essays & musings about literature, film, and art from a literature phd, plus a book club for close readers
| Platform |  | Pricing | Freemium | Publishes | Twice weekly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Issues | 314 | Founded | 4 years ago | Last Issue | 3 days ago |
| Active | |||||
Read this Newsletter
haleyalarsen.substack.comLatest Issues
Getting on the list of 400
High society used to have a hard limit (which was exactly how many people fit into the Astors’ ballroom)
As Heidi Klum has reminded us in every episode of Project Runway: when it comes to fashion, one day you’re in and the next you’re out.
your homework assignment
Dear reader,
Many of my subscribers tell me that Closely Reading makes them feel like they’re back in their favorite college literature course, and I can’t tell you what a high compliment that is to me!
To keep that feeling alive, I’ve pu...
“Fits of angry rebellion” — is it choice or is it fate?
Welcome to our final read of 2026!
You can join in any time, as we slowly make our way through Edith Wharton’s 1905 novel, The House of Mirth this fall. As always, I’m thrilled to be reading with you! Here’s the full schedule.
Paid subscr...
A close reading of facial expressions in The Shining
Dear reader,
September and October have historically been my favorite months of the year.
School starts to find a rhythm, your backpack gets satisfyingly heavy, summer breezes give way to witchy blusters. The chill arrives in the air and...
My favorite sentence from Chapter 1 of The House of Mirth
There is a Wharton scholar I love who says that The House of Mirth doesn’t have a single bad sentence in it.
I believe she is right.
But as we slowly read the novel together this autumn, I’m forcing myself to choose one sentence, each wee...
Key Facts
Audience Metrics
Subscribers, engagement, traffic and sponsorship for Closely Reading.
| Subscribers | Engagement | 81 | Monthly Web Visits | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accepts Sponsors | Estimated Cost per Ad | ||||
SEO Reach
Where Closely Reading ranks on Google, and how much search traffic it brings in.
| Ranked Keywords | 680 | Monthly Search Traffic | Top Keywords |
|---|
Chart Rankings
How this newsletter ranks in the official Substack charts.
| #186 | |
| #106 |
Authors
The writers behind this newsletter.
phd in modernist literature, story lead at pinterest, crewneck sweatshirts, nora ephron movies, cats sleeping, too many em-dashes, iced americanos, poetry books — and a book club where we closely read the classics together
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I access the email archive for Closely Reading?
You can find recent issues that have been published by Closely Reading on Reletter by scrolling up to where it says Latest Issues. Tap on the link for any of the most recent emails or hit More Issues to see older ones.
How many subscribers does Closely Reading have?
To see how many people subscribe to Closely Reading, simply upgrade your Reletter account. We provide readership numbers and lots of other stats for this newsletter so you can decide if it's worth reaching out to.
How can I advertise in Closely Reading?
Newsletter advertising can be extremely effective when it's done right. Before you pitch Closely Reading as a potential sponsor or partner, make sure that you've done your research and checked its newsletter stats with Reletter.
Then, personalize one of our winning pitching templates and send it to the right person using the contact info provided.
How much does it cost to sponsor a publication like Closely Reading?
Newsletter ad rates (or CPM) vary depending on many factors, including industry, number of subscribers, open rate, ad placement and more.
To find out how much an ad will cost, contact Closely Reading using the contact information provided and ask for a copy of their media kit.
How can I find newsletters related to Closely Reading?
Scroll up to where it says Related Newsletters to see other publications like Closely Reading. You can also search our email newsletter directory to discover other newsletters that cover the topics you're interested in.
How do I contact Closely Reading?
Reletter provides this newsletter's website URL above, where you will often find their contact information. We also provide links to associated social media accounts and pitching templates so you can reach out fast.