Long before I created Bedside Reading, I had a travel experience that quietly changed the way I thought about books forever.

I was in my twenties and had traveled to St. Maarten for what was supposed to be a romantic scuba diving vacation with a boyfriend.

Instead, the trip unraveled almost immediately.

We arrived already arguing, and the tension only escalated from there. What should have been a beautiful Caribbean escape became emotionally exhausting. I remember feeling stranded — stuck on an island in an uncomfortable situation, trying desperately to salvage the vacation.

Fortunately, almost as an afterthought, I had packed a novel in my suitcase: Cry to Heaven by Anne Rice.

It was a large book — over 500 pages — and I had nearly left it at home because it felt too heavy to carry.

That book ended up transforming the entire trip.

Every morning, I escaped into it: by the pool, on the beach, during quiet moments away from the tension. The story completely transported me.

Instead of focusing on the difficult reality around me, I found myself immersed in another world entirely. And strangely, the hotel, the island, the emotions, and the book all became connected in my memory.

Years later, I realized something important:

Where we discover a book matters.

Travel changes us emotionally. We are more open, reflective, and receptive when we are away from our normal routines. A great story discovered during travel often becomes permanently tied to the memory of that place.

That realization stayed with me for years.

Eventually, it became the inspiration for Bedside Reading and what we now call "Room Service for Readers."

Today, travelers are increasingly searching for experiences that feel restorative, meaningful, and personal. They want moments that allow them to slow down and reconnect — not just with destinations, but with themselves.

Books naturally fit into that experience.

A great book can transform:

  • a stressful trip
  • a lonely evening
  • a delayed flight
  • a difficult season of life
  • or an ordinary vacation

… into something memorable and meaningful.

That's part of the reason hotels are beginning to embrace curated reading experiences, audiobooks, digital libraries, and wellness content as part of the guest experience.

Because sometimes what guests remember most is not just the property itself.

It's how they felt while they were there.

And sometimes, all it takes is the right book at exactly the right moment.