Two women walking on a dirt path through a dense forest with tall trees, wooden cabins visible in the background, and green foliage surrounding them.

Bad Bitch Bookclub Summer Camp

On a blistering afternoon in July, a group of women lugging duffel bags and pillows lined up to meet their counselors at Bad Bitch Book Club summer camp in The Forks, Maine. But first they browsed a smorgasbord of 1,500 novels, thrillers and memoirs piled on knotty pine tables. The vibe was equal parts Scholastic Book Fair and “The Parent Trap” with a millennial twist.

Perched at the intersection of the Kennebec and Dead Rivers, The Forks (population 30) is two hours from the nearest airports and around 60 miles from a bookstore. The camp’s itinerary included plenty of old-school favorites: s’mores, hiking, crafts, movie night and rafting. But the centerpiece of the three-day getaway was reading — by the pool, on the dock, in an Adirondack chair, at the lodge or under the covers, no flashlight required.

Read the full story on The New York Times Writing by: Elisabeth Egan

A woman with sunglasses reading a book while sitting on the edge of a swimming pool.
Indoor room with wooden walls, three large windows showing greenery outside, decorated with a pink and red bandana-patterned garland and a 'Camp BBBB' banner. There are framed black and white photos on the walls and tables with colorful books.
A cozy cabin interior with wooden walls and floors. A dining table cluttered with books, snacks, and drinks. A woman sitting on a leather couch, reading a magazine. Two children reading books on the floor, surrounded by various objects. A small table with drinks and snacks. Large windows with curtains providing natural light.
People relaxing by a community swimming pool, some sitting on lounge chairs, some in the pool, reading books, and some lying down on towels.
A two-story wooden house with a balcony, several colorful towels hanging over the railing, and tall trees surrounding the house.
Books displayed on a wooden table in a bookstore, including titles such as 'The Charmers' by Ava Rani and 'How to Break My Heart' by Kat T. Massen.
Group of people practicing yoga outdoors in a wooded area with a log cabin in the background.
A scrapbook or photo album open on a table with various casual photos of people, decorated with washi tape and decorative paper. Someone's hands are visible, holding a yellow pen or marker, possibly writing or drawing.
A woman is lying on a green yoga mat outdoors among grass and small white flowers, with her eyes closed and hands resting on her stomach, practicing relaxation or meditation.
Group of people walking up wooden stairs on a grassy hill near a parking lot with cars, trees, and a cloudy sky in the background.
A woman with curly brown hair smiling, holding a white t-shirt with pink text that reads 'Buy Black Back Club' in an outdoor wooded area.
Stack of colorful books on a forest log, surrounded by greenery and trees in the background.
A young woman with long brown hair wearing a blue and white striped shirt, cream-colored shorts, and a beige bandana around her neck, sitting on a tree stump outdoors in a wooded area with a cabin in the background, smiling at the camera.
A group of people inside a cozy, wood-paneled cabin is having fun and laughing together around a wooden table. Some are wearing casual summer clothes, and there are colorful paper hearts on the table. Two women are especially animated and seem to be sharing a funny moment, while others look on smiling. The background shows kitchen cabinets and windows revealing a green, outdoor scene.
People sitting at a long outdoor dining table with food and drinks, under a wooden covered patio during sunset, with more people and a house in the background.
A woman with dark hair, wearing a beige hat with embroidered leaf design, is sitting at a wooden dock by the water. She is smiling, holding a smartphone with a text document displayed on the screen, and is reaching out with her foot to touch the water. The water is calm with visible rocks beneath the surface.