Steal My Crawl: Jessica Maria Johnson
Need ideas for your crawl? We asked some folks to share how they participated last year, or what they’d like to do this year. Take inspiration or copy them outright–we won’t tell!
Jessica Maria Johnson, reader and bookstagrammer
Jessica works in the fashion industry though she studied journalism. She writes, edits, and devours books in her downtime.
Jessica’s Crawl
For 2026, I'm hoping to crawl between the scheduled activities and events my kid has already dotted the weekend with. She loves going to a bookstore too, so I'm hoping she's up for a post-dance-practice drive to nearby bookstores we don't visit regularly. I think I could probably start closer to home in Maplewood and Millburn and the lure of the beach in Asbury Park (plus a new bookstore there I haven't visited yet!) could take us on a grand adventure.
Jessica’s shopping list
I always have books I'm keeping an eye out for, and usually it's new books that piqued my curiosity in hardback and recently released in paperback—my preferred format! And always on the lookout for books from my favorite indie publishers like New Directions, Two Lines Press, Gray Wolf, Charco...I could go on.
A favorite bookstores outside of NJ: I went to Green Toad Bookstore in Oneanta, NY only one time a couple of years ago while staying in the Catskills and I dream about going back to their perfectly curated selection!!
Favorite bookstore merch: I love every book store tote I have, but the Books is Power tote from Printed Matter in lavender canvas with orange lettering that was recently passed along to me is my current favorite!
A bookstore I’d like to visit: That bookstore in an old theater in Buenos Aires, Argentina—El Ateneo Grand Spendid! Just looks heavenly.
I read best…anywhere! I read best on Sunday mornings in bed with coffee, but also I love to read in a crowded coffeeshop or bar.