These are books that sparked conversations, lingered in our minds, and captured the hearts of book clubs everywhere. Whether you’re shopping for a friend, a family member, or treating yourself to a new favorite, this book-themed gift guide offers thoughtful picks for every kind of reader. Let the browsing begin!

For the Art Lovers

1. Mona’s Eyes
by Thomas Schlesser

2. The Club
by Jennifer Dasal

For the “I’ve Always Wanted to Open a Bookstore”

1. The In-Between Bookstore
by Edward Underhill

2. The Second Story Bookshop
by Denise Hunter

For Those Who Celebrate Jólabókaflóð and want a cozy snowy book to match

1. The Land in Winter
by Andrew Miller

2. A Case of Life and Limb
by Sally Smith

For the Modern Austenite (Bonnet Optional)

1. Austen at Sea
by Natalie Jenner

2. Stuck Up and Stupid
by Angourie Rice & Kate Rice

For the Family Historian

1. The Afghans
by Åsne Seierstad

2. Spitfires
by Becky Aikman

For the One Who Likes Their History with a Side of Fiction

1. The Harvey Girls
by Juliette Fay

2. The Good War
by Elizabeth Costello

For the Reader Who Imagines the Soundtrack to Every Book

1. August Lane
by Regina Black

2. Maria La Divina
by Jerome Charyn

For the Hopelessly Romantic

1. I Am You
by Victoria Redel

2. The Lighthouse at the Cove
by Amy Clipston

For the Thrill Seekers & Suspense Fans

1. Still See You Everywhere
by Lisa Gardner

2. Her One Regret
by Donna Freitas

For the Bookish & Literary Types

1. Mendell Station
by J. B. Hwang

2. Life, and Death, and Giants
by Ron Rindo

For the Humor & Quirky Readers

1. How to Dodge a Cannonball
by Dennard Dayle

2. I See You’ve Called In Dead
by John Kenney

For the Foodie

1. Cheesecake
by Mark Kurlansky

2. Slow Noodles
by Chantha Nguon

For the Teen or Young Adult in Your Life

1. The Breakup Artists
by Adriana Mather

2. Rules for Fake Girlfriends
by Raegan Revord

For Family & Generational Stories

1. Speak to Me of Home
by Jeanin Cummins

2. There But For Grace
by Anne Whitney Pierce

For the One Who Get Lost in Unforgettable Memoirs

1. My Name Means Fire
by Atash Yaghmaian

2. American Mother
by Diane Foley

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Our November 2025 Spotlight Group has been meeting for 13 years!

Our book club, Reading Between the Wines, formed in September 2007 in Upstate NY and has been going strong ever since. Many of the current members have been with us from the beginning, so we have become a close knit group over the years. We meet in person once a month, at a member’s house, or at a local restaurant. We try to theme the food to the book whenever we can. Sometimes we even write our own book club discussion questions. We tend to gravitate towards mysteries and historical fiction, but we’ve sampled many genres over the years, including YA, romance, fantasy, and memoir. We can always find something to discuss in the book we choose. —Kristin Nitcher

All of our Spotlight Groups receive a box of books for discussion! Celadon Books will be sending these book group members copies of Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino, Saoirse by Charleen Hurtubise, Wait for Me by Amy Jo Burns, and Family of Spies by Christine Kuehn.

To enter to become an RGC Spotlight group, email a picture and description of your group, and some recent and upcoming reads to info@readinggroupchoices.com.

The post The November Spotlight Group Is… appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

Now, we’re excited to reopen the archives and share these conversations once again! Over the coming weeks, we’ll be featuring select author videos here on the Reading Group Choices blog. Whether you’re discovering these interviews for the first time or revisiting them with fresh eyes, our archived series offers a behind-the-scenes look at the books that captured readers’ imaginations – and the writers who brought them to life.

Be sure to follow along and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss when your favorite author appears on the blog!

First up is Samira Ahmed! Samira Ahmed is the bestselling author of Love, Hate & Other Filters, Internment, Mad, Bad & Dangerous to Know, Hollow Fires, and the Amira & Hamza middle-grade duology, as well as a Ms. Marvel comic book mini-series.  Her poetry, essays, and short stories have appeared in numerous publications.

In this discussion, Samira speaks about Mad, Bad, & Dangerous to Know which is sweeping adventure through the streets of Paris told in alternating narratives that bridge centuries, continents, and the lives of two young Muslim women fighting to write their own stories. Enjoy this insightful talk and be sure to follow along and subscribe to our newsletter so you don’t miss when your favorite author appears on the blog!

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Our August 2025 Spotlight Group has been meeting for 25 years!

