There’s something about New York in January that begs for a good book and even better company, and our first WVBC meeting of the year delivered on all fronts. We’re feeling especially grateful for a night that brought us around the table, warmed by the fire, and deep in discussion.

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This month, Jenna (@jennakathrynbaer) hosted our January meeting, welcoming us into her West Village apartment for an evening that felt equal parts intimate and indulgent. We cozied up to discuss Rona Jaffe’s The Best of Everything— a sharp, deeply observant, and still-so-relevant look at ambition, friendship, and becoming yourself in 1950s New York.

True to form, the night revolved around a seriously good spread. Jenna served an Italian-inspired dinner featuring a classic charcuterie board upon arrival followed by spicy rigatoni, garlic bread, and a classic caesar salad, exactly the kind of comfort food January calls for. And because it wouldn’t be WVBC without dessert, we closed the night with a Brooklyn blackout cake from Little Cupcake Bakeshop (one of our all-time favorites) to celebrate Laura’s birthday. We’re especially excited about their new Bleecker Street location, which feels like a gift to the neighborhood (and to us)!

The table was just as thoughtful as the menu. Jenna set the scene with a mix of taper candles and votives, and debuted her new Ginori plates for the very first time—a group wedding gift from WVBC that made the evening feel even more special and full-circle.

Ps. If you’re new here (welcome!) or missed our last recap, be sure to check it out below!

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Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our January WVBC pick: The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe

• A note on our upcoming event, Conversations on Creativity

• Local spotlight: McNally Jackson

• Everything WVBC read in January

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

January WVBC Meeting Recap: The Best of Everything

We started the year with a New York classic: The Best of Everything by Rona Jaffe. The novel was originally published in 1958 and follows a group of working women in a hot NYC publishing house. Think Sex and the City if it was set in MadMen era Manhattan. Many lunch martinis were had.

Despite being written 68 years ago, the story was as relevant as ever. We all found ourselves in the struggles, the successes, the thoughts, and the feelings of each of the women. It was smart, sharp and reminded us that female friendship has always been a sacred bond. Girlhood is forever!

In an interview with Bustle, Sarah Jessica Parker claimed that The Best of Everything would have been Carrie’s favorite book. We wholeheartedly agree.

A Conversation on Creativity with Jessica Knoll

We’re so beyond excited for our first event of 2026: Conversations on Creativity with best-selling author Jessica Knoll, hosted by WVBC and our favorite Murray’s Cheese. It’s going to be a fabulous night of thoughtful conversation, the best cheese spread in the city, and a chance to connect with other like-minded (and bookish) new friends.

If you were lucky enough to snag tickets before they sold out, we’ll see you there! If not, don’t you worry. We have more events coming this year, and our Substack subscribers will be the first to know what’s on deck. Also, you can still get in on the fun if you’re not there IRL by ordering from our exclusive link in partnership with McNally Jackson to preorder a signed copy of Jessica Knoll’s forthcoming novel, Helpless.

Pre-Order Your Signed Copy

Local Business Love: McNally Jackson

There’s nothing more romantic than an NYC bookstore and McNally Jackson is the best of the best. It’s an independent bookseller with five locations across Manhattan and Brooklyn that are all worth checking out, but we’re especially keen on our local SoHo shop. When you step inside, the hustle and bustle of the city is immediately drowned out by the stacked shelves of perfectly curated books. We assume it’s what Belle felt like when she saw the library in the castle for the first time! And it’s on Prince Street, so…

Aside from its insane collection of books, magazines, paper goods, and other knick-knacks, McNally Jackson also has a special section of works called McNally Editions. McNally Editions are curated republishings of out-of-print hidden gems and other lost classics that remain relevant to contemporary culture; stories that deserve a second chance for a new audience. They make excellent gifts and souvenirs for bookish friends!

McNally also hosts book clubs and events with authors and other literary figures, so if you’re looking for a fun city activity, be sure to check out what they have on for the month! They also have great merch and give you a cute bookmark with every purchase.

What We’re Reading and Loving this Month

January in the West Village was cold and snowy and the perfect month to cozy up at home and read. Here’s what the girls were flipping through this month:

Chelsea’s Corner

Workhorse by Caroline Palmer was such a gripping read for me. Sort of like a trainwreck you can’t look away from. It transports you to the 2000’s NYC publishing & socialite world in both a fabulous and deeply unsettling way.

Atomic Habits by James Clear was a great book to kick off the year with. I love James’ story, and the book serves as a good guide on how to introduce positive habits (start small, habit stacking, the two-minute rule!) and sustain them.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert is another book that was great to kick off the year with. Kayla inspired me as she reads this every January, and my biggest takeaways were that we need to get out of our own way and creativity should not be that serious. Loved Elizabeth’s stories intertwined!

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles is an elegant, absorbing novel that captures 1930s New York with remarkable charm and precision. Towles’s prose is polished and witty, and his characters feel vivid and deeply human, especially as they navigate ambition, class, and reinvention. It’s a graceful, immersive read that balances glamour with emotional depth, lingering in the mind long after the final page.

All the Ways We Said Goodbye by Beatriz Williams, Lauren Willig and Karen White is a richly layered story creating vivid timelines and compelling characters connected by love, loss, and resilience. The story moves gracefully between eras, offering both intrigue and heartfelt moments, and makes for an engaging, beautifully crafted read.

Big Kiss, Bye-Bye by Claire-Louise Bennett was not for me. Loved the cover, hated the book.

Workhorse by Caroline Palmer is a sharp, compelling read that finds real emotional weight in the rhythms of labor and everyday struggle. Palmer’s prose is precise and observant, bringing depth and dignity to work that often goes unnoticed. It’s a thoughtful, quietly powerful book that stays with you.

The Look by Michelle Obama is filled with behind-the-scenes details about the inner workings of the team that shaped her style, as well as the intense media attention she faced during and after her time in the White House. My biggest takeaway, the mindset she adopted: “If you can’t beat them, work their fascination to your advantage.”

The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave is even better than I remembered. I went to the book launch for the sequel, The First Time I Saw Him, and decided to reread this before diving in. I’m so glad I did. The pace is perfect, the characters and their stories stayed with me and I can’t wait to pick up where we left off.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads, Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!

The Uncool by Cameron Crowe is my new favorite memoir. Crowe is a master storyteller and his own life story is certainly one worth telling. He wrote a coverstory for Rolling Stone when he was 15 years old and then later turned that experience into a movie script and Almost Famous was born. He’s met every rockstar and received every accolade and yet his sincerity, humility and kindness was present in every chapter. Highly rec!

Tom Lake by Ann Patchett was given to me by fellow WVBC member Laura! It was a pretty, nostalgic, comforting read and kind of a slowburn, which I assume was intentional given its 2020 lockdown setting. I think it would make a lovely spring/summer read.

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jennette McCurdy- Late to the party on this one, but I’m Glad My Mom Died was a one-sitting read for me; it’s that compelling. It was so good that I went to her NYC tour stop moderated by Lena Dunham and picked up a copy of her debut novel, Half His Age!

When the Cranes Fly South by Lisa Ridden- A devastatingly beautiful, no-frills story that alternates between the perspective of a dying man and his care workers’ journal entries. Especially resonant if you’ve lost a family member. I loved it.

Disco Bloodbath by James St. James- Written by an original NYC Club Kid; a dark, blunt, and often hilarious account of the late ’80s/’90s club scene and the murder that ended an era. I found it fascinating (who doesn’t love Party Monster?!), but FYI it’s extremely graphic and not particularly sensitive around murder, drug use, etc.

Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert- recommended by my therapist as a positive mindset reset for the new year. She was right!

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton has been sitting on my bookshelf for ages, and after reading The Women in December, it felt like the perfect quippy, palate-cleansing read. Dolly’s writing is deeply honest, hilarious, and occasionally hits you in the gut when you least expect it. I loved how much space she gives to female friendship— not as a side plot, but as the real love story— and how perfectly she captures the messy in-between phases of growing up. Safe to say it’s very much WVBC approved!

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert is one I re-listen to each January, as Chelsea mentioned! Different elements of it resonate each year and with it being such a concise read, it’s one I like to return to at the top of year to remind me what creativity is really about. Highly recommend for those who don’t consider themselves “artists” to expand your mind further on the practice of creativity in all its [glorious] forms.

Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden was an intoxicating listen. I’m a huge fan of memoirs, but this one really had me on the edge of my seat as the writer depicted the rather rapid unraveling of her twenty-year marriage, beginning in March 2020. With settings across New York and Martha’s Vineyard, it was so vivid in place, but also in feeling. Without giving too much away, this is one you’ll want to queue up if you need a reminder that the only person you can count on to take care of you is…you!

How to Win at Travel by Brian Kelly felt like required reading given my profession in luxury travel, not to mention my commitment to the points and miles game. While much of what was covered wasn’t new to me, there were some super niche tips Brian (The Points Guy) gave—for instance, did you know you’re entitled to 5,000 Delta SkyMiles if your baggage takes more than 20 minutes to hit the belt? Love tips like this and recommend the book for the frequent traveler.

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What books did you read to start the year? Let us know in the comments!

Keep the pageturners coming,
xo WVBC

We launched this newsletter on January 1st, 2025, with a simple goal: to find more ways to connect our book-loving community. In between our intimate, six-person monthly West Village Book Club meetings, we loved the idea of popping into your inbox on the first of each month—to share what we read, what stayed with us, and what sparked conversation.

But if we’re being honest (and we always are!), bringing a growing, New York–based community together IRL hasn’t been without its logistical challenges. Beyond our wildly successful first community event last February, we spent much of the year thinking carefully about not just how we wanted to gather—and where it would feel most natural to do so.

One of our most beloved Village institutions, Murray’s Cheese, has generously partnered with us on a new series of intimate community events we’re calling “Conversations on Creativity.” The idea is simple: thoughtful conversation, impeccable food, and the kind of creative exchange that reminds you why you fell in love with books in the first place.

For our inaugural Conversation on Creativity, we’re thrilled to welcome Jessica Knoll as our first conversation partner. Award-winning, endlessly sharp, and deeply candid, Jessica will join us for an evening centered on books, creativity, and the stories we tell ourselves—on and off the page. Our founder, , will lead the conversation, and yes, Murray’s will be handling the food (a detail surely worth getting excited about).

As always, our Substack subscribers are the very first to hear! We’ll be sharing more on our social channels soon, but if you’re keen to join us, we’d recommend snagging your ticket now before they’re gone, as space is limited.

GET YOUR TICKET HERE

In keeping with our commitment to supporting the literary world we love, we’ve partnered with McNally Jackson to offer West Village Book Club attendees an exclusive opportunity to preorder a signed copy of Helpless, the highly anticipated upcoming novel from Jessica Knoll.

This signed preorder option is reserved solely for our WVBC community. Books will be preordered through McNally Jackson and signed by Jessica upon their July release—making this a truly special keepsake tied to a night of thoughtful conversation, creativity, and connection.

Pre-Order Your Signed Copy

We hope to see you in person in just two weeks! Tell your friends to come along, too. We can’t wait to see you there! xxWVBC

The six of us collectively cherish the start of a New Year, and this January 1st is no different. In fact, today marks the one-year anniversary of our launching this very monthly letter. Twelve months ago, we sent out the first edition to just 42 of our friends and family members. In the intervening year, we’re proud that we didn’t miss one single send on the first of each month, and voilà, 812 of you are receiving today’s edition! Thank you for being here—it means the world to us. For the sake of nostalgia, we’re including that very first send below outlining what we read in 2024.

Looking back at 2025, it’s safe to say it was a big year for West Village Book Club. We hosted our first community event, showed up for bookish events all over the city, and gathered around one another’s tables more times than we can count. , our resident theme queen, hosted us to celebrate Galentine’s and Halloween; welcomed us to the most idyllic adult summer camp in Montana; hosted our annual Friendsgiving meeting and closed out the year with the dreamiest Christmas-themed meeting.

In between, we devoured books on the beaches of Mallorca, attended the New York Public Library’s Young Lions Gala, and celebrated major life moments—most notably Jenna’s dreamy Newport ceremony. Laura ran circles around us with 75 books read in 2025. West Village Book Club turned three, and shortly thereafter, all six of us went to the Nutcracker (!!) together. If you’re sensing a theme here, it’s that this year was about showing up—for books, for community, and for one another.

If there’s a reader in your life who you think would appreciate this type of bookish content in their inbox from us once a month, please do forward this on and share the love! xWVBC

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December WVBC Meeting Recap

Chelsea Martin hosted our festive December meeting, which serves as our annual-holiday-party-meets-“favorite-things”-gift-exchange-meets-December-book-club-discussion. It’s a festive celebration of another incredible year of West Village Book Club, and one we always look forward to.

This month, we read The Women, so Chelsea went with a “nostalgic 60s Christmas with a Vietnamese flair” theme. This meant pigs in a blanket and onion dip were on the menu for appetizers, with a Vietnamese chicken salad for dinner. Dessert included the classics — cherry pie (from Brooklyn local Le French Tart) and pecan pie. She also had personalized ornaments at every place setting. We then gathered around the Christmas tree and did our “favorite things” gift exchange, where we each created a gift (times two!) of something we love (think favorite beauty products, candles, transformational hair products, etc). A festive time, it was!

ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our December WVBC pick: The Women

• Recapping everything we read for book club in 2025

• Our members’ favorite reads of 2025

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

WVBC December Pick: The Women

Kristin Hannah does what she does best in The Women: center women whose stories have too often been sidelined by history. Set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, this novel follows a young nurse whose service overseas reshapes everything she thought she knew about love, loyalty, and herself. It’s emotional without being overwrought, deeply researched, and sparked one of our most thoughtful discussions of the year. Highly recommend!

The Women Discussion Qs

WVBC 2025 Picks Revisited

January WVBC Pick

The Champagne Letters by Kate Macintosh

This novel weaves together the story of Barbe-Nicole Clicquot as she builds her champagne empire in 19th-century France with that of a modern woman starting over in Paris after divorce. Moving between past and present through letters, it’s a thoughtful look at resilience, reinvention, and what it means to take control of your own life. A quietly empowering, transportive way to kick off the year.

February WVBC Pick

How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang

This one hit unexpectedly hard. What starts as a sharp, contemporary romance unfolds into a thoughtful exploration of grief, timing, and the ways relationships change us—even when they don’t last. Tender, funny, and quietly devastating, it sparked great conversation around emotional maturity and what it actually means to let go.

March WVBC Pick

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Moody, atmospheric, and completely consuming, this wound up being one of our collective favorites of the entire year. In it, Whitaker blends coming-of-age, crime, and love story into a novel that feels both epic and intimate. This was one of those unanimous picks where everyone came to book club buzzing and eager to discuss!

April WVBC Pick

We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay: Tips, Tales, Travels by Gary Janetti

Pure joy. Gary Janetti’s essays are laugh-out-loud funny while also being sneakily poignant, especially when it comes to aging, ambition, and self-acceptance. An ideal palate cleanser month—and even more special for those of us lucky enough to discuss it with him in person.

May WVBC Pick

They Dream in Gold by Mai Sennaar

Lush, ambitious, and centered on a complex female friendship that spans years and continents. Sennaar’s debut asks big questions about success, identity, and what we owe the people who know us before we become who we’re meant to be. A slower burn that rewarded patient readers.

June WVBC Pick

Outlawed by Anna North

A feminist western that felt both fresh and timeless. Set in a reimagined Old West where women are criminalized for infertility, this book sparked incredible discussion around autonomy, chosen family, and power. Short, sharp, and unlike anything else we read this year.

July WVBC Pick

Hotter in the Hamptons by Tinx

A buzzy summer read that delivered exactly what July calls for: beachy escapism with a modern edge. While lighter than some of our picks, it gave us plenty to talk about when it came to influencer culture, dating expectations, and the performance of perfection.

August WVBC Pick

This Is a Love Story by Jessica Soffer

Quietly devastating in the most beautiful way. Soffer’s writing is intimate and restrained, capturing a love story shaped as much by absence as by presence. This was a contemplative meeting—one where silence between comments said just as much as the discussion itself.

September WVBC Pick

The Art of Vanishing by Morgan Pager

Set inside a museum and rooted in magical realism, this debut imagines a man frozen in time within a painting—and the woman who discovers she can step inside it. What unfolds is an unexpected love story that moves between art and reality, asking big questions about connection, longing, and what it means to truly be seen. Imaginative, romantic, and quietly haunting.

October WVBC Pick

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Moody, environmental, and emotionally charged, this one felt perfect for October. McConaghy’s writing once again proves she’s unmatched at pairing wild landscapes with deeply human stories. This sparked conversations about isolation, climate, and the lengths we go to protect what we love.

November WVBC Pick

Heart the Lover by Lily King

A thoughtful, intimate exploration of love in all its messiness. Lily King writes relationships with such emotional precision, and this novel led to a particularly reflective discussion about timing, compromise, and emotional risk. A quieter pick that resonated deeply.

December WVBC Pick

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Ending the year with this felt intentional. Emotional, sweeping, and centered on female resilience, it brought us full circle—both in subject matter and in how far WVBC has come. A powerful note to close out 2025.

Favorite Reads of 2025

As we look back on a year filled with sweeping love stories, gripping thrillers, and tell-all memoirs beyond what we read for book club, we took on the impossible task of picking favorites. Below, you’ll find all six WVBC members’ top five books of 2025—since there is a fair bit of crossover in our lists (with All the Colors of the Dark appearing four times and several others showing up between two and three times!), this means we’ve got twenty-two unique titles for your consideration.

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt

They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey

Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott

Didion & Babitz by Lili Anolik

The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid

All the Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Conversations on Love by Natasha Lunn

All the Colors Of The Dark by Chris Whitaker

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

The Women by Kristin Hannah

107 Days by Kamala Harris

Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack! Plus, Kayla rounded up her 25 favorite reads of the entire year of 62 books read in her most recent newsletter, linked below.

The Sunday Series

I read 62 books in 2025. These were my 25 faves.

Before we get into the fun, this edition of The Sunday Series is too long for email, so I’d recommend clicking out to read in browser or even better, in the Substack app, where you can like and comment! Your engagement on Substack means the world to me as I work to expand the reach of TSS in 2026 and beyond 💌…

Read more

4 months ago · 19 likes · 6 comments · Kayla Douglas

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn Williams

Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

Heart the Lover by Lily King

The Women by Kristin Hannah

All the Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

Motherland: A Feminist History of Modern Russia, from Revolution to Autocracy by Julia Loffe

Thanks so much for reading our first installment of 2026! What titles have you gotten into and loved lately? Let us know in the comments!

Keep the pageturners coming,
xo WVBC

As we dig deep into the most festive time of year, we’re feeling all the warm and fuzzies looking at how we ushered this season in with our November frolicking. This time of year is all about doubling down on cozy recipes, chipping away at our TBRs, and holding our loved ones close. We’re feeling grateful to have done all three this month!!!!

hosted our November meeting—our third annual mashup between friendsgiving and our November book club discussion. We always do this one potluck style and were delighted to each bring a little taste of our own Thanksgiving tables, including Jenna’s mom’s stuffing recipe, ’s corn soufflé, and Laura’s interpretation of our favorite salad at Left Bank.

The deep emotional threads of our pick this month (more on that shortly) made for the ideal tone to set our tablescape. Kayla shopped predominantly at Union Square Greenmarket to bring her vision to life, centering our ‘Friendsgiving on the Floor’ around fresh produce and florals that made for the anchor to our discussion. For the mains, she took on making her first turkey and several sides, which you can read about in her Substack, linked here.

Ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our November WVBC pick: Heart the Lover

• Local Business Love: Murray’s Cheese

• Laura’s Book Report

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

WVBC November Pick: Heart the Lover

We selected Heart the Lover by Lily King for the same reasons so many other book clubs did this season! Its standout cover became ubiquitous with any booklover’s scroll, and with good reason. This is not just a pretty cover. Within this slim novel, King packs her signature punch, delivering a story about the connection we hold with love from our past that manages to rip your heart out with its tenderness. We can think of almost no reader who wouldn’t connect with this story in some way, though, we do have to give a warning for those who a cancer diagnosis would be triggering.

If your book club winds up selecting Heart The Lover, we suggest checking out these questions.

Local Business Love: Murray’s Cheese Shop

When it comes to ‘provision hunting,’ one of our favorite things about New York is its wide variety of specialty shops. Whether it’s spices from Kalustyan’s, chocolates from Varsano’s, or rugelach from Zabar’s, there is heart and history to so many of the specialty food stores across our city. We’re lucky enough to be neighbors with one of the best, Murray’s Cheese Shop, which has been an institution since 1962. When it came to friendsgiving, Kayla procured many of our starters from Murray’s, including the bacon and goat cheese for our bacon-wrapped dates, as well as the Bulgarian feta and Castelvetrano olives on our grazing board! We’re also huge fans of their collab with Caffè Panna—you can’t go wrong.

Laura’s Book Report

In this month’s book report, Laura read The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray ahead of her first visit to The Morgan Library & Museum. The book follows Belle da Costa Greene—J. P. Morgan’s brilliant, glamorous, sharp-witted personal librarian—who curated his collection while keeping her identity as a Black woman passing as white a secret. By the time Laura finished the final chapter, she was itching to see her world in real life.

Knowing Belle’s story—her negotiations, her courage, her instinct for beauty, and the sheer power she had in shaping one of the world’s great collections—Laura walked in with a sense of reverence I hadn’t expected. Suddenly, the place wasn’t just a museum; it was a testament to one woman’s genius hiding in plain sight.

Before she went, Laura wanted to learn more about the library’s origins, so she did a mini deep dive into Belle’s real role in building the Morgan’s collection. Belle wasn’t just sourcing manuscripts; she was deciding the taste of an American dynasty. And the more Laura read, the more she wanted to see the spaces she would have walked through.

When she stepped into the East Room—those floor-to-ceiling shelves, the carved wood, the dizzying richness of it all—Laura honestly felt a little starstruck. The room is overwhelmingly opulent, but knowing Belle had been here, orchestrating the library’s growth, gave it a human pulse. She found herself imagining Belle gliding across the room in one of her iconic gowns, negotiating with rare-book dealers, charming collectors, and quietly rewriting the narrative of who gets to be a gatekeeper of culture.

And learning that she studied art, languages, and rare manuscripts with the same ferocity she brought to navigating high society only deepened Laura’s appreciation. She wasn’t just curating Morgan’s treasures; she was crafting a legacy that would outlive both of them.

Her favorite part of the book—though surely embellished—is the sense of Belle’s audacity. Her love of the arts, her ambition, her refusal to let her circumstances dictate her destiny. Walking through the Morgan Library, seeing the illuminated manuscripts and Renaissance works she once handled, made the novel feel alive.

The Morgan Library is stunning on its own, but knowing Belle da Costa Greene shaped it into what it is today? That made it unforgettable.

What We’re Reading and Loving this Month

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

Next to Heaven by James Frey is a wildly entertaining ride—I absolutely loved it. I love the trope of rich people misbehaving, and this book delivers in the best way. The contrast between glittering New York and polished-but-shadowy Connecticut sets the perfect stage for all the secrets, scandals, and twists that kept me guessing. I especially loved the character building and the detailed descriptions of the fictional town in Connecticut—they added so much atmosphere and depth to the story. And if you love Elin Hilderbrand’s blend of glamour, drama, and juicy revelations, you’ll love this one too. It’s sharp, addictive, and so much fun to read.

Separate Rooms by Pier Vittorio Tondelli is a tender, melancholic portrait of love and grief. Through Leo’s fragmented memories of his lost partner, the novel captures how mourning distorts time and emotion. Tondelli’s lyrical, intimate style gives the story a quiet power, making even small moments resonate. Though understated and nonlinear, it’s a deeply affecting exploration of longing—and one well suited to Luca Guadagnino’s upcoming film adaptation.

The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt remains important and widely loved because it blends literary ambition with propulsive storytelling. This novel shines in its connection to the art world and the texture of New York City. The painting at its center becomes a symbol of beauty, loss, and survival, and Tartt’s immersive descriptions make the city’s museums, apartments, and streets feel alive. The novel’s most moving strength, though, lies in its complicated friendships—bonds that shift, fracture, and ultimately become a kind of chosen family. At 771 pages, this book consumed the majority of the time I spent reading, and I plan to reward myself with watching the film adaptation, featuring Ansel Elgort and Nicole Kidman.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!

Exit Lane by is part of the 831 collection of romantic short stories and it was v cute! I follow Erika’s Substack, , religiously, so I was excited to read a longer form of fiction from her. A simply breezy read, especially if you’re trying to hit your reading goal by the end of the year.

Magnolia Parks by Jessa Hastings is the first book in one of my very favorite series, affectionately known by fans as the Magnolia Parks Universe. I picked it up again to read on my recent trip to London as that’s where the books take place. It’s very Gossip Girl–toxic drawn out first loves and relationships, upper echelon kids behaving badly, and Chanel bags as “I’m sorry” presents. It’s taken BookTok by storm and can be polarizing… but I absolutely love it! No one writes flirty banter like Jessa Hastings.

Never by Jessa Hastings is not part of the MP Universe but another very Jessa Hastings book. Love triangles and hot, swoony, flawed characters are her specialty. This one is a spin off Peter Pan, but in her version, Wendy’s granddaughter Daphne goes to Neverland and finds herself in between Pan and James Hook (the Captain’s son). I enjoyed it but I think if you’re new to Jessa’s writing, start with MP.

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

Night People by Mark Ronson I think I am actually the last to read this out of the six of us haha. I listened to this on audio and enjoyed Mark’s recounting of 90s nightlife and the art of DJing on physical records. Safe to say this is WVBC approved!

Everyone is Lying to You by Jo Piazza was generously gifted to us by the wonderful author who we are pretty much besties with in our Instagram DMs. We read one of Jo’s other novels, The Sicilian Inheritance, last November and collectively adored it. This pick was definitely less deep with a storyline around trad wife influencers and a murder mystery. Having worked in influencer marketing for over a decade, I found a lot of the details to be misrepresentative of the industry. Sorry, Jo— this wasn’t my fave, but I still *heart* you!

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Joyride: A Memoir by Susan Orlean was one of my favorite memoirs of late. I’m a sucker for books that cover a writer’s life, and this one beautifully documents Orlean’s marriage, divorce, remarriage, motherhood journey, and career writing stories for The New Yorker and beyond. Considering I’ve also read so many memoirs this year about the old guard of the New York media landscape, I also really appreciated the crossover with stories about the years. Highly recommend!

Loved One by Aisha Muharrar was one I was excited to dive into based on how I heard it described as an emotional drama on one of my favorite book podcasts, Bad on Paper, by . I was excited about the plot in which a woman goes on a cross-continental journey to retrieve the belongings of her longtime friend (and first love!) and, in the process, is caught in the crosshairs of his ex. In the end, this was a really slow burn for me, but certainly an example of how niche plot lines can really resonate in small and big ways for readers.

Finding My Way by Malala Yousafzai was one I was excited to dive into after being lucky enough to meet Malala in person at the Meta offices a few weeks back as she discussed her latest book with Shonda Rhimes. This story of her college years was a powerful one and certainly exposed us to what it looks like to navigate public perception, religious and cultural barriers as an immigrant, and unexpectedly, how funny Malala is!

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester I love pairing a book with the place I’m visiting, so I started this one while staying at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris, and it was perfect! The Paris Secret gave me everything I love about The Nightingale (previous WVBC pick!): courageous women, layered history, and emotional tension, but told through a British-American-French lens that feels richly textured. I also adored the modern storyline woven throughout and the fashion thread tied to the House of Dior. If you’re drawn to stories about resilience, sisterhood, and the hidden stories within history, this one is an absolute must-read.

Heidi by Johanna Spyri I picked up Heidi for a little nostalgic comfort reading, as I hadn’t read it since I was a little girl and it completely swept me away again. It’s such a tender, joyful classic. One of those stories that reminds you of the goodness in people, the healing power of nature, and the way simple kindness can transform a life. Reading it as an adult, I appreciated the emotional depth so much more; and, of course, the alpine serenity and beautiful descriptions of nature that reminded me so much of my happy place in Montana, and the gentle lessons about home, love, and belonging.

The Hounding by Xenobe Puris The Hounding had this moody, witchy, almost Virgin Suicides energy that I was really excited about; a haunting atmosphere, a touch of the uncanny, and that feeling that something deeper is humming underneath the surface. But it never fully went there, which left me a little bummed. The vibe was spot-on, the potential was there, but the follow-through felt too restrained for a story that teased so much more. If you love a shorter, atmospheric read for the mood alone, it delivers; I just found myself wishing it had pushed further into the depth it kept hinting at.

Thanks so much for reading! What titles have you gotten into and loved lately? Let us know in the comments!

Keep the pageturners coming,
xo WVBC

We’re writing to you coming off one of the most magical days of the year in NYC: Halloween! The city is always buzzing on the 31st with city kids trick-or-treating on brownstone-lined streets and the iconic West Village Parade closing down 6th Avenue. It feels like Halloweentown come to life.

WVBC had a very festive month!!! hosted our October meeting, and her invite came with strict instructions to come dressed in costume as a book character. No surprise, everyone delivered! We had sweet-as-honey Christopher Robin, ‘70s besties Camila and Karen from Daisy Jones and the Six, New York’s one and only Serena Van der Woodsen (XOXO!), the forever chic Holly Golightly, and the most timeless of all: Daisy Buchanan.

We pulled tarot cards over candlelight and wished both and West Village Book Club a happy birthday! Can you believe this marks three years of WVBC? We feel like we’re just getting started…

Last night, our very own hosted us for a housewarming-meets-Halloween party at her new Brooklyn Heights abode, where we got to celebrate a good old-fashioned Halloween, handing out candy to trick or treaters, making smoky Vampire Negronis, eating pizza from a local spot (Jules!), and indulging in all of the sweet treats. We even made it out to a local dive for karaoke. Read all about it in Chels’ latest Substack, linked here! xx WVBC

Now, let’s get into it! Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our October WVBC pick: Wild Dark Shore

• Small Business Love: Prima Après

• WVBC Turns Three!

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

WVBC October Pick: Wild Dark Shore

A thriller for October? Groundbreaking! We were, in fact, thrilled* to lean into the spooky vibes this month with Charlotte McConaghy’s Wild Dark Shore… which received tons of praise from our friends, followers, and fellow readers! And for good reason, it was an excellent read.

Wild Dark Shore follows a mysterious woman named Rowan who washes up on a dying Antarctic island where a man and his three kids are living alone in what used to be the world’s largest seed bank. She quickly realizes something’s very wrong: sabotaged radios, a fresh grave, and a father with serious secrets. It’s a tense climate thriller about what we’re willing to do to survive when the world is, quite literally, drowning around us.

The author released a series of questions to ask as book club discussion starters! Download them here.

Small Business Love

While we typically do a feature on a ‘local’ business, this month, we wanted to shine a spotlight on a small business that helped make our October meeting even sweeter! A special shoutout to Prima Après, an elegant, quick-service restaurant brand selling comforting pasta dishes and decadent dessert pavlovas both in our stores and online. Co-founder Abney Harper was kind enough to send us both pasta and pavlova from her shop, which made prepping for book club all the more simple! If you’re party planning for the holidays, be sure to check out her lovely selection of products, which can be shipped nationwide.

WVBC Turns Three!

In addition to ’s birthday, this month we were celebrating West Village Book Club turning three! It’s hard to believe that it’s been three whole years since we first gathered in ’ studio apartment, some of us meeting for the very first time that night when now it feels as though WVBC is such an integral part of our lives. This is us encouraging you to start your own book club!!!! It can be as simple as tapping two friends who like to read and asking them to each bring one friend—and voilà, that could be the start of something that can provide immeasurable purpose to your life!

What We’re Reading and Loving this Month

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Night People by Mark Ronson is a book I think we have all read here at WVBC! I loved the NYC nightlife lore, felt the nostalgia of some throwbacks, and also felt like I learned a bit more about my city. Also can we go back to that level of fun?!

Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life by Jamie Kern Lima is a book I finally finished (started it months ago and then picked it back up this month), that I highly recommend listening to on audio book for a little daily pep talk. If you have struggled with any self-worth issues, this is a worthy read.

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

The Price of Illusion by Joan Juliet Buck was recommended by Lauren Sherman on the Fashion People podcast and this memoir completely captivated me. Joan Juliet Buck—who I had no idea was the only American editor-in-chief of French Vogue—tells her story with sharp insight, wit, and a deep love for style, words, and illusion. If you’re fascinated by the inner workings of magazines and publishing, this sits perfectly alongside Tina Brown and Graydon Carter’s memoirs.

Don’t Let Her Stay by Nicola Sanders is a tense, twisty psychological thriller about a new mother whose life unravels when her husband’s estranged daughter moves in. Full of gaslighting, buried secrets, and a creeping sense of danger—perfect for fans of domestic suspense with an unreliable edge.

A Novel Obsession by Caitlin Barasch is the book I can’t stop recommending to everyone. If you devoured Yellowface and can’t resist a story with an unreliable narrator and a fast-moving, slightly unhinged plot, A Novel Obsession belongs on your nightstand. Set in New York, this debut delivers everything I love in a book: messy, complicated female friendships (and rivalries), the intoxicating world of writing about writing, and the kind of psychological tension that keeps you reading past midnight.

The Magnolia Palace by Fiona Davis is a dual-timeline mystery that imagines what life inside the Frick mansion might have been like. Ahead of my first visit to the Frick Collection this year, I picked up The Magnolia Palace — and I’m so glad I did. While the story uses the real Frick family as inspiration, it’s a work of fiction that artfully embellishes and reimagines history for the sake of a compelling narrative. I enjoyed how the novel brought the museum’s past to life, adding an emotional layer to my anticipation of seeing the space in person. A great read for fans of historical fiction with a touch of intrigue.

It Girl: The Life and Legacy of Jane Birkin by offers a fascinating look at how Jane Birkin became such a lasting cultural icon. I enjoyed learning more about Jane Birkin through this book — especially the story behind the iconic Birkin bag. I was surprised to learn that Jane was actually British, even though she’s so often held up as the epitome of “French girl” style. I also didn’t realize she had such a rich music and acting career beyond her fashion influence.

Soft Power by Marisa Meltzer

IT GIRL and Jane Birkin

Listen now

7 months ago · 27 likes · 2 comments · Marisa Meltzer and Derek C. Blasberg

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall earned a spot on my favorites shelf this year. Absolutely devoured this book. I will always love a first love trope (a curse of mine!) and my god this story evoked all those layered, frenzied, too big emotions. Flawed characters, mystery and suspense woven throughout, some twists and turns. Phenomenal.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors is another fan fave of this group and for good reason. This book is as much a love story between Frank and Cleo as it is with the author and New York City. Should be required reading if you live here. Perfectly captures the essence and reminded me of a storyline that could have been on a season of GIRLS.

Night People by Mark Ronson has been read and reviewed by pretty much all the WVBC girls by now so I’ll spare you a lengthy review! I enjoyed it on audio bc Mark has a sexy voice (kind of transatlantic given his London <> New York upbringing) and his stories made me want to get drunk and go party.

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

107 Days by Kamala Harris is a candid recounting of Harris’s historic race for presidency. If your political views align with WVBC’s, you’ll enjoy the honest peek behind the curtain this book offers. If not, keeping scrolling— and tbh, maybe consider unsubscribing (sorry?).

I’ll Have What She’s Having by Chelsea Handler was a quick read and a bit of a palate cleanser for me this month. I’ve had this on my shelf for a while after attending her book launch event with Tinx earlier this year. The novel explored deeper topics than I would’ve expected while still providing plenty of levity and giggles.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism by Sarah Wynn-Williams has left me in complete awe of how naive Facebook was in its early days of the impact it would have on elections and governments around the world. This book was written by a woman who was one of the first to work on public policy at the organization and shook me to my core, particularly for how she portrayed Sheryl Sandberg.

Night People by Mark Ronson LOLOL that we have literally alllll read this by now. Can you tell we share a soft spot for Mr. Ronson? Admittedly, I’m probably the last music-versed in our group, but I loved hearing how in the 90s, the club scene wasn’t what it is now…here’s to a world where going out is less about bottle service and more about good vibes.

Regretting You by Colleen Hoover was one I picked up ahead of the release of the movie adaptation. I had the chance to go to an early screening of it with Threads and thought the film was so well done! I know diehard literary people like to come down on Hoover’s work as being terribly unserious, but I think she hits on what the vast majority of readers are looking for today: pageturners! This one is cute.

Thanks so much for reading! What titles have you gotten into and loved lately? Let us know in the comments!

Keep the pageturners coming,
xo WVBC

Hi, dear readers!

We’re writing to you on another 80° New York day that we desperately wish actually felt like fall. October promises to be the stage where the city looks her best: crisp mornings spent in the Princess Diana uniform (sweatshirt and biker shorts), walks through Central Park’s changing leaves, and of course, the release of The Life of A Showgirl, in addition to a handful of highly anticipated books on our radars.

Ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below

Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our September WVBC pick: The Art of Vanishing

• Laura’s Book Report

• Local Business Love: Parcelle Wine Bar

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

WVBC September Pick: The Art of Vanishing

This month, we chose to read Morgan Pager’s debut, The Art of Vanishing. If you follow @nycbookgirl on Instagram, you know all about this Marketing Director at Atria Books’ journey from being behind the promotion of other writers’ books to the creation of her very own novel. Morgan thoughtfully imagined a magical realism framework for her debut that felt distinct from anything we’ve read before; readers find themselves suspended in a reality where a museum worker can enter the paintings on the walls. It’s a unlike anything we’ve read before and got us thinking more about the fusion of art & literature, as Laura is about to share below.

Laura’s Book Report

We’re trying something new in this space! Since you’ve met all of our members by now, we thought it would be fun to take turns sharing what we’ve been up to—especially as it relates to our latest literary detours.

I’m calling this my Book Report, but let’s see where it goes...

What I loved most about this month’s pick is how it inspired me to read more books about art. Kayla and I went to Morgan Pager’s book launch event for The Art of Vanishing, where she talked about her obsession with museums—specifically the Gardner Museum Heist. I already had a trip to Boston planned and decided I’d visit the museum, but first, I wanted to learn more about the heist and the museum’s history.

In the past, when I’ve visited museums, I’ve felt like I wasn’t getting everything out of the experience that I was supposed to. I didn’t want to just watch a show or read an article about the heist, so I found a historical fiction novel that had the Gardner Heist woven into the plot.

I assigned myself some summer reading and scheduled a field trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro is a twisty literary thriller set in the Boston art world, inspired by the real-life Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist. It follows Claire Roth, a talented but disgraced young artist who’s hired to forge a stolen Degas painting—one that may have been part of the infamous 1990 heist. As Claire delves deeper, she uncovers secrets not just about the painting, but about the museum’s eccentric founder, Isabella Stewart Gardner. The novel blends fact and fiction, weaving in letters from Isabella herself, and while the story takes creative liberties, I’m choosing to believe she was every bit the bold, scandalous, and unconventional socialite the book makes her out to be.

