18 Online Book Clubs That’ll Boost Your Reading Life in 2024
Updated: Aug. 13, 2024
Bookworms, unite! Log on and connect with voracious readers by joining book clubs online.
Great book clubs you can join online
There’s something magical about sharing a good book with a friend: From comparing notes on world-building to kvetching about lackluster endings or swooning over love interests, you can keep a story alive long after the final page. But what’s even more exciting is that there are tons of book clubs online. (Introverts and homebodies, rejoice!) These popular online communities allow you to make new friends on the other side of the globe, go deep with conversation-sparking book club questions and expand your take on the group’s latest read along with your worldview.
Whether it’s via a website, online forum or good ol’ Zoom party, communing and sharing book love from a distance is super easy. And the beauty of book clubs online is that you can easily find a group of people who enjoy the same writing styles and book genres as you do.
To help save you time, we’ve rounded up 18 online book club options. Whether you’re hoping to read the best books of all time or delve into a particular subject, these online book discussion clubs are the perfect place to start.
Join the free Reader’s Digest Book Club for great reads, monthly discussions, author Q&As and a community of book lovers.
Reader’s Digest Book Club
Past reads: First Lie Wins by Ashley Elston, Daughters of Shandong by Eve J. Chung and How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley
Join for: New books in a mix of genres, author Q&As and lively discussions
Yes, we’re playing our own song here, but with good reason. The Reader’s Digest Book Club feels like getting recommendations from your trusted friend. Our monthly picks span genres, from the latest mysteries and romances to historical fiction, thrillers and beyond. You’re in for unputdownable stories from new and diverse voices—all of which will make you feel, so don’t be surprised if you end up laughing out loud or ugly-crying (and loving every minute of it). Either way, our selections get the book club chatter flowing.
You can share your thoughts with our private community of bookworms, which is always at the ready with great book recommendations. Best of all, it’s free to join. Our collection of Q&As with book club authors, which offer an inside look at the story and writing process, is just the icing on the cake.
Rebel Book Club
Past reads: Around the World in 80 Trains by Monisha Rajesh and Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel
Join for: Insightful, provocative nonfiction reads
The Rebel Book Club, founded 2015, offers readers a little something different with its book picks: strictly nonfiction books. Each month, members vote on the next read—each 250 to 300 pages in length—with topics ranging from race and relationships to AI and cryptocurrency. The group makes a conscious effort to keep it interesting by often picking titles from new or lesser-known authors, diverse voices and small or indie publishers. The book club is all about connecting people and regularly hosts meet-ups (in-person and via video chats) with folks living in the same area.
Between Two Books
Past reads: Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston and I Will Never Be Beautiful Enough to Make Us Beautiful Together by Mira Gonzalez
Join for: Inspired books that tap into your creative spirit
It all started in 2012 when an Irish teenager tweeted at Florence Welch, lead singer of Florence + the Machine, with an idea: start a book club. Other global fans of the band joined the rallying cry. Welch loved the idea, and this online book club was born. Since then, Between Two Books has grown into a lively online community offering a diverse selection of captivating reads with a focus on exploring our creative spirits and building community with like-minded people.
In addition to Welch’s book picks, Between Two Books also regularly features guest recommendations from artists, writers, musicians and directors such as Greta Gerwig, Fiona Apple, Adwoa Aboah and Sally Rooney. The book chats take place on social media, with readings and Q&As with the authors.
Well-Read Black Girl
Past reads: A Love Song for Ricki Wilde by Tia Williams, The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee and The Thunder Beneath Us by Nicole Blades
Join for: Books that celebrate the cultural expression of Black, Brown and Indigenous people
Well-Read Black Girl (WRBG) started in 2015 as an Instagram account that founder Glory Edim used to highlight and honor literary heroes like Toni Morrison, bell hooks and Alice Walker. The Well-Read Black Girl Book Club followed a year later, amplifying the voices of Black, Brown and Indigenous people and fostering sisterhood—giving mainly Black women a space to “read, reflect and respond” to the larger world around them. The online community now has more than 435,000 members with a solid mission to provoke conversation and ignite change around politics, pop culture and publishing.
