BEST PICKS FOR BOOK CLUB DISCUSSIONS
What’s the best part of a memorable book club meeting? The wine served or the book discussion generated? Be honest. A glass, or two, of a good wine may get a discussion flowing, but for me, a successful meeting comes down to how many different comments and viewpoints surface. Yet, how do you find the perfect book that will make a lasting impression on your group? The stress is real. You want a plot, characters and issues who stay with you. A story you’re not hesitant to blurt out whenever you’re asked for a recommendation.
PICKING A TITLE: Suggestions from Book Club Members
Through a survey fielded to avid readers and book club members, I’ve assembled titles which were mentioned multiple times and suggested as prompting great discussions. That doesn’t mean the book was universally liked, but rather there were enough topics to stimulate ideas and opinions. No list is ever complete, but I hope this one helps your club find undiscovered titles to fill in a few months. Sign-up for my newsletter if you'd like to receive updated recommendations based on what my book clubs are reading each month.
FAVORITES Read & Discussed: 2025
While the number of survey respondents was lower than past polls, I think these top titles are consistent with other recommendations as titles which generated great discussions for their group in 2025. JAMES by Percival Everett rose to #1 from an earlier #5 position, to push THE WOMEN by Kristin Hannah to #2. HORSE and LOOKING FOR JANE also appeared on the 2024 list while newcomer, THE BOOK CLUB FOR TROUBLESOME WOMEN by Marie Bostwick quickly rose to #5 - no surprise given "book club" is right in the title.
- My virtual book club through a Facebook group, Third Thursday of the Month Book Club, is hosting Marie Bostwick on Thursday, June 18 at 8:00 PM EST over Zoom. Join the FB group to receive the Zoom link.
| The Women by Kristin Hannah |
Other Top Picks from 2024
Anxious People by Frederick Backman
Beautiful Ugly by Alice Feeney
The Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters
The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michelle Richardson
The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver
Heaven and Earth Grocery Store by James McBride
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano
The House of Eve by Sadeqa Johnson
Iona Iverson's Rules For Commuting by Clare Pooley
Lady Tan's Circle of Women by Lisa See
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus
The Little Liar By Mitch Albom
Looking for Jane by Heather Marshall
Mad Honey by Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Finney Boulanger
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin
Only the Beautiful by Susan Meissner
The Personal Librarian by Marie Benedict & Victoria Christopher Murray
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingslover
Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir
The Rent Collector by Camron Wright
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Tomorrow, and Tomorrow and Tomorrow by Garbrielle Zevin
We Used to Live Here by Marcus Kliewer
West with Giraffes by Lynda Rutledge
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy
"And, now a word from our sponsor..."
In addition to all the great titles listed above, I hope your group may consider one of my books, The Unlocked Path, The Path Beneath Her Feet or my newest novel, Under Two Flags. I have joined over 70 book clubs for an author chat since the first book released in August 2022. I love meeting with groups, in-person or over Zoom. Both my books are great choices for March - Women's History Month or September - Women in Medicine Month or November with Armistice Day (11/11), or any month you're looking for a choice with strong women characters, well-researched, recommended by readers and other historical fiction authors, have book club questions in the back of the book, and book club kits available to download. I'd love to join your group for a chat. Who knows maybe I'll bring the wine.
I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. From the small commission I earn, I donate a portion to childhood literacy programs.
