«NThere are no faster friendships than those between people who love the same books.” The quote (by the American writer Irving Stone) explains part of the success of reading retreats. From New York to Italy, trips organized around the pleasure of reading they reap more enthusiasts every season, and never more than in 2026. But if the prospect of meeting people with the same literary interests ignites enthusiasm, the fact that it then comes true is relatively important. Indeed, explain Giulia Buzzoni and Gaia Lapasini, souls of Traveling with books: «Readers often have different tastes: retreats then become an opportunity to leave your comfort zone and let yourself be intrigued by others».
Reading retreats are trendy: how literary retreats abroad work
According to Google, “reading weekend“is one of the main trends of 2026 and on Pinterest searches for ideas for reading retreats have increased by 265%. The inspiration comes from America (this story tells New York Post piece from April 2026) and see between the most convinced Millennial and Generation Z fans: very young and medium young people who, as we know, on average prefer calmer and healthier forms of entertainment than their parents and grandparents.
The most famous retreats today began in America. Like the Bad Bitch Book Club, founded by the 33-year-old Mackenzie Newcomb in the midst of the pandemic as an online community: it organized its first retreats as soon as it was possible to do so, and has never stopped. It’s interesting how they coexist the pleasure of sharing of experience and mutual understanding of pleasure of isolation. Newcomb explains: «People are looking for a sense of community. They want to go to a place with people who share their interests, and here everyone loves to read. If they want to give up a boat trip on the river to do it all day, that’s totally fine. They know that no one will judge them».
To each his own book, or all the same one, read aloud
If at the BBC retreats the participants read books of their choice, or from the always available “book corner”, at those organized by Zibby Owens49 years old, owner of a publishing house in Santa Monica, California, the focus is on four or six books, with the participation of the authors. In any case, “the belief that readers are typical couch potatoes needs to be dispelled. Book lovers love to connect, out of an innate curiosity towards others.”
Another option is the one proposed by 34-year-old Mikey Friedman and his Page Break. From 2024, take a targeted approach. Each event focuses on a single book that guests read… mostly aloud together over the weekend. “There’s something special about everyone performing the same act of vulnerability. It slows everything down, turns reading into something communal and a little intimate. It makes you feel like you can trust the group.”
Themed food and drinks and luxury accommodation – past locations include Scribner’s Catskill Lodge in upstate New York and AutoCamp in Joshua Tree, California – are integral part of the success, and the price, up to 1300 dollars per weekend, of his retreats. 34 years old.
Traveling with books in Italy: how a reading retreat practically works
Among the realities they brought reading retreats in Italy, Wandering with books, by Giulia Buzzoni and Gaia Lapasini, two book influencers, one from Bologna and one from Veneto. They organized the first in November 2023, and from year to year they organize more: in 2026 there will be 16. They last a weekend, from Friday afternoon to Sunday after lunch. Like the next one, in Umbria, from 5 to 7 June.
At the end, dedicated to the book Chlorine by Jade Song, this post is dedicated to it.
The typical day
The structure of the retreats is deliberately very flexible (the only “fixed” moments are meals): the priority is relaxation and time to read. «Let’s choose structures immersed in nature, welcoming and silentwho share the philosophy of the project”, explain the organizers. «Each place then adds something unique: there are retreats with activities such as horseback riding, apple picking, or simply moments outdoors. The idea is to create a context that favors slowness and concentration, but without rigidity.”
The target group of literary retreat participants
The community is very heterogeneous, and even if there is a clear female predominance“Men who participate often become very attached and return. The average age is between 25 and 40 years old. There are strong readers, but also people who simply want to carve out time to read, perhaps after having neglected this passion. In a way it is a counter-current choice: reading requires slowness, presence, attention — all things that today we tend to lose.”
The interesting thing is that despite being an activity solitaryreading also becomes collective: you read alone, but together with others. And the desire to share is fundamental.
From a literary retreat of Traveling with books.
Solitude and sharing
«Retreats often become a safe space, where people feel welcomed and listened to», explain the book influencers. «In addition to the literary dimension, there is also the human one: bonds are created, experiences are shared. In a historical moment in which we are always connected online, there is a strong need to return to real relationships.”
But… what do we read? «Often the reading is free: each participant brings their own books and then shares their progress in common moments. In other cases we organize actual “live” reading groups: we choose the book together with the community (via Telegram) and during the weekend there are moments dedicated to discussion. In these cases we also prepare in-depth materials, such as a reading diary with information on the author and spaces for notes.”
Among the most popular books, for example, Happy are the happy by Yasmine Reza, Heart the lover by Lily King, The intermittences of death by José Saramago, The hen party by Camilla Sten.
There is frequent collaboration with publishing houses, which propose titles and provide books free of charge to participants. «Read everyone the same book at the same time is a very engaging experience, because it allows for an immediate and spontaneous comparison.”
But if in convivial moments we talk a lot, and clearly not only about books, everyone respects the need for silence. “The retreat is also a rare opportunity to slow down and be with yourself.”
Literary retreats in Italy: Bricks or Jars?
Other literary retreats very appreciated are those of very popular booktuber Ilenia Zodiacwho deserves credit for helping us dust off and love the so-called Bricks: the next one, in July, among the vineyards in Monferrato (but it’s sold out). And those of Gaia Lorusso with his Barattoli & Co.: the next one is in September at the Foresteria Lombarda Bacialupo and also includes an evening Literary character of the heart).
But there are also reading parties….
Naturally, reading retreats are not an isolated phenomenon but the spearhead of a world, that of literary events, which despite the average laziness of Italian readers, is instead effervescent. And so reading parties blossom (like those in the Bolognese area dthe Bookbooksby Annalisa Senatore, in the Turin area of Giuneiboschi).
…and writers’ retreats
But also i retreats for writersmore or less arrived or aspiring: we range from those where we simply read and write together, in pleasant places, otherwise called Literary homes, o Narrative residences.
To the guided ones, which combine relaxation and writing workshop. Like this one in Matera, with Dreams in Italy. Or i Author’s Refugesorganized by CAI Edizioni in collaboration with the Sections and refuges of the Italian Alpine Club.
Famous writers available for advice and tricks of the trade? There Two days of experiential workshopswith Creativity and Chiara Gamberale. Or the Writing workshop in Stromboli with Antonella Lattanzi and Peppe Fiore (From 18th to 24th July).
In short, not only inside: even around books, there is a world, and a very bubbly one at that.