How to Have a Great Book Club Meeting

Setting the Stage for Success

Choosing the Best Place for Your Book Club Meeting

Getting ready for book club begins with choosing a location that will encourage successful discussion. There are many places where a book club can meet, including private spaces like someone’s home, public spaces like libraries and cafes, or virtual settings (a tool like Zoom can be handy).

If your club opts for a private setting, it’s important to consider not only whether one or more book club members have homes large enough to host in but also whether they feel comfortable doing so. Hosting can require time and effort, so it’s likely best to rotate hosting duties if the club will meet in someone’s home. Some group members might prefer a private space for facilitating group discussion, particularly if the book brings up sensitive topics. If a member’s house isn’t an option, bear in mind that it’s often possible to rent a private room at a library, café, or restaurant.

Regardless of whether the space is private or public, ensuring it is a comfortable distance for members to travel is key. If alcohol will be served at the meeting, it’s especially important that safe transportation options are available. This is also the time to consider any accessibility needs, such as step free access.

Overall, look for a space that has comfortable seating, low noise levels, and places for members to set down food and drink. The best place for a book club meeting will have a cozy and welcoming ambiance, which helps with how to run a good book club discussion.

 Preparing for Book Club: Resources and Agenda

Consider setting a book club meeting agenda to determine how to structure a book club meeting. For instance, will there be time for freeform chat before the more formal discussion of the book begins? Will food be served first, or will snacks be available throughout the discussion?

Many book clubs follow a similar structure every time they meet, which helps members know what to do in a book club meeting. It may be helpful to circulate an agenda the first few times a club meets, when a new member joins a club, or if a meeting is going to be structured differently (for example, if a guest speaker has been invited or there will be fun book club activities alongside the discussion).

To facilitate meaningful discussions, it can be very helpful to circulate resources before the meeting. SuperSummary study guides are an excellent resource to jump-start a discussion, or the discussion questions tool can tailor conversation-starters to your preferences. Additional resources could include images, author biographies and interviews, historical resources, virtual book club tools, book reviews, or topical podcast episodes.

Some clubs like to have all members contribute an article, resource, or suggestion before the meeting; a shared document, group text, or shared file space could support this. If resources are circulated long in advance of the book club meeting, checking in closer to the meeting date can help ensure everyone has access to the necessary resources.

Facilitating Group Discussions

How to Run a Book Club Discussion: Tips for Being an Effective Moderator

An effective moderator of a group discussion can play an important role in a book club’s success. Moderators are especially valuable if a book club has many members, if the members don’t know one another well, or if people are wondering how to run a book club discussion at work. If the group is meeting at someone’s home, the host may have additional tasks and therefore not be the best choice to lead the discussion. The individual who chose the book can be a natural choice for moderator.

Regardless of who fills the role, acting as moderator means understanding how to guide a book club discussion. The moderator can contribute by asking one or two generic questions to spark the conversation. The moderator is also key to managing talkative members and perhaps inviting quieter members to contribute.

If the club is spending a lot of time on one topic, the moderator might ask if the club would prefer to move on. This can help with leading fair discussions and prevent the club from running out of time. Alternatively, the group can allot a specific amount of time for discussing one topic, and the moderator can be responsible for keeping time.

Some books are likely to elicit conversation around controversial or sensitive topics; in these discussions, disagreeing respectfully and demonstrating good discussion manners are especially vital. It can also be helpful for a book club to decide if there are certain genres or topics they wish to avoid and then do research on proposed titles to determine if they might cover sensitive topics. Summaries and titles briefs such as those on SuperSummary often feature content warnings to help you decide. Finally, if the group goes ahead with a potentially sensitive read, a reminder that it’s okay to skip a meeting will allow anyone uncomfortable with the book to bow out gracefully.

Tools for Moderators

Being a moderator can seem daunting, but book summary guides for book club discussions

can help you to feel confident. If you are moderating a book club discussion, it’s a good idea to review resources (including literature study guides, book notes, and book club kits) and prepare some book club questions in advance. SuperSummary’s discussion question generator can assist with coming up with questions, but you can also check the publisher or author’s website, which may provide discussion questions. Your edition of a book may include author Q&A, discussion questions, or other resources. If the book is frequently studied or featured on “best of” book lists, universities or colleges might also publish information about it.

