I stepped away from Bookstagram for several years.
There were things about the community at the time that just weren’t good for me, so I quietly walked away. I didn’t stop loving books. I didn’t stop reading. I just needed some distance.
But eventually, I found my way back.
And I’m really glad I did.
Finding My People Again
What I’ve come to love most about being back isn’t even the books, although let’s be honest, the books are a pretty significant perk.
It’s the friendship.
Real, Godly friendships.
The laughter. The encouragement. The creativity. The people who can make me laugh with a book post I never saw coming.
There is so much fun here.
And I never quite know what I’m going to discover next.
Like The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion by Beth Brower.
I discovered this series through the Bookstagram community, and let’s just say…
CLEAN GHOST STORIES. FINALLY!
If you know me, you know exactly why this made me happy.
I’m also finding clean historical fiction, clean romance, and so many other wonderful books that I can actually recommend without having to give someone a list of warnings first.
And that is a beautiful thing.
So Many Books, So Little Time
I’m discovering authors I might never have found on my own, and I’m loving the opportunity to follow their work and learn more about the people behind the books.
But what has surprised me most is how generous so many authors are with this community.
They share their love of writing. They share advice. They share their experiences. They talk about what they’ve learned, what has worked, what hasn’t, and what it actually looks like to pursue writing.
That is such a huge blessing to someone like me who is also trying to find her way as a writer.
I love discovering authors who don’t just write but really give their all to their craft after giving it all to God first.
There is something special about watching someone pursue a creative calling while keeping God at the center of it.
And then there is the encouragement.
So much encouragement.
People cheering each other on. Sharing what they’re reading. Celebrating new releases. Talking about characters they love. Recommending books. Sharing their writing journeys.
And, of course…
There are BOOKS.
So. Many. Books.
My TBR List Has Grown
I’m especially excited that I can finally start dipping my toes into Regency romance without wondering when the story is suddenly going to take a turn I didn’t sign up for.
I want the gowns.
I want the estates.
I want the ballroom scenes.
I want the slow-burn romance.
I want the longing glances across the room.
I just don’t need the open-door, graphic scenes that so often come along with romance.
Being able to find books that give me the story without giving me the stuff I don’t want to read is honestly wonderful.
And I love that I can recommend those books to other people with confidence.
Sharing Books With My Girls
One of my favorite parts of all of this is being able to recommend books to my daughter, Emilie.
She is the person who got me into reading in the first place.
Years ago, she introduced me to the wonderful world of books, and now I’m finding myself discovering books that I can turn around and recommend to her.
The funny part is that Emilie stepped away from Bookstagram for many of the same reasons I did.
So coming back and finding this side of the community again has been especially fun.
It’s like rediscovering something we both love and finding that there is still a place for us here.
And then I think about my granddaughter.
That makes this even sweeter.
I’m discovering books and authors now that I may someday get to share with her.
Maybe I’ll have a little granddaughter sitting beside me someday, and I’ll be able to hand her a book and say, “You have to read this one.”
I really love that thought.
Books Can Be Part of My Faith, Too
I think this is probably the biggest reason I’m enjoying my time here now.
Reading has always been an escape for me. It’s entertainment. It’s relaxation. It’s something I enjoy at the end of a long day.
But I love that I can enjoy it without feeling like I’m setting my faith aside to do it.
I can discover books that align with my values.
I can encourage authors who are using their gifts for God.
I can have conversations about books with people who understand why clean content matters to me.
And I can spend my downtime doing something I genuinely enjoy while still engaging in something that honors God.
That doesn’t mean every book has to be explicitly Christian.
It simply means I have become much more intentional about what I allow into my mind and what I choose to spend my time reading.
And finding a community where other people understand that has been such a gift.
I’m Glad I Came Back
I don’t know exactly what Bookstagram will look like for me going forward.
I do know what I love about it now.
The friendships.
The laughter.
The creativity.
The authors who are willing to share what they’ve learned.
The encouragement.
The clean reads.
The discovery of books I might never have found otherwise.
And the possibility of someday sharing some of those books with my daughter and my granddaughter.
Maybe that’s why coming back feels different this time.
I’m not looking for perfection.
I’m just looking for good books, good people, meaningful conversations, and a little corner of the internet where I can enjoy something I love without compromising what matters to me.
And apparently, I’ve found it.
Books, friendship, creativity, encouragement, clean reads, and a whole lot of cozy reading?
Yeah.
I’m pretty happy to be back.
Come find me on Bookstagram at @cleanreadsandcozysips. We’ll talk books, cozy drinks, good stories, and probably get a little distracted along the way.
