Chapter One: Let's Talk About Books
And why I'm making the jump to Substack
Hi there! Welcome to Bookish Ramblings,
a space where I (you guessed it) ramble about books. You might know me from my Bookstagram as @bookedinthebakery, and I hope for this space to be an extension of what you can find there, from book recs and reviews to my favorite spots in New York City. I’m an indisputable mood reader, a nonfiction editor, and the founder of the NYC Food + Travel Book Club. But I’m also a lover of pastries, champagne, and exploring new cities. I’m really excited to join Substack to merge all these different parts of myself and share more long-form writing, something I’ve really been missing in these post-college years.
There are so many topics I can’t wait to ramble about—here are just a few examples of what I have in the works:
The value of under-hyped books
Reasons to put down the book you’re not loving
How to create your own book club community
Why your local library is your new best friend
Book recommendations for every mood and vibe
Why I can’t casually browse at bookstores anymore
But that’s not all you’ll find here!
In addition to book recommendations and reviews, I’ll also be sharing my favorite New York City spots—what I’m eating, drinking, and loving in the city I call home. I moved to New York in 2015 for college and have been working in publishing since 2019. There’s a certain thrill I get from discovering a new favorite restaurant just by digging on Google Maps or stumbling across an unexpected free event. You can save these recs for your next NYC trip, but I also hope to inspire you to explore your own city or town more deeply, no matter where you live! Watch this space for my favorite NYC indie bookstores or the best restaurants I’ve tried with my book club.
Where I started & where I want to go next
Since I wrote my first short story in a Lisa Frank notebook during elementary school, I’ve always wanted to be a writer. But after years of writing assignments and college papers just to satisfy my English major requirements, I lost a little bit of that joy that comes from putting words on a page for the sake of creativity alone. It wasn’t until I started my Bookstagram in 2021 that I remembered how joyful and freeing writing can be, especially when you’re sharing what you’re passionate about. Suddenly people actually wanted to read my long-winded reviews of books, and they weren’t scared off by captions that were multiple paragraphs long. I had finally found my people, and I’m so grateful for the community that I’ve built on Bookstagram and the wonderful readers who also just want to chat about books for hours.
Last year, I found myself with a lot of big thoughts on books, like why I was frustrated by only seeing the same 10 popular books in yearly roundups or how I was struggling with some of my worst reading slumps. I started sharing these ideas as unfiltered “rambling thoughts,” and to my surprise, the response couldn’t have been more positive. Turns out people really want to dig deeper and have vulnerable conversations about books and reading, often in chats that are much longer than a single Instagram caption. Since then, I’ve been searching for a space to share those longer bookish ramblings and stretch my writing muscle, so I was thrilled to discover the nuanced writing and endless possibilities on Substack.
I also have to give a special shoutout to
, one of my best friends from college, whose own gorgeous Substack really inspired me to take this plunge!Creating Bookish Ramblings is my attempt to reclaim the creative benefits of writing for myself, and I’m excited to continue to define what this space looks like and who I can become as a writer.
Before you go…what I’m loving in NYC right now
As NYC inches closer to real spring and warmer weather, there’s nothing I love more than taking a blanket to Central Park and reading for hours. This introduction post also wouldn’t be complete without a mention of my current obsession: pink trees!! I absolutely adore all of the cherry blossoms and magnolias that have been blooming recently, and my camera roll is proof of that—these are only a few photos of the hundreds I’ve taken.
I also have to mention the best meal I’ve had in New York City lately: Lunch at KJUN, a Korean and Cajun soul food restaurant in Midtown East. Inspired by Chef Jae Jung’s upbringing in Seoul and her culinary experience in New Orleans, the menu pairs delicious flavors in fun and unique ways. I never would have expected this fusion, but eating cheesy grits paired with gochujang andouille sausage changed my mind! It’s a small, intimate space, and I recommend stopping by for a midday lunch so you can grab a seat. Eating here reminded me of why I love living in NYC—there are just so many opportunities to find new-to-me cuisines and restaurants.
Thank you, thank you!
I’m truly so grateful that you’ve found your way to this space and are reading this post! I hope you enjoyed it, and if you’re excited for all the bookish rambles still to come, make sure to subscribe (and tell a friend!).
Wishing you all the five star reads,
Katherine
Obsessed!!! So proud of you! We needed all this and can’t wait to be influenced into my next 5 star read 💖
Excited for your book (+ NYC) recs!! 🫶