Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Long story short, I joined bookstagram in 2020 because I love books and I love talking about books, but I never had a space to do that πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ After years of fashion blogging and feeling out of place because of my interests, I wound up on this side of IG and realized that it felt like home 🀎
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I schemed up a name (something to do with coffee and books that didn't have the words "coffee" or "books" in it), took a few photos, created a profile, and went to town πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It wasn't long before I completely FELL IN LOVE with the supportive community, safe space to find new books and talk about the ones I love, and really cultivate my photography skills (which had been lying dormant for far too long) πŸ™ˆ
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Now, I'm thrilled to have connected with favorite authors, created my own hashtag (hey there #perfectespressopour β˜•οΈ), reviewed incredible books, launched my own line of merch, and made tons of new friends 🫢🏼 When I begin to feel down about the numbers or the lack of inspiration, I remind myself of why I started in the first place and I find myself falling in love all over again πŸ₯Ή
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Thank you for being part of my bookstagram journey πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstagram #booktography #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #booksta #bookphotography #bookswithmagic #booksaremagic #booknerdigan
Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author and which book made you fall in love with their work πŸ“š
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A couple months back, I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Wonderland Trials by @saraellawrites... and I immediately fell head over heels in love 😍 Needless to say, I instantly added her entire backlist to my TBR πŸ™ˆ
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Lately, I've been feeling a bit disappointed with fantasy (which has always been my favorite genre) πŸ˜• It seems like each time I pick one up, I'm either completely uninterested in the story or it just falls flat - but The Wonderland Trials absolutely blew me away! 🀯 If you're looking for something that really stands out amongst the rest, you certainly need to pick this one up! 🫢🏼
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Have you read any great Alice in Wonderland reimaginings? πŸ‡ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #thewonderlandtrials #aliceinwonderland #fantasybookrecs #yafantasybooks #fairytaleretellings
Recommend me an underrated queer book! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ
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In my world, every month is #pridemonth and I always, always have queer books on my TBR (not just white mlm, but a wide range of lgbtqia+ stories) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It's important to me to constantly be diversifying my shelves, learning more about the people around me, and continuing to create a safe environment for everyone in my little corner of the web 🀎
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My goal for June was to pack my TBR with as many queer books as I could in CELEBRATION of Pride Month, so I've already read 4 books with lgbtq rep:
πŸ¦‰ Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🌎 The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
πŸ“Ί The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
🌌 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefluer
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I'm currently reading 3:
πŸ«– A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
🩸 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
πŸ–Œ Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li
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 And I have 2 more on my immediate list:
πŸ₯€ Malice by Heather Walter
β˜€οΈ Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #queerbooks #readqueerallyear #queerreads #lgbtbooks #queeryourshelves #flippingpages
Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌 β €β €β € Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌
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I'm officially considering this Shadow and Bone week, between celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book and finding out about Ben narrating the Demon in the Wood audiobook! πŸ₯‚ 
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Also, catch me counting down the days until when I get to see my babies on-screen again (can we get a season 2 premiere date, please?) πŸ“Ί
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To answer my own question, Genya is my very favorite Shadow and Bone character 🀍 In fact, I have plans for a Genya tattoo in the near future πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are you as excited for the audiobook and season 2 of the show as I am? 🀩 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #shadowandbone #grishaverse #genyasafin #leighbardugo #grishaversary #binbons
