These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern your use of the Boutique Book Society website and your purchase of or participation in retreats, events, excursions, workshops, book clubs, private experiences, community offerings, merchandise, and other products or services offered by Boutique Book Society LLC (“Boutique Book Society,” “BBS,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).

By visiting our website, purchasing a ticket or booking, submitting a registration form, joining one of our communities, or participating in a Boutique Book Society offering, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms.

1. Scope of These Terms

These Terms apply to:

• Domestic and international reading retreats
• Bookish events, mixers, dinners, fairs, screenings, workshops, and gatherings
• Bookstore excursions, tours, transportation, and other group activities
• Private retreats and custom experiences
• Online communities, book clubs, and virtual programming
• Merchandise, gifts, and other products
• Any other experience, service, or offering sold or organized by Boutique Book Society

Specific offerings may include additional rules, waivers, booking agreements, questionnaires, or policies. If an offering-specific agreement conflicts with these Terms, the offering-specific agreement will control for that offering.

2. Eligibility

Unless otherwise stated on the applicable sales or event page, Boutique Book Society offerings are intended for adults who are at least 18 years old.

Retreats and events involving alcohol may be limited to participants who are at least 21 years old. Valid government-issued identification may be required.

A minor may participate only when the applicable offering expressly permits minors and Boutique Book Society has provided prior written approval. A parent or legal guardian may also be required to attend and sign additional agreements.

When making a purchase for another person, you confirm that you have permission to provide their information and that they will review and agree to these Terms and any additional participant agreements.

3. Bookings, Tickets, and Registration

A booking is not confirmed until Boutique Book Society has received the required payment and issued a confirmation.

Unless expressly stated otherwise:

• All prices are listed per person
• Availability is limited and offered on a first-come, first-served basis
• A participant may not attend without completing all required forms and agreements
• Tickets and bookings may not be resold, auctioned, or offered at a price above the original purchase price
• Only registered participants may attend or enter accommodations, private venues, transportation, or ticketed activities

Your purchase includes only the items expressly identified as included on the applicable sales page at the time of purchase. Promotional examples, sample itineraries, photographs, or informal communications do not create additional obligations unless confirmed by Boutique Book Society in writing.

4. Payments and Payment Plans

You agree to provide current, complete, and accurate billing and payment information.

If a payment plan is offered, you authorize Boutique Book Society and its payment processors to charge the payment method provided according to the disclosed payment schedule.

You are responsible for ensuring that your payment method remains valid. If a scheduled payment fails, we may contact you and provide an opportunity to update your payment information. Failure to make a payment by the required deadline may result in cancellation of your booking without a refund of amounts previously paid.

Any payment-processing fees, foreign transaction fees, currency conversion charges, bank fees, or financing charges imposed by a third party are your responsibility.

Payment plans do not change the cancellation or refund policy. Unless otherwise stated in writing, all payments made under a payment plan are nonrefundable.

5. Final Sale and No-Refund Policy

Due to the advance costs, limited capacity, planning, vendor commitments, accommodations, transportation, staffing, and personalized elements involved in our offerings, all bookings, tickets, deposits, installment payments, and other purchases are final and nonrefundable, except when a refund is required by law or expressly provided under these Terms.

No refund or partial refund will be issued because of:

• A participant’s cancellation or inability to attend
• Illness, injury, pregnancy, family emergency, work obligation, or scheduling conflict
• Flight cancellation, delay, missed connection, lost luggage, or other transportation issue
• Passport, visa, immigration, or entry problems
• Arriving late or leaving early
• Missing an activity, meal, excursion, transportation departure, or other portion of an offering
• Dissatisfaction with weather, roommates, room placement, vendors, menus, itinerary adjustments, or circumstances outside our reasonable control
• Removal from an offering because of misconduct or a violation of these Terms

Travel insurance is required for all international retreats and highly recommended for all domestic retreats. Please review the travel insurance requirements in Section 9 before completing your booking.