WRBG Book Club has an easy, three-step process to get started: sign up for the newsletter, pick up the monthly selection and join the discussion online. If you want to read more books by Black authors, this is a fantastic place to start.
Looking for your next great book? Read four of today’s most compelling novels in the time it takes to read one with Fiction Favorites. And be sure to join the community!
Service95 Book Club
Past reads: Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman and The Guest by Emma Cline
Join for: Curated, interesting conversation-starters
Launched by pop star Dua Lipa, Service95 Book Club, is part book club, part cultural confab. It’s an editorial platform “curated to feed your curiosity about the world” that includes a newsletter and YouTube channel. Each month, the book club reads a title personally chosen by the singer. Discussion guides and further reading lists are available to give members more insight into the author’s world. The book club also offers reading lists from authors like Tomasz Jedrowski (Swimming in the Dark), Michelle Zauner (Crying in H Mart) and Hernan Diaz (Trust).
Noname Book Club
Past reads: How to Say Babylon by Safiya Sinclair and Discourse on Colonialism by Aimé Césaire
Join for: Enlightening reads with a focus on political education
Launched by Chicago rapper Noname, this online book club is a Black-owned worker cooperative that connects community members both inside and outside prison facilities with progressive and politically educational books. Each month, Noname Book Club selects two books written by people of color. The focus is on highlighting the diverse voices that too often are underrepresented in literature. The group’s discussions take place mainly on Instagram and X (formerly known as Twitter), though the club plans to roll out a companion podcast in the near future. All of the group’s programming is free, including the books that are sent to its incarcerated book club members.
Scholastic Book Clubs
Past reads: Stone Soup by Jon J. Muth, Pete the Cat: Trick or Pete by James Dean and Miracles on Maple Hill by Virginia Sorensen
Join for: A wide variety of affordable, age-appropriate children’s books
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 a wide variety of fiction and nonfiction books for kids—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, and Scholastic mails them to their child’s classroom. Homeschooling parents can set up their own family book clubs, so no one gets left out.
Reese’s Book Club
Past reads: The Cliffs by J. Courtney Sullivan, Yellowface by R.F. Kuang and The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller
Join for: Women-centered compelling stories
Every month, Reese Witherspoon’s 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 the voices of women and authors of color while sparking conversations about community and relationships. Joining the club is easy: Subscribe to the newsletter or follow the book club on Instagram to learn each month’s pick.
Oprah’s Book Club
Past reads: Let Us Descend by Jasmyn Ward, Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver and The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates
Join for: Literary deep reads and provocative nonfiction
The original Oprah’s Book Club was founded by the iconic talk show host, philanthropist and lifelong book lover way back in 1996. Initially, it was a book discussion segment on her eponymous TV show. But in 2012, Oprah Winfrey moved the book group online. That’s when Oprah’s Book Club 2.0 was born. Winfrey continues to select thought-provoking reads, from literary fiction books to memoirs and deep nonfiction titles, many of which go on to become bestsellers and win major awards. Becoming part of the online community is as simple as reading each month’s selection and subscribing to the Oprah’s Book Club newsletter for reviews and discussion points.
Read with Jenna
Past reads: The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros, Maame by Jessica George and Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang
Join for: Of-the-moment reads highlighting debut authors and diverse voices
Read with Jenna 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. Expect to read everything from mysteries and thrillers to romances and contemporary fiction. Find out each month’s selection and follow along with the conversation by catching the Today show, signing up for the newsletter or following @ReadWithJenna on Instagram.
