We all love to read in one format or another. It could be the daily newspaper, magazines, books, audibles, podcasts, or online. Why not create your own book club for two? Starting a book club with your partner can be a great way to spend quality time together, engage in meaningful conversations, and expand your knowledge and horizons.
Here are a few steps you can follow to start your own book club:
- Choose a book: Choose a book that both you and your partner are interested in reading. You can take turns choosing a book or decide on a book together. We’ve listed some of our favorites below.
- Set a schedule: Decide on a schedule that works for both of you. You can meet once a week or once a month, depending on your schedules and preferences.
- Create a discussion guide: A discussion guide can help you structure your conversation and ensure that you cover all the important points in the book. You can create a list of questions or prompts to guide your discussion. We’ve included a sample one below to get you started.
- Set a location: You can have your book club meetings at home or at a local coffee shop or library. Choose a location that is comfortable and conducive to discussion. You can even do a book club meeting in the car on your way to dinner. Our favorite is a book club happy hour. We have a nice little inexpensive dinner, and do our book chat.
- Invite friends: You can invite other friends or couples to join your book club to add more diversity to the discussion.
Sample Discussion Guide:
- What is the main premise of the book?
- What are the main themes or messages of the book?
- What were your favorite parts of the book? Why?
- What were your least favorite parts of the book? Why?
- How did the book make you feel?
- How does the book relate to your own life or experiences?
- What did you learn from the book?
- What scene stuck with you most?
- Do you agree or disagree with the author's perspective? Why?
- What questions do you have about the book?
- Are there any quotes from the book that stood out to you? Why?
Some good books for a couple's book club could include:
Relationship Books:
Fiction Books:
Non-Fiction Books:
Not seeing something you love? Try these other book club resources:
- The Ultimate List of Book Club Books
- Short Book Club Books
- Best YA Books For Book Clubs
- How To Find A Book Club Near You
- Great Book Club Ideas
- Best Book Club Gift Ideas
No Time to Read? Make it a "POD-club"
If reading is simply too much in your already busy life (we get it), consider swapping in a podcast that will spark some conversation and discussion. You can listen on the treadmill, or in the car! We love the learning pods. Try and pick something that will spark some great conversation. You can even make a weekly game of it, and trade off every other week with a new pick.
Here are a few we like:
Stuff You Should Know: The name kind of says it all. Listen to this show to learn things you should know, but probably don’t. You’ll find interesting info on obscure topics like uranium mining, stamp collecting, and tupperware. Fascinating stuff. Honestly, though, this is easily one of the best podcasts to learn a new fun fact that’s perfect for an upcoming cocktail party.
Modern Love: Brings fresh love stories and deep conversations with the authors each Wednesday.
Committed: Jo Piazza, who’s a journalist, author, and podcaster, delves into the hilarious, heartbreaking, inspiring, and sometimes shocking stories of couples of all kinds. These couples have really interesting stories to tell — they’ve weathered through unimaginable circumstances, and after the longest of days, and still want to wake up next to one another in the morning. She’s interviewed couples ranging from reality dating show successes (Cameron and Lauren from Love is Blind) to a pair of sex workers to couples who’ve overcome physical and emotional tragedies together.
Something You Should Know: All it takes is one little fact or one little piece of wisdom to change your life forever. That's the purpose and the hope of "Something You Should Know." In each episode, host Mike Carruthers interviews top experts in their field to bring you fascinating information and advice to help you save time and money, advance in your career, become wealthy, improve your relationships and help you simply get more out of life. In addition, Mike uncovers and shares short, engaging pieces of "intel" you can use to make your life better - today. Right now.
