40 Best Book Club Suggestions Guaranteed to Start a Heated Discussion in 2025

Top Book Club Picks for Heated Discussions in 2025
Are you looking for some awesome book club suggestions that will really get your group talking? I’ve got you covered. Here’s a list of the 25 best book club suggestions guaranteed to start a debate in 2025. Whether your group loves mysteries, literary fiction, or even smutty books these picks are sure to spark some lively debates.I even think some of these are underrated book club books. So check out these book club selections to have some lovely bookish conversations.

To make your book club even more entertaining, check out some helpful book club guides on the blog.

• 15 General Book Club Questions: Essential questions to guide your book discussions.
• Fun and Unique Book Club Ideas: Creative themes and activities for your book club.
• 33 Book Club Snacks As Good As the Plot: Good snack recommendations for book clubs

Best Book Club Books for Discussion 2025

in this section, you’ll find highly recommended book club reads for 2025. These books may not be new releases, but they promise engaging discussions. If you’re looking for new book releases for your book club, check out my post: 30+ New Books Coming in 2024.

Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng

A powerful and fascinating story that would definitely lead to a lively discussion! The characters of the books are definitely going to be something you would love to dive deep and analyze! A riveting novel worth adding in your list of good book club suggestion for book clubs. Little Fires Everywhere by Celeste Ng is the winner of 2017 Annual Goodreads Choice Awards.

Blurb from Goodreads: In Shaker Heights, a placid, progressive suburb of Cleveland, everything is planned – from the layout of the winding roads, the colors of the houses to the successful lives its residents will go on to lead. And no one embodies this spirit more than Elena Richardson, whose guiding principle is playing by the rules.

Enter Mia Warren – an enigmatic artist and single mother – who arrives in this idyllic bubble with her teenage daughter Pearl, and rents a house from the Richardsons. Soon Mia and Pearl become more than tenants: all four Richardson children are drawn to the mother-daughter pair. But Mia carries with her a mysterious past and a disregard for the status quo that threatens to upend this carefully ordered community.

When old family friends of the Richardsons attempt to adopt a Chinese-American baby, a custody battle erupts that dramatically divides the town–and puts Mia and Elena on opposing sides.  Suspicious of Mia and her motives, Elena is determined to uncover the secrets in Mia’s past. But her obsession will come at unexpected and devastating costs. 

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Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman

An incredible book about the quirky, intelligently odd, and funny Eleanor Oliphant. Her frightful childhood haunts her every now and then which eventually makes her lonely and antisocial! Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine is one of the uplifting book club books for discussion worth spending hours. The unconventional Eleanor and her ironic monologues are my favorite. This New York Times bestseller was a A Reese Witherspoon Book Club Pick and Goodreads Choice award nominee.

Blurb from Goodreads: Eleanor Oliphant has been working as a finance clerk in the same company for several years. Yet her quirkiness has kept her colleagues at bay. She struggles to navigate her social skills, so always make sure to avoid people in the best way possible. She always looks forward to her weekend routines, which includes eating frozen pizza, vodka and chatting with mummy.

However, her conversations with mom are never uplifting, after every call, Eleanor feels unworthy and unappreciated. Things take an unexpected turn when she meets Raymond, the IT guy from the office. When both of them together save an elderly man named Sammy, three of them develop an unlikely friendship.

Soon Eleanor finds herself attending family gatherings and parties. And it’s through Raymond that she finds herself to be capable of love and affection. 

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An American Marriage by Tayari Jones

An American Marriage is probably one of the most suggested books for book clubs. This realistic writing about married lives is going to be a great book for book club. If you’re looking for something thought-provoking, emotional, and heavy suggestions for book club reading lists. Tayari Jones An American Marriage was Oprah’s Book Club 2018 Selection.

Blurb from Goodreads: Newlyweds Celestial and Roy are the embodiment of both the American Dream and the New South. He is a young executive, and she is an artist on the brink of an exciting career. But as they settle into the routine of their life together, they are ripped apart by circumstances neither could have imagined.

Roy is arrested and sentenced to twelve years for a crime Celestial knows he didn’t commit. Though fiercely independent, Celestial finds herself bereft and unmoored, taking comfort in Andre, her childhood friend, and best man at their wedding. As Roy’s time in prison passes, she is unable to hold on to the love that has been her center. After five years, Roy’s conviction is suddenly overturned, and he returns to Atlanta ready to resume their life together.

This stirring love story is a profoundly insightful look into the hearts and minds of three people who are at once bound and separated by forces beyond their control. An American Marriage is a masterpiece of storytelling, an intimate look deep into the souls of people who must reckon with the past while moving forward with hope and pain into the future.

Praise for the book: “Haunting . . . Beautifully written.” –The New York Times Book Review

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Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi

A heart-wrenching story of colonization that follows almost eight generations, Which leaves room for book club members to discuss each character meticulously. Seriously, it’s so hard to believe that this is Yaa Gyasi’s debut novel. This epic novel is a great book club suggestion.

Blurb from Goodreads: : Effia and Esi are born to the same mother but in different villages in eighteenth-century Ghana. They never knew each other’s existence. The eldest, Effia, gets  married to a white man and lives in the grand Cape Coast Castle. Meanwhile, Esi, along with several others, is a captive in the slave dungeon of the same castle, ready to be shipped away to the United States. 

The story then takes us to the descendants of respective sisters. As the novel features numerous perspectives, we get to see the lives of slaves in America and how it affected the people in Ghana. How the Fante and Asante nations struggle to come in terms with slave trade. Esi’s family go through horrible life in plantations. And subsequently we learn about after-effects of the Civil War,  the abolishment of slavery, and The Great Depression.

As this multi generation family saga progresses, we get to explore a gripping narrative with unforgettable characters. A brilliant debut novel with a powerful view on the history of slavery.  

Praise for the book: “One of the most fantastic books I’ve read in a long time…you cry and you laugh as you’re reading it…a beautiful story” —Trevor Noah, The Daily Show

I HIGHLY recommend this interview of author Yaa Gyasi where she talks about her how she got the idea of writing Homegoing, her inspiration behind the story and so much more. Watch here

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Kindred by Octavia E. Butler

I couldn’t fathom the idea of reading and Sci-fi Historical fiction but this unique storytelling would definitely be worth discussing. This 2004 release of Octavia E. Butler is still among top book club reads in 2025.