Leading Fair and Thoughtful Discussions: Active Listening and Respectful Debating

Empathy and active listening are important for successful book club discussions since diverse opinions will likely surface. When someone is speaking, try to focus on what they are saying rather than planning your own response or a critique of their comment. It may help to summarize their main point in your own words after they finish speaking, as this confirms that you’ve understood. Try to respond from a place of curiosity; sharing thoughtful reactions and asking good questions show that you respect and appreciate different points of view even if you don’t agree with them.

If you know that you will be dealing with strong personalities, consider giving them specific tasks or roles in the discussion. This can channel their energies and make them less likely to be disruptive. The moderator can play a role in encouraging very vocal individuals to amplify or expand on the comments of others; as a moderator, you can also ask someone to pause and give space to someone who has not yet spoken.

To help with solving conflicts in the group, it may be helpful to periodically discuss the club’s values and code of conduct. This allows all members a say in how they want the book club to operate and can encourage being empathetic in discussions.

Asking the Right Questions: Generic Book Club Questions and More

Generic discussion questions for any book can be a great way to kick off a conversation. Because they are broader and less specific, they may help break the ice and encourage members to start sharing their views. Consider questions like:

• Who was your favorite character? Who was your least favorite?
• Did you find the book to be too long? Too short? Just the right length?
• What scene or scenes most linger in your mind now that you have finished reading?
• If you had to use one or two words to describe this book, what would they be?

Using a mixture of generic and specific questions can help to keep the book club discussion focused and lively. SuperSummary’s discussion questions generator can create customized questions that match your book and group dynamics. If a book club meets regularly, it may be worthwhile to keep track of preferred types of questions or questions that were effective at provoking discussion; versions of these questions can likely apply to multiple books.

How to Host a Book Club First Meeting: Starting on the Right Foot

The first meeting of a new book club is the time to set the tone for future meetings. Take a moment for everyone to introduce themselves (if members don’t already know each other well) and share why they want to be part of a book club. This is also an ideal time to discuss ground rules, expectations, and a meeting structure so that everyone understands how to host a book club meeting. It may be helpful to give individuals time to reflect on these topics prior to the meeting so that they can think about how to be a good book club member. Establishing a warm and collaborative tone in these first discussions helps to make a good first impression.

Being a Great Book Club Member

Engage with Different Perspectives Respectfully

As a book club member, you’ll likely encounter members who have different opinions and perspectives. This is part of the value of participating in a book club! When someone is speaking, follow good discussion manners by being respectful, listening actively, and avoiding interruptions.

It’s okay if a comment or opinion sparks a strong reaction, but try to approach discussions with an open mind and a willingness to explore different viewpoints. Asking questions is a great way to understand the perspectives of others. It can also help to observe other book club members and notice how they respond when facing challenging or controversial viewpoints.

Share Thoughtful Reactions

If you take some time to reflect on the book prior to the meeting, you’ll likely feel more confident in your contributions and be able to share more thoughtful ideas. If possible, try to finish reading the book a few days before the meeting so that you have some time to prepare for book club. You may wish to take notes while reading or as you’re getting ready for book club. This is an excellent time to consider the book's themes, characters, and plot, and share personal insights or connections.

If you didn’t enjoy the book, you may feel you’ll have nothing to contribute to the meeting. However, negative reactions can be a great starting point for discussion, as long as you take the time to reflect on why you didn’t like the read. Try considering whether your perspective changed at any point while reading the book, or whether anything would have made the book more enjoyable for you. If all else fails, ask yourself what other readers may have appreciated about the book. This perspective will help you to contribute constructively to the discussion while talking about books you didn’t like.

Be Prepared and Punctual

Arriving on time to your book club meeting shows respect for the group and helps ensure the meeting runs smoothly. Book club discussions are usually much more productive when all of the members have read the book, but of course, sometimes circumstances may prevent a member from finishing the book before the meeting. It’s a good idea to discuss as a group whether it is productive for a member to attend a meeting if they haven’t completed the book, or whether they should plan to use a study guide or other resource to prepare. 

If you yourself haven’t finished the book, let the moderator (or the whole group) know in advance, and do your best to think of ways that you can still contribute. The discussion will likely include “spoilers” for portions of the book you have not read, so bear that in mind when deciding whether to attend.

When you arrive at a book club meeting, bring any materials such as notes or discussion guides for book clubs (you may wish to bring printed copies or access these materials on a tablet or smartphone). You’ll likely also want to bring a copy of the book with key passages or quotations flagged. If you are responsible for bringing snacks, drinks, or any other items related to hosting, make sure to arrive a bit early so that the host has time for set-up. It may seem helpful to bring a surprise item such as food or a bottle of wine, but it’s generally best to check with the host about anything you’ll be bringing.

