If you love both books and lap robes, you have likely found The Espresso Edition online. Stephanie Whitman had been blogging full-time before she moved to Charlottesville in 2021, but now her day job is social media manager, and blogging about books at theespressoedition.com is her side gig.
Ten years ago, when Whitman was diagnosed with gastroparesis (a chronic digestive condition that keeps her bedridden a significant amount of the time), blogging was a sensible career choice. “I started in fashion, added lifestyle along the way, and then in 2021, I completely rebranded because, as a lifelong reader, talking about books feels like coming home. ‘Cozy’ is the vibe for my brand.”
What makes for a cozy book? “Very low stakes,” she says. “I want to go into the book knowing that it won’t be filled with crazy amounts of action, emotional trauma, or anything too overwhelming. More often than not, these kinds of books take place in small towns, with a smaller cast of characters who are all familiar with one another, and frequently there are warm beverages and sweet treats involved.” Cozy covers all genres; two of Whitman’s favorites are romance (“the fluffy kind”) and science fiction/fantasy, from a childhood love of The Chronicles of Narnia. “My ideal cozy set-up is a big armchair with a soft blanket, jazz music playing in the background, a warm and spicy candle, a hot cup of coffee or tea in my hand, and a good book on a rainy afternoon.” Sounds perfect!