6. Transfers and Replacement Participants

Bookings may be transferred only with prior written approval from Boutique Book Society.

If you can no longer attend, we may notify you if an eligible person is available through an official waitlist. However, we do not guarantee that we will find a replacement, and you remain responsible for finding an eligible replacement participant.

A replacement participant must:

• Meet all eligibility requirements
• Be approved by Boutique Book Society
• Complete all required forms, waivers, and questionnaires
• Agree to these Terms
• Pay any outstanding balance, price difference, administrative expense, or third-party name-change fee
• Accept the original booking arrangements unless otherwise approved
• Satisfy all applicable travel insurance requirements

The original participant and replacement participant are responsible for arranging reimbursement between themselves. Boutique Book Society will not facilitate or guarantee payment between participants.

Airline tickets, event tickets, reservations, or other third-party purchases may not be transferable.

7. What Is and Is Not Included

Each offering includes only what is expressly stated on its sales page or written booking confirmation.

Unless specifically identified as included, the following are generally not included:

• Airfare or transportation to and from the destination or primary meeting location
• Passport, visa, immigration, or entry-related expenses
• Travel insurance
• Medical care or medications
• Baggage and personal expenses
• Meals, drinks, transportation, or activities outside the published itinerary
• Tips or gratuities
• Hotel incidentals, damage charges, or room-service expenses
• Additional nights or accommodations
• Costs arising from delays, cancellations, missed departures, or itinerary changes

Participants are responsible for understanding the inclusions and exclusions before purchasing.

8. Travel Documents and Transportation

You are solely responsible for arranging and paying for your transportation to and from the designated meeting location unless the applicable offering expressly states otherwise.

For international travel, you are responsible for confirming and obtaining all required passports, visas, authorizations, vaccinations, identification, and entry documents. Your passport should satisfy the validity requirements of every destination and transportation provider included in your trip.

Boutique Book Society is not responsible for denied entry, delayed entry, missed transportation, invalid documentation, immigration decisions, or related expenses.

Participants must arrive at designated meeting points by the stated departure times. Group transportation cannot always wait for late participants. Any alternative transportation required because of lateness or a missed departure will be the participant’s responsibility.

9. Travel Insurance

International Retreats

Comprehensive travel insurance is required for all participants attending an international Boutique Book Society retreat.

Participants must purchase an appropriate policy by the deadline communicated by Boutique Book Society and may be required to provide proof of coverage before the retreat. Failure to purchase the required coverage or provide proof of insurance by the stated deadline may result in cancellation of your participation without a refund.

At a minimum, international retreat coverage should include:

• Trip cancellation and interruption
• Emergency medical treatment
• Emergency medical evacuation and repatriation
• Flight delays and cancellations
• Lost, delayed, or damaged baggage

Participants are responsible for confirming that their policy provides adequate coverage for the destination, planned activities, preexisting medical conditions, and the total cost of their trip.

Domestic Retreats

Comprehensive travel insurance is highly recommended for all domestic Boutique Book Society retreats.

Choosing not to purchase travel insurance means accepting the financial risk associated with cancellation, interruption, illness, injury, transportation disruption, severe weather, lost baggage, or other unforeseen circumstances.

Insurance Policies and Claims

Boutique Book Society does not sell or administer travel insurance and cannot advise participants regarding the suitability of a specific policy.

Participants are solely responsible for:

• Selecting an appropriate insurance provider and policy
• Reviewing all policy terms, exclusions, coverage limits, and claim requirements
• Confirming that the policy covers the full cost and circumstances of their trip
• Submitting and managing any insurance claim directly with the insurance provider

Boutique Book Society cannot guarantee that a particular policy will cover a participant’s circumstances or that an insurance provider will approve a claim.

Failure to purchase adequate insurance, choosing not to purchase insurance for a domestic retreat, or an insurance provider’s denial of a claim does not create an obligation for Boutique Book Society to provide a refund, reimbursement, transfer, or credit.

