154: Reading Retreat Recap

There are some weekends that feel a little bit magical, and this was absolutely one of them. ✨

Thirteen women, a beautiful weekend in Middleburg, Virginia, plenty of books, wine, good food, and so much laughter. From a wine tasting and book swap at Greenhill Winery to lounging by the pool at Salamander Resort, a book tasting at Middleburg Books, and ending the weekend with dinner and a Q&A with bestselling author Audrey Ingram, every moment felt special.

But more than anything, I left this weekend thinking about female friendship. How quickly you can connect with people when you’re willing to step outside your comfort zone. How much joy there is in gathering around something you love. And how important it is to make space for new friendships, new experiences, and a little bit of magic.

I’m recapping the whole weekend on the podcast today, and I hope it inspires you to say yes to something that might feel a little outside your comfort zone. You never know who you might meet.

For more info on the retreat, check out: https://luxuryreadingretreats.com/

Book Swap Books:

• The Elements by John Boyne 
• The Change by Kristin Miller
• Beyond the Sea by Laura Spence-Ash 
• Send Down the Rain by Charles Martin
• Love Overboard by Kandi Steiner 
• Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
• The Shell Seekers by Rosamunde Pilcher
• Lady Tremaine by Rachel Hochhauser 
• The irresistible urge to fall for your enemy by Brigette Knightly 
• Hercule Poirot’s Christmas by Agatha Christie (I took home)
• We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
• An Infinite Love Story by Chanel Cleeton (I brought)
• Country People by Daniel Mason 

My Books from the Book Tasting:

• The Beheading Game by Rebecca Lehmann

• Everything was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt by Ben Reeves

• You Could Make This Place Beautiful by Maggie Smith

• Bring the House Down by Charlotte Runcie

• The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie by Muriel Spark