From Book Doof to bedazzling, social reading is all the rage

Grant Krupp was at a party when he picked up a book that was lying around with a "not safe for work" (NSFW) title.

It was How to Live with a Huge Penis, which was published in 2009 and written by Richard Jacob and Owen Thomas.

Suffice to say, it caused a bit of a stir.

It also sparked an idea for Krupp.

"[I thought] wouldn't it be great if I held a party, with all my friends, and absolutely nobody talked, and that was the whole experience?" Krupp says.

Fast forward about 15 years, and Krupp was reading an article in the New York Times about reading experiences in New York City where people would bring their books to a bar.

"And I thought, aha!,"

"Reading parties, that could be a thing."

That's how Book Doof was born — social events where people turn up with a book and read, with carefully selected ambient music — and sometimes live DJs — playing in the background.

The first Book Doof was held in Melbourne in October 2025.

A recent one attracted 300 people, but according to Krupp it may have been as many as 500, with the events routinely selling out.

But what do these events look like practically?

"So, when you enter a Book Doof, it's generally quite quiet," Krupp says.

"If it's in a bar, it's quite surreal to walk into a space and see people sitting and immersed in a book, rather than actually conversing or talking as they normally would."

Krupp says he wants it to be OK to journal, paint or mark exam papers at a Book Doof in future.

"The majority of the people you'll see will always be reading," he says.

"But I also want them to do other activities that don't bother other people, but that you can get done and feel accountable for because other people are doing stuff in silence at the same time."

Matters of the heart

Krupp says people usually read for about 2 to 2.5 hours at a standard Book Doof before getting up and sitting with somebody they haven't met before.

That's when they exchange names and book recommendations.

While Krupp says Book Doof isn't designed for people to pick up, organisers won't stand in your way.

"I have heard of stories of people going on dates after my Book Doofs, and that really does warm my heart," Krupp says.

"But at least for the moment, I don't want to turn it into a dating scene because there are other types of events that are already doing that really well.

"The purpose, initially, of my events is helping people to get out of maybe their heads and … sort of relax and feel like they're getting reading done.

"Or getting something done, or being social when they need to be social, if they're feeling isolated, or alone, or they just need to find their people."

Book Doof has expanded to Perth, and Krupp welcomes enquiries from around the country.

"There's definitely an appetite for it in other cities," he says.

Finding your tribe

Scarlett Hopper is the owner of Sydney's first romance bookstore called Romancing the Novel, which has been open since September 2024, and is expanding to Brisbane in mid-August.

The Paddington bookstore has welcomed celebrities and collaborated with movie studios on events linked to adaptations.

But one of the most popular events it holds involves decorating its titles — what it calls book bedazzling — with these get-togethers routinely selling out.

"My number one thing in my DMs is please, more book bedazzling," Hopper says.

Another sell-out event involves turning a novel into a book bouquet, as long as you surrender to a crucial point.

"With the bouquet, you do have to accept that she will now be art, and you won't be able to read her," Hopper says.

While the bookstore has an upstairs reading lounge for those who just want to read by themselves in a "nice peaceful spot", the shop thrives on community.

"Romance is having its moment like no other," Hopper says.

"I wanted to create a really safe space with no judgement, specifically for women because I do think the world is created for men.

"And so, I wanted something where women could come in, feel really safe, find connection, [and] form community."

Carrying around a book

By now you'd be familiar with the Hot Dudes Reading Instagram account which, as the handle suggests, features attractive men reading in public, complete with witty captions.

The creators of the account, who've also published a book by the same name, prefer to remain anonymous.

But they say that while their intent wasn't to solve a literacy crisis, they're fine with being the reason men choose to carry around a book.

"A guy is so much hotter with a book in his hand than he is staring down at his phone," they say.

"Plus, every guy in our feed is proof that reading doesn't cost you anything socially; in fact, it might actually be what closes the deal."

A recent study by Creative Australia has found word of mouth is the most common way Australians are discovering new books — and it's no different in New York.

"Book identification is a big part of our comment section," say the creators behind Hot Dudes Reading.

"People will zoom in on the font, or they'll recognise the cover from their book club and call it out in the comments.

"We love it when people appreciate the funny captions, but it's also great when you see strangers help each other ID a book so they can add it to their TBR piles."

All about community

Mischa Parkee is a manager and co-owner of The Rose Read bookshop in Summer Hill in Sydney's inner west.

She says social media is great at influencing and encouraging new readers.

The bookshop holds a range of events, even hosting high teas with authors.

"In this world of technology and obviously AI being a big thing … even if you're reading in solitude, you're still connecting with characters that another human has created," Parkee says.

"And I think there's a really nice thing about sharing the reading experience as well."

She says part of the reason there were so many people at the store's launch in June, with a queue that stretched a long way down the street, is because people crave community.

"It does go to show how much people … wanted a community hub where they can come and talk about books or share books," she says.