By J.D. O’Gara

Recently, Jenna Reilly took a step away from the constant hustle of the corporate world. The Franklin resident needed time to figure out her direction, time to take a break, and time to do more of what she loves, especially curling up with a good book. She loved to delve into great stories, sometimes getting so excited about a book or a book series that she’d seek out other fans. 

Following Book Huddle, Forest & Fawn, book reviewers, and book-related social media personalities on Instagram, Reilly noticed a few offered book retreats.

“One of the retreats sold so fast, I thought, there must not be a lot of people doing this,” said Reilly. Maybe she and her friend Kristen, also searching after leaving corporate America, could try to create something like it.

Reilly, her friend, Kristen Waidalowski, and another travel agent friend in Florida, Kelly Baldwin, decided to try their hand at creating a new business, one they’re calling Book a Break (www.bookabreak.org). So far, they’ve planned book retreats of their own, with the first starting this month in the Berkshires focusing on the book, Onyx Storm, part of the Fourth Wing series.

The main idea is a retreat in a picturesque location, where anyone who goes gets a copy of the book, meals included and activities they can choose to take part in or not. Reilly says she and her friends seek out activities related to both the book and the area in which the retreat will take place. They’ve also put together retreats for Provincetown and Vermont, and they’re even fashioning an adult summer camp. 

“Essentially, we want people to just be able to not have to worry about anything once they arrive, with all the accommodations taken care of,” said Reilly. “Obviously, it’s a reading retreat, sort of choose your own adventure. If you want to sit and read at the fire in the inn or in your room, you can. You don’t have to participate in anything if you don’t want to, but if you want some of the community we’re trying to create in this retreat, there’ll be crafts and little things, fan fiction writing workshops, and more.”

So far, the idea is getting a warm reception.

“One of the things I love is the book community is a very positive, supportive community,” said Reilly, “People want you to succeed, and it feels like this community just wants to celebrate something everybody loves. That type of community is perfect for building something new and exciting.”

So far, they’ve spread the word online and through word-of-mouth. 

Reilly even took a digital marketing course, posting on Instagram, Tik-Tok, Blue Sky and LinkedIn. “We’re trying all the different platforms to see what resonates with people,” she said. She and Kristen have also been meeting folks through book clubs and through family and friends. 

Each retreat, said Reilly, will be different based on the book and the location. 

“As we are going through the process we’re leaning into different ideas,” said Reilly, adding, “All of the inns we’re working with have been so supportive of the idea.” The startup entrepreneur says she and her partners chose “shoulder season” time frames, so the locations could be flexible for their groups.

Women, said Reilly, have been particularly open to the idea, which makes sense to her.

She said, “It’s like combining book club with a girls’ weekend, and, ideally, all the good things that go with that – the best parts of both of those things.”