How to start a book club

Want to start a book club in 2024? The WellRead team is well versed in running and being part of successful local book clubs – and plenty that have failed to last the distance. Building a great book club is just as much about the things that you don’t do as it is about the things you do.

While many people are inspired by Reese Witherspoon’s book club or other celebrity clubs, a million-dollar backing is not essential to build a great community of readers. The best book clubs require commitment and a shared goal – whether that’s reading as much as possible, or socialising with friends. 

Regardless of whether your group is an online book club, a monthly book club or a weekly book club, there are things that every group reading together needs to consider.
The logistics of running a book club
For the broad details, it’s time to go back to the 6 Ws you learnt in Year One.
  • Why do you want to start a book club? (Get clear on your objective!) 
  • Who will you invite? 
  • What kinds of books will you read? 
  • When will you meet? 
  • Where will you meet? How often will you meet?
  • Who will run the discussion?
  • How will you choose the books?
Finding great book club picks
If your book club is interested in reading literary fiction, the WellRead team is here to help! We have a lot of great book club recommendations. Browse our journal to explore our past selections for inspiration. 

Want someone to take care of all the decisions for you and stay on top of the latest literary fiction releases? Our WellRead Book Subscription for Book Clubs makes it easy. Each month, we send out copies of our adults’ monthly selection to your doorstep for you to distribute to the members of your book club. 

With guaranteed delivery by the 10th of each month (using our subscription option), we make sure that your book club is equipped.
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How to run a book club discussion

If you're a WellRead subscriber, you'll be familiar with our reading notes. Preparing questions ahead of time is the best way to make sure discussion runs smoothly when your book club meets. But remember, you can just let the conversation flow without needing to hit every question.


Starting a book club doesn't have to be complicated, but it does require planning! For more book club ideas and information on how to create a great group that everyone loves, download our 'How To Start a Book Club' PDF for free. We dig into the nitty gritty – providing some answers to the questions that might crop up as you plan, and equipping you with some tools that will help your book club run smoothly.
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Reading notes

Book Club Questions for Rapture by Emily Maguire - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Rapture by Emily Maguire

Book Club Questions for Girls by Kirsty Capes - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Girls by Kirsty Capes

Book Club Questions for The Echoes by Evie Wyld | WellRead's August 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for The Echoes by Evie Wyld | WellRead's August 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Max by Avi Duckor-Jones | WellRead's July 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Max by Avi Duckor-Jones | WellRead's July 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Sandwich by Catherine Newman | WellRead's June 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Sandwich by Catherine Newman | WellRead's June 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran | WellRead's May 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Safe Haven by Shankari Chandran | WellRead's May 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange | WellRead's April 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Wandering Stars by Tommy Orange | WellRead's April 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Small Hours by Bobby Palmer | WellRead's March 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Small Hours by Bobby Palmer | WellRead's March 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Come and Get It by Kiley Reid | WellRead's February 2024 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Come and Get It by Kiley Reid | WellRead's February 2024 Selection

Book Club Questions for Politica by Yumna Kussab | WellRead’s January 2024 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Politica by Yumna Kussab | WellRead’s January 2024 selection

Book Club Questions for The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez | WellRead’s December 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for The Vulnerables by Sigrid Nunez | WellRead’s December 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Death Valley by Melissa Broder | WellRead’s November 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Death Valley by Melissa Broder | WellRead’s November 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Green Dot by Madeleine Gray | WellRead’s October 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Green Dot by Madeleine Gray | WellRead’s October 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for The Visitors by Jane Harrison | WellRead's September 2023 Selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for The Visitors by Jane Harrison | WellRead's September 2023 Selection

Book Club Questions for Tom Lake by Ann Patchett | WellRead’s August 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Tom Lake by Ann Patchett | WellRead’s August 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for I Am Homeless if This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore | WellRead’s July 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for I Am Homeless if This is Not My Home by Lorrie Moore | WellRead’s July 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton | WellRead’s June 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Ghost Girl, Banana by Wiz Wharton | WellRead’s June 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Games and RItuals by Katherine Heiny | WellRead’s May 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Games and RItuals by Katherine Heiny | WellRead’s May 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas | WellRead’s April 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Thirst for Salt by Madelaine Lucas | WellRead’s April 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai | WellRead’s March 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for I Have Some Questions for You by Rebecca Makkai | WellRead’s March 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Maame by Jessica George | WellRead’s February 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Maame by Jessica George | WellRead’s February 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman | WellRead’s January 2023 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for We All Want Impossible Things by Catherine Newman | WellRead’s January 2023 selection

Book Club Questions for Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson | WellRead’s December 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Now is Not the Time to Panic by Kevin Wilson | WellRead’s December 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey | WellRead’s November 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for They’re Going to Love You by Meg Howrey | WellRead’s November 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie | WellRead’s October 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Best of Friends by Kamila Shamsie | WellRead’s October 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for Marshmallow by Victoria Hannan | WellRead’s September 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Marshmallow by Victoria Hannan | WellRead’s September 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine | WellRead’s August 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Woman of Light by Kali Fajardo-Anstine | WellRead’s August 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub | WellRead’s July 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub | WellRead’s July 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for Sunbathing by Isobel Beech | WellRead’s June 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Sunbathing by Isobel Beech | WellRead’s June 2022 selection

Book Club Questions for Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel | WellRead’s May 2022 selection - WellRead

Book Club Questions for Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel | WellRead’s May 2022 selection