascinated by the history. I love the energy of every city I’ve been to when traveling. I could wander the streets of London for hours and feel completely content. I’ve joked that I want to see every city, every small town, every village because everything about Britain fascinates and speaks to me. I wish I could pinpoint a better reason but it’s just a feeling of love I’ve always had!

Oxford would be my top pick to visit when we are allowed to travel again! Especially if you’re a literature lover, the history of seeing where Narnia, Middle Earth, and Wonderland began is something that can’t be missed. The beautiful and historic city will have you walking back in time even if you’re not a big book fan. If any book takes place in Oxford there is a 99% chance I will read it solely for that!

Why did you start your book Instagram?

I have had my Instagram for an embarrassingly long time and I actually scrolled back to look to see when my first post about a book was and it was July 11, 2012. Not even kidding. I’ve been pretty consistent since then posting about books and what I’m reading but I moved to almost solely Instagram for book reviews and posting about 2.5 years ago. 

You seem to read quite a few different genres of books. Which genre would you say is your favourite?

Ah, that is such a hard question! I’m such a mood reader and love almost every genre for always having something I’m in the mood for and to switch things up. If I had to, HAD TO pick a genre I would say Adult Contemporary because I’m never not in the mood for this type of book. Historical fiction and fantasy I need to be more in the right mindset to start but I am always down and ready to read an Adult Contemporary…especially if there’s a romance involved.

When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time with?

When I’m not reading I prefer to be traveling! When I’m not doing that, which is a lot as I’m not sponsored by a luggage brand…yet lol, I love to spend time with my family, get coffee with friends, work out or do yoga, play trivia. I also love to bake, I’m currently trying to get wicked good at different cupcake flavours and macarons but oatmeal peanut butter cookies are my current specialty.

Which three books do you think everyone should read?

This question really made me stop and think because what a thought-provoking question! I’m interpreting this as three books I want everyone to read and love as much as I do and I would choose Finnikin of the Rock by Melina Marchetta because it is one of few books I find almost perfect. A fantasy world with such an emotional journey among all the characters who you learn so much about they feel like family. The plot and writing is just heart-breakingly beautiful. My second pick would be Mariana by Susanna Kearsley because it is one of my favourite books in general but also feeds my British heart. It’s a dual timeline that has a little suspension of disbelief in the storyline with a beautiful and understated romance. I can see the crumbling house and village so perfectly in my mind’s eye I’m immediately transported there just thinking about it! My last pick is a bit rogue and new to me this year but it would be The Vanderbeekers of 141st St by Karina Yan Glaser. I read this series for the first time this year and it has stuck with me since first reading it. A Middle Grade book about a family living in Harlem that both kids and adults can appreciate and have the themes resonate with them. These books just warm my heart and I love being with this beautiful family, these books spark so much joy. Because I’m a cheater my runner-ups would be Beartown by Fredrik Backman and Happiness for Beginners by Katherine Center.

And lastly, do you have any goals for your reading 2021?

I haven’t really thought about my reading goals for 2021 yet but I’m thinking I’ll add a few books by CS Lewis and/or Tolkien I haven’t read yet and challenge myself to read one non-fiction book a month. I did a personal Childhood Classics Book Challenge to read books like Heidi and Mary Poppins that I never read as a kid and I loved doing that so maybe I’ll do more of those. I also always love to re-read at least one book a month which I usually always surpass but it’s nice to have an easy goal to check off as motivation!

Make sure to follow @Xoxokellynina for great book recommendations and some British love!

The post Meet The Bookstagrammer: @xoxokellynina appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

With 42.1k followers on Instagram @estherhfung really knows how to inspire us to read! 25-year-old Esther is the person behind the account. Born in Taiwan, but is living in the US with her husband, who she married this summer in a small 18-people ceremony (which looked beautiful and you can see on her feed). The feed also features her cute dogs, Juneau, who loves napping and sunbathing, and Tofu, who loves bothering Juneau while she naps and sunbathes. You’ll also find great recommendations, lovely photos, and a good mix of book genres. I would say there is something for everyone.

Firstly, we love how visual appealing your feed is. How did you find your style?

Thank you! That’s really sweet of you. I spent a lot of time interacting with friends on bookstagram, and I found myself drawn again and again to certain styles. There’s something about light and slightly warm edits that make me relax my shoulders and smile. I work hard to emulate that and provoke that same reaction in everyone who sees my photos.

Why did you start your book Instagram?