Get Lit Book Club
Past reads: Matrix by Lauren Groff, The Great Mistake by Jonathan Lee and The Chosen and the Beautiful by Nghi Vo
Join for:Â Top-rated book selections curated by librarians
Whether sci-fi and fantasy books are your bread and butter or autobiographies are more your speed, the New York Public Library and WNYC radio station’s joint Get Lit Book Club has the perfect selection for you. That’s because this online book club is run by some of the most well-read professionals on the planet: librarians. After wrapping up each month’s read, enjoy watching a conversation with the 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 and To Sleep in a Sea of Stars by Christopher Paolini
Join for: Reliable Goodreads Choice Award winners and nominees
The Goodreads Choice Awards Book Club is a massive online group of thousands of dedicated bookworms. Each month, the group reads a past Goodreads Choice award winner from the previous year. It’s a decidedly democratic online book club: Each month features a bonus selection that group members vote on. Nominees often include award winners, new bestsellers and some of the highest-rated books on Goodreads. Though the club is not directly run by Goodreads staff, its location on the website makes it easy to click around between discussion boards, book reviews and your own personally curated virtual bookshelf.
Lez Book Club
Past reads: Our Wives Under the Sea by Julia Armfield, Change of Heart by Clare Lydon and Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
Join for: An inclusive community for queer women who love to read
The Lez Book Club takes place 100% 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.
The Reddit Book Club
Past reads: Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir, The 7 1/2 Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton and The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
Join for: Rousing discussions about a wide range of books
Are you looking for an old-school internet forum where you can join other bibliophiles in going down the rabbit hole of plot twists and character flaws? If so, the Reddit Book Club might be your new favorite virtual haunt. Most members read several books per month, and all selections (there are several per month) 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 books. The Reddit Book Club keeps it simple with suggested reads and lively text-based discussions.
Books & Boba
Past reads: The Sympathizer by Viet Thanh Nguyen, Chemistry by Weike Wang and An Ocean of Minutes by Thea Lim
Join for: Books by Asian or Asian American authors
Books & Boba is an online book club and podcast focused on books by Asian and Asian American authors. The group has selected a solid variety of adult and teen books in a range of genres—from contemporary fiction to fantasy and beyond—and each monthly pick is discussed on the podcast. Some months include author interviews and extra book lists for additional reading.
Addicted to YA
Past reads: Truly Devious by Maureen Johnson, Broken Things by Lauren Oliver and What If It’s Us by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Join for: A range of compelling YA selections
The’ 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 are all great teen novels, book club members can be any age. To become a member, simply join the club—this is another one of the online book clubs hosted on Goodreads—read one of the four monthly selections and participate in the online discussion.
OKHA
Past reads: Begin the World Over by Kung Li, Children of Blood and Bone by Tomi Adeyemi and Bone by Yrsa Daley-Ward
Join for: Social justice and activist-centric books
OKHA is the intersectional book club you might not have known you needed. Rather than focusing exclusively on books about racism, this online community prioritizes queer and Black authors in a way that celebrates their stories. Joining the group in reading 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.
Silent Book Club
Past reads: I Take My Coffee Black by Tyler Merritt, Saving Ruby King by Catherine Adel West and Never Saw Me Coming by Vera Kurian
Join for: A community of readers in 50 countries dedicated to the joy of books
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, so bring along that thriller novel you can’t put down or the BookTok favorite dominating your feed—whatever you feel like!
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.
Get Reader’s Digest’s Read Up newsletter for more books, humor, cleaning, travel, tech and fun facts all week long.
Why trust us
At Reader’s Digest, we’ve been sharing our favorite books for over 100 years. We’ve worked with bestselling authors including Susan Orlean, Janet Evanovich and Alex Haley, whose Pulitzer Prize–winning Roots grew out of a project funded by and originally published in the magazine. Through Fiction Favorites (formerly Select Editions and Condensed Books), Reader’s Digest has been publishing anthologies of abridged novels for decades. We’ve worked with some of the biggest names in fiction, including James Patterson, Ruth Ware, Kristin Hannah and more. The Reader’s Digest Book Club, helmed by Books Editor Tracey Neithercott, introduces readers to even more of today’s best fiction by upcoming, bestselling and award-winning authors. For this piece about book clubs online, Leandra Beabout tapped her experience as a longtime journalist who has written dozens of articles about books for Reader’s Digest to ensure that all information is accurate and offers the best possible advice to readers. We verify all facts and data, back them with credible sourcing and revisit them over time to ensure they remain accurate and up to date. Read more about our team, our contributors and our editorial policies.
Originally Published: November 22, 2021
