About & Our Team
Lonely House was built for readers who love books, but don't want to experience them alone.
Reading can be a solitary hobby. It happens at home, usually in our quiet spaces. That is where our name comes from. Lonely House speaks to that moment, the house, bedroom, couch, or corner where reading so often takes place.
We started Lonely House to give our demographic something that has traditionally been reserved for other hobbies, especially sports clubs: regular social events with familiar faces, and a community people can keep coming back to.
Founded in Melbourne in 2023, what began as a book club has now grown into a social community centred around books, to give people an opportunity to get out of their comfort zones and meet people with shared interests.
What we cherish most is seeing that connection continue after the event ends. Some of our favourite moments have been watching people meet through the club, then go on to make their own plans to build real, long-term friendships.
Co-Founder
Natasha Way
Our operations gun, Natasha's love of reading emerged through TikTok and Instagram consumption during Covid-19 lockdowns.
Once reading an average of 5 books a year, she has now grown to a whopping 70 books per year. Reading has now become Natasha's entire personality, and that's exactly how she likes it!
Natasha credits Lonely House Book Club with connecting her with a book-loving community, making many friends along the way.
Favourite book: 'The Song of Achilles' by Madeline Miller
Co-Founder
Bella Raymond
Our marketing captain, Bella's love of reading has gotten her in trouble more than a few times. Skipping school assembly to finish a juicy chapter, her teacher reluctantly chastised her... then asked for recommendations.
Lonely House Book Club was created after Bella slid into Natasha's DMs to ask about joining a club, realising a gap in social clubs for book readers in Melbourne's inner west.
Favourite book: 'The Will of the Many' by James Islington
