How To Pick The Perfect Book Club Book, Based On Your Group

I have a limitless number of things that I enjoy stressing out about, including things that are supposed to be de-stressors, like hobbies or dinners with friends or creative outlets. As someone who loves to read, I’ve been part of many book clubs over the years, and there has never been a time where I didn’t stress about what my pick for the club would be.

I have, however, identified the various types of book clubs you may be part of, and tried to match you with the right selection for your group. There is a lot to stress about in this world, so let me help you with this one little task.

You organized a book club! That’s very fun. To kick things off, you need a book that will appeal to a wide variety of tastes and reading paces. You need a Goldilocks book—not too short, not too long. Opt for Courtney Maum’s latest novel, “Costalegre.” It’s a good length, and has a little bit of history, adventure, and romance mixed in. Something for everyone, and if it’s not for one person, then at least it’s not 500 pages. 

The pick: “Costalegre,” Courtney Maum

First of all, quit this book club. This is a big pet peeve of mine. But my recommendation for a book club where no one finishes the book is to a) pick a shorter book and b) go one step further, and pick a book of short stories. That way, you can assume that members will have at least read one of the pieces within the book (you could even send out a note to ensure that people have read the same four to five stories). 

My suggestion: “Sweet and Low,” by Nick White. I think each story is so good, you should want to finish the whole collection, but if you’re looking to motivate the club to finish something manageable, the second half of White’s collection is made up of related stories. The connecting character is not always central to the story he’s in, but after reading the handful of stories you feel that you know him on a richer level.

The pick: “Sweet and Low,” Nick White

There’s nothing more nerve-wracking than being the person to pick the next book after several duds. Sounds like your club needs to switch it up—might I suggest trying out one round of a cookbook club? 

Select a book that tells a story or one that’s straight recipes, and have everyone make one, potluck-style, for your next meeting. To make it feel like “reading,” ask everyone to peruse the pages for their favorite tips or the ingredient that most intimidates them or the recipe they don’t think they could ever make, and share these thoughts and fears and dreams at your next get together over plates and plates of food. 

The pick: “Dining In,” Allison Roman

Work book clubs tend to select intelligent, data-based, career-centric books that can be dry or preachy. I understand the impulse to opt for non-fiction, which offers tangible, timely issues that colleagues can discuss. But instead of opting for a typical workplace book with the same-old advice, try Jia Tolentino’s latest book of essays, “Trick Mirror.” You’re most likely familiar Tolentino’s writing in The New Yorker, where she intelligently opines on the athleisure industry or vaping or the cult-favorite movie, “Drop Dead Gorgeous.” In “Trick Mirror,” she takes on meaty topics around self-optimization, spirituality, feminism, and beyond—and in fact, the essay on self-optimization culture is enough for your club to discuss for hours on its own.

The pick: “Trick Mirror,” Jia Tolentino

This is a really tricky one, but I think I’ve found the answer: propose a re-read. When we were in high school, or even middle school, we read so many classics that went way over our heads, or worse, that we opted to skim and check the SparkNotes before the test. This meant we missed out on a lot of literature’s most important writing, and I’d think that a group of bookworms would welcome the chance to revisit a classic with fresh eyes.

Yes, you could revisit “1984” or “The Handmaid’s Tale,” but don’t those feel too on-the-nose at the moment? Instead, I’d recommend “Lord of the Flies,” because we didn’t appreciate the power of this story when we were at the age of its protagonists, but may be able to glean more powerful lessons if we revisit it today. 

The pick: “Lord of the Flies,” William Golding