Reading, for me, began as a solitary act. It started with reading Wattpad novels on multiple devices. This led to convincing my closest friends to read my favorites so we could talk about them together. Eventually, one of them introduced me to the fascinating world of print publishing. I started picking up all the fantasy series I had missed. I read them in wide-eyed wonder, gasping every few pages. And one of my favorite things was going to school the next day and talking about it with my friend. They would give me the next book in the series, and we would each fangirl together.
With more years of reading, my choice of themes, genres and eras has become more diverse. I read more and more as I become familiar with new perspectives. Except now there was no one to discuss these books with. I like to be filled with wonder and joy from words on paper. But I also like being able to share this joy. I was able to do it again at Book Riot, my online book community.
In online spaces, it’s easier to find people who share your interests. And out of sheer probability, there’s a good chance that someone has read the book you REALLY want to talk about. Personally, it has helped me diversify my reading in ways I wouldn’t otherwise have considered. It also taught me to have nuanced and mindful conversations about what I read. The online community I have found has enriched my life as a reader and my life as a non-reader in more ways than I can express. So here is a list of some of the best places to discuss books online in 2022. Hope you find something that works for you too!
Silent book club
Their website says it best when they say, “Welcome to Introverted Happy Hour.” This book club has no assigned reading. You can read whatever you want in the company of other book lovers. You can, of course, discuss, rant or gush about what you read, but you don’t have to. They have several online meetings and you can choose the period that suits you best. Plus, they have plenty of local chapters around the world if you want to experience this concept in the physical world.
Our shared shelf
This online book club was started by Emma Watson during her work with UN Women. He focuses on books about equality and empowerment. Emma and her team retired from running this book club in 2020. However, members continue to choose titles to read and discuss with passion and consistency on this shared online shelf.
OHKA
It’s a queer and black book club. It focuses on the works of African, Caribbean and Afro-Latin authors. On their website, you can find an author catalog, video playbacks, storytelling podcasts, and more. You can also check out their PageInstagram browse their monthly selections. They hold events on the last Friday of every month. It serves as a space to celebrate and cherish black writing.
rebel book club
Join this membership-based book club if you love non-fiction or are curious about the many wonderful non-fiction reads but don’t know where to start. Members vote and choose a book from three carefully selected choices. Everyone reads the headline that wins. They send out newsletters on Mondays and share weekly book updates via chat. On the last Tuesday of each month, they host virtual and in-person meetups featuring authors and experts. It’s a great way to connect with people who want to learn more about the world by reading non-fiction.
Reese’s Book Club
The motto on their website reads, “Women: May we write them truer, lift them higher, and read them here.” If this message resonates with you, you should definitely check them out! The founder, Reese Witherspoon, chooses a book each month with a woman at the center of the story. This book is read, cherished and discussed by members. The website also has other great stuff like merch, organized and customizable book boxes, and a writer’s scholarship for underrepresented voices.
book lovers club
This is a Discord server with over 23,000 members. It’s a vibrant online community of book lovers who read several books together each month. Several authors are also part of this server and they like to interact with their fans. Everyone is welcome to join the server, so be sure to check it out.
between two books
Florence Welsh, lead singer of Florence + the Machine, started this book club in 2012. She did so following a tweet from an Irish teenager. It is curated by the original members and features recommendations from artists, writers, musicians and directors. between two books has a brilliantly curated isolation playlist with great recommendations for multiple themes.
r/book club
This is Reddit’s official book club that features multiple book picks each month. You’ll usually find four or more choices, including a free Gutenberg online downloadable reading, a classic novel, and a “mini monthly” free online reading. They also have a 3 month “big read” for longer books which can take over a month to go through.
Each book has its own timeline and threads. You can follow the calendar and participate in these discussions. You can also start your own discussion about current or past books. The discussion threads are very active with people frequently engaging in comments. You can also tag your chats with the right tags to avoid giving away accidental spoilers!
Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club
They call themselves the “Official Unofficial Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club”. As the name suggests, they read Goodreads Choice Award-winning books all year round! But that’s not all, they also read the nominees, new bestsellers and interesting book series. This book club is not involved in the official award selection process. It’s a good place to discuss popular books in a variety of genres.
For even more places online to discuss books, check out our article 15 Online Book Clubs to Join in 2020.