This summer:

- no being treated like it’s antisocial to take out Billionaire Baby Dilemma at the bar (how could this be antisocial when I use it as an opportunity to ask everyone if they think the BABY is the billionaire with the dilemma?)

- no having to censor myself by not bringing up the minotaur romance as an example of the American dream because iT mIgHt MakE pEoPle uNcOmFoRtAbLe

- no having to modulate my volume at 10 PM when I realized I’ve started yelling because I recently reread Romeo and Juliet and I’m still THAT mad at Friar Laurence, 3 reads and 400+ years later.

Why?

Because this summer I'm raising money for the Boston Public Library's Summer Readathon!

Finally, an opportunity to experience the joy usually denied to an adult, that of getting to write your reading down in a little list and win a prize. The fact that the prize is not pizza but the knowledge that I’ve raised money for the best institution in America - the public library - makes it even better.

The readathon raises money for the BPL’s children’s programming, including their summer bingo, and other essential programming. This is especially exciting for me because I normally have to rein my book talk in so as not to annoy people, but for the next month and a half, you have to put up with it because it’s for a good cause!

You don’t want me to Koolaid man into your conversation about the new Hunger Games movie with a debate on whether the original’s stance on reproductive freedom is undermined by the resolution of the central love triangle? Too bad! Because I’m doing it FOR THE CHILDREN.

In all seriousness, libraries need our support now more than ever (google IMLS funding) so let's get down to how you can help.

HOW TO GIVE:

1. If you’d like to make a one-time donation, I would be very grateful!

2. But since it’s technically a readathon, you could also pledge per book.

This is a dangerous game! In this time period in previous years, I have read

2020: 47 books

2021: 41 books

2022: 57 books (don't ask me what was going on here)

2023: 35 books

2024: 37 books

This year, I anticipated only reading about 30 books but as of July 11th, I'm already at 21! How much higher will I go? Who knows! So if you love to gamble, this fundraiser is for you!

Since I don't know exactly how many books I'll be reading, if you want to pledge per book, I'd ask you to give $30 and leave a comment that you're pledging this way. I will find you at the end of the fundraiser to give you the updated total.

3. If you'd like me to read a book of your choice, I will do it for the low low price of a $50 donation. Ethan thinks that's too much money to ask but he doesn't understand my 2025 TBR is like 500 books long already.

If you’ve already donated, thank you so much! Let’s talk books sometime.