and the dreams
that are answered
Fantasy Reading Retreat for Women and Femmes
Captain whidbey inn, whidbey island, wa
November 6-8, 2026
THIS RETREAT IS SOLD OUT
JOIN THE WAITLIST BELOW
registration info
Registration will open first with early bird pricing to members of the Forest & Fawn Membership Community, before opening to our email list.
Registration times are as follows:
Membership Community: Monday, March 23, 2026 at 12pm ET
Email List: Monday, March 23, 2026 at 2pm ET
If tickets are not sold out, they will be made available to the public at full price on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.
Picture this.
You arrive at a historic inn nestled amidst Pacific Northwest forest to meet a gaggle of other fantasy lovers to swap fan theories and swoon over your favorite book boyfriends with.
Or perhaps you’d prefer to spend your time quietly reading in a cozy nook with some herbal tea and a blanket.
Maybe you’d like to venture outside and kayak or visit a local geographical wonder, just like your favorite fantasy characters.
No matter what you choose, we know there is magic waiting for you at this enchanted fantasy retreat.
Photo credit: Captain Whidbey Inn
This retreat is for you if:
You want to connect with other women and femmes who love to read fantasy and just get you (aka, you’re looking for your “inner circle”)
You need people in your life who know what you’re talking about when you bring up Chapter 55 or “wingspan”
You want to make lifelong friendships with people who have similar interests
You know your like-minded girl squad exists, but you can’t find anyone near you
You want to bring your robust Bookstagram and Booktok communities into the real world
You want a few days to escape from the real world and travel to a place that feels like a different realm
You are 21+
What BOOKS ARE WE DISCUSSING?
We are going to be discussing the A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas! And this time, we’ll have tons of new material to discuss with book 6 coming out just 10 days before the event!
Whether these are the books that got you back into reading as an adult, helped you find yourself again, or simply gave you a story to fall in love with, this retreat is for those who consider themselves honorary members of the “Court of Dreams”.
This event is independently organized and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by the author or publisher.
Hear from our past guests
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January 2025 New York Retreat
“I can honestly say attending this book retreat with F&F was one of the best decisions of my life. The immediate community and friendships I built as soon as I arrived made every nervous/anxious thought disappear from my mind. I had the greatest time with my new best friends talking about our shared interests, learning new skills, and overall just enjoying each other’s company. I truly could not recommend these retreats enough, and I cannot wait until the next one!”
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June 2024 Washington Retreat
"If you’re asking yourself, should I buy this ticket and meet up with random people I’ve never met? The answer is 100% absolutely!! I have never experienced such an immediate connection. The level of enthusiasm, acceptance, and just overall ✨women supporting women energy✨ at this retreat has blown my mind. Days later I am still riding the high of this trip. From late night talks, wine tasting, and the best charades ever, this is not a trip you want to miss out on. Thank you to Sarah and Alli for putting together such an amazing event!"
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january 2025 new york retreat
“I had the best time at the retreat and already miss my found family so much! I traveled alone, and felt an immediate kinship with the other attendees based in a shared love of stories that shaped our lives. The F+F crew planned a lovely weekend with a perfect balance of activities, and while everything was optional I wanted to participle in everything I could! Coming back to real life this particular week was difficult, but I can't wait for the next adventure!”
Photo credit: Captain Whidbey Inn
What’s included?
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The historic Captain Whidbey rests on Whidbey Island, Washington. With your own private room decorated to make you maximum amounts of cozy, this will be the perfect place to unwind and create space for creativity.
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All meals are included starting with dinner on Friday night and ending with breakfast on Sunday. Coffee, tea and other beverages will be provided throughout the days to keep you cozy.
Have an allergy or other kind of food restriction? We’ve got you covered. You’ll have an option at checkout to tell us what your specific needs are!
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We will have scheduled times to meet to discuss topics from the books, our favorite characters, and anything else your hearts desire!
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From trivia to cozy crafting and more, all activities on our itinerary are included!
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We know that your brain is chock full of random fantasy trivia that you’ve been waiting to bust out at the right occasion. Well…THIS is the right occasion. Bring your fantasy knowledge and maybe even win a prize!
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Want to try writing a fantasy story of your own? Well, you’re in the perfect place. Join us for a creative writing workshop whether you are a prolific author or a total newbie. This workshop is for everyone who wants to channel their inner storyteller.
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A privately designated meeting room for the weekend just for our group!
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Because no retreat is complete without a few things for you to take home that will serve as reminders of your magical time with Forest & Fawn retreats. Whether this weekend brings you new book besties to swap conspiracy theories with or simply a much needed break from a hectic day-to-day, we want you to remember this time forever.
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You’ll have access to a private group forum before and after your retreat. This is a great chance to connect with other fantasy-lovers (if you choose) and keep in touch once the retreat is over. Say hello to your new book besties!
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It’s all taken care of! All you have to do is book your travel, then sit back and relax!
Accommodations
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King Lodge Room
Early Bird: $1,850
Full Price: $1,950
Enjoy a luxurious King Room in the Historic Lodge building.