On the night of March 18, 1990, two men disguised as Boston police officers talked their way into the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum just after midnight. Once inside, they overpowered the guards, tied them up in the basement, and spent 81 minutes roaming the galleries. They stole 13 pieces of art, including works by Vermeer, Rembrandt, Degas, and Manet, worth an estimated $500 million—making it the largest art theft in history. In a brutal move, several paintings were cut directly from their frames, causing irreversible damage. None of the artworks have ever been recovered, and the museum still displays the empty frames as a haunting reminder of what was lost.

I was starstruck by the empty frames (if that is even possible) and completely blown away by the opulence and grandeur of the entire museum. While Isabella didn’t actually live in what is now the museum, it was designed to resemble a 15th-century Venetian palace and was built specifically to house her art collection. (Fun fact: she did live on the fourth floor—right above the church. Yes, this palace has a church.)

As someone who is obsessed with The Gilded Age, learning about Boston’s high society only deepened my fixation. Isabella was born into a prosperous family in New York City and married the heir to an even larger fortune in Boston. She and her husband traveled the world collecting art, and she even took art history classes at Harvard.

Her will had clear instructions to make no permanent changes to the museum’s displays. It also stated that the museum should remain for the “enjoyment of the public forever.”

One of my favorite parts of the book—although likely not true—was Isabella’s “inappropriate” relationships with Edgar Degas and John Singer Sargent. Not only does she have a Self-Portrait, Aged 23 by Sargent in the collection (see above), but El Jaleo, a life-size depiction of a Spanish dancer (see below), is mounted in its own alcove—she designed the space around it.

The entire museum is over-the-top in the best possible way.

Local Business Love: Parcelle Wine Bar

This month we took our meeting at Parcelle, one of our favorite local wine bars on MacDougal Street. The interior is chic and the service is outstanding, a true neighborhood gem. Their wine list is extensive, but their menu states that they always have something special open and to inquire if you’re up for a fun surprise sip. Some highlights for us: the chilled red, prosciutto and figs, & the roasted garlic rigatoni. We were celebrating ’ birthday and they happily served our cake and candles with the coded plates and utensils we brought.

P.S. This would be a great first date spot. Make sure to ask him what his favorite book is before the night’s over ;)

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors is a favorite amongst a number of the WVBC gals, so I knew I had to read it. Set primarily in New York, Paris, and London, the travel girl in me loved the backdrop, but the real reason to read this book is the beautifully written and emotionally layered story that just pulls you right in. It is heartbreaking, it is messy, and the characters’ flaws shine through the story. But isn’t that what life is?

The Housemaid by Freida McFadden is a book I somehow never read, even though my love for reading started in the psychological thriller genre. I flew through the book in just a couple of days (which is rare for me!) The story had me completely locked in, and the twists & turns were just as unpredictable as they were unnerving. The movie is coming out in December, so I highly recommend reading it before then!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

They All Went To Barneys: A Personal History of the World’s Greatest Store by Gene Pressman is a tribute to one of fashion’s most iconic retail empires and my first real place of employment! With insider flair and vivid storytelling, Pressman chronicles the rise, innovation, and eventual fall of Barneys New York—blending personal memories with the store’s cultural impact. It’s both a nostalgic love letter and a savvy business reflection.

This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald was not my favorite at first, as it is centered on Amory Blaine, a self-absorbed and idealistic young man. The novel traces his privileged upbringing through Princeton University and into the disillusionments of adulthood. I did enjoy the blending of prose, poetry, letters, and dialogue—mirroring the restlessness of Amory and the Jazz Age generation he represents. About halfway through, we meet Rosalind and this is when I started to really love the book. While it wasn’t my favorite Fitzgerald and wouldn’t be the first I’d recommend, I did end up enjoying it by the end.

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors is about three sisters grappling with the sudden death of their fourth sister. I absolutely loved Coco Mellors’ writing—her prose is gorgeous and emotionally honest without ever feeling forced. The characters are so flawed, but that’s what made them feel incredibly real. They hurt each other, love each other, and try to heal. Every chapter pulled me deeper into their world. Mellors has such a gift for writing messy, beautiful human relationships, and this book stayed with me long after I finished it.

Tart: Misadventures of an Anonymous Chef by Slutty Cheff is an honest memoir about leaving a 9-to-5 marketing job, signing up for culinary school, and diving head‑first into London’s restaurant world. Between sweat, burns, relentless hours in the kitchen, sexism, and complicated romances, she wrestles with ambition, identity, mental health, and what it means to build a life you actually want. The writing is raw, vivid, funny—full of food and sex, of longing and chaos.

Night People: How to Be a DJ in ‘90s New York City by Mark Ronson is a book I’ve been excited about for a few months and not only because I have the biggest crush on Mark. I was lucky enough to attend the Book Report event at Warby Parker in SoHo days after the book came out. His story reminds you that what looks effortless later was built on obsession, patience, sweat, and community. For someone as successful as he is, his writing about that era is surprisingly honest and humble—it only made me respect him more… and deepen my crush.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Mass Sometimes you need to dip your toe into a fantasy world and no one does it better than Sarah J Mass. I’ve read and (mostly) loved the ACOTAR series so I was curious to try the Throne of Glass and it was a fun, easy read. I missed the world building of ACOTAR, but loved Celaena Sardothien as a main character. I’ll continue the series as a monthly palette cleanser and brain escape.

Wildflower: A Memoir by Aurora James Aurora James is the creative director and founder of luxury accessories brand Brother Vellies and of the 15% Pledge, a non-profit organization that aims to close the racial wealth gap by asking retailers to commit 15% of their SKUs to Black-owned businesses. Her story is inspiring and I adore her curious mind, strong sense of self and commitment to making the world a better place. Highly rec a listen on audiobook, her voice is so cute!

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

Brooke Shields Is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging as a Woman by Brooke Sheilds I was not expecting to feel passionately about this audiobook when I first decided to give it a listen, but wow was I wrong. Narrated by Brooke herself, she recounts her journey through womanhood and the many experiences that have shaped her relationship with herself and her daughters. Each chapter was more honest and real than the next, with a perfect blend of personal wisdom complemented by data and research. I’m also low key obsessed with the fact that she lives in the West Village and named her dog Tusi after Lartusi. Highly recommend!

Tell Me Everything by Minka Kelly is a powerful memoir about Minka’s life underlined by her complex relationship with her mother. She starts from the beginning, recounting experiences from her childhood that tug at the heartstrings. It’s ultimately a story of love and compassion for the woman who raised her, albeit imperfectly, that brought tears to my eyes throughout multiple chapters.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Empire of the Elite: Inside Condé Nast, the Media Dynasty That Reshaped America by Michael Grynbaum was a continuation of my reading Graydon Carter’s memoir about his time being at the center of the magazine world’s golden age. This one goes back all the way to Condé Nast’s founding and brings the reader through the evolution of the media giant with a theme around its excessive spending and the now antiquated notion of the endless editor expense account. My favorite chapters were those about how Si Newhouse was behind the elevation of Anna Wintour, Tina Brown, Graydon Carter, and so many more.

Notes on a Sudden Disappearance by Alison Espach is the author’s debut which I wanted to read after hearing that Bad on Paper podcast was going to discuss it. We loved her sophomore novel, The Wedding People, and this one reads with the same brilliant voice. This story follows a sister speaking to her dead sister over the course of nearly two decades, ultimately turning into a breathtaking love story between her and the boy that was at the center of her sister’s demise.

All the Way to the River: Love, Loss, and Liberation by Elizabeth Gilbert was an auto download for me as I’ve read every book—fiction and nonfiction—that Gilbert has ever written. This one reads distinctly different, and much darker, than her usual fare. We follow the complicated path of Gilbert falling in love with her best friend and breaking up her second marriage to be with her after she receives a cancer diagnosis. To further heighten the stakes, there is drug addiction and love addition at play.

Sex and Rage by Eve Babitz was one I was inspired to pick by Laura! This story takes place between LA and New York, following a young writer eager to make it in the big city, despite her love for the beach bum lifestyle she grew up loving in Santa Monica. Our protaganist, Jacaranda is immersed in the world of intellectuals and artists, but struggles to find her way, particularly with the enigmatic influence of a man named Max who is a master of manipulation.

If You Don’t Like This, I Will Die: An Influencer Memoir by Lee Tilghman is a book I wish I could recommend, but have to admit, I listened to purely from a voyeurist perspective because I followed Lee for a long time post-college. Once I started listening, I quickly realized her take on how she amassed (and lost) a massive following felt devoid of accountability for some of the shady things she did during those early Instagram days. This is a pass for me!

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!

Night People: How to Be a DJ in ‘90s New York City by Mark Ronson feels exactly like slipping into Mark Ronson’s brain at 2 a.m. and I wanted to dive right in! I consider myself a longtime M.R. fan, he is my celebrity hall pass. Electricity is on every playlist I’ve ever made. His book has that insider, nocturnal cool he’s known for, but it’s also surprisingly tender and self-aware. You can feel the pulse of New York, fame, a sense of community in the city, and also that sense of loneliness that can only be found surrounded by millions of people, and, of course, his creativity running through it. It made me nostalgic for a scene and places in the city that I was never even old enough to have ever experienced! This is the kind of book that makes you want to stay up all night, and maybe go out after!

Hello, dear readers!

Writing to you all freshly returned from Newport, Rhode Island where our girl Jenna just got married! Special occasions call for special circumstances (change during Virgo season? alas, we’re trying!), so we’re deviating away from our normal format of introducing you to a member to share some highlights from what was a stunningly gorgeous and deeply meaningful weekend. What follows is a recap of the festivities as well as some of our favorite Newport spots from the weekend, and of course, what we read this month!

ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

West Village Book Club

WVBC monthly: chapter 07

Hello, dear readers…

Read more

9 months ago · 8 likes · Kayla Douglas and Jenna Rice

Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our August WVBC pick: This is a Love Story

• Jenna’s Wedding, aka The Met Gala for the WVBC

• Local Business Love Newport, RI Edition: The Nitro Bar

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

WVBC August Pick: This is a Love Story

We chose This is a Love Story because we love novels set in New York City (duh!), and this one captures the city—especially Central Park—in such a vivid, cinematic way that the park felt like a character in its own right. The shifting perspectives added depth and intimacy to the story, giving us insight into the inner lives of each character. We were especially drawn to the strong character development and emotional complexity, which made the love story feel both tender and authentic.

With our busy summer schedules and Jenna’s wedding quickly approaching, we decided to keep our meeting more casual this month. We shared pizza from L'Industrie at Talea (both on Christopher Street in the West Village) while discussing travel plans, dresses, and final details for the royal wedding.

We’re not sure where she found the time while planning the wedding of the century, but Jenna surprised us with the first prototype for WVBC merch: butter yellow baseball caps! What do you think? We’re gauging interest for our first order, and we’d love to hear from you in the comments if you’re interested! xxWVBC

Jenna’s Wedding: The Met Gala for the WVBC

On August 31st, WVBC founding member Jenna tied the knot in the most magical Newport celebration. We’re seriously still swooning. The weekend kicked off at the iconic International Tennis Hall of Fame, where her dad and brother—clearly as talented as they are sentimental—closed out the welcome party with a surprise rendition of Willow by Taylor Swift. The way we SHRIEKED with joy!

The wedding was held at the breathtaking Castle Hill Inn, where, after spending the previous afternoon reading in the Adirondack chairs on their lawn overlooking all the passing sailboats, we watched in awe as our girl got glammed up. She glowed from the inside out, and when it came time to do the dress reveal, you best believe we needed those linen hankies she had for us.

After Jenna and her angel groom, Matthew, did their first look, we all got to see the tent for the first time. Jenna’s floral vision came to life in the most spectacular way…truly the dreamiest backdrop to dance the night away. But first, we had to get our girl wed! The ceremony was officiated by Jenna’s fabulous sister-in-law, Amy, who gave the most heartfelt address before the couple exchanged their personal vows—to say we were weeping is an understatement.

A major highlight? WVBC got several shoutouts in speeches throughout the weekend, including from the Maid of Honor and Best Man. Let’s just say that if Danny’s petition to join was genuine, we’re absolutely holding him to it!!!! (We really hope Jenna’s mother-in-law, Cammy, who has had a book club for 41 years and counting, is reading this and smiling big time).

As the night rolled on, we danced ourselves into a frenzy (read: went absolutely feral) when Taylor’s Love Story came on. A perfect ending to a perfect day.

Jenna, we love you. Your wedding was the most beautiful testament to the genuine love that you and Mattie share. We were so honored to be by your side on your special day and hope you have the BEST minimoon! No one deserves some sunshine and a beach read more. 

Local Business Love Newport, RI Edition: The Nitro Bar

As certified coffee, matcha, and sweet treat lovers, we were excited to see if the Newport hot spot—The Nitro Bar—lived up to the hype… and boy, did it ever! Our Airbnb was situated between both locations (fate??) so we took it upon ourselves to try them both before the weekend was over. 

They’re famous for their craft lattes with seasonal syrups and fun flavors (get the carmelized banana if you can!), but their pastries and breakfast wraps were equally delicious. We love to support a women-co-founded small business, and this one is very deserving of its 137K+ followers and counting. 

Hot tip: order ahead to beat the line. And trust us, there WILL be a line. 

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

The Art Forger by B.A. Shapiro blends real-life art history with fictional drama, creating a suspenseful yet emotionally resonant story. The novel deepened my appreciation for the Gardner Museum itself and visiting the museum after reading the book was a surreal experience. Walking through the courtyard, seeing the empty frames, and absorbing the atmosphere made the story come alive in a whole new way.

It’s A Love Story by Annabel Monaghan didn’t quite land for me. The stakes were so high and dramatic that the romance lost its grounding—nothing about the characters’ choices or situations felt realistic. Instead of getting swept up in the love story, I found myself questioning the believability of it all. If you’re looking for something light and grounded, this probably isn’t the one.

Eve’s Hollywood by Eve Babitz is pure, sparkling brilliance. She writes with such wit and sensuality that every page feels like a sun-drenched day in 1970s L.A. I couldn’t love Eve more—her unapologetic voice, her insider-outsider perspective, and her effortless cool made this book an instant favorite.

When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines by Graydon Carter offers a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the worlds of culture, politics, and high society. His essays are smart, funny, and tinged with just the right amount of wistfulness. It’s a thoroughly enjoyable read for anyone who loves great storytelling and a peek into the golden age of glossy magazine journalism.

The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict and Victoria Christopher Murray is about Belle da Costa Greene, J.P. Morgan’s personal librarian, who built one of the world’s greatest collections while hiding her true identity as a Black woman passing as white. This was such a powerful read—especially impactful ahead of a visit to the Morgan Library, where her legacy still lives.

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors is a beautiful, heartbreaking, and intelligently written debut that lingers long after the final page. These characters are flawed and feel so real. Perfect for book clubs or anyone navigating complicated relationships. This is more than a romance—it’s a reflection on identity, dependency, and the act of letting go.

Unreasonable Hospitality: The Remarkable Power of Giving People More Than They Expect by Will Guidara was recommended to me during a corporate training event… which sounds so boring, but I loved this book. I found it to be so applicable to any and all relationships. It is part memoir, part leadership manual—and fully inspiring. Through vivid stories from Guidara’s time at Eleven Madison Park (like hot dogs served on fine china or sledding in Central Park), he makes the case that creating magic moments is possible in any industry. 

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram

Time Of Your Life by Jessa Hastings

Jessa Hastings’ writing feels like watching an episode of Gossip Girl. Much like her hit series Magnolia Parks, Time of Your Life is a wild, chaotic romance between two of London’s most rich and famous. I still prefer the MP universe, but I will quite literally read anything Jessa writes. 

The Women by Kristin Hannah

Women can be (and are!) heroes. This beautiful historical fiction follows Frankie, an Army nurse, and her experience of love and loss during her tour in Vietnam. I learned so much about the war and its devastating aftermath — but my biggest takeaway was a feeling of gratitude for the women who came before me. I live with freedom and choice because women like Frankie (and her best friends Barb and Ethel) were extraordinarily brave and fought for the rights and recognition they deserved. 

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpmen

After seeing this book all over my FYP I decided to pick it up and see what all the hype was about. It’s eerie, dystopian, introspective, and left a lot to be desired. I think that’s the point! If you enjoyed The Handmaid's Tale and Klara and the Sun you might like this. 

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Exit Lane by

A novella by 831 Stories set to come out in a couple of weeks, I really enjoyed my arc of this book. It’s inspired by When Harry Met Sally, following Teddy and Marin from their road trip to New York City through eight subsequent years, where the universe tries to bring them together. A great one to pick you up out of a reading slump!

Cleopatra and Frankenstein by Coco Mellors

I devoured this one while in Greece, finding myself feeling like the couple depicted—Cleo and Frank—were real people. Mellors’ writing is that descriptive…the type of prose that’s approachable while still feeling like you’re getting smarter from being immersed in her world! I immediately texted Laura that she needed to read it, knowing she’d appreciate this debut as much as I did. We’re already counting down until her next book!

Gwyneth by Amy Odell

I’m a huge fan of memoirs and almost always have one on my Libro.FM app…but this one was a bit different in that it was an unauthorized biography. If you read Amy’s biography of Anna Wintour, you know that she has a knack for thorough journalism and an uncanny ability to get interviews with those who’d otherwise never agree to speak to a writer. This was certainly the case with Gwyneth, a book that digs into the enigma that is the founder of Goop—not to mention, the daughter of Blythe Danner and an actress in her own right. Highly recommend!

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram

The Absent One by Jussi Adler-Olsen 

I’ve been really into the Department Q series after watching the first season of the TV adaptation on Netflix, and The Absent One might be my favorite so far. It follows a complicated detective and his band of misfit investigators while they solve cold cases, and also a mysterious crime against the main character himself! It’s dark, twisty, and keeps the pace of a thriller while giving you that moody, atmospheric Scandinavian crime feel. If you liked The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo or Jo Nesbø’s books, this scratches the same itch. 

The Art Forger by Barbara Shapiro 

I’ve been obsessed with the Isabella Stewart Gardner heist for years, so when Laura recommended The Art Forger, I had to dive in immediately! The Boston backdrop, combined with the vivid descriptions of painting styles and the art world, completely captured my imagination. I loved picturing the main character’s “Window” series or the glamorous gallery Markel G, and I even learned a lot about the techniques behind forgery and copying. The book reignited my lingering hope that someday we’ll discover what really happened to those stolen masterpieces! 

What Kind of Paradise: A Novel by Janelle Brown

I was instantly pulled into What Kind of Paradise because of its story setting being just outside of Bozeman, Montana! The book even included some of my favorite local businesses, like The Western Cafe and Country Bookshelf! The main character’s off-the-grid childhood with her father is both beautiful and unsettling, and it made me think about the line between freedom and isolation. 

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If you’re anything like us, the first day in August finds you listening to Taylor singing about salt air and rust on your door…it also has you wondering where the heck summer is going! We’re looking to savor every last moment—a feat we are tackling head-on calendars packed with summer travels, weddings, and alllll the dining al fresco in between.

Speaking of summer travels, as mentioned in last month’s send, a few of us went to Spain mid-July (paperbacks and Kindles in tow) to every beach and pool we could find. We returned having tackled many ‘Want to Read’s on our Goodreads lists and with a very healthy list of books to share in our monthly recap of reads. Laura even found a gorgeous copy of The Great Gatsby in Spanish to add to her collection at a stunning bookstore we stumbled upon in Palma, Mallorca, called Babel that you absolutely must check out if you find yourself on the island.

ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

West Village Book Club

WVBC monthly: chapter 06

Hello, dear readers…

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10 months ago · 9 likes · 1 comment · Chelsea Martin and Kayla Douglas

Aaaand before we dive into this month’s send, as a sneak peek looking ahead to fall, we’re thrilled to share that we are nailing down details on another event! We’re not quite ready to share, but you’ll be the first to know when it’s locked in.