10. Changes to Itineraries and Offerings

Retreat and event itineraries are carefully planned but are subject to change.

Boutique Book Society may modify accommodations, speakers, authors, transportation, meals, vendors, activities, timing, locations, room assignments, or other elements when reasonably necessary because of availability, safety concerns, operational needs, vendor changes, weather, transportation disruptions, or circumstances outside our control.

We may replace an activity, venue, accommodation, speaker, author, meal, or service with a reasonably comparable alternative when available.

The absence, cancellation, illness, or schedule change of a particular author, speaker, creator, moderator, vendor, or special guest does not automatically entitle a participant to a refund.

We will make reasonable efforts to communicate significant changes as soon as practical.

11. Postponement, Cancellation, and Force Majeure

Boutique Book Society may postpone, relocate, shorten, modify, or cancel an offering when necessary for safety, operational, financial, legal, or logistical reasons.

Circumstances outside our reasonable control may include:

• Severe weather or natural disasters
• Fire, flood, earthquake, or other emergency
• Epidemic, pandemic, public-health restriction, or quarantine
• War, terrorism, civil unrest, or government action
• Transportation interruption or widespread flight cancellation
• Labor strikes
• Utility, technology, or infrastructure failure
• Venue, accommodation, transportation, or key vendor closure
• Illness or emergency affecting essential staff
• Any other circumstance that makes performance illegal, unsafe, impracticable, or commercially unreasonable

When an offering is postponed, modified, or affected by circumstances outside our reasonable control, Boutique Book Society may provide a replacement date, substitute experience, transferable credit, partial credit, or another remedy we determine is reasonable under the circumstances and applicable law.

If Boutique Book Society cancels an offering in full and does not provide a replacement date, substitute experience, or credit, our responsibility will generally be limited to refunding the amount paid directly to Boutique Book Society for the canceled offering.

Boutique Book Society is not responsible for airfare, transportation, additional lodging, insurance premiums, lost wages, childcare, visa expenses, or other third-party or incidental costs.

Participants should seek reimbursement for eligible third-party expenses through their travel insurance provider.

12. Accommodations and Room Assignments

For offerings that include overnight accommodations:

• Participants must comply with all property rules, occupancy limits, check-in procedures, and quiet hours
• Only registered and approved participants may enter or stay at the accommodation
• Room descriptions, photographs, dimensions, views, layouts, furnishings, and amenities may vary
• Shared-room bookings require participants to share the room and, when applicable, the bed arrangement described at booking
• A private or solo room is provided only when expressly purchased and confirmed
• Room assignments may be adjusted when operationally necessary
• We cannot guarantee compatibility between roommates
• Participants must be respectful of shared spaces, sleeping schedules, belongings, and privacy

Boutique Book Society may attempt to assist with reasonable roommate concerns but cannot guarantee reassignment or alternative accommodations.

13. Health, Allergies, and Dietary Needs

Participants are responsible for determining whether they are physically and medically able to participate.

You must provide accurate information about allergies, dietary restrictions, accessibility requirements, and other needs that are reasonably necessary for us to plan the offering safely.

We will make reasonable efforts to communicate dietary restrictions and allergies to relevant vendors. However, we cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment, prevent cross-contact, or guarantee that every meal or activity can accommodate every restriction.

Participants with serious allergies or medical conditions should carry any necessary medications, emergency supplies, and written medical information.

Boutique Book Society does not provide medical advice, medical supervision, nursing services, or emergency medical treatment. In an emergency, you authorize us to contact emergency services and, when reasonably necessary, share relevant information with medical personnel. You remain responsible for all resulting medical and transportation costs.

International retreat participants are responsible for ensuring that their required travel insurance includes appropriate emergency medical treatment, evacuation, and repatriation coverage.

14. Accessibility

We want our offerings to be as welcoming and accessible as reasonably possible.

Participants should contact us before booking, or as early as possible afterward, to discuss mobility, sensory, dietary, medical, or other accessibility needs.

