I Went on a Reading Retreat with 50 Strangers, and It Was the Best Digital Detox

As a Social Media Director for Apartment Therapy Media, I feel like anytime I open up Instagram or TikTok I’m instantly hit with videos about analog bags, “hobby-maxxing,” or some other form of internet-escapism. And with 10 years of working in social media under my belt, I feel seen. I’ve long dreamt about the day that I can finally unplug from my phone for more than just a few hours at a time. 

So naturally, when I received the invitation to attend “Camp Unwritten,” a three-day reading retreat with Reese Witherspoon’s Book Club and World of Hyatt, a luxury glamping experience in the middle of the Utah desert at Under Canvas, I leapt at the opportunity. I had no idea what to expect from a “reading retreat” when I packed my bags — and my books — and boarded my flight. I rarely travel alone, but I was excited for this experience. 

A “reading retreat” is a dedicated trip you take alone or with a group to immerse yourself in a book in a relaxing, distraction-free environment. There were about 40 or 50 book enthusiasts from all over the country at this three-day glamping retreat with Camp Underwritten. Some came with friends, a few met up with long-distance besties, and some arrived solo (like me). We each got our own yurts with king-size beds, a fireplace, and even showers, and there were plenty of cozy places around the property to curl up with a book (the porch or pool, for instance). The one thing our rooms didn’t have was any internet (you’d have to go to the main communal space), so everyone was able to fully unplug.

Much like a book club, a reading retreat often has “required reading” in order for fruitful discussion to take place. The theme was thrillers, and we all were expected to read at least the two books assigned to us: We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz, and Society of Lies by Lauren Ling Brown. We had the mornings to ourselves, followed by an afternoon group activity, and then every night we discussed the thrillers while sitting around a campfire. The glamping experience was the perfect backdrop for this. Even more, the stunning, off-the-grid desert surroundings at ULUM Moab very closely resembled the ending scene of We Were Never Here, which added to the fun. 

When I accepted the invitation, I knew solo travel would be a challenge for me to overcome, but my second revelation was one I didn’t see coming. I haven’t traveled alone much as an introvert, so going on a retreat with nearly 50 strangers was nerve-wracking. I was also experiencing a bit of imposter syndrome leading up to this trip. My “to-be-read” pile was admittedly way taller than my stack of 2026 reads, and I had attempted to join a local book club earlier this year, but backed out when I didn’t finish in time for discussion. I was worried I wasn’t a serious enough reader to take part.

I was wrong. The trip provided the perfect amount of loose structure —with optional group activities like yoga, hiking, or book bedazzling during the day, and group dinners followed by campfire discussions at night — so I could opt out if I needed a moment alone. But between the scenic, no-service drives, family-style dinners, overall lack of Wi-Fi, and camaraderie of the team hikes, I found myself lingering around the campfire by nighttime with everyone in such rich conversation. The inability to hide behind a screen pushed me out of my comfort zone, and I left with new friends because of it. I also breezed through Lauren Ling Brown’s Society of Lies in just two days — mostly because it kept me at the edge of my seat, but also because I didn’t allow some other more pressing “responsibilities” or notifications to take priority. Three days of going off-the-grid helped me find my way back to reading for the pure joy of it. I hear the online desires for a more offline life, and I wish I could shout from the rooftops that everyone should try a reading retreat. The best part? It’s super-easy to plan your own. 

I came away from the experience knowing it was special, but also knowing that as soon as I got back to daily life I’d be “plugged in” and quickly back to life’s responsibilities. So I have resolved to make my own annual reading retreat happen — even if it’s not at a fancy glamping spot in the desert. If you want to host your own reading retreat with a few friends or want do it solo, here’s my advice.

1. Choose a book or genre. You can pick the same book for everyone to allow more room for discussion, or specify a genre for everyone to bring their favorite recs and swap. There are also many movie and TV show adaptations coming out this year to choose from (and then watch together as a part of the experience). 
2. Lock in your destination. If I could make one recommendation, it would be to go somewhere off-the-grid or distraction-free. But bonus points if your destination matches the setting of the book! 
3. Make a themed menu. One of my favorite details was discovering the fun ties to each thriller book hidden within our dinner menu (think: desserts like “mud pie” reminiscent of burying a body, and cocktails with names like “Champagne secrets”). 
4. Choose a group activity. Having a “book” swap of everyone’s favorite thrillers was such a great ice-breaker activity during our first night. I also love the idea of creating some sort of memento to remember the trip by, like a bedazzling books craft.