Our group has been meeting for twenty five years now but only two of us are original members. We currently have ten members.  We meet monthly to discuss our books, mostly fiction, chosen from membership recommendations.  We alternate “leading” the group which means finding information about the author and reviews of the book.  The leader also brings snacks, often appropriate to the book.  When we discussed The Women, by Kristen Hannah, the leader brought treats from Vietnam.

We were not all able to attend this special luncheon (pictured above) hosted by one of our members, but those present thoroughly enjoyed the Chinese luncheon prepared for us after reading The Fortune Cookie Chronicles by Jennifer 8. Lee.

While we start our meeting discussing our books, we end it talking out our lives, travels, children, grandchildren, and politics.  We’ve become much more than a group of women who read together, we’ve become good, caring friends.

—Elizabeth Goldstein

All of our Spotlight Groups receive a box of books for discussion! Regal House Publishing will be sending these book group members copies of And the Crows Took Their Eyes by Vicki Lane and Monarchs Under the Sassafras Tree by Lillah Lawson.

—

Check out these recent and upcoming releases from Regal House Publishing:

Measure of Devotion by Nell Joslin

The Miniaturist’s Assistant by Katherine Scott Crawford

A Small Disturbance on the Far Horizon by Richard Babcock

Closer by Miriam Gershow

The Man in the Stone Cottage by Stephanie Cowell

To Chase the Glowing Hours by Katherine Kirkpatrick

The World That We Are by Andrew Furman

Last Night at the Disco by Lisa Borders

The Wire-Walker by James Janko

If You Leave by Margaret Hutton

To enter to become an RGC Spotlight group, email a picture and description of your group, and some recent and upcoming reads to info@readinggroupchoices.com.

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Each week, Bookmarked brings together authors, celebrities, tastemakers, and influencers to share stories that transcend the page. Whether you’re here for the literary deep dives or just want a cozy chat about the books (and characters) we can’t stop thinking about, this podcast has something for every kind of reader.

The first episode is already live and sets the tone with major “can’t put it down” energy. Emily Henry and director Yulin Kuang join the conversation to talk about romance, adapting books for the screen, cinnamon roll men, and reading red flag.

Here’s what you can expect from Bookmarked this season:

Bookmarked This Week
Award-winning journalist Danielle Robay will sit down with guests to talk about what they’re “bookmarking” in the worlds of books, pop culture, and the internet. Think of it as your new favorite weekly round-up with a literary twist.

Novel Pairings
Why stop at the book? These segments pair your favorite reads with the best in beauty, fashion, food, drink, and travel, so you can live a life inspired by the stories and characters you love.

Dear Bookmarked
Have a hot take? Need a personalized book rec? Call the reader hotline at 501-291-3379 to share your thoughts or get suggestions tailored just for you.

With a mix of conversation, inspiration, and all the book-loving energy you’d expect from Reese’s Book Club, Bookmarked is shaping up to be a must-listen for readers everywhere.

New episodes are dropping now – so get your earbuds ready and hit subscribe!

The post Reese’s Book Club Launches New Podcast “Bookmarked” and Here’s Why We’re Tuning In appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

Nestled on Regent Street in Madison, Wisconsin, Ink & Ivy Book Boutique is more than just a bookstore – it’s a love letter to the power of community, creativity, and connection. Founded by mother-daughter duo Eden Olivia and Shannon Marie, this thoughtfully curated space invites visitors to slow down, get inspired, and feel at home.

At its heart, Ink & Ivy is built on shared passions: a deep love for reading, an eye for beautiful gifts, and a desire to create a warm, welcoming gathering place. Every detail of the boutique reflects this mission – from the carefully selected books that line the shelves to the cozy, home-like atmosphere that encourages browsing, lingering, and meaningful conversation.

Eden brings a deep empathy and resilience to the shop, shaped by her background as a Trauma CNA. Stepping away from a demanding career in healthcare, she followed her heart to build something new – something rooted in joy, creativity, and community care. Her love of reading radiates through every corner of the boutique.

Her mother and co-founder, Shannon Marie, brings a creative spirit and generous soul to Ink & Ivy. A two-time cancer survivor, Shannon’s journey is one of strength and intention. With a background in administration and human resources, and passions ranging from poetry and painting to crafting and music, she’s poured her lifelong love of gift giving into the boutique’s soul. Ink & Ivy is her way of living “a life purely by design,” side by side with her daughter and best friend.

Ink & Ivy is also a hub for readers looking to connect. They host a variety of book clubs to foster conversation and community, including an Adult Book Club, a Romance Book Club, and a Postpartum Book Club designed to support new parents during a transformative season of life. Each gathering offers a welcoming space to share stories and reflections with fellow book lovers.