Some historic properties, private homes, international destinations, transportation providers, outdoor locations, or third-party venues may have stairs, uneven surfaces, limited elevators, narrow entrances, or other accessibility limitations.

We will make reasonable efforts to evaluate and accommodate requests but cannot guarantee that every offering, property, activity, or destination will be suitable for every participant.

15. Participant Conduct

Participants are expected to contribute to a welcoming, respectful, and safe environment.

The following conduct is prohibited:

• Harassment, bullying, threats, discrimination, or intimidation
• Violence, aggressive behavior, or unwanted physical contact
• Repeatedly disrupting activities or interfering with other participants’ enjoyment
• Illegal activity or possession of illegal substances
• Bringing weapons into an offering or accommodation
• Excessive intoxication or unsafe alcohol consumption
• Damage, theft, or misuse of property
• Entering restricted areas or bringing unauthorized guests
• Violating venue, accommodation, transportation, or vendor rules
• Recording or sharing private conversations without permission
• Conduct that creates a safety concern or materially harms Boutique Book Society, its participants, staff, vendors, or partners

Boutique Book Society may deny entry, restrict participation, require a participant to leave, or remove a participant from an offering when we reasonably believe these Terms have been violated or safety has been compromised.

A participant who is removed is not entitled to a refund or reimbursement and is responsible for arranging and paying for alternative transportation and accommodations.

16. Alcohol

Some offerings may include or provide access to alcoholic beverages.

Participants must comply with all applicable drinking-age laws and venue requirements. You are responsible for monitoring your consumption and arranging safe transportation.

Boutique Book Society and its vendors may refuse alcohol service or restrict a participant’s involvement when intoxication or unsafe conduct is suspected.

You accept responsibility for any consequences arising from your voluntary consumption of alcohol.

17. Assumption of Risk

Travel, group events, transportation, food and beverage service, outdoor activities, historic properties, walking tours, excursions, recreational activities, and shared accommodations involve inherent risks.

These risks may include illness, allergic reaction, foodborne illness, infectious disease exposure, falls, uneven terrain, weather, transportation accidents, theft, property loss, activity-related injury, acts of other participants, and limited access to medical care.

By participating, you knowingly and voluntarily accept the ordinary and inherent risks associated with the applicable offering.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you release Boutique Book Society and its owners, officers, employees, contractors, volunteers, agents, hosts, and representatives from claims arising from these inherent risks or your own acts or omissions.

Nothing in these Terms is intended to release any party from liability that cannot legally be waived, including liability for fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence where prohibited by law.

18. Property Damage and Personal Belongings

Participants are financially responsible for damage, excessive cleaning, fines, missing property, or other charges caused by themselves or their guests.

You authorize Boutique Book Society to charge your payment method or invoice you for documented damage or charges attributed to your actions, to the extent permitted by law.

Boutique Book Society is not responsible for lost, stolen, forgotten, or damaged personal belongings. Participants should secure valuables and follow all property and transportation-provider instructions.

19. Photography, Video, and Media

Boutique Book Society may photograph, film, or otherwise document its offerings for editorial, archival, social-media, advertising, and promotional purposes.

By participating, you understand that you may appear incidentally in group photographs or recordings taken in common event areas.

Participants who do not wish to be intentionally photographed or featured in promotional materials may contact us at hello@boutiquebooksociety.com before the offering and notify a staff member at check-in. We will make reasonable efforts to honor opt-out requests, although we cannot guarantee that a participant will never appear incidentally in crowd shots, backgrounds, or content independently created by other attendees.

You may not use photographs, recordings, or content from an offering in a way that violates another participant’s privacy, misrepresents Boutique Book Society, or suggests a commercial partnership without written permission.

20. Participant-Created Content

You retain ownership of photographs, videos, testimonials, reviews, or other content you create.

