Answers With: Stephanie from That Bookish Life
"There’s a unique alchemy that happens between a reader and a book that doesn’t happen in other mediums. It’s magical that books can do so many things for us."
Answers With is a monthly series featuring the best kind of people, book people! I’ll be talking with readers I admire, from authors to booksellers and bookstagrammers, all about where they find answers—in the pages, a movie, song, comfort watch, or dessert. This series is free for now, but if you like, consider pledging a subscription—and supporting the interviewees work!
“We need each other! We need books! How else will we ever find ourselves?” Getting to Center, Cody Cook-Parrot
It’s true, book people need books and each other. (You know this, you’re here.) I think readers are uniquely attuned to making connections. The experience of collectively reading a book is a way to facilitate conversation, as is admiring an author, the sharing of bookshop recommendations, and praising libraries. I’ve connected on all of the above with
from . I first discovered Stephanie on Instagram, where I admired her book selections and robust reading. Now on Substack, each weekend I look forward to her Weekly What, with what she read, cooked, and watched. I appreciate her insightful commentary on our modern reading experience, including social media breaks and mood reading.Read on for Stephanie’s reading habits, her appreciation of libraries that’s been echoing in my head, and a cobbler recipe I can’t wait to try!
Where do you turn to most for answers? Books, plants, cooking?
It’s definitely books, I’ve always been a reader. I read for a lot of different reasons— it helps me understand things better—the world, myself. I’m convinced I can learn anything from a book.
Is there a particular lyric, or a quote from a movie, TV or book quote that runs through your mind often or has become part of your unique Stephanie language?
I love book quotes and would love to have commonplace journal one day. The one I always come back to is from Stephen King: “Books are a uniquely portable magic.” There’s a unique alchemy that happens between a reader and a book that doesn’t happen in other mediums. It’s magical that books can do so many things for us.
What are some of your reading routines or habits?
I think the one reading habit I’ve always have is I read all the time, around anything. That’s why it’s always been a hobby for me. Other things don’t always fit in your seasons of life but I can pick up a book anytime, during my kid’s gymnastics class, or while waiting for something. I don’t wait for a dedicated big block of time. I also always start my day reading. It’s my morning meditation before I let the world in. It gets me in the right headspace. I used to be a night reader but once I had my second baby, I couldn’t keep my eyes open. But my morning reading, it’s like my coffee, I have it and my book and start my day.
What’s the book you recommend most?
I had to think really hard about this. I feel like I’m kind of an anomaly, I find it hard to recommend books to people, it feels like an intimate thing. I don’t know why, I read very publicly, I don’t mind sharing my thoughts about the books I read. But for a recommendation, I feel like I have to know that person—what do you like to read? What was the last book you read and loved? That being said, I do often come back to A Place for Us by Fatima Farheen Mirza and The Most Fun We Ever Had by Claire Lombardo.
Favorite book so far this year?
I have such a hard time choosing favorites. I have trouble narrowing it down, there are so many categories: best romance, best reading experience. As far as 2025 releases, I don’t know if I have a favorite. I loved Woodworking by Emily St. James. That books surprised me in the best way, it has such a wide appeal. The plot and characters are just really good and it smartly gets into the identity piece. I really liked Tilt— I tend to really love motherhood at the end of the world books—for better or worse. I also really loved The Road to Tender Hearts by Annie Hartnett. I’m excited for summer and fall releases, especially the new Taylor Jenkins Reid.
You’re shared how you’ve stepped away from Instagram, how has that changed how you approach your reading?
I feel like I’ve always tried to ignore the buzz machine, but it’s hard when you’re in a space seeing the same titles over and over. The best part of leaving Instagram has been chasing my own tastes. I’m still getting recommendations from other places like Book List and The New York Times. I’m also really digging Substack, there’s a lot more back list recommendations here. When I’m seeing people talk about books that have been on my list for awhile, it gives me a little nudge. (Like
‘s Cider House Rules read-along.) Overall, it’s easier to focus when you’re outside the algorithm, tune into my own tastes, and it’s nice to have the noise turned off.I know we’re both huge library advocates, what are some of the ways the library has supported you?
The library is my happy place. A lot of people say that, but it really is and always has been. I don’t like to get out and do as much as some people, but I’m always happy to go to the library. Some of my earliest memories are the library, the summer reading program. I would not be the reader I am without the library. I can’t spend thousands of dollars on books. And the library is one of the last free institutions that we can all enjoy. The way I use it is different than others, but we’re all using it the right way. Along with book tracking, I’ve been tracking books costs and I’ve saved thousands of dollars. I couldn’t read like this.
What’s your go-to comfort watch? The Office.
Do you have a favorite summer recipe? I get so excited about summer produce. Love the season, fresh strawberries. I have a recipe I use for peach cobbler recipe that’s great for other fruits as well.
Stephanie is a lifelong bibliophile and library evangelist forever striving to live her best bookish life while inspiring other readers along the way. She lives surrounded by books and plants in Columbus, Ohio along with her husband, two children, shelter pup, and library cat.
Connect with Stephanie: On Substack, Goodreads, and Storygraph.
I hope you enjoyed this interview and a big thank you to Stephanie for sharing her answers!
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Thanks so much for inviting me to be part of your project, Heather! This was fun!