More than a retail space, Ink & Ivy hosts events, shares handcrafted gifts, and supports the community. Their ongoing commitment to giving back includes a 10% discount on books for healthcare workers and teachers – a small but meaningful thank you to those who serve.

Whether you’re in search of your next great read, a unique gift, or simply a place to feel inspired, Ink & Ivy offers all the warmth and magic of a favorite story – one you’ll want to return to again and again. For more information, head to their website or visit their Instagram.

The post A Cozy New Chapter: Ink & Ivy Book Boutique Brings Heart and Home to Madison’s Regent Street appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

Every year, Reading Group Choices surveys book groups and readers to compile our annual list of Favorite Books. And every year we randomly choose winners who receive a gift certificate to their local independent bookstore, copies of our 2024-2025 annual guide, and a literary tote!

Meet our 2024 favorite books survey winners below (and sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss the chance to take our 2024 survey!).

Dianne of Words, Women & Wine
Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Advice for Book Lovers: I think most of us would believe this; read widely and deeply. Reading is an exercise in empathy allowing us readers to truly walk in another’s shoes and feel!

Recent Favorites: Queen of Dirt Island by Donal Ryan, The Wishing Game by Meg Shaffer, The Dictionary of Lost Words by Pip Williams and  The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan

Independent Bookseller: Parnassus Books in Nashville, TN

Molly from Madison, WI

The post Our 2024 Favorite Book Survey Winners Are… appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

“A profound and riveting story of identity and resilience.”
—Christina Baker Kline, author of Orphan Train

For readers of All the Light We Cannot See, a moving and deeply humane story about a trans man who must relinquish the freedoms of prewar Berlin to survive first the Nazis and then the Allies while protecting the ones he loves.

Brimming with hope, resilience, and the enduring power of community, The Lilac People tells an extraordinary story inspired by real events and recovers an occluded moment of trans history.

While The Lilac People is a work of fiction, author Milo Todd was inspired by true history and artifacts he found in his research. Its pages contain such events as the rise of the original trans and queer fascism movement, the first documented queer and trans book ban, and other atrocities.

Here you can see some images to help you visualize that time and to read more about the research.

“A stunning debut about love, race, brutality, and the balm of forgiveness.” —People, A Best New Book

A four-year-old Mi’kmaq girl goes missing from the blueberry fields of Maine, sparking a mystery that will haunt the survivors, unravel a family, and remain unsolved for nearly fifty years.

“A harrowing tale of Indigenous family separation…Peters excels in writing characters for whom we can’t help rooting…takes on the monumental task of giving witness to people who suffered through racist attempts of erasure like her Mi’kmaw ancestors. ‘White folks been trying to take the Indian out of us for centuries,’ a character tells Norma. ‘But now that you know, you gotta let people know.’ Peters is letting people know.” —The New York Times Book Review

For readers of The Vanishing Half and Woman of Light, this showstopping debut by a vibrant new voice in fiction is a riveting novel about the search for truth, the shadow of trauma, and the persistence of love across time.

Discover more and find discussion questions for The Lilac People and The Berry Pickers for your next group meeting!

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Here are the titles selected in 2025. How many do you recognize? How many did your book club choose?

January
The Three Lives of Cate Kay by Kate Fagen

February
Isola by Allegra Goodman

March
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall

Spring YA Pick
Heiress Takes All by Emily Wibberley and Austin Siegemund-Broka

April
All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett

May
Great Big Beautiful Life by Emily Henry

Summer YA Pick
Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice

June
The Phoenix Pencil Company by Allison King

July
Spectacular Things by Beck Dorey-Stein

August
Once Upon a Time in Dollywood by Ashley Jordan

September
To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage

November
Wild Dark Shore by Charlotte McConaghy

Don’t receive the Reese’s Book Club newsletter? Sign up here! It’s free and offers more monthly recommendations and giveaways.

You can find Reese’s Book Club Picks from 2024 on our blog too!

The post Reese’s Book Club Picks 2025 appeared first on Reading Group Choices.

Has your group read all of these terrific books yet?

Most-Read of 2023

1. The Book Woman’s Daughter by Kim Michele Richardson

Bestselling historical fiction author Kim Michele Richardson is back with the perfect book club read following Honey Lovett, the daughter of the beloved Troublesome book woman, who must fight for her own independence with the help of the women who guide her and the books that set her free.

