How do you find a good book group?

[120GSM]

I’m struggling to find any. Is there a list somewhere?

I think asking at your local library would be a start. If there isn't one then you could ask if you could put a notice up saying you'd like to start a book group and could any interested people get in touch. Branches of the WI often have book groups as do branches of the U3a.

I currently go to I joined through Meetup and another that is held at a community centre. I just trawled local pages. I joined another through Meetup but it wasn't for me. In the past I was with one connected to our primary school but that was word of mouth, but I'd ask on parents SM. I'd also mention it to your friends and acquaintances to see if anyone is going to one already. I do see notices on my local Facebook pages quite a lot about book clubs.

A friend wanted to join one and started one up of her own. That was over five years ago.

Local bookshops ?

In my experience, with difficulty! There's always someone who doesn't respect the spirit of the group in some way.

Type in "book club group near me" in Facebook. There are also online book clubs on Facebook.

You might need to make one! IME bookclubs work best when limited to a small size (ours is 12) so that everyone can participate and it feels personal, so existing book clubs don't always 'recruit'.

I would have been curious to know whether you're having problems finding a group, or finding one that is "good" enough for you.

Our local library has one but it's in the day so not accessible for me.

I looked on Facebook and found a local one which was a range of ages attending.

What constitutes a 'good' book group will vary from person to person.

Most of my friends love their wine mummy book groups where the book is incidental to the chat. I do love socialising with mum friends (and I love wine) - but that's not what I want from a book club. The best one I ever joined was a public book club at my local library years ago. I loved it because we were all from different walks of life and so all had different perspectives and ways of relating to and talking about the books. It was definitely a bit awkward sometimes, and we sat on plastic chairs under fluro lighting. No wine and nibbles. But I enjoyed chatting about the books with no pressure to be friends with people.

Struggling to find any, the one I did find isn’t taking anybody on. That said the previous poster hit a cord as I do like to read a range of books of descent quality. Not really into chick lit. Don’t mind the wine type thing but would want to talk about the books read.

There 100% is a great story here!

I'm in two but one is actually a going out for dinner group and we don't pick a book anymore. There's only four of us left in it and we have been meeting for maybe 20 years!!

The other one does pick a book but the more we get to know each other the less we talk about the book!

General "rules" take turns in hosting, host picks the book, needs to be available in paperback (cost), host provides drinks and snacks. My second one people being hostess gifts which annoys me but I go with it.

Agree local library or independent bookshop. Although our local small Waterstones has one.

Or set one up yourself.