Blurb from Goodreads: The first science fiction written by a black woman, Kindred has become a cornerstone of black American literature.

This combination of slave memoir, fantasy, and historical fiction is a novel of rich literary complexity. Having just celebrated her 26th birthday in 1976 California, Dana, an African-American woman, is suddenly and inexplicably wrenched through time into antebellum Maryland. After saving a drowning white boy there, she finds herself staring into the barrel of a shotgun and is transported back to the present just in time to save her life.

During numerous such time-defying episodes with the same young man, she realizes the challenge she’s been given.

Praise for the book: “Butler’s literary craftsmanship is superb.”—Washington Post Book World

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The Bermondsey Bookshop by Mary Gibson

Historical fiction told in the background of a real bookshop. The feisty protagonist’s pursuit of an untroubled life is definitely worth reading! 

Blurb from Goodreads: Set in 1920s London, this is the inspiring story of Kate Goss’s struggle against poverty, hunger, and cruel family secrets. Her mother died in a fall, her father has vanished without a trace, and now her aunt and cousins treat her viciously.

In a freezing, vermin-infested Garrett, factory girl Kate has only her own brave spirit and dreams of finding her father to keep her going. She has barely enough money to feed herself, or to pay the rent. The factory where she works begins to lay off people and it isn’t long before she has fallen into the hands of the violent local money-lender.

That is until an unexpected opportunity comes her way – a job cleaning a most unusual bookshop, where anyone, from factory workers to dockers, can learn to read and then buy books cheaply.

A new world opens up, but with it come new dangers, too. Based on the true story of the Bermondsey Bookshop, this is the most inspiring and gripping novel Mary Gibson has yet written.

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The Hate You Gave by Angie Thomas

A three-time winner of Goodreads Choice Awards!  A great book to discuss “The black lives matter movement”! The Hate U Give is a bestseller in teen and YA Black & African American fiction, so make sure to include this book in great book club reads!

Blurb from Goodreads: Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.

Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil’s name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.

But what Starr does—or does not—say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life. 

Praise for the book: “This story is necessary. This story is important.” —Kirkus

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The Dutch House by Anne Patchett

The book narrates the complicated life of the siblings: Danny and Maeve in the Dutch house.  Relationships, forgiveness, childhood, wealth, marriage. This book has got many complicated themes to discuss. Tom Hanks’s excellent narration makes ‘The Dutch House’ one of the best audiobooks for book clubs.

Blurb from Goodreads: Cyril Conroy, a self-made real estate magnate, bought Dutch house in 1946 to surprise his wife. However, Elna hardly had any interest in the luxury mansion. Soon after she leaves the husband and two children, to help the poor in India. The children, Maeve and Danny ,grew up  in the Dutch house. And it’s the young Maeve who raises her brother, with the help of the housekeeper and the cook.  However, when their father remarries things begin to worsen. Andrea, their step-mother loved the rich lifestyle. The unique charms of the Dutch House captivated her. After Cyril’s death, Andrea starts to show her true colours. Danny and Maeve are exiled from the house without any money. All they have is one another. Yet, they start a tradition of reminiscing about their childhood. They do so  by secretly parking on the street, outside the Dutch house. They try  hard to recollect the memories of their parents and the Dutch house itself.  It’s during these times both siblings release their care and warmth towards each other.

The book narrates the complicated life of the siblings: Danny and Maeve in the Dutch house.  Relationships, forgiveness, childhood, wealth, marriage. This book has got many complicated themes to discuss. Tom Hanks’s excellent narration makes ‘The Dutch House’ one of the best audiobooks for book clubs.

Praise for the book:  “The Dutch House has the richness, allusiveness, and emotional heft of the best fiction.” (Boston Globe)

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Dear Mrs. Bird by A .J Pearce 

If you’re looking for a delightful book to read for a book club then A .J Pearce’s debut novel is a great choice. Narrated in the horrific background of world war, Dear Mrs Bird is utterly engaging. This irresistible debut novel is a hilarious tale of love and friendship! 

Blurb from Goodreads: Emmeline Lake and her best friend Bunty are doing their bit for the war effort and trying to stay cheerful, despite the German planes making their nightly raids.

Emmy dreams of becoming a Lady War Correspondent, and when she spots a job advertisement in the newspaper she seizes her chance; but after a rather unfortunate misunderstanding, she finds herself typing letters for the formidable Henrietta Bird, renowned advice columnist of Woman’s Friend magazine. Mrs. Bird is very clear: letters containing any Unpleasantness must go straight into the bin.

But as Emmy reads the desperate pleas from women who many have Gone Too Far with the wrong man, or can’t bear to let their children be evacuated, she begins to secretly write back to the readers who have poured out their troubles.

Praise for the book: Books that make you shake with laughter and sob with tears are rare.  I gulped this one down but didn’t stop thinking about it for a long time.”—Katie Fforde

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The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

A remarkable mystery book club read set in 17th century Amsterdam. With diverse fascinating characters, The Miniaturist can definitely be a fairytale read! 

Blurb from Goodreads: On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office–leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin. But Nella’s world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist–an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .Johannes’ gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand–and fear–the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

✅ Check this out: The sequel to Jessie Burton‘s bestselling novel The Miniaturist is just published. The book is named The House of Fortune. I am currently reading it and already hooked from the first page. If you want to know the life of Nella and Otto after the first book, get the book immediately.

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Nothing to See Here by Kevin Wilson

Looking for a fun and light book club pick? Nothing to See Here is just that. It’s a quick read that can be quite tough to let go! The story focuses on dysfunctional families and relationships! Filled with humor and satire this would be a great book for discussion.

I highly recommend the audiobook version of Nothing to See Here. The audiobook narrator Marin Ireland has done phenomenal job of reading the book. She has also won Audie Award for Best Female Narrator 2020 for the book. Listen FREE on Audible.

Blurb from Goodreads: Lillian and Madison were unlikely roommates and yet inseparable friends at their elite boarding school. But then Lillian had to leave the school unexpectedly in the wake of a scandal and they’ve barely spoken since.

