It started during lockdown. A WhatsApp group, five friends, one book a month, a Zoom call on the last Sunday. We thought it would last three months — just until the pubs reopened. Three years later, we're on our 37th book. We've survived two house moves, a baby, a break-up, and the time Sophie absolutely hated the book I'd chosen (she didn't speak to me for a week — I'm joking. Mostly).
A book club is one of the simplest and most durable things you can build. No financial investment, no special skills required, no venue needed. Just books, people, and time. This guide pulls together everything I've learned over three years — including the mistakes.
Why start a book club — the real reasons
Before we get to logistics, let's talk motivation. Because the reasons you think you want to start a book club aren't always the same ones that will keep it going long-term.
The good reasons (the ones that last)
- Community. Reading is inherently solitary. A book club transforms it into a shared experience — and that changes what you get from a book entirely. You'll notice things you'd never have spotted alone. And so will everyone else.
- Accountability. Knowing you'll be discussing the book in a fortnight is the best motivation there is for pushing through the difficult chapters. Gentle social pressure is your friend.
- Stepping out of your comfort zone. Left to your own devices, you'll always read the same kinds of books. With a club, you'll read things you'd never have chosen — and some of them will change how you see things.
- Deepening friendships. Talking about a novel often means talking about yourself. Discussions about a character's moral choices reveal a lot about the people in the room. Surprisingly often, the best book clubs become spaces of genuine trust.
The less good reasons (the ones that fizzle)
- "To read more." Works for a while. But if you don't naturally read, a club won't miraculously change that. You need an intrinsic motivation that goes beyond a book count.
- "To impress someone." Clubs founded on prestige rather than curiosity tend to become performance exercises. Discussion becomes a demonstration of erudition. Exhausting and joyless.
- "For something to do on a Sunday." Valid — but insufficient long-term. You also need to genuinely like books.
Finding your people: the ideal mix
How many people?
The ideal range: 6 to 10 people.
- Fewer than 5: If two people haven't read the book, the discussion collapses. Too fragile.
- 6 to 10: The sweet spot. Enough perspectives for a rich discussion. Small enough for everyone to speak.
- More than 12: Hard to manage well. Some people will default to silence. Discussions fragment. If you're that many, consider forming two groups.
Who to invite?
Two schools of thought here — and both are right in different contexts:
The "elective affinities" school: invite people you already like, who share core values, and who you know will get on. Advantage: natural cohesion, trust builds quickly, discussions feel more intimate. Disadvantage: risk of an echo chamber — everyone thinks the same things.
The "reading diversity" school: invite people with different profiles — ages, backgrounds, genders, professions. Advantage: richer discussions, genuine clash of perspectives. Disadvantage: harder to facilitate, risk of imbalance in who speaks.
My recommendation: aim for diversity of reading, not diversity for its own sake. A sci-fi devotee, a historical fiction fan, someone who mainly reads essays, someone who devours contemporary fiction — that mix will enrich every discussion. A fundamental values incompatibility (or a pre-existing animosity), on the other hand, will poison the atmosphere within a few sessions.
The tricky profiles
Every book club eventually has at least one of these. Better to spot them early:
- The one who didn't read the book. It happens. See the discussion section.
- The one who systematically dominates. Speaks first, speaks longest, talks over others. Requires active facilitation.
- The one who never says anything. Present but silent. Can be gently drawn out with direct questions.
- The one who judges the members rather than the book. A sign the club has become a power space rather than a reading space. Address early.
Format options: monthly, fortnightly, online, hybrid
Frequency
Monthly (one session per month): The most common and most sustainable format. A month is enough to read a 300-page novel even with a busy schedule. It's spaced enough that the meeting stays an event to look forward to.
Fortnightly (every two weeks): Works well for clubs reading shorter works (novellas, essays, short story collections) or who want a more intense pace. Genuinely hard to sustain long-term for members with busy lives.
Quarterly: For long books (Tolstoy, Hilary Mantel's trilogies, the Ferrante quartet read in sequence). Or for clubs whose members travel a lot. The risk: between two sessions, you forget the details. Plan for a brief recap at the start of each meeting.
In-person, online, hybrid
In-person: Incomparable warmth. Discussion flows more naturally, silences feel comfortable, the snacks are part of the experience. The constraint: everyone needs to be in the same city — or willing to travel.
Online (Zoom, Google Meet, Discord): What lockdown taught us is that it genuinely works. The decisive advantage: you can invite people from across the UK — or the world. The disadvantages: video call fatigue is real, discussions can feel less spontaneous, hard to recreate the atmosphere of someone's living room.
Hybrid: Some in-person, some on video. The most technically complicated solution — you need good audio in the room, a camera pointing at the right thing, and someone dedicated to making sure the online members can follow the conversation. Difficult to do well, but useful when someone moves away or travels frequently.
