Katie the Book Reporter

My first formative reading memory isn’t about a specific book – it’s about a natural disaster. 

In 2005, when I was nine, Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast. While my family’s home north of New Orleans was largely spared, we were without power for a few weeks save a small generator. With no TV, video games or other entertainment, I turned to books – reading by the light from windows during the day and by flashlight at night. I had always liked to read, but in the aftermath of Katrina my interest in reading exploded. Reading was entertainment, joy, an escape, a window into something different during a stressful time. 

My love for reading has stayed strong since then, growing with me through middle and high school, college and my mid-to-late 20s. I’ve bonded with friends over our mutual love of books and found new ways to express myself through my passion for books and reading. Which now brings me here. 

I started Katie the Book Reporter on Instagram in December 2022 as a way to dip my toe into the bookish creator world and share my reading life. It lit a creative spark in me; one that was just for me, without the outside pressures of adhering to production deadlines for work. As time has gone on, I’ve found myself wanting to share more longform reviews and bookish conversations that need a home other than Instagram to fully breathe. 

So, welcome to Katie the Book Reporter: The Blog! Here I’ll be sharing full-length reviews of my reads, chatting about bookish topics and sharing whatever aspects of reading and the book world strike my fancy. I hope you’ll join me in this new adventure!

Some quick fun facts about me: 

I’m a Taurus. 

I’m the fifth generation in my family born on the 29th (me, my dad, my grandpa, my great grandpa and my great-great-grandma!). 

I’ve always been a devoted physical copy reader (hardcover or paperback), but I have a growing love for audiobooks and they may soon be my dominant reading format!

I’ll read almost anything, but gravitate most to romance, fantasy, contemporary fiction, historical romance and historical fiction, with a dash of horror/suspense/mystery. Every year I try to challenge myself to stretch my reading life, so hit me with your recommendations!

The authors I’ve read the most (non-series): Emily Henry, Kate Quinn, Fredrik Backman, Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Ashley Poston and Casey McQuiston.