By Sangeeta Kocharekar Entertainment 26.03.2025

"I’ve Found the Secret to Keeping Your Book Club From Fizzling Out"

Why our book club has thrived for three years – and how yours can too.

Three years ago, my friend Anne invited me over on a Sunday afternoon. I knew it was for a book club, and that my friend Courtney was invited too, but I had no idea what else to expect.

I walked into the cosiest scene. Flickering candles, tea lights, and fresh flowers in vases were scattered around Anne’s living room. She had croissants and doughnuts on one plate and fruit on another. Nearby was a stack of three books, gift-wrapped and tied with ribbons.

Courtney was there, as was another girl I’d never met, Liv. Anne handed us each a flute of sparkling wine as she explained her idea. Covid had reignited her love of reading, so she’d decided to start a book club. Anne chose us for it because she thought we’d offer a broad scope of genres and authors in the books we’d each pick.

Since then, our book club has met regularly, always all four of us. Usually, it’s every couple of months; sometimes, it’s more often. We’ve laughed, we’ve cried and, of course, we’ve talked about books. What we liked or didn’t like about them, how we related to them, and, if they were non-fiction, what the real-life characters were up to today.

Recently, I asked Anne how she felt about the book club she’d started. “My friends are much better hosts and cooks than I am, so I feel very lucky,” she said. “Nearly three years in, and it’s a highlight in all our diaries.” Liv once commented on one of my Instagram posts about it: “Our book club is something magical.” I couldn’t agree more.

If you’re looking to start a book club too, or just keen for a sticky beak into how one works, here’s my advice. These are the elements I think were key to ours working so well – and becoming such a highlight in our social calendar.

Set the standard

As I mentioned, I had no idea what to expect when I walked into Anne’s apartment that Sunday afternoon. For all I knew, the scene I entered could’ve featured some stale carrots alongside a bowl of ranch dressing. And we could’ve voted on the book we’d read and then had to go out and get it.

That wasn’t the case – and that first event set the standard for the rest. However you picture your book club, make sure that’s reflected in the first event. Nearly every one of our book clubs has had beautifully displayed nibbles and gift-wrapped books, and they’re mostly hosted at our homes – just like at Anne’s that first time.

That said, it’s up to the host where to have it. I’ve hosted it at North Bondi Boat Ramp near my house a few times, where I’ve set up a picnic, and Liv’s had it at coffee shops. It’s been nice to mix up the locations.

Let it be organic

This brings me to my second point: set the standard for your book club and some general rules, but don’t be too rigid with the format. Let things happen organically.

If someone’s chosen a thick book for us to read, we’ll push out the next date. Sometimes, the host will organise prompt questions to discuss the book, sometimes not. We don’t have a meeting agenda – we just let the conversation flow. Sometimes the books are gift-wrapped, sometimes not.

One of the elements we’ve kept consistent is that we’ve always met the four of us. If someone can’t make it, we’ll find another day. Also, the host is always in charge of their event. They can pick where they want to host and what we’ll next read, which they’ll buy for everyone.

Plan the next one while you’re together

Final tip: plan the next book club while you’re all together. It saves so much back and forth – “No, I can’t do the 21st but what about the 23rd?”. Right before we leave each other, we’ll open our calendars on our phones and pick a date that we’re all free. And we won’t leave until we’ve found one – which can take a few minutes.

Sometimes, we end up changing the date if something comes up, but at least we’ve got it in the calendar. This has also helped us keep the book club a regular thing. If we don’t plan the next date, it’s easy for life to get in the way and for it to drop off. And we’d be missing out on that group magic.