What’s more inviting than a feed full of books — and the occasional furry friend? Welcome to @tabsbooknook, run by the lovely Tabetha. From romance and fantasy to mystery and thrillers, this Bookstagram has it all, proudly displayed in Tabetha’s signature book stacks. Sprinkled among the many reviews and recommendations are plenty of cameos from bookish friends and Tabetha’s ever-present cats, Merlin and Piper. Brew yourself a warm mug of tea and get to know this week’s Up-and-Coming Bookstagrammer.
Tabetha (@tabsbooknook)
Instagram | Goodreads
Why did you start your Bookstagram? What do you want your Instagram to bring to the world?
I started 3/12/24 after having a chat with one of my IRL book besties about how we should start posting about the books we read as a way to keep track of them and to hopefully meet others who loved the same books as me.
Where are you from?
Sydney, Australia.
Fun Fact about you:
I was a nurse for 13 years before going into the corporate sector in 2019.
Favorite Bookstagrammers:
@pages_of_prose_by_hu, @bookblubbles, @alyssa.reads.a.lot, @chasing_phantasia, @readingbythefireplace_, and @jacq_tales_untold.
Favorite Books and Authors:
Emily Henry, Elsie Silver, Ali Hazelwood, Emma Mugglestone, Stacey McEwan, Christian White, JP Pomare, and too many more to list!
If I had to choose one all-time fave book, it’s Little Women by Louisa May Alcott — I have it in three different copies.
Fictional Crush:
Myles from Funny Story and Rhysand from ACOTAR.
5 Books on your TBR:
Accomplice to the Villain by Hannah Nicole Maehrer, Play Along by Liz Tomforde, Dire Bound by Sable Sorensen, Heavenly Bodies by Imani Erriu, and King of Wrath by Ana Huang.
What’s a book on your TBR you’ve been putting off reading, and why?
The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, I’m not sure I’m ready for the emotional devastation I’m told this book brings.
Name a popular author/book/book series that you haven’t read yet but want to?
Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn series.
Name a publisher/publishing company that never misses with their new releases?
What’s Your Special Approach to Content?
For some reason I got into the habit of posting book stacks. Sometimes there’s a theme to them or a challenge I’m attempting, or they could be a stack dedicated to an author I love. I’ve started doing WCW [Woman Crush Wednesday] — if she writes it, I’ll read it, to highlight the female authors in my home library. I also love to include my two cats, Merlin and Piper, in content when they allow me.
Aesthetic / Instagram page theme:
Low fuss and not always aesthetically pleasing, but it’s true to me.
What does your Bookstagram mean to you?
I don’t have a big creative side to me, so that’s what Bookstagram is for me; it’s the creative outlet I need while also being a place to chat all things books and grow my now never-ending TBR.
Favorite indie bookstore:
Books Ever After in Bowral, NSW, Australia — they have an amazing indie book collection that caters to romance, dark romance and fantasy readers and the prettiest special editions.
Who would you have supply you with a lifetime of books?
Whoever would be happy enough to not question the number of books I’d want to purchase on a weekly basis.
Author you wish to take a selfie with:
Rebecca Yarros, would love it if I could meet her and get my Fourth Wing special edition signed.
Favorite book cover:
Emily Wilde’s Encyclopedia of Faeries by Heather Fawcett (really that whole trilogy).
What are your favorite creative avenues to explore when putting together a post for your page, and why?
I am shocking with photo edits and adding fancy backgrounds or graphics, so for me it’s the raw content of books in my flat with my two cats.
What do you like most about Bookstagram?
The community that I’ve built and the friends I’ve made both online and real life just out of sheer love of books and bookish content.
Advice for aspiring Bookstagrammers:
Post what makes you happy; your people will find you this way and the friendships you make will be amazing. The algorithm isn’t always in your favour, but just remember to have fun with it. Also, engage with those who comment on your posts and comment on your friends’ posts; that’s what this community is all about!
Thanks to Tabetha for speaking with us! If you want reviews, recs, and cat pictures galore, be sure to follow @tabsbooknook on Instagram.
Want book recs to help foster your child’s emotional development? Click here to read our interview with Bookstagrammer Hannah.
Find all your Bookstagram faves’ reading recs at our Bookshop.
