Beyond the Bookshelf:
A Readers Retreat
The Bookshelf on Church, your local indie bookstore in the Northern Neck of Virginia, invites you to join our Readers Retreats.
Join other readers for a wonderful weekend of delicious meals, beautiful accommodations, and bookish activities. In 2027, we are offering two distinct retreats.
Savannah, Georgia
January 7-10, 2027
Join us for three nights in the Garden of Good and Evil. Built around John Berendt’s Savannah classic, this slow, book-filled escape will be hosted inside a fully reserved inn, one block from historic Forsyth Park.
Fan Club sales start August 6.
Public sales start August 13.
Irvington, Virginia
June 3-6, 2027
Escape to Irvington and Kilmarnock for three days of literary bliss and small-town charm. Attendees will interact with authors, visit The Bookshelf on Church, and enjoy a private sanctuary with other readers at the Hope & Glory Inn
Sales start later this fall.
Sign up now for more information or to reserve your spot.
Sign up to be notified when our 2027 retreats open for booking!
Both retreats are being hosted in partnership with Verdancy Retreats, a retreat planning studio founded and run by two women who are, not coincidentally, also lifelong readers. They handle the inn, the meals, the transportation, and every detail in between. The only thing you have to plan is which chapter to read next. The 2026 retreat was also planned by Verdancy co-founder Christi Matthews. See what 2026 attendees had to say about their experience:
“Christi is an expert at planning and operations. She clearly has an eye for logistics and thinking of every small detail.”
“We were promised a chance to check our responsibilities at the door, and boy did they deliver!”
“The planning was absolutely seamless. There was literally never a moment that I wasn’t sure where to be or what was next. Every detail for every attendee was taken care of.”