Until now, when Lillian gets a letter from Madison pleading for her help. Madison’s twin stepkids are moving in with her family and she wants Lillian to be their caretaker. However, there’s a catch: the twins spontaneously combust when they get agitated, flames igniting from their skin in a startling but beautiful way. Lillian is convinced Madison is pulling her leg, but it’s the truth. Thinking of her dead-end life at home, the life that has consistently disappointed her, Lillian figures she has nothing to lose.

Over the course of one humid, demanding summer, Lillian and the twins learn to trust each other—and stay cool—while also staying out of the way of Madison’s buttoned-up politician husband. Surprised by her own ingenuity yet unused to the intense feelings of protectiveness she feels for them, Lillian ultimately begins to accept that she needs these strange children as much as they need her—urgently and fiercely. Couldn’t this be the start of the amazing life she’d always hoped for?

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Room by Emma Donoghue

This is an intense read. Inspired by the shocking abduction case like “Fritzl”, Room handles a complicated theme. An excellent book club book that features one of the best child narrators.

Blurb from Goodreads: To five-year-old Jack, Room is the world . . . It’s where he was born. It’s where he and Ma eat and sleep and play and learn. There are endless wonders that let loose Jack’s imagination—the snake under Bed that he constructs out of eggshells; the imaginary world projected through TV; the coziness of Wardrobe beneath Ma’s clothes, where she tucks him in safely at night, in case Old Nick comes.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it’s the prison where she’s been held since she was nineteen—for seven long years. Through her fierce love for her son, she has created a life for him in that eleven-by-eleven-foot space.

But Jack’s curiosity is building alongside Ma’s own desperation, and she knows that Room cannot contain either indefinitely . . .Told in the inventive, funny, and poignant voice of Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience—and a powerful story of a mother and son whose love lets them survive the impossible.

Praise for the book: “Room is that rarest of entities, an entirely original work of art. I mean it as the highest possible praise when I tell you that I can’t compare it to any other book. Suffice to say that it’s potent, darkly beautiful, and revelatory.” (Michael Cunningham, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Hours)

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The Four Winds by Kristin Hannah

The Four Winds is one woman’s journey to save her family. A heart-wrenching tale set in the backdrop of the Great Depression! Just like any other Kristin Hannah novel, “The Four Winds” is also among most recommended book club book for discussion!

Blurb from Goodreads: : Elsa Martinelli was born into a wealthy family. But her parents considered her to be too old and unappealing for a prosperous marriage. However, much to her parents’ dismay, Elsa gets pregnant as a result of her romantic affair with  Rafe Martinelli, son of a local farmer.  As her family abandons her and she is forced to live with Martinellis, at their farm. 

Once Elsa gives birth, the initial indifference between her and Rafe’s parents goes away, they eventually accept her as a daughter.  Elsa embraces her life on the farm. Despite the hard labour, she feels warm and content.

By  1933, Texas is hit by a severe drought. Millions of acres of farmland, including the Martinellis’, are drying up. Massive dust storms cover everything in grit and dust.  As drought and dust storms hit the region almost every day, farmers have no choice but to leave their beloved land and travel to the west. 

And just like others, Elsa prepares herself to head to California, in search of a better life for her family and herself. 

Praise for the book: “Through one woman’s survival during the harsh and haunting Dust Bowl, master storyteller, Kristin Hannah, reminds us that the human heart and our Earth are as tough, yet as fragile, asa change in the wind. This mother’s soul, suffering the same drought as the land, attempts to cross deserts and beat starvation to save her children with a fierce inner strength called motherhood. A timely novel highlighting the worth and delicate nature of Nature itself.” ―Delia Owens, author of WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING

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✅ You’ll love this post – 10 books like The Four Winds

The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult 

I think historical fiction novels are always book club favorites. As they are thought-provoking reads that narrate the events in the past. The Storyteller is exactly that. A gripping novel in the background of the holocaust. An astounding read for the lovers of historical fiction and World War II.

Blurb from Goodreads: Sage Singer is a baker. She works through the night, preparing the day’s breads and pastries, trying to escape a reality of loneliness, bad memories, and the shadow of her mother’s death.

When Josef Weber, an elderly man in Sage’s grief support group, begins stopping by the bakery, they strike up an unlikely friendship. Despite their differences, they see in each other the hidden scars that others can’t, and they become companions. Everything changes on the day that Josef confesses a long-buried and shameful secret—one that nobody else in town would ever suspect—and asks Sage for an extraordinary favor. If she says yes, she faces not only moral repercussions but potentially legal ones as well. With her own identity suddenly challenged, and the integrity of the closest friend she’s ever had clouded, Sage begins to question the assumptions and expectations she’s made about her life and her family.

When does a moral choice become a moral imperative? And where does one draw the line between punishment and justice, forgiveness and mercy?

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The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

The story that follows numerous lives of “lost things”! Diversity in the story and characters leave so much scope for a heated book club discussion!  Ruth Hogan’s The Keeper of Lost Things by is a charming suggestions for best book club picks.

Blurb from Goodreads: Anthony Peardew is the keeper of lost things. Forty years ago, he carelessly lost a keepsake from his beloved fiancée, Therese. That very same day, she died unexpectedly. Brokenhearted, Anthony sought consolation in rescuing lost objects—the things others have dropped, misplaced, or accidentally left behind—and writing stories about them. Now, in the twilight of his life, Anthony worries that he has not fully discharged his duty to reconcile all the lost things with their owners.

As the end nears, he bequeaths his secret life’s mission to his unsuspecting assistant, Laura, leaving her his house and all its lost treasures, including an irritable ghost. Recovering from a bad divorce, Laura, in some ways, is one of Anthony’s lost things. But when the lonely woman moves into his mansion, her life begins to change. She finds a new friend in the neighbor’s quirky daughter, Sunshine, and a welcome distraction in Freddy, the rugged gardener. As the dark cloud engulfing her lifts, Laura, accompanied by her new companions, sets out to realize Anthony’s last wish: reuniting his cherished lost objects with their owners.

Long ago, Eunice found a trinket on the London pavement and kept it through the years. Now, with her own end drawing near, she has lost something precious—a tragic twist of fate that forces her to break a promise she once made. As the Keeper of Lost Objects, Laura holds the key to Anthony and Eunice’s redemption. But can she unlock the past and make the connections that will lay their spirits to rest?