2. The Mystery of Mrs. Christie by Marie Benedict

In December 1926, Agatha Christie goes missing. Investigators find her empty car on the edge of a deep, gloomy pond, the only clues some tire tracks nearby and a fur coat left in the car — strange for a frigid night. Her World War I veteran husband and her daughter have no knowledge of her whereabouts, and England unleashes an unprecedented manhunt to find the up-and-coming mystery author. Eleven days later, she reappears, just as mysteriously as she disappeared, claiming amnesia and providing no explanations for her time away.

3. Maame by Jessica George

An unforgettable debut about a young British Ghanaian woman as she navigates her twenties and finds her place in the world, for readers of Queenie and The Other Black Girl.

Smart, funny, and deeply affecting, Jessica George’s Maame deals with the themes of our time with humor and poignancy: from familial duty and racism, to female pleasure, the complexity of love, and the life-saving power of friendship. Most important, it explores what it feels like to be torn between two homes and cultures—and it celebrates finally being able to find where you belong.

4. The Lost Girls of Willowbrook by Ellen Marie Wiseman

For fans of The Girls with No Names, The Silent Patient, and Girl, Interrupted, the New York Times bestselling author of The Orphan Collector blends fact, fiction, and the urban legend of Cropsey in 1970s New York, as mistaken identities lead to a young woman’s imprisonment at Willowbrook State School, the real state-run institution that Geraldo Rivera would later expose for its horrifying abuses.

5. Seven Days in June by Tia Williams

Eva Mercy is a single mom and bestselling erotica writer who is feeling pressed from all sides. Shane Hall is a reclusive, enigmatic, award-winning novelist, who, to everyone’s surprise, shows up in New York.

When Shane and Eva meet unexpectedly at a literary event, sparks fly, raising not only their buried traumas, but the eyebrows of the Black literati. What no one knows is that fifteen years earlier, teenage Eva and Shane spent one crazy, torrid week madly in love. While they may be pretending not to know each other, they can’t deny their chemistry—or the fact that they’ve been secretly writing to each other in their books through the years.

6. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

A love letter to Syria and its people, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a speculative novel set amid the Syrian Revolution, burning with the fires of hope, love, and possibility. Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea.

“A searing story of war, loss, family, and love. An absolute must read.” —Sabaa Tahir 

7. An American Beauty by Shana Abé

Amidst the opulent glamor and vicious social circles of Gilded Age New York, this stunning biographical historical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Second Mrs. Astor conjures the true rags-to-riches story of Arabella Huntington — a woman whose great beauty was surpassed only by her exceptional business acumen, grit, and artistic eye, and who defied the constraints of her era to become the wealthiest self-made woman in America.

8. The Family Chao by Lan Samantha Chang

“Family drama, murder mystery, love story, The Family Chao is an oftentimes funny and sometimes sad portrait of a Chinese American family who runs that most ubiquitous of institutions: the Chinese restaurant. With nuance and slyness, wit and empathy, Chang turns the desires and deceits of one unhappy family into a moving and compelling saga of that classic American illness: ambition.” –Viet Thanh Nguyen, author of The Committed

9. The Nurse’s Secret by Amanda Skenandore

The unflinching, spellbinding new book from the acclaimed author of The Second Life of Mirielle West. Based on the little-known story of America’s first nursing school, a young female grifter in 1880s New York evades the police by conning her way into Bellevue Hospital’s training school for nurses, while a spate of murders continues to follow her as she tries to leave the gritty streets of the city behind…

10. The Lies I Tell by Julie Clark

“The Lies I Tell is a uniquely riveting cat and mouse game with two artfully nuanced female protagonists that is at once a razor-sharp, page-turning mystery and a brilliant, thought-provoking exploration of what it truly means to do good in the world.” —Kimberly McCreight, New York Times bestselling author of A Good Marriage and Friends like These

11. The Book Spy by Alan Hlad

“The walled-off feeling of loneliness in a crowd pervades the pages of Hlad’s piercing historical thriller. Based on a fascinating and little-known true story of World War II… Hlad’s immersive portrayal of wartime Lisbon and its inhabitants, of the loneliness caused by the terror that anybody at any time could be an informant, plus his captivating thriller/romance tale make this a must-read, especially for fans of Kate Quinn’s The Rose Code.”—firstCLUE, starred review for The Book Spy

5 Most-Read Nonfiction of 2023 Edition

1. The Dark Queens by Shelley Puhak

In The Dark Queens, award-winning writer Shelley Puhak sets the record straight. She resurrects two very real women in all their complexity, painting a richly detailed portrait of an unfamiliar time and striking at the roots of some of our culture’s stubbornest myths about female power. The Dark Queens offers proof that the relationships between women can transform the world.

