Why You Should Go on a Reading Retreat
You don’t need to be a book influencer with colour-coded shelves to justify a weekend away with your TBR. If you’ve ever said “I wish I had more time to read,” then a reading retreat might just be exactly what you need.
A reading retreat is about pressing pause. Reconnecting with your own thoughts. Remembering what it’s like to get lost in a story — without the guilt, the phone buzzes, or the laundry pile whispering your name.
So, what is a reading retreat?
Think of it as the introvert’s dream holiday: quiet, cosy, and designed entirely around books. A reading retreat is time set aside, just for you, to read, rest, and reset. No productivity pressure. No “shoulds”. No wellness rituals you secretly dread. Just you, your book stack, and a comfy chair with a view.
At Busy With Books, I created these retreats because I noticed something: so many of us love reading, but we’re constantly interrupted. We squeeze in chapters between errands, fall asleep mid-sentence, or treat reading like a luxury instead of the recharge it actually is.
A reading retreat changes that.
5 Reasons you’ll love a reading retreat:
1. You get to actually finish a book.
Yes, from page 1 to “The End”. Without needing three weeks and a dozen reheated coffees. A reading retreat gives you permission to ignore your inbox (or the constant “Muuuuuuum!!” coming from your kids). To say “not now” to the endless to-do list. And to choose yourself, for once.
2. It’s a break that doesn’t ask anything of you.
No chores. No forced activites. Just time to be, in peace, with a good story.
3. You’ll return feeling more like you.
Reading recentres you. It reminds you of what matters, what moves you, and how powerful slowing down can be.
4. You’ll meet kindred spirits — if you want to.
My retreats are solo-reader friendly and community-minded. You choose when to join in and when to stay in your own little book bubble.
5. You won’t have to lift a finger but still get fed throughout the weekend.
I make sure you have a full belly - I’m serving homemade Italian food - and plenty of snacks that are easy to eat with a book in your hand.
Is a reading retreat right for you?
If any of these feel familiar, the answer’s probably yes:
You love books but never get through them.
You’re always taking care of others and crave time just for you.
You’ve tried wellness retreats but secretly wished there were more snacks and less schedule.
You want to meet like-minded book lovers.
Ready to retreat?
If you're nodding along and already picturing the stack you’d pack, come take a peek at the upcoming retreats. They’re cosy, low-pressure, and designed for the kind of book lover who’s tired of “go-go-go” and ready to simply be.
P.S. Not in NZ? Or can’t get away right now? Check out the guide on how to DIY your own reading retreat at home or join our online book club!