Hi! I’m Hilliary, the writer behind Circle of Friends. You can also find me on instagram where I host The Stoop Series and what I’m reading and loving on Rec League. Lately I’m writing about hosting, home renovations, being out and about in NYC, and the vintage fashion I wear.

Last week I co-hosted a book swap with Rec League at Anaïs, a cozy neighborhood spot named after author Anaïs Nin, where shelves of natural wine bottles are wedged together between used books.

Rec League has a great app, it’a an aesthetic and user-friendly way to keep track of the recommendations I get asked for regularly, everything from books, vintage silver for hosting, and my go-to plastic-free products.

For the book swap, we gathered a group of well read friends, the ones I screenshot their ig stories of what they are reading, who’s group chats are about which book talks to get tickets to, a few of us that have been in the same book club going on 15 years.

The rules were simple: Bring no more than three books, I assumed most of us had a stack of books ready to pass on, but the ask was a curated selection of what you would actually recommend to a friend to read next.

I took home The Kitchen Front (Thanks !), Slow Days, Fast Company, an advanced copy of The Light Pirate and a more robust Summer want to read list. If you are looking for ideas of what to read next, here are 50 recommendations-

The full collection of all the books that were swapped

Guests were asked to leave notes inside the books, sharing why they would recommend that book.

If I had to write a book report on the evening, it would be on how girls just want to read, talk about books, and drink wine with friends. In our very digital world, there was something so special about a night of swapping physical books.

Want even more book recs? Here’s collections from fellow substack writers and readers- Bria Schirripa (Friend Of), Elissa Suh (Movie Pudding), Sarah Isenberg (Craft Club), Lindsay O’Brien (Binzie), Anne Warren (Anne’s Circular Knitting Journey), Clare Moore (Following Up), Rose Florence (The Rose Period), Kate Danielson, Brigid Hogan, and Juliana Radich + mine!

If you want to attend future book swaps or other Circle of Friends events? Make sure to subscribe. I’m also starting to plot and plan events in the garden this Summer, if you would like to partner on one, please reach out hilliary@yourcircleoffriends.com

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Thank you for being here! If you liked this newsletter, please like, comment or share, it really does mean a lot to me <3

To celebrate International Women’s Month, you’re invited to a special private viewing and guided talk for “Between Us,” presented by Indego Africa.

Be one of the first to see the a vibrant art-forward gallery exhibition which explores the work of artisan women living in Mahama Refugee Campin Rwanda.

​Indego Africa is dedicated to growing sustainable, artisan-owned businesses and investing in the women who run them. They have created pathways to self-reliance for more than 300 refugee women across two of Rwanda’s largest camps while also creating beautiful products. (see inside for some of my personal favorites!)

​The evening will include a guided talk and intimate viewing of the exhibition, drinks, conversation, and connections with the CoF community, + you can shop new accessories by ​Indego Africa, which are perfect for upcoming warm weather travels.

With very limited capacity, paid subscribers get first access to RSVP, a special perk of your support! RSVP below…

My Indego Africa favorite pieces:

Thank you for reading Circle of Friends, I’m so grateful! You can follow along on Instagram and watch all of The Stoop Series now on YouTube.

Want to partner on a CoF event? Reach out hilliary@yourcircleoffriends.com

Dear Friends,

An Exciting Announcement! The first Circle of Friends Community event of 2026 is on January 21st, a Stoop Series Live with !

Stoop Series Live is the IRL extension of the Stoop Series. I bring guests off the screen and into the room for honest conversations and the chance to learn directly from industry leaders and innovators.

Join me, alongside artists Kate Wallace and Jill Moser, for an intimate evening in conversation around their gallery exhibition, Vignettes & Jewel Box. Vignettes & Jewel Box is a collaboration blending Jill Moser’s paintings and Kate Wallace’s work with reclaimed textiles. Our conversation will explore what happens when distinct mediums overlap, how discarded textiles shed their original context and take on new meaning, and the story of the bow-tie in one of the vignettes that has been down an Oscars red carpet.

Like all Circle of Friends events, expect drinks, conversation, and connections with the CoF community. If making new friends or learning something new is part of your 2026 intentions, this one’s for you.

With limited capacity, paid subscribers get first access to RSVP, a special perk of your support! RSVP below…

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