Share thoughts in safe company of other readers over brunch

A FORMER mindset coach who also provided pastoral care at The Henley College is bringing her book club to the Relais Henley.

Annie Howarth, who recently moved back to South Oxfordshire after spending some time living in North Oxford, is passionate about reading and the benefits it can bring.

She will introduce Ladies who Book and Brunch at the Relais Henley next week.

“I’ve got an online book club but then I love it in-person, I love being around people,” says Annie.

“So I started it in Oxford to begin with and in August it was my six-month one.

“I used to work at The Henley College so I know Henley and wanted to do a midweek one.

“It’s meant to be a time out and particularly for people that maybe don’t work or that have got their own businesses, you can still take time out during the week, it’s your schedule, it’s your diary and the time out is just as important.

“I did coaching previously and so I massively advocated time out being just as important as doing and ticking off lists. So it’s really about taking that pause.

“Yes, there’s a book of the month but it’s kind of more than that, it’s the community and making friendships.

“So far I’ve had just such lovely feedback from everybody, so I just thought let’s give Henley a go.”

Annie started in the learning support department at the college. “I absolutely loved it and then a role came up for, well, they called it professional tutor but I find that quite a confusing title.

“I was a personal tutor to about 280 students, pastorally looking after and doing the UCAS forms and all that kind of stuff.

“I absolutely loved it, I really miss the kids and what I took from that, I did in the coaching because what I enjoyed the most was the motivation and the confidence-building.”

Annie is settling back into life in the area. “I love South Oxfordshire and I’ve missed it so much. For me the really important thing is creating a non-judgemental space, where everyone comes and feels welcome, seen and heard.

“I’ve had some really good finds from book clubs I’ve been to.

“Actually someone said to me it takes the overwhelm out of picking a book because if you’re just getting into reading, you walk into a bookshop and it’s like where do you start, where do you look for a book? A lot of people say ‘oh, I hate it when you’ve read a really good book but you’ve got no one to talk to about it’, because a lot of their partners aren’t generally into reading and aren’t interested in what they’re reading.

“It does so many things for so many people and just fills the cup up.

“It’s having that mix of time out but actually it’s about self-care. Everyone thinks it’s a bubble bath or having your nails done but actually it’s also having a connection and a laugh with the right people.

“A huge thing is mental health and reading massively reduces stress, even if you just read five pages a day.”

Ladies who Book and Brunch will take place at the Relais Henley on Wednesday, September 24 at 10.30am, with additional dates to be announced.

For more information, email annie@booktimeoutclub.co.uk or visit booktimeoutclub.co.uk