Day and time
- Set a recurring day rather than a specific date. "First Sunday of the month" is far easier to remember and diary than "the 14th".
- Avoid Friday evenings. Too much competition from other plans. Sunday afternoon or Saturday morning work well. Wednesday evening is a classic for members without children.
- Duration: 2 to 2.5 hours maximum. Beyond that, concentration drops and you drift away from the book. If the discussion is too good to stop — that's a lovely problem, but don't plan four hours.
- Send reminders one week before, then three days before. People have lives. Remind them.
Choosing books: systems that work
Selection systems — pros and cons
1. Rotation (each member chooses in turn)
The simplest and most equitable system. Each member has "their month" to choose the book. Advantage: accountability, guaranteed surprises. Disadvantage: the member who chooses an unpopular book may take it personally.
2. Vote (each member proposes, the group votes)
More democratic. Each member proposes one or two titles, the group votes (show of hands, emoji reaction, or a tool like Doodle). Advantage: the chosen book has group backing. Disadvantage: the safest suggestions (famous authors, popular genres) tend to win — which can narrow the selection over time.
3. Themed months
A "crime fiction" month, a "contemporary African literature" month, a "book published before 1950" month. Each member proposes a title fitting the theme. Advantage: creates unity and opens up unexplored territory. Disadvantage: requires more organisation.
4. The editorial lead
One person (in rotation or fixed) does research and proposes a shortlist of three titles for the group to vote on. More work for the "curator", but often produces a better quality selection.
Selection rules I recommend
- Reasonable length: Avoid books over 500 pages unless the group is highly motivated. 200–350 pages is the sweet spot for a monthly rhythm.
- Not already adapted into a well-known film/series — or if it has been, choose one where the adaptation is different enough to merit comparison.
- An explicit diversity rule: Some clubs agree that at least X books per year must be by non-British, non-American, or translated authors. Decide this collectively. The Richard & Judy Book Club and the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist are excellent resources for discovering overlooked titles.
- Veto rights: Each member can, once a year, veto a title — without having to justify it. This prevents situations where a book that's genuinely problematic for one member gets imposed by the majority.
Running the discussion: 10 great questions + tricky situations
10 great open questions
These work with almost any novel. Adapt them, combine them, but keep them as your foundation:
- "Which specific moment in the book stayed with you most — and why?"
Forces people to think about a precise passage. Far better than "what was your favourite scene?" - "Did this book change your mind about anything?"
Opens the discussion to the book's actual impact, not just its plot. - "Which character did you most identify with — and which one most annoyed you?"
Both parts matter. We learn as much from what we dislike as what we admire. - "Would you have done the same thing as [character] in that situation?"
The moral question. Generates the most animated discussions, especially on ethically ambiguous choices. - "What was the author trying to make you feel? Did it work?"
Invites thinking about intentionality, not just emotional reaction. - "If you were recommending this book to someone, what would you say?"
Forces synthesis. Very revealing of what each member has taken away. - "What's the line or paragraph you wish you'd written?"
For clubs that enjoy talking about writing, not just story. - "Did the historical or cultural context feel credible? Did you look anything up while reading?"
Opens the discussion to the author's research and the relationship between fiction and reality. - "Is the title well chosen? What would you have called it instead?"
A lighter question, useful if the discussion has been intense. And often surprisingly revealing. - "Will you read more by this author?"
The natural conclusion. And the best indicator of whether the book truly worked.
Handling the tricky situations
The person who didn't read the book
It happens. Don't put them on the spot publicly. Invite them to contribute based on what they know (maybe they've read a review, caught a podcast), or ask them to listen and react to the points others raise. That said, if it's a pattern, a private conversation is needed. A club can't function if half the group hasn't read.
The person who hated the book
Excellent for discussion — if channelled. Ask them: "What specifically bothered you?" The goal is to identify why it didn't work, not to validate or invalidate the feeling. The best discussions often come from deep disagreement.
Spoilers for those who haven't finished
Ground rule: announce spoilers before dropping them. "I'm going to talk about the ending — has everyone finished?" If not, two options: let the non-finishers step away during that part (which feels odd), or agree collectively at the start that everything is fair game in a book club. Choose your policy from the beginning and stick to it.
The discussion that derails into something else
Normal — and often a sign the book has hit something real. Let it drift for a few minutes; that's where discussions become genuinely interesting. But if you've been talking about someone's holiday plans for twenty minutes, gently bring it back: "That's interesting — is there a connection to [theme of the book]?"
The practical stuff: venue, snacks, atmosphere
Where to meet
Members' homes (rotating): The warmest and cheapest format. Rotation means hosting doesn't fall on one person. Important: never pressure anyone to host who doesn't want to.
