RD.COM Books
ByLeandra Beabout
Updated: Apr. 26, 2023
Calling all bookworms! An online book club is a great way to connect with voracious readers just like you.
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Join the club
There’s something magical about sharing a good book with a friend. From comparing notes on world-building to kvetching about lackluster endings, to book club questions and discussions that keep a story alive long after the final page. When the world locked down in 2020, readers didn’t stop swapping book notes. Instead, they set up websites and forums to host an online book club.
It’s 2022 now, and the Zoom parties haven’t stopped. Turns out there’s joy in communing from a distance. And the beauty of virtual clubs is that you can easily find a group of people who enjoy the same writing styles and book preferences as you do.
To help save you time, we’ve rounded up 15 online book club options. Whether you’re hoping to read the best books of all time, book club books, books for teens, romance novels, books by Black authors, or titles from book subscription boxes, these virtual communities are the perfect place to start.
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Scholastic Book Clubs
Past reads: Stone Soup by Jon J Muth, Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete by James Dean, Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
The Scholastic Book Club has been chugging along since 1948, so it’s no wonder the name conjures memories of elementary school libraries and that new book smell. Scholastic Book Clubs help parents and teachers work together to offer kids a wide variety of nonfiction and fiction books—all at a relatively affordable price. It works like this: Teachers create a book club for their classroom, which triggers a mailing of digital or paper flyers with age-appropriate books that are available each month. Families order whichever books they want, then wait for the books to be delivered to their child’s classroom. Homeschooling parents can set up their own family book clubs, so no one gets left out.
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Reese’s Book Club
Past reads: The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller, Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley, You Have a Match by Emma Lord
Every month, the Reese Witherspoon book club chooses a favorite female-centric page-turner. There’s no formula or criteria; Reese’s Book Club simply reflects whatever genre spoke to the actress and producer that month. Viewed as a whole, her selections tend to amplify voices of women and authors of color, including Black and Latinx authors, while sparking conversations about community and relationships. Joining the club is easy: Just download the free book club app and set up your profile.
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Oprah’s Book Club
Past reads: Becoming by Michelle Obama, Wild by Cheryl Strayed, The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Oprah’s Book Club was founded by Oprah Winfrey more than 25 years ago. The iconic entertainer and philanthropist is known for choosing thought-provoking books, many by female authors, that often go on to win awards or become best sellers. Taking part in the reading community is as simple as reading each month’s selection and subscribing to Oprah’s Book Club Newsletter for reviews and discussion points.
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#ReadWithJenna (Jenna Bush Hager Book Club)
Past reads: The Family by Naomi Krupitksy, The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles, Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
#ReadWithJenna is the official Today show book community. Spearheaded by Jenna Bush Hager, this online book club aims to arm readers with stories that “delight, entertain, and challenge,” according to Today. Like Oprah’s Book Club, #ReadWithJenna can be joined solo or with a group of friends. Find out each month’s selection and follow along with the conversation by signing up for the newsletter or following @ReadWithJenna on Instagram. Check out the books everyone should read in their lifetime.
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Netflix Book Club
Past reads: Passing by Nella Larsen, Maid by Stephanie Land, Orange Is the New Black by Piper Kerman
The new Netflix Book Club exists to remind you that some of the most binge-worthy shows began as words on a page. From memoirs-turned-miniseries to books made into movies, each pick pairs perfectly with a Netflix gem. There’s no official membership criteria for this online book club. Simply check the website often for your next read. As book club leader Uzo Aduba writes, “Whether you’ve already finished the book or are waiting to read it once you’ve watched it first, that’s up to you!”
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Andrew Luck Book Club
Past reads: Homicide by David Simon, Gloryland by Shelton Johnson, Chop Wood Carry Water by Joshua Medcalf
Every month, former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck highlights two books: one of the best children’s books around and one of the top adult titles. The Andrew Luck Book Club community connects on social media with the hashtag #ALBookClub. Participation requires no sign-up or commitment. Start by reading the book of the month and sharing your thoughts on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. Then follow the hashtag and join the discussions!
rd.com, Getty Images, via nypl.org/virtualbookclub
The New York Public Library and WNYC Book Club
Past reads: Matrix by Lauren Groff, The Great Mistake by Jonathan Lee, The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Whether you want to read the best fantasy books, best sci-fi books, or best autobiographies, the NYPL/WNYC Book Club has had the perfect selection for you. That’s because this online book club is run by the most widely read professionals on the planet: librarians. After wrapping up each month’s read, enjoy watching a conversation with the book’s author on the book club’s website. That behind-the-scenes glimpse at authors’ writing processes is what makes this book club extra special.
Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club
Past reads: Home Before Dark by Riley Sager, Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
The Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club is a massive online group of thousands of dedicated bookworms. It’s a decidedly democratic online book club, too, with each month’s selection voted on by Goodreads members. Nominees often include award winners, new best sellers, and the highest-rated books on Goodreads. Though the club is not directly run by Goodreads staff, the club’s location on the website makes it easy to click around between discussion boards, book reviews, and your own personally curated virtual bookshelf.
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Now Read This
Past reads: Interior Chinatown by Charles Yu, Trick Mirror by Jia Tolentino, The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo
The official online book club from PBS News Hour and The New York Times, Now Read This selects a book each month, facilitates online book discussions, and then presents a Q&A session with the author. Chosen titles run the gamut from historical fiction books to contemporary, sci-fi, must-read memoirs, and more. You could easily participate solo or with friends. The flexible format allows for self-pacing too. Like most of the online book clubs on our list, joining is as easy as picking up the book of the month and diving in.
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Lez Book Club
Past reads: Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde, Figuring by Maria Popova, This Is How You Lose the Time War by Max Gladstone and Amal El-Mohtar
The Lez Book Club takes place 100 percent online, with hubs on Facebook and Instagram. It exists to showcase the talents of LGBTQ authors while creating a safe reading space for queer women and trans and nonbinary folks who love a good novel. To join, simply DM the group’s Instagram account for an invite. Once you’re a member, you will receive a Zoom link to attend the discussion for each book selection.
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The Reddit Book Club
Past reads: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton, The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Are you looking for an old-school Internet forum where you can go down the rabbit hole of plot twists and character flaws with other bibliophiles? The Reddit Book Club might be your new favorite virtual haunt. Most members read several books per month. All selections are chosen by popular vote after nominations from other members. But the beauty is in the simplicity: There are no membership requirements, and it’s fine if you don’t get around to reading all of the tomes. The Reddit Book Club keeps it simple with gently suggested reads and lively text-based discussions. Looking for a solo read? Check out these true crime books.
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Books & Boba
Past reads: Chemistry by Weike Wang, Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay, An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
Books & Boba is an online book club and podcast focused on books by Asian and Asian American authors. There have been a solid variety of adult and teen books and genres selected—from contemporary to fantasy books and beyond—and each monthly pick is discussed on the podcast. Some months include author interviews and extra book lists for additional reading.
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Addicted to YA Goodreads Book Club
Past reads: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, Broken Things by Lauren Oliver, What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Goodreads’ Addicted to YA Book Club is perfect for anyone who loves tearing through the latest young adult hits. There’s something for everyone here: contemporary romance, fantasy, sci-fi, and yes, even vampire books. Though the books include great teen novels, book club members can be any age. Join this one just as you would join the Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club: by joining the club, reading one of the four monthly selections, and joining the online discussion.
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OKHA
Past reads: Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi, Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward, Keisha The Sket by Jade LB
OKHA is the intersectional book club you might not have known you needed. This online community prioritizes queer and Black authors in a way that celebrates their stories rather than simply focusing on books about racism. Joining in on the monthly selections is an excellent way to amplify marginalized voices and broaden your range of favorite authors. Monthly virtual meets include panel discussions and author Q&As—you’ll find a sign-up link on the group’s Instagram.
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Silent Book Club
Past reads: I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt, Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West, Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
Picture this: You’re curled up next to the fireplace in a hotel lobby, a book in one hand and a glass of wine or mug of tea in the other. Sound like utter perfection? Then the Silent Book Club is for you. As a member of this online book club, you’re welcome to read whatever book you choose. Folks simply gather for an hour and read in absolute silence, then share tidbits about the books they’ve been reading. Before the pandemic, Silent Book Club chapters often met in hotel lobbies, bars, or restaurants. Now, you can join the virtual group from anywhere with an Internet connection.
Looking to start your book club but not sure what to name it? Here are some witty book club names to pick from.
Originally Published: November 22, 2021
Author
Leandra Beabout
A former English teacher, Leandra writes about books and lifestyle for Reader's Digest. She also has bylines in the Guardian, the Telegraph and The Healthy. Leandra splits her time between the U.S. and India, where she and her husband currently live in the lower Himalayas.
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