There’s nothing like a good book—except maybe sharing your thoughts on a good book! StL bibliophiles have no shortage of ways to connect through book clubs focusing on a variety of topics.
Kirkwood Public Library
The library hosts several regular book discussion groups.
- Pandora’s Book Club: Held the second Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m., this group focuses on discussion around banned books.
- Mystery Readers Book Club: Any amateur Sherlock Holmes or mystery lover won’t want to miss this book group. It meets the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m.
- Saturday Morning Perks: This club meets on every sixth Saturday at 10 a.m. to discuss contemporary works.
- Book Club at the End of the Universe: Meeting on select Tuesdays, this club is focused on science fiction and fantasy literature.
If a regular book club does not work with your schedule, look out for the library’s What Should I Read Next? events. They offer a chance to discuss what you are reading and watching with other people, without the commitment of a monthly meeting. The next is scheduled just in time for the winter holidays on Dec. 19 at 6:30 p.m.
For more information on how to join, visit kirkwoodpubliclibrary.org.
Left Bank Books
The CWE bookstore hosts a variety of book discussion groups that are open to everyone. If you can’t meet in person, many of them also offer a virtual option to connect with the club through Zoom.
- Great Novels of the 22nd Century: Focused on exploring science fiction, this reading group meets the first Wednesday of the month.
- Novel Ideas: This lunchtime reading group meets on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The focus is on contemporary literary fiction.
- Read the Rainbow: Held on the fourth Friday of each month, this discussion group centers on queer works.
- Reader Beware! Scaredy cats need not apply. This horror book club meets on the second Tuesday of the month.
- Shakespeare Festival Reads: The goal of this monthly group is to read all 38 plays in Shakespeare canon as well as the creative works that help illuminate them.
- Well-Real Black Girl Book Club: If you’re interested in the works of underrepresented authors, this group is for you. It centers on works by Black and Latinx writers, especially women.
For more information on how to join, visit left-bank.com.
The Novel Neighbor
You’d be hard pressed to find a book club that doesn’t suit your interests at The Novel Neighbor in Webster Groves. However, if for some reason you can’t, the bookstore also allows people to register their own book clubs for a 20% discount on their current reading selections.
- The Novel Neighbor Book Club: The group meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
- Romance Book Clubs: Romance lovers have three options, centered on different subgenres. The group focused on contemporary romance meets on the first Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. The historical romance book club meets on the second Sunday of each month at 5 p.m. Finally, the queer romance group meets on the third Sunday of each month at 5 p.m.
- Mystery/Thriller Book Club: The book club is on the case the fourth Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m.
- YA (For Adults) Book Club: Young adult fiction isn’t just for teens. If you have an interest, check out this book club, which meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
- Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book Club: This discussion group meets on the third Wednesday of the month at 7 p.m.
- Virtual Book Club: Can’t meet in person? No problem! This book club meets virtually on the fourth Thursday of the month at 7 p.m.
- Nonfiction Book Club: If fiction isn’t your focus, this club meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 7 p.m.
- Dinner Book Club: This bi-monthly ticketed book club is hosted in partnership with Perennial on Lockwood! The brewery curates a meal based on the selected book.
- Wine Book Club: Hosted with Barrel Blends Wine & Spirits, this bi-monthly, ticketed book club includes a curated flight of wines as well as book discussion.
- Movie Book Club: This is the book club for cinephiles. This bi-monthly ticketed group includes a movie screening at Hi-Pointe Theatre along with a discussion based on the book selection.
For more information on how to join, visit thenovelneighbor.com.
St. Louis County Library
If you can’t find a book club that fits your interests, Book Discussion Kits from the St. Louis County library allow you to host your own. Each kit includes multiple copies of the book and a discussion guide. They can be checked out for up to eight weeks and reserved online to be picked up at any county library branch.
The library’s branches also offer a wide variety of unique book discussion groups. As well as general contemporary or classic fiction book clubs, you can find ones organized around banned or challenged books, queer literature, African American works, mysteries and thrillers, book-to-film adaptations, sci-fi and fantasy, and more.
For more information on how to join, visit slcl.org.
St. Louis Public Library
Interested in starting your own reading discussion group? SLPL has you covered with its Book Club in a Bag program. Each bag includes 15 copies of the same title, as well as a list of discussion questions, author information and suggested titles. With more than 200 titles available, you’re sure to find something that sparks your interest. You can reserve your bag months in advance to be delivered to the SLPL branch of your choice.
The library also offers a wide variety of discussion groups of its own at each of its branches. Topics covered include philosophy, mystery, historical fiction, comics and more. There also are partnerships with local businesses like Piper’s Tea & Coffee for the Meet Cute Book Club and Civil Life Brewing for the Uncanny Book Club.
For more information on how to join, visit slpl.org.
University City Public Library
The library hosts three themed monthly book groups that are free and open to all. They all meet in the evening at 7 p.m.
- Orcs & Aliens: Held the second Monday of the month, this group covers new voices in science fiction and fantasy.
- Rhythm & Books: This group focuses on nonfiction books about music. It meets on the third Tuesday of each month.
- U City Book Group: Led by the library’s director Patrick Wall, this group discusses newer award-nominated or buzzworthy books, both fiction and nonfiction. It meets on the fourth Wednesday of the month, except in November and December to accommodate the holidays.
If you’re interested in organizing your own book club, the library offers resources. It has more than 100 book club kits that come with multiple copies of each title, as well as supplementary information like author biographies and interviews, discussion questions and reviews. Kits can be checked out for six-week periods.
For more information on how to join, visit ucitylibrary.org.
Webster Groves Public Library
The library has two book discussion groups. Both are free and open to anyone. The Saturday Afternoon Book Club meets on the first Saturday of each month at 2 p.m. The Evening Book Club meets several times throughout the year at 6 p.m.
For more information on how to join, visit wgpl.org.