Pub or café: No hosting logistics, neutral territory. The British pub book club is a genuine tradition — many pubs in the UK have back rooms perfect for this. The challenge: background noise. If you go to a pub, book a quieter area and come outside peak hours.
Library or council reading rooms: Many public libraries in the UK have rooms they make available free to reading groups — especially if you're using library books. Call your local library and ask; you'll often be pleasantly surprised. The The Reading Agency's Reading Groups for Everyone programme actively supports library-based book clubs.
Independent bookshop: Some indie bookshops love hosting reading groups — sometimes in exchange for buying your books there. A genuinely lovely arrangement. Waterstones also runs its own bookclub events and community reading groups in various branches.
Snacks — and themed food
Snacks are part of the atmosphere. But be careful not to turn them into an extra burden: the member hosting shouldn't spend their morning in the kitchen.
Simple rule: everyone brings something. The host provides drinks (tea, coffee, water), everyone else brings whatever they fancy — cakes, cheese, crisps, biscuits.
The "one level up" version: themed food. Book set in Japan? Someone brings mochi or matcha biscuits. A novel set in rural France? Wine, charcuterie, olives. It's not obligatory — but it adds a sensory dimension that makes the session memorable. The Richard & Judy Book Club website sometimes includes food pairing suggestions alongside their picks.
Online tools for your book club
For group management
WhatsApp or Telegram: The simplest option. A group for announcements (next meeting date, reminders), another for free discussion if the group is chatty. Telegram has built-in polls (useful for book votes) and messages that don't disappear.
Discord: Ideal for online clubs or clubs that want asynchronous discussions. Set up themed channels: #announcements, #book-votes, #current-read, #suggestions. More technical investment, but very powerful once set up.
For tracking reads
Goodreads: The world's go-to platform for tracking reads. Create a private group for your club: members can rate books read together, share reviews, and see each other's shelves. The interface is a bit dated, but the database is unmatched. Note: Goodreads is owned by Amazon — if that matters to you or your members, see below.
StoryGraph: The independent alternative to Goodreads, founded by Nadia Odunayo. Better at granular tracking (reading pace, moods, thematic tags) and strongly supported by the book community as an alternative to Goodreads. The app and website are genuinely beautiful. Used and recommended by The Guardian's books section.
The Storygraph is particularly popular with UK readers who discovered it through the #BookTok and #BookTwitter communities as a way to track reads without feeding Amazon's data.
For votes and scheduling
Google Sheets: A shared file with books read, dates, each member's ratings, notes on discussions — simple, universal, works for everyone. Our club's spreadsheet after 37 books is one of my favourite archives. Add a tab for "the waiting list".
Doodle: For finding the meeting time that works for everyone. Saves the endless "I can do the 12th but not the 14th" messages.
The Bookclubs app (iOS/Android): Built specifically for reading groups. Lets you share highlighted passages, vote for next reads, schedule meetings. Relatively recent but very well designed — and increasingly popular with UK book clubs.
When it stalls: how to revive a dying book club
Every book club goes through quiet patches. The real question isn't whether it'll happen, but how you'll respond when it does.
Signs your book club is fading
- Meeting confirmations arriving later and later (or not at all)
- Two or three members have "forgotten" to read the book in the last few sessions
- Discussions are getting shorter
- One or two people are doing all the organising
- The WhatsApp group has gone quiet between sessions
Solutions that work
Take a deliberate break. Sometimes the problem is simple: everyone's exhausted. Officially announcing "we're taking a two-month break" is less damaging than repeatedly missing sessions without acknowledgement. When you return, enthusiasm often renews naturally.
Change the format. If the monthly format is dragging, try a reading sprint: a novella in two weeks, with an intense discussion. Or the opposite: take six weeks for a genuinely long novel.
Partially refresh the membership. If two or three members are clearly disengaged (irregular attendance, low participation), an honest conversation is needed. Better to shrink to a motivated core than try to prop up the whole group artificially.
Introduce an annual theme. "This year, we only read translated fiction." "This year, every book must be published before 1970." Gives a shared direction that renews interest.
Run an off-format session. No book this month: each member brings a recommendation — the book they'd most want the club to read. Discuss everyone's reading tastes. These sessions are often the most revealing and most energising.
Look at the Reading Agency's resources. The Reading Agency (readingagency.org.uk) produces free facilitation guides for reading groups, including tips for reviving flagging groups and themed book lists. Genuinely useful, genuinely free.
Variations: podcast club, film-then-book, cookbook club
The podcast club
Same principle as a book club, but with a long-form podcast instead of a book. Advantage: accessible to people who struggle to "find time to read" — a podcast episode plays during a commute or gym session. Works particularly well with narrative non-fiction podcasts (Serial, Revisionist History, You're Wrong About, the BBC's Desert Island Discs archive) or documentary podcasts.
