becoming hostest with the mostess this holiday season 💫
plus, a Q&A with Katie, the effervescent personality behind @beachreadsandbubbly
for as long as I can remember, I’ve aspired to be a thoughtful host. looking back to when I moved to New York in 2018, I felt so far from making that dream a reality. back then, I was living with a roommate in a cramped two-bedroom flex — if you’re fortunate enough NOT to be familiar with this terminology, it’s when your building installs a hollow wall to divide a room into two, resulting in a tiny bedroom and the paltry remainder of what was once your common area — which meant that in addition to our “living room” being the size of a hallway, it had nary a window. fast forward to me moving into my studio in 2021, and I was ready to make the most of my own space, now sans dividing walls and complete with ONE WHOLE WINDOW that *sometimes* even gets a glimmer of natural light at just the right time of day.
turns out, being a good host has nothing to do with how many windows you have or even if you have proper seating for all your guests (though it surely helps). some of my most fun nights both in my apartment and in similarly sized friend’s places have resulted from the intention put behind a gathering rather than the grandeur of the setting. my “ideas for entertaining” Pinterest board far pre-dates that first West Village Book Club meeting held in my place, but the ideas I’ve been collecting there for ages have fueled a festive easter brunch, summer WVBC meeting that ended with s’mores on the rooftop, Halloween weekend welcome amenities, and plenty of intimate dinners for two. tonight, I’m hosting a friend for a long-overdue catchup dinner and looking forward to sprinkling in some special holiday touches. stay tuned!
in the meantime, if you’re hosting for the holidays, I’m rounding up inspiration from some from my favorite foodie follows as well as hosting experts for you to glean advice from the pros themselves! oh, and if you’re looking to go the extra mile, a read of Priya Parker’s The Art of Gathering can be a fantastic reframe around how important it is to create purpose behind not just where, how we bring people together. without further ado, here are some of my fave creatives to help uplevel your hosting skills:
Daphne Oz: such a fun follow in general, but I especially adore her recipes! the blueberry oatmeal bake out of her cookbook, Eat Your Heart Out, is a go-to in our family when we are hosting family gatherings and want to have a hearty breakfast on the ready. my sister and I also follow her espresso martini method to a tee, and it works beautifully every time!
Eden Grinshpan: since falling in love with the fast-casual restaurant Eden had once upon a time in New York, I’ve devoured her recipes. her cookbook, Eating Out Loud, is all about bold Middle Eastern flavors and comes in clutch when you want veg and herby dips to be the star
Martha Stewart: this rec needs no explanation, but for those of you who somehow haven’t heard the story of how I met Martha at a coffee shop as she was Instagramming her latte (I complimented her IG and recent Bic campaign with Snoop — she was actually so sweet!), she really does run her own account and never ceases to entertain
- : okay, this rec is not revolutionary for anyone under the age of 30, but if you’re not on TT, @wishbonekitchen should be reason enough to get you on the app! she’s crushing holiday hosting, and you can definitely pick up some prep tips from her
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Holly Liss Jammet: hostess extraordinaire, following Holly (and her husband, Nicolas, co-founder of sweetgreen) is an ongoing lesson in the art of stunning spreads where vegetables are made into works of art. their LA home is giving major hosting GOALS.
Darcy Miller: after honing her skills under the tutelage of Martha herself, Darcy is a bonafide hosting expert and author of Celebrate Everything!: Fun Ideas to Bring Your Parties to Life — I love following along with the celebrations she helps curate
- : Matt and his wife, , are not just worth following for their inspirational travels but equally for their consummate hosting skills. I love this video with him and Lingua Franca founder Rachelle Hruska MacPherson showcasing the sheer simplicity that goes into batching negronis for a party!
Willow Crossley: this list wouldn’t have been complete without a florist because every party needs a floral moment. Willow creates stunning tablescapes and walks you through ways to warm up your next gathering through her creative lens
Robert Fowler: I had the pleasure of sitting next to Rob last weekend at our mutual friend Hilary’s “Naughty List” holiday soirée and was transfixed talking to him about his event planning business! he posts fabulous tips on his IG to help guide your next party
Talia Hubble: she’s a newer follow for me, but this tutorial of her foraging in New York to make a tablescape anchored by sticks she found in the city as the surface on which baubles dangled (in addition to her handmade bow) barrelled me over the edge!!!!
meet Katie Shober, founder of Beach Reads and Bubbly
when planning out my last few Q&As of the year, I also wanted to ensure I was highlighting creators whose content adds value to your repertoire in a slightly different way from the wonderful authors we’ve had the chance to check in with so far! Katie, the face behind the widely followed account @beachreadsandbubbly, is equal parts inspiration and entertainment. leaving behind her full-time job to create a community around books — including the kind she’s termed “B.R.A.D.” — has spurred the start of hundreds of book clubs around the country! read on to learn more about her recent recs, and how she decides what to read next.