Included in this month’s recap:

• Recap of our July WVBC pick, Hotter in the Hamptons

• Member Moment: Meet Jenna Rice

• Local Business Love: Casa Magazines and Casa Next Door

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

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WVBC July Pick: Hotter In The Hamptons by Tinx

Tinx’s Hotter in the Hamptons is exactly what you’d expect from the queen of dolling out dating advice—sharp, funny, and a little unhinged (in the best way). Set against the hustle of New York and the sun-drenched backdrop of the Hamptons, this book follows an influencer, Lola, as she navigates being cancelled, shortly followed by a breakup with her long-term boyfriend. The result is her getting her life together a summer out East, all while falling for the girl next door…no, really.

And when it came to hosting, Jenna truly outdid herself hosting this month’s gathering. She pulled out all the stops, including buttery lobster rolls served alongside bottles of Hamptons Water rosé, followed by a surprise Magnolia Bakery cake to celebrate Chelsea’s birthday in typical West Village Book Club style. It was the kind of thoughtful, chic spread that felt both effortless and deeply considered—the ultimate love language for our book club crew.

Member Moment: Meet Jenna Rice (…soon to be Jenna Baer!)

WVBC rapid fire intro Qs!!

• Zodiac sign? Taurus sun, Leo rising!

• Kindle or physical book: Physical book

• Preferred audiobook platform: Spotify for nonfiction

• Most beloved NY bookstore: Three Lives and Company

• All-time favorite author: Rebecca Serle

• Favorite book of all time: 28 Summers by my queen, Elin Hilderbrand!

WVBC: Jenna, you’re an OG member of WVBC. How has being a part of book club changed the way you approach reading?

Jenna: I’m so lucky to have been a part of WVBC from the very beginning! I’ve never considered myself an avid reader, but I always feel my best when I prioritize reading as part of my routine. As the saying goes, “the people we spend the most time with shape our thoughts and behaviors.” For me, I’m lucky enough to spend a lot of quality time with five voracious readers who have kindled my love of reading and help hold me accountable.

I’m definitely the one who is cramming to finish the book at the final hour— ok, sometimes minute— but what can I say? I read well under pressure. More than anything, I try not to take reading too seriously. While every once in a while I surprise myself and fall deep into our more literary picks like The Nightingale or All the Colors of the Dark, I tend to lean towards breezy beach reads.

WVBC: You live in West Village and work in influencer marketing—two worlds that feel steeped in inspiration. How do your surroundings (and job!) shape the way you approach books and tastemaking alike?

Jenna: Working in influencer marketing means I am constantly thinking in a content-first mindset, which definitely comes in handy when curating WVBC meetings and creating shareable @westvillagebookclub posts. That said, spending so much time on social media has deepened my appreciation for being offline and reading. Living in West Village has only added to that experience. The neighborhood is full of charm and makes the perfect backdrop for an audiobook stroll. Some of my best listening happens on the West Side Highway!

Jenna: This past month, you hosted the sweetest summer night with a Hamptons-themed menu as a nod to our July pick, Hotter in the Hamptons, and back in December, you hosted the most epic Christmas-themed meeting. When you host, how do you go about curating a thoughtful gathering?

Jenna: Hosting is absolutely my favorite part about book club (sorry, books!). I love drawing inspiration from the book itself to inform how I approach the menu and decor. I like to follow the “if you’re going to do it, do it right” mantra—I love going just a little bit over the top in an effort to wow everyone (a true over-indulgent Taurus!). I always consider the guest experience when planning and think through the “flow” of the evening; prioritizing comfort, ease, and overall good vibes.

I like to push myself to do something a little unexpected each time I host. For our Christmas meeting, this meant a hot cocoa bar with personalized mugs for each of the girls to take home, and in July, this looked like getting 10K balloons to surprise Kayla for hitting an Instagram milestone (cue the giggles). There is truly nothing that fills my cup more than the gals leaving my apartment raving about the night—words of affirmation is my love language!

WVBC: You’re low-key planning the wedding of the century. What are you most looking forward to when it comes to your big day in Newport at the end of this month?

Jenna: Ahhh, I can’t believe I’m a month out from my wedding! While cliche, I’m most excited about marrying Matt. WVBC has been with me on this journey from the beginning—from dating and its many disappointments to finally meeting “the one.” I feel so incredibly lucky and am definitely soaking up this chapter. Beyond that, I can’t wait to see my vision come to life! From the ceremony to the florals and all the little details in between, I can’t wait to experience the weekend I’ve been dreaming up for the past year.

WVBC: And finally, how would you spend a dream Sunday in West Village?

Jenna: Oooo, I love this question! I moved to West Village in early 2020, literally right before the pandemic. More than five years later, and this neighborhood still makes me swoon on a regular basis. My dream Sunday would start with a coffee from Casa Next Door, followed by a stroll to New York Pilates for a late morning class. Afterwards, I’d grab a breakfast malawach wrap and liquid sunshine from Edith’s. The afternoon would look like popping in and out of shops on Bleecker and ultimately making my way to San Sabino or Don Angie to put my name in for a walk-in. I’d head home to freshen up and sync up with Matt, and we’d get a text around 5:30pm that our bar seats are ready. After a stroll back home, I’m showered and in bed by 9pm, reading this month’s WVBC pick. Life is good!

Local Business Love: Casa Magazines and Casa Next Door

Casa Magazines has long been the West Village destination for print lovers—often hailed as New York City’s “magazine mecca.” Located on 8th Ave between 12th and Bleecker, this tiny corner shop packs an outsized punch for its lean square footage over 2,000 international fashion, design, and culture titles, from rarities to mainstream glossies. Founded in the 1970s and run by Mohammed Ahmed (later joined by our dearest Ali!), it has persevered through print’s decline and even a COVID-era closure, supported by a neighborhood GoFundMe and media attention highlighting its irreplaceable community role.

Next door, Casa Next Door opened this fall, extending that vibe into a light-filled haven of books, coffee, and community. This café-bookstore hybrid is run by the same team behind Casa Magazines, reimagining the building’s previously shuffled retail spaces into a welcoming gathering hub. With its front room devoted to curated books—travel, art, fashion, design—and the café in back serving espresso-based drinks like the signature “Casa latte” made with espresso, honey, cinnamon, plus rotating pastries, the space encourages lingering and actually meeting your neighbor instead of just strolling (or scrolling) past them.

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Nantucket Nights by Elin Hilderbrand

I went to Nantucket in July so in preparation for my trip, I indulged myself in two Elin books I had yet to read (shocking to think I still haven’t read a handful of my girl Elin’s books!) This one was fun and different from past Elin books I have read, although definitely an interesting subject matter (it was written in 2002… might be a bit too scandalous nowadays!) I won’t spoil much but I do enjoy the female friendships (albeit messy) component of it, and the book has you constantly guessing what happened that fateful night!

A Summer Affair by Elin Hilderbrand

One thing I love about Elin’s writing is her character development, but this one didn’t really hit the mark for me. I just didn’t love the main characters? (I did enjoy some of the fringe characters' fun, however). But I do love some Nantucket escapism and a big gala!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

Just Kids by Patti Smith is an immersive and cinematic memoir that captures the raw beauty of Patti Smith’s early years in New York City alongside photographer Robert Mapplethorpe. With poetic honesty, she paints a portrait of two carefree, starving artists chasing meaning, survival, and art in a gritty, electrifying world.

The Vacationers by Emma Straub is a sharp, witty, and heartfelt novel that explores the complexities of family, relationships, and personal growth—all set against the sun-drenched backdrop of Mallorca, Spain. I was lucky enough to read The Vacationers while visiting Mallorca, and seeing the landscapes Straub describes—the beaches, the hills, the quiet charm of island life—made the novel feel even more immersive and alive.

The Garden of Eden by Ernest Hemingway is set along the sun-soaked coasts of the French Riviera and Spain, capturing a sense of restless wanderlust—and I was fortunate enough to read it in kind, starting the book on a boat and finishing it at a beach club in Mallorca, which only deepened its dreamy, disorienting pull. This is one of Hemingway’s lesser-known works, published posthumously in 1986. I was immediately drawn to complex psychological fiction, as this novel delves into themes ahead of its time—such as gender fluidity, obsession, and creative control.

All The Sad Young Men by F. Scott Fitzgerald is a collection of short stories, rich with the melancholy, disillusionment, and emotional fragility that define the post–World War I generation—young people chasing dreams in a world that no longer feels solid beneath their feet. The characters are beautiful, privileged, and lost, clinging to romance and youth even as they watch both slip away. This collection captures a mood of fading glamour and quiet despair with haunting beauty. It’s a moving snapshot of the Jazz Age’s emotional aftermath and a powerful companion piece to The Great Gatsby.

Didion and Babitz by Lili Anolik is a vibrant “dual biography” that intertwines the lives of Joan Didion and Eve Babitz. I loved the audiobook, which is read by Anolik featuring Emma Roberts, who pops in as the voice of Eve, narrating private excerpts from her journals and letters to her dearest friends and controversial lovers. The book reanimates Babitz with vivid affection, simultaneously dragging Didion. Either way, it’s a vivid reading experience for lovers of literary gossip and cultural biography alike.

Comedic Timing by Upasna Barath is a quick, impactful read—funny and sexy, yet emotionally honest. It captures the messy exhilaration of unexpected attraction and the profound work of accepting yourself in flux. Centering on Naina Rao, a bisexual writer navigating post-breakup life in New York City, it’s both a friends‑to‑lovers romance and a moving exploration of identity and queerness.

The Story of a Single Woman by Uno Chiyo (translated by Rebecca Copeland) follows the life of a fiercely independent woman navigating love, loss, and societal expectations in early 20th-century Japan. With elegant prose and emotional depth, Chiyo paints a vivid portrait of personal strength and quiet defiance. Another timeless gem about a woman considered controversial during her time that still resonates today.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram

Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid is my new favorite TJR. Set in the 1980s in Houston, the story follows an inspiring astronaut, Joan, as she chases her dream of finding herself up in space amongst the stars… and ends up finding her most authentic self on the way. Tears were shed! A touching story and as always, so beautifully written.

The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon is a riveting historical fiction centered around an 18th-century midwife named Martha Ballard and the murder mystery that unfolds in her town of Hallowell, Maine. Martha is talented, experienced, intuitive, and trusted by many in her town, but her confidence, skill, and power make her the center of many sexist remarks and attacks. This book felt like a love letter to the brave, revolutionary women that came before us… because damn, they fought hard.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Don’t Let Him In by Lisa Jewell was the perfect thriller to dive into after a string of lighter summer reads. I opted for this one after reading ’s review and she certainly didn’t steer me wrong! The fast pacing of this one was exactly what I look for in this genre, not to mention, the trope of a man living a double (or in this case, way more than two!) life was right up my alley. The way this story brings together three women who are being conned by one man will have you devouring Lisa Jewell’s latest.

Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall is a second chance romance just as captivating as everyone (including Reese’s Book Club) claims. Set in the UK countryside in the 1950s-1970s, this story follows a woman wrecked by the heartbreak of losing her son on their family farm who finds solace in taking care of her first love’s child. What ensues is a love triangle for the ages, where she is forced to make impossible choices. With intermittent flashes forward to the murder trial that is the major mystery at the heart of this novel, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that paces like a thriller and will have you guessing until the very end.

Care and Feeding: A Memoir by Laurie Woolever is my favorite memoir I’ve read in quite some time. This deeply personal story follows the life of a New York City-based food writer whose career found her working with both Mario Batali and Anthony Bourdain. Beyond the anecdotes of the powerful men whose shadow she found herself in, her relationship to alcohol and men outside her marriage was riveting. Couldn’t recommend this one more for anyone who is interested in the food world.

The High Dive by Chelsea Fagan was a fun summer read, perfectly matched for a European vacation. This story takes place aboard a ten-day chartered yacht trip through the Mediterranean as a group of college friends reunite before a wedding. I really appreciated Chelsea’s commentary on social class and the ever-present money anxiety that plagues the protagonist, who is notably an outsider on this trip with her wealthy friends. Ultimately, this book is a second-chance romance, which is another one of my favorite tropes.

Sunny Side Up by Katie Sturino felt like another one destined to be a vacation read, and that it was! This novel follows a recent divorcée on a journey to find herself after her separation—a journey that finds her starting up a new business while she’s diving back into dating. Notably, one of the more impressionable parts of this book is its focus on body image; I actually enjoyed those bits more and the many mentions of the West Village more than the romance plotline. A cute one to add in the mix if you want something super light and breezy.

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram

What Remains: A Memoir of Fate, Friendship, and Love by Carole Radziwill Of course, I had to read the iconic memoir by my favorite Real Housewife of New York. What Remains is a story about grief, love, and identity... but it’s also a time capsule of 80s–90s New York, American royalty, and a world of princes and princesses.. If you’re interested in JFK Jr., Carolyn Bessette, or the social fabric of that era, you’ll love this book!

But the real gift of this book is how Carole captures the surreal disorientation of loss without ever being heavy-handed. Her honesty made me feel less alone in my journey with grief, especially the way she writes about her husband’s cancer battle. At its core, it's a story about being young and in love. It’s a reminder that the most devastating stories are often told with the lightest touch.

Scruples by Judith Krantz I heard there’s a Barneys TV show in the works, so naturally, I had to throw it all the way back to 1978 and finally read Scruples. Set between Paris, Beverly Hills, and NYC, it’s full of fashion, sex, reinvention, and indulgent 70s excess. I loved watching the main character, Billy, ’s transformation from an insecure outsider to a savvy businesswoman and boutique owner. It’s campy, outrageous, and chic!

And that’s a wrap! We can’t wait to be back in your inboxes ASAP with event details. Until then, we hope to hear from you in the comments about what you’re reading and loving! xx WVBC

It’s officially summer, and we’re fully in the swing of the [beautiful] madness that this season brings. While June swept the West Village with 100° heat waves, we found solace in long weekend getaways (we had way too much fun on Nantucket!), rooftop hangs, Pride celebrations, and, of course, diving into total beach read bliss.

We’re giddy that we still have two months left of summer (!!), a season that will be perfectly bookended by WVBC member, ’s wedding! In the meantime, a few of us are headed to Spain to spend the 4th of July through ’s birthday in Mallorca and Formentera. So if you follow us on Instagram, be prepared for Balaerics’ content with our beach reads in tow! And if you don’t yet have us on IG, we’re linking up our account, @westvillagebookclub, so you can follow along with the fun.

ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

West Village Book Club

WVBC monthly: chapter 05

Hello, dear readers…

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a year ago · 7 likes · 2 comments · Laura Giunta and Kayla Douglas

Included in this month’s recap:

• Recap of our June WVBC pick and meeting, Outlawed by Anna North

• Member Moment: Meet

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

Subscribe now

WVBC June Pick: Outlawed by Anna North

Last weekend, we flew to Bozeman, Montana, for our June meeting in the mountains, thanks to our fabulous host . This is our third WVBC offsite with the previous two taking place in Paris and Montauk; we were thrilled to switch it up and head out West—a treat only possible thanks to our new favorite home away from home, Getaway Ranch (but more on that oasis in Xan’s Q&A below!).

Our dreamy meeting backdrop found us amid the Bridger Canyon mountains, where Xan’s friend Shelly was kind enough to host us on her picnic hill. The menu included local Bozeman provisions, including a cheese board from Maven’s, BBQ and all the fixins from Bourbon, and a strawberry lemonade cake from Wild Crumb Bakery (who also makes the most delicious huckleberry scones and turkey sandwiches, which we brought for our Lava Lake hike!)

Our book club discussion not only focused on the western theme of this novel, but also delved deeper into its themes, including the societal pressure to have children, gender roles, the idea of chosen family, and what happens when you don’t quite fit the mold. Outlawed had us laughing one minute and digging deeper the next, especially with the Montana wilds setting the scene. We highly recommend this one as a book club pick!

And if you’re headed to Bozeman anytime soon, WVBC member queued up the below guide with Xan’s help!

The Sunday Series

Bozeman Guide

Hi, friends…

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10 months ago · 10 likes · Kayla Douglas

Member Moment: Meet Xan Angelovich

WVBC: Rapid fire intro Qs!!

• Zodiac sign? Libra, duh! 

• Kindle or physical book? 50/50. Physical book is always preferred, but Kindle is great for travel and limited storage in New York City. If I fall in love with something I read on my Kindle, I will buy a physical copy.

• Preferred audiobook platform? Not an audiobook gal!

• Most beloved NY bookstore? The Shop Around the Corner! Although it may not be a real bookstore, it’s still my favorite in New York. You’ve Got Mail made me fall in love with the idea of the city, and with the magic of small, local shops. It inspired me to seek out and support independent bookstores wherever I go.

• All-time favorite author? Impossible to choose!!

• Favorite book of all time? Lonesome Dove! I feel such a connection to it since it takes place in Texas and Montana!

Xan, you’re a Texas native with big ties to Bozeman (more on that later!), but you moved to New York last year. Tell us what brought you to the city.

I always knew New York would be important in my life, and I started declaring that I would live here as early as 3rd grade. I spent a lot of time in NYC growing up, as the majority of my dad's business was based in the city. I fell in love with it right from the jump; everything was larger than life.

It's always funny how the universe delivers in ways you don't expect! I worked in film and television production before real estate, and I always assumed that would be the ticket to bring me to New York, but it never did. I honestly figured maybe the time to live in New York had passed me by, as other aspects in different stages of life came more into focus. Still, my dad never forgot my dream and one morning over coffee said, "Well, you better start getting organized if you're going to move to New York!" A few months later, the perfect opportunity came to invest in a new development project my team was selling in Greenwich Village. Within 10 minutes, I had said yes, and here we are! One of the best decisions I've ever made!

What has your journey as a reader looked like?

I’ve always loved reading, and I was lucky that my parents helped nurture that from a young age by building a little personal library just for me. I’ve always been curious and eager to learn, so reading naturally became a way for me to explore new ideas and worlds.

My taste in books really developed thanks to the women who raised me. Both my mom and grandma were voracious readers. It was actually my grandmother who introduced me to Harry Potter when the first book came out, and my mom used to read them to me at night. She would put on a British accent and do all the characters' voices. Many of my most cherished memories from growing up are of her reading to me in bed.

As I got older, I leaned on both of them for book recommendations. After losing both of them, I went through a big reading stall. The Nightingale was the first book that broke the spell and got me back into reading. Now, I love that I’ve come to trust my own taste; there’s something really special about picking up a book on instinct and discovering it’s precisely what I needed.

Outside of what we read as a book club, what does your lens for deciding what to read next look like?

I tend to choose books through an emotional and intuitive lens. I'm drawn to stories or subjects that reflect where I am or where I want to go. Sometimes I read to feel less alone; other times to be jolted out of myself entirely. I think that ultimately, I like to be moved, to underline passages, to wrestle with big questions, and to carry something with me long after I’ve closed the book. I try to throw in some sexy, easy beach reads every now and then for the vibes!

You often refer to Bozeman as your “happy place”. What’s the backstory on Getaway Ranch and how this oasis became your family’s home away from home?

My family is from Colorado and Wyoming, so although I was raised in Texas, we have strong ties to the mountains. We spent summers and holidays visiting family in Colorado throughout my life. My parents decided it was too hot to be in Texas year-round and missed having a piece of the mountains to call their own, so one day they announced to me that they had put in an offer on a house in Montana. I acted like a total brat over it! I had never been to Montana and couldn't understand why we wouldn't just go back to what we knew in Colorado. But within 5 minutes of getting off the plane in Bozeman for the first time, I knew this was the place for us.

