Cressida Downing, who co-founded Reading Retreats in 2017 with Sara Noël, says it takes attendees time to get used to not having to do anything for themselves, and it’s not just physical tasks that retreat-goers shed.”You don’t have to do any emotional labor on this retreat,” says Downing. In providing space and time for people to read, these retreats are a new kind of wellness break, one that involves indulging in something you love rather than practising restraint.
“When we think of a retreat, we’ve almost been taught that it’s health,” says Christopher. “[But] a retreat is an escape from your life, however that looks. It is nourishing yourself, maybe not with green smoothies, maybe it is with cheese and crackers and expanding your mind through reading. “I think it is important for us in this modern world to know that there are multiple forms of self-care, including reading your book in a bath.”
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Samantha Browning has been on multiple Ladies Who Lit breaks, and sees them as “a treat for me”, and a place where she can “go and exist and have fun”.
“It’s a really luxurious experience,” says Browning. “[Going on a retreat] is probably the only time I have ever felt zero guilt about doing whatever I want.” Many retreats are designed to make reading an experience; every Reading Retreats trip includes an author dinner, and Ladies Who Lit programmes in optional outings or workshops, such as a flamenco workshop on a retreat in Spain. Sharjah’s 2025 event included a murder mystery party, a Powerpoint night and book bingo.
But at the end of the day, reading is the key to all these retreats. “We don’t let anyone interrupt you,” says Downing. “If you want to keep reading at the dinner table, fine. If you want to give you your meal on a tray so you can read in your room, fine.”
All that’s left is for you to choose what to read.