The Pros and Cons of Joining a Book Club in 2025

Whether you're a lifelong reader or a casual bookworm, let's talk about whether book clubs are right for you!

Are you in one? Are you looking for one? Have you ever wanted to see what all the fuss was about?

Let's get stuck in and find out if joining a book club is something you need to do in 2025!

Pros of joining a book club

Community and Connection

• Like any kind of club, a book club involves mixing with other people. Reading generally tends to be something you do by yourself, and often you might find yourself closing the cover of a book and simply needing to talk about what you've just read with somebody! We've all been there! Whether it's a jaw-dropping twist in a thriller, a super-spicy scene that makes you want to douse yourself in Holy Water, or a book that you simply did not enjoy - we all need to talk about it and book clubs afford us the opportunity to do this!
• Getting to chat with other readers about our experiences of reading a shared book is really lovely. Not only will you reap the benefits from chatting to others about a book you've all just read, but you'll meet like-minded individuals that will quickly become friends. Yes, you'll talk about the book you've read, but you'll also meander off course and discuss what you're all currently reading and give one another book recommendations - it's a wonderful evening to spend time with book people! 
  
  
• There's also no doubt that we're living in a digital world. Everything is online now. You can see a GP online, book your meals online, order food online; we literally do not need to speak to another individual to do everyday tasks anymore. Yes it's often quicker and more convenient, but it also means that we're living in a world where human connection is becoming sparse and difficult to come by. Book clubs allow us to meet people face to face, and sometimes online, but it enables human connection to thrive. 

Accountability and Consistency 

When you're a member of a book club, you need to have the book read by a certain date in order to be able to discuss it. This can be a great incentive to finish a book and stay on track. This can be particularly helpful for anyone who enjoys to read but struggles to read consistently. Joining a monthly, or bimonthly, book club can help you to keep picking up your book and get it read. 

Diverse Perspectives and Deeper Discussions 

• Book clubs can encourage you to see things from another's point of view. Whether a character, or fellow book club member, you're forced to consider other's experiences and opinions and often end up seeing things from a perspective that you might have missed had you simply read solo. 
• Book club discussions often delve deeper into discussions around different characters, themes and narratives. There is a real beauty in this because you'll often find that you're learning about new things at each meeting.

Opportunities to Learn and Grow 

- Reading books that you might never have picked up for yourself 

- meet new people, make new friends

- get out of the house, time for yourself

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