On the first Saturday of every month, before the rest of Baton Rouge is awake, a group of book enthusiasts silently enjoy each other’s company.
TBR Books & Tea’s monthly audiobook walk offers a quiet, low-pressure way to connect with others while still staying immersed in a story. With headphones in and limited conversation, participants walk a roughly 1.5 mile loop through a nearby neighborhood before returning back to the bookstore.
According to owner Jamie Freeman, the event was inspired by the audiobook platform Libro.fm, which she saw promoting its own version of an audiobook walk.
“I saw them do it and took the idea from them — I was gonna say I ran with it, but I walked with it,” Freeman said.
Before the event started last Saturday, Freeman highlighted how Libro.fm supports independent bookstores like hers and encouraged walkers to use that platform instead of Amazon-owned Audible.
Since the walks began last fall, they have drawn steady participation. Freeman said around 15-20 people typically participate every month. But the goal isn’t just getting people to read — it is about building a sense of community.
“My favorite part is that people meet and hang out after. We’re trying to build a community,” she said.
While the walk is designed to be a mostly individual listening experience, participants have found the value in doing it together. After the quiet walk, a group of women gathered at the front of the store, sipping tea and latte’s from the cafe and talking about the books they listened to.
One woman said she started “Simply More” by Cynthia Erivo, which led to a conversation about “Wicked” and its soundtrack. Another participant, Brandy Winfield, said she joined the walk at the encouragement of her friend, who found it on Instagram.
“My best friend decided I needed to exercise. She knows I love audiobooks, so she thought if it was combined, I’d be more willing to do it,” Winfield said.
She said she listened to “Eyes of Devious Burgundy,” a fantasy romance by Lacey Lehotzky. Because she started it just before the walk, she said it was hard to get into and advised any future participants to start their book before coming.
For busy college students, audiobooks can be a convenient way to keep up with reading, and also a fun way to unwind after a stressful week. Freeman said with the time constraints of everyday life and owning TBR Books, even she prefers audiobooks.
“It’s crazy for a bookstore owner to say, but I listen to more books than I physically read,” Freeman said.
The audiobook walk is just one of the many events hosted by the store, part of Freeman’s effort to make the space accessible. As the bookstore approaches its one-year anniversary celebration on April 11, she said events like these help with the broader mission — not just to sell books, but to create a welcoming space for readers across Baton Rouge.
“I want this to be a space for people that can come in here, study or read a book by the fireplace, or meet new people,” she said. “Book people are the best people.”