Praise for the book: “A beautiful story of love, loss, and the redemptive power of friendship.” (Catherine Hall, author of The Proof of Love)

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American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins

Already being hailed as “a Grapes of Wrath of our times” and “a new American classic,” Jeanine Cummins’s American Dirt is an extraordinary journey towards survival! American Dirt is an epic book club book suggestion 2025.

Blurb from Goodreads: Lydia Quixano Pérez lives in the Mexican city of Acapulco. She runs a bookstore. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while there are cracks beginning to show in Acapulco because of the drug cartels, her life is, by and large, fairly comfortable.

Even though she knows they’ll never sell, Lydia stocks some of her all-time favorite books in her store. And then one day a man enters the shop to browse and comes up to the register with a few books he would like to buy—two of them her favorites. Javier is erudite. He is charming. And, unbeknownst to Lydia, he is the jefe of the newest drug cartel that has gruesomely taken over the city.

When Lydia’s husband’s tell-all profile of Javier is published, none of their lives will ever be the same. Forced to flee, Lydia and eight-year-old Luca soon find themselves miles and worlds away from their comfortable middle-class existence. Instantly transformed into migrants, Lydia and Luca ride la bestia—trains that make their way north toward the United States, which is the only place Javier’s reach doesn’t extend. As they join the countless people trying to reach el norte, Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something.

But what exactly are they running to?

Praise for the book: “Extraordinary.” —Stephen King

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The Mother-in-Law by Sally Hepworth

 An extremely unique story that has many more surprise elements. The Mother-in-law is a discussion worthy book club suggestion.

Blurb from Goodreads: From the moment Lucy met Diana, she was kept at arm’s length. Diana is exquisitely polite, but Lucy knows, even after marrying Oliver, that they’ll never have the closeness she’d been hoping for. But who could fault Diana? She was a pillar of the community, an advocate for social justice, the matriarch of a loving family. Lucy had wanted so much to please her new mother-in-law. That was ten years ago. Now, Diana has been found dead, leaving a suicide note. But the autopsy reveals evidence of suffocation. And everyone in the family is hiding something

 Praise for the book:  One of Oprah Magazine’s “15 Best Beach Reads of the Year So Far”

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City of Girls by Elizabeth Gilbert

Renowned author, Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book narrates the engrossing life of Vivian in the NYC theater world in the 1940s. Grab this one for your next book club if you’re looking for an absolute page-turner! I guarantee that “The City of Girls” going to be one of the best book club book suggestions.

Blurb from Goodreads: In 1940, nineteen-year-old Vivian Morris was kicked out of Vassar College, owing to her lackluster freshman-year performance. Her affluent parents send her to Manhattan to live with her Aunt Peg, who owns a flamboyant, crumbling midtown theater called the Lily Playhouse.

There Vivian is introduced to an entire cosmos of unconventional and charismatic characters, from the fun-chasing showgirls to a sexy male actor, a grand-dame actress, a lady-killer writer, and no-nonsense stage manager. But when Vivian makes a personal mistake that results in a professional scandal, it turns her new world upside down in ways that it will take her years to fully understand.

Ultimately, though, it leads her to a new understanding of the kind of life she craves-and the kind of freedom it takes to pursue it. It will also lead to the love of her life, a love that stands out from all the rest. Now ninety-five years old and telling her story, at last, Vivian recalls how the events of those years altered the course of her life – and the gusto and autonomy with which she approached it. 

Praise for the book: When Elizabeth Gilbert set out to write City of Girls, her goal was to tell a story of female promiscuity that didn’t end in death or misfortune—a direct and delicious rebuttal to the tragic, sexist fates of the Emma Bovarys and Anna Karenina’s of the canon. The result is a wildly entertaining summertime romp.” –Elle

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The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

An enchanting story of the people from the world of Circus and magic! Perfect for the lovers of fantasy fiction. The Night Circus is also among the most recommended book club books.

Blurb from Goodreads: The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas, tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements.

It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night. But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors.

Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which the only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love—a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. 

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus performers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead. 

Praise for the book: “Erin Morgenstern has created the circus I have always longed for and she has populated it with dueling love-struck magicians, precocious kittens, hyper-elegant displays of beauty and complicated clocks. This is a marvelous book.” —Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler’s Wife

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The Lost for Words Bookshop by Stephanie Butland 

The perfect read for bibliophiles! A quirky, funny and emotional story of a book nerd. So make sure to add “The Lost for Words Bookshop” in the list of fun and happy book club book suggestion.

Blurb from Goodreads: Loveday Cardew prefers books to people. If you look closely, you might glimpse the first lines of the novels she loves most tattooed on her skin.

But there are things she’ll never show you. Fifteen years ago Loveday lost all she knew and loved in one unspeakable night. Now, she finds refuge in the unique little York bookshop where she works. Everything is about to change for Loveday. Someone knows about her past. Someone is trying to send her a message. And she can’t hide any longer.

Lost for Words is a compelling, irresistible and heart-rending novel, with the emotional intensity of The Shock of the Fall and all the charm of The Little Paris Bookshop and 84 Charing Cross Road. 

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The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah

The bestselling author Kristin Hannah’s inspirational historical fiction in the horrific environment of  WWII. Undoubtedly great book club suggestion for book groups. Read this post for full list of Kristin Hannah books in order.

✅  You’ll love this post – Full List Of Kristin Hannah Books In Order

Praise for the book: “Beautifully written and richly evocative.” ―Sara Gruen, #1 New York Times bestselling author

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Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

In this list of popular books for book clubs,Liane Moriarty‘s Big Little Lies tells the captivating story of three women that would leave you awestruck. It’s funny, whimsical, and fascinating. 

Blurb from Goodreads: Madeline is a force to be reckoned with. She’s funny and biting, passionate, she remembers everything and forgives no one.

Her ex-husband and his yogi new wife have moved into her beloved beachside community, and their daughter is in the same kindergarten class as Madeline’s youngest (how is this possible?). And to top it all off, Madeline’s teenage daughter seems to be choosing Madeline’s ex-husband over her. (How. Is. This. Possible?). Celeste is the kind of beautiful woman who makes the world stop and stare. While she may seem a bit flustered at times, who wouldn’t be, with those rambunctious twin boys? Now that the boys are starting school, Celeste and her husband look set to become the king and queen of the school parent body.