Do you have a favorite book dedication? ✍🏼
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I've found a few recently that have definitely stood out to me πŸ‘€ Sometimes a dedication sets the mood for the book and that's something I really love! 🀎
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A few that have blown my mind recently are:
πŸͺž GALLANT (pictured) by VE Schwab
πŸ‘‘ FOR THE THRONE (actually, both of The Wilderwood books have fabulous dedications) by Hannah Whitten
πŸ›« EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds
πŸ“– THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
πŸ’” ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
πŸ₯˜ WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
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Have you read any of these magnificent books? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #bookdedications #gallant #veschwab #gallantbook #fantasybooks #fantasyreader
Is there a book you've read this year that is unli Is there a book you've read this year that is unlike anything else you've ever read? πŸ“–
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When I read THE ATLAS SIX in April, I was blown away by how unique it was! 🀯 I have never in my life read another book like it and that's part of why it got 5 stars from me ⭐️ Sure, it started at a slower pace but the further the story progressed, the more fascinating it was (and the pacing at the beginning made far more sense because it led to absolute BRILLIANCE) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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I don't read much dark academia, so recommend some titles to me (THAT AREN'T AS WELL KNOWN) that you've enjoyed! πŸ›
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #darkacademia #theatlassix #darkacademiabooks
Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vib Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vibes✨?
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I definitely do! 🫢🏼 In the past few years, I've read more and more books like this and they always leave me feeling utterly fascinated (and maybe a little confused?) πŸ€” I gotta say that writing reviews for them can be a bit tough, but reading them is a lot of fun πŸ™ˆ
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Books I enjoy that are no plot, just vibes:
🐝 The Starless Sea
πŸŽͺ The Night Circus
πŸ’ƒπŸ» Where Dreams Descend
πŸͺΆ The Raven Cycle
πŸšͺ The Ten Thousand Doors of January
πŸ§™πŸ»β€β™€οΈ The Once and Future Witches
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“– 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #noplotjustvibes #turningpages #booktography #bookphotography
Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ β €β € Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ
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I definitely do! πŸ™‹πŸ»β€β™€οΈ One of the most pleasant surprises when I opened up GALLANT was seeing the hauntingly beautiful pieces of art inside πŸ–€ It made the story feel more alive and helped me understand the way the character's mind worked 🧠
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There was a similar feeling when I first read THE ATLAS SIX and saw the character art 🎨 It gave the cast so much more depth and it made me wish that more books included pieces like this πŸ“–
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Other additions that make books stand out to me:
πŸ“° Unique chapter breaks (I read a basketball book that was divided into 4 quarters, and a book about an actor divided into acts, things like that)
πŸ’¬ Text messages
πŸ—Ί Maps
✍🏼 Handwriting (especially in the form of letters or lists)
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What are some unique things you like seeing in books? πŸ“š 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #autumnvibes #fallvibes #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #readersofinstagram #bookrecs #gallant #gallantbook #veschwab #bookillustrations #bookart #characterart #booktography
Leave me a string of emojis that describe your cur Leave me a string of emojis that describe your current read (or title) and I'll try to guess it πŸ™ƒ
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I haven't done this in a while and I'm usually pretty terrible at it, but it's fun and I'm always curious how people describe their CR with emojis πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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Here are mine:
Book 1: πŸ‘‘πŸ¦΄πŸ©ΈπŸŽ
Book 2: πŸ“–πŸ‘©πŸΌβ€β€οΈβ€πŸ‘¨πŸ»πŸš€πŸ’«
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Okay, maybe those were awful emoji descriptions, but it sure was fun to try and get creative with them πŸ˜‚ And in case you were curious, my books are For the Throne (arc) and Bookish and the Beast πŸ™ˆ
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Are either of these on your TBR? πŸ“š 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #autumnvibes #fallvibes #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #readersofinstagram #bookrecs #booktography #bookphotography #booktitles
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Blogging · June 10, 2019

