Congratulations to Bedside Reading® for celebrating 20 years of placing complimentary books by the bedside in popular hotels in The Hamptons. Sexy beach reads, riveting thrillers, engrossing memoirs, and fun children’s books – all comprise The Bedside Reading summer program which continues to be a “must-have” amenity for its 10 local hotel partners that offer beachgoers that sought after beach read.
Throughout the season, Bedside Reading will offer celebratory events including book signings, book giveaways, virtual and in-person author meet-and-greets, and their 2nd annual Hamptons Beach Lovers Guide, and more. Beach book totes filled with the best books of the summer will be delivered to their hotel partners on 10 select summer weekends, which already kicked off over Memorial Day Weekend!
Bedside Reading | The Beginning… Twenty Seasons Ago
On May 26, 2002, Jane Ubell-Meyer and a friend started placing bags filled with exclusive products and books on the Hampton “coaches” traveling to and from New York City to The Hamptons. Called “Buzz Bags” the company was the first of its kind to monetize the concept of “Gift Bags” and literally started the monetized gift bag industry in the Hamptons, which quickly spread to Hollywood and beyond.
Brands and publishers vied for placement in these bags which embraced this experiential and “word of mouth” marketing concept. Hollywood premieres, Broadway shows, charity events, and even United Airlines among others joined the program seeking the gift bags as an exclusive amenity. The program eventually evolved from Hampton Buzz Bags to Madison & Mulholland Hampton Gift Bags to today’s Bedside Reading Summer Reading program offering the best in the summer season’s beach reading in The Hamptons.
“We are so excited to be kicking off our 20th season with such a fabulous line-up of authors,” said Jane Ubell-Meyer, Founder of Bedside Reading. “Who knew that when I launched “Buzz Bags” that we would still be here twenty beach seasons later. And we are excited to announce our first summer book signing event to take place on July 21st at the Lucille Khornak Gallery in Bridgehampton with authors such as Amanda M. Fairbanks, Laurie Gelman, Debby Kruszewski, and others. This is all very meaningful and special to me because I vacationed in The Hamptons every summer when I was a child.”
Bedside Reading | Featured 2021 Summertime Beach Reads
- Blind Tiger by Sandra Brown (Historical Thriller)
- Finding Napoleon by Margaret Rodenberg (Historical Fiction)
- The Lost Boys of Montauk by Amanda M. Fairbanks (Historical/Nonfiction)
- My Kind of Perfect by Tracy Brogan (Fiction/Romance)
- Raphael, Painter in Rome by Stephanie Storey (Historical Fiction)
- Ruby Falls by Deborah Goodrich Royce (Thriller)
- Seven Days in June by Tia Williams (Fiction/Romance)
- Strong Like Water by Laila Tarraf (Memoir)
- The Price by Kim Sakwa (Fiction/Romance)
- The Siren by Katherine St. James (Fiction/Thriller)
- The Sound of Wings by Suzanne Simonetti (Fiction)
- The Very Nice Box by Eve Gleichman and Laura Blackett (Fiction)
- The View Was Exhausting by Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta (Fiction/Romance)
- Twice A Daughter by Julia Ryan McGue (Memoir)
- Yes, Daddy by Jonathan Parks-Ramage (Thriller)
“We’ve worked with Bedside Reading for years, placing our books in hotels, in gift bags, even sharing online. Supported by the beautiful social posts and extensive media coverage they secure, we’ve found this to be a great way to make “beach reads season” last all year long! We congratulate them on celebrating 20 seasons in the Hamptons!” said Abby Zidle, Associate Marketing Director, Gallery Books (Simon & Schuster).
Bedside Reading | Special 20th Season Activities
A series of events are scheduled to help Hampton’s beachgoers, readers everywhere and authors and writers celebrate the season. A series of complimentary workshops will provide authors assistance in marketing their books, book signings kicking off July 21 at Lucille Khornak Gallery, special book giveaways, and a special 2021 Hamptons Book Lovers’ Guide will be distributed nationally (print and digitally).
Books are complimentary and can be found at the following Hamptons hotels and inns: In East Hampton: The Baker House 1650, Mill House Inn, The Maidstone Hotel, and Huntting Inn. In Southampton: Southampton Inn and White Fences Inn Water Mill. In Bridgehampton: Topping Rose House. In East End, Hyatt Place Long Island/East End, and The Preston House & Hotel. New to the program is MARRAM in Montauk. Complimentary tote bags of books can also be found at the Lucille Khornak Gallery (while supplies last). Additional weekends are planned throughout the summer and into the Hamptons Film Festival weekend.
“Bedside Reading has been a great partner. We love their books which always add to the experience we offer our guests,” said Dede Gotthelf, owner, Southampton Inn. “We are thrilled with our relationship and look forward to many more seasons!”