Chapter 1

Hi, I’m Kelly.

Until recently, I was the Chief Product Officer at a fast-growing tech company, helping businesses automate and grow. It was intense, fulfilling, and a decade-long chapter I’m really proud of. But somewhere along the way, I realized I was craving something different. I wasn’t able to bring my full self to my meeting-full days. My body and mind was yearning for rest, and I started seeking out slower mornings, deeper connections, and less inbox.

I stepped away not because I had the next thing lined up, but because I wanted to explore what might come next if I made space for it.

That exploration is what this blog is about.

Novel Neighborhoods is where I’ll share:

• ✈️ Notes from my travels (immersive, local-first guides for curious, solo-leaning wanderers)

• 📚 What I’m reading (and where it’s taking me)

• 💡 Observations on creativity, place, and how we move through the world

It’s part travel diary, part book club, part neighborhood love letter. I’m not trying to become an influencer. I’m just building a place for people who love cities, bookstores, boutique hotels, and finding joy in new corners of the world.

If that sounds like you, I’m glad you’re here.

—KO