Everything You Need to Know About Instagram Stories

Instagram stories are nearly as important as the content you post to the feed itself! Here are all the tips you need to take them to the next level.

I really love using Instagram stories to connect with my friends and followers. In fact, I sometimes enjoy stories way more than my feed because they allow me to be more candid, goofy, and vulnerable. This part of the app has allowed me to open up in ways a static photo never can, and typically my stories are viewed more frequently than my feed – so it’s a great space for me to share what’s on my mind.

Instagram has provided plenty of great in-app options to make your stories lookΒ fantastic, and I utilize them all on a regular basis! However, I also enjoy upping my game with outside apps to create cool templates, fun filters, or intriguing text designs. I want to give you a run-through of the best uses for both in-app content as well as alternative programs!

Instagram Story Tips and Tricks

You can use the eyedropper tool for text and marker color-choosing within the photo itself. You can also press down on one of the rainbow colors along the bottom of the screen to see the entire color palette.
Highlight any text, bring up the color palette, and undo your highlight with one hand while scrolling along the colors with the other to create an ombrΓ© effect!
Place your text in the most aesthetically-pleasing spot, and use text backgrounds or the marker tool to make it visible.
Gifs are fun too! Relate them to your photo or video, make them playful or sarcastic, and grab peoples’ attention by having them be extra bold or wordy!
Along the sides of your Instagram story screen are grid-lines. These light up in blue when you move text, gifs, or otherwise towards the outer edges of your screen. Don’t pass them! If you do, your content will be hidden by the top bar, bottom text bar, or sides when people are swiping through. Be mindful!
Take advantage of Instagram’s options. Polls, questions, ratings, and quizzes allow you to engage with your audience. Get sassy and fun with these, and add them whenever you can! The more people engage with your stories, the more you’ll show up at the top of their feed!
Music is awesome, but make sure to actually choose something specific, rather than just always opting for the top picks the app suggests for you. I like to search for songs that relate to the content, or use music that I’d like for my audience to discover!

The Top 10 Apps to Take Your Instagram Stories to the Next Level

Unfold

This app is my absolute favorite outside of Instagram itself when it comes to quality IG story content. There are tons of templates, fonts, and styles to choose from when it comes to curating something especially beautiful and aesthetically-pleasing on your story.

Canva

You can use this program forΒ way more than just Instagram stories. I create all my Pinterest headers, infographics, and more with the desktop version – but it’s also fabulous for fun story templates and even story highlight covers!

StoriesEdit

This is an app created byΒ Planoly and I love how you can really brand all your stories by using it regularly. I tend to pick and choose and not stick to a certain branding style for my stories, but it really is an excellent option for a modern look.

8mm

I downloaded this after seeing a couple of my favorite bloggers use a beautiful, film-like filter across their stories. I discovered it wasn’t a filter, but an app that allows you to capture professional video in an old-timey style.

SNOW

This is basically an alternative version of Snapchat that’s really popular in Asia, but I only use it for the filters. It makes your skin look really nice but gives you the option to turn up or down the intensity of the filters, unlike Snapchat or Instagram.

HUJI

This app was really popular for a while, letting you snap photos that look like they were taken on a Fujifilm Instax or Polaroid camera. I like it for the occasional artsy photo.

Storyluxe

Similar toΒ Unfold, this app has templates that are incredibly aesthetically-pleasing. The only downside is that you can’t move the photos around or zoom them in the same way you can on Unfold – but there areΒ way more template options.

Nichi

I just discovered this app recently and have yet to discover every fabulous thing about it, but I do know that it’s a lot of fun if you enjoy adding stickers to your stories (rather than just gifs). It also has some really cool font options and the styling is very ethereal and bohemian.

Filmm

Another recent download of mine, but I’ve beenΒ loving it for filming on IGTV especially (something I’m just now diving into). It gives you filters, effects, and tons more options for video and makes your content look really neat!

Splice

If you’ve filmed an especially long video and want to chop it up, add transitions, feature music, or include captioning – this is an awesome app option. Instagram stories seem to sometimes glitch and only allows you to upload 4 videos at a time, so this gives you the freedom to “splice” everything into 15-second intervals to upload in series!


Related Posts
25 Instagram Accounts You Should Be Following //Β 20 Products That Help You Slay Flatlay Photography

What do you use to spice up your Instagram stories?

In: Blogging · Tagged: apps for instagram, blogging tips, guide to instagram stories, Instagram, instagram stories, RVA, social media

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Comments

  1. Hillary Conheady says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    This is such a great guide! I need to remember to use hashtags!

    Reply
  2. Summer says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    This is so good, Stephanie! I LOVE how you did the examples with the Story screenshots – so creative, girly! Love, love that. I have some new apps I need to download πŸ™‚

    Reply
  3. Hillary Conheady says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:19 AM

    This is such a great guide! I need to remember to use hashtags!