I always take the biggest inhale of the sweet mountain air as soon as I arrive! When I meditate, this is where I go- I see the beautiful view off our back deck. The problems of everyday life never feel as big here. We named it Getaway because it's our getaway, and also my dad said he wanted to get away from people! Haha

You just hosted the most epic WVBC summer camp weekend at Getaway Ranch. Tell us about how you approached designing these gorgeous few days of fun!

Thank you so much, I'm glad everyone had fun! I'm fortunate to get to host a lot in Montana, and I'm always trying to convince everyone to come out there! I knew I wanted to take the girls to some of my favorite spots and curate a mix of great food, fun drinks, music, and cowboy bars, and of course, get outside and experience the beautiful scenery and nature. I've curated a lengthy list of activities over the years, so creating a Montana itinerary comes naturally to me. The best part is there's a wealth of options to explore in our area of Montana, so we definitely didn't do it all! It makes me excited for everyone to have a reason to come back again and again!

Earlier this year, you launched Estate of Mind, your Substack that acts as a love letter to real estate, New York, and the hyper-detailed detours that make real estate feel more like a love language. Tell us about it.

I have always enjoyed the format of a newsletter, so I knew I wanted to follow in that path and realized Substack had basically zero real estate content! I was excited about the prospect of introducing a new subject and perspective to the platform. I receive numerous real estate newsletters while working in this industry, and I have many examples of what I didn't want to do. I wanted to discuss the fun, niche aspects of real estate that interest me and provide new insights to help people learn about the industry, whether that's what to expect when closing, the co-op board process, or investment opportunities, among other topics! Real estate, especially in New York, can feel intimidating, exclusive, and like a world reserved for the 1%. But I see it differently. Estate of Mind is about making real estate fun, playful, and inspiring, more like your favorite Pinterest board than a finance report. A space where conversations about real estate feel accessible and exciting. Formal<<< fun!

Estate of Mind

“New York is the city of the real estate mind… a city of things unnoticed.”

By Xan Angelovich

Whether it’s books, real estate, or fashion, WVBC knows they can turn to you to point us in the right direction. What advice would you give readers on how to up-level their homes and style as summer unfolds?

Feel first, shop second! Instead of asking what’s in style, ask: “How do I want to feel this summer?” Radiant? Carefree and Effortless? Adventurous? As a Libra, I'm drawn to beautiful items by nature. I enjoy being surrounded by beautiful things, and I love curating! That being said, I don't want to shop just for the sake of shopping, and I have found myself drawn to things that feel authentically me. Instead of just focusing on the beauty of something, I am seeking out pieces that feel worthy, focusing less on trends and more on unique, special items that hold meaning for me.

I also suggest using scent as a portal for the seasons! A hair fragrance or special body oil can be delicious for summer and adds a little something extra! Choosing a signature scent for your home with a room spray or incense, or even a new soap, fresh herbs, or citrus in the kitchen. Let your senses guide you!

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

The Vanity Fair Diaries by Tina Brown is a must-read for lovers of media, pop culture enthusiasts and anyone fascinated by the intersection of power, personality, and publishing. Brown’s prose is fast-paced and unapologetically sharp—much like the magazine she helped redefine. I stopped multiple times while reading to Google covers and shoots mentioned throughout the book. I could not have loved it more.

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett is a beautifully written novel that lingers long after the final page. While the plot stretched plausibility at times, Bel Canto is less about reality, focusing more on the characters’ emotional truths. It explores how art can elevate the human spirit, even in the darkest of circumstances. This wasn’t my favorite book by Ann Patchett and I’m not sure I’d recommend—only because I loved Tom Lake and The Dutch House so much more!

The Island by Elin Hilderbrand is perfect for anyone who enjoys character-driven fiction with depth and a coastal backdrop. I can’t stop thinking about these characters. The Island isn’t just a beach read; it’s a novel about second chances, the bonds of sisterhood, and the slow, sometimes painful path toward self-discovery. Elin never misses.

Vegas by John Gregory Dunne is more essay than travelogue, the book mixes history, gossip, and critique into a fascinating portrait of a place where illusion is reality. This book made me laugh out loud—I particularly enjoyed the chapters about Artha, she is a sex worker who keeps a detailed log of every “date.” I decided to read this book while in Vegas on a work trip (I love a themed read) and fun fact, the author was Joan Didion's husband.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram

The Kingdom of Prep: The Inside Story of the Rise and (Near) Fall of J.Crew―The Epic Tale of American Fashion Style and Retail Evolution by Maggie Bullock

Fashion girlies, rejoice! This book was an excellent deep dive into J. Crew and their unique journey to household name brand status. I especially loved learning about the brand’s early days as a family company and how the boss’s daughter, Emily Cinader, was the true creative visionary behind the campaigns that established J Crew—an especially huge feat for the late 1980s/90s. Highly rec!

Hello, dear readers!

May swept in like a scene change—blossoms in full drama, sidewalks sun-dappled, and that delicious moment where iced coffee officially outpaces hot lattes. From stoop-side chats to golden-hour strolls past lilac-lined brownstones, May reminded us why we fell for the West Village in the first place. And our latest WVBC gathering? It was all love, laughter, and the kind of friendship that would’ve made our Sex and the City girls proud.

ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

Included in this month’s recap:

• Recap of our May WVBC pick and meeting, They Dream In Gold by Mai Sennaar

• Member Moment: Meet Laura Giunta

• Local business love: New York Pilates

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

Subscribe now

WVBC May Pick: They Dream In Gold by Mai Sennaar

Our May gathering traded golden hour for rain-soaked charm, and honestly? It was pure New York magic. Hosted by the ever-gracious Laura, we cozied up indoors while the city drizzled outside, turning a rainy evening into something intimate, electric, and full of heart—very Sex and the City, if you ask us.

We dove into They Dream in Gold by Mai Sennaar, a sweeping, lyrical debut that follows Bonnie, a young Black American woman, and Mansour, a Senegalese jazz musician, as they fall in love in 1968 New York and are swept into a journey that spans continents—from Paris to Rio to Spain. When Mansour disappears mid-tour, Bonnie, now pregnant, is left to uncover the mystery of his past and the legacy of their love.

We chose the novel after attending a Q&A with the author, moderated by none other than Sarah Jessica Parker, who published the book under her Zando imprint, SJP Lit. A story about music, identity, and the endurance of love across borders and generations, They Dream in Gold sparked one of our richest discussions yet—and reminded us just how powerful stories (and friendship) can be.

Member Moment: Meet Laura Giunta

WVBC: Rapid fire intro Qs!!

• Zodiac sign? Aquarius 

• Kindle or physical book? Physical book

• Preferred audiobook platform? Libro.fm

• Most beloved NY bookstore? McNally Jackson in SoHo

• All-time favorite author? Rebecca Serle

• Favorite book of all time? Yellowface by R.F. Kuang

Laura, you’re the most voracious reader in our group—what sparked your love of books, and how has your relationship with reading evolved over the years?

I haven’t always been a reader—let alone “the most voracious reader in our group” (thank you for saying that; I’m very competitive). In fact, I was regularly pulled out of P.E. class in third grade for reading comprehension tutoring. You’d think the daughter of an English teacher would do better!

I started reading because saying “in this book I read” sounds so much better than “in this show I watched.” I needed something interesting to put on my dating profile. I wanted to seem mysterious at the airport.

I remember the moment I realized I actually loved reading. It was in high school, probably while trying to impress someone. I picked up The Great Gatsby and discovered that reading could be fun—when it wasn’t a school assignment.

My relationship with reading changed dramatically when my ex got rid of my entire book collection after our breakup. I loved reading before, but after that, reading became my whole personality. Over the last few years, I’ve rebuilt my collection and read more than ever. I read every day—it’s how I unwind before bed and how I keep learning.

While I cherish my solo reading time, I’m extremely extroverted and social. What I love most about books is how they bring people together. I’ve made so many connections with people I’d otherwise have nothing to talk about. Books have helped me meet new people and strengthen existing relationships—and maybe one day, I’ll meet a man worth my time who can read. Because reading is hot, and books are undeniably sexy.

You live in SoHo and work at Cartier—two worlds that feel steeped in style and storytelling. How do your surroundings (and job!) shape the way you approach books and beauty alike?

I live in my dream neighborhood. Is there anything more stylish than SoHo? Working for Cartier is every bit as fabulous as it sounds. I’m incredibly proud of my career and fortunate to have worked with some amazing brands—but representing such an iconic maison, steeped in history and tradition, is exactly what I envisioned when I dreamed of moving to New York City and working in fashion. Sometimes I still have to pinch myself—I can hardly believe this is my life.

Personal style means the world to me. Having spent my entire career in luxury retail, how I present myself is deeply influenced by that experience. I feel the same way about books—they’re just as important to me. I always want to have something meaningful to share about what I’m reading on any given day. I care about my outfit just as much as I do about the book in my hands.

My personal style is timeless. I’ve always had an eye for well-crafted pieces, and I cherish what I’ve collected over the years. But the most treasured items in my closet were passed down from my mom and grandmothers. I love the idea that books can be passed down through generations, too. You can learn so much about a person by what they love to read, and I consider what I’m reading a true reflection of my personal style.

You’ve taken an interest in reading some of the classic New York novels. What is it about a book written in another era altogether that speaks to you? And any backlist recs?

I love New York so much. Yesterday marked my 10-year anniversary living here—I’m officially a New Yorker, and I couldn’t be prouder. One of my favorite spots is McNally Jackson’s “New York Novels” section, which features books set in the city across different eras. I’m fascinated by what life was like here at various points in history. There’s something truly special about discovering a book written in another time that still resonates today. And honestly, who doesn’t love romanticizing the past? I’ll never stop glamorizing New York in the 1920s Jazz Age or the wild days of Studio 54 in the 1970s.

Speaking of books from another era, I mentioned this in last month’s newsletter and still can’t stop recommending it—McNally Editions. This is the publishing arm of McNally Jackson, dedicated to rediscovering and reintroducing overlooked literary gems. They publish beautiful, high-quality editions of works that may have been unjustly neglected. The store even has a whole section devoted to these stunning books, which I can’t praise enough.

One standout recommendation is Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. Originally published anonymously in 1929, it was an instant bestseller. The novel explores divorce and its aftermath in the Jazz Age—a topic that scandalized readers then but still feels incredibly relevant today. It reads like contemporary fiction, with themes that remain surprisingly familiar. I loved Parrott’s unique take on what she called “the era of the one-night stand.” The afterword, written by her son, adds fascinating context about her tumultuous life, including three more marriages and rumored liaisons with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, and jazz guitarist Michael Neely Bryan.

Other favorites from past eras that I wholeheartedly recommend include Marjorie Morningstar by Herman Wouk, The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald, and The Glimpses of the Moon by Edith Wharton.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, from literary fiction to buzzy new releases, you always have your finger on the pulse of what’s worth reading next. What does your process for picking your next read look like?

I’m always on the lookout for something exciting to read. And while I’m generally a very organized person, I have absolutely no system for choosing books—I like to think they find me when the timing’s right.

I once tried adding every physical book I own to my “Want to Read” list on Goodreads and immediately got overwhelmed. Some books I buy and read the same day; others are more like very chic decor.

For new releases, I love Book of the Month—I can always count on their picks to give me something compelling to dive into. I’ve already mentioned how much I love pulling from the New York Novels and McNally Editions sections at McNally Jackson, and when I’m there, I always chat with the staff about what I’ve loved and take their recs for what to read next.

I’ll read anything by Elin Hilderbrand, , Ann Patchett, Jessica Knoll, , or Dolly Alderton. I also follow all my favorite authors on social media and religiously read whatever they recommend.

And finally, how would you spend a dream Sunday in SoHo and/or West Village?

My dream Sunday starts with a long, leisurely walk through SoHo with my dog, Cher. I love wandering the cobblestone streets before the crowds roll in, peeking into boutique windows and soaking up the quiet charm of the neighborhood.

Next up: an ABS ARMS ASS Reformer class at New York Pilates’ West Village studio—ideally with Luisa. After that, I swing home to grab Cher and we stroll through Washington Square Park en route to L'Appartement 4F for a perfect pain au chocolat.

From there, we wander back toward SoHo, popping into McNally Jackson and anywhere else that catches our eye, until we make our way to Frenchette in Tribeca for brunch. Brunch at Frenchette is everything—there’s always at least one order of the pancakes on our table.

Post-brunch, we head to the Lower East Side to browse some of my favorite vintage spots: Heart & Lou’s, Pilgrim New York, Desert Vintage, and Ending Soon.

Dinner is at Cecchi’s, where the stuffed mushrooms and the San Gennaro in a Blanket are non-negotiable. And to end the night on a sweet note, we’re off to Old Fashion Café for a nightcap and the best tiramisu in the city.

Local Business Love: New York Pilates

We couldn’t wrap this up without sending a little love to our latest obsession—New York Pilates, specifically the West Village location (because, obviously). Whether it’s a misty Monday or a sunny Saturday, you’ll find one of us lengthening and strengthening in their signature ABS ARMS ASS Reformer class. With instructors like Luisa, Lucy, Summer, and Sharona keeping us aligned and inspired, it’s become our favorite kind of self-care. Trust us—your core (and your mood) will thank you.

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver is a modern retelling of Charles Dickens's David Copperfield set in Appalachia during the 1990s opioid crisis. This is one that has stuck with me for weeks after finishing. I’ve had this on my list for over a year, recommended by our own as her favorite book of all time. I loved it.

Rent Boy by Gary Indiana is another McNally Edition, I bought this to gift to my friend for his birthday because I loved the cover and the premise, “Blinded by love for his fellow rent boy, Chip—as gorgeous as he is reckless—Danny is about to learn that there’s more than one way to turn your body into cash, and that cynicism is no defense when the real scalpels come out. A gimlet-eyed crime novel with an inventively filthy mind, Rent Boy is Gary Indiana at his most outrageous—and his best.” This book is a deranged stream of consciousness and I’m not sure I’d recommend it, only because I’m still having nightmares about the ending.

Commonwealth by Ann Patchett traces the ripple effects of a single act—an impulsive kiss at a christening—that ultimately redefines the lives of two families. Patchett explores themes of family, memory, and the complex truths that bind and break us. The story unfolds over five decades, offering a rich, nonlinear narrative that mirrors the fragmented nature of blended families. Patchett’s characters are vividly drawn, flawed, and achingly real, especially Franny, whose life becomes the anchor of the novel. I love the way Patchett writes about complicated family dynamics. The character development kept me engaged until the very end.

One Golden Summer by Carley Fortune is a heartfelt romance that delves into themes of self-discovery, second chances, and the magic of summer. If you’ve read Every Summer After, this is Charlie’s long-awaited love story, offering a perfect escape into a summer of rediscovery. 

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. I love that the novel was initially unsuccessful and has since become a timeless classic. I remember feeling so literary when I picked this up in college for the first time, only after seeing the Baz Luhrmann adaptation. I highly recommend reading or rereading, it’s just as fabulous as I remembered. 

Emily Dickinson Face to Face by Martha Dickinson Bianchi is the cutest collection of stories written by Emily Dickinson’s niece, Martha. Martha offers a rare and intimate glimpse into the private life of one of America’s most famous literary figures. She shares personal memories, family letters, and unpublished poems, painting a portrait of Aunt Emily not as a reclusive myth, but as a witty, passionate, and deeply human woman. I thought it was fitting to read this while I stayed at my aunt’s house over Memorial Day weekend.

Laura and Kayla’s Crossover Corner

The Blue Bistro by Elin Hilderbrand is deliciously engaging— blending romance, food, and personal growth against the picturesque backdrop of Nantucket. Elin Hilderbrand tells the story of Adrienne Dealey, a woman in search of stability who lands a job at an upscale restaurant run by the enigmatic Thatcher Smith. This novel is loosely based on one of the restaurants we’ll be dining at on Jenna’s bachelorette trip next weekend!

I Regret Almost Everything by Keith McNally is an unfiltered memoir that’s as biting as it is introspective. Known for iconic restaurants like Balthazar, McNally chronicles his life with wit, cynicism, and unexpected vulnerability. The memoir isn’t a glossy retelling of success; instead, it reads like a confessional, filled with regrets, personal failures, and reflections on love, ambition, and identity.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Set Piece by Lana Schwartz was the latest 831 Stories novella to be released and I’ve loved incorporating these zippier, shorter romance reads into my rotation. This one was about a film production designer who finds herself on set with an actor she happened to hook up with at a bar (no like, literally on the bar in the first few pages of the book…HOT) five years prior. What ensues is about CJ and Jack figuring out if what’s still coursing between them all this time later runs deeper than surface-level chemistry.

The Blue Book: A Must-See, Can’t-Miss, Won’t-Forget Guide to Nantucket by Elin Hilderbrand felt like an all-too-necessary purchase from Mitchell’s Book Corner (an independent bookstore on Nantucket) ahead of our trip for ’s bachelorette next weekend! We adore our girl Elin and nothing could make more sense than her compiling her recommendations into a printed guide. What makes it even more fun is that when she talks about a restaurant or point of interest on the island that was referenced in one of her novels, there’s a blurb from that particular book. Such a full circle read!

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

This Is A Lover Story by Jessica Soffer isn’t exactly what the title might entail. Yes, it’s a love story— but an untraditional one that underscores the complexities of marriage and motherhood. The story is told through vignettes of Jane (who is dying) and her husband Abe’s life together, as well as through the lens of their son Max. Quite frankly, this book isn’t for everyone. The writing style took some getting used to, and I didn’t love the beginning, but once I got into a rhythm, every chapter became more thought-provoking than the next. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that it’s set in New York City with highly immersive descriptions of Central Park.

Hello, dear readers!

While April did indeed bring showers, she also gave us long-overdue sunshine, peak tulip sightings at Jefferson Market Garden, and the kind of West Village evenings that make us wish we could stop time. It also brought one very special guest to our latest WVBC gathering—Gary Janetti himself, which made our April meeting at The Mercer feel like a perfectly scripted episode of something Carrie Bradshaw would have definitely given her seal of approval.

ps. if you’re new here (welcome!) or missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

Included in this month’s recap:

• Recap of our April WVBC pick and meeting with author Gary Janetti (!!) to discuss his latest, We Are Experiencing A Slight Delay: Tips, Tales, Travels

• Member Moment: Meet Kayla Douglas

• Local business love: The Mercer

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists.

Also, this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

Subscribe now

WVBC April Pick: We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay: Tips, Tales, Travels

Our April meeting was, dare we say, chic as hell. The incomparable Gary Janetti joined us at The Mercer Hotel to discuss his hilarious and delightfully unfiltered book, We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay: Tips, Tales, Travels. Between rounds of Whispering Angel, plates from Sartiano’s that we pretended were “light bites,” and Gary’s signature razor-sharp wit, the night turned into one of our favorite WVBC moments to date. We gathered in one of the dreamiest suites in the city, and for a few hours, it felt like New York’s most glamorous group chat had come to life.

In case you haven’t read it yet, We Are Experiencing a Slight Delay is a collection of laugh-out-loud, self-deprecating essays chronicling Gary Janetti's travel experiences. From a wellness retreat from hell (but actually, in Italy) to dining with Maggie Smith in London, Janetti offers humorous insights into the absurdities of travel and the quirks of human behavior. His candid reflections and witty observations make this book a delightful companion for both seasoned travelers and armchair adventurers.​

Member Moment: Meet Kayla Douglas

WVBC: Rapid fire intro Qs!!

• Zodiac sign? Virgo. I’m a textbook Virgo…perfectionist to a fault and certainly stubborn. But we’re also quite industrious and extremely loyal!

• Kindle or physical book? Physical book, though, I am low-key loving my Kindle when traveling.

