At Craft’n Pages, one of the questions we get asked most often is:

“How do you choose your books?”

And the honest answer is?
It’s equal parts instinct, experience, spreadsheets, voice notes, emotional damage (hehe), and asking ourselves over and over:

“Would this create a meaningful experience for our community?”

Because while we absolutely care about finding good books — we’re not just building a reading list.

We’re building an intentional pause.

A cozy experience.

A little pocket of “me time.”

And not every wonderful book naturally turns into that.

We Read Widely (Very Widely)

One of our favorite things about creating Craft’n Pages boxes is that we aren’t locked into one single genre or style.

We read:

• historical fiction
• romance
• mystery/thriller
• contemporary fiction
• magical realism
• emotional family stories
• atmospheric seasonal reads
• books that make us laugh
• books that make us stare at the wall afterward

We also pay attention to:

• different life experiences
• varied author voices
• unique locations and settings
• emotional themes
• pacing and readability
• what kinds of stories resonate with different readers

Sometimes a book grabs us because of its setting.
Sometimes because of a character.
Sometimes because it perfectly captures a feeling we think our community might need in that season.

And yes — sometimes we fall completely in love with a book… and still decide it’s not the right fit for a box.

Not Every Great Book Makes a Great Box

This is probably the biggest misconception about what we do.

A book can absolutely be:
⭐ beautifully written
⭐ emotional
⭐ memorable
⭐ even a 4- or 5-star read for us personally…

…and still not inspire a full Craft’n Pages experience.

Because when we choose books, we’re also asking:

• Can we create a meaningful craft experience around this?
• Does this story inspire tangible details, themes, colors, textures, recipes, scents, or activities?
• Is there room for creativity and immersion?
• Will this feel cozy, intentional, comforting, fun, thought-provoking — or some combination of those things?
• Can we picture someone slowing down with this box after a long day and genuinely enjoying the experience?

Sometimes a book is incredible… but it doesn’t spark gifts, crafts, playlists, snacks, or interactive ideas in a natural way.

And that’s okay.

Not every good book is meant to become a Craft’n Pages box.

We Take A Lot of Notes

Reading for Craft’n Pages looks a little different these days.

We highlight constantly.
We flag pages.
We make lists.
We send each other voice notes at random hours with things like:

“Wait. The blue teacup scene?? This could be SUCH a craft.”

Or:

“I know exactly what snack this book tastes like.”

Or occasionally:

“This book is amazing but I have absolutely no idea what we’d put in the box.” 

As we read, we’re collecting:

• atmosphere
• sensory details
• recurring themes
• objects and symbols
• emotional moments
• possible crafts
• gift ideas
• foods, scents, colors, playlists, textures, and moods

Sometimes an idea appears immediately.

Other times, it slowly builds as we talk through the story together.

We’re Creating More Than a Box

At the heart of it all, we’re trying to create something that feels:

• thoughtful
• immersive
• comforting
• creative
• personal
• memorable

We want our boxes to feel like:

“Someone thoughtfully planned a few hours of joy for me.”

That means the books matter deeply to us.

But so does the experience surrounding them.

The craft.
The quiet moment.
The tea.
The playlist.
The little details.
The feeling of slowing down long enough to reconnect with yourself for a bit.

That’s the magic we’re always chasing.

And honestly?
We love every second of the process. Even the chaotic voice notes.