    Reply
  4. Maggie says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:30 AM

    This guide is amazinggggg! I never thought of a lot of these, so I’m going to start doing them!

    Reply
  5. Summer says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:46 AM

    This is so good, Stephanie! I LOVE how you did the examples with the Story screenshots – so creative, girly! Love, love that. I have some new apps I need to download πŸ™‚

    Reply
  6. Donna says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    Fantastic info!!!

    Reply
  7. Kasey Holloway says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    I use a lot of these apps and really enjoy them! I love using Unfold especially! Also, I always forget to put hashtags in my story, but I need to remember how important they are!

    Reply
  8. Lizzie says

    June 10, 2019 at 12:05 PM

    Okay, this is seriously the best post ever! Stories are not my strong point so I’m really excited to start implementing some of your tips!

    Lizzie
    http://www.lizzieinlace.com

    Reply
  9. Donna says

    June 10, 2019 at 2:03 PM

    Fantastic info!!!

    Reply
  10. Lee says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    These are such great tips! I had no idea you could create ombre text like that- definitely going to try that!!

    Reply
  11. Kasey Holloway says

    June 10, 2019 at 3:23 PM

    I use a lot of these apps and really enjoy them! I love using Unfold especially! Also, I always forget to put hashtags in my story, but I need to remember how important they are!

    Reply
  12. Tanvi Rastogi says

    June 10, 2019 at 5:09 PM

    So many new apps to check out. Thanks lady!!! I didn’t know about a lot of them.

    β₯ tanvii.com

    Reply
  13. Alix Maza says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    Oooh so many IGS apps! I tend to just use Unfold, I’ll check the others out.

    Reply
  14. Azanique S Rawl says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    I totally need to up my story game! I currently use Canva but had no idea about these other apps. Thanks for sharing babe πŸ™‚

    -xo, Azanique | https://www.lotsofsass.com

    Reply
  15. Candace Hampton says

    August 21, 2019 at 8:02 PM

    This is really useful. Thanks you so much for such a detailed post. By reading I realized that there’s a lot of tools that I’m not using. Thanks for sharing your secrets<3

    Candace Hampton
    http://www.thebeautybeau.com

    Reply
  16. Lee says

    June 10, 2019 at 7:13 PM

    These are such great tips! I had no idea you could create ombre text like that- definitely going to try that!!

    Reply
  17. Lecy | A Simpler Grace says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM

    These are such fun tips! I have noticed that some people are spending more time on their stories rather than the pictures on their main feed. There are so many neat features to try!

    Reply
  18. Alix Maza says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:41 PM

    Oooh so many IGS apps! I tend to just use Unfold, I’ll check the others out.

    Reply
  19. Azanique S Rawl says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:44 PM

    I totally need to up my story game! I currently use Canva but had no idea about these other apps. Thanks for sharing babe πŸ™‚

    -xo, Azanique | https://www.lotsofsass.com

    Reply
  20. Kileen says

    June 10, 2019 at 9:49 PM

    I love this post babe, definitely need to check out and download all of these apps!! So helpful, thanks for sharing!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Reply
  21. Erin says

    June 10, 2019 at 10:12 PM

    I really suck at stories. I never use them. Your tips rock!

    Reply
  22. Candace Hampton says

    June 10, 2019 at 10:34 PM

    This is really useful. Thanks you so much for such a detailed post. By reading I realized that there’s a lot of tools that I’m not using. Thanks for sharing your secrets<3

    Candace Hampton
    http://www.thebeautybeau.com

    Reply
  23. Lecy | A Simpler Grace says

    June 10, 2019 at 11:53 PM

    These are such fun tips! I have noticed that some people are spending more time on their stories rather than the pictures on their main feed. There are so many neat features to try!

    Reply
  24. Greta says

    June 11, 2019 at 1:17 AM

    I have the worst time with Instagram stories. Your tips are so helpful!

