A long time ago, I joined a book club and discovered my love for reading again. I found out that I enjoy Emily Henry's writing, which has led me to read many of her books now. I also read Little Secrets by Jennifer Hillier and loved it. Unfortunately, for one of the picks the majority of the group chose a book that I had tried reading before and despised it, which made me give an awkward excuse of why I'd be skipping that month's book. The author was a friend of one of the book club members. So I skipped it and waited for the next meeting. Later on, the other book club members were talking about the book and I found out that no one else had liked it (it was an awkward conversation). But I digress.
What I'm sharing here is that if you decide to start a book club, consider that not everyone will enjoy the book, and I having options may be helpful. Also, if you'd like to know, I'm a big fan of Read-Your-Own-Book book clubs.
So, what books do I recommend for a book club?
- The Pisces, by Melissa Broder.
Do I love it? No. But it has some themes and twists that deserve a group discussion. I'm sure the bigger the group (although not chaotically big) the more points of view and thoughts to share. Theories on the book would be a fun aspect to discuss as well.
2. Loose Woman, by Sandra Cisneros.
If your group would like to try reading poetry and discuss it, this is the perfect book for it. The poems are raw, dirty, and as human as they get. Cisneros lets readers know that there is no room to judge others while reading her poems, because she is that woman who whispers, but is also whispered about.
3. "A Rose For Emily," By William Faulkner.
It is not a book, rather, it is a short story that still packs weight. You and your friends will finish reading it and text each other to make sure they're getting the same things you are because WTF. It's short and good.
4. So Close to Being the Shit, Y'all Don't Even Know, by Retta.
Sometimes we need to read a memoir by a celebrity, and in this case I know that this book is not being read in those popular clubs. A Black plus size woman in the entertainment business, that's in itself is not an easy thing. But that same woman talking about her upbringing and the struggles that her line of work has made her face is a book that deserves to be read and discussed over a glass of wine (or juice).
5. Flowers for Algernon, by Daniel Keyes.
A classic book that makes a person think of self-improvement, what is deemed as "perfection" and "intellectualism" while also touching on the topics of disability and bullying on adults. A book that will make your book club shed some tears and schedule a full day for discussion
6. Hooked, by Emily McIntire.
I normally would not recommend a dark romance for a book club, but this is for adults who are aware of what is and isn't okay in the relationship field. This book can be a perfect discussion of what not to do in a romantic relationship, and fulfill the gap for gossip that sometimes we carry in our hearts.
7. The Island of Dr. Moreau, by H.G. Wells.
A quick book that can be finished within a week or two, and that will scar your book club friends forever. A good piece of literature to use for discussion and to talk about how the horror and suspense are written.
8. The Round House, by Louise Erdrich.
What would you do for the people you love? This book throws readers right into the moment after the action passed, and makes them think of what are real ethics, what is legal when a loved one has been hurt so much that law can serve no justice. An excellent book for discussion.
9. Scandals, by Penelope Neri.
Miss Penelope Neri is up there in the romance genre, and I think that reading any of her books with your book club is a wonderful way to compare the romance boyfriends from the 1970s, 1980s, and early 1990s, to the modern book boyfriends.
10. A Christmas Candy Killing, by Christina Romeril.
A holyday cozy mystery is perfect for the winter, especially if your book club has their theories as to who the perpetrator is before anyone has finished reading the book.
What books do you think are often overlooked for book clubs? I'd love to hear from you!
