Luiza B. Campos

I’m a strong believer in finding the books that speak to us even when we are not looking for them. Many of us have experienced this bit of magic that can happen to readers. Welcome to our new regular feature where bookish folks from all over weigh in on a special book that found them at exactly the right moment. You never know, this may be how you find what you or someone you know most need to read right now.

Today we hear from Luiza B. Campos, publisher of Read, Watch, Binge, one of the first people I “met” on Substack. Because I never know what to watch when I am reading or read when I am watching, I liked the way she grouped books, movies, and series that go together. More than that, I liked that she was using her Substack to experiment, have fun, and to write for the joy of it. Late last year, she wrote this thoughtful post about why she’d dropped off the platform for a while and then returned and it came down to missing the writing. And in this much more recent post, she brings together Jane Austen, Allison Espach, and Clueless together. The through-line? Her own “silly love story” that led to marriage. In Brazil.

What book found you when you needed it most?

For me, it was Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. I know it’s a bit of a ‘basic’ pick, but it earned its place.

Both my parents are avid readers, and they instilled that habit in my sister and me from a young age. I read just before going to sleep. My nightly routine was a constant in my life, until it wasn’t.

Between 2013 and 2022, I slowly drifted away from reading. Between the endless scroll of social media and binging Netflix shows, the habit I had had for years began to fade. By late 2021, I realized I needed to reclaim that quiet time before bed and I wanted to reconnect with the joy of getting lost in a story.

Tomorrow, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow became my turning point. It was entertaining, portrayed the creative process and explored the world of video games, a topic I never found in any other novels. It reminded me how deeply I could invest in characters and how great stories often teach us something profound about ourselves. This was also when I launched my Substack newsletter about books, movies, and TV shows, creating a perfect synergy between my new project and my old habit.

When and how did it find you?

There was no magical encounter or a special gift from a loved one. I don’t recall the exact moment, but I likely saw it featured on a “favorite books” list in someone’s Substack back in 2022 and decided to buy it. Perhaps the book didn’t find me so much as I found it at the precise moment I needed it.

Would you read it again?

Absolutely. I’ve already recommended it to many friends, even though it’s widely known. As someone who grew up playing video games and is roughly the same age as the author and her characters, I felt a deep sense of nostalgia. The book’s exploration of gaming culture resonated with my own memories of playing Mario with friends growing up, making the experience feel incredibly personal. I also really appreciated how it portrayed creativity and working together on creative projects.

What about you?

Have you ever fallen out of the reading habit and rediscovered it? What led you back to books? And what have you been binging lately?

A little more about Luiza

Luiza has been writing on Substack since late 2021. Her newsletter explores a wide range of topics, always weaving them into recommendations for books, movies, and TV shows.