The Bookish Mindset Book - Interview With Founder

Last updated on 27 December 2024

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Welcome to The Bookish Mindset!

I absolutely love subscription boxes. I think they’re such a fun way to not only support small businesses but also try, taste, discover, read new things that perhaps you wouldn’t otherwise pick out yourself. And what’s better than a subscription box? A book subscription box! Recently I met Nikki from The Bookish Mindset, and we immediately started clicking over our love of books and the titles we’d read. I absolutely love what she’s up to and am honoured to introduce you to her today!

In this interview, I chat with Nikki about how she got started, what brings her inspiration for the boxes she puts together, how she chooses what to include, and more!

Nikki! Hey! Thank you so much for being here! Tell us a little bit about yourself.

Hey! Thanks so much for having me here, it’s a pleasure to be asked.

So by trade, I’m an engineer. I studied engineering through my university undergrad and masters and I’m now working in manufacturing as a project manager. Outside of work I love to read and immerse myself in nature. My favourite genre is definitely contemporary romance, I’m such a hopeless romantic and love a happy ending. While other hobbies have come and gone, reading has always been there.

I live in Portsmouth UK, close to the sea in a vibrant and lively neighbourhood called Southsea. It’s bursting with life and superb small businesses, it’s a great place to live.

Oh wow! That’s amazing! It’s so good how reading has been an ongoing love of yours. So much so that you have a book subscription box! I love subscription boxes and have bought a few bookish ones in the past. How did The Bookish Mindset come around?

I do indeed! So the idea came to me during one of our national lockdowns but there are a few strands to this tale:

The first was a need for something more. I’ve always loved my job in engineering but I began craving something more creative and less office-based. I really love giving book recommendations to friends and it’s even better to find that they enjoyed it too. So the idea of finding books that people love is definitely something the appealed to me.

The second was the inspiration I took from those around me. During the lockdown, I spent a lot of time exploring my local neighbourhood. I found so many incredible businesses (both outside and online) that were continuing to grind and push through, despite the bleak situation. They gave me such energy and I took so much pleasure in supporting them that I wanted to find other ways to do that too.

Lastly, I think it’s fair to say that through the pandemic I woke up to a lot of the (social) injustice in the world, as perhaps a lot of us did. I’m a white, cis-gendered, heterosexual, educated, able woman and that comes with a lot of privilege. I’ve always read non-fiction but it went into overdrive over the last year in an attempt to both educate myself and diversify my bookshelf. The outcome has been an incredible learning curve of understanding and empathy and that journey certainly isn’t over. There’s no perfect way to be an ally but I’m doing my best to be better each day.

It was a combination of all of these that gave me the idea to start a subscription box with a little bit more.

The pandemic has certainly changed a lot for a lot of people, and you’re so right about so many of us waking up to injustice and other issues that the world faces.

I love that you’ve created something that is a passion of yours, as well as using the space to bring to light these privileges and issues.

Can you tell us a little bit about what’s typically inside the box?

Of course. So in short, each box is themed and contains a book, two gifts and a tea.

The book is handpicked by myself after reading around the theme. I will only ever put books in boxes that I absolutely love or completely resonate with me so I can guarantee that they are great reads.

The books are bought through my local independent bookshop, Pigeon Books. That part is so important to me. I have such fond childhood memories of being in bookshops and they can be such important parts of local communities. When I was looking into starting these boxes, I knew I wanted to be supporting indie bookshops so I’ve made it work around that.

I LOVE that you’re also supporting your local independent bookshop! Are the books usually fiction or non-fiction?

Each month we switch between fiction and non-fiction books. I chose this theme because it’s how I like to read myself and couldn’t find a subscription service out there like this when I started my business. I like the range you can get from reading something different each month. So far we’ve had such a range: novels, self-help and spirituality, science and culture, prose, memoirs and there’s more to come!

That is such a great idea! I’m a fiction girl myself, but this year have started reading some non-fiction too. Will definitely need to pick your brain for recommendations!

You mentioned gifts too?

Yes! So, the gifts from small businesses tie in with the theme of the box and the book. I’ve found so many great businesses over this past year and I love being able to share them with everyone. It feels so great to be able to shout about the great people I collaborate with!

There’s also a tea in each box because I just love sitting down with a book and a cup of tea (so British, I know!). I’ll choose a different one each month with some lovely cold brew varieties for Summer too.

It’s definitely not just a British thing! I love a tea and book scenario, too. How do you choose the theme, books and items that you include?

Collating the box always starts with the theme. I’ll look at calendars for important dates or whether there are particular months dedicated to certain topics and I’ll try to find an element that I can work with. For example, April hosted World Earth Day and so that box was themed and named ‘Loving Your Home’.