    Reply
  25. Indya | The Small Adventurer says

    June 11, 2019 at 6:32 AM

    I have also fallen in love with Instagram Stories! I LOVE watching other people’s; it’s one of the first things I do when I come home from work πŸ˜‚ I’m trying to make my Stories are aesthetically pleasing as my feed is though, as so far it really hasn’t been, so I’m downloading some of these apps now! Hope they help.

    Reply
  26. Carolyn says

    June 11, 2019 at 10:03 AM

    Wow, what a very helpful post! I learned about a lot of new apps that I didn’t know about before. I agree on that sometimes I love stories more, but I can get a bit lazy with it. Though being able to add fun gifs and polls is really cool!

    Reply
  27. Yolanda says

    June 11, 2019 at 11:25 AM

    This is such a fantastic resource and so helpful! I’ll be referring back to for sure. Instagram hasn’t been a big focus for me just yet, but I know that it will help secure more relationships, opportunities and engagement over time.

    Reply
  28. Sarah Lindner says

    June 11, 2019 at 12:15 PM

    Thanks so much for sharing this! I am always looking for new apps to try out!

    xoxo Sarah

    Reply
  29. Caila Quinn says

    June 11, 2019 at 1:02 PM

    Wait… this blog post was so helpful. Love how you combined fonts and made text stand out! Truly inspired πŸ˜€

    Reply
  30. rebecca says

    June 11, 2019 at 1:33 PM

    you always have the best tips!!!! so important

    xx reb

    Reply
  31. Becky says

    June 11, 2019 at 1:52 PM

    I am so bad at instagram stories. I’m never sure what to put on my feed and what to put in stories!

    Reply
  32. Em says

    June 11, 2019 at 5:14 PM

    This is such a fun post filled with helpful info!

    Reply
  33. Crystal // Dreams, etc. says

    June 12, 2019 at 12:34 AM

    Love these app suggestions! I really need to use them more when putting together Stories!

    Reply
  34. Anna English says

    June 12, 2019 at 9:31 AM

    Okay, I love this post! I’m heading on vacation tomorrow, so I just downloaded a few of these to create some fun new content! Thanks for sharing your secrets with us girl.

    Reply
  35. Taylor Mobley says

    June 12, 2019 at 9:32 AM

    Uhm ok story queen. I am the worst with pretty stories.

    Reply
  36. Deborah says

    June 12, 2019 at 10:52 AM

    These are such great tips! I tend to just share what I’m reading on Stories but I really need to get on that IG Stories game!
    I LOVE using Unfold for my stories!

    Reply
  37. Kristen says

    June 12, 2019 at 11:18 AM

    I love these tips. I always forget to add my location, such a great idea to do it and reach more of an audience.

    Reply
  38. Laura S says

    June 12, 2019 at 1:01 PM

    I LOVE this! As someone who is just jumping back in the game of IG stories, I definitely needed to read this today!

    Reply
  39. Lily says

    June 12, 2019 at 2:54 PM

    This was SO helpful! I tend to be a bit “boring” with my stories — but I rarely have the time to make everything look super pretty like you. I definitely need to amp up my game.

    Reply
  40. Carmen Edelson says

    June 12, 2019 at 3:29 PM

    Okay it’s good to know that Unfold is your favorite! I downloaded it recently and have been using that so far so good πŸ™‚

    Reply
  41. Laura Leigh says

    June 12, 2019 at 6:29 PM

    You rock Instagram stories lady! And absolutely rocked it with this post. I love all of your advice and how you styled your Instagram stories.

    xo Laura Leigh
    http://www.louellareese.com

    Reply
  42. Jasmine Vargas says

    June 13, 2019 at 8:34 AM

    I just downloaded a few of these apps. I can’t wait to use them.

    Reply
  43. Kenzi - Life of a Sister says

    June 13, 2019 at 10:28 AM

    I just downloaded Nichi! I have some of these apps and I love them! I love “hiding” the hashtags so they don’t clog up the picture, I also hide them behind tags too.

    Reply
  44. Morgan says

    June 13, 2019 at 3:00 PM

    You’re an Insta story pro!! I only use Unfold to help me “up my game” but need to check out the other apps you mentioned!