When I first saw bookstagram photos on Tumblr a few years prior to the launch of my own account in 2016, I was amazed at this new way of interacting and honouring books we love. I was also intrigued by this way of escaping the dullness and mundanity of everyday life. For a brief while, I got to live in those beautiful aesthetics. Soon, I wanted to create those images as well. My first photo featured Anna Karenina by Tolstoy and some of my mom’s flowers.

If someone out there is thinking about creating a bookstagram, what advice would you give them?

You don’t need to have the most beautiful book covers or the best equipment or a thorough knowledge of how lightroom works. Yes, they’re great. But a big part of what I love about bookstagram is making beauty of what we already have. To this day, I still take photos with my phone and regularly feature library books on my feed.

You seem to read quite a few different genres of books. Which genre would you say is your favourite?

I don’t have a favourite genre, but I love books with generational tension, magic realism, and/or a strong female lead. I also appreciate books with nonlinear storytelling. In addition, I am currently very into graphic novels.

When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time with?

I am usually lesson planning, teaching, or grading. I teach 6th grade English, which is a very time-consuming job. Additionally, I enjoy biking, playing Animal Crossing, and rewatching favourite shows on Netflix.

Which three books do you think everyone should read?

This isn’t the most satisfactory answer, but I don’t think there’s a book that everyone “should” read. Everyone has different experiences after all. But I encourage everyone to read books by authors very different from them and set in places very different from the ones that they know.

And lastly, do you have any goals for your reading 2021?

I am looking forward to reading more Asian American authors. I have a huge list of titles recommended to me by friends I met through bookstagram, and I cannot wait to read through it!

Don’t miss out on Esther’s beautiful and inspiring bookstagram at @estherhfung!

The post Meet The Bookstagrammer: @estherhfung appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

Behind the minimalistic and aesthetic book feed, @bookishkaren is 30-year-old Karen. You might think she works within graphic design or social media when looking at her photos and smart edits, but Karen is actually a nurse, and a very proud dog-mama to the cute chow chow, Greggy. After growing up and living 13 years in Tripoli, she now lives in the Philippines where she loves nature walks and summer sunsets. Karen is a big fan of pizza and late-night poetry, but we want to get to know Karen even better, and especially more about her book Instagram and her book interest.

Firstly, we love how cohesive and aesthetic your feed is. How did you find your style?

Thank you! Honestly, it took a while. I guess I was too concerned about making a good impression, especially when I was just starting. I bought props and a lot of bookish stuff just to get that perfect flat lay shot. I wanted my feed to be just as pretty as other bookstagrammers’ feeds. But doing that only felt like I was copying them and I realized that that’s not me, that’s not my style. So, I took a short hiatus to really think on what I wanted my aesthetic to be. I kept experimenting with my photos until I found that minimalist look that I like. And it felt good to finally stick to that. 

Why did you start your book Instagram?

I have heard about the community prior to joining bookstagram. Two of my college friends were already doing it months before I even decided to do it myself. They inspired me to create my own account and I thought, why not? Also, I don’t have that many friends who read and bookstagram truly helped bring more bookish people into my already-bookish-life and for that, I am extremely grateful. I think I really needed this outlet to express myself more and at the same time, connect. It’s been great getting to know these people who share the same passion as mine and talk about books the way that I do too. 

If someone out there is thinking about creating a bookstagram, what advice would you give them?

I’d say, do it! Do it with love, be yourself, and engage. Don’t be scared to communicate because this whole community is very welcoming and friendly. Be genuine in your posts and in your interactions and don’t be discouraged by the numbers. Always keep going.

If you could invite any five authors or characters (dead or alive) to a dinner party, who would you invite and why?

Wow, that is hard. I feel like there are so many potential candidates for this, depending on what the theme of the party is. I’m going with characters just because I feel like they’re easier to pick. I would invite Jo March from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott because she thrives on entertaining others and I love how she’s so absorbed in everything that’s happening around her. My second invite is for Jane Eyre from Charlotte Bronte’s novel. She’s also very passionate and outspoken. Then the rest of the guest list would consist of Mary Lennox from The Secret Garden, Wendy Darling from Peter Pan (who I assume would love tea) and Narnia’s Queen Susan, just because.

You seem to read quite a few different genres of books. Which genre would you say is your favourite?

