Welcome to our first Considered Reads Society newsletter!
I cannot stress how thankful I am for each of you! Thank you for seeing the vision, trusting the process, and being a founding member of this community we are building! For our debut issue we’ll be covering previous swap highlights and reader feedback, free reading accessories, book reviews, creative inspiration, and a few thoughtful moments.
A glimpse into the books, stories, and connections taking shape within Considered Reads Society.
Here you’ll find member reflections, exchange highlights, and the moments that make this more than just a book swap.
Every reader has a story, and every finished book leaves its mark whether a whisper or a shout. I’m sharing a few reflections and experiences from our community.
Community Stories
One of the most rewarding parts of an exchange is seeing where books travel and what readers gain from the stories. Since this is our first issue, there’s not much to report just yet, however in the meantime I’d like to share some stories of the past that have meant the absolute world to me.
A few years back I participated in a holiday book exchange and was matched with a guy who read a genre I knew nothing about. He gave me absolutely zero hints to his reading taste, so I asked the organizer for something, anything to work with. She gave me a genre, I went to the bookstore, picked something that sounded interesting to me, and crossed my fingers. His response? It was a book he’d never heard of, but was a perfect match. He LOVED it.
I hosted another exchange last holiday season and a few of the participants all gave me similar feedback: they all had fun, the gift they received was more thoughtful than they had expected, and the books received couldn’t have been better chosen.
That is exactly what I hope to recreate each month with Considered Reads Society. This magic is what completely fills my cup! 🤍
A Snapshot of Our Readers
One of the joys of a book exchange is discovering not only new books, but also the readers behind them. Here’s a bird’s eye view of our community and some reading habits, preferences, and trends that make us so unique.
Interesting reading personalities: Strong character development currently seems to take precedence for most of our community!
Popular genres: We are leaning heavy on Romance at the moment.
Most requested books: There are no specific requested books this month, which I think is super cool. Each member is open to something new!
Fun community statistics: Everyone seems to enjoy finding something a bit unexpected; I find this is where the magic happens - once you lean in with an open mind and heart you just may find your favorite read.
A Look at Next Month’s Schedule
A collection of things worth noticing from thoughtful book reviews, creative inspiration, to a few fun extras for your reading life.
Think of it as a corner of the newsletter to discover, inspire, and maybe even return to.
Every book leaves a different kind of impression.
This month, i’m catching you up on a list of some favorites! Explore what I’ve had my head buried in with a considered point of view.
Dear Debbie by Freida McFadden
Meet Me in Italy by Brenda Novak
A Year with the Seals by Alix Morris
Before the Coffee Gets Cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
The Correspondent by Virginia Evans
One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune
The Creative Act by Rick Rubin
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl
A little something for your next reading session or new arrival.
This month’s free bookmarks are available to download and print below, simply click the image. You’ll see some of my personal paintings and/or drawings sneak in as we go along (and I feel more confident to share)! I hand painted the roses, and all designs were inspired by a Euro summer along with soaking up the last bits of the season we have left.
I hope these come in handy and bring a dash of extra color to your pages!
A collection of visual inspirations, observations, and creative threads inspired by life itself.
From the Cover
Based on my last read, translated into color. A few swatches inspired by a literary mood that may strike inspiration within you! Can you guess which book this is?
Hints:
historical fiction
published in 2024
set in the Elizabethan era
Between the Pages
Life reflections and happenings in my world lately.
This issue’s inspiration comes from our trip exploring France and my observation of how well the French take time to slow down and soak up summer. It became a real paradox when everyone around us, specifically in Southern France, were relaxing and thoroughly enjoying themselves while we were what felt like constantly on the go, in one form or another, trying to make the most of our time. I was a bit envious I couldn’t just quiet my brain of logistics and translation, though I tried my very best by pulling out my book any chance I got: from coffee shops, parks, hotels, beaches and poolside to trains and planes (no automobiles since I was driving)!
I’ve always loved word games, and a crossword is the best kind to encourage a slow down. Here's a little extra fun should you choose to print and play - it's also summer themed! Feel free to reach out for the key once you’re finished!
The exchange doesn’t end when the books arrive. Come say hello, share what you’re reading, and connect with fellow readers.
If you are choosing a more analog lifestyle, no pressure. Our community is designed for both in mind and in fact, we are striving towards a more analog lifestyle in this primarily digital age.
I hope you are enjoying what remains of summer!
Marisha x
Missed this month’s exchange? Join as a free subscriber for info on next month’s swap and waitlist entry.