Once I have a loose theme, I’ll pick and read 3-5 books around that theme to find one I love. I choose the books to read by watching prize lists, bookseller recommendations, new releases, and various book blogs. A whole range of places!

After reading the book I’ll have a clearer idea of the theme and I’ll match some products to that book. It might be a direct link or maybe something slightly more obscure, but I like finding gifts that work together.

With both the books and the businesses, I want to be as diverse and inclusive as possible. I want to give those marginalised voices that we don’t see enough a platform. My subscribers love this because it means they are reading such a diverse range of texts. So many stories, real or not, from so many walks of life. I think it’s so important to broaden your bookshelves, and your spending habits to include everyone.

If there’s a specific mention of tea in the book then I’ll do my best to match the tea to that but often the tea is chosen more around the seasons: warming chais and early greys for winter months and cold brew, fruity teas as the sun starts to make an appearance.

Oooh I love a chai! And such a great idea have a cold brew for the summer. Do you have a favourite box that you’ve put together so far?

That’s so tough, it’s what I’d imagine choosing between your children to be like!

I’d have to say our Finding Your Community box. The box contains the book The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta and is one of my favourites this year by far.

Written in prose, it has such a rhythm to it and I mean it when I say I couldn’t put it down. I was hooked and I feel like I’m possibly a little bit hungover from it still. The story follows a young, queer, black boy named Michael as he learns who he is and who he wants to be. It’s categorised as YA but definitely has adult themes and is just stunning.

The gifts in the box are shower steamers (bath bombs for your shower) which I’m still in awe of, just an incredible invention, and some straw straws. These straws are totally biodegradable because, well, they’re made of straw but unlike paper straws (that aren’t even biodegradable!), they don’t disintegrate after 30 seconds of being in your drink. Tried and tested in many a drink!

The tea is called Fruit Salad and tastes just like the sweets from your childhood. Is that a UK only thing?

It sounds like such a great box! And The Black Flamingo is on my TBR list, for sure!

When are The Bookish Mindset boxes released?

So new boxes are curated and released at the start of each month, and to make sure you don’t miss out then you need to sign up to my weekly email. Subscribers get early access and special content.

Amazing! And do you ship worldwide?

We’re based in the UK but, yes! We now ship worldwide!

So good! Are monthly subscriptions the only thing you offer?

No, not at all. We offer single boxes, monthly subscriptions, and blocks as well. The single boxes are perfect if you want to try them out and make perfect gifts too (we can add cards in the box too!). The monthly subscriptions are just that, a rolling subscription that guarantees you the next month’s box too. We offer the blocks in six and three months. They’re also brilliant presents and save you a bit of money too!

Having options like that is so handy!

Now, I hate to ask this, I really really do, but … what’s your all-time favourite book (or several if you’re like me and you can’t choose one haha)?

Noooo! Don’t make me choose haha! I’m going to cheat and name a few.

My favourites growing up that really got me into reading were:

Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman – I read this probably too young and still remember it so clearly. That’s the sign of a great book, one that sticks with you for 15+ years!
Beyond the Deep Woods by Paul Stewart – brilliant fantasy series with incredible illustrations by Chris Riddell
Inkheart by Cornelia Funke – just beautiful. Don’t talk to me about the film haha! No it was fine, but films can never replace childhood imagination.

My first stay-up-all-night-ugly-crying was Where Rainbows End by Cecelia Ahern. I know everyone loves PS. I Love You, but I promise this one is better. Another film not to talk about..

And finally, some recent favourites:

The Brown sisters series by Talia Hibbert – my perfect books: contemporary romance with a smattering of spice. Brilliantly inclusive and I just love the characters so much.
Love in Colour by Bolu Babalola – myths and legends reimagined with women at the centre. Short stories but incredibly impactful and empowering.
Hood Feminism by Mikki Kendall – a hard-hitting, slap in the face for white feminism. Brilliant.
The Flatshare by Beth O’Leary – perfect romance, easy reading and just lovely.
Detransition, Baby by Torrey Peters – stark and brash tale of trans motherhood. Eye opening and incredible.
Where The Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens – loved this a lot and so worried for the film (can you see a theme here?)
Atomic Habits by James Clear – brilliant guide for setting up habits.
What A Time To Be Alone by Chidera Eggerue – it’s not a breakup book, it’s a manual for life and every woman absolutely needs to read this

Plus all of the books in my boxes of course! To date they have been: You Are A Badass by Jen Sincero, Love After Love by Ingrid Persuad, Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and The Black Flamingo by Dean Atta. The last two still have a few boxes left on the website, but be quick!