Every good story starts with a little mystery — including mine.
Hi, I'm Melanie — the book-loving founder behind Blindly.
It started with an obsession
I've always loved Blind Dates with a Book. If I spotted one in a shop, I'd stop in my tracks and grab a few — there's nothing like the thrill of not knowing.
But over time, the picks didn't always hit. Fun, sure, but rarely me. And I kept thinking: what if this could actually be good?
Here's the part that isn't on the label.
For years I've been quietly fighting my own battles. I'm living with thyroid cancer. I've been through stage 4 endometriosis (lost my uterus), an autoimmune disease, and more surgeries than I care to count.
After my last surgery, I got honest with myself. Life is short, and I didn't want to spend mine on anything that wasn't mine. I'd built a career in brand protection — good work, but it never made me light up. What did? Books. And the people who love them the way I do.
So I left that job. And I built Blindly.
So we made the match real
With my husband — the tech wizard behind the curtain — we built a quiz that actually gets to know you. Your preferences, your vibes, your reading mood.
Every book you receive is hand-picked by me, based on your answers. I read every single response and choose a book that feels like it was picked just for you. And yes — you still get all the little goodies that make a Blind Date with a Book so fun.
A family, a home, and a lot of books
Blindly is family-run, built from our home in California and powered by our love of great stories and thoughtful details. I'm the book-loving COO, co-founder, and resident bookmom.
Nothing makes me happier than matching someone with their next favorite read.
Let's find your match
Thank you for trusting me with your next bookish adventure. Now for the fun part.
Take the book quiz →With love,
Melanie · Co-Founder, Blindly