Note: all historic lodge rooms share bathrooms that will be exclusive to Forest & Fawn guests for the weekend.
This ticket is only available for single occupancy.
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Queen Lodge Room
Early Bird: $1,750
Full Price: $1,850
This ticket is for a Queen Room in the Historic Lodge.
Note: all historic lodge rooms share bathrooms that will be exclusive to Forest & Fawn guests for the weekend.
This ticket is only available for single occupancy.
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Private Lagoon Room
Early Bird: $1,950
Full Price: $2,050
This ticket is for a luxurious Private King Lagoon Room, and has a maximum occupancy of one.
This room comes with a private bathroom.
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Shared Lagoon Room
Early Bird: $1,550
Full Price: $1,650
This ticket is for Queen Bed in a double Lagoon Room. This is perfect for those traveling with a friend or those who are looking to have more quality one on one time with another writer.
Roommate assignments will be random unless noted at checkout. If you are traveling with a friend, you will both need to purchase a ticket and request each other as a roommate at checkout.
This room has a private bathroom.
Hear from our past guests
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June 2024 Washington Retreat
"The only trip I have ever booked because of Instagram and it was the best decision ever! I didnt expect such lasting connections with all of these amazing humans to be built in two days. Everyone was so open, kind, fun, smart and absolute book nerds in the best way 🫶🫶🫶 #smutconferenceinthewoods created a core memory for this millennial 😂"
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January 2025 New York Retreat
“Attending this retreat was such a wonderful experience! I registered without knowing a single other person who would be attending, but left with so many new life-long friends. Being surrounded by so many amazing, similar-minded women made it so easy for me to step outside of my comfort zone and get to know new people. Thank you so very much to all of the hosts for creating such a warm and welcoming environment!! 💖”
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April 2024 Washington Retreat
"Book the retreat! I was not prepared for how amazing this weekend was. The book chat, the new friends, the location, the events, the food (omg the food!)-- all 10/10. Forest & Fawn have created the warm, cozy book sisterhood we all need. Thank you!"
Meet the Hosts
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Alli
"FOREST"
Co-Founder of Forest & Fawn, Fantasy Writer, and Storytelling Extraordinaire.
Also the President of All Things Cozy and can definitely communicate with woodland creatures (might even be one).
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Liz
"FOX"
Community Manager, Writer, and Expert of All Things Witchy and Woo-Woo.
Plus the most nurturing spirit you’ll ever encounter. What are the kids saying these days? “Mother”?
You Deserve a Weekend Like This.
This isn’t just about reading. It’s about remembering who you are when life gets quiet.
Want first access to registration?
join our membership!
Be part of The Reading Nook membership for fantasy readers or The Writer’s Corner membership for fantasy writers!
With features like a monthly book club, creative writing workshops, bookish virtual events, critique partner matchup, and more, these memberships will encourage you to let your imagination run wild and connect with fantasy lovers all over the world.
Want to know more about what these memberships have to offer?
Getting there
ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE: Check in starts at 3:00 pm on Friday, November 6th, 2026. Check out is at 11:00 am on Sunday, November 8th, 2026.
Plane: The closest major airport to Whidbey Island is Sea-Tac International Airport. There are also a number of smaller airports closer to the island if you wish to take that route.
Car: If you are driving from the South, note there is a ferry crossing. As we get closer to the retreat dates, you can access ferry schedules here.
You can access Captain Whidbey’s travel recommendations here.
FAQs
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If you wish to cancel your retreat you must notify our team via email at hello@forestandfawnretreats.com. Refunds will not be available within 60 days of the event.
Ticket prices include a $250 non-refundable, transferrable deposit. A refund on a ticket (minus $250 deposit) is contingent on whether or not Forest & Fawn can fill the guests slot before 60 days prior to the event, for sold out events only. For non-sold out events there are no refunds on payments made, and you are responsible for the entirety of your payment plan. For sold out events, if your guest slot is filled, a refund will be issued within 14 days. If you paid using Afterpay, you can request a refund from Afterpay within 120 of the purchased. If your refund is being issued outside of the 120 day window, your refund will be sent via Zelle from Forest & Fawn. Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early.
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Yes! Alcoholic drinks will be available for purchase at the inn bar, but if you prefer herbal tea, that will be available all day at no extra cost!
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If you book a shared room, you will have an option in checkout to request a roommate! Make sure you both add each other to your order to ensure you end up in the same room.
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Yes! Well, as long as you take breaks to eat and use the restroom. This retreat is made for YOU. All activities are optional.
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Yes! Whatever your restrictions are, we’ve got you covered. Or rather, the staff at the Lodge at St. Edwards has you covered.
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Yes! You can choose to check out with AfterPay at checkout for orders up to $2,000.
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This retreat is for YOU. That means that nothing is mandatory. If you want to curl up and read in your luxurious bed all day, go for it. If you want to take your lunch on the road and see the natural wonders of the area, by all means. Our activities are solely here as options to enhance your experience.
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Due to the capacity of our venue, daypasses are not available for this retreat.