Let’s be honest—sometimes choosing the next book for book club takes longer than actually reading the book! Everyone has different tastes, favorite genres, and authors they love. Before you know it, your meeting has turned into a debate instead of a discussion.
The good news? Choosing your next read doesn’t have to be stressful. In fact, it can become part of the fun. If your book club has fallen into a routine or you’re looking for a fresh way to discover new books, here are some creative ideas to make your next selection an event everyone will enjoy.
1. Blind Date with a Book
Wrap several books in brown paper and write only a few clues on the outside.
Examples:
- Small-town romance
- Unforgettable plot twist
- Historical fiction based on true events
- Cozy mystery with a lovable detective
Each member picks one without knowing the title. It’s a fun way to step outside your comfort zone and discover books you may never have chosen otherwise.
2. Spin the Genre Wheel
Create a simple wheel with different genres such as:
- Historical Fiction
- Mystery
- Romance
- Thriller
- Fantasy
- Memoir
- Nonfiction
- Literary Fiction
Spin the wheel at the end of your meeting. Whatever genre it lands on becomes the category for your next read. Then members can suggest books within that genre.
3. Judge a Book by Its Cover
Sometimes we spend so much time reading reviews that we forget the joy of simply picking up a beautiful book.
Visit your local library or bookstore and let everyone choose a book based only on the cover. No reading the synopsis first! Reveal the summaries afterward and vote for your favorite.
You may be surprised by what catches everyone’s eye.
4. Book Bingo
Create a bingo card filled with reading prompts like:
- Award Winner
- Published This Year
- Female Author
- Debut Novel
- Book with a Blue Cover
- Set in Another Country
- Recommended by a Librarian
- Animal on the Cover
- Less Than 300 Pages
Draw one square randomly, and that’s your next challenge.
5. Pick from Your TBR Jar
Have every member write down books from their “To Be Read” list and place them in a jar.
At the end of each meeting, draw one title. This is a wonderful way to finally read those books everyone keeps saying they’ll get to “someday.”
6. Travel Through Books
Choose a destination instead of a title.
Maybe this month your story takes place in:
- Italy
- Scotland
- Japan
- North Carolina
- Alaska
- Paris
Everyone suggests books set in that location, and the club votes on one.
It’s like taking a vacation without leaving your favorite reading chair.
7. Celebrate a Theme Month
Coordinate your selections with the calendar.
Ideas include:
- January: New Beginnings
- February: Love Stories
- March: Women’s History
- July: Patriotic Reads
- October: Spooky Mysteries
- November: Gratitude
- December: Holiday Favorites
Seasonal themes often inspire wonderful discussions beyond the pages.
8. Let the Library Surprise You
Many libraries offer personalized reading recommendations or display featured staff picks.
Challenge your group to choose only from those recommendations. Librarians are experts at connecting readers with hidden gems, and you might discover a new favorite author.
9. Choose by Rating
Pick a minimum rating on your favorite reading app, then browse books that meet the criteria.
For example:
- 4.3 stars or higher
- At least 10,000 reviews
- Recently released
While ratings aren’t everything, they can introduce your club to highly recommended titles.
10. Pass the Book
Have every member bring one favorite book they’ve read in the past year. Spend two minutes “selling” the book to the group without revealing major spoilers.
Once everyone has shared, vote on which recommendation sounds the most interesting.
You may find that your friends become your favorite book influencers.
Bonus Idea: Create a Reading Challenge
Instead of choosing one random book every month, make the entire year into a reading adventure.
Challenge yourselves to read:
- A banned book
- A classic novel
- A book by a local author
- A translated work
- A book over 500 pages
- A novella
- An award-winning novel
- A memoir
By December, you’ll have explored genres and authors you might never have considered.
Make Choosing the Book Part of the Fun
Book clubs are about so much more than finishing a novel. They’re about conversations, friendships, laughter, and discovering stories that stay with us long after we turn the last page.
By adding a little creativity to the selection process, every meeting begins with excitement and anticipation instead of indecision.
After all, sometimes choosing the next great book is almost as enjoyable as reading it.
I’d love to hear from you!
How does your book club choose its next read? Do you vote, rotate picks, or have a unique tradition? Share your favorite method in the comments—I might feature some reader ideas in a future post on Reading with Frugal Mom!
