Jessica Robinson believes books are too good to not share them with others, which is why she has founded a new book club for readers in Pierce County.
“I remember when I was a little, watching Beauty and the Beast.
What a girl’s dream to get a whole library!” says Robinson.
Robinson, 26, of Blackshear, has read her whole life and now she wants to share that passion for the printed word. “About two years ago I really got back into reading,” she says. “Now I want to share it with more than my one or two friends who also read.”
When asked her favorite books, Robinson recalls growing up in Patterson and attending Pierce County Middle School, “Laurel O’Steen made us read The Outsiders in 7th grade and I just fell in love with the book.” Things didn’t stop there for her either. Her new current favorite is a six book series called The Eden Series by Devney Perry.
A big fan of Book-Tok, a subsection of Tik-Tok focused on books, Robinson first heard about the series there and gave them a try. The story of the Eden siblings in their Montana home reignited her love of a good book.
“I identify with the character of Eloise. She’s so happy and doesn’t want to disappoint anyone,” says Robinson. “And the small town setting reminds me so much of home— of Blackshear. It’s Quincy, Montana, but it is very relatable. It felt so much like home it is easy to picture yourself in it.”
Then there are the books and characters Robinson doesn’t identify with but still loves to read.
“Just because you read something in a book doesn’t mean that represents you or portrays you in real life,” Robinson explains. “You open a book and you dive into this other world, see things through other people’s eyes. Like people say, you’re the villain in someone’s story.”
Two years later, Robinson has plenty of other new favorites, such as the books of Colleen Hoover, and she hopes group discussions within the new club will introduce her to even more.
The club already has a strong start. Robinson says there are 24 members, including herself and good friend Olivia McQuaig. “Olivia and I are kicking it off,” Robinson laughs. “I roped her into it. She’s the quiet one.” Most members are women ages 22-35. While this means group membership skews younger, Robinson stresses that just as reading is for everyone, so is her book club. “If I could tell people one thing about books— there is a book for you, a genre for you. There is always a spot for you at the book club,” says Robinson. “Any and everyone is welcome, young, old, purple, pink or blue.”
The venue will likely change from month to month, but for now the first page of the new book club begins at K.L. Davis Agency. Owner Leigh Ann Davis is a good friend of Robinson’s and agreed to use her business space to host the first meeting.
If you would like to get in on the first chapter of the new club, the meeting starts 8:30 A.M., Oct. 26 at the K.L Davis Insurance Agency, 638 Gordon Street in Blackshear.
What is better than a bouquet of flowers? A bouquet of books! Jessica Robinson has created a local book club that has a space at the table for every kind of reader, including you.
