How to Start a Book Club: Members, Books, Questions and Keeping It Going

To start a book club, decide what kind of group you want, invite six to twelve people, agree how often and where you will meet, pick a first book everyone can get hold of easily and prepare a few open questions to get the conversation going. The rest is about keeping it friendly, organised and fun. Book clubs have been popular for centuries, and public libraries, bookshops and apps have made them easier than ever to run. This step-by-step guide covers everything from choosing members and books to leading a discussion and keeping the group going for years.

What Kind of Book Club Do You Want?

Before inviting anyone, decide what the club is for. Groups that agree on this from the start tend to last longer:

• Social club: friends, neighbours or colleagues who want a regular evening together, with the book as the excuse.
• Serious discussion group: members read closely and want in-depth conversation, perhaps about literary fiction, classics or non-fiction.
• Genre club: focused on one area, such as crime, science fiction, romance, history or business books.
• Silent book club: members bring whatever they are reading and read quietly together, then chat afterwards, with no set book. The Silent Book Club movement, started in San Francisco in 2012, now has chapters around the world.
• Online club: meets by video call or in a group chat, ideal for friends in different cities or time zones.
• Family or parent-child club: a good way to encourage young readers.

How Many People Should Be in a Book Club?

Most experienced organisers suggest six to twelve members. Fewer than six and the group can fizzle out when two or three people cannot make it; more than about twelve and quieter members struggle to get a word in. If interest is high, invite more people than you need, as not everyone will attend every meeting, or split into two groups.

Mix is as important as size. A blend of ages, backgrounds and reading tastes makes for richer discussion, but members should share the same basic expectations about how much reading is involved.

How Often and Where Should You Meet?

Once a month is the most common rhythm, as it gives busy people time to finish a book of average length. Choose a regular slot, such as the second Tuesday of each month, so people can plan ahead.

• Members’ homes: relaxed and free, with hosting rotated so no one carries the burden.
• Cafés, pubs and bookshops: neutral ground, though noise can be a problem; many independent bookshops welcome clubs and some offer discounts.
• Libraries: many have free meeting rooms and run their own clubs.
• Video calls: free tools work well for groups of up to about ten, and are easier for people with caring responsibilities.

Ninety minutes to two hours is usually right: time to catch up, discuss the book and choose the next one.

How Do You Choose What to Read?

Picking books is where many clubs run into trouble, so agree a method early. Popular options include:

• Rotating choice: each member picks in turn, which spreads the responsibility and broadens everyone’s reading.
• Shortlist and vote: the host or a member offers three options and the group votes.
• Themed years: for example, a book from a different country each month, or prize-winning novels.
• Follow a list: shortlists for major prizes such as the Booker Prize, the Pulitzer Prize and the Women’s Prize for Fiction offer well-reviewed choices.

Good book club picks have something to argue about: morally complex characters, a divisive ending or ideas that people will interpret differently. Check that the book is easy to get hold of in paperback, as an ebook and from the library, and think about length. A 700-page novel can be a tough monthly ask, so give longer books two months.

How Can Members Get Books Cheaply?

Cost can put people off, so make it easy:

• Library book club sets: many public libraries lend kits containing multiple copies of the same title, often with discussion guides, for several weeks at a time. Ask at your local branch.
• Library apps: services such as Libby and Hoopla let library members borrow ebooks and audiobooks free, though popular titles can have waiting lists, so choose books early.
• Second-hand and swaps: charity shops, used bookshops and members passing copies on.
• Ebooks and audiobooks: often cheaper than new hardbacks. Our comparison of Kindle vs Kobo explains which e-reader works best with library loans.

Allowing audiobooks also helps members with long commutes or visual impairments take part.

How Do You Lead a Good Book Club Discussion?

The host or a nominated discussion leader keeps the conversation flowing. A little preparation goes a long way:

• Prepare five to ten open questions that cannot be answered with yes or no. Many publishers publish free reading group guides on their websites.
• Start broad: “What did you think?” or “Which character did you most relate to?”
• Go deeper: ask about themes, the structure, the ending, the title and whether the book changed anyone’s mind.
• Invite quieter members by name, gently, and stop any one person dominating.
• Welcome disagreement: the best discussions come from people who loved and hated the same book.
• Agree a spoiler policy: most clubs assume everyone has finished, but make it clear so people who have not are not caught out.

Useful all-purpose questions include: What surprised you? Which passage stood out? Did the ending work? Would you recommend the book to someone outside the club, and why?

How Do You Keep a Book Club Going?

Many clubs start with enthusiasm and fade within a year. These habits help yours last:

• Set the next date and book before you leave each meeting.
• Use a group chat or shared calendar for reminders and book links.
• Keep food simple: rotating snacks or a potluck stops hosting turning into a competition.
• Welcome people who have not finished, so they keep coming rather than staying away.
• Mix it up: occasional author events, film adaptations, a meeting at a relevant museum or an annual favourites evening keep things fresh.
• Review the club once a year: ask what members want to change.

Joining a book club is also one of the most effective ways to read more consistently, because a deadline and a group to talk to are strong motivators. Our guide on how to read more books has more tips.

Can a Book Club Invite Authors?

Yes, and it is easier than many people think. Debut and local authors are often happy to join a meeting in person or by video, especially if the group has bought copies of their book. Self-published writers in particular value book clubs as a way to build word-of-mouth; if anyone in your group is tempted to write their own, our guide on how to self-publish a book explains how.

Book Club Checklist

• Decide the type of club and how serious it will be
• Invite six to twelve people
• Set a regular monthly date, time and place
• Agree how books are chosen
• Pick an accessible first book and check library availability
• Prepare open discussion questions
• Choose the next book before the meeting ends

Featured image: Book club spends time discussing ‘Mud’ (4726800), by Karin Martinez / U.S. Army / Wikimedia Commons, public domain. Cropped, colour-graded and combined with MediaPavilion branding.

Sources

• American Library Association — Book clubs and reading groups resources (accessed 1 November 2026).
• Silent Book Club — About Silent Book Club (accessed 1 November 2026).
• OverDrive — Libby, the library reading app (accessed 1 November 2026).
• The Reading Agency — Reading Groups for Everyone (accessed 1 November 2026).
• The Booker Prizes — The Booker Prize (accessed 1 November 2026).