When we set out to bring back forgotten books by incredible women authors we knew we needed to find great stories. But as avid readers who always carry books around in our totes and who love reading in bed and in the bath, we also wanted the experience of reading to be a good one.
First, we partnered with incredible designers and illustrators so the books are as framable as they are readable.
After that, we invested a lot of time and energy into making all of the QLB books beautiful inside and out, simple to hold in one hand and easy on the eyes. It’s the attention to the details that matters to us. Here are some of the things that make the whole QLB “experience” so satisfying.
Munken Paper
Munken paper comes from a paper mill in Sweden that’s been around since 1871 (fun fact: it was originally run by monks, hence “Munken”). It’s one of the highest-quality, uncoated fine papers available today, which is why it feels great and smells amazing. It gets bonus points for being one of the most environmentally friendly papers too.
Bend, Not Break
It’s an Eastern philosophy that also happens to perfectly describe our lay-flat binding.
Lay-flat binding is designed for one-handed reading, on the beach, in the bathtub, on the train, at your desk at lunch, and everywhere in between. And when you’re done, there’s just a whisper of a patina on the spine. We call them smile lines.
Ooh la la, the Flaps They Are French!
Our softcovers include French flaps, which adds not only an extra layer of style but also protection when carrying them around (they also act as built-in bookmarks).
The Goldilocks of Typesetting
We typeset our books with wide, airy margins and easily readable text (not too big, not too small, juuuust right). Your eyes enjoy reading them almost as much as your brain does.
A Designated Scrawling Section Where You Have Our Permission to Write in the Book
Designed for those among us who shudder at the prospect of marking up the text, we put a notes section in the back of all our books so you can capture your thoughts.