But royalty often comes at a price, and Celeste is grappling with how much more she is willing to pay. New to town, single mom Jane is so young that another mother mistakes her for the nanny. Jane is sad beyond her years and harbors secret doubts about her son.

But why? While Madeline and Celeste soon take Jane under their wing, none of them realizes how the arrival of Jane and her inscrutable little boy will affect them all.

Praise for the book: “Ms. Moriarty’s long-parched fans have something new to dig into…Big Little Lies [may have] even more staying power than The Husband’s Secret.”—The New York Times

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Ask Again, Yes by Mary Beth Keane

Keane’s new book explores struggle, forgiveness, and resilience! A novel that surveys relationships and its utmost complexities. Because of these themes Ask Again, Yes becomes a must-read novel among other book club fiction recommendations in the post.

Blurb from Goodreads: A profoundly moving novel about two neighboring families in a suburban town, the bond between their children, a tragedy that reverberates over four decades, the daily intimacies of marriage, and the power of forgiveness.

Francis Gleeson and Brian Stanhope, two rookie cops in the NYPD, live next door to each other outside the city. What happens behind closed doors in both houses—the loneliness of Francis’s wife, Lena, and the instability of Brian’s wife, Anne—sets the stage for the explosive events to come.

Praise for the book: “This is one beautiful book. I was wowed by Keane’s writing and narrative skill—and by what she knows about trouble.” —Stephen King

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All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

This PULITZER PRIZE winning novel is a great book to read for your book club. It’s vivid, enthralling, and emotive. One of the best writings ever! 

Blurb from Goodreads: Marie-Laure lives in Paris near the Museum of Natural History, where her father works. When she is twelve, the Nazis occupy Paris and father and daughter flee to the walled citadel of Saint-Malo, where Marie-Laure’s reclusive great uncle lives in a tall house by the sea.

With them, they carry what might be the museum’s most valuable and dangerous jewel. In a mining town in Germany, Werner Pfennig, an orphan, grows up with his younger sister, enchanted by a crude radio they find that brings them news and stories from places they have never seen or imagined. Werner becomes an expert at building and fixing these crucial new instruments and is enlisted to use his talent to track down the resistance.

Deftly interweaving the lives of Marie-Laure and Werner, Doerr illuminates the ways, against all odds, people try to be good to one another. 

Praise for the book: Anthony Doerr again takes language beyond mortal limits. –Elissa Schappell ( Vanity Fair )

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The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

This isn’t a life-changing story that you might be looking for but it’s one of those to take you on an emotional roller coaster ride. In spite of the familiar theme, John Green’s novel has a unique charm to lure you to the book. This might be the book you can add to your one of the most interesting book club books. 

 Blurb from Goodreads: Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

Praise for the book: “The Fault in Our Stars takes a spin on universal themes—Will I be loved? Will I be remembered? Will I leave a mark on this world?—by dramatically raising the stakes for the characters who are asking.”—Jodi Picoult

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James by Percival Everett

James is a powerful story that tells the journey of Jim, the character from Huck Finn, but this time from his point of view. The book is both serious and funny, and it shows how smart and strong Jim really is. This is a great book club choice because it gives everyone something to talk about freedom, history, and how stories can change when told from a different view. Check out book club questions for James.

A brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and ferociously funny—told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view

When Jim overhears that he is about to be sold to a man in New Orleans, separated from his wife and daughter forever, he runs away until he can formulate a plan. Meanwhile, Huck has faked his own death to escape his violent father. As all readers of American literature know, thus begins the dangerous and transcendent journey by raft down the Mississippi River toward the elusive and unreliable promise of the Free States and beyond.

Brimming with the electrifying humor and lacerating observations that have made Everett a literary icon, this brilliant and tender novel radically illuminates Jim’s agency, intelligence, and compassion as never before. James is destined to be a major publishing event and a cornerstone of twenty-first-century American literature.

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The Boyfriend by Freida McFadden

The Boyfriend is a twisty psychological thriller about Sydney Shaw, who thinks she’s finally found the perfect man, handsome, kind, and a doctor. But when women in the city start turning up dead, Sydney begins to question everything. If you are looking for gripping psychological thriller books, this is for you.

She’s looking for the perfect man. He’s looking for the perfect victim.

Sydney Shaw, like every single woman in New York, has terrible luck with dating. She’s seen it men who lie in their dating profile, men who stick her with the dinner bill, and worst of all, men who can’t shut up about their mothers. But finally, she hits the jackpot.

Her new boyfriend is utterly perfect. He’s charming, handsome, and works as a doctor at a local hospital. Sydney is swept off her feet.

Then the brutal murder of a young woman―the latest in a string of deaths across the coast―confounds police. The primary suspect? A mystery man who dates his victims before he kills them.

Sydney should feel safe. After all, she is dating the guy of her dreams. But she can’t shake her own suspicions that the perfect man may not be as perfect as he seems. Because someone is watching her every move, and if she doesn’t get to the truth, she’ll be the killer’s next victim.

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The Last Mrs. Parrish by Liv Constantine

The Last Mrs. Parrish is about Amber Patterson, who is tired of her plain, boring life. She wants everything that Daphne Parrish has, wealth, status, and the perfect life. So Amber quietly works her way into Daphne’s world, pretending to be her best friend. This book has a lot to discuss. You want to find out about her lies, manipulation, and secrets. Also check out book club questions for The Last Mrs Parrish.

Amber Patterson is fed up. She’s tired of being a nobody: a plain, invisible woman who blends into the background. She deserves more—a life of money and power like the one blond-haired, blue-eyed goddess Daphne Parrish takes for granted.

To everyone in the exclusive town of Bishops Harbor, Connecticut, Daphne—a socialite and philanthropist—and her real-estate mogul husband, Jackson, are a couple straight out of a fairy tale.

Amber’s envy could eat her alive . . . if she didn’t have a plan. Amber uses Daphne’s compassion and caring to insinuate herself into the family’s life—the first step in a meticulous scheme to undermine her. Before long, Amber is Daphne’s closest confidante, traveling to Europe with the Parrishes and their lovely young daughters, and growing closer to Jackson. But a skeleton from her past may undermine everything that Amber has worked towards, and if it is discovered, her well-laid plan may fall to pieces.

