did you know there’s a library group for young literary new yorkers with boatloads of unique events? @nyplyounglions the new york public library young lions team invited me to join their young lions cocktails & conversation event featuring author, researcher, and rare book collector rebecca romney. she chatted with NYPL’s assistant curator of english and american literature julie carlsen about her new book jane austen’s bookshelf. it’s all about women writers who disappeared from the western canon but were once adored by austen herself - essentially, your favorite author’s favorite authors! rebecca shared a bit about her writing journey, and how she discovered names that have been forgotten - but themes from their work that have continued to resonate with readers. i also loved hearing about rare book collecting, and how it can actually be accessible, fun, and, of course, totally unique to you! (when i say accessible, i mean some of these books are priced around $20, no more than an average new hardcover.) there’s such an interesting web of connections and stories discovered through this research! i did leave with a signed copy of her book … but also knowing i’m going to have ANOTHER fresh list of books to read after i finish. this was a lovely group of nyc-ers in their 20s and 30s who love books and community, and i highly recommend checking out (and maybe even joining) the young lions community for other amazing events! 📚 books mentioned: - Jane Austen’s Bookshelf by Rebecca Romney 📍Young Lions Cocktails & Conversation Stavros Niarchos Foundation Library #NYPL #younglions #literaryevent #nycbookclub #booklover #NYPLYoungLions #janeaustensbookshelf #janeausten #nycbookclub #locallibrary #supportlibraries #supportyourlocallibrary #bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #nycbookstagram #bookstagram

sourcing trans book recs from some of the COOLEST and LOVELIEST bookish creators at shelves and the city 2025!!! and just remember - even though the @transrightsreadathon is over, you should read trans book year round! 📚 books mentioned: - Little Rot by Akwaeke Emezi (@michael.laborn) - Jonny Appleseed by Joshua Whitehead (@fromthemixedupdesk) - Ash’s Cabin by Jen Wang (@raethereviewer) - She of the Mountains by Vivek Shraya (@aubs.kamilah) - The Prospects by KT Hoffman (@serareadthat) - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea (@kenzibooks) - Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas (@krystallotuslang and @nycbookhoe) - A Shot in the Dark by Victoria Lee (@_chronicallybookish) - The Unpopular Vote by Jasper Sanchez (@mnmbooks) - A Lady for a Duke by Alexis Hall (@pawneepubliclibrary_) - Drag Me Up by R.M. Virtues (@tritneyslibrary) - The Deep by Rivers Solomon (@bookrvws) - In Universes by Emet North (@booksthat_slay) - The Wicked Bargain by Gabe Cole Novoa (@cemeterygay) - Dragonfall by L. R. Lam (@novelniah) - Self-Made Boys by Anna-Marie McLemore (@aceofbooks) - Most Ardently by Gabe Cole Novoa (@emmaskies) - Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid (@daphsreads) - and i had to include @allisonsaplusreads clip 😭 thank you to the harpercollins team for gathering us all for an extraordinary weekend. @harpercollins @harpervoyagerus @epicreads @avonbooks #shelvesandthecity #shelvesandthecityla #transrightsreadathon #trr25 #transbooks #readbannedbooks #bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram

it’s a journey from the first kiss to the breakup following threads of ambition, love, selfishness, and loss through a young couple living in NYC. we were very grateful to have been #invited! 🎭 show mentioned: the last five years @thelastfiveyears #newyorkcity #musicaltheatre #nyctheatre #broadway #thelastfiveyears #jasonrobertbrown #nickjonas #adriennewarren #nycinfluencer #theatrelife #theatrereview #starrysteph #bookstagram @relayinfluence

a reading road to rings update that somehow perfectly aligned with the @transrightsreadathon!! and now @kylewatkinsphotography is getting close to the end! 📚 books mentioned: - The Spirit Bares Its Teeth by Andrew Joseph White #readingroadtorings #bookproposal #bookengagement #thespiritbaresitsteeth #andrewjosephwhite #horrorbooks #transrightsreadathon #trr25 #peachtreeteen #horrorbookrecs #nycinfluencer #bookstagram #starrysteph @peachtreeteen

give me all your Trans Rights Readathon 2025 updates!! 🏳️‍⚧️ the leadership team has so many resources and also action items this year, so please do check out the official website as well. @transrightsreadathon 📚 books mentioned: - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi #transrightsreadathon #trr25 #fantasybooks #scifibooks #transbooks #readbannedbooks #GetUnderlinedPartner #bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @getunderlined

mark is hot, helly’s hot, irving’s hot, and all that jazz. (STRONGLY recommend checking out bell works on a wednesday to enjoy the farmers market, but there are events almost every day!) 📍Bell Works 101 Crawfords Corner Rd, Holmdel, NJ 07733 📸🐦: Ginkgo Lens Photography @ginkgolens AND LET’S GO SEVERANCE SEASON 2 FINALE TONIGHT EEP!! @kylewatkinsphotography and I will be tuning in as soon as we get access at 9 tonight. #severance #appletv #appletvplus #severanceappletv #severancetheories #bellhooks #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #njinfluencer #bookstagram @severancetvseries

what are you reading for the 2025 trans rights readathon?? drop your (mood reader or not) TBRs below! @transrightsreadathon 📚 books mentioned: - Somadina by Akwaeke Emezi - Model Home by Rivers Solomon - Metal From Heaven by August Clarke - I Feed Her to the Beast and the Beast is Me by Jamison Shea #transrightsreadathon #trr25 #fantasybooks #scifibooks #transbooks #readbannedbooks #GetUnderlinedPartner#bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram #queerbooks @getunderlined @mcdbooks @erewhonbooks @hotkeybooks @fiercereads

this one is for all my musical theatre lovers & performers. it’s a special show and i’m very grateful to have been invited! 🎭 show mentioned: The Jonathan Larson Project @thejonathanlarsonproject @jenashtep 📍Orpheum Theatre, currently running through June #thejonathanlarsonproject #jonathanlarson #rent #ticktickboom #newyorkcity #musicaltheatre #nyctheatre #offbroadway #nycinfluencer #theatrelife #theatrereview #starrysteph #bookstagram

reading is political! welcome to a community of intentional, disruptive, joyous, passionate book lovers. ✨ #bookstagram #diversebooks #diversifyyourbookshelf #diversifyyourreading #readbannedbooks

help me give these books some love! 📚 books mentioned: - May A Divine Awaken by Michael Tinsley - This Land is Our Land: A Blue Beetle Story by Julio Anta, Jacoby Salcedo, and Francesco Segala - Solis by Paola Mendoza and Abby Sher #underhypedbooks #fantasybooks #dystopianbooks #scifibooks #indiebooks #SimonTeenInfluencer #bookrecommendations #starrysteph #nycinfluencer #bookstagram @dcofficial @simonteen