• Preferred audiobook platform? Libro.fm which allows you to support a local bookstore through your purchases or, Libby if the library has it (you have to have a library card)!

• Most beloved NY bookstore? Three Lives & Co on W 10th and Waverly

• All-time favorite author? This is SO hard to narrow down…but finds that perfect edge for me of commercial and consumable fiction with often unlikeable protagonists.

• Favorite book of all time? I’ll go with Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn, considering it's a true masterclass in psychological thrillers with so many of my favorite tropes: an unreliable narrator, dark domesticity, and a huge second-act twist where the perspective shifts and you realize everything you thought you knew was wrong. Oh, and let’s not forget the best “Cool Girl” monologue of all time…

WVBC: Kayla, tell us what brought you to New York and how you first wound up living in the West Village.

I moved to the city in 2018 for my job at —the one I got via DM, a story I told The TODAY Show about earlier this year—during the golden age of SoulCycle, The Wing, and unlimited Rent the Runway memberships. It was the era of Instagramming your açaí bowl and [toxic] hustle culture worship. My first couple of years here involved a Murray Hill roommate situation with a fake wall (if you moved here in your 20s, you likely also contended with a ‘flex wall’ or two!) between my bedroom and the living room, consistently praying my debit card would go through at Trader Joe’s, and being nearly sick with worry that I’d never find my people.

Somewhere in the blur of shared Lyfts to Central Park before sunrise to train for whatever race I was pushing myself for at the time (another marathon? my first time doing Serengeti Girls Run?) and the pandemic upending our lives, I took a break from the city. When I was ready to move back, it was a DM from that changed everything for me. Long story long, I was staying at The Carlyle for one night before I left for a three-week South Africa trip when she reached out to tell me her West Village apartment was going to become available! Despite a lost PCR test that I was trying to track down to be able to board my flight to Johannesburg and a cinematic snowstorm on foot, I cabbed from the UES to WV to see her place, and immediately knew it was the one. I sent all my documentation in to apply from Franschhoek, and over four years later, I’m still in that very same studio.

WVBC: You’re the founder of WVBC! What inspired you to create this book club, and what has been the biggest surprise that has come from it?

OMG, I’m blushing! When I think back to my early days in New York seven years ago, the kind of community I’ve found through WVBC felt like a distant dream. I was starved for female friendship back then—so many Friday nights I wished I had a group chat to drop a “happy hour?” into, instead of juggling a handful of disconnected friendships that often left me feeling unmoored.

By the time I moved into my West Village apartment in 2021, I knew I wanted to be more intentional about how I cultivated connection. Chelsea had just moved into the unit across the hall after handing her old apartment off to me, and we had another neighbor, Francheska, across the hall who I’d become friendly with. When I realized we were all readers—and that I had two more bookish friends, Jenna and Nicole, who’d be game—I decided to invite everyone over for our first West Village Book Club meeting in October 2022.

The biggest surprise? That WVBC would grow into something far more meaningful than I ever imagined. What started as a few new-ish friends sitting on my floor has taken on a life and spirit all its own. We’ve evolved into a deeply connected crew—welcoming new members, traveling the world together (Paris! Bodrum! Montauk!), hosting New York events, and most dear to me, showing up for each other in quiet, everyday ways. It’s more than a book club—it’s become a chosen community that we all collectively nurture and cherish.

WVBC: What has your journey as a reader looked like?

Well, I was one of those kids in school who had metabolized that she was “bad at math,” but was given the affirmation of being “gifted” in reading and writing. So I ran with that. I actually texted my mom to get her perspective on my relationship to reading as a kid. She said, “The way I remember that is we had lots of books (many of which I still have). You and Brooke [my younger sister] both loved to be read to. You were quick to pick up reading and always loved books. You would want to tackle the summer reading list in elementary school.” And she’s right! I do remember being very motivated by that list…my version of Goodreads before Goodreads existed. I remember the library both in town and at school feeling like a magnet—a salve in so many ways. To this day, something about entering a library still feels sacred and evokes a sense of childlike wonder in me.

WVBC: Outside of what we read as a book club, what does your lens for deciding what to read next look like?

My TBR pile is…unruly, to say the least. I’m lucky to get sent advance reader copies from publishers before they hit stands (still the biggest thrill), which means I’m often reading books months before they come out—especially if there’s buzz brewing around them. But honestly, a lot of what I read comes from a combination of instinct and impulse. I’ve accumulated books from indie bookstores all over the world (I’m a big fan of Daunt Books in London and The Red Wheelbarrow in Paris), and something about physically picking one out makes it feel that much more special. I gravitate toward new releases, especially ones with strong female voices, layered characters, or a well-kept secret at the core. And I’m a sucker for anything that everyone’s talking about—I love being part of the cultural conversation.

WVBC: Any general hosting tips to impart to our readers?

Switch up your hosting focus based on the season! Last year, I hosted WVBC right before Easter, so everyone got Easter baskets. This month, I was hosting ‘the meeting before the meeting’ since we had our event with Gary the following week. I was feeling festive and silly, so I started my hosting prep by going to the Union Square Greenmarket for fresh produce and florals, and ended my shopping (which also included stops at Murray’s Cheese, Bleecker Farm, Big Night, and Gourmet Garage) at Petrossian for caviar. What better way to welcome everyone to my place on a Monday night than with a Doritos and Royal Ossetra pairing?

WVBC: In your Sunday Series, you always end your Q&As with the question of how they would spend a Sunday in their city. What is your idea of a perfect Sunday (your favorite day of the week) in West Village?

Ahhh I love this question! You’re catching me at such a fun moment—I’m in the final days of my rebrand of The Sunday Series, and this week’s guest is none other than Tinx, which feels like such a big moment for me. So, let’s just say I’ve been thinking about Sundays a lot lately. At its core, The Sunday Series has always been about creating a pause—an intentional breath at the end of the week to reflect, reset, and reconnect. It’s part love letter to New York, part cultural time capsule, and part permission slip to slow down and savor the good stuff. That’s the energy I try to bottle every week—and Sundays are when I feel most tapped into that rhythm.

My perfect Sunday begins the way all good Sundays should: waking up naturally, not hungover (a deeply underrated luxury), and easing into the morning with coffee at home while putting the final touches on that week’s edition of The Sunday Series before hitting send. From there, it’s a walk to Casa Magazines to grab the New York Times, followed by a stop at PlantShed to read it at a table in the sun with a cortado in hand. I’ll head home to make lunch with whatever fresh ingredients I picked up at the market the day before, then head out for an unhurried West Side Highway walk with a friend. I try to be back early to read and cook a cozy Sunday dinner while listening to whatever audiobook I have on deck at the moment.

The Sunday Series: Curated by Kayla

Your weekly permission slip to pause and indulge—featuring New York musings, travel recommendations, books to savor, and candid Q&As.

By Kayla Douglas

Local Business Love: The Mercer

We couldn’t wrap this up without showing some love to The Mercer, who graciously hosted our most recent WVBC April Meeting with none other than Gary Janetti. From the effortlessly chic setting to the warm, welcoming team, it was the perfect backdrop for an evening of sharp wit, thoughtful conversation, and plenty of rosé. If you find yourself downtown, pop in and tell them WVBC sent you.

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Conservations on Love by Natasha Lunn is a book in which I may read certain chapters over and over again depending on what is going on in my life. It is a celebration of love in all its forms – from romantic love to friendship to grief and more. It’s a reminder that love exists in not only the big moments, but also in the hard or mundane. I cried, and I laughed. I read this as I was beginning my new relationship, and the timing felt kismet in reassurance that romantic partnership should feel steadfast and safe (can’t say this was the theme of my 20’s). It gave me hope that the hardships we are all bound to face in the future can be navigated with love and even showcase a more intense love. I’m a sap, what can I say!

The Tell: A Memoir by Amy Griffin has been read & mentioned by a handful of our WVBC members, so I had to read it for myself and just….wow. I will be thinking about this book for awhile, but definitely want to include a trigger warning of childhood sexual abuse.

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

I have not stopped talking about Ex-Wife by Ursula Parrott. “An instant bestseller when it was published anonymously in 1929, Ex-Wife is the story of a divorce and its aftermath that scandalized the Jazz Age—and still resonates today.” It reads like contemporary fiction, with themes that are all too familiar today. I loved every second of Parrott’s unique view of what she called “the era of the one-night stand.” Ex-Wife is a McNally Edition (the publishing arm of McNally Jackson Books, an independent bookstore based in New York City. Established in 2021), McNally Editions focus on rediscovering and reintroducing overlooked literary works, aiming to provide readers with high-quality editions of books that may have been unjustly neglected. The afterword is written by the author’s son, giving more context to her tumultuous private life including three more marriages, rumored liaisons with F. Scott Fitzgerald, Sinclair Lewis, and the jazz guitarist Michael Neely Bryan.

The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl is described as a mouthwatering adventure through the food, art, and fashion scenes of 1980s Paris, this book has it all. There was so much to love about this book and I really enjoyed reading about New York and Paris in the 80s, a time period I have not explored enough. This plot includes archival Dior dresses, Monet’s art, James Baldwin’s writing, Shakespeare and Company and Paris. I actually can’t think of anything that I love that wasn’t weaved into this book in some way.

The Dream Hotel by Laila Lalami is another one I can’t stop talking about, I loved the premise. Eerie and urgent, The Dream Hotel artfully explores the seductive nature of technology, which puts us in shackles even as it makes our lives easier. This is a riveting portrayal of one woman's fight for freedom, set in a near future where even dreams are under surveillance. This book is thought-provoking and dystopian, pushing you to look at our current tech reality.

I decided to read The Rumor by Elin Hilderbrand ahead of our trip to Nantucket in June (for Jenna’s bachelorette!) and Elin never disappoints. Like every other novel of hers, the transition from one character’s perspective to the next is seamless and the troupe of rich people misbehaving is a forever favorite of mine. This novel follows two best friends and the unraveling of their seemingly perfect marriages. Elin is the queen of beach reads for a reason, I’m planning to read at least one or two more before our trip!

Passion Project by London Sperry was my Book of the Month pick and I was drawn to the seemingly light premise of an adventurous romance about finding love when you least expect it, set against the backdrop of bustling New York City. I loved the depth of the characters in this novel, I found myself relating to the narrator’s feeling of being lost in a big city in your twenties. Bennett Taylor is not only struggling to find her passion in life but she’s still mourning the loss of her first love. This was such a sweet love story about friendship, love, grief and my favorite city.

Just For The Summer by Abby Jimenez alternates between Justin and Emma’s narration, they are both cursed with everyone they’ve dated going on to find “The One” the second they break up. They come up with the idea to break the curse, four dates, one kiss and a breakup, what could go wrong? While the premise sounds light and a little cheesy, there is so much more to these characters, their complicated family dynamics and friendships. I couldn’t put this down and loved the ending. I can’t wait to read more from Abby’s catalog. Similar to Elin, Abby has created a universe with familiar characters making appearances throughout her many novels.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Fahrenheit-182 by Mark Hoppus

I’m a big celebrity memoir reader and this has to be one of my new favorites. Growing up in San Diego in the 2000s, blink-182 was the soundtrack to my childhood. They were our hometown band! Listening to Mark reflect on the inception of blink-182, his relationships with his band mates, and all of the “one-in-a-millon” moments he has had in his life (there are so many!) was both wild and inspiring. It also shows how friendships really do eb and flow — and to always leave space in your heart for forgiveness and understanding.

The Conditions of Will by Jessa Hastings

I’m part of the Magnolia Parks fandom, so I was excited to read this standalone novel by Jessa Hastings. One of Hastings’ talents is making you fall in looove with male characters. They’re always gorgeous, charming, and know exactly what to say. This book didn’t quite live up to the MP books for me, but I enjoyed it and was nice to get a taste of her fun, flirty writing again.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

More: A Memoir of Open Marriage by Molly Roden Winter was such an intriguing listen (got it on Libby through NYPL!) as an eye-opening exploration of how a marriage can evolve—and sometimes, how it can survive even radical change. Molly’s honesty about love, family, and autonomy felt refreshingly nuanced, and I appreciated how she didn't tie everything up neatly with a bow.

Mansion Beach by Meg Mitchell Moore was one I got my hands on before its release (hits shelves on May 27th), and it was the perfect way to dive headfirst into summer reading season. Set on Block Island with plenty of rich people behaving badly, it delivers all the tropes we love—family drama, buried secrets, and big vacation house energy. Bonus: it’s Elin Hilderbrand-blurbed!

When the Going Was Good: An Editor's Adventures During the Last Golden Age of Magazines by Graydon Carter was one I listened to and sucked into the the rise, fall (and maybe rise again?) of media. The story is told through Graydon’s rolodex of New York characters during his time at Vanity Fair, Spy, and now AIRMAIL. If you're fascinated by magazine culture, publishing gossip, or simply love a good NYC scene-setter, this one's worth a spin.

Just Want You Here by Meredith Turits was one I picked up on release day at the book launch party. This debut novel about an affair took a few turns I didn’t see coming. It's a quieter, more internal look at infidelity—less about scandal, more about the slow unraveling—and I found the twist to be unexpectedly tender.

Hotter in the Hamptons by Tinx was another one I was lucky enough to get my hands on early. This book comes out May 6th and is already getting lots of buzz…if you’re on the same side of TikTok as me, you know why. But I’m a stan! I loved this novel for what it is: pure beach-read fun. With a side of same-sex exploration and signature Tinx one-liners, it’s the perfect toss-it-in-your-tote, sip-a-spritz-while-you-read kind of book.

Summer in the City by Alex Aster was admittedly supposed to be our WVBC April pick…but I'll be honest, it wasn't quite our taste. That said, it did spark a fun project: when I hosted our meeting earlier this month, we each crafted our NYC summer bucket lists inspired by all the things I wish the characters had done. Silver linings, always!

Hello, dear readers!

Spring is in the air! Last weekend NYC enjoyed her first 75+ degree spring day and the city took advantage of the (albeit fleeting) moments of warmth and sunshine. We are officially in outdoor reading weather…catch us on the West Side Highway for the foreseeable future.

ps. if you missed last month’s recap, be sure to check it out below!

Included in this month’s recap:

• Recap of our March WVBC pick: All The Colors of the Dark by Chris Whitaker

• Member Moment: Meet

• Local business love: the New York Public Library, West Village branches

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists.

ps. this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

Subscribe now

WVBC March Pick: All the Colors of the Dark

This month’s WVBC pick was a beautiful, sweeping story and collectively one of our favorite new reads. Cue the *I just finished the book and tears were shed* texts! At 608 pages it was a daunting (and heavy) book– but we all finished right on time…with someone getting her last few pages in over appetizers at our March meeting!

It’s hard to pinpoint the genre this book belongs to. Some chapters were written like a true suspense thriller and had us sleeping with our nightlights on. Others were beautiful and poetic, like a classic love story. And there’s a mystery woven within each chapter that keeps you guessing (and second-guessing) the characters from start to finish. The following quote sums up the book quite nicely…

Member Moment: Meet Chelsea Martin

WVBC: Rapid fire intro Qs!!

• Zodiac sign? Cancer sun, Sagittarius moon, Virgo rising (yes, they all matter)

• Kindle or physical book? Kindle

• Preferred audiobook platform? Audible

• Most beloved NY bookstore? Three Lives & Company

• All-time favorite author? My girl Elin Hilderbrand gives me the true escape I often need

• Favorite book of all time? The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

WVBC: Chelsea, tell us about what brought you to New York.

NYC was a dream as a little girl, and in college, I worked tirelessly to make it work, but ultimately, I could not afford to take an unpaid internship and pay NYC rent, so I pushed that dream to the side. I moved from San Diego to Austin, Texas where I lived for 5 years and honestly had the “perfect” life - the big apartment, the nice car, the great group of friends, low cost of living, the list goes on. But something was missing and I felt almost too comfortable and craved more growth in the formative years of my mid-twenties. I traveled to Europe often for work and felt a pull to move there, so I started looking into options to obtain my UK visa (the best move for a monolingual gal like myself). When I eventually realized a UK visa was not in the cards, I wasn’t sure what my next steps would be.

Ironically, I flew directly from London to NYC for a friend’s birthday, and due to the jet lag, I woke up early each day and went for a solo walk. We were staying in Meatpacking, and as I walked along the cobblestone streets of Meatpacking and charming historic corners of the West Village, I felt like this was the next best thing to Europe. One year later, I was living a block away from the Meatpacking hotel from that fateful trip!

WVBC: You're widely known as our WVBC travel expert. But something people may not know is that you're also very knowledgeable about wine! How have you combined your passion for travel with discovering the wide-ranging world of wine?

There’s a book I have been reading called “Windows on the World” by Kevin Zraly, and that title is exactly how I view wine. Winemaking is typically embedded in the deep history of a destination, so in tandem with learning about (and enjoying drinking) wine, I am also receiving a robust history lesson of the destination. It has helped me better understand the geography of a region as well as feel more connected to various places all over the world.

Also as someone who wants to be constantly learning, I love studying wine because I feel like I will always be learning. There’s always a new breakthrough wine region, or a new winemaker doing interesting things with a storied varietal, or even just the fact that each year in wine is different (like how a 2020 vs 2021 white Burgundy from the same plot can taste very different because of the weather in those years!) It has been such a fun passion to dive into and complement my passion for travel as well.

WVBC: Speaking of travel...you recently launched your own Substack, Passport to Friday. What's the ethos behind it, and what can readers expect from the newsletter?

I actually started Passport To Friday as a business travel blog focusing on how to stay healthy on the road, airport hacks, destination guides for large cities, etc. This then transitioned into focusing on leisure travel, however along the way I got “too busy” and stopped writing. When I discovered the Substack platform (thanks, !), it just felt right to start sharing again. Passport To Friday is your passport to luxury travel inspiration, NYC life & musings, what I am packing & more!

Passport To Friday

Passport To Friday is an ode to approaching everyday life with the same enthusiasm you have for an upcoming weekend trip. This is your passport to luxury travel inspiration, NYC life & musings, what I am packing for my next trip, and more!

By Chelsea Martin

WVBC: Tell us about your approach to hosting our most recent meeting to discuss All The Colors of the Dark.

Due to the heavy nature of the book, I wanted to have a cozy vibe & menu with tie-ins from the book while supporting as many local businesses as I could. I put a mix of real and fake candles all around my apartment and made a playlist that consisted of the Billboard #1 song for all of the years of the book (1975-2001).

We snacked on baked feta with “Saint’s Bees’ Honey” and “Patch’s Pirate’s Booty”. The main course was a fresh spring green salad and personal pot pies from Mikey’s NYC. For dessert, we enjoyed St. Louis gooey butter cake (as the book was set in Missouri) from Buttercup Bakeshop and honeycomb ice cream (aka from Saint’s bees) from Van Leeuwen.

WVBC: Any general hosting tips to impart to our readers?

I am very much in my hosting era infancy (which is why space for a large dining room was top of my wishlist when searching for a new apartment), but as someone who gets overwhelmed easily, keep it simple. Ina Garten talked about this on a Thanksgiving episode of The Daily, and I could not agree more. I love details and branding (menus, colors that complement each other, ambience), so I put my focus on that (which you can prep ahead of time!) and focus on a menu that allows me to prep prior as well and be with my guests. I also love incorporating a theme, ode to the season, the reasoning for gathering (i.e. book club!), pairing with a certain wine, etc.

WVBC: What has your journey as a reader looked like?

I have always enjoyed reading, but admittedly my reading journey was always very inconsistent up until a few years ago. I would “get busy” and not read for a couple of months at a time, and then I would start a book and get so hooked that I would cancel all of my plans and pull an all-nighter to finish a book in one day. Now that I am in WVBC and have a book goal to complete (my Virgo rising loves this), that consistency has also bled into my personal reading and has made it one of the most enjoyable parts of my daily routine.

