Sometimes we need a little more heat in our romance, and luckily, we have Bookstagrammers like @makennasbookclub to deliver spicy recommendations in spades. Our Up-and-Coming Bookstagrammer of the Week, Makenna, specializes in dark and contemporary romances with no spice restrictions, and markets her page to 18-year-olds and older. Despite her provocative content, Makenna balances her Instagram, home to over 8,000 followers, with an airy aesthetic and gorgeous photography complete with greenery and graphics. Makenna’s cozy vibe, combined with her steamy recommendations, highlights the perfect setting for her reads: the bedroom. Read on to get to know Makenna and to get the scoop on her developing novels.
Makenna of @makennasbookclub
Instagram | Goodreads
Why did you start your Bookstagram? What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world?
I started my Bookstagram back in December of 2022 as a way to track my reading and join in on the Bookstagram community. I wanted a space where I could share my love of the books I was reading and help me keep track of my reviews. I also wanted a way to express myself creatively. I want my Instagram account to be informative to others in the bookish community who have an interest in the Romance genre, building connections over our shared love of romance stories, fictional boyfriends, etc. I also want to help uplift voices within the LGBTQ community and have a special interest in books with Bisexual characters, as that is what I, myself, identify with.
Where are you from?
I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, and that is where I currently reside, and I never plan on leaving!
Fun Fact about you:
I’m actually in the process of writing my first book! It’s a contemporary romance and is the first in a series of four books following four different brothers and their love stories. I’m not too far into this process yet, but I’m excited to begin my author journey and see where it leads.
Favorite Bookstagrammers:
It’s so hard to pick only a few as there are so many great bookstagram accounts out there, but here are the first ones that come to mind: @franksforeword, @shelbsreadss, @ljreads_, @sarahs.book.corner, @thefantasybookcase, and @laineys_library.
Favorite Books and Authors:
I love Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo (I bawled my eyes out reading this one), and ACOTAR has a special place in my heart as that was the series that got me into reading. I also love Red, White, and Royal Blue, which I recently read and can’t get off my mind. I have many authors I love: Ana Huang, Sierra Simone, Ali Hazelwood, Giana Darling, Navessa Allen, Rina Kent, and Sarah J. Maas.
Fictional Crush:
There are so many to choose from… all three bat boys (from ACOTAR), Rhys Larsen (from Twisted Games), Christian Harper (from Twisted Lies), Zade Meadows (from Hunting Adeline), Kingfisher (from Quicksilver), Nate Hawkins (from Icebreaker), Josh (from Lights Out), Henry (from Red, White, and Royal Blue).
5 Books on your TBR:
Honey Cut by Sierra Simone, Problematic Summer Romance by Ali Hazelwood, King of Wrath by Ana Huang, Flock by Kate Stewart, and Dream On, Ramona Riley by Ashley Herring Blake.
What’s a book on your TBR you’ve been putting off reading, and why?
The Dreamland Billionaires Series. From what I’ve seen people say about this series, I know I’ll want to read all three books back to back, and I’ve just been a little scared to commit to that right now. I haven’t had the most time to read lately, so I’ve been focusing more on standalones rather than series so I can work through my physical TBR (a 2025 goal of mine).
Name a popular author/book/book series that you haven’t read yet but want to?
The Chestnut Springs Series. I haven’t read any of Elsie Silver’s books, but I want to. I’ve just been waiting for the right moment to read this so I can read them all back to back. The struggles of being a mood reader…
Name a publisher/publishing company that never misses with their new releases?
I’d have to say Bloom Books. I think the majority of the romance books on my bookshelf are from Bloom, and I always love the books they put out. If I were to ever be a published author one day, I’d want them to publish my books.
What’s Your Special Approach to Content?
I batch create all of my content. Once a month, I sit down and plan out the month ahead and then create all my content in one weekend. This allows me to continue to have fun and feel inspired with my bookstagram instead of feeling like it’s a chore or a burden I have to do every day. I love to save ideas throughout the month and then reference those ideas when I sit down for my planning session.
Aesthetic / Instagram page theme:
I like to describe my aesthetic as light, cozy, and modern. I really like to focus on lighter colors and cozy accents, which allow the book covers to pop. I think book covers can be so stunning, so I love to make them the spotlight of my page. In contrast to that, while my aesthetic is light and cozy, what I read can tend to be a bit darker (dark romance), but I love the contrast this provides on my page.
Favorite indie bookstore:
Does Powell’s Books in Portland count as an Indie bookstore? If so, then I love Powell’s! I could get lost in there for hours (it’s true, this has literally happened before).
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books?
If I have to pick a publisher, it would be Bloom Books. Most of my books are from Bloom anyway, so I’d be pretty happy if they supplied me with a lifetime of books!
What does your Bookstagram mean to you?
My bookstagram is a way for me to express myself creatively and connect with others who enjoy reading as much as I do.
Author you wish to take a selfie with:
Probably Maren Moore or Sierra Simone. I’ve been following both for a while and am on both of their content teams. I love their books, and they seem like the sweetest people, so I’d love to meet them in person.
Favorite book cover:
Oh no… don’t make me pick one! If I had to, right now at this moment, it would be the original cover of Quicksilver. There’s just something so striking about Kingfisher on the cover that always catches my eye.
What are your favorite creative avenues to explore when putting together a post for your page, and why? (graphics, editing the photos, creating edits, etc.)
I love creating graphics and editing photos. I think there’s something so fun about putting together a graphic, using different elements, designs, fonts, etc., and the same goes for editing photos with different filters.
What do you like most about Bookstagram?
One thing I love most about the Bookstagram community is how inclusive it can be. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case, but I have surrounded myself online with inclusive authors, Bookstagrammers, and followers, and this has helped me create a safe space where I feel I can express myself creatively. I also feel like it has allowed me to show up as my authentic self and be true to who I am, when sometimes I can’t do that in my personal life. I first came out as bisexual publicly on my Bookstagram and was met with a very warm and supportive audience that I’m not always met with in real life. For this, I will always be grateful to the Booksta community.
Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:
Here are a few quick pieces of advice: Be yourself! Don’t try to copy anything anyone else is doing, just do your own thing, and your people will find you. Putting numbers before community will never do you any good. Batch creating content will save your sanity if you work full-time. Never be afraid to put yourself out there and try new things. Experimenting can go a long way to help develop your creativity!
A huge thank you to the Queen of Contrast, dark and light, for taking the time to talk with us! Make sure to follow Makenna on Instagram and keep your eyes peeled for news on her novel. We here at Bookstr definitely are.
Looking for more Bookstagrammers? Check out romance and thriller enthusiast Courtney here.
Find Makenna’s recommendations and more on our Bookstagrammer Picks bookshelf.
