WELCOME & NEWSLETTER PROMISE

Subject line: Your bookish sanctuary has arrived
Preview text: Ancient temples, royal courts, and love stories that see you

Body:

Thank you for joining our little corner of the internet where bookish folks come to dream.

Your inbox is probably drowning in promotional emails promising you everything from productivity hacks to instant abs. So, the fact that you chose to hear from us means the world, and tells us all we need to know about you.

I'm Christine, the former publishing strategist who built Reverie because I was tired of choosing between intelligent storytelling and sensual escape. Why should us bookish girls and queers have to pick one?

Here's what you can expect from this newsletter:

Mondays: Story recommendations matched to your mood (craving ancient mythology? Elizabethan intrigue? Contemporary romance?)
Thursdays: Behind-the-scenes peeks at our voice actors, historical research, and the craft of audio storytelling
Occasional treats: Early access to new collections, literary discussions, and love letters to your favorite tropes

This isn't just another newsletter. It's a weekly retreat for folks who understand that the right story can shake things up, inspire a vibe shift, and even inject magic into your entire week.

I believe that all of us deserve stories that match our intelligence AND awaken the senses. Stories that celebrate all kinds of love and sensuality. Stories that transport you so completely, you forget you're listening through headphones.

Your first gift: Next Monday, I'm sharing my personal collection of "Gateway Stories" - the 5 audio experiences that turn casual listeners into complete obsessives.

Hit reply and tell me: what's the last book that kept you up way too late because you couldn't put it down? I read every response and use them to curate better recommendations.

Welcome to the sanctuary,
Christine xo

P.S. If you want daily bookish inspiration while you wait for Monday's email, follow @reverie.stories on Instagram.

VALUE DEMO & BEHIND THE SCENES

Subject line: Our narrators cast spells with their voices
Preview text: Just ask Sarah, who ditched Netflix after one story

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Yesterday, I got an email that made us at Reverie cry happy tears.

Sarah, a high school English teacher from Portland, wrote:

"I tried your app last week after months of just reading the newsletter. I picked a 20-minute story about two women meeting in a 1920s speakeasy. When it ended, I realised I'd been holding my breath. I immediately canceled my Netflix subscription. Why waste time scrolling when I could be living these stories?"

This is why I spend my days obsessing over every detail of our audio production.

Here's what most people don't know about creating immersive audio stories:

Each 20-minute story takes 3 weeks to produce. We research historical details down to the fabric of clothing and the slang people actually used. Our voice actors rehearse not just their lines, but their breathing patterns. We layer in soundscapes so subtle your brain processes them as memory, not audio effects.

The result? Stories that don't feel like performance - they feel like experience.

Your Monday treat preview: I'm featuring our newest collection "Library After Hours" - contemporary stories set in bookshops, libraries, and literary events. Think: that perfect meet-cute over the same book, whispered conversations in rare manuscript sections, and the kind of chemistry that builds over shared literary obsessions.

But here's the thing about audio storytelling that reading can't replicate: when you close your eyes and listen, your brain fills in details that make the story uniquely yours. The face you imagine, the setting you envision - it becomes personal in a way that's almost magical.

Quick question for you: When you read romance or spicy fiction, do you imagine yourself as the protagonist or watch the story unfold like a movie?

Hit reply - I'm genuinely curious because it affects how we craft our audio experiences for you.

More bookish magic coming Monday,
Christine xo

TRIAL OFFER & URGENCY

Subject: Your 30-day literary escape starts here
Preview text: Before we close signups this weekend

Body:

Here's something I've learned about bookish folks: we're excellent at adding books to our "want to read" list and terrible at actually reading them.

The same thing happens with good intentions about self-care, right? Trying new experiences, and making time for the things that actually bring us joy.

That's why I'm writing this email.

Over the past week, you've been part of our newsletter community. You've seen behind the curtain of how we create immersive audio stories. You know our values and our obsession with quality.

But knowing about great stories and actually experiencing them are two different things.

Right now, I'm offering 30 days of complete access to our entire Reverie library - free. That's 200+ sensual audio stories across ancient Greece, Elizabethan courts, Victorian drawing rooms, 1920s speakeasies, and contemporary settings where desire unfolds in coffee shops and quiet apartment kitchens.

Here's what 30 days could look like:

• Week 1: Explore different eras and discover your favourites

• Week 2: Dive deep into the historical periods that captivate you

• Week 3: Find the stories that see you - our LGBTQ+ collection and contemporary romances

• Week 4: Develop your personal rotation of go-to escapes

The catch? We’re closing new trial signups this Sunday. Not as a marketing trick, but because onboarding new users properly takes time, and we want to focus on the people who are ready to prioritise their literary pleasure.

Three reasons to start your trial today:

1. You deserve better than doom-scrolling. Replace 20 minutes of social media with 20 minutes of being the heroine or hero of your own fantasy.

2. Audio hits different. When you close your eyes and listen, you're not just reading about desire - you're experiencing it.

3. Community matters. Join those who've discovered that audio storytelling isn't just entertainment - it's a practice in prioritising your pleasure.

[Start your 30-day free trial]

Questions? Hit reply - I read every message and love hearing from you.

The stories are waiting. The question is: are you ready to live them?

Christine xo

RE-ENGAGEMENT & ENHANCED OFFER

Subject: For those sweetly hesitating
Preview text: Some stories linger on the edge of memory...

Body:

Hi [Name],

I haven't heard from you since Sunday, which means you're either lost wandering ancient temple corridors (in which case, please ignore this email) or you're still deciding.

If it's the latter, this is for you, [Name].

Some stories linger on the edge of memory – a half-read page, a whisper caught in candlelight. That's how I think of Reverie for you right now: waiting quietly, ready when you are.

I know the hesitation of bookish souls. You research, deliberate, talk yourself out of desires before they bloom. But what if you trusted that first flutter of curiosity?

For you, patient dreamer:

45 days to wander our worlds instead of 30, plus "Academic Affairs" – stories where desire unfolds in hushed libraries and moonlit lecture halls.

Inside, worlds are still breathing:

• Bare feet on cool marble, shadows dancing in temple corners

• Silk rustling as masked figures turn toward you in candlelit ballrooms

• That electric moment when fingers brush over the same book spine

Emma from Bristol told us: "I almost didn't try Reverie because I worried it would feel strange. Now I listen each night instead of scrolling. It's like meditation, but with fire running through my veins."

[Claim your 45-day escape + bonus collection]

This invitation closes Thursday at midnight.

When you're ready, we'll be here.

With patient anticipation,
Christine xo