WVBC: Outside of what we read as a book club, what does your lens to decide what to read next look like? Basically, tell us your dream genre/trope/style of story!

I love historical fiction or psychological fiction! Something that has a number of different threads in the storyline that you are trying to stitch together throughout reading.

WVBC: What are some of your go-to West Village spots? (cafés, bars, restaurants, shops, etc.)

• My daily coffee is often Blank Street as I have their membership (one of my biggest hacks/secrets) and love the dog board they have on the wall. If not, I love sitting outside at Plantshed on a sunny day or grabbing a coffee at The Elk on the way to a WSH walk. Bagels from Apollo Bagels and croissants from L’Appartement 4F.

• I love sitting at the bar at Joseph Leonard or Anton’s. St. Jardim for a great wine list & people watching. Martinis at Saint Theo’s or American Bar. Emmett’s on Grove for truly any time of the day/night (especially post dinner).

• My favorite WV restaurants are Cecchi’s (another great bar to sit at), Tartine (love the casual vibe, spicy chicken & it’s BYOB), and L’Artusi (favorite pasta & yet another great bar to sit at). I could write so much more…I love my neighborhood!

Local Business Love: NYPL

Naturally, we love the New York Public Libraries, and the West Village has a few branches we like to frequent! Aside from being great places to check out books and cozy up to read, they also provide free high-speed wi-fi and make for a fabulous WFL (work-from-library) situation.

Jefferson Market Library: An icon of a building on 6th Ave! This library is a National Historic Landmark and was an operating courthouse from 1874 to 1877. To get to the reading/working salon, you have to climb up the tall lookout tower, which just feels cute and romantic.

Hudson Park Library: This one’s for the locals! Tucked away on Leroy Street, this quaint library offers communal desks and oversized chairs for visitors to enjoy. There is always room to work, making it a great option for a busy Monday afternoon.

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram!

Start Without Me by Gary Janetti is a continuation of everything that I loved from his first book. These short stories are the moments that defined him, grudges he’s held, he’s relatable and too funny. I highly recommend the audiobook and I’m so glad I went back and listened after initially reading this a few years ago.

Famous Last Words by Gillian McAllister is the book I am recommending to everyone. I read this in just a few short days, I simply couldn’t put it down. The premise hooked me immediately, it’s Camilla’s first day back to work after maternity leave, she wakes up and her husband isn’t there. She gets to work and sees on the news that there’s a hostage situation developing in London, the police arrive and her husband is involved. I loved the pace of this book and the many turns it took before learning what happened. I love any book that has a writer or some aspect of the publishing industry intertwined and this one has both.

The Dutch House by Ann Patchett was recommended to me by my step mother and after reading the premise and then finishing the book… I’m still wondering why. The story is told by Cyril’s son, Danny, as he and his older sister are exiled from the house they grew up in by their step mother. This book would be great for a book club discussion, as it spans more than 5 cities, diving into the complexities of wealth, class, family history and relationships of all kinds. I related to the way Danny and his sister Mauve struggle with the untold stories of their past with both humor and rage. After finishing the book, I have to imagine this is my step mother’s way of telling me she can’t wait to exile my sisters and I.

Liquid: A Love Story by Mariam Rahmani hooked me with the premise—the narrator decides to give up her career in academia and marry rich, committing herself to 100 dates in the course of a single summer. By midsummer reality hits, taking her and her project—to Tehran. This book turned out to be so much more than I was expecting, exploring everything from sexuality to grief, relationships, self worth and ultimately, love.

A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams is a Pulitzer Prize winning play and highly regarded for good reason. This month I travelled to New Orleans for the first time and wanted to read something set in the city. Upon arriving to my hotel, The Ponchartain, I learned that this play was written HERE at this very hotel. I decided to listen to the audiobook while walking through the Garden District and fell in love with Blanche Dubois. She is a complex and tragic figure, known for her fragility, her illusions of grandeur, and her desperate attempt to escape her past. I was so excited to find a copy of the screenplay at Crescent City Books in the French Quarter that afternoon. It’s short but not necessarily sweet, diving into the themes of desire and sexuality, illusion vs. reality, class and social status, madness and mental deterioration.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram and subscribe to her Substack!

Big Fan by Alexandra Romanoff. I enjoyed this quick novella! It’s the debut book from 831 Stories, a modern romantic fiction company. If you’re in a reading rut and just want something bubbly and light – this one’s for you. I read it over a couple glasses of rosé and finished it one sitting. Cute!

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

The Gap and The Gain: The High Achievers’ Guide to Happiness, Confidence, and Success by Dan Sullivan. I read this one off Chelsea’s recommendation! It’s all about how we have an ‘ideal’ which is a moving target that is always out of reach; when we measure ourselves against that ideal, we’re in the gap. However, if we can shift our mindsets to measure against our previous selves, we’re in the gain. Easier said than done, but a good listen/read for sure!

The Tell: A Memoir by Amy Griffin. Wow! I have not stopped thinking about this story since I devoured it in its week of publication—this true story is so spellbinding that it practically reads like fiction. In her debut (notably, an Oprah’s Book Club pick), Griffin explores how, at the yearning of one of her daughters to know her better, she was able to turn inward with the help of psychedelic therapy and in turn, uncover painful childhood memories she’d long buried. Her search for truth spurs the confrontation of trauma, perfectionism, and what it means to free ourselves from the constant maintenance of appearances.

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram!

From Here to the Great Unknown a memoir by Lisa Marie Presley and posthumously completed by her daughter, Riley Keough. I read this in one afternoon sitting. I could not put it down. Lisa Marie’s life was a story made in tabloid heaven, but the book's core was just a woman having a human experience. Her words made her relatable, normal even. She never chose to be famous, and that fame resulted in deep feelings of unworthiness, feelings that she never knew who she could trust, addiction, and loss, but also the joys of her life, music, and motherhood. Of course, the stories of her early years at Graceland and her marriage to Michael Jackson were the juicy, Hollywood heyday bites of gossip that fill the belly of my tabloid-loving guilty pleasures. But mainly, I related to the beautiful, heartbreaking, and poignant words her daughter, Riley, shared about her experiences with the death of her mother. It was a reminder that no matter how larger-than-life someone may seem, at the heart of it all, they are just a person navigating love and loss like the rest of us.

Hello, dear readers!

While it may be the shortest month of the year, February was a busy one for WVBC. We launched, sold out, and hosted our first ever public event, and admittedly, are still riding the high of meeting so many new friends. You all made that frigid night feel filled with warmth and positive energy. But before we gush all over the community we’re building here, we’ll begin by sharing last month’s send in case you missed it!

Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our February WVBC pick: How To End A Love Story

• Member Moment: Meet Caylee Ashwell

• WVBC Winter Literary Salon, plus, our giveaway winner!

• Local business love: Bedford Studio

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into our ‘Just Read’ lists

ps. this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

Subscribe now

WVBC February Pick: How To End A Love Story

You had to know we’d pick a romance this month and the title How to End a Love Story by Yulin Kuang was intriguing enough. As Emily Henry fans, we were excited to learn that the author is the adapting screenwriter of People We Meet on Vacation and the writer and director of the forthcoming Beach Read film.

• The novel follows an author whose book is being adapted to a TV series, taking us between New York and LA (we love a book about writing books/the publishing industry)

• This isn’t your typical “enemies to lovers” trope, there are some pretty heavy dynamics between the characters that make it unexpected in many ways

• We can confirm this one is pretty spicy but somehow not cheesy!

Overall, we loved this book! It definitely isn’t your typical romance but the writing was witty and even a bit dark at times. We really enjoyed learning more about what it looks like to be a screenwriter and found we were quite invested in the relationship between our main characters. The book flips between Helen and Grant’s narration, giving us both sides of the story. This was a wonderful book club pick in that it sparked much discussion.

see discussion Qs here

Member Moment: Meet Caylee Ashwell

WVBC: Rapid fire intro Qs!!

• Zodiac sign? Aquarius

• Kindle or physical book? A true 50/50 split. Kindle when I am traveling, book when I have time at home!

• Preferred audiobook platform? Spotify (included in premium!)

• Most beloved NY bookstore? McNally Jackson on Prince Street

• All-time favorite author? Dolly Alderton 

• Favorite book of all time? Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver. The most gorgeous writing! 

WVBC: Caylee, tell us about what brought you to New York.

I grew up in California, so New York always felt like a far-away, exotic, fairytale of a city. The backdrop of all my favorite teenage movies (Serendipity) and TV shows (Gossip Girl) and home to the Olsen twins. The first time I visited I was 14 and knew in my bones I was meant to live here one day…and I am so glad I am!

WVBC: All of WVBC looks to you for creative inspo—whether it be sewing classes or building a Christmas village, you're our crafty guru! What tips do you have to cultivate a curiosity around making things?

Expressing my creativity is my therapy! And it can take so many forms. Last year my ‘word of the year’ was create and I leaned in to as many mediums as possible: sewing, beading, embroidery, drawing, watercolor painting, the list goes on! I think the best way to go onto a new creative venture is to have zero expectations for the outcome. The first time you try, you’ll be bad! The next time, a little better! I think honing in on the craft and progressing over time is what makes creating so special.

WVBC: Speaking of...you just launched your own Substack, extra dressed. What's the ethos behind it, and what can readers expect from the newsletter?

Eeee, yes! Extra dressed is my cute new online sanctuary! I wanted to create a space to discuss all of my passions, ranging from how to style to tights, to lessons in girlhood, to how to get involved politically. Everything you want to add a little more dressing to.

extra dressed

33 lessons in girlhood

Today is my 33rd birthday and I have to say… I feel more alive than ever. My Saturn has officially returned. And tbh, I think my Saturn might have gotten lost on her way back home because it’s been a bumpy ride! But with each bump in the road comes another life lesson to learn…

Read more

a year ago · 254 likes · 35 comments · Caylee Ashwell

WVBC: Tell us about your approach to hosting our most recent meeting to discuss How to End a Love Story.

I am a lover of all things romantic and girly, so I was thrilled to host Galentines for our February meeting. I wanted it to be a mix of high and low (the best things are!) – so cocktail attire served with NY pizza, a fruit and veggie platter, and sugary candy. My favorite decor was the hanging roses which I picked up at Michaels! 

WVBC: Any general hosting tips to impart to our readers?

Always moodboard on Pinterest!!! I have a Valentine board where I pulled so much inspo - from the decor to the food to the vintage cupid style invites!

WVBC: What has your journey as a reader looked like?

Well, I had my 4th birthday at the public library, so reading has always been a big part of my life! The world can be spinning around you, but you can always open a book and get lost in a different world for a while. How comforting is that?

WVBC: Outside of what we read as a book club, what does your lens to decide what to read next look like?

I love a sweeping and poetically-written historical fiction or bildungsroman (a novel dealing with someone’s formative years). Something you can’t stop thinking about for days after you finish it!

WVBC: What are some of your go-to West Village spots? (cafés, bars, restaurants, shops, etc.) 

• Dauphinette: my favorite store in NYC. They have the most whimsical, unique pieces and a mix of their own bespoke items and excellent curation of vintage

• Entwine: cozy cocktail bar that’s great for a date! Love coming here after walking through The Whitney museum, too

• L’industrie: my fave slice in the city! Get the burrata, and yes, it’s worth the wait in line

• Lin & Daughters: the best dumplings outside of Chinatown, my go-to for a casual lunch or takeout.  You know it's good when they bottle & sell their sauce…

• Aux Merveilleux de Fred: such a stunning little shop with one of my favorite sweet bites in the city. Their little puff balls of meringue and whipped cream are so special. I love bringing people here!

extra dressed

If you're sad, get extra dressed.

By Caylee Ashwell

WVBC Winter Literary Salon, plus, our giveaway winner!

In last month’s newsletter, we announced that we’d be hosting our first-ever public event in the hopes we could connect our community with like-minded readers. We were blown away to have the event sell out in mere days after only sharing it here on Substack, but even more pleasantly surprised to meet the absolute sweetest group of humans. The room was full of brilliant women hailing from across the creative, healthcare, hospitality, and fashion industries and we certainly never ran out of things to discuss!

Attendees received an advanced copy of our WVBC April book, Summer in the City, thanks to author @alexaster and our friends at @harpercollins, @innbeautyproject Extreme Cream, @dieuxskin Forever Eye Masks, @korres Greek Yogurt Foaming Cleanser Eye Serum, and @tula Protect + Glow SPF ($160+ value!). One lucky subscriber and Instagram follower also won a gift bag of their own. Congratulations, Katie Kennedy!

Local Business Love: Bedford Studio

We couldn’t resist doing a little shoutout to our friends at Bedford Studio (62 Bedford Street) who run a café by day and an event space by night. This is where we hosted this month’s WVBC Literary Salon and had the best experience working with their team to set it all up! If you’re ever in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by for a latte and tell them we sent you.

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

The Game of Life and How to Play It by Florence Scovel Shinn satisfied all of my woo-woo, manifesting desires (y’all will learn quick that this is my jam). Written in 1920s, I love seeing how this book is still so relevant and the practices can still be applied 100 years later! Ultimately, your mindset is everything and a positive attitude and affirmations hold immense power in your life. Thank you Xan for the rec! 

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan was published when the author was only eighteen, the first of her historically charming and engaging novels. In 1954, when this was translated from French, it was considered quite scandalous by American readers. I giggled throughout this telling of Cécile’s attempt to ruin her father’s relationship and her sexual adventures with a “tall and almost beautiful” law student. 

​​They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey gripped me from the very first chapter until the last page. Carlisle is entranced by her father’s partner, James, who is as troubled as he is loving and brilliant. She aspires to follow in the footsteps of her mother as a ballerina, all in an effort to impress James. I love a book set in New York City, even better, in the West Village. This novel explores New York in the 80s, ballet, art, literature, gay culture, love, heartbreak and complicated family dynamics.

Do You Mind if I Cancel by Gary Janetti is a must-read (or listen) for anyone with a sense of humor. I had the pleasure of meeting Gary at an event a few weeks ago and was able to share with him how much I loved his work. He told me how grueling the reading of his own audiobook was and I shared how much I love to listen to audiobooks read by the author. He told me he just listened to Cher’s memoir and I told him my dog’s name is Cher. Making Gary laugh is a moment I will never forget. I read this book shortly after it was published a few years ago and recommended it to everyone. It was even better the second time on audio. Listening to his audiobook feels like you’re being included in an inside joke with Gary. This book perfectly encapsulates his wit and humor, I only wish it were longer. 

Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros was just as addicting as the first two books in the Empyrean saga. I don’t read fantasy but I flew through both The Fourth Wing and Iron Flame. I was excited to jump back into the dragon world and although I wasn’t able to remember much about where we left off or what the character dynamics were, I still had a great time. Similar to the first two, I had no idea what happened when the book ended. I am still not sure.

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara turned TEN this year with a new audio version of the book, read by Matt Bomer. I’ve had this book on my list to read for years, putting it off due to the intimidating page count, however, 814 pages was not enough. I fell in love with these characters and I miss them. The writing is cinematic and set mostly in New York. Although this book is extremely graphic and traumatic, I will think about the relationships between these characters forever. It’s an undertaking, the audiobook is over 28 hours and the material is emotionally heavy but it is critically acclaimed for very good reason.

Laura and Kayla’s Corners Collide!

Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old: Thoughts on Aging by Brooke Shields was such a refreshing and inspiring read. As I mentioned above, I love listening to a memoir read by the author and this one was such a treat. Brooke was honest and inspiring and this novel left me feeling empowered and wanting to call my mom. Brooke covers a wide range of topics including aging, motherhood, the West Village, Bradley Cooper (a fellow WV resident!) and more.

Echoing Laura’s sentiments, this book made me want to call my momma! I loved learning about Brooke’s life for so many reasons, but particularly because it acted as a healthy reframe on just how much more I should be appreciating my 31-year old body; Brooke Shields is nearly twice my age and has such a powerful perspective on what a gift it is to get older.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

I'll Have What She's Having by Chelsea Handler was released just this week on Chelsea’s 50th birthday and it was an audio I couldn’t get in my Libro.fm cart fast enough! I whipped through this one while getting ready and on my morning commutes in the past few days, savoring each of Chelsea’s anecdotes about how her entire life is motivated by her pursuit of freedom. It’s not the old brand of shock-factor humor she became known for, but instead, a much more self-actualized version of her humor with plenty of mentions of therapy and how much work she’s put in to become a less reactionary person.

The Myth of Making It: A Workplace Reckoning by Samhita Mukhopadhyay had been in my Libby holds for a while and I was excited to dive in when it cleared earlier this month. Samhita talks about working through the hustle culture of the 2010s to become the former editor of Teen Vogue (seemingly a dream job) only to realize, it wasn’t all she’d dreamt of. This examination of workplace feminism and the death of the Girlboss™ as we instead look at how to liberate ourselves from being so damn tired of the hampster wheel.

Comedic Timing: A Modern Romance by Upasna Barath is the latest release from 831 Stories. I loved this compact 159-page novella for its New York City setting and the way it showed a mid-twenties protagonist rethinking her sexuality. This story follows Naina falling for David after leaving her ex-girlfriend and life in Chicago behind and surprising herself in the process. Highly recommend if you are seeking a different type of romance in all the best ways.

Very Bad Company by Emma Rosenblum was a fun depiction of a highly toxic and dysfunctional executive team on a retreat in Miami. When a team member goes missing, the layers of deception are seemingly never-ending as this startup is in the midst of being acquired, despite its valuation being based on a bed of lies. Emma has a knack for writing about the way being ‘out of the loop’ can really drive a person mad.

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins was an immediate add to my TBR list following Kayla’s rave review! I love listening to nonfiction audiobooks during my morning walks to & from workouts, and learning how to “let them” was the perfect way to start my February days. Mel’s engaging narration left me feeling empowered with cognitive tools to apply to situations and internal dilemmas I face daily. Highly recommend if you’re a chronic over-thinker like me!

Xan’s Corner

Connect with Xan on Goodreads and Instagram

The Castle on Sunset: Life, Death, Love, Art, and Scandal at Hollywood's Chateau Marmont by Shawn Levy was exactly what I needed when seeking an escape into old Hollywood. This book has been on my radar for a while, as I am a former film and television industry gal, and I love to nerd out on old Hollywood lore. The rich history, legendary guests, and behind-the-scenes drama made it an endlessly fascinating read. I will caveat that the very beginning section is deep into the actual procuring of the land and construction of the hotel, and it can be a little dense to dive into, but all the subsequent sections are well worth the beginning real estate lesson. It also provided me with several other books that I’ve now added to my ‘Must Read’ list!

Hello, dear readers!

What a month it’s been since we last checked in. On January 1st, we sent our first-ever love note to you with a recap of everything we read for book club last year. In case you missed it (welcome, new friends!), we’re linking it up below so you can get a sense of our reading taste…

Today, we’re sliding into your inbox with the first iteration of what we aim to be our monthly format moving forward: a melange of all the things WVBC is loving at the moment.

In these sends, we’ll recap what we read the previous month, share hosting tips for how we themed our meeting, interview our WVBC host, feature a local WV business, and share what else we’re reading. As a bonus, if there are any events in the works, we’ll share those too — and this just happens to be one of those months! We can’t wait to delve into the details on where you can find us in the West Village later this month.

Included in this month’s edition:

• Recap of our January WVBC pick: The Champagne Letters

• Member Moment: Meet Nicole Greco

• Local business feature: Q&A with L’Appartement 4F West Village owner Ashley Coiffard

• drumroll, please…announcing our WVBC Winter Literary Salon!

