how to curate a book collection that feels like you ✿ and what's on my bookshelf

how I curate my own book collection and tips on how you can curate yours. plus a sneak peek of my favourite items on my bookshelf.

Your bookshelf says a lot about you. It’s a quiet but honest reflection of the things you’ve learned, loved, longed for — and maybe even let go of. Each book holds a little timestamp, a checkpoint in the bigger story that is your life.

It’s personal. Like the book your best friend gave you for your birthday, with a sweet note scribbled on the inside cover. Or the one you bought because you saw yourself in the main character — or maybe just fell in love with the cover art. Maybe it’s a book that opened a window into a part of the world you were eager to understand.

Then there are the bits tucked in between: the postcard you picked up on your trip to Paris — holding the spot of a book you haven’t quite finished yet. The polaroid photo you forgot about, hidden in the pages of whatever book you were reading last summer.

“Only a bookshelf can truly hold a reader's history and future at the same time, while the present is usually found in a book bag or on a nightstand nearby.”

— Peter Knox, from The Guardian

I’d love to know: what’s your favourite part about your bookshelf lately? Is it a specific title? A memento you just added that fits perfectly on your shelves? A book nook you got to put together? Let me know in the comments! 😊

Yesterday, I took everything off my bookshelf and pulled out the ones that felt the most me. There were poetry collections from my early twenties, classics I spent months trying to find in used bookstores, books I received from friends and coworkers with notes written inside. I even found a few of my own little annotations I had completely forgotten about, evidence of a version of myself that existed before.

I could see parts of myself reflected in this stack of books, and it brought me so much joy to see it all laid out together. It felt like rediscovering an old journal.

And it reminded me: I want my bookshelf to reflect me. Not the latest BookTok haul. Not what I “should” be reading. Not a bunch of old, stale books that don’t excite me anymore but I’m too scared to get rid of. Just the books that mean something; a collection that feels alive.

If I had to name my bookshelf’s personality, I’d call it the “Literary Nature-Lover”. Shelves full of real life outdoor experiences (Into the Wild by Jon Krakauer), poetic musings on nature (Devotions by Mary Oliver), and a couple of old literary classics (East of Eden by John Steinbeck and The Call of the Wild by Jack London). Keep reading to discover your own bookshelf personality.

✿ How I Curate My Bookshelf

I’m picky about the books I allow onto my bookshelves. Maybe it’s because I work at a library and that makes it easy to experiment with different books. (I usually have about 10-15 books checked out from the library on any given week). I borrow first, and then buy later. And if I do buy, it’s for one of a few reasons:

• I loved it so much I know I’ll reread it.

• I want to annotate it.

• It’s a unique or vintage copy.

• It captures something deeply personal — a mood, a moment, or a part of myself.

✿ Tips for Curating Your Own Collection

1. Have a rotating library (from the library)
On a quiet Wednesday afternoon, take a coffee and browse the stacks. Wander wherever, go everywhere — start at one side of the shelf and make your way down. There’s so many books about so many things, and borrowing helps you discover your true tastes without pressure.

Flip tee what’s through, see what’s interesting. Borrow and take home whatever you want to flip through again.

2. Keep a “Books to Buy” list.
And update it regularly. This helps with the search — and also shows what books you’re interested in owning (also those you may have forgot about!)

3. Browse used bookstores.
The search is often the best part. I love to make it an experience: browsing used bookstores in near and faraway towns, chasing that thrill of finally getting your hands on a copy you’ve been keeping an eye out for.

4. Take (thoughtful) recommendations.
Friends, creators, even strangers. I love seeing what my friends are reading on Goodreads (add me!), and also watching different book youtubers (Anna, Sara, Haley, and Jack) to get a variety of book recommendations. Also substackers! (Leah, & Elle are my faves here). Another tip is to notice which authors that you read, love and recommend (like this book!) a library find:

5. Notice your patterns.
Do you tend to love lyrical writing? Found family? Essays on nature? Books about becoming? Old classics published in early 1900s? Follow those threads—it’s how you curate your own unique collection ‘rules’.

6. Make room for nostalgia, whimsy, and sentiment.

The personality of a bookshelf is created through its books, as well as little knick-knacks, mementos, and photos that surround the books. If it feels like it fits your bookshelf! Keep it. Sometimes you don’t need a reason.

✿ What’s your bookshelf personality?

This fun little section was inspired by this article—which one are you?

✿ Nature-Lover’s Nook: Field guides, essays on trees and tides, nature poetry, and seasonal reads. Pinecone paperweights and dried ferns likely included.

✿ Wanderer’s Shelf: Travel guides, books set in far-off places, postcards as bookmarks. Feels like a passport in book form.

✿ Literary: Dense novels, poetry collections, and award-winning works. Likely includes a copy of The Paris Review, bookmarks from indie bookstores, and an entire collection of vintage Penguin Classics.

✿ The Organizer: Everything has a place—probably in alphabetical order or separated into smaller collections.

✿ Aesthetic: Every book has been chosen for its beautiful cover or spine. Because sometimes it’s just too pretty to pass up. Probably paired with candles, vases, and moody lighting. A bookshelf curated for the ✨vibes✨.

✿ Whimsical: Overflowing with illustrated favourites, fairytales, and quirky stories. Mismatched shelves, handwritten notes, and pressed flowers are tucked between pages.

✿ The Collector. You just can’t throw anything away—it has to have a spot on your shelf. You also probably end up buying a book or two every time you enter a bookstore. (no judgement, I promise!). I’d love to come browse your shelves one day.

✿ Minimalist: A carefully curated capsule of beloved books. Think: white shelves, lots of breathing room, and a “less is better” mentality.

✿ Sentimentalist: Keeps every book ever loved, gifted, or annotated. Filled with memories. Doesn’t care if the covers match — they all have a story.

✿ Trendy: Latest BookTok reads, influencer faves, and buzzy memoirs. Loves a feel good beach read with a pretty cover.

✿ some of my bookshelf favourites:

Old Timers:

books that have stood the test of time, are at least a couple of years and existed on my even older bookshelves before the big move)

✿ The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron

✿ The Apricot Memoirs by Tess Guinery

✿ Gathering Moss by Robin Wall Kimmerer

✿ You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay

✿ Everything I Know About Love by Dolly Alderton

Notable Additions:

✿ East of Eden by John Steinbeck

✿ A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

✿ Call of the Wild and The Sea Wolf by Jack London

✿ Into the Wild, Into Thin Air, and Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer

✿ On Writing by Stephen King

✿ One Hundred Years of Solitude

✿ Devotions by Mary Oliver

Before you go…

• What’s your favourite book on your bookshelf right now?

• Do you have any rules/tips for curating a personalized book collection?

• What’s your bookshelf personality? Nerdy? Trendy? Spiritual? Minimal? Vintage? Organized? Random?

Hope you enjoyed <3 catch you in the next one.