When you voluntarily tag Boutique Book Society, submit content to us, respond to a content request, or give us written permission to repost your content, you grant Boutique Book Society a nonexclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to reproduce, repost, display, edit for formatting, and share that content for marketing, editorial, and promotional purposes.

You confirm that you have the right to share the submitted content and that its use will not violate another person’s rights.

Permission may be withdrawn for future use by contacting us in writing, although withdrawal will not require us to recall previously printed materials or remove completed campaigns where removal is not reasonably practical.

21. Website and Intellectual Property

The Boutique Book Society name, logos, website, retreat concepts, graphics, photographs, itineraries, written materials, event materials, downloads, and original content are owned by or licensed to Boutique Book Society and are protected by applicable intellectual-property laws.

You may use our website and materials only for personal, noncommercial purposes.

You may not, without prior written permission:

• Copy or republish substantial portions of our content
• Reproduce or sell our itineraries, materials, or downloads
• Use our name or branding to promote an unaffiliated offering
• Misrepresent an affiliation, endorsement, or partnership
• Scrape, disrupt, reverse engineer, or misuse our website
• Use our content to create a competing commercial event or product

22. Privacy

Information submitted through our website, booking forms, questionnaires, email communications, payment systems, and event registrations will be handled according to our Privacy Policy.

We may share information with vendors, accommodations, transportation providers, restaurants, emergency personnel, and other service providers when reasonably necessary to administer an offering, fulfill your requests, address an emergency, or comply with legal obligations.

Sensitive information should be limited to what is reasonably necessary for safety, accessibility, dietary planning, or participation.

Our Privacy Policy is incorporated into these Terms by reference.

23. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability

Boutique Book Society makes reasonable efforts to provide accurate descriptions and well-organized offerings. However, offerings and website content are provided on an “as available” basis.

We do not guarantee uninterrupted website access, specific personal outcomes, friendships, professional opportunities, book sales, audience growth, business results, weather, vendor performance, or the attendance of a particular guest.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Boutique Book Society will not be liable for indirect, incidental, special, consequential, exemplary, or punitive damages, including lost income, lost business opportunities, emotional distress, or third-party travel expenses.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Boutique Book Society’s total liability arising from a particular offering or purchase will not exceed the amount you paid directly to Boutique Book Society for that offering or purchase.

These limitations do not apply where prohibited by law.

24. Indemnification

To the fullest extent permitted by law, you agree to indemnify and hold harmless Boutique Book Society and its owners, officers, employees, contractors, representatives, and agents from third-party claims, losses, damages, liabilities, and reasonable expenses arising from:

• Your violation of these Terms
• Your unlawful or negligent conduct
• Damage caused by you
• Content you submit or publish
• Your infringement of another person’s rights

This provision does not require you to indemnify a party for that party’s own gross negligence, willful misconduct, or other liability that cannot legally be shifted.

25. Governing Law and Disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

Before filing a formal legal claim, you agree to contact Boutique Book Society at hello@boutiquebooksociety.com and make a good-faith effort to resolve the dispute informally.

Unless applicable law requires otherwise, any legal action arising from these Terms or a Boutique Book Society offering must be brought in a state or federal court located in Los Angeles County, California, and the parties consent to the jurisdiction of those courts.

26. Changes to These Terms

We may update these Terms periodically.

The version in effect when you purchase an offering will generally govern that purchase, except when a change is required by law or when you expressly agree to updated terms.

The current version will be posted on our website with the date of the latest update.

27. Severability and No Waiver

If any provision of these Terms is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Our failure to enforce a provision does not waive our right to enforce it later.

28. Entire Agreement

These Terms, together with the applicable sales page, booking confirmation, Privacy Policy, participant waiver, and any offering-specific written agreement, constitute the agreement between you and Boutique Book Society regarding the applicable offering.

They replace prior oral or written discussions relating to the same subject matter.

29. Contact Us

Questions regarding these Terms may be sent to:

Boutique Book Society LLC
Email: hello@boutiquebooksociety.com
Website: boutiquebooksociety.com