"You are the writer of your own story,"
As Jaclyn Brill, also known as @brillsbooks on Bookstagram, wisely puts it. Today, we are here to recount the tale of Jaclyn Brill and her journey of discovering her passion for reading and sharing her love of books with others.
Jaclyn Brill started reading seriously in the summer of 2018 when she was living alone for the first time after college. She signed up for a library card and her hobby took off from there. In August 2022, she created her Bookstagram account, @brillsbooks, which has since grown to have over 16.5k followers. Her Bookstagram has allowed her to create meaningful connections with people from around the world, including fun book-themed challenges and mini book clubs.
Jaclyn reached a major milestone by hitting her reading goal of 100 books for the year by July, all while creating 365 posts in 365 days on her Bookstagram. Her growth as a creator is one thing she is proud of, but she is even more grateful for the community she has found on Bookstagram. As an influencer, Jaclyn has faced no criticism or negativity, but rather encouragement and positive energy from her fellow readers.
Jaclyn's advice to anyone who wants to try something new is to "just try!" You can learn whether that interest is for you or let it pass by, but you'll never know unless you try.
Lastly, we asked Jaclyn what book she would bring on a solo backpacking trip where she'll be disconnected from technology and immersed in nature. Her answer was Wild by Cheryl Strayed, a book she has been wanting to read for a long time.
Jaclyn Brill's story is a reminder that following your passions can lead to unexpected and wonderful experiences. As she said, "You are the writer of your own story." So go ahead, write your own story and take that leap of faith. You never know where it might lead you.