Chicago Literary Salon Book Exchange at Veronica Beard
There are few things I love more than bringing Chicago book lovers together, especially when books, fashion, and giving back are all part of the evening. On August 13, the Chicago Literary Salon gathered at Veronica Beard Chicago for a summer Book Exchange supported by Reese’s Book Club and benefiting Read & Run Chicago.
And when I say book exchange, I mean a lot of books. I brought more than 150 books from my own shelves to give away, filling the space with stacks for guests to browse throughout the evening. Attendees were also invited to bring along books they were ready to pass on, giving each one the chance to find a new reader.
An Evening of Books, Fashion, and Community
The idea behind the Chicago Literary Salon has always been about more than reading a particular book. I want to create opportunities for people who love books to meet one another, discover something new, and feel connected to Chicago's larger literary community. This evening was a particularly fun, casual version of that mission.
Guests mingled over complimentary wine and champagne while browsing the book exchange and shopping Veronica Beard's collection. There was something especially delightful about watching people move between racks of beautiful clothes and stacks of books, glass of wine in hand, stopping along the way to talk about what they were reading or recommend a title to someone they'd just met.
Rather than centering the evening around a single author or book, as many of our Chicago Literary Salon dinners do, the books themselves became conversation starters. Guests could pick up a title, ask someone if they'd read it, recommend a favorite, or leave with something they might never have chosen on their own.
Reese’s Book Club Comes to Chicago
The evening was also an opportunity to learn more about the Reese’s Book Club Chicago Chapter and its goal of creating community among local readers.
I loved having the chance to spend time with Christine from the Reese’s Book Club team and hear more about what they hope to build through their city chapters. So much of their vision—creating meaningful opportunities for readers to connect in person—feels naturally aligned with what I hope to accomplish through the Chicago Literary Salon.
I'm incredibly grateful to Reese’s Book Club for supporting our Book Exchange and helping us create another opportunity for Chicago readers to find one another. I'm excited to see how their Chicago community continues to grow and hopeful this is only the beginning of opportunities for us to collaborate.
Shopping for a Good Cause
The evening wasn't only about taking home a new book. Our guests could also shop Veronica Beard throughout the event, with 15% of sales made during the evening benefiting Read & Run Chicago.
Read & Run Chicago creates free and affordable literary programming that brings together reading, movement, and exploration of Chicago. I loved knowing that an evening built around our shared love of books could also help support another organization finding creative ways to make literary experiences accessible in our city.
And, of course, a huge thank you goes to Veronica Beard Chicago for welcoming the Chicago Literary Salon into their beautiful space. The store provided such a fun backdrop for an evening that brought together books, fashion, wine, and community.
More Reasons to Gather Around Books
One of my favorite things about hosting the Chicago Literary Salon is seeing what happens when you give people a reason to walk into a room where they already know they have something in common.
Sometimes that reason is an author they've been eager to meet. Sometimes it's a novel they can't stop thinking about. And sometimes it's simply the promise of browsing a table piled high with books and leaving with a new story.
This Book Exchange was a wonderful reminder that literary community can take many forms. It can be an intimate dinner and author conversation, but it can also be a glass of champagne, a stack of books waiting for new homes, and a conversation with another reader you might not otherwise have met.
Thank you to Veronica Beard, Reese’s Book Club, and Read & Run Chicago, and to everyone who spent the evening swapping books and stories with us.
I came with more than 150 books to give away, but my favorite thing we exchanged that evening might just have been recommendations, introductions, and a shared enthusiasm for what we should all read next.
Join the Chicago Literary Salon Book Exchange at Veronica Beard Chicago—with support from Reese’s Book Club!
Thursday, August 13 | 5:00–7:00 PM
Veronica Beard
900 N. Michigan Ave., First Floor
Free | RSVP Requested
Join the Chicago Literary Salon for an after-work happy hour celebrating books, conversation, and community.
Stop by Veronica Beard anytime between 5:00 and 7:00 PM to browse a curated book exchange while sipping champagne and exploring the boutique's latest collection. Bring a book you've loved and are ready to pass along—or simply come as you are. No book is required to participate.
To help stock the shelves, Ashley Hasty, founder of the Chicago Literary Salon, will be bringing 100 books from her personal collection to give away, ensuring there's something for everyone to discover.
We're also grateful for the support of Reese’s Book Club, whose partnership is helping us bring even more readers together for an evening celebrating books and community.
While the event is free to attend, 15% of proceeds from Veronica Beard purchases made during the event will benefit @readandrunchicago, helping sustain and expand its free and affordable literacy programming throughout the year.
Whether you're hoping to find your next great read, meet fellow book lovers, or simply unwind after work with a glass of champagne in a beautiful setting, we'd love to see you there.
This event is complimentary, but RSVPs to ChicagoRSVP@veronicabeard.com are requested to help us plan for the evening.
