For the new and the curious
A guide for those who are new to the big world of Substack book lovers
With threats of BookTok dissolving there’s been chatter about an influx of newcomers to Substack. I’ve seen a few notes lately from people saying, hi! I’m new here and I don’t know what I’m doing! so I thought I’d create a starter pack nobody asked for but one I could have really used when I arrived to Substack, unsure of where I was and who I was writing for.
What follows is the unofficial starter pack for the book-loving part of Substack, sometimes referred to as BookStack — the safe, cozy corner of the internet in which we talk about books. Think of it like you’re arriving at a new library and I’m guiding you through some of the many stacks. Some publications require paid subscriptions for full access, but all of them have occasional free posts and many of them are always free.
Book Clubs and Read-Alongs
On Substack, people love to read together. There are book clubs and read-alongs for every type of book.
- teaches readers how to read closely, slowly, and with great intention. Starting this week, she’s doing a slow read of Pride and Prejudice. I, along with many others, am joining her.
Start with defining your annotation style and see what else Haley is reading in 2025 here.
- is doing a read-along of Virginia Woolf’s 1927 novel, To the Lighthouse.
Start with this Book Clubbed, in which she lists several other book clubs happening on Substack by author of study: Chaucer, Austen, Tolstoy, etc. She introduced me to another book club I’m interested in, run by
, in which she will be guiding readers through One, No One, and One Hundred Thousand by Luigi Pirandello.
A roundup of book clubs wouldn’t be complete without including
, who does guided slow reads of the greats.Start with Join the 2025 ‘War and Peace’ Slow Read
The Life of a Reader
The beautiful thing about Substack is how deep we are able to go. Readers don’t just talk about books; they talk about the life of a reader.
- writes gorgeous essays about her reading life and how the books she consumes transforms her.
- ’s gentle aesthetic will give you a sense of calm just by scrolling through her publication.
Start with 4 reading goals I set for the new year
- has a fun series about what’s on readers’ nightstands, giving us a voyeuristic peek at the personal lives of our favorite Substackers.
- says she has come to understand reading as the love of her life. Her newsletter is about what she reads and how she feels about it.
Start with Reading Goals That Don’t Suck
Genres
Some creators here are genre-specific:
- focuses on romance and historical fiction — and, come wintertime, holiday rom coms.
Start with 📖 Amazing Women & Banned Books
- focuses on classics and does monthly deep reads (this one could also be included in the book club / read-along list).
Start with An Introduction to the Iliad
- is a fan of female rage and unreliable narrators.
Start with The “Good for Her” genre explained
- usually recommends literary fiction and works in translation. She wrote the OG BookStack directory, which you can find here.
Start with Resting Rich Face
Book Recommendations
Other creators share about whatever they read, providing hot takes on the books they loved and the books they don’t.
- is a former English teacher. Her comprehension of the books she reads — coupled with her acute ability to think deeply about them and translate them onto the page — is truly admirable. She creates book compendiums, reading guides based on moods, and occasional author interviews.
- writes long, smart reviews of all the books she reads and I swear I leave her posts with 10 new books on my TBR every time. Like Sara, Martha has the great ability to process on the page, and I love everything she writes.
Start with My Favourite Reads of 2024
- says in her bio that her publication includes thoughts and opinions from a book lover with a bad attitude. I like to call her opinionated — in the best way possible. She’s got a popular podcast called The Stacks, which features interviews with readers and writers.
Start with The Best Things We Read in 2024
- is not afraid to say she didn’t like a book, and she’ll explain why. Hers is a mix of recommendations, reading lists, and cultural essays.
- rates books with — you guessed it — gifs. It’s cute and clever and full of good recommendations.
Start with 9 Books I Loved in 2024
Books & Culture
Then there are some creators who write about a mix of books and culture.
- writes about what she’s reading, creates book lists, and provides commentary on pop culture.
Start with A Book List for Precedented Times
- has the sharpest take on culture while also being one of the most prolific readers on the internet.
Start with december reading recap 📚
- writes mostly about books, but she also has a tab on her publication called Obsessions, and they are fun to peruse.
Subscriber chats
I only have one thing to say here and it is that
’s subscriber chat is unhinged and lovely. The connection I’m seeing over there is really something else.
I started here on Substack with a simple idea: to write a newsletter celebrating literature. Over time it has turned into so much more than that — a community of people who are all here to learn and grow (and read). I respect and admire all the creators I follow and I find this place to be one of sheer generosity.
This BookStack starter pack is from one person active in the so-called BookStack community. I acknowledge and accept my limitations! There are so many other amazing creators out there — many I am probably not familiar with. Please share your favorite BookStack writers below so our new friends don’t miss the best Substack has to offer.
Thank you for reading! Love,
Kolina
As an aside, this post by
explains why losing TikTok is bad for books.What I’m reading: Cleopatra + Frankenstein by Coco Mellors; Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen
What are you reading? If you found this post useful, please share it.
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Thanks for this guide! I subscribe to many of the mentioned BookStack accounts and have grown so much as a reader from reading & commenting on the posts. My TBR list is too long for my lifetime…but no complaints. 😊📚💕
What a fantastic guide—I’m so honoured to be included in this wonderful roundup. You’ve summarized this space so well; such a testament to all the amazing, varied contributions that make this bookish corner so inspiring 🥰