I Took A Mini ‘Reading Retreat’ Instead Of A Pricey Holiday – I’ve Already Planned My Next One

It’s been 250 years since Jane Austen was born, and everyone who knows me is all too aware that I’ve been re-reading the author’s classics to celebrate the event. 

As it happens, the anniversary coincided with another book-lover’s dream: “reading retreats,” which involve spending much of your holiday with your nose buried in a novel, are all over my TikTok FYP. 

Some of them are run by official companies, which offer days-long, themed stays with trips, reading lists, and hotel stays; you can take part in groups, and they look incredibly fun. 

Personally, though, I didn’t want to use any time off for my own version (nor did I particularly want to spend too much money on the break).

So, I enjoyed a quick couple of days at a family member’s house and decided to explore the author’s iconic scenes – and now, I think it’s going to become the basis for my next “big” holiday. 

What is a “reading retreat”?

A reading retreat involves immersing yourself in books for a couple of days solid, but it doesn’t mean you have to read nonstop. 

You can also visit the places the author may have stayed at, lived, or written about, or simply soak in the “vibe” of a novel (I used mine as an opportunity to get an “Austen walk” in). 

You don’t have to stick to a particular author or theme. Some people just read a lot on their “reading retreats” – you can go alone or with others, and I plan to try both.

Professional reading retreats can be fully prepared with food, planned excursions, and set discussions, but publisher Penguin notes that if you don’t want to leave your house to try the trend, you don’t have to. 

Simply refresh your own space, invite people over if you want (possibly cooking a book-themed meal), choose your books, and set an itinerary if you want to.