Starting a book club sounds fun in theory—good books, great conversations, maybe even some snacks—but let’s be real: starting a book club may feel good—the actual difficulty is in keeping it going. Busy schedules, different reading preferences, and unfinished books cause many clubs to quickly lose their momentum.
How do you build a book club that sticks together? These ten easy steps will guide you to establish a book club that lasts, encourages active participation from all members, while making reading enjoyable.
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Find the Right People
Successful book clubs focus more on their members – not just the books. Select members who would make enjoyable conversations about books. Are you searching for a group that dives into deep literary analysis or a relaxed reading circle that enjoys books for pleasure? Select a group of friends, coworkers, or neighbors who share a passion for reading and are committed to attend regularly.
Pro tip: Keep the group size between 5 and 10 members. Too many, and it gets chaotic. Too few, members might feel awkward if a couple of members miss meetings.
Choose a Theme or Genre
Selecting a theme both narrows down your book options and keep things interesting. Your club can focus on:
- Mystery/Thrillers (page-turners that keep you guessing!)
- Historical Fiction (books that transport you to another time)
- Self-Improvement (learn something new with each read!)
- Books-to-Movie Adaptations (read, then watch together!)
A specific theme makes sure the entire reading group follows along together. Love variety? A “wild card” month will mix things up!
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Set a Realistic Reading Schedule
Life is busy, so keep your reading goals achievable. Most book clubs will find reading one book per month to be a manageable pace. If your book club prefers longer novels, then plan for meetings every two months to allow members sufficient time to complete the readings.
Pro tip: Mid-month check-ins through group chats or emails help track everyone’s progress with the book and maintain the group’s momentum.
Pick the First Few Books Together
The quickest way to destroy a book club is when one member selects books nobody else wants to read. Get started by voting as a group on the first few books to ensure everyone feels enthusiastic. You can also compile a shortlist of books and let members vote on which one to read and rotate who gets to choose each month. If your group takes too long to make decisions, then make a random draw to decide!
Also, choose books that everyone can easily get since they shouldn’t be too expensive or hard to locate in libraries.
Lock in a Regular Meeting Spot & Time
Consistency is key! Decide:
- How often? Monthly is easiest for most people.
- Where? Switch between hosting at homes, coffee shops, or virtual sessions when needed.
- When? Evenings and weekends are generally preferable times for meetings, but the perfect time should be established by polling the group.
Pro tip: Use a recurring calendar invitation to ensure all members remember the meeting dates.
Make Meetings Fun & Engaging
We should avoid making meetings resemble college literature classes. Keep things lively by:
- Begin your book club session with an icebreaker activity (such as “Describe this book in three words.”)
- Create themed snacks and drinks to match the book setting (such as French pastries for books set in Paris.)
- Bring prepared discussion questions (many books have guides available online)
As long as meetings remain enjoyable people will return even if they don’t finish reading the books.
Keep the Discussion Balanced
Have you ever attended a book club meeting where one person monopolized the conversation? (That’s happened to everyone at some point.) A good host makes sure that all members get an opportunity to speak. Rotate the group so everyone shares their brief insights. Use a timer to prevent meetings from running too long when participants talk excessively. You can even have a “pass” choice for members who prefer to listen during discussions.
Let people express their genuine thoughts because agreeing or disagreeing about a book is fine as long as everyone maintains respectfulness.
Use a Group Chat to Stay Connected
A book club requires members to maintain an ongoing conversation even outside of scheduled meetings. Create a WhatsApp, Facebook, or GroupMe chat to:
- Share fun book-related memes.
- Send reminders about meeting dates.
- Check in on reading progress.
An active group chat maintains enthusiasm between book club meetings.
Be Flexible & Adjust as Needed
Life is unpredictable – people become busy, books fail to meet expectations, and schedules change. Be flexible. If members struggle to finish books, consider meeting less frequently. Choose different book genres when your interest starts to wane. You can also introduce an audiobook option to accommodate members who prefer listening to their books.
Pro tip: If a book proves to be a total flop, allow members to vote for a replacement rather than making everyone read it.
Celebrate Milestones & Keep It Social
The best book clubs combine their love for reading with meaningful friendships and enjoyable activities. Organize club anniversary celebrations, holiday-themed book discussions or arrange an end-of-year-book exchange where members bring their favorite books to trade.
Bonus idea: Consider organizing a group field trip to see a book-to-movie adaptation or visit a bookstore or attend a literary event!
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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