Zibby Retreats

Weekend and day-long escapes for book lovers.

Join Us!

Our retreats are held at beautiful boutique hotels around the country with multiple featured authors, delicious food, local bookstore visits, and time for fun. Book lovers of all types are welcome.

Join us at our next retreat. We can’t wait to meet you.

Upcoming Retreats

October 3-5:

Zibby's Greenwich Retreat with Athena Books! Details to come.

On Being Jewish Now: Live at the Museum of Tolerance

March 23, 2025

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HEY BOOK LOVERS!

Join us for a Special Evening Discssing On Being Jewish Now at the Museum of Tolerance.

Gather in person for an inspiring conversation with editor, publisher, and contributor Zibby Owens, alongside a distinguished panel of voices from On Being Jewish Now, including Rabbi Steve Leder, Abby Stern, David K. Israel, Amy Ephron, Anna Ephron Harari, Beth Ricanati, and Rabbi Sharon Brous, and other Jewish notables, including Jeff Astrof, Liz Astrof, Jamie Denbo, Wendy Sachs, Rabbi Sherre Hirsch, and Malina Saval

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Together, they will explore what it means—and how it feels—to be Jewish today.

This powerful discussion will take place at the Museum of Tolerance, offering a meaningful setting to reflect on identity and community in today's world.

Books will be available for sale at the event, with proceeds benefiting Artists Against Antisemitism.

We can't wait to meet you!

Meet your new favorite authors!

With special guests...

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(VIP) ZIBBY Retreat: Santa Barbara, CA

March 28 to 30, 2025

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HEY BOOK LOVERS!

You're invited to an intimate weekend getaway with superstar authors at fabulous destinations like Godmothers Bookstore, the Rosewood Miramar, the Kimpton Santa Barbara, local restaurants, and more!

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Meet your favorite authors in person!

With special guests...

Tickets include two nights at the Kimpton Canary Santa Barbara and all meals and activities mentioned in the itinerary.

Coming with a bookish best friend?
You can share a room with two queen beds. Each person must purchase their own "Shared Room" ticket. We will contact you to confirm we have the right friend pair.

Please read the cancelation policy carefully before purchasing your weekend pass.
Until March 3rd: Free cancelation + full refund
Until March 14th: 50% refund
After March 14th: No refund

We can't wait to meet you!

Meet your new favorite authors!

With special guests...

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On Being Jewish Now: Live event in New York

April 5, 2025

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HEY BOOK LOVERS!

Join us for panels, lunch, a book fair, and a private screening of October 8 plus talk-back at the Whitby Hotel in midtown Manhattan. We can't wait to meet you!

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How a book retreat in the desert reminded me books will always save me

December 22, 2024

READ THE ARTICLE
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LA Times: 'Book people are my people': Why your next vacation should be a book retreat

October 30, 2023

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Zibby Owens' reading retreat comes to Austin, drawing bibliophiles

February 23, 2024

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Zibby Media invests in events—with a touch of glam

February 6, 2024

READ THE ARTICLE

Past Retreats

Zibby's Santa Barbara Retreat

March 28 to 30, 2025 | Santa Barbara, CA

A note from Nanda Reddy:If there weren’t pictures to prove it, I’d insist the weekend in Santa Barbara was a dream. Within minutes of checking into the gorgeous Canary Hotel and being showered with delightful gifts (those tiny perfumes!), our group strolled to a local spot for wine and introductions. The chemistry was instant, as what better bond is there than a shared love of books? At each turn, I met an intriguing, hardworking, and well-read woman who’d given herself the gift of this weekend getaway, a retreat from reality’s unceasing demands into a luxurious, carefree world of books. A few had read or were 

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reading my recently released debut, A GIRL WITHIN A GIRL  WITHIN A GIRL, and I felt honored to discuss it with them. 

We were pampered, each of us. Chauffeured to beautiful locales and fed lavish five-star meals while we carried on meaningful conversations about life and books, sometimes amid celebrities just going about their days—Simon Cowell was spotted at lunch! Panel discussions took us deep into each author’s process, jump-starting conversations that continued afterwards, even as we browsed the lovely Godmothers bookstore. If that weren’t enough, we were treated to the guest appearance of a superstar author, Kristin Hannah, at our farewell brunch. As down-to-earth and accessible as Zibby herself, Kristin visited each table to chat, answering questions and encouraging the aspiring authors near me. That morning, the incomparable party planner Graça Tito also dreamed up a delicious signature mocktail, “The Triple Layer,” in honor of my novel. It was all pinch-me and surreal. We were given parting gifts of Wishbeads bracelets by the gracious Natasha Sizlo. One of my wishes: another dreamy book retreat in my future!

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CONTACT:
Director of Events
Graça Tito
graca.tito@zibbymedia.com

Photo Gallery

Testimonials

"Eye-opening."

Iram A.

"Good for the soul."

Maria T. 

"A sheer delight!"

Lisa R. 

Testimonials

“This may have been the most fun I've had in many years! The intelligence, creativity, and interesting conversations from the other participants was truly inspiring!”—Ellen Y.

“If you love books and are looking for a fun way to connect with other readers, recharge, and get inspired—look no further than this literary retreat that is one of its kind.”—Christy M.

“Zibby and her team curated the perfect weekend. My many new friends and I are still buzzing about it over a week later. I can’t wait until the next one. 10/10!”—Swampy H.

“My expectations were blown out of the water; the entire weekend was planned and executed perfectly. Zibby, who is so kind, warm, and down to earth has created a remarkable Retreat Team that is attentive to every guest's need. The Zibby Retreat offers a once-in-a-lifetime experience that you will find nowhere else—I left radiating! I was in a total life slump and came back alive and ready to tackle the world.”—Sarah G.

“Being with other writers and authors feeds my soul. There’s an immediate connection when writers meet each other. We understand one another in a way others might not.”—Dara K.

“I left this retreat feeling reinvigorated and buzzing with inspiration from all of the connection and community with kindred spirits!”—Meagan G. S.

“Zibby Retreats allow you to be transported to a book lovers respite. You will undoubtedly come away feeling more connected to others and yourself. ”—Debbie R.

“If you have the chance to attend a Zibby Retreat—go! I loved the weekend full of author talks, incredible food, and rooms full of wonderful people who revel in books and writing and reading. Zibby brings together the most creative and inspiring community from across the country. Not to be missed!”—Kristen N.

“Zibby Retreats really are retreats. You have the chance to slow down, enjoy a beautiful city, and spend time with people who love books as much as you do. I'm already looking forward to the next retreat.”—Marney M.

“The people! My goodness, I didn’t expect to meet such awesome people.”—Kristen J.

“An insightful, gracious group! Rarely am I in the company of so many readers who have read and enjoyed the same books.”—Lisa R.