Leah Rachel von Essen
By day, Leah Rachel von Essen is the editor-in-chief of Chicago Booth Magazine at the University of Chicago. By night, she reviews genre-bending fiction for Booklist, and writes regularly as a senior contributor at Book Riot. Her blog While Reading and Walking has over 10,000 dedicated followers over several social media outlets, including Instagram. She writes passionately about books in translation, chronic illness and bias in healthcare, queer books, twisty SFF, and magical realism and folklore. She was one of a select few bookstagrammers named to NewCity’s Chicago Lit50 in 2022. She is an avid traveler, a passionate fan of women’s basketball and soccer, and a lifelong learner. Twitter: @reading_while
Books that Break Your Heart and Put It Back Together Again
Leah Rachel von Essen
March 28, 2024
There will be sad tears, there will be happy tears. Have those tissues at the ready!
Black-Owned Bookish Etsy Shops for You to Support
Leah Rachel von Essen
February 7, 2024
From T-shirts honoring bell hooks to cute washi tape and bookmarks, these bookish items will make nice treats for yourself and friends this month.
Has TikTok Ruined Reading?
Leah Rachel von Essen
January 23, 2024
Has TikTok ruined reading by making it shallow and commercial, or is it inspiring a new generation of passionate readers? Let's explore.
20 of the Best Fantasy Books of 2023
Leah Rachel von Essen
January 11, 2024
Catch up with all the best fantasy books from 2023, from dark gory horror to magical realism to rich Chinese historical fantasy.
The Best Bookstores and Libraries to Follow on TikTok
Leah Rachel von Essen
January 9, 2024
Connect with book lovers all over the world by following 17 of the best bookstores and libraries on TikTok.
Why My Resolution is to Read Less in 2024
Leah Rachel von Essen
December 19, 2023
I'm not just lowering my reading goal in 2024 — I'm actively planning to read less this upcoming year. Here's why.
Absolutely Extra Gift Ideas for Book Lovers
Leah Rachel von Essen
November 29, 2023
Wow your favorite book lover this holiday season and sweep them off their feet with these seven absolutely extra bookish gift ideas.
Dive into these 11 Palestinian Fiction Recommendations
Leah Rachel von Essen
November 17, 2023
These books about queerness, displacement, loss, and violence are must-read, rich novels and short story collections.
9 Epic Sci-Fi Books Set On Generation Ships
Leah Rachel von Essen
October 24, 2023
A spaceship full of humans is off to find a new habitable planet — and to no one's shock, something is going to go horribly wrong.
What are the Friends of the Library and How Can You Get Involved?
Leah Rachel von Essen
October 20, 2023
Learn about all the amazing work Friends of the Library do across the US, how you can support them, and how the groups first got started.