The short answer: to start a book club, decide what kind of club it is (genre, pace, how serious), meet monthly at a regular time, keep the group to around six to twelve people, choose a public venue such as a café, pub or library room, and run the first meeting with a light structure: welcome, a round of first impressions, three or four discussion questions, then picking the next book. Write a few simple group rules, send a reminder a week before, and rotate who chooses the books. This guide gives you the full timeline, plus copy-paste templates for the invite, reminder, rules and discussion prompts.
Book clubs are one of the easiest recurring groups to start, because the book does half the social work. Even people who’ve never met have something to talk about from the first minute, and a monthly rhythm gives friendships time to grow.
Decide what kind of book club you want
Clubs that last usually have a clear identity from the start. Answer these four questions before you invite anyone:
- What will you read? General fiction, crime, sci-fi and fantasy, non-fiction, classics, romance, translated fiction, or “anything goes, we take turns”. A clear focus attracts the right people.
- How often will you meet? Monthly is the most common rhythm and gives most people enough time to finish a book. Every six weeks works for longer books.
- How serious is it? Some clubs dig into themes and writing style; others are mostly a social evening with a book attached. Both are fine. Just be honest in the invite.
- Who is it for? New to the area, a particular age range, a workplace, parents, people learning English, a silent-reading or “read together” format. Specific is easier to join than general.
How many people should be in a book club?
Around six to twelve members works well for most clubs. Fewer than five and a couple of cancellations can leave you with two people; more than twelve and not everyone gets to speak. Expect some members to miss meetings, so if you want eight people round the table, aim for ten or so on the list.
Four weeks out: set up the basics
Choose a venue
For a club of people who don’t all know each other yet, a public venue is best:
- A café at a quieter time of day, with a big table or a corner you can book.
- A pub with a back room or a quiet area early in the evening.
- A library. Many public libraries host reading groups or have rooms that community groups can book. Ask at your local branch what’s available and whether there’s a charge.
- A bookshop. Some independent bookshops host clubs or will let one meet after hours; it’s worth asking.
Check the venue is quiet enough to hear each other, accessible, and easy to reach by public transport. Moving to members’ homes can come later, once everyone knows each other well, but it’s sensible to start in public.
Choose the first book
Pick something that’s easy to get hold of (in paperback, at the library, as an ebook and audiobook), not too long (under 400 pages is a kind first choice), and likely to spark opinions. A book that divides people usually makes for a better discussion than one everyone politely likes.
Use free resources
In the UK, The Reading Agency runs Book Club Hub (formerly Reading Groups for Everyone), which offers help finding or setting up a club, book recommendations and reviews from other clubs, meeting resources, and the chance to apply for free sets of books in exchange for reviews. Your local library is also worth asking about reading-group sets or support.
Three to four weeks out: find members
- Friends of friends. Ask two or three friends to invite one person you don’t know. It mixes the group from the start.
- Local Facebook or WhatsApp community groups and neighbourhood forums.
- Noticeboards in libraries, cafés, bookshops and community centres, where allowed.
- Your workplace social channel, if it’s a work club.
- Existing clubs and hobby groups: running clubs, choirs, language exchanges.
Give people enough time to get the book: three to four weeks before the first meeting is ideal.
Template: book club invite
New book club: first meeting Thursday 19 November
I’m starting a relaxed monthly book club for people who love reading (or want to read more) and fancy meeting some new people. Mostly contemporary fiction, with a few wildcards.
When: Third Thursday of each month, 7–8:30pm
Where: [Café name], [street], back table booked
First book: [Title] by [Author]: in paperback, ebook and audiobook
Group size: up to 10
Cost: free, just buy your own drinksNo need to be a literary expert, and it’s fine if you don’t finish the book. Message me to save a place.
One week out: the reminder
Template: reminder message
Hi all! A reminder that book club is next Thursday, 7pm at [café]. We’re discussing [title]. Don’t worry if you haven’t finished, come anyway. If you can’t make it, let me know so I can offer your seat to someone on the list. See you there!
Set up a group chat for members at this point. It’s the easiest place for reminders, book votes and the odd photo of someone’s reading spot.
The first meeting: a simple agenda
A loose structure helps a new group relax. For a 90-minute meeting:
- Arrivals and drinks (10–15 minutes). Arrive early, greet people by name and introduce them to each other.
- Quick introductions (10 minutes). Name, what you usually read, and one book you’ve loved. An easy icebreaker; see our icebreaker games for adults for more.
- First impressions round (10 minutes). Everyone gives the book a score out of ten and one sentence on why. It gets every voice in the room early.
- Discussion (40 minutes). Work through three or four questions (see below). Let it wander if it’s going well.
- Next book and date (10 minutes). Agree the next title and confirm the date.
Template: discussion questions that work for almost any book
- What was your first reaction when you finished it?
- Which character did you most relate to, and who annoyed you?
- Was there a moment that surprised you?
- Did the ending work for you? How would you have ended it?