With shocking turns and dark secrets that will keep you guessing until the very end, The Last Mrs. Parrish is a fresh, juicy, and utterly addictive thriller from a diabolically imaginative talent.

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Wrong Place Wrong Time by Gillian McAllister

Wrong Place Wrong Time tells the story of Jen, a mother who sees her son commit a terrible crime. But the next day, she wakes up and it’s the day before the crime happened. Each time she sleeps, she goes further back in time. This is a smart, time-travel thriller. I was totally immersed in the story and the plot. If you enjoy twisty, emotional mysteries, this is for you. Check out book club questions of Wrong Place Wrong Time.

Can you stop a murder after it’s already happened?

It is midnight on the morning of Halloween, and Jen anxiously waits up for her 18-year-old son, Todd, to return home. But worries about his broken curfew transform into something much more dangerous when Todd finally emerges from the darkness. As Jen watches through the window, she sees her funny, seemingly happy teenage son stab a total stranger.

She doesn’t know who the victim is, or why Todd has committed such a devastating act of violence. All she knows is that her life, and Todd’s, have been shattered.

After her son is taken into custody, Jen falls asleep in despair. But when she wakes up… it is yesterday. The murder has not happened yet—and there may be a chance to stop it. Each morning, when Jen wakes, she is further back in the past, first weeks, then years, before the murder. And Jen realizes that somewhere in the past lies the trigger for Todd’s terrible crime…and it is her mission to find it, and prevent it from taking place.

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Funny Story by Emily Henry

I became a fan of Emily Henry’s books over the past few years because they’re always funny, sweet, and uplifting. Funny Story is no different. I really enjoyed reading about Daphne and Miles they’re both such lovable characters, and their awkward, unexpected friendship turning into something more was so fun to watch unfold. It’s also a great pick for a book club that enjoys lighthearted novels with a really strong message. Also check out book club questions for The Funny Story.

A shimmering, joyful new novel about a pair of opposites with the wrong thing in common, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Emily Henry.

Daphne always loved the way her fiancé, Peter, told their story. How they met (on a blustery day), fell in love (over an errant hat), and moved back to his lakeside hometown to begin their life together. He really was good at telling it… right up until the moment he realized he was actually in love with his childhood best friend Petra.

Which is how Daphne begins her new story: stranded in beautiful Waning Bay, Michigan, without friends or family but with a dream job as a children’s librarian (that barely pays the bills), and proposing to be roommates with the only person who could possibly understand her predicament: Petra’s ex, Miles Nowak.

Scruffy and chaotic—with a penchant for taking solace in the sounds of heart break love ballads—Miles is exactly the opposite of practical, buttoned-up Daphne, whose coworkers know so little about her they have a running bet that she’s either FBI or in witness protection. The roommates mainly avoid one another, until one day, while drowning their sorrows, they form a tenuous friendship and a plan. If said plan also involves posting deliberately misleading photos of their summer adventures together, well, who could blame them?

But it’s all just for show, of course, because there’s no way Daphne would actually start her new chapter by falling in love with her ex-fiancé’s new fiancée’s ex… right?

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The Women by Kristin Hannah

The Women is a powerful story about bravery and strength. It follows Frankie McGrath, a young woman who becomes a nurse during the Vietnam War. As the story goes on, we see her grow through pain, fear, and courage. This was a really emotional book. Kristin Hannah’s writing makes you feel close to the characters. If you’ve loved her other books, this one should be on your 2025 book club picks.

From the celebrated author of The Nightingale and The Four Winds comes Kristin Hannah’s The Women—at once an intimate portrait of coming of age in a dangerous time and an epic tale of a nation divided.

Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path.

As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost.

But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam.

The Women is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism, The Women is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Remarkably Bright Creatures follows Tova Sullivan. She is a widow working at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. As Tova still struggles with the loss of her son, who disappeared over thirty years ago, she finds an unlikely friend in Marcellus, an octopus at the aquarium where she works. Together, they begin to uncover the truth. This debut novel is about friendship, healing, and finding hope. Check out book club questions for this book.

Remarkably Bright Creatures, an exploration of friendship, reckoning, and hope, tracing a widow’s unlikely connection with a giant Pacific octopus.

After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium, mopping floors and tidying up. Keeping busy has always helped her cope, which she’s been doing since her eighteen-year-old son, Erik, mysteriously vanished on a boat in Puget Sound over thirty years ago.

Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus living at the aquarium. Marcellus knows more than anyone can imagine but wouldn’t dream of lifting one of his eight arms for his human captors–until he forms a remarkable friendship with Tova.

Ever the detective, Marcellus deduces what happened the night Tova’s son disappeared. And now Marcellus must use every trick his old invertebrate body can muster to unearth the truth for her before it’s too late.

Shelby Van Pelt’s debut novel is a gentle reminder that sometimes taking a hard look at the past can help uncover a future that once felt impossible.

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The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali

The Lion Women of Tehran is a moving story about friendship, growing up, and standing strong in a changing world. It begins in 1950s Tehran, where Ellie lives a rich and comfortable life until her father dies and everything changes. This is an emotional and powerful book club book. Also one of the best historical fiction book club books for 2025.

​​An “evocative read and a powerful portrait of friendship, feminism, and political activism” (People) set against three transformative decades in Tehran, Iran—from nationally bestselling author Marjan Kamali.

In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams for a friend to alleviate her isolation.

Luckily, on the first day of school, she meets Homa, a kind girl with a brave and irrepressible spirit. Together, the two girls play games, learn to cook in the stone kitchen of Homa’s warm home, wander through the colorful stalls of the Grand Bazaar, and share their ambitions of becoming “lion women.”

But their happiness is disrupted when Ellie and her mother are afforded the opportunity to return to their previous bourgeois life. Now a popular student at the best girls’ high school in Iran, Ellie’s memories of Homa begin to fade. Years later, however, her sudden reappearance in Ellie’s privileged world alters the course of both of their lives.

Together, the two young women come of age and pursue their own goals for meaningful futures. But as the political turmoil in Iran builds to a breaking point, one earth-shattering betrayal will have enormous consequences.

