Be Nice Have Fun is a gift shop on York Boulevard that sells products from QTBIPOC+ businesses and hosts community events, according to owner and creative director Destinie Escobedo. As well as artistic clubs and mutual aid events, Escobedo said the shop hosts a monthly book club in tandem with Sarah Reyes, who runs a pre-loved, curated pop-up book shop called Libros Y Tesoros.
“From my own personal standpoint, [the club] exposed me to classic literature or literature that I wouldn’t pick up immediately,” Escobedo said.
Reyes said she started holding book club events with Be Nice Have Fun in November 2023, with consistent meetings since May 2024.
According to their Eventbrite page, this February for Black History Month, the club read Zora Neale Hurston’s “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Reyes said the book club chose “Their Eyes Were Watching God” because she was interested in how Hurston’s life impacted her writing.
“It’s not just about the book,” Reyes said. “I like to know the background of the book and about the authors.”
According to Escobedo, their book club also highlights queer, women and BIPOC authors year-round.
“We are trying to be conscious and aware of the public sphere, and we want to give credit to black authors,” Escobedo said.
Suni Jade Reid is the owner of Auntie’s Coffee, which she said is a Black- and queer-owned cafe. Escobedo said Be Nice Have Fun has had a growing relationship with Auntie’s Coffee over the past three years.
Reid said she saw a Black History Month display that Reyes had put up at Be Nice Have Fun, which included “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Reid said they wanted to collaborate with Reyes on a book club meeting and that the pair decided Reid’s idea to make matcha was aligned with the book club’s Black History Month event.
“The mission of Auntie’s Coffee is to nourish, empower and employ folks who hold marginalized identities,” Reid said. “Coming together with people is nourishment, stimulating your mind through reading is nourishment.”
According to Reid, even though businesses have to make money, it is also important to intentionally reflect on why the business exists.
“It’s not about ‘Can I make money off of this?'” Reid said. “These are people that I see in my community.”
Reyes said the club welcomes all attendees, no matter how much of the book they read beforehand. Even though they had not read the book, Reid said they were still excited to attend and hear people’s thoughts.
“There is such value in showing up someplace and just experiencing the place,” Reid said.
The book club meeting itself was a tableside gathering with various snacks, including strawberry matcha provided by Auntie’s. At the event, Reyes provided a sheet of quotes, questions and information about Hurston to facilitate the discussion. She said she tried to cultivate a welcoming environment.
“We don’t make it like school,” Reyes said. “People can come and just hang out.”
According to Reyes, there has been a mix of recurring and new people attending book club meetings, which has been impacted by advertising, particularly on Eventbrite.
Theresa Cheng, a first-time member, said she learned about this month’s meeting via an Instagram reel showcasing the club’s future books.
“I just came to check it out,” Cheng said. “I was trying to find community and trying to meet people.”
Reyes said she wants to continue to grow the club community and putting the club out there helps her get out of her comfort zone.
“I think this year I’m hoping to have more consistency,” Reyes said. “I know [the club is] something that people do enjoy.”
According to Escobedo, Be Nice Have Fun is an official Northeast LA chapter of the Silent Book Club, which allows people to read independently in a shared space.
“It’s a place for introverts to come together and read your book, whatever it may be,” Escobedo said.
According to Escobedo, the club will highlight women authors for Women’s History Month in March. Reyes said she hopes to hold various “bookish events” in the future, potentially exploring trivia nights in addition to club meetings. Escobedo said partnering with Auntie’s Coffee for this event brought more people to the table to celebrate reading.
“We can all come together and have this sort of ‘book joy,’” Escobedo said. “Experiencing joy together, in different ways, I think is really special.”
Contact Zoe Pedvis at pedvis@oxy.edu.