2. The Red Widow by Sarah Horowitz

A real-life femme fatale, Meg influences government positions and resorts to blackmail—and maybe even poisoning—to get her way. Leaving a trail of death and disaster in her wake, she earns the name the “Red Widow” for mysteriously surviving a home invasion that leaves both her husband and mother dead. With the police baffled and the public enraged, Meg breaks every rule in the bourgeois handbook and becomes the most notorious woman in Paris.

An unforgettable true account of sex, scandal, and murder, The Red Widow is the story of a woman determined to rise—at any cost.

3. Uncommon Measure by Natalie Hodges

Uncommon Measure explores these questions from the perspective of a young Korean American who dedicated herself to perfecting her art until performance anxiety forced her to give up the dream of becoming a concert solo violinist. Anchoring her story in illuminating research in neuroscience and quantum physics, Hodges traces her own passage through difficult family dynamics, prejudice, and enormous personal expectations to come to terms with the meaning of a life reimagined—one still shaped by classical music but moving toward the freedom of improvisation.

4. Helltown by Casey Sherman

“Casey Sherman is a master at bringing history alive. Compelling, complex, and revealing—do not miss this!” —Hank Phillippi Ryan, USA Todaybestselling author of Her Perfect Life

Immersive, unflinching, and shocking, Helltown reveals the secrets of a notorious serial killer and unspools the threads connecting Costa, Vonnegut, and Mailer in the seaside city that played host to horrors unlike any ever seen before.

5. Seven Aunts by Staci Lola Drouillard

They were German and English, Anishinaabe and French, born in the north woods and Midwestern farm country. They moved again and again, and they fought for each other when men turned mean, when money ran out, when babies—and there were so many—added more trouble but even more love. These are the aunties: Faye, who lived in California, and Lila, who lived just down the street; Doreen, who took on the bullies taunting her “mixed-blood” brothers and sisters; Gloria, who raised six children (no thanks to all of her “stupid husbands”); Betty, who left a marriage of indenture to a misogynistic southerner to find love and acceptance with a Norwegian logger; and Carol and Diane, who broke the warped molds of their own upbringing.

5 Most-Read Young Adult of 2023 Edition

1. As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh

A love letter to Syria and its people, As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow is a speculative novel set amid the Syrian Revolution, burning with the fires of hope, love, and possibility. Perfect for fans of The Book Thief and Salt to the Sea.

“A searing story of war, loss, family, and love. An absolute must read.” —Sabaa Tahir 

2. Merci Suarez Plays it Cool by Meg Medina

“The strength of this story lies in the authenticity of Merci’s character and her refreshingly sincere responses to the world around her, even and especially when self-conscious or misguided. Her home among her Cuban American family may not always be the refuge she wants, but it is full of love, support, Cuban traditions, and, occasionally, something delicious made by or with Abuela. . . the book closes on a note of promise as Merci leads her team out onto the field for their first game.”–The Horn Book (starred review)

3. An Arrow to the Moon by Emily X.R. Pan

Romeo and Juliet meets Chinese mythology in this magical novel by the New York Times bestselling author of The Astonishing Color of After. An Arrow to the Moon, Emily X.R. Pan’s brilliant and ethereal follow-up to The Astonishing Color of After, is a story about family, love, and the magic and mystery of the moon that connects us all.

 “An effortless fusion of myth and realism, coming of age and fairy tale, this haunting love story rises on gossamer wings, but cuts bone deep.”―Melissa Albert, New York Times bestselling author of The Hazel Wood

4. The Elephant Girl by James Patterson, Ellen Banda-Aaku & Sophia Krevoy

Clever, sensitive Jama likes elephants better than people. While her classmates gossip—especially about the new boy, Leku—twelve-year-old Jama takes refuge at the watering hole outside her village. There she befriends a baby elephant she names Mbegu, Swahili for seed.

When Mbegu’s mother, frightened by poachers, stampedes, Jama and Mbegu are blamed for two deaths—one elephant and one human. Now Leku, whose mysterious and imposing father is head ranger at the conservancy, may be their only lifeline.

Inspired by true events, The Elephant Girl is a moving exploration of the bonds between creatures and the power of belonging.

5. The Silence That Binds Us by Joanna Ho

‘The Silence that Binds Us is a propulsive reminder that race-based discrimination takes a multitude of forms, all of them insidious and traumatic. I adored this ornately carved window into the core of shared humanity. A fascinating exploration of what happens when deeply rooted cultural norms collide with privilege-centered notions of ‘fairness.’ Read and re-read. Then read it again.” — Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin

Looking for more great reads? Don’t miss our most popular books from each month last year, and browse all of the themed reading lists on our blog!

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