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Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera

Listen for the Lie follows Lucy, who returns to her small town years after her best friend’s murder. Everyone thinks Lucy did it, but she doesn’t remember what happened that night. This was a great book. The mix of interviews, narration, and tension made it one of the most addictive thrillers. I think this is a fabulous book club choice, as you can talk about themes like friendship, guilt, and how public opinion can shape truth.

What if you thought you murdered your best friend? And if everyone else thought so too? And what if the truth doesn’t matter?

Lucy and Savvy were the golden girls of their small Texas town: pretty, smart, and enviable. Lucy married a dream guy with a big ring and an even bigger new home. Savvy was the social butterfly loved by all and, if you believe the rumors, especially popular with the men in town. But after Lucy is found wandering the streets, covered in her best friend Savvy’s blood, everyone thinks she is a murderer.

It’s been years since that horrible night, a night Lucy can’t remember anything about, and she has since moved to LA and started a new life. But now the phenomenally huge hit true crime podcast Listen for the Lie and its too-good looking host, Ben Owens, have decided to investigate Savvy’s murder for the show’s second season. Lucy is forced to return to the place she vowed never to set foot in again to solve her friend’s murder, even if she is the one who did it.

The truth is out there, if we just listen.

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The Family Experiment by John Marrs

The Family Experiment is a sci-fi thriller set in a world where people raise virtual babies instead. A reality show brings together ten couples who must care for these digital children. The couple who succeeds wins the ultimate prize, the chance to raise a real child. This is a great book club pick because it raises so many big questions: What makes someone a good parent? Can love for a virtual child feel real? If you are looking for debate-worthy book club books, this is for you. Here are 51 book club questions for The Family Experiment.

From the acclaimed author of The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and brilliant speculative thriller about families: real and virtual.

Some families are virtually perfect…

The world’s population is soaring, creating overcrowded cities and an economic crisis. And in the UK, the breaking point has arrived. A growing number of people can no longer afford to start families, let alone raise them.

But for those desperate to experience parenthood, there is an alternative. For a monthly subscription fee, clients can create a virtual child from scratch who they can access via the metaverse and a VR headset. To launch this new initiative, the company behind Virtual Children has created a reality TV show called The Substitute. It will follow ten couples as they raise a Virtual Child from birth to the age of eighteen but in a condensed nine-month time period. The prize: the right to keep their virtual child, or risk it all for the chance of a real baby…

Set in the same universe as John Marrs’s bestselling novel The One and The Marriage Act, The Family Experiment is a dark and twisted thriller about the ultimate Tamagotchi—a virtual baby.

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The Perfect Child by Lucinda Berry

The Perfect Child was a disturbing read that gripped me from the start. The story follows the couple Christopher and Hannah, who adopt a troubled child named Janie. As Janie’s behavior becomes increasingly erratic and dangerous, the couple’s life spirals out of control. If your book club wants to discuss an eerie thriller with tension and drama, this is for you. Also check out book club guide for The Perfect Child.

A page-turning debut of suspense about a young couple desperate to have a child of their own—and the unsettling consequences of getting what they always wanted.

Christopher and Hannah are a happily married surgeon and nurse with picture-perfect lives. All that’s missing is a child. When Janie, an abandoned six-year-old, turns up at their hospital, Christopher forms an instant connection with her, and he convinces Hannah they should take her home as their own.

But Janie is no ordinary child, and her damaged psyche proves to be more than her new parents were expecting. Janie is fiercely devoted to Christopher, but she acts out in increasingly disturbing ways, directing all her rage at Hannah. Unable to bond with Janie, Hannah is drowning under the pressure, and Christopher refuses to see Janie’s true nature.

Hannah knows that Janie is manipulating Christopher and isolating him from her, despite Hannah’s attempts to bring them all together. But as Janie’s behavior threatens to tear Christopher and Hannah apart, the truth behind Janie’s past may be enough to push them all over the edge.

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The Housemaid by Freida McFadden

The Housemaid starts with Millie, a recent parolee who takes a job as a live-in housemaid but nothing is what it seems. This is a really fast-paced book club book. The writing is fast, the chapters are short. You never really know who to trust, which makes the story so addictive. Here are best discussion questions for The Housemaid.

Welcome to the family, Nina Winchester says as I shake her elegant, manicured hand. I smile politely, gazing around the marble hallway. Working here is my last chance to start fresh. I can pretend to be whoever I like. But I’ll soon learn that the Winchesters’ secrets are far more dangerous than my own…

Every day I clean the Winchesters’ beautiful house top to bottom. I collect their daughter from school. And I cook a delicious meal for the whole family before heading up to eat alone in my tiny room on the top floor.

I try to ignore how Nina makes a mess just to watch me clean it up. How she tells strange lies about her own daughter. And how her husband Andrew seems more broken every day. But as I look into Andrew’s handsome brown eyes, so full of pain, it’s hard not to imagine what it would be like to live Nina’s life. The walk-in closet, the fancy car, the perfect husband.

I only try on one of Nina’s pristine white dresses once. Just to see what it’s like. But she soon finds out… and by the time I realize my attic bedroom door only locks from the outside, it’s far too late.

But I reassure myself: the Winchesters don’t know who I really am.

They don’t know what I’m capable of…

An unbelievably twisty read that will have you glued to the pages late into the night. Anyone who loves The Woman in the Window, The Wife Between Us and The Girl on the Train won’t be able to put this down!

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Intermezzo by Sally Rooney

Intermezzo follows two brothers, Peter and Ivan, after their father’s death. Peter is a successful but overwhelmed lawyer, while Ivan is a quiet chess player who doesn’t really fit in. Their lives shift when Ivan meets Margaret, a much older woman with her own difficult past. There is so much to love about this book, the themes of grief, love, and family and also the quiet but powerful moments and deep emotional layers.

An exquisitely moving story about grief, love, and family—but especially love—from the global phenomenon Sally Rooney.

Aside from the fact that they are brothers, Peter and Ivan Koubek seem to have little in common.

Peter is a Dublin lawyer in his thirties—successful, competent, and apparently unassailable. But in the wake of their father’s death, he’s medicating himself to sleep and struggling to manage his relationships with two very different women—his enduring first love, Sylvia, and Naomi, a college student for whom life is one long joke.

Ivan is a twenty-two-year-old competitive chess player. He has always seen himself as socially awkward, a loner, the antithesis of his glib elder brother. Now, in the early weeks of his bereavement, Ivan meets Margaret, an older woman emerging from her own turbulent past, and their lives become rapidly and intensely intertwined.