I do. I like switching things up from time to time. My most picked-up genre is fiction, specifically historical fiction and romance. The former tends to impact me the most, while the latter I consider as a comfort read. Someday I want to have a huge collection of historical fiction books. There’s simply something so vital about reading past historical events and learning what they contributed to humanity. It is both an escapism and an exploration. 

When you aren’t reading, what do you spend your time with?

If you asked me this question 3-4yrs ago, I would no doubt say writing. But now I just take some time for myself and recharge on energy, you know? Whenever I’m off-work and not reading, you’ll find me either catching up on lost sleep or listening to music with my dog. That’s it. But in my productive moods, I clean, learn a few choreographies here and there (and eventually mess it up), sing bad karaoke or binge-watch movies with my parents.

Which three books do you think everyone should read?

First of all, I think everyone should read whatever book they want to read. No one should force you to pick this or disregard that. But, if I were to recommend books, I would definitely suggest And Every Morning The Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrick Backman, The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah (my favourite), and Tiger Lily by Jodi Lynn Anderson.

And lastly, do you have any goals for your reading 2021?

I wish to read more nonfiction and a few genres that I don’t normally read, like thrillers and mystery. For 2021, I just want to continue reading books at my own pace and not get pressured by hype so much. And of course, more diverse reads!

Don’t forget to follow @bookishkaren at Instagram for some real reading inspiration!

The post Meet The Bookstagrammer: @bookishkaren appeared first on The Nerd Daily.

When scrolling on Instagram, followers will immediately stop at this account! A cosy environment we want to jump into and spend an afternoon in. Books, tea, a dog, and lovely pastries… What could one more wish for?

We have all wondered who the tea drinking person behind @ab_reads is. Abbie is 25 years old and lives in the North East UK. The cute dog that we get some glimpses of is Mia, a rescue greyhound. Abbie works part time at The StoryGraph and as a freelancer within writing and content creation, which does not come as a shock because of the great text and good-looking Instagram feed!

If you are not one of Abbie’s 80k followers, you ought to be one! You’ll get recommendations of many different types of books, but she is particularly passionate about highlighting translated literature, which we think is awesome!

Firstly, we have to sort an important thing out. How do you make the perfect cup of tea? As a British person and someone who seems to consume quite a few cups a day, you are the perfect person to give us the answer!

Haha I definitely drink too many cups of tea a day! I drink plain old English breakfast tea with a splash of milk. Nothing too fancy!

Why did you start your bookstagram?

I was home for a year from university after deferring my final year for mental health reasons. During my first two years of uni, I barely read anything for pleasure since I was too busy with all the reading for my course. When I went home, I was reunited with all my books and my love of reading was reignited. I had a personal Instagram which I never used, but decided to search the hashtag for the book I was reading at the time, and then stumbled across the bookstagram hashtag. As soon as I saw it, I knew I wanted to start one of my own – it was like I’d found my people!

If someone out there is thinking about creating a bookstagram, what advice would you give them?

Just go for it if it’s something you really want to do! But I think that’s the important part – your heart has to be in it. I used to get a lot of DMs asking how to grow your account, but if you’re just in it for the followers and likes then you’ll get frustrated and bored very quickly. Post about things you love, books you love, and you will find likeminded people to connect with!

You listen to books and read. How do you choose which to listen to, and not read?

I use my library for a lot of audiobooks, so I just browse their selection to find something that takes my fancy! But I do tend to go with either non-fiction or more plot-driven fiction. Non-fiction is great on audio because it makes me feel like I’m back at school and taking in a lecture. My attention often wavers when I read non-fiction in print, I find it easier to concentrate on audio for facts and life stories. Then for the fiction, I don’t really listen to very detailed, character-driven books with beautiful writing because I find it hard to appreciate the writing while listening. I prefer more plot-driven for audio!

When you aren’t reading, what do you do with the rest of your time?

I love baking and have started it again during lockdown! I’ll bake once a week. Then I love cross-stitching too, but actually when I’m cross-stitching I’m still reading because that’s when I listen to audiobooks! Before the pandemic, I used to do powerlifting too, but I haven’t been back since the gyms closed.

If you could bring back three authors from the dead to write one more book each, who would you choose?

Tough question! Most of the authors I enjoy are still alive. I think I’ll go with Toni Morrison, Andrea Levy and Angela Carter.

And lastly, which book is the best book you have read in 2020?

Can I cheat and choose three? Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo, The Eighth Life by Nino Haratischwili, and Cantoras by Carolina de Robertis.

Follow Abbie at @ab_reads for more great book recommendations and tea inspirations!

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