    -Morgan
    How 2 Wear It [] http://how2wearit.com

    Reply
  45. Tonya Morris says

    June 13, 2019 at 5:14 PM

    These are awesome tips! I love the stories you created as examples!

    Reply
  46. Deanie says

    June 14, 2019 at 2:55 PM

    These are such great tips!! I hate doing videos on Instagram stories πŸ˜‚ Bookmarking this to reference when I need it.
    Xo, Deanie

    Reply
  47. Julia Comil says

    June 14, 2019 at 3:08 PM

    This is such a great post! IG story is so complicated with all its amazing functionalities!

    Reply
  48. Laura says

    June 15, 2019 at 10:04 PM

    Absolutely loved reading this post! I love your tips for utilizing Instastories to their full potential! And love the stories you created to help show what you’re talking about!

    xo, Laura

    Reply
  49. Denise Kokinis says

    June 17, 2019 at 2:05 PM

    This was seriously so helpful! So many good tips and tricks for stories! I love how you showed examples of how to do these, especially to show how you eliminate negative space. These tips are some I need to start using for my account and get a little bit better at.

    Denise | Fashion Love Letters

    Reply
  50. lyn says

    June 18, 2019 at 10:03 PM

    This is such an awesome guide! I have to try to remember these tips. Thank you so much for sharing!

    Reply
  51. Nailil says

    June 18, 2019 at 10:54 PM

    This is an awesome IG Story guide. So many good points.

    Xx, Nailil
    http://thirtyminusone.com

    Reply
  52. Tanvi Rastogi says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:07 AM

    So many new apps to check out. Thanks lady!!! I didn’t know about a lot of them.

    ❥ tanvii.com

    Reply
  53. Kileen says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM

    I love this post babe, definitely need to check out and download all of these apps!! So helpful, thanks for sharing!

    Kileen
    cute & little

    Reply
  54. Erin says

    August 21, 2019 at 6:08 AM

    I really suck at stories. I never use them. Your tips rock!

