About Between Us Readers
Hi, I'm Emily 👋
I started Between Us Readers because I couldn't stop noticing a gap in how we talk about books.
I read about 100 books a year, and my friends are constantly asking for recommendations based on genres they like. But here's what I realised: within any genre, people read in completely different ways. Some of my friends want intense, emotional reads that make them think deeply. Others want something easy and enjoyable for the beach or their commute.
The problem? Walking into a bookstore or browsing online, it's nearly impossible to know how a book will feel to read. You only know what it's about. That's where the idea for our Tracks came from: pairing genre with reading energy, so you get books that match not just your interests, but your mood and capacity too.
What we're about
We believe reading should feel good, not like another thing on your to-do list. Whether you want something Gentle to unwind with, Steady to keep you engaged, or Immersive to completely lose yourself in, we've got you covered. We use a mix of reader reviews, community insights, and AI assistance to curate selections that actually match what you're looking for.
Why second-hand?
Growing up, my parents would take us to second-hand bookstores to trade in books we'd finished for credit toward new ones. It taught me that books have lives beyond their first reader—and frankly, they deserve them.
In the UK alone, approximately 320 million books end up in landfill every year. Many of those are in brilliant condition and could bring joy to someone else. In a world of plastics and overconsumption, creating a small corner for sustainability and circularity felt like something worth doing.
Why encourage returns?
Because I'm an ENFP Cancer who loves origin stories and the idea of linking people together through the little things that bring joy. Every book that comes back gets to start a new chapter with someone else, and I'm building features so you can follow a book's journey and see what other readers thought of it. Community, connection, and a bit of book magic - that's what we're working toward.
Stay tuned for more on that soon!
Let's Be Friends
📧 Email: hello@betweenusreaders.co.uk
(I actually read these. Usually respond within 24-48 hours.)
📱 Instagram: [@betweenusreaders]
📱 TikTok: [@betweenusreaders]
(Book subscription chat, book recommendations, Reading Track deep dives, and more)
This is a small business. It's me, doing this from the UK, sourcing books, packing boxes in my office, and writing personal notes.Â
It's not algorithms. It's not a warehouse. It's not venture capital.
It's personal. Sometimes that means I mess up (I'll fix it). But it also means every book is chosen with genuine thought.
That matters to me. I hope it matters to you.
- Emily x