Kayla Douglas: Katie, tell us a bit more about your origin story and how you wound up as a content creator in the book world.
Katie Shober: I've always been a huge reader and adamant about sharing my favorite stories with friends. During the holiday season of 2019, I was on vacation in Florida and read One Day in December by Josie Silver. I just adored it. I wanted to spread the word about how smitten I was! So, I shared a photo of a book and a brief review on my personal Instagram, and after a lot of enthusiastic feedback from friends and family, I kept sharing my reads for six months. I created Beach Reads & Bubbly in the summer of 2020. From there, the account has grown organically in ways I never could have imagined in my wildest dreams!
KD: What's has been your favorite thing about connecting with the Beach Reads & Bubbly community?
KS: Nothing brings me joy like seeing the Beach Reads & Bubbly Book Clubs meeting all over the world! We have 200 book clubs near and far, and seeing these new friendships blossom over books absolutely thrills me.
KD: You coined the acynomyn "B.R.A.D." which stands for "beach read after dark." Tell us what qualifies as a B.R.A.D. and a few of your faves in that category.
KS: A B.R.A.D. is a book that's light on the plot and heavy on the romance. They're books filled with lots of steam and passion and they are so much fun to read! They're the perfect escape and a great way to spice up your relationship! I think a great starting point is The Idea of You by Robinne Lee, Scandalized by Ivy Owens, or the Deal With The Devil series by Elizabeth O'Roark!
KD: What are your favorite romance book tropes? Least favorite?
KS: My favorite are enemies to lovers because there's SO. MUCH. DELICIOUS. TENSION! My least favorite is the pregnancy trope. No matter how romantic the book may be, I don't need to relive pregnancy!
KD: With so many new books being released, how do you decide what to read next?
KS: I have to admit, there's not a ton of planning that goes into what I pick up next. I am a total mood reader, so it all depends on what mood I'm in when I'm browsing my bookshelves. I get a lot of my recommendations from word of mouth, TikTok, and seeing what my favorite authors are releasing!
KD: You're headed to a desert island – which books are you bringing with you?
KS: I probably would bring the A Court of Thorns and Roses series because it's the perfect distraction from the fact that I am stranded on a deserted island! Book Two is the only book I've reread in recent history, and I can't think of any other fictional boyfriend I’d want joining me other than Rhysand.
KD: Tell us about the most recent work of fiction that left you with a book hangover.
KS: Fourth Wing! I know everyone is talking about it, but it's for good reason! My worst book hangovers always follow a fantasy series because coming to the realization that I don't have special powers or my own dragon is sobering!
KD: What book is on your TBR that you're most excited to pick up?
KS: I am in the holiday spirit, so my TBR is currently a leaning tower of red and green! I'm looking forward to The Christmas Orphan's Club by Becca Freeman and A Winter in New York by Josie Silver.
KD: The Sunday Series was conceptualized as a love letter to my favorite day of the week. If we were with you in Chicago on Sunday, where would you take us to spend the afternoon?
KS: A lovely Sunday afternoon in Chicago would include the double cheeseburger at Small Cheval — sister restaurant to impossible to get into Au Cheval and IMO, just as delicious of a burger! We’d get the fries and dip them in garlic aioli before browsing the shelves at Chicago's newest romance bookstore, The Last Chapter. Then, we’d grab a sweet treat at the most incredible bakery called Sweet Mandy B's — you can't go wrong with anything but I recommend the cupcakes and the peanut butter chocolate rice krispie treat! Finally, we’d finish the day with a stroll along the lakefront and grab a bite at the best steakhouse in Chicago, Bavette's, or if you're in the mood for Italian, Etta!
KD: Where can we keep up with what you're reading next?
KS: You can follow me at @beachreadsandbubbly, or visit my website, beachreadsandbubbly.com!