Book clubs seem to be everywhere right now, online, at bars, in parks, on talk shows, and across celebrity platforms. An estimated 13 million adults in the United States belong to one, and participation continues to rise. People are looking for community, and books offer a way to connect around ideas, concepts, and dreams. What’s new is how the format has evolved and created different ways to do that.
Book Clubs Beyond the Living Room
Oprah’s Book Club set the modern standard, turning literary fiction into national conversation and consistent bestsellers. Reese Witherspoon built on that momentum with selections that often move from page to screen. Dua Lipa’s Service95 Book Club curates globally minded titles, while Dakota Johnson’s TeaTime Book Club brings authors into direct conversation with readers. Together, these platforms have expanded the reach of book clubs beyond private gatherings and into mainstream conversation.
Today’s book clubs meet on Zoom, in person, or in some combination of both. Some groups gather online throughout the year and meet for dinner once, marking the ongoing discussion with an annual dinner. In some clubs, the focus moves beyond a single title to a genre or area of shared interest, with conversation shaped around a central theme.
New Formats
Business focused book clubs now meet on Zoom, often with the author joining the conversation. Members read the selected title in advance and gather for a live discussion and Q and A. The presence of the writer gives the hour a clear focus.
Silent book clubs have gained traction, creating space to read in the company of others. In this format, anywhere from a handful to hundreds of people sit together, read their own books in silence, and then decide whether to stay and talk. The individual focus in the company of others is part of the experience.
Cookbook clubs are another update to the traditional book club gathering. Instead of discussing a novel, members choose a cookbook, and each person prepares a recipe to share. The cookbook guides the menu, and the gathering is the tasting. Everyone arrives having contributed something tangible.
Cake Picnic carries the same idea onto a much larger scale. These events echo the energy of a cookbook club and are so popular that tickets sell out in minutes. At every tour stop, a ticket and a homemade cake are required for entry. Creativity and shared effort create connection, while long tables filled with cakes from hundreds of home bakers create excitement.
Events like Lectures on Tap move the concept into live learning. There is no assigned reading, and the lectures cover a wide range of topics. A speaker presents in a bar setting, followed by a discussion. Each lecture covers one topic and then moves into discussion.
A Return to Community
Across all of these formats, there is a clear return to community. Whether that reflects years of isolation during the pandemic, the rise of AI, or the glow-up of book club styles is hard to say. People are finding time to gather around something that sparks their interest and invites conversation.
For midlife women, connection becomes more intentional. At this stage, we curate our time. Attention has become a form of currency, and we choose carefully where to spend it. Finding like-minded people, or even those who challenge us, is a big part of why we keep showing up. A book, an event, or a lecture offers a starting point, and the exchange that follows builds real community.