The film-then-book club (or book-then-film)
Two sessions: one to watch the film (together or separately), one to compare with the book. Discussion naturally shifts toward adaptation: what was kept? What was lost? What did the film add that the book couldn't? The "book is better" / "film is better" disagreement is always productive.
Titles that work particularly well for this: Normal People (Sally Rooney, Hulu/BBC series), My Brilliant Friend (Elena Ferrante, HBO series), The Handmaid's Tale (Margaret Atwood, Hulu series), Brooklyn (Colm Tóibín, film with Saoirse Ronan), Atonement (Ian McEwan, film with Keira Knightley).
The Reese Witherspoon Book Club regularly selects books that are simultaneously being adapted for screen — a ready-made list for film-then-book sessions.
The cookbook club
Each member cooks a recipe from the chosen cookbook and brings it to the meeting. The tasting is the discussion. Variation: each member cooks a recipe inspired by a novel (a character's meal, the cuisine of the region where the story is set).
The cookbook club has a considerable advantage: even members who haven't finished the book can fully participate. The food is the entry point.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find members if I don't know anyone who reads in my social circle?
Several concrete routes: your local library (many run groups or can connect readers), Facebook groups and Reddit threads dedicated to reading in your area, local independent bookshops whose staff often know readers looking for a club, and platforms like Meetup where local book clubs actively recruit. The Reading Groups for Everyone network run by The Reading Agency (readingagency.org.uk) has a directory of groups across the UK. Goodreads and StoryGraph both have active groups where members organise virtual clubs. You can also simply start one and announce it — plenty of people are looking for exactly what you're proposing.
What do we do if no one liked the book?
Counterintuitively, discussions about books everyone hated are often the best. A universally loved book generates less friction — and friction is what produces thought. Ask: "Why did this book disappoint you?" Then: "What were you hoping it would do that it didn't?" And finally: "Is there anything worth saving?" That said, if the disappointment is total and no one wants to engage, there's no shame in cutting the session short. A bad book doesn't deserve three hours of your time.
Does it have to be fiction?
Not at all — and many clubs work brilliantly with a mix. Essays, biographies, travel writing, graphic novels — anything can be discussed in a club format. The rule is that the format must generate discussion. Some clubs alternate: one month fiction, one month non-fiction. Others choose an annual theme that spans genres. The only constraint: everyone must be able to access and read the text within the time available. In the UK, the Richard & Judy Book Club selection (available through WHSmith and online) often includes a mix of fiction and narrative non-fiction — a reliable starting point.
How do we handle a discussion that turns into a personal argument?
It happens, especially with books touching on political or ethical subjects. The facilitator's role is crucial: gently bring it back to the text. Useful phrase: "That's a really interesting perspective — does the book support that somewhere?" This reanchors on the text rather than the person. If the conflict becomes personal and tense, call a five-minute break or change topic. An unresolved argument in one session can permanently damage group dynamics — it's worth redirecting early rather than hoping it resolves itself.
Can we re-read books we've already read?
Yes — and it's often revelatory. Reading a book you already know in the context of a club lets you notice what others found that you missed, and see how your own interpretation has changed. Some clubs do an annual "re-read" of a title they consider their founding book. If everyone has read the book before, the discussion tends to be denser because everyone has more perspective. Classics like Jane Eyre, Rebecca, or The Bell Jar make particularly rich re-reads.
Where can I find reliable book recommendations for the club?
In the UK: the Women's Prize for Fiction longlist (announced each April, womensprizeforfiction.co.uk), the Booker Prize longlist, Waterstones Book of the Month and staff picks, The Guardian Books (free, excellent), The London Review of Books (subscription, rigorous), and Reese's Book Club picks (strong on contemporary fiction). The Reading Agency also publishes themed reading lists specifically designed for reading groups. For backlist gems, the Virago Modern Classics catalogue is a feminist publishing treasure — and you'll often find green-spined copies in charity shops for under £2.
How do we keep costs down?
Most book clubs operate on almost no budget. Books are each member's own cost — but your public library can often provide multiple copies of the same book for a reading group (call ahead and ask). For hosting, a rotation system ensures no one person bears the cost repeatedly. Snacks work best as a shared contribution rather than the host cooking everything. If you want to subsidise members who can't always buy books, a small shared kitty of a few pounds a month can cover one communal copy.
Sources
- The Reading Agency — Reading Groups for Everyone programme: resources, group directory, and facilitation guides for UK book clubs (readingagency.org.uk/reading-groups-for-everyone).
- Waterstones — Community book clubs, staff picks, and Richard & Judy Book Club coverage (waterstones.com).
- The Guardian Books — Book club features, reading group guides, and book recommendations (theguardian.com/books).
- StoryGraph — Independent book tracking platform with group reading features (thestorygraph.com).