Everyday Magic in Bookish Friendships

“Everyday magic is pyjamas before 5pm”

(as quoted on my stunning new candle)

But everyday magic is also connecting with amazing people in the bookish community and developing genuine friendships with said people, despite having never met them in real life.

In my everyday life, I’m known in my workplace as the one who always brings a book to read on my breaks. I can also count on one hand the number of friends I have who enjoy reading. So when it comes to book recommendations and wanting to discuss the latest release or new-to-me author, I turn to the online book community!

Nearly 1.5 years ago, I started my bookstagram account and it’s been such a great journey connecting with other readers of the same/similar genres. I won’t lie though, as with any large community of people, there is the occasional drama (usually brought about by a difference of opinion) but thankfully I haven’t really come across this very much. For the most part, the book community, and in particular “bookstagram”, is made up of open-minded readers who just want to take cool photos of their latest/favourite reads or to-be-read (tbr) stacks and chat book recommendations with other readers. Also *fangirl/fanboy* because we readers are passionate folk.

During my time in the bookstagram world, I’ve become good friends with another Aussie reader who lives on the other side of the country and it’s been a great year chatting books and life with her. This year, Rina (@booksofthemuggleborn) and I exchanged bookish gifts and pictured above is the amazing pack I received, including a beautiful hardcover of Allegiance of Honour by Nalini Singh, Wild Invitation by Nalini Singh which is a collection of Psy-Changeling novellas (and features some of my favourite couples like Nate and Tamsyn – major heart eyes!) and a delicious smelling candle to enjoy while I read. In return, I sent her a couple of books from other fun, fantasy series, a bookmark from one of her favourite fandoms and a pair of bookish socks from another fandom!

If it weren’t for the online book community, I don’t think I would have read as many amazing books as I have, discovered reading can be so much more than a solitary hobby, or had the courage to start this book blog. It’s been a great journey so far and I can’t wait to see what the next year brings!