Popular Book Club Picks

Searching for study guides on books selected by some of the nation's top book clubs, curated by Oprah, Reese Witherspoon, the PBS NewsHour, the New York Times, and the American Library Association? Look no further. This collection covers critically-acclaimed classics like Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe and Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez to contemporary, buzzworthy novels like Girl, Woman, Other. We hope this compilation of study guides provides your own book club with lively discussion topics and keen insights.

Publication year 2012

Genre Autobiography / Memoir, Nonfiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Relationships: Family

Tags Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Biography

The Distance Between Us is a 2012 memoir by Reyna Grande, who is also the author of the novels Across a Hundred Mountains and Dancing With Butterflies. A finalist for the National Books Critics Circle Award and required reading in schools and colleges across the country, The Distance Between Us is followed by A Dream Called Home, which continues the story of Grande’s life. In addition to writing, Grande also teaches and works as a... Read The Distance Between Us Summary


Publication year 2011

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Society: War, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger

Tags Historical Fiction, Military / War, Gender / Feminism, Magical Realism, Jewish Literature, Grief / Death, History: World

The Dovekeepers (2011) is a historical fiction novel by Alice Hoffman, set in ancient Israel in 70-73 CE. Infused with magical realism, the book is a dramatized feminist retelling of the Siege of Masada, an event in which 960 Jews resisted the onslaught of Roman forces for nine months. The siege took place in the rugged mountain fortress of Masada and left only seven survivors: two women and five children. In Hoffman’s telling, the narrative... Read The Dovekeepers Summary


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Race, Relationships: Family, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Emotions/Behavior: Courage, Self Discovery

Tags Historical Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Race / Racism, Asian Literature, History: World, Romance


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World

The Dutch House is the eighth novel of Ann Patchett, an award-winning author of contemporary fiction. Published in 2019, the novel tells the story of what happens to Danny Conroy and his older sister Maeve Conroy when their stepmother, Andrea Smith, expels them from their sumptuous childhood home after the death of their father, Cyril Conroy. Set in the Dutch House—located in the outskirts of Philadelphia—and New York, the novel is literary fiction with fairy-tale... Read The Dutch House Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Memory, Natural World: Environment, Self Discovery

Tags Psychological Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychology, American Literature, Modern Classic Fiction, Psychology

The Echo Maker (2006) is a psychological mystery thriller by American author Richard Powers. The novel follows protagonist Mark Schluter in the wake of an accidental brain injury that led him to believe that his sister, Karin, is an imposter. The resulting conflict leads to questions of meaning, perception, and identity. The author of 13 books as of 2023, Powers has won numerous awards, including a Pushcart Prize in 2003, a National Book Award for... Read The Echo Maker Summary


Publication year 2006

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Art, Values/Ideas: Beauty, Values/Ideas: Literature, Life/Time: Coming of Age, Life/Time: Midlife, Society: Education, Emotions/Behavior: Loneliness, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Identity: Language, Society: Community, Natural World: Appearance & Reality, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery

Tags Modern Classic Fiction, Philosophy, Philosophy, Class, Arts / Culture, Depression / Suicide, Relationships, French Literature

The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery was published in 2006 and translated by Alison Anderson into English for publication in 2008. The novel has been translated into more than 40 languages and was a major bestseller in France. The novel was adapted into a film called The Hedgehog (Le Hérisson) in 2009 to critical acclaim. The Elegance of the Hedgehog follows the narrative point of view of two erudite narrators: Renée, a concierge... Read The Elegance of the Hedgehog Summary


Publication year 2017

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Mothers, Emotions/Behavior: Determination / Perseverance, Identity: Femininity, Natural World: Climate, Relationships: Friendship

Tags Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

The End We Start From (2017) is a dystopian novel by British author Megan Hunter. Set in an apocalyptic version of London, the story centers on climate disaster survival and the trauma of navigating pregnancy and motherhood in the wake of a cataclysmic climate event that alters the world as we know it. The story is primarily told from the first-person perspective of an unnamed narrator and written in a lyrical style that swings between... Read The End We Start From Summary


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Forgiveness, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family, Relationships: Friendship, Self Discovery, Values/Ideas: Trust & Doubt, Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies

Tags Romance, Fantasy, Love / Sexuality, Relationships, Holidays & Occasions, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Religion / Spirituality


Publication year 2020

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Gender, Identity: Femininity, Identity: Race, Society: Class, Society: Colonialism, Values/Ideas: Loyalty & Betrayal, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags Historical Fiction, Gender / Feminism, British Literature, History: World


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Life/Time: Coming of Age, Values/Ideas: Fate, Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality, Emotions/Behavior: Shame & Pride, Relationships: Family

Tags Historical Fiction, Bullying, Modern Classic Fiction, History: World


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Emotions/Behavior: Conflict, Emotions/Behavior: Guilt, Identity: Race, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Fathers, Relationships: Siblings

Tags Mystery / Crime Fiction, Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Asian Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2022

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Values/Ideas: Safety & Danger, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice, Relationships: Siblings, Relationships: Family, Natural World: Place, Life/Time: The Past, Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Memory

Tags Horror / Thriller / Suspense Fiction, Mystery / Crime Fiction, Psychological Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Trauma / Abuse / Violence, Relationships, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2015

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Mothers, Identity: Gender

Tags Fantasy, Gender / Feminism, Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction, LGBTQ

The Fifth Season is the first installment of author N. K. Jemisin’s Broken Earth trilogy—a “science fantasy” series that blends scientific explanation with the magical or supernatural elements of the fantasy genre. After its publication in 2015, the novel received the 2016 Hugo Award recognizing excellence in science fiction or fantasy writing. Jemisin was the first black woman to win the prize, and went on to break another record when her sequels to The Fifth... Read The Fifth Season Summary


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Identity: Race, Relationships: Marriage, Society: Education, Society: Politics & Government

Tags Historical Fiction, Auto/Biographical Fiction, Politics / Government, Gender / Feminism, History: World


Publication year 2023

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Friendship, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Self Discovery

Tags Romance, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction, Drama / Tragedy


Publication year 2019

Genre Biography, Nonfiction

Themes Identity: Femininity, Life/Time: The Past, Society: Class, Values/Ideas: Justice & Injustice

Tags Crime / Legal, History: European, Gender / Feminism


Publication year 2018

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Emotions/Behavior: Grief, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Life/Time: Mortality & Death, Relationships: Family

Tags Grief / Death, Modern Classic Fiction, Business / Economics, Inspirational, Humor


Publication year 2021

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family, Relationships: Fathers, Values/Ideas: Equality

Tags LGBTQ, Realistic Fiction, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2019

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Identity: Mental Health, Emotions/Behavior: Love, Relationships: Family

Tags Romance, Humor, New Adult, British Literature, Modern Classic Fiction


Publication year 2008

Genre Novel, Fiction

Themes Relationships: Family

Tags British Literature, Mystery / Crime Fiction, History: World, Historical Fiction, Romance

The Forgotten Garden is the second novel by Australian author Kate Morton. First published in 2008, the book is classified as a historical mystery and won the Australian Book Industry Award for General Fiction in 2009. It later became a New York Times Best Seller. The Forgotten Garden is heavily influenced by the Gothic novel genre and pays homage to The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett. Events in the story were inspired by the... Read The Forgotten Garden Summary