• What else we’re reading right now: a peek into WVBC members’ ‘Just Read’ lists

ps. this post is too long for email, so we suggest reading it on Substack!

WVBC January Pick: The Champagne Letters

If the above mood board (thank you, Jenna!) indicates anything, the vibe of our latest read leaned into our francophile fantasies. We chose The Champagne Letters by Kate MacIntosh for a few reasons:

• It’s a new release — out as of December 10th — and we love trying books that have freshly hit the market!

• One of the timelines (we love a dual timeline novel) is set in Paris…one of our favorite cities in the world and the location of our last WVBC offsite

• The flashback timeline is historical fiction and some of our collectively most beloved books are in this genre! For context, a portion of the book is set in the early 1800s as Madame Clicquot starts her eponymous champagne house, Veuve Clicquot

Overall, we enjoyed this book. For ultimate transparency, it didn’t make any of our ‘favorites’ lists, but it was a super breezy read with well-paced chapters that kept the story moving and left us with lots to discuss. The protagonist of this novel is in the midst of a divorce, so it sparked lots of conversation about what makes a happy marriage and what would make you walk away. See the suggested discussion questions provided by the author below!

Cl Reading Group Guide

7.22MB ∙ PDF file

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Member Moment: Meet Nicole Greco

WCBC: Rapid fire warm-up!

• Zodiac sign? Scorpio

• Kindle or physical book? physical book

• Preferred audiobook platform? Audible

• Most beloved NY bookstore? McNally Jackson

• All-time favorite author? Sarah J. Maas

• Favorite book of all time? Queen of Shadows

WVBC: What has your journey as a reader looked like?

NG: I have always been obsessed with reading. As a kid, I could spend entire weekends reading. At heart, I am a big romantic, and books romanticize life, work, friendships, the past, present, future, relationships, etc. – I eat it up. I’m sad to say that as I got deeper into my career the last few years, reading definitely took a back seat. WVBC has been a fantastic reason to prioritize it once again. It feeds the soul.

WVBC: A little birdie told us you got on a fantasy kick. For those newer to the genre, what series would you recommend starting with?

I love this question!! I can’t pick just one.

• If you like witchy movies like “The Craft” or “Practical Magic,” I recommend the All Souls series by Deborah Harkness.

• If you like historical dramas, you’ve got to read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon.

• If you are into shows like “My Lady Jane” (RIP), “Carnival Row” or “The Witcher,” I can’t recommend the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas enough.

WVBC: Nicole, tell us about what brought you to New York and how you first wound up living in the West Village.

NG: It’s a tale as old as time! I am from Florida and would visit New York frequently as a kid – my parents were both born here and we still have family here. I fell in love with the city when I was in elementary school and that love only grew deeper with each passing year. As a teen, I watched SATC obsessively, daydreaming about the day I’d make it here myself. When I graduated college with a bachelor’s degree in mass communications, I immediately started applying for PR jobs in NYC. The amount of “no’s” I received was staggering. It went on like that for years – the most common piece of feedback being, “To work at a New York agency, you need New York agency experience,” and that just felt nuts to me, because how was I supposed to get that experience if no one would give me the chance?!

So I worked my tail off as a one-woman PR department at a boutique graphic design agency in St. Pete, Florida (where I met fellow WVBC member, Jenna!) and kept applying until the stars aligned. In November 2021, I heard back from an incredible luxury travel PR agency, went to interview in-person during a very aptly timed vacation, and I got the offer a few weeks later. I’ll fast forward through some pandemic mayhem (who wants to rehash that?) Cut to: I toured a ton of apartments in the east village and one in the west village - it was a tiny studio and the most expensive, but the bricked-up fireplace, original wood floors and walk-in closet (!!!) stole my heart. I lived there for three glorious years. Debt be damned!

WVBC: Since we launched WVBC in 2022 with you as a founding member (!!), we've loved watching your career evolve, including a recent big pivot. What's the story behind the launch of your PR firm, NG-PR?

NG: Oh my gosh, thank you so much for asking! It’s my pride and joy 🥲 I have worked at agencies for a decade now, and learned SO MUCH. I was able to touch everything from account management, client relations, business development, crisis comms, team management/training jr. team members, event management – you name it! It’s going to sound extremely Type A, but the truth is, I just hit a point where I thought, “I have a really strong sense of how this works, and I want to be the one calling the shots.”

Live and die by my own sword, as they say. I know I can learn what I don’t know yet (there is still so much). So in January 2023, I started planning, plotting, and saving as much money as I could. I took freelance work on the side and worked both for a while, which was exhausting, but it gave me the financial security I needed to quit my agency job, knowing that I could pay my rent for 6 months if the worst happened (aka no clients). So now I’m a ~ full-time ~ freelance publicist specializing in F&B CPG!

Also, I found this scrolling on IG months ago and saved it because it made me giggle.

WVBC: How have your passions for food and beverage intersected with hosting WVBC? Any general hosting tips to impart to our readers?

NG: I get to observe these brilliant CPG (consumer packaged goods) founders create an entire world around their products (the blueprint: Fishwife, Ghia, Fly By Jing, Pistakio, and Good Girl Snacks), and it inspires me to want to create a little world within my world, too. I think the truth is that I’m still figuring out what my blueprint is, but WVBC is such a fun space to figure that out! These girls are down to trek all the way to Greenpoint (but I’m a West Village girlie for life, at heart) and they really appreciate all of the little things that create a big vibe.

Some hosting tips I live by:

• Lighting is so important!! Turn off those overhead lights and light all of the candles. I love tapered candles and warm lights that I can dim if I need to.

• Always have a mix of Non-Alc + Alc options if you’re hosting, and I don’t just mean tap water. There are so many incredible NA options out there now, and folks who either don’t drink or are choosing to participate in Dry January should have a fun beverage in a pretty glass, too.

• Curate your playlist beforehand! A well-executed dinner party accounts for all of the senses, and that includes what your guests are hearing. I gotta give it to Hilary - her playlist is always on point!

WVBC: Tell us about your approach to hosting our most recent meeting to discuss THE CHAMPAGNE LETTERS (we'd love any recipe links you can provide!).

NG: The story took place in Paris, which is a special place for all of our WVBC members for various reasons – so I leaned in where I could! I bought French wine and Veuve Cliquot (of course) to pair with the dishes. I lit tapered candles and played my Edith Piaf vinyl–which doesn’t get enough air time–so I’m glad I was able to pull her out! As for recipes, these were not French, as much as they were inspired by my current obsessions: tinned fish, and pesto (not together, haha).

• Appetizer: Radish, Butter & Anchovy Toast from The Fishwife Cookbook; I was lucky enough to get a PDF of the book a few months ago before it comes out on 2/25.

• Entreé: Lemon Pesto Orzo with Buttery Walnuts & Kale by Half Baked Harvest

WVBC: What are some of your go-to West Village spots? (cafés, bars, restaurants, shops, etc.)

NG: My go-to coffee spots are Oslo, Partner’s, St. George, and Madman Espresso. For shopping, it’s gotta be Isalis and Big Night (hi, !). If I am celebrating or in need of comfort, L’Artusi’s amatriciana is the only answer. St. Jardim is also a beloved spot with a fantastic wine list and menu. And I can’t forget Fairfax – I dream about the Old Bay Tots and the burger.

Connect With Nicole

Join us for our first-ever event: WVBC Winter Literary Salon

You’ve been asking for an event, and we’re thrilled to kick off the year by welcoming new and old friends to a cozy neighborhood café (Bedford Studio) as we connect over our mutual love of all things New York and books!

One of our main intentions in bringing this group together is to help those looking to create their own book clubs forge connections. So, we'll be connecting those interested in forming their own clubs after the event. In addition to fun company, please look forward to light bites, beverages, and, of course, a little something to take home.

Space is limited, so please be sure to secure your ticket. Thanks in advance for sharing with any friends who you want to join! We can’t wait to meet you in just a couple of weeks.

Snag Your Spot

Local Business Love: L’Appartement 4F

We’ve long been fans of L’Appartement 4F in Brooklyn Heights (WVBC member Hilary lives nearby!), so when we got wind they were opening in West Village a while back, to say we were excited is an understatement. The WV location officially opened *today* and how lucky we feel to have these deletable creations within walking distance! In celebration, we checked in with owner Ashley Coiffard to learn more about how she and her husband, Gautier, decided to bring their magic to this side of the bridge!

WVBC: It's no secret that L'Appartement 4F has built a cult following since opening your original location in Brooklyn Heights. What made you decide that the West Village was the best neighborhood to bring your magic to Manhattan?

Ashley Coiffard: We chose the West Village as our next location for a few reasons. Selfishly, we love the WV and will find any excuse to come here. This neighborhood has the charm we are attracted to and was calling our name. But the big reason we had our sights on this neighborhood dates back to when we were first baking in our apartment. We were delivering to different parts of the city and realized quickly that a lot of our clientele were here. We dedicated an entire day to the West Village and a different day to all of the other neighborhoods. For that reason alone, we knew we should try and open a spot here.

WVBC: We were lucky enough to experience your new West Village location during your soft opening...we're obsessed! Can you tell our readers where in the village they can find your window and what days/hours they can support the bakery?

Ashley Coiffard: We are located at 119 West 10th, and we are officially opening on February 1st. We’ll be open at 8am and hope to stay open until 4pm or sell out — whichever comes first!

WVBC: What's been your favorite part of getting integrated into the WV community so far?

Ashley Coiffard: I love meeting the people who have lived in the WV for generations. A lot of people have shared how long they have lived in this neighborhood and they really take pride in that. Despite all of the changes, they love it and choose to stay. I hope one day we can bond over how long we have been in the WV with newcomers in years to come!

WVBC: Okay, requisite reading question!

Ashley Coiffard: What have you read and loved lately that you'd recommend to our readers? I am in the middle of The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. I had to take a break because of the opening but I’m dying to finish it!

Follow L'Appartement 4F

What We’re Reading and Loving This Month

Last but not least, we’ll close each monthly letter to you with a recap of the books our members are reading that go beyond our WVBC picks. What are you currently reading? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!

Chelsea’s Corner

Connect with Chelsea on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

The Let Them Theory by Mel Robbins was exactly what I needed to listen to at the start of the year. It’s safe to say we have all heard of this book amidst the hype around it, and while, at first, I wondered how I would listen to nearly nine hours of a concept as simple as “let them,” it lived up to the hype and the full read was definitely worth it. It’s a tool I use many times per day now, and it has honestly been a game-changer for me!

Laura’s Corner

Connect with Laura on Goodreads and Instagram

Marjorie Morningstar by Henry Wouk is set in New York in the 1950s, following one of my favorite characters to date as she falls in love and pursues a life as an actress. Marjorie is every bit as charming as she is relatable. We can’t wait to watch the movie!

Andromeda by Therese Bohman was translated from Swedish, following both perspectives of an ambiguous relationship between a publishing assistant and her boss.

The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean is a thriller following the reappearance of a girl who went missing two years ago. Told from multiple perspectives, this novel kept me at the edge of my seat up until the very last page.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s and Three Stories by Truman Capote is something I’ve always wanted to pick up. I saw the 50-year anniversary at McNally Jackson in Soho, and after watching the movie again, I dove in. The novella is less than 100 pages of pure magic, and I was shocked to learn that it differed from the movie in more ways than one.

Caylee’s Corner

Connect with Caylee on Goodreads and Instagram

I’m Glad My Mom Died by Jenette McCurdy is a profoundly honest, heartbreaking, and at times hilarious memoir about Jenette’s childhood TV career, complicated and abusive relationship with her mother, and the personal struggles that came along the way. Jenette narrates the audiobook, and you can hear the raw emotions and healing that has come from writing her book.

Day Trading Attention by Gary Vaynerchuk is a book about building your brand & growing your business through the art of storytelling and mastery of social media. Packed with real, actionable examples, it’s a must-read for anyone who wants to create strategic content.

Jenna’s Corner

Connect with Jenna on Goodreads and Instagram

Your Table is Ready: Tales of a New York City Maître D’ by Michael Cecchi-Azzolina is a book we have not stopped talking about now that most of WVBC has also read it! Michael shares his first-hand, behind-the-scenes experiences of the New York City restaurants he’s been behind, including Le Coucou. The cherry on top of this book was meeting Michael just this week at his restaurant in our neighborhood, Cecchi’s, at Laura’s birthday dinner.

Kayla’s Corner

Connect with Kayla on Goodreads, Instagram, and subscribe to her Substack!

Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear by Elizabeth Gilbert is an annual tradition for me at this point. We read it in January 2023 for WVBC because I couldn’t resist sharing its magic with our members! I always start my January 1st by re-listening to Liz Gilbert’s gorgeous approach to how to weave more creativity into your everyday life.

Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors absolutely ruined me. And I mean that in the best way possible. This one had been sitting on my TBR for awhile, and once I picked it up, I couldn’t put it back down. Coco’s way of writing about the complicated family dynamics between three sisters grieving the death of their fourth sister is searing. What a beautiful way to talk about the complexities of addition.

Selling The Dream: The Billion-Dollar Industry Bankrupting Americans by Jane Marie was one I borrowed from Libby and listened to on the background while doing errands. This breakdown on multi-level marketing (MLM) hits on one of my random fascinations (remember LuLaRoe? LOL), but honestly, it didn’t need to be an entire book IMO.

One-Star Romance by Laura Hankin was my Kindle download for a long flight I was recently on, and boy, did it deliver! The novel begins as an author is forced to walk down the aisle as maid of honor beside the best man who gave her book a one-star rating on Goodreads. What ensues is quite fun and felt like the perfect escape in an otherwise dark January.

Leave a comment

Hi, book lovers!

First of all, thank you for being here. It means so much to us to start the year with this extension of the West Village Book Club to a broader community.

As the plan stands (though, you know what they say about the best-laid plans so…there’s an invisible asterisk here!), we intend to pop into your inbox once a month — ideally on the 1st — to share what we read the previous month, details about how we approached hosting book club, and any paired discussion questions. Of course, the hope is that this can help you implement similar concepts into your own book clubs!

Otherwise, we’re also looking to help those seeking fellow readers to start their own book clubs. For our New York City-based readers, we’re working on looking at how quarterly events could help facilitate these connections, and it sounds like we’re on track based on the below message from a community member…

As we build out our February 1st send, we’d love to first get a temperature check on how many readers here are interested in in-person events! Please feel free to chime in directly in the comments if this applies to you, and we’ll ensure the details reach you once we’ve worked out a venue and date.

January

ALL THE LIGHT WE CANNOT SEE by Anthony Doer

We adored this transportation historical fiction novel (recently adapted by Netflix) about a blind French girl and a German boy whose paths collide in occupied France as both try to survive the devastation of World War II.

Perfect to pair with a French-inspired menu! Boeuf Bourguignon à La Julia Child is sure to win you some fans.

February

GOOD MATERIAL by Dolly Alderton

With our entire WVBC crew either recently married, engaged, or in the throes of dating, Dolly’s latest hit home big time. We also had the chance to see her live in New York and were spellbound by her quick wit.

Perfect to pair with conversations about your dating stories. These stories are sure to come out naturally as you discuss this book, but a prompt like, “Andy feels women are able to access a deeper or more complex plane of emotion than men. Do you agree or disagree?” could get you talking all night!

March

BYE, BABY by Carola Lovering

We couldn’t resist picking Carola’s latest with it’s references to the West Village. Trigger warning if you have any new moms in your book club, maybe stay away from this one? Otherwise, it’s a fun, fast-paced read that calls questions about friendship and motherhood into question.

Perfect to pair with any nod’s to Ralph’s coffee shop. This café is mentioned in the book, so we paired this meeting with Ralph’s chocolates. Plus, since it was nearing Easter when we met, everyone got an Easter basket to take home.

April

EXPIRATION DATES by Rebecca Serle

WVBC are all suckers for Rebecca Serle’s ability to incorporate magical realism into her stories. This one was her first real ‘love story’ and had us all enthralled with the concept the book is predicated on: getting a note with a date on it indicating the end of a relationship.

Perfect to pair with discussion questions around not just Serle’s characters navigating love, but the question about whether you’d want to get a note that would tell you if a relationship would last!

May

THE SICILIAN INHERITANCE by Jo Piazza

This book really got us into our European Summer mentality as author took us to Sicily. Collectively, this was one of our fave picks of the year for the thoughtful way it bridged past and present.

Perfect to pair with Italian cuisine! Lasagne and cannolis may just be required if you ask us.

May bonus chapter: Paris offsite!

THE LAST DRESS FROM PARIS by Jade Beer

One of our absolute highlights of the year was when four of our WVBC members were able to make travel schedules align for a Paris meeting. We chose to pair this offsite with a Paris-based book that brought us directly into the scenes. It was pure magic.

Perfect to pair with a visit to La Galerie Dior, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Musée de l'Orangerie, and Eglise Saint-Germain-des-Prés which are all mentioned in the novel.

June

THIS SUMMER WILL BE DIFFERENT by Carley Fortune

For the past couple of summers, we’ve picked up Fortune’s latest release, and this one set on Prince Edward Island didn’t disappoint! We’ll be reading her next summer release in 2025 to continue the trend.

Perfect to pair with oysters from PEI and vinho verde which is mentioned throughout the novel.

July

SWAN SONG by Elin Hilderbrand

Oh, Elin, what can we say? This was a bittersweet one as it was her final Nantucket summer novel. We read THE PERFECT COUPLE last summer and will continue trying to incorporate her work into our annual lineup as she delves into her campus novels coming soon.

Perfect to pair with a picnic-style setting. We met in Montauk for this one which lent itself perfectly to margs and more.

August

THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig

It was fun to do a backlist title that many of our girlies hadn’t read! Trigger warning for suicide in this one, but it brings up incredible discussions about what it means to be content with the path you’ve chosen. Special thanks to The Mercer in Soho for hosting us for this one!

Perfect to pair with questions about which unexplored life you’d like to live out if given the chance.

September

THE WEDDING PEOPLE by Alison Espach

As a Read With Jenna pick and the Goodreads Choice Award Winner for Favorite Fiction (!!) we’re not telling you anything new by sharing how poignant this story is. While on its surface it’s about wedding culture, the layers go much deeper. 10/10 recommend!

Perfect to pair with your version of “Vacation in a Cup” as a nod to the novel. Here are our discussion questions!

October

THE GOD OF THE WOODS by Liz Moore

October is a fun month to do a spooky read, so we chose to pick up this propulsive thriller about a teenager who vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp. It was also WVBC’s second birthday, so we celebrated with Magnolia (duh) and our annual tradition of each bringing birthday cards for WVBC and reading aloud our messages about what book club has meant to us in that given year.

Perfect to pair with Halloween! Nothing like reading a mystery as it starts to get spooky out.

November

BE READY WHEN THE LUCK HAPPENS: A MEMOIR by Ina Garten

I mean…what can we say other than this is a textbook-perfect memoir? Highly recommend getting this one on audio so you can hear Ina read her touching story to you!

Perfect to pair with any of Ina’s recipes! We all tried our hands at her dishes which made for the perfect friendsgiving.

December

WINDOW SHOPPING by Tessa Bailey

Admittedly, this smutty Christmas read wasn’t our style, though, it did make for a more fun book in an otherwise hectic season.

Perfect to pair with a favorite things exchange!!! This was a highlight of our meetings this year, with each member bringing two gifts, each valued at around $40; we drew names out of a hat and everyone got to pick from under the tree. This was easily our coziest meeting of the entire year, too, with the sweetest menu, made complete with hot cocoa and a PJs dress code.

Until next time,

Caylee, Chelsea, Hilary, Jenna, Kayla, Laura, Nicole, and Xan
West Village Book Club

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