About · Lisanne Swart
I’m curious about what drives people, and I share the books that helped me understand.
I’m Lisanne. I write about the books that stayed with me, here and for 1,000 readers in the Night Owl Bookclub.
01 — Hello
Hi, I'm Lisanne.
I'm a writer, a lifelong reader and, it turns out, a builder.
Back in 2021, with everyone stuck at home, friends kept asking me what to read. I've been reading since I was a little girl, so I gathered my favourites on one simple page and sent it around. That page turned into my bookshelf, and the bookshelf slowly turned into this platform. I still read the way I always have: late, once the house has gone quiet.
This site is my very long love letter to books: the ones that change how you think, or finally put words to something you’ve always felt. I hope it feels like home, for anyone who loves to read, likes to think things through, and wants a little more from a story. Every month, more than 15,000 of you find your way here. If you’re still looking for your next book, start here.
I read pretty much every day, busy or not, travelling or not. It’s just how I make sense of things. This is where I share what I’m reading and what I’m learning from it, honestly, and always with an eye out for the books that deserve more readers.
Once a month I send one book to 1,000 readers: that’s the Night Owl Bookclub. The Hotpot is smaller and more personal, a note from me to you that turns up whenever it’s ready, so it’s always a little surprise. Small ideas, things I’ve noticed, thoughts I couldn’t keep to myself. Each one takes about three minutes to read: a small pause in your day, or just a deep breath. And every now and then I write you a letter on my blog. Personal, sometimes a bit messy, always honest.
By day I lead e-commerce and digital at the second-largest consumer book publisher in the world, figuring out how books find their readers online. Here I get to do the same thing, just my own way.
Really, this site is my journal: the place where I figure out what matters, keep track of what I'm reading and learning, and share the most interesting parts with you.
I hope you find a book here that stays with you, the way so many have stayed with me. And a reason to stay curious.
Thanks for being here.
Lisanne x
02 — What I look for
Thoughtful books, and the hidden gems among them.
Some are classics everyone talks about. Many are books that deserve far more readers than they have. What they share is that they make you curious, and curiosity is what this site is for.
- i.Does it make you think, or see something differently?
- ii.Would I press it into a friend's hands?
- iii.Does it deserve more readers than it has?
03 — My offerings
04 — Where this is going
From the books to the people behind them.
Everything on this platform grows from one idea: find the stories that matter, and make sure they reach the people they're meant for. Today that means recommendations, guides and a bookclub. Over time I want to add conversations with the people who write them.
Publisher, author or partner with a story worth telling? Get in touch.
05 — How it works
Free to read, no adverts
Everything here is free to read. The links to bookshops are simply there so you can find the book.
06 — Questions
How do you choose the books you recommend?
Most books I read, I just stumble upon. It can be a tip from a friend, or a crumpled copy on a dusty shelf in some obscure little bookshop in Italy. If one catches my eye and it gets me curious, I dive in. I try a lot, and that’s part of the fun, because you never know which ones will stay with you. Some really touch me, some don’t. When it happens, it happens, and it’s beautiful. And if it doesn’t, it can still be a great book.
The ones that stay end up marking moments in my life. In secondary school I was obsessed with Shakira, so of course I tried a bunch of Colombian writers like Gabriel García Márquez. Later came the books about heartbreak. Looking at my bookshelf now feels a bit like flipping through my own life.
That’s why I share them. If a book really touches me, I think there’ll always be someone else who feels it too, because my experience is rarely that unique. That’s my hope, anyway.
Have you read every book on the site?
No, and I’d never pretend I have. The author guides and reading lists are researched, so you can find your way around an author or a theme. The books I’ve actually read, and loved, live on my bookshelf.
Is everything on the site free?
Yes. It’s free to read and there are no adverts. The links to bookshops are simply there so you can find the book.
What is The Hotpot?
A separate little project: short essays about whatever’s on my mind. Small ideas, things I’ve noticed. It turns up whenever it’s ready, so it’s always a bit of a surprise. You can find it here.
How can I get in touch?
I’d love to hear from you. Publishers, authors and partners can reach me through my contact page. For everything else, come and say hi on Instagram.
The Night Owl Bookclub
