Practical Tips for Starting a Book Club

Decide how you’ll choose the books

You’ll want to pick books that are readily available and, even if they’re not lengthy, substantial enough to spark a good discussion.

The club organizer might take the lead on book picks: Spillane vets and chooses her club’s books herself — aiming for broad appeal by choosing popular books that have earned at least four-star reviews.

Other clubs make the process democratic, taking suggestions for potential reads, then voting on the contenders. Or you can do the equivalent of a coin toss: Have each member pick a number, then roll some dice. The person whose number pops up gets to choose the next book.

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Determine where to meet

Many book clubs meet at a member’s home, often rotating hosts, who will serve snacks and wine or even dinner — or hold a potluck meal.

If that setting feels too intimate or you don’t have the space for a comfortable gathering, consider holding meetings at your local library. One benefit to doing so: Many librarians are happy to work with book clubs and set aside enough copies for every member. Pu says the Hoboken library hosts a mystery book club and a long-running science fiction/fantasy book discussion group, which began 10 years ago when a customer requested it. The librarians provide copies of the book — print or digital — for members.

Others gather at coffee shops or cafes. Book Hang’s members meet in a second-floor event space at a restaurant, which provides a prepaid buffet spread for snacking.

Some clubs started meeting online during the pandemic, then kept their gatherings virtual. Others have been virtual from the get-go because members don’t live near each other.  

Consider who (if anyone) will lead discussions

Many book clubs have a group organizer or leader who may moderate discussions and suggest potential books, or members take turns moderating. Some clubs opt to keep discussions casual and unstructured.

Whichever way, it’s helpful to keep in mind open-ended discussion questions. For example:

• Which character reminded you most of yourself?
• What was your favorite/least favorite part of the book?
• Is there a scene that has stuck with you?
• Do you appreciate the author’s voice? Why/why not?
• How would you articulate the book’s message?
• Did you come away from the book with any questions about the characters, plot or message?
• Who would be cast in the movie version of the book?
• If you could ask the author a question, what would it be?
• Do you have a favorite passage?
• Did the book challenge your opinion about something?
• Did you learn anything about yourself and/or the world?

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Decide how long and how often you’ll meet

Most important for a club’s long-term success, Pu says, is consistency: “When you start, you have to be committed to meeting at least once a month. And if you can find a day that works for everyone, stick to that day.”

Most clubs discuss a book for at least 40 minutes, and the longer that discussion lasts, the happier members tend to be, according to BookBrowse, which offers a range of resources for clubs.

Spillane found that 90 minutes is a sweet spot for good discussions, although she recommends carving out at least two hours if combining the book talk with a meal.

As you consider how often to meet, be mindful that some months are going to be busier than others — and give yourself permission to take things slower at times. Sevier’s club often skips a meeting one month during the summer but agrees to read a longer book. Shorter books are chosen during the often-frantic holiday season.

Some clubs are fine with members not reading every selected book before showing up to a meeting. Those people might get bored when the discussion starts, but that’s not your problem — although a lack of participation can be a drag (sometimes it marks the beginning of a club’s end).

You may find your club changing organically — the way stories and our lives do, Spillane says: “Why not evolve the book club as we evolve ourselves?”

Come up with a fun name

You don’t need a name for your club, but lots of book clubbers have fun with it.

We asked members of AARP’s The Girlfriend Book Club, a private, lively Facebook group, for the names of their personal book clubs, and we received dozens of responses, including: Book Buffs, Reading Between the Wines, Bookies Who Brunch, Retired and Reading, and Bad Girls Book Club — bad, Lisa N., explains, “because half the group doesn’t read the book, and the other half doesn’t show up.”