About us
Busy with Books is a Melbourne community for women who love books — and are tired of having no one to talk about them with.
You know the feeling. Your friends don't read, or don't read the same things, or smile politely when you try to explain why that ending wrecked you.
Busy with Books is where you come to find the people who actually get it.
We host bookish dinners, crafty book events, and reading retreats — experiences built around good (Italian) food, real conversation, and the radical idea that reading time is time well spent.
We're new to Melbourne — Hanna, your host, is originally from Italy but has been running sold-out reading retreats and a growing online book community in New Zealand since 2024.
Now we're bringing Busy with Books to Australia, and we'd love you to be part of it from the start.
What to expect:
Intimate by design. Good food, always. Great bookish conversations and a friendly community.
Our events are ticketed to keep RSVPs honest — spots are limited and we want them filled by people who actually show up.
Follow us on Instagram or Tiktok (@getbusywithbooks)📚
We can't wait to meet you and be busy with books!
Featured event
Books & Bites - a bookish dinner for women in Melbourne
You love books. Your friends…not so much 😬
Or maybe they read, just not the way you do.
Either way, you've been looking for your people — and this is where they are.
📚 Busy with Books is hosting its first Melbourne bookish dinner, and we're keeping it simple: good Italian food, good conversation, and a table full of women who actually want to talk about what they've been reading.
We're gathering at Il Mercato Centrale — Melbourne's beautiful Italian food hall in the CBD (close to Southern Cross) — where everyone orders what they fancy from the stalls, and we spend the evening doing what we love most: Talking about books. (And eating. Obviously 💁🏼♀️)
What to expect:
- A relaxed, informal dinner
- Great food from Il Mercato Centrale (your order, your tab)
- A small goodie to take home
- Good conversation with women who get it
- A cap of 10 guests to keep it intimate
We won't have a set book (this time!), so there's no pressure or homework.
Just show up, order something delicious, and talk books with strangers who are about to become your favourite reading friends.
Your ticket ($10 early bird, $15 regular) secures your spot and helps us keep building BWB events in Melbourne.
Can't wait to meet you 📚
About Busy with Books:
BWB is a reading community for women across Australia & New Zealand.
Since 2024, we've hosted sold-out reading retreats in New Zealand (coming to Australia soon!), run an online book club, and been featured in NZ Herald, Stuff, Woman's Day, and more.
Now we're starting out in Melbourne, and this dinner is the first step ♥️
Upcoming events
1
- A$15.00
Books & Bites - a bookish dinner for women in Melbourne
Il Mercato Centrale Melbourne, 546 Collins Street,, Melbourne, AUYou love books. Your friends…not so much 😬
Or maybe they read, just not the way you do.Either way, you've been looking for your people — and this is where they are.
📚 Busy with Books is hosting its first Melbourne bookish dinner, and we're keeping it simple: good Italian food, good conversation, and a table full of women who actually want to talk about what they've been reading.
We're gathering at Il Mercato Centrale — Melbourne's beautiful Italian food hall in the CBD (close to Southern Cross) — where everyone orders what they fancy from the stalls, and we spend the evening doing what we love most: Talking about books. (And eating. Obviously 💁🏼♀️)
What to expect:
- A relaxed, informal dinner
- Great food from Il Mercato Centrale (your order, your tab)
- A small goodie to take home
- Good conversation with women who get it
- A cap of 10 guests to keep it intimate
We won't have a set book (this time!), so there's no pressure or homework.
Just show up, order something delicious, and talk books with strangers who are about to become your favourite reading friends.Your ticket ($10 early bird, $15 regular) secures your spot and helps us keep building BWB events in Melbourne.
Can't wait to meet you 📚
About Busy with Books:
BWB is a reading community for women across Australia & New Zealand.
Since 2024, we've hosted sold-out reading retreats in New Zealand (coming to Australia soon!), run an online book club, and been featured in NZ Herald, Stuff, Woman's Day, and more.Now we're starting out in Melbourne, and this dinner is the first step ♥️
7 attendees
