How to Start a Book Club

Book clubs have been around forever because they work. You read something, you talk about it with others, and somewhere in that conversation you connect. It's one of the simplest ways to build a regular social rhythm around something meaningful.

The barrier to starting one is lower than you think. You don't need an English degree. You don't need to have read all the classics. You just need to enjoy reading and want to share that with others.

This guide covers everything: finding members, choosing books, running discussions, and keeping the club alive past the first few meetings.

Why Start a Book Club?

Beyond the obvious (you like books), there are some good reasons to be the one who starts rather than joins:

• You set the vibe. Want a club that reads literary fiction? Thrillers? Non-fiction? You decide. Want wine and cheese or just tea? Your call.
• You choose the people. Invite people you actually want to spend time with. Build the group you wish existed.
• It gives you a recurring social anchor. One evening a month that's locked in. Something to look forward to. A reason to read.
• It's surprisingly easy. The structure is simple: read book, meet, discuss. You don't need to prepare lectures or run activities.

What You Need to Get Started

The minimum:

• 3-4 people willing to try it
• A book everyone can get hold of
• Somewhere to meet (your living room works fine)
• A date that works for most people

Nice to have:

• A group chat for coordination (WhatsApp, Signal, whatever)
• Some snacks or drinks
• A few discussion questions (just in case conversation stalls)

That's it. Don't overcomplicate it.

Finding Your First Members

The hardest part is usually getting those first few people committed. Here's what works:

Start with people you know

Friends, colleagues, neighbours. Anyone who reads. Send a direct message rather than a vague group post. "Hey, I'm starting a book club, would you be interested?" is more effective than "Would anyone be interested in a book club?"

Post where readers hang out

Local Facebook groups, Reddit (r/melbourne, r/sydney, r/books), Goodreads groups, library noticeboards. Be specific about what kind of club you're starting: "Starting a monthly fiction book club in Brunswick, meeting at a local pub" gets better responses than "Anyone want to join a book club?"

Create a Room for your club

On Eventi, you can create a Room for your book club. It's essentially a group where people can discover you, see the vibe, and join the conversation before the first meeting. You can vet who joins and coordinate everything in one place. Meetup also works, though it has fees for organisers.

Expect some drop-off

Not everyone who says yes will show up. Not everyone who shows up once will come back. This is normal. Aim for 6-8 initial "yes" responses to end up with 4-6 regulars.

Choosing Books

For your first meeting

Pick something accessible. This isn't the time for 800-page epics or deliberately obscure choices. You want people to actually finish it and feel confident discussing it.

Good first-book qualities:

• Under 350 pages
• Available at most libraries and bookshops
• Has an audiobook option (some people prefer listening)
• Gives you something to discuss (themes, characters, questions)
• Not so divisive that it'll create conflict

For future meetings

Let the group decide. Common approaches:

• Rotation: each member takes turns choosing. Simple and fair.
• Voting: everyone nominates, then vote. Works well with larger groups.
• Theme months: Australian authors in March, translated fiction in April, etc.

Avoid having one person always choose. People stay engaged when they have ownership.

Running Your First Meeting

Don't overthink this. The structure is simple:

1. People arrive, get drinks, chat
2. Someone (probably you) kicks off the book discussion
3. Discussion happens
4. You wrap up and pick the next book
5. People leave or stay and keep chatting

Starting the discussion

Have a few questions ready in case things stall, but often conversation flows naturally. Good openers:

• "What did everyone think overall?"
• "Did anyone have a favourite character? Or one they hated?"
• "Was there a moment that stood out to you?"
• "Would you recommend this to a friend?"

You don't need to be the expert. You're facilitating, not lecturing. Let people share their reactions. Disagreement is fine and often makes for better discussion.

If people haven't finished

This will happen. Don't make it awkward. Give a quick spoiler warning if needed, but let them participate. The social element matters as much as the literary analysis.

Wrapping up

Before people leave, lock in the next book and date. Don't let it hang open or it'll never get organised.

Keeping the Club Alive

Most book clubs that fail do so because of inconsistency. Here's how to avoid that:

• Same time each month. First Thursday, second Sunday, whatever. Make it predictable. People can plan around it.
• Share the load. Rotate hosting. Rotate book picking. If it all falls on one person, burnout is inevitable.
• Keep the group chat active. Share articles, quotes, memes related to reading. Keep the connection alive between meetings.
• Welcome new members thoughtfully. A group that never adds anyone can stagnate. But don't grow too fast or you'll lose intimacy.
• It's okay if it evolves. Maybe you started as a fiction club and now you're reading memoirs. That's fine. Let it become what the group wants.

Common Challenges

One person dominates discussion. Gently redirect: "That's interesting, [name], what did others think?" If it persists, have a quiet word.

People stop showing up. Check in individually. Sometimes life gets busy. Sometimes the book choice wasn't great. Ask what would make it better.

Scheduling is impossible. Lock in dates months ahead. If people can't commit to a regular time, the club will struggle. It's okay if not everyone makes every session, but you need a core group.

The discussion feels forced. Maybe the book wasn't discussable. Maybe people need to warm up. Let conversation drift to related topics. It's okay if you end up talking about life, not just the book.

Australian Resources

Libraries: Most public libraries have book club sets (multiple copies of the same book) you can borrow for free. They often have reading group guides too.

Indie bookshops: Places like Readings (Melbourne), Better Read Than Dead (Sydney), and Avid Reader (Brisbane) often host author events and can recommend discussable books.

Finding members: Create a Room on Eventi to let readers in your area discover your club and join the conversation. Goodreads groups and local Facebook communities also work well.

Australian books: The Miles Franklin Award shortlist, Stella Prize winners, and local bestseller lists are good starting points for Australian authors.

Start Simple

You don't need to have everything figured out before you begin. Pick a book. Invite some people. Set a date. The rest will work itself out as you go.

The worst that happens is a slightly awkward first meeting. The best that happens is you build a community of people who become friends over shared stories.

That's worth the small risk of starting.

Frequently Asked Questions