You know how vacations are usually about sightseeing, fancy dinners, or running from one activity to the next? Mallory Anderko had a different idea. 

She swapped all that for a comfy chair, a stack of novels, and a group of women who wanted one thing: an entire weekend of reading.

And just like that, her business Bookcation was born.

From Fiction Drought to Full-Blown Obsession

Mallory hadn’t read fiction in nearly a decade. Life happened—marriage, work, a baby—and her once-steady reading habit just faded. 

Then, post-COVID, with a one-year-old at home and craving something just for herself, she decided to pick up a novel again.

The book was People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. She devoured it in 24 hours.

Her husband didn’t even know she was a reader because when they met, she’d already stopped. But it wasn’t just the books that pulled her back in. It was the conversations. Reading became a bridge to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones.

Still, she found herself wanting uninterrupted reading time. No nap schedules. No “just one more snack, Mom.”

The Meme That Started It All

One day on Instagram, Mallory spotted a meme that said something like:

“Can we normalize bachelorette parties where we just go somewhere, read silently all day, and talk about our books at night?”

She sent it to her friends, joking about how amazing it would be. They all agreed. Then Mallory thought, Wait… what if I actually did this?

She teamed up with two friends—one a whiz at event planning, another passionate about travel—and began asking people what their dream “reading weekend” would look like.

The result was a small, unofficial getaway with 10 friends at an Airbnb. It was cozy, calm, and perfect. 

But Mallory realized she didn’t want to be the one cooking or juggling chores. She wanted to scale it up and focus on what she did best: creating connections.

The First Official Bookcation

In April 2025, Mallory hosted the first public Bookcation at the Grand Geneva Resort in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin.

Thirty-four women from eight states showed up… half of them complete strangers to Mallory. Some came alone, some with friends, but all left with new book recommendations and deeper connections.

The weekend was a mix of:

• Silent reading sessions in cozy spaces
• A group book club with themed drinks
• “Sit By Your Genre” dinners to meet people with the same tastes
• A blind book exchange that turned into a sweet, spontaneous meet-and-greet

“I cried multiple times,” Mallory admits. “It was exactly what I dreamed of with connection and relaxation.”

Bookcation Lessons

One unexpected hiccup? She planned to give guests welcome bags at check-in, only to be told by the hotel that they couldn’t do that. 

“I learned to double-check everything, even if it seems minor,” she says.

Business-wise, her first big investment was modest. But booking larger, out-of-state resorts for future events has meant bigger commitments. Mallory admits that’s nerve-wracking, but she’s confident people want this experience.

What’s Next for Bookcation

The October 2025 retreat will return to Grand Geneva, but this time with a special guest, Chicago author Lane Fargo, who will lead the book club discussion on her novel The Favorites. The beloved Lakeside Mobile Bookstore will also be back for on-site shopping.

And in 2026? Bookcation goes national, with retreats planned in North Carolina and Colorado.

Mallory’s Advice for Bookish Entrepreneurs

“The timing will never be perfect. Your brain will tell you it’s too risky. But if you’re passionate and willing to learn, you can make it work.”

Bookcation started with a meme, a text to some friends, and a “why not me?” attitude. Now it’s a thriving community of women who get to spend a weekend doing exactly what they love without interruptions, dishes, or guilt.

And if you’ve been dreaming about your own book-filled escape? Maybe it’s time to plan your personal bookcation… even if it’s just your couch, a blanket, and a really great story.