    Reply

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Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“– β €β €β €β €β € Why did you join bookstagram? πŸ“–
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Long story short, I joined bookstagram in 2020 because I love books and I love talking about books, but I never had a space to do that πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ After years of fashion blogging and feeling out of place because of my interests, I wound up on this side of IG and realized that it felt like home 🀎
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I schemed up a name (something to do with coffee and books that didn't have the words "coffee" or "books" in it), took a few photos, created a profile, and went to town πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It wasn't long before I completely FELL IN LOVE with the supportive community, safe space to find new books and talk about the ones I love, and really cultivate my photography skills (which had been lying dormant for far too long) πŸ™ˆ
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Now, I'm thrilled to have connected with favorite authors, created my own hashtag (hey there #perfectespressopour β˜•οΈ), reviewed incredible books, launched my own line of merch, and made tons of new friends 🫢🏼 When I begin to feel down about the numbers or the lack of inspiration, I remind myself of why I started in the first place and I find myself falling in love all over again πŸ₯Ή
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Thank you for being part of my bookstagram journey πŸ“š
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #bookstagram #booktography #bookflatlay #booksuggestions #bookrecommendations #booksta #bookphotography #bookswithmagic #booksaremagic #booknerdigan
Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author Tell me your most recent "new-to-you" fave author and which book made you fall in love with their work πŸ“š
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A couple months back, I had the privilege of reading an advanced copy of The Wonderland Trials by @saraellawrites... and I immediately fell head over heels in love 😍 Needless to say, I instantly added her entire backlist to my TBR πŸ™ˆ
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Lately, I've been feeling a bit disappointed with fantasy (which has always been my favorite genre) πŸ˜• It seems like each time I pick one up, I'm either completely uninterested in the story or it just falls flat - but The Wonderland Trials absolutely blew me away! 🀯 If you're looking for something that really stands out amongst the rest, you certainly need to pick this one up! 🫢🏼
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Have you read any great Alice in Wonderland reimaginings? πŸ‡ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #thewonderlandtrials #aliceinwonderland #fantasybookrecs #yafantasybooks #fairytaleretellings
Recommend me an underrated queer book! πŸ³οΈβ€πŸŒˆ
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In my world, every month is #pridemonth and I always, always have queer books on my TBR (not just white mlm, but a wide range of lgbtqia+ stories) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ It's important to me to constantly be diversifying my shelves, learning more about the people around me, and continuing to create a safe environment for everyone in my little corner of the web 🀎
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My goal for June was to pack my TBR with as many queer books as I could in CELEBRATION of Pride Month, so I've already read 4 books with lgbtq rep:
πŸ¦‰ Wild is the Witch by Rachel Griffin
🌎 The Never Tilting World by Rin Chupeco
πŸ“Ί The Charm Offensive by Alison Cochrun
🌌 Written in the Stars by Alexandria Bellefluer
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I'm currently reading 3:
πŸ«– A Psalm for the Wild-Built by Becky Chambers
🩸 Blood Like Magic by Liselle Sambury
πŸ–Œ Portrait of a Thief by Grace D Li
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 And I have 2 more on my immediate list:
πŸ₯€ Malice by Heather Walter
β˜€οΈ Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #queerbooks #readqueerallyear #queerreads #lgbtbooks #queeryourshelves #flippingpages
Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌 β €β €β € Favorite Shadow and Bone character? 🦌
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I'm officially considering this Shadow and Bone week, between celebrating the 10th anniversary of the book and finding out about Ben narrating the Demon in the Wood audiobook! πŸ₯‚ 
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Also, catch me counting down the days until when I get to see my babies on-screen again (can we get a season 2 premiere date, please?) πŸ“Ί
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To answer my own question, Genya is my very favorite Shadow and Bone character 🀍 In fact, I have plans for a Genya tattoo in the near future πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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Are you as excited for the audiobook and season 2 of the show as I am? 🀩 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #shadowandbone #grishaverse #genyasafin #leighbardugo #grishaversary #binbons
Do you have a favorite book dedication? ✍🏼
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I've found a few recently that have definitely stood out to me πŸ‘€ Sometimes a dedication sets the mood for the book and that's something I really love! 🀎
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A few that have blown my mind recently are:
πŸͺž GALLANT (pictured) by VE Schwab
πŸ‘‘ FOR THE THRONE (actually, both of The Wilderwood books have fabulous dedications) by Hannah Whitten
πŸ›« EARLY DEPARTURES by Justin A. Reynolds
πŸ“– THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by Matt Haig
πŸ’” ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART by Stephanie Garber
πŸ₯˜ WITH THE FIRE ON HIGH by Elizabeth Acevedo
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Have you read any of these magnificent books? πŸ“š 
