If you’re an avid reader like myself, you probably treat the local bookstore as your second home, have a TBR pile that only ever gets bigger, and you’re running out of bookshelf space at an alarming rate. While getting lost in a book for a few hours is a great way to de-stress and take some personal “me time,” there’s a larger book community out there just waiting for you. Reading doesn’t just have to be a personal experience. In fact, I would say you’re definitely missing something wonderful if you’re not connected to the larger literary community that’s all around you. Book-lovers like us are always searching for ways to find great new books and discover more information about our favorite genres, so here are a few tips on how you can be constantly surrounded by bookish content!

Follow literary websites and blogs to find new book recommendations.

If you’re reading this blog post, you’ve already got a head start into expanding your literary community: you’re following Ulysses Press’s blog! Many book publishers have their own blogs that they use to talk about their new books, post fun literary quizzes, and more. So, if there’s a publishing house or a specific book imprint you love, look and see if they have a blog that you could follow.

Another great way to immerse yourself in the world of books is to read up on all the latest book reviews, literary news, and author interviews. One website that has all this and more is Kirkus, which is famous for its book reviews. Kirkus also has its own highly coveted literary award, the Kirkus Prize, so check out which books have won in the past and perhaps add a few more reads to your TBR pile. 

Arguably the leading online book community platform is Goodreads. Goodreads is a virtual playground for any book-lover. Once you have made an account, you can keep track of all the books you’ve ever read, start making a list of books you want to read, leave one to five star reviews on books, and participate in active literary discussions. Goodreads also has its own literary awards it gives out each year, and Goodreads members are able to vote for which books they think should win! 

Subscribe to all the newsletters!

Literary newsletters are one of the easiest (and most underappreciated) ways to get all the bookish content your heart desires, and they are absolutely one of my favorite literary tools. These letters are completely free, go straight to your inbox, and are packed with everything from industry news, to local bookstore events, to book giveaways, and more! If you want to stay on top of exclusive content like author interviews and new book release announcements, you’ll definitely want to hop on the newsletter train.

However, because there are so many book-related newsletters out there, it can be a little overwhelming when deciding which ones you want to sign up for. A good place to start would be to think about specific books or genres that you enjoy reading. If you’re constantly immersed in YA novels, you might like Book Riot’s What’s Up in YA newsletter. If you’re a voracious reader on a budget, you’d probably love HarperCollins’ newsletter Bookperk, which offers tons of deals on print books and e-books. And if you’re just looking for the latest industry news on authors, big names in publishing, bookstores, and more, Shelf Awareness is the perfect newsletter for you! Your favorite bookstore or local library probably has a newsletter as well, so grab your laptop, do some research, and start signing up!

Follow bookish social media accounts.

Facebook has stuck around through the crazy ups and downs of the social media world, and most people—including myself—attribute its enduring success to none other than Facebook groups. There are literally hundreds of thousands of groups you can join on facebook. Some are truly bizarre, like the group where everyone pretends to be ants in an ant colony (yes, I am a part of this group) or the Cool Dog Group, where everyone posts adorable pictures of their dogs. But there are also tons of book-themed Facebook groups that are very entertaining ways to bring even more literary goodness into your life.

If you’re constantly looking for new reads (despite having an overflowing TBR pile) or just want a place to discuss what you’re currently reading, then groups like Book Club Favorites or Friday Reads are for you. Members post about what books they’re currently reading, start discussions with other members, and ultimately celebrate and encourage reading for everyone. Groups like these also have occasional sweepstakes or book giveaways. And if you’re lucky, you might get to chat with one of your favorite authors when you read along with the groups.

For those of you looking for peak book humor to spice up your social media, there’s no better place than SparkNotes’ Twitter account. Their hilarious book memes and literary jokes will make you laugh out loud and make those classics you read in 9th grade English class a little more fun. Instagram also has so much unique literary content to offer in the way of bookstagrammers. There are thousands of book influencers on Instagram that curate their accounts to offer incredibly creative book content. Bookstagrammers like @alyxandriaang and @james_trevino use their photo editing skills to bring you absolutely magical book posts, while users like @uponthepages and @pieladybooks will give you cozy book picks alongside great new book recommendations. So pick up your phone, hit that follow button, and get ready for your social media to be transformed into a book-lover’s paradise!

-By Kierra Sondereker