The Year of Book Clubs

2025 is already a shit show, let’s find our community.

Growing up, reading was a solitary activity. I was the biggest reader in my family, and an introvert, so I would pick up books from the library, hide in my room, read them, and repeat the cycle. Talking with people about books wasn’t something that I did.

At some point, I started a book blog after briefly flirting with my 101 things in 1001 days challenge. (Did I ever finish this? Likely not. I don’t even remember the name of that blog.) It was like a whole new world had opened up, one where I could talk about books with readers, get recommendations, fangirl over books by favorite authors—new and long-time favs—and learn about the publishing world.

I launched an online read-a-thon, attended book launches and got books signed, branched into self-publishing books, and joined a local writer’s club.

But eventually, work took over. I stopped the book blog, didn’t write or publish any new, and my reading tanked.

In January 2020, feeling myself edging toward burnout at work and desperate to find something for myself that made me happy, I decided to reinvest in my hobbies (specifically: reading) by also doing it in a way that connected me with people who also liked books (specifically: I joined a romance book club at my local bookstore).

Joining that first book club was everything I needed—and more. One of the two best decisions I made in early 2020, it buoyed me through the pandemic and connected me with very cool people who went on to start the first romance-only bookstore in the state.

By joining that book club, I reconnected with myself. I was reminded that actually, I had lots of bookish connections! And not just in Minnesota, but across the world. (Some of you are reading this, hello!)

This year, I’ve been thinking a lot about my book world and community. About investing my time in spaces and people who believe the world can be a better place than it is and provide safe places to land when they’re needed.

I say this a lot and mean it every time: book people are the best people.

My (new) local bookstore started a romance book club in 2024, which I joined. (Obviously.) It’s bigger than the one I joined in 2020. Romance as a genre has grown a lot! I’m still finding my place in it. But I also know that showing up to book club every month, seeing the same faces, and being able to just be me—that just makes me want more. I’m giving myself permission to pop in and out of book clubs this year as it piques my interest. The general book club reading Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents? Yup, going to that one. A new fantasy book club? I’m in trouble in the best way.

I really hate setting resolutions. (I never follow through.) (January is a terrible time to begin anything new; I just want to hibernate.) But like 2020, I’m fighting my way out of burnout, trying to find what fills me up. And so, this what I want for 2025 to be.

The year of book clubs.

It’s true: I’m lucky to have bookstores nearby. And that those bookstores that run book clubs. Community comes in a lot of forms, though! If you’re looking for online community and you’re on StoryGraph or Instagram, let’s connect! And then drop me a line and say hi!

. . . I should really go finish my book club picks for this month now.