Meet the Judges

At Booktique, we love anyone who wants to bring people closer together. Simone LeBlanc—who exudes ethereal, earth-goddess warmth and lives by her business's “celebrate everyday” philosophy—has dedicated her career to it. Her gift boxes make it easy to draw your loved ones near, from afar. Our personal favorite box, which we have gifted to ourselves more than once and countless times to friends, is the all-occasion Comfort & Care box containing everything you need for the perfect “me moment,” including a watercolor-themed stationery set, a scented candle, and a bar of dark chocolate, among other elegantly packaged indulgences.

As a 2023 Booktique Awards judge, Simone put her exquisite taste and gifting acumen to use, and made a few beautiful discoveries along the way.

Did being a judge (and/or did a specific book you judged) spark new creative connections or inspire new ideas you’d like to explore in your life or work? Being a Booktique Awards judge took me to unexplored realms. Receiving these gorgeous coffee table books to judge—books that I might not have selected for myself in my everyday life—inspired me, and the books themselves led me to new discoveries. Whether offering a macro perspective on a subject at large, or a lens into a specific moment in time, books like these invite us to discover, expand, and become imbued into the larger perspective. 

What’s your favorite thing about coffee table books? Coffee table books are a constant source of inspiration, and from so many varied sources. Returning to them repeatedly, from season to season, enhances the inspiration. They become like an old friend you've created a relationship with over time. 

At Booktique, we say “Read Beautifully” and we invite each person in our community to define it however they choose. What comes to mind when you think “Read Beautifully”? A place? A favorite person? A time of day? A color? A certain type of imagery? A specific book? Sunday mornings on the couch with raindrops hitting the window, a mug of coffee in my hand, a beloved book, and nowhere to be. Moments like this fill my cup. 

What’s on your coffee table right now, book or otherwise? Coffee table books (of course), the beloved oracle decks that I pull for myself and others, a collection of matches from our travels, and an intricately hand-woven antique Guatemalan basket purchased from one of my favorite stores, De Vera, in New York. I always have fresh blooms or branches from the garden as well. 

If you had to choose...

Words or pictures? Pictures. Matte or glossy? Matte. Serif or sans? Serif. Brights or greige? Briege! Marble or terrazzo? Marble. Music or silence? Silence. Sweet or savory? Savory. Coffee or cocktails? Both! Movie theater or museum? Museum. Tulips or Bird of Paradise? Tulips. Grand Canyon or Central Park? Grand Canyon. Order or chaos? The space between.