Johnson’s Literary Depot Presents:
Read by the River
An all-inclusive weekend book retreat
Townsend, Tennessee
August 28th-30th, 2026
A weekend for the book lovers.
Escape to the peaceful side of the Smokies for a weekend of books, banter, and river breezes. Read by the River brings together 10 readers at a cozy riverside cottage for two nights of book club chats, morning riverside yoga, a float down the river, and a scenic hike through Cades Cove—plus the kind of slow, sun-drenched afternoons you’ve been craving.
Trip Highlights:
Two nights at a riverside cottage in Townsend, TN
All meals (Friday dinner through Sunday breakfast) plus snacks and beverages
Wine and charcuterie welcome mixer
Two guided book club discussion sessions
2 Complimentary New Books
River Float Excursion
Easy Scenic Hike through Cades Cove
Free time for reading, games, crafts, napping, & more!
All activities are 100% optional. Transportation to Townsend, TN is not included.
Pricing
$550 per person
A $200 deposit to reserve your spot. Payment plans are available. Join the interest list to be the first to know when registration goes live!
Sample Weekend Schedule
Friday:
Arrive & Settle In with Happy Hour Mixer
Dinner
Book Club #1
Saturday:
Morning Riverside Yoga Flow
Breakfast + Coffee
River Float Excursion
Lunch
Scenic Hike through Cades Cove
Free Time to read, nap, play games, etc!
Happy Hour + Snacks with Bookish Craft
Dinner
Book Club #2
Sunday:
Morning Riverside Yoga Flow
Breakfast + Coffee
Departure
FAQs
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Yes! We’ll announce the group read once you register. The group read is complimentary and you’ll be notified once it’s ready for pick up at JLD. You’ll want to finish it before the retreat so you can jump into our two discussion sessions.
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The river cottage includes a mix of private bedrooms and shared spaces. After reserving your spot, you’ll receive an accommodations preference form and we’ll thoughtfully match you with like-minded attendees.
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Perfect! This isn’t your average book club. Think of it more like hanging out with friends who also love to read. There’s no pressure. Just good conversation.
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Of course! We are happy to accommodate all dietary restrictions & preferences. Once you sign up, you’ll get an info form to fill out and that’s where you’ll include all dietary restrictions and preferences.
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All sales for retreats are final. Due to the planning and preparation required for these events, we are unable to offer refunds for any reason, including cancellations, schedule conflicts, or personal circumstances.