We all need someone in our lives who goes the extra mile. Let our Bookstagrammer of the Week Madisyn, known to her 25,000 followers as @madzreadzalot, be that person for you. With in-depth book reviews complete with curated mood boards to capture the essence of the read, custom content that lets you take a peek at Madisyn’s colorful life, and an effortless openness, Madisyn has carved out a Bookstagram utopia. Read on for a deeper look at Mad’s Bookstagram, her top recommendations, and what her bookish community means to her.
Madisyn of @madzreadzalot
Instagram | Goodreads
Why did you start your Bookstagram? What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world?
I started Bookstagram to share my current reads with family and friends. I honestly didn’t have a ton of expectations, and while it was always a dream to go “viral,” I didn’t really know if it was possible. I stayed at about 100-300 followers for the longest time, and I thought it was SO COOL that that many people cared about what I had to say! I can’t believe how much my page has grown since I began in 2022.
When I started Bookstagram, I felt like there wasn’t enough information shared about spice and language ratings. While I believe people should be able to read what they want, I know there are many people who want to know this information before they start reading a book, which is why I include that in all my reviews.
Where are you from?
UTAH!!
Fun fact about you:
I’m a middle school art teacher and I LOVE IT!
Favorite Bookstagrammers:
@thecozychapter
@chloes.chapters
@weekendcoffeereads
@jenreads13
@bookingbyjasmine
Favorite Books and Authors:
The Will of the Many by James Islington
The Seven Year Slip by Ashley Poston
Dance of Thieves by Mary E. Pearson
Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Divine Rivals by Rebecca Ross
11/22/63 by Stephen King
Summer Romance by Annabel Monaghan
Fictional Crush:
Kai Azer from The Powerless Trilogy, Dorian Havilliard from The Throne of Glass series, and Roman Kitt from Letters of Enchantment series.
5 Books on your TBR:
It’s a Love Story by Annabel Monaghan
My Friends by Fredrik Backman
Malice by John Gwynne
The Ornithologist’s Field Guide to Love by India Holton
The Favorites by Layne Fargo
What’s a book on your TBR you’ve been putting off reading, and why?
Malice! It’s so long and it’s a part of a big series, so it’s very daunting!
What’s your special approach to content?
Being myself! I try to make my page authentic and fun! I share a lot about books (obviously), but I also share day-to-day life content, teacher stories, travel photos, and a lot about my other hobbies and crafts as well! I want my followers to feel like they know ME rather than a curated version of me.
Aesthetic/Instagram page theme:
I’ve tried to stick to a “theme” and got so bored of it, HA! But I guess if I had to describe my page in three words, they would be: colorful, playful, and welcoming.
What does your Bookstagram mean to you?
I have made SO many genuine friendships and connections through Bookstagram. I created a book club with people from my area through connections I made from Bookstagram. It may sound weird, but I’ve become more self-confident because of my friends and followers who constantly support and love me. I can post a random question or problem that I’ve been struggling with on my story, and I will receive so many genuine responses. Long story short: my Bookstagram and the community I’ve made through it mean everything to me.
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books?
Barnes & Noble.
Author you wish to take a selfie with:
James Islington. I want to tell him that The Will of the Many literally altered my brain chemistry, and I think about it every day.
Favorite book cover:
Just for the Summer by Abby Jimenez (also a 6-star read for me, I love it so much).
What are your favorite creative avenues to explore when putting together a post for your page, and why?
My favorite kind of post to make is my in-depth review posts. I collect a bunch of Pinterest photos that show the aesthetic of the book and make a mood board, I put together a playlist of songs that remind me of the book/characters, find book quotes, and sometimes find memes that remind me of the book and then I put them all together into a comprehensive review post with spice and language information. I also just love making silly, relatable bookish reels!
What do you like most about Bookstagram?
Like I said before, I just love the community that I’ve created through Bookstagram. I love the friendships, support, and love I’ve received from this app. I also LOVE having a creative outlet!
What’s a memorable or favorite interaction you’ve had with an author or follower?
There have been SO many genuine interactions I’ve had with followers! I got a puppy last year, and there was a little while there that I was SO exhausted. He was chewing everything up and putting scratches on my walls, and it was all new to me. I was vulnerable and shared a little bit on my story, and I had SO many people reach out with advice and help. I even had a few people send me letters and/or care packages. That was when I knew I had found my people!
Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:
BE AUTHENTIC!! People will follow you because they want to see YOU! For the longest time, I would try to be like other Bookstagrammers, trying to recreate their content and work without letting my personality shine through. I still love to take inspiration from friends and aesthetic accounts, but I try to put my spin on things so that my followers can see ME! I try to keep my account real and genuine. I’m not always in makeup or in a perfect fit, and I often ask my followers for advice and help. I want my page to feel REAL!
SOME PEOPLE WON’T LIKE YOU (and that’s okay). This is one I still struggle with. When I see people unfollowing me, I still get sad. Then I remember the group of people who are supporting me and loving me, and then I put myself back into place. Because I want to show myself and be real, I recognize that not everyone will agree with how I live my life or the things I believe. It’s okay if you’re not everyone’s cup of tea, you’re SOMEONE’S!!
POST WHAT YOU WANT! Another one that I sometimes struggle with, thinking my content needs to fit into a specific box and/or niche. And while most of my content fits into the “no spice/low spice book” genre, I also have lots of passions and want to share them!
A huge thank you to Madisyn for taking the time to talk with us and shining a little light into our lives.
Madisyn leaves us with an important message: be unapologetically yourself, don’t worry too much about what others think of you, and put what you enjoy out into the world. Maybe it’ll reward you as it did her.
Looking for more of an academia aesthetic? Check out Bookstagrammer Jill!
Browse more Bookstagrammer recommendations on our Bookshop!
