fantasy reading retreat for women and nonbinary readers

to the stars

who listen

An ACOTAR-Inspired Retreat in the Catskill Moutains

April 2-4, 2027 • Hotel Lilien, Tannersville, NY

Limited to 25 guests

faeries, magic, late-night yap

sessions about whether you’re

team azriel or team lucien,

and a lodge full of readers

who are just as obsessed as you are.

Maybe your group chat doesn't understand why you're emotionally attached to three fictional Valkyries. Maybe you've tried explaining the significance of “leave this world a better place than you found it” to someone who hasn’t entered these worlds. Maybe you've finished a book at 2am, staring at the wall in shock, and desperately needed someone to scream about it with.

We get it.

So we're taking over a lodge in the Catskills, inspired by Rhys’ family cabin, and filling it with other readers who get it too.

For three days, you'll step away from normal life and into something that feels a little bit like falling into the pages of your favorite fantasy series. You'll attend book clubs. Dress for themed dinners. Debate theories over drinks. Stay up too late talking about why Nesta is the best character and whether or not Tamlin deserves a redemption arc.

And somewhere between the faeries, yaps, games, and theories, you'll probably leave with something even better: your own little found family.

registration info

Registration will open first with early bird pricing to members of the Found Family Club, before opening to our email list.

Registration times are as follows:

  • Found Family Club: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 12pm ET

  • Email List: Tuesday, November 17, 2026 at 2pm ET

If tickets are not sold out, they will be made available to the public at full price on Wednesday, November 18, 2026.

a lodge inspired by

rhys’ cabin

Well, without anyone’s eyes painted on the walls…

For three days, Hotel Lilien becomes our home. Tucked into the Catskill Mountains in the cozy town of Tannersville, this destination feels appropriately cozy and enchanting for a retreat dedicated to magic, faeries, and found family.

at a glance

3 Days/2 Nights

Enough time to unwind and meet your found family.

catskill mountains

Hotel Lilien in the Catskills, NY

acotar-inspired

For readers who dream of traveling to Velaris

25 readers

An intimate group of women and nonbinary people

WHAT BOOKS ARE WE DISCUSSING?

a court of thorns and roses by sarah j maas

Maybe these are the books that got you back into reading as an adult, maybe they introduced you to the romantasy genre, or maybe you read them and they altered the course of your life so much that you decide to open a reading retreat company just so you could meet more people to talk about them with…not like we’re speaking from experience…or anything…

However these books showed up in your life, there’s one thing we know for sure: you’ll talk about them to anyone who will listen. So, here we are, hosting a retreat for you and the rest of the readers who not only want to hear your thoughts and theories, but offer some of their own.

This event is independently organized and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the author or publisher.

Come for the books,

stay for the people.

Our retreats were created to help people find more friends who want to gush about books the same way they do. For the person who wants someone to text when a book destroys them. For the person who wants girls trips and sleepovers and inside jokes and friends scattered across the country (or the world…looking at you, Europeans who have been begging us to cross the pond).

Sure, you can come with a friend, but you can also come alone and still feel completely at home and at ease once you realize you’re surrounded by people who are just like you. In fact, most of our guests do exactly that.

We'll create plenty of opportunities for you to actually meet people and make connections, and what we usually see is that about 10 minutes into a retreat, anyone walking by would think it’s a room full of best friends.

By the end of the weekend, you'll have shared meals, competed on teams, explored Scotland, screamed about books, stayed up too late, and probably accumulated enough inside jokes to confuse everyone back home.

That slumber party, giggling with your friends, being your authentic self around people who celebrate you for who you are is the magic we're actually here for. It’s the magic that happens when you bring together a bunch of people who never stopped believing in magic.

hear from past retreat guests

“As someone who attended solo, I immediately felt included and comfortable. It was the perfect balance of adventure, relaxation, books, and friendship. I’m so grateful for the experience and the memories made, and I would absolutely attend another retreat hosted by this team.”

— Perrin F.

“After going on my third retreat, I can't wait to go another! It's amazing the friendships that can be built over a shared love of books, fae, dragons, and whimsy in just a few days. Right after getting back, I'm already planning a long weekend trip with my new book besties!”

— Sarah E.

“This was my second retreat and I will definitely be coming back for more! As an adult it can be so hard to make friends but attending the retreats you really do find your Found Family. The attendees naturally have so much in common that it's easy to connect with others. I always feel like I can be my more true, natural self and that it's appreciated.”

— Libby P.

Photo credit: Hotel Lilien

What’s included?

What’s not included?

  • You want to connect with other women and nonbinary readers who love to read fantasy and just get you

  • You need people in your life who know what you’re talking about when you bring up Chapter 55.

  • You want to make lifelong friendships with people who have similar interests

  • You know your found family of readers exists, but you can’t find anyone near you

  • You want a few days to escape from the real world and travel to a place that feels like a different realm

  • You are 21+

This reading retreat is for you if:

Accommodations

  • Private Room

    Early Bird: $2,150

    Full Price: $2,250

    Enjoy a luxurious private room all to yourself!

    Each ticket covers ONE guest. If you are traveling with a friend, you must both purchase tickets separately.

    If you and a friend would like to share a private room, you can choose “Share Your Bed” as an add-on when adding your ticket to your cart.

  • Queen in Shared Room

    Early Bird: $1,950

    Full Price: $2,050

    Want a roomie? Choose a queen bed in a shared room!

    Each ticket covers ONE guest. If you are traveling with a friend, you must each purchase a ticket and request each other as roommates at checkout.

    This ticket is not available for a “Share Your Bed” add-on.

  • Bunk in Shared Room

    Early Bird: $1,750

    Full Price: $1,850

    Want to maximize the slumber party vibes? Choose the bunk!

    Each ticket covers ONE guest. If you are traveling with a friend, you must both purchase tickets separately. You can request each other as roommates at checkout.

    This ticket is not available for a “Share Your Bed” add-on.

Want early access to registration?

Be part of the Found Family Club!

With features like a monthly book club, local chapters, bookish virtual events, and more, this membership will encourage you to connect with fantasy lovers all over the world.

Want to know more about what this membership has to offer?

Getting there

ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE: Hotel check-in starts at 3:00pm on Friday, April 2, 2027. Check-out is at 11:00am on Sunday, April 4, 2027.

Plane: The nearest airport to Tannersville, NY is located in Albany, NY. Other options are Newark, LaGuardia, or JFK all located in/around NYC.

For those flying, you will have a chance to coordinate with other guests to carpool with rental cars in advance if you would like.

Car: Tannersville, NY is roughly

1 hour from Albany, NY

2 hours from NYC

3 hours from Boston

You Deserve a Weekend Like This.

This isn’t just about reading. It’s about remembering who you are when life gets quiet.

FAQs