About us
Our story begins with a bit of serendipity. We met by chance at a book club event and discovered that we shared many things: a love of books, reading and writing, and a passion for the good things in life like a great glass of wine, travel and the arts. But most magical of all was our shared vision of creating a place where all these joys could collide – a place like Book Society – that simply doesn’t exist in the Bay Area.
And so our journey has begun…
The founders
LAURA GUZMAN
Laura is an accomplished business leader with a passion for providing the perfect recommendation – especially books, wine, hikes, and sweets. She brings nearly 20 years of experience in business operations, management, marketing and communications, and extensive networks in construction, real estate, retail, wine and bookselling. As a member of the seventh generation of a family farming business in upstate New York, small business ownership is literally in her blood. In her spare time, she co-manages a non-profit bookstore in Oakland, which has connected her with the incredible local book-ish community.
RITA GORDON
Rita is an author and active East Bay community member with a passion for books, art, travel, and the good things in life. A former global recruiting executive, she brings more than 25 years of experience in the financial and tech world. An East Bay native, Rita has amassed an extensive collection of books that fill the rooms of her house. Today, when she is not reading and writing, she is traveling, drawing flower designs for her coloring books, and volunteering with numerous local community organizations. Her debut novel, 30 Days in Belfast, is available in print and eBook. Her second forthcoming novel, “Seven Days in Seattle,” is due to release in February 2024.
“Bookshops are places of magical discoveries and the rediscovery of past pleasures.”
— Liane Moriarty
Book Society 