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#lightacademiaaesthetic #lightacademia #cozyaesthetic #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #cozybookstagram #bookaesthetic #booktography #bookphotography #vintagemood #bookseverywhere #hyggebookstyle #quietshadesofbrown #bookmoments #ofcosymoments #booksandcoffee #coffeeandbooks #fortheloveofreading #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #booksonbooks #booknookstagram #bookdedications #gallant #veschwab #gallantbook #fantasybooks #fantasyreader
Is there a book you've read this year that is unli Is there a book you've read this year that is unlike anything else you've ever read? πŸ“–
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When I read THE ATLAS SIX in April, I was blown away by how unique it was! 🀯 I have never in my life read another book like it and that's part of why it got 5 stars from me ⭐️ Sure, it started at a slower pace but the further the story progressed, the more fascinating it was (and the pacing at the beginning made far more sense because it led to absolute BRILLIANCE) πŸ™ŒπŸΌ
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I don't read much dark academia, so recommend some titles to me (THAT AREN'T AS WELL KNOWN) that you've enjoyed! πŸ›
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #darkacademia #theatlassix #darkacademiabooks
Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vib Do you enjoy books that are less plot, more ✨vibes✨?
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I definitely do! 🫢🏼 In the past few years, I've read more and more books like this and they always leave me feeling utterly fascinated (and maybe a little confused?) πŸ€” I gotta say that writing reviews for them can be a bit tough, but reading them is a lot of fun πŸ™ˆ
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Books I enjoy that are no plot, just vibes:
🐝 The Starless Sea
πŸŽͺ The Night Circus
πŸ’ƒπŸ» Where Dreams Descend
πŸͺΆ The Raven Cycle
πŸšͺ The Ten Thousand Doors of January
πŸ§™πŸ»β€β™€οΈ The Once and Future Witches
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Have you read any of these? πŸ“– 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #noplotjustvibes #turningpages #booktography #bookphotography
Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ β €β € Do you enjoy books with illustrations? πŸ–Œ
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I definitely do! πŸ™‹πŸ»β€β™€οΈ One of the most pleasant surprises when I opened up GALLANT was seeing the hauntingly beautiful pieces of art inside πŸ–€ It made the story feel more alive and helped me understand the way the character's mind worked 🧠
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There was a similar feeling when I first read THE ATLAS SIX and saw the character art 🎨 It gave the cast so much more depth and it made me wish that more books included pieces like this πŸ“–
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Other additions that make books stand out to me:
πŸ“° Unique chapter breaks (I read a basketball book that was divided into 4 quarters, and a book about an actor divided into acts, things like that)
πŸ’¬ Text messages
πŸ—Ί Maps
✍🏼 Handwriting (especially in the form of letters or lists)
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What are some unique things you like seeing in books? πŸ“š 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #autumnvibes #fallvibes #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #readersofinstagram #bookrecs #gallant #gallantbook #veschwab #bookillustrations #bookart #characterart #booktography
Leave me a string of emojis that describe your cur Leave me a string of emojis that describe your current read (or title) and I'll try to guess it πŸ™ƒ
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I haven't done this in a while and I'm usually pretty terrible at it, but it's fun and I'm always curious how people describe their CR with emojis πŸ€·πŸ»β€β™€οΈ
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Here are mine:
Book 1: πŸ‘‘πŸ¦΄πŸ©ΈπŸŽ
Book 2: πŸ“–πŸ‘©πŸΌβ€β€οΈβ€πŸ‘¨πŸ»πŸš€πŸ’«
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Okay, maybe those were awful emoji descriptions, but it sure was fun to try and get creative with them πŸ˜‚ And in case you were curious, my books are For the Throne (arc) and Bookish and the Beast πŸ™ˆ
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Are either of these on your TBR? πŸ“š 
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#cozyaesthetic #mybeigelife #bookcommunity #thepursuitofcosiness #cozytime #fortheloveofreading #bookaesthetic #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #cozyvibes #cozycore #cozylife #hyggebookstyle #coffeecoffeecoffee #coffeeandbooks #autumnvibes #fallvibes #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksuggestions #readersofinstagram #bookrecs #booktography #bookphotography #booktitles
What are you currently using as a bookmark? πŸ“– G What are you currently using as a bookmark? πŸ“– GIVEAWAY TIME 🚨
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I'm partnering up with @theseasonalpages to give away some really fun prizes:
πŸ”– 3 bookmarks of your choice from The Seasonal Pages
πŸ’³ a $25 gift card to @bookshop_org (because we love supporting indie shops)
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Here are the rules:
🀎 FOLLOW @theespressoedition and @theseasonalpages
πŸ’¬ TAG a friend in the comments
πŸ“± For an EXTRA ENTRY you can share this post to your stories (and make sure to tag us both - this is for public accounts only)
This giveaway is INTERNATIONAL and will end on June 1. The winner will be notified via DM.
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Good luck! β˜•οΈ 
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#mybeigemood #cozyvibes #beigeaesthetic #coffeeandbooks #coffeegram #booktography #bookaesthetic #bookflatlay #bookrecommendations #booksofinstagram #booksandcoffee #cozybookstagram #calmversation #bookishthoughts #bookgram #bookblogger #cozyaesthetic #hyggebookstyle #mybookfeatures #mycozyretreat #ofcosymoments #bookstagram #bookmoments #booksaremagic #booksuggestions #bookmarks #shopsmall #indiebookstore #bookishshop

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