- What do you think the author wanted us to feel or think about?
- Which scene or line has stayed with you?
- Would you recommend it, and to whom?
- If it were adapted for TV, who would you cast?
- How did the setting shape the story?
- Did reading it change your mind about anything?
Many publishers include reading-group guides at the back of paperbacks or on their websites, which can be a handy extra.
Template: book club rules (short and friendly)
Our book club rules
- Come even if you haven’t finished the book (but expect spoilers).
- Can’t make it? Let the host know at least 24 hours before.
- Everyone gets a turn to speak; nobody needs to.
- Disagree with the book, not the person.
- We take turns choosing books.
- Meetings are at public venues unless we all agree otherwise.
How to choose books
Clubs fall out over book choice more than anything else, so agree a system early:
- Take turns. Each member chooses in rotation. Simple and fair.
- Shortlist and vote. The host or chooser offers three options and the group votes in the chat.
- Themed months. A book set somewhere you’ve never been, a debut, a classic, a non-fiction pick.
- Keep it accessible. Check the book is available in the library, as an ebook or second-hand, so cost isn’t a barrier.
- Mix lengths. Follow a long book with a short one, especially around December or summer holidays.
Book club formats worth trying
A classic “everyone reads the same book” club isn’t the only option. If you want to lower the barrier to joining, try one of these:
- Read-together sessions. Everyone brings whatever they’re reading, reads quietly for an hour, then chats over a drink. No homework, no pressure to finish anything, and perfect for people who’d like more reading time.
- Short-form club. Short stories, essays or novellas you can read in a weekend. Great for busy people and for getting a new club off the ground.
- Book-and-film club. Read a book that’s been adapted, then compare notes on the film or series.
- Walking book club. Discuss the book on a gentle walk with a café stop. Side-by-side conversation suits quieter members.
- “Bring a recommendation” evenings. Instead of one book, everyone pitches a favourite in two minutes. You’ll leave with a reading list and a sense of everyone’s taste.
Whichever format you choose, the same principles hold: a regular time, a public venue, a clear invite and a host who makes newcomers feel welcome.
Keeping your book club going
- Stick to a fixed rhythm, such as the third Thursday of the month. It’s easier to protect in people’s diaries.
- Find a co-host so the club survives your busy months.
- Welcome newcomers regularly to keep numbers up as people drift away.
- Mix in socials: a summer picnic, a festive meal, a trip to an author talk.
- Handle no-shows kindly but firmly. Remind people of the 24-hour rule. If someone repeatedly doesn’t turn up, it’s fine to give their place to someone on the waiting list in your group chat. For wording, our guide to cancelling plans politely works in both directions.
- Check in every six months. Ask what’s working: the venue, the time, the type of books.
Common book club problems (and fixes)
| Problem | Fix |
|---|---|
| Nobody finishes the book | Choose shorter books, or allow a “first half” discussion |
| One person dominates | Use rounds where everyone speaks once before open discussion |
| Conversation drifts off the book after ten minutes | Have three questions ready and steer back gently |
| Numbers keep dropping | Post a fresh invite, ask members to bring a friend |
| Arguments about book choice | Switch to shortlist-and-vote |
| The host is burning out | Rotate hosting duties and the choice of book |
Book club or general meetup?
A book club is a specific kind of recurring meetup, so the general principles of hosting apply: a clear purpose, a public place, a set number of places, a reminder, and a warm welcome. Our guide to organising a meetup covers those in more depth, and our list of fun questions to ask new friends is handy for the social part of the evening.
Posting a monthly book club as a plan, with a public venue, a time, a set number of seats and who pays, is exactly what MeetNow, our own app, is designed for (see our disclosure).
Want to turn this into an actual plan? MeetNow is a free app for meeting people in person: a host posts a plan at a public place, says who pays (host pays, split, pay your own or free) and picks who joins. It is live on the web and works in your browser, starting in Malta; the phone apps are not in the App Store or Google Play yet. Open MeetNow and see the plans posted in Malta.
FAQ
How do you start a book club?
Decide on the type of books and how often you’ll meet, choose a public venue, pick an accessible first book, invite six to twelve people with every detail in one message, send a reminder a week before, and run the first meeting with a simple agenda.
What is a good size for a book club?
Around six to twelve members. That’s enough that the group survives a few cancellations, but small enough for everyone to speak.
How do you choose books for a book club?
Agree a system early: take turns, or have the chooser offer a shortlist of three for a vote. Keep books easy to get hold of and mix long and short titles.
Where can a book club meet?
A café, a pub’s quieter area, a library room or a bookshop are all good public options. Many libraries host reading groups or have rooms community groups can book, so ask your local branch.
What if members don’t finish the book?
Welcome them anyway, with a spoiler warning. If it keeps happening, choose shorter books or allow more time between meetings.
How do you deal with no-shows in a book club?
Ask for 24 hours’ notice of cancellations, keep a waiting list in your group chat, and kindly give regular no-shows’ places to people who’ll come.
