How to find — or start — a book club that’s right for you

Editor's Note: This is an excerpt from WBUR's Saturday morning newsletter, The Weekender. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox, sign up here. 

If the books on your 2023 to-read list managed to spill into 2024 still unread, you might benefit from having a buddy — or several — to get you started. Joining a book club, however, can seem like a daunting task full of questions: Where do I go? Which do I join? What if I don’t like the book, or the members?

At least, that’s what I thought. Then, I reached out to local book stores, librarians and WBUR newsletter readers, who said it doesn’t take much to join — or start! — a compelling book club.

Below, you’ll find the tips I gathered on where to begin and how to keep your book club fun. Happy reading!

Let’s start with our nation’s original book club, per se. The Boston Public Library has an online guide to finding local book clubs — some of which are hosted by the library itself. Click here to sort through the list of upcoming BPL book club meetings at the main Copley Square library, other neighborhood branches and over Zoom. Some WBUR readers wrote in to share that virtual book clubs are a great option for those with busy schedules or mobility issues.

Your local bookstore may also be home to a few loyal book clubs. At Porter Square Books in Cambridge, there are several book clubs for those who enjoy general fiction and young adult literature, as well as a silent reading club. “It’s great for introverts,” said Kaliisha Cole, assistant manager at Porter Square Books. “You bring a book of your choice and read quietly. For [attendees], it’s an opportunity to read in a public space without too much interaction or interruption. And after the hour is up, you have the opportunity to discuss if you want.”

And don’t let fear hinder you from taking that leap to join a new book club. “If you have found a book club that you’re interested in joining, those are probably your people,” says Bonnie Atterstrom, poetry events coordinator and moderator of the “Small Press” book club at Brookline Booksmith. “If it’s a book club with a certain focus, like our queer lit book club, you probably all already have something in common, even if you don’t know them,” they added.

It only takes two to start a book club. So if you’ve got a friend, ask if they’d like to read a book with you — and if they know anyone who’d like to read along, too. Just don’t let your club get too big; the BPL suggests an ideal size of between eight and 15 members.

Then, you just need to decide which book to read first (and we mean “you” as the collective).

“Let the book be chosen democratically,” says Atterstrom. “Obviously for the first meeting, you might not be able to do that, but having the books picked democratically and letting the conversation be as open as possible is great [and] creates a sense of community.”

“We choose our books two months before,” writes WBUR reader Andi Edson. She’s a member of the Lively Ladies Book Club in Newton. “The hostess of that month puts out a list and summary of three or four books and we vote on them. Yep, sometimes it takes more than one ballot!”

If you speak a language other than English, consider a book club that will allow you to exercise those language muscles. “I’m part of a Haitian Creole book club,” writes WBUR reader Yolette Ibokette. “During our gatherings, we relate our discussions to Haitian culture and politics. We discuss news coming out of our country. And we also occasionally invite authors of the books we’re reading to answer questions we have.”

When it comes to moderating meetings, the BPL has you covered. They’ve got suggestions for organizing your group and tips for discussion. For example, they advise keeping the atmosphere fun: “A book club is not school.” But at the same time, a little research might help — especially if you’re the moderator. The BPL suggests looking up reviews and author interviews to find interesting items for question prompts.

Also, just because you like a book doesn’t mean it will make for a good conversation — and vice versa.

“Don’t worry if everyone thought the book was a flop,” writes Elaine Breslow, member of the Clare Book Club. “Some of our best discussions have been about those!”

Another tip some suggested is to not feel pressured to keep a rigid schedule. WBUR reader Deb Ellstrom, who founded the Women’s Issues Book Discussion Group in 1993, says her book club has made a habit over the last 30 years of taking the month of December off. “There are too many activities for already too busy people.”

Finally, several readers shared one thing sure to amp up any book club meeting: interesting food. At the Lively Ladies Book Club, Edson says the chosen host “serves food tidbits that are inspired by the book we’ve read. We’ve had Chinese food, Indian food, French food, Southern food … the book sets the stage for our food creativity!”

And after a few years over Zoom, Sharp’s book club marked an in-person gathering this past December with a “Friendship Salad.”

“What is a friendship salad? It’s when the host provides the greens, and the rest of us each provide a different topping — barbecued chicken, shrimp, grated carrot, cucumber, goat cheese, nuts — you get the idea. I loved it. What a simple way to share a healthy meal and enjoy some fellowship,” writes Sharp.

Just don’t let the tasty treats derail the conversation. “It’s not a cooking club, it’s a book club,” writes Breslow of the Clare Book Club. “[Our] group’s longevity is due to the fact that we really discuss the book.”

P.S. — Need a few book suggestions to kick off your club? Check out these four fiction titles Here & Now associate producer and avid reader Kalyani Saxena read and loved this past year.

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