Actively Participate and Support Others

Book club discussion is the time to voice your opinions and ask questions, even if you’re unsure about a particular aspect of the book. As long as you’re being kind and open-minded, there’s no reason to worry about what not to say at book club. Others likely share your worries, and you can support other members (especially quieter ones) by engaging with their contributions and fostering a collaborative atmosphere. If members feel like their contributions will be welcomed and encouraged, they are much more likely to be active and committed to the club.

If a particular book club meeting involves less traditional activities, it’s especially important to participate enthusiastically and model engagement. When it comes to contributing ideas for future meetings or book selections, be open-minded and flexible, and try to actively make suggestions; these are key components of how to run a book club.

Fun Book Club Activities

Themed Meetings and Events

It can be fun to mix up traditional book club meetings focused on discussion with other elements. A themed meeting provides a more immersive experience and can work particularly well for works of historical fiction, fantasy, or other books with a vivid setting. Themed meetings can inform décor, menu, location, dress, and any additional activities alongside the discussion. For example, a book set in Victorian England could inspire a tea party, whereas a spooky thriller might lend itself to an all-black dress code, candles, and dark-hued food and drink.

If you are hosting a themed meeting, be sure to be respectful; for example, it may not be appropriate to dress in traditional cultural garb if you’re not part of a specific culture. If you are sourcing food or other items related to a specific culture, you can show respect by purchasing those items from businesses owned by individuals from that culture or background.

Themed meetings work best when all group members participate, so choose themes that are accessible and gauge how often book club members prefer these nontraditional gatherings.

Book-Related Games and Quizzes

Games and quizzes add an element of fun and even friendly competition to book club meetings. For instance, the moderator or host might create quizzes based on the book’s content to test members’ knowledge. This structure can work particularly well for large book clubs, which can be divided into smaller teams to compete against one another. Other types of games such as charades or “Who Said It?” (using characters and quotes from the book) are also good examples of fun book club activities for adults.

Author Q&A and Virtual Guest Speakers

If a book club chooses to read a book by a local or emerging author, it may be possible to have the author speak to your book club. Alternatively, book club members could attend a local reading or author Q&A in preparation for reading a book by that writer; this can be a great way to incorporate additional insights into the discussion. If an author is well-known, consider circulating videos, written interviews, or podcast episodes to the club prior to the meeting for a similar effect.

An expert on the author, genre, or a related topic (such as the historical period in which the book is set, or a work of art that features prominently in the plot) can also enrich the discussion and deepen knowledge. If a university or college is located nearby, a professor or graduate student with expertise on a relevant topic may be willing to drop by your book club meeting. Museums or local historical societies can also be good options for sourcing expertise.

Sometimes an author or expert may not be located nearby, but virtual tools can facilitate engagement with a wide range of guest speakers. If you are going to use virtual tools to host a guest speaker, consider booking a space that has teleconferencing abilities to ensure that the meeting goes smoothly; libraries, universities, and co-working spaces may all have rooms available and can guide you as to how to successfully have a virtual book club meeting.

Whether your speaker is in-person or virtual, it’s a good idea to discuss expectations with them around length and topic in advance. If they are willing to answer questions, many book club members will likely appreciate this opportunity.

Creative Projects and Activities

Some books lend themselves well to creative activities, which can complement a more traditional discussion. For instance, members might create a piece of art (either digital or physical) inspired by the book and bring it to the book club meeting to be displayed as part of a “gallery walk” activity. If members are open to it, they can also do some writing themselves—for instance, narrating a scene from the point of view of a different character, or imagining and writing about events that occur after the end of a novel. A novel set in Japan could prompt readers to explore writing haikus, while a book set in Shakespeare’s time could inspire learning about sonnets.

Alternatively, a book-themed craft session (for example, collage, watercolor, or felting) could be incorporated as part of the meeting itself. A less involved option is to create a playlist of songs that evoke the themes, setting, or time period of the book, with members contributing songs in advance; the resulting playlist will be the perfect accompaniment to the meeting. You might also consider setting out a jigsaw puzzle with an image inspired by the book for members to engage with. Finally, asking members to watch a film adaptation (or part of a TV adaptation) prior to the meeting can encourage lively debate about the pros and cons of the book versus the movie.