For two grieving brothers and the people they love, this is a new interlude—a period of desire, despair, and possibility; a chance to find out how much one life might hold inside itself without breaking.

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The Wedding People by Alison Espach

If you enjoy quirky, character-driven stories, The Wedding People is a great book club pick. Phoebe, the protagonist, is going through a rough time. So she decides to treat herself with one final stay at a fancy hotel. What she doesn’t expect is to be mistaken for a wedding guest. When she meets the bride by accident, what starts as an awkward moment turns into a touching and meaningful connection. I absolutely loved this book. It was one of the best books of 2024 for me. So if your book club is looking for diction-worthy novels with a strong protagonist this book is for you. Also check out best book club questions for The Wedding People.

A propulsive and uncommonly wise novel about one unexpected wedding guest and the surprising people who help her start anew.

It’s a beautiful day in Newport, Rhode Island, when Phoebe Stone arrives at the grand Cornwall Inn wearing a green dress and gold heels, not a bag in sight, alone. She’s immediately mistaken by everyone in the lobby for one of the wedding people, but she’s actually the only guest at the Cornwall who isn’t here for the big event. Phoebe is here because she’s dreamed of coming for years—she hoped to shuck oysters and take sunset sails with her husband, only now she’s here without him, at rock bottom, and determined to have one last decadent splurge on herself. Meanwhile, the bride has accounted for every detail and every possible disaster the weekend might yield except for, well, Phoebe and Phoebe’s plan—which makes it that much more surprising when the two women can’t stop confiding in each other.

In turns absurdly funny and devastatingly tender, Alison Espach’s The Wedding People is ultimately an incredibly nuanced and resonant look at the winding paths we can take to places we never imagined—and the chance encounters it sometimes takes to reroute us.

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Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver

Demon Copperhead is the story of a boy growing up in Appalachia. He goes through a tough life filled with poverty, addiction, and loss. This was one of the best immersive books I’ve ever read. It was raw and emotional at the same time and incredibly funny. It was a very difficult book to read, but I also felt that these stories needed to be told. The characters were so well written. They felt real, like people you could meet in real life. I found Demon’s struggles and small joys very inspiring. It reminded me how strong people can be, even in hard times. This is the kind of story that stays with you.

Set in the mountains of southern Appalachia, this is the story of a boy born to a teenaged single mother in a single-wide trailer, with no assets beyond his dead father’s good looks and copper-colored hair, a caustic wit, and a fierce talent for survival. In a plot that never pauses for breath, relayed in his own unsparing voice, he braves the modern perils of foster care, child labor, derelict schools, athletic success, addiction, disastrous loves, and crushing losses. Through all of it, he reckons with his own invisibility in a popular culture where even the superheroes have abandoned rural people in favor of cities.

Many generations ago, Charles Dickens wrote David Copperfield from his experience as a survivor of institutional poverty and its damages to children in his society. Those problems have yet to be solved in ours. Dickens is not a prerequisite for readers of this novel, but he provided its inspiration. In transposing a Victorian epic novel to the contemporary American South, Barbara Kingsolver enlists Dickens’ anger and compassion, and above all, his faith in the transformative powers of a good story. Demon Copperhead speaks for a new generation of lost boys, and all those born into beautiful, cursed places they can’t imagine leaving behind.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Book Clubs

What to discuss at the first book club meeting?

At the first book club meeting, you should discuss the group’s goals, how often you’ll meet, and how you’ll choose the books. It’s also a good time to get to know each other, so consider having everyone share their favorite book and what they’re hoping to get out of the book club. 

What should be discussed in a book club?

In a book club, you should discuss the plot, characters, themes, and any significant symbols or motifs in the book. Talk about your personal reactions and how the book made you feel. You can also discuss the author’s writing style, the book’s pacing, and any memorable quotes. Also, consider discussing the book’s social, historical, or cultural context if relevant.

What Makes a Good Book Club Book?

A good book club book gets everyone talking and opens up lots of different topics. It should have complex characters, an engaging plot, and deep themes. Books that touch on controversial or thought-provoking topics are often great because they spark debates. Also, think about the length and genre; a book that’s too long or not interesting to most members might not work well.

What is the best source for book club discussion questions?

The best places to find book club discussion questions are usually the back of the book and the publisher’s website. My blog, The Creative Muggle, also has great book club questions. Here are a few to check out: book club questions for Yellowface, It Ends With Us, The Teacher, and The Women.

How do you format a book club discussion?

Format a book club discussion by starting with a brief summary of the book to refresh everyone’s memory. Then, move into open-ended questions about key themes, characters, and events. Also give for personal reflections and make sureeveryone has a chance to speak. You can close with final thoughts and decide on the next book and meeting date.

How do you start a conversation in a book club?

Start a conversation in a book club by asking a thought-provoking question related to the book’s themes or characters. Using quotes from the book as conversation starters can also be very effective. Check out these 15 general book club questions.

How do you encourage discussion in a book club?

To encourage discussion in a book club, start with open-ended questions. Make sure everyone shares their opinions and respect all viewpoints. Having a discussion leader or rotating the role helps keep things flowing. Give everyone a chance to speak and avoid dominating the conversation.

How do you make a book club discussion fun?

Make book club discussions fun with activities related to the book. If the book mentions specific foods, have a themed potluck. Play book trivia or create a playlist of songs from the book. Adding creativity keeps meetings enjoyable and engaging. Check out these fun book club games.

How long should a book club discussion be?

A book club discussion should typically last about one to two hours. This allows enough time for everyone to share their thoughts without feeling rushed, but also keeps the meeting from dragging on too long.

How to spice up a book club?

Spice up a book club by incorporating themed meetings, inviting guest speakers, or even planning outings related to the book. For example, if you’re reading a book set in a certain location, you could visit a local spot that resembles it. You can also host virtual meetings with authors if possible. Changing up the routine and adding new elements can keep things exciting.

Conclusion:

There you have the best books for your book clubs. I really hope you have found book club suggestions that are engaging and captivating to discuss in your reading group. Don’t forget to get 60 days FREE listening on Scribd or your FREE Audible audiobook from New Hot Releases.

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