There is nothing better during a Michigan winter than cozying up with a great book…except maybe finding the right book club with whom to discuss the book together!
Book clubs allow for a sense of community and recommendations for new reads to brighten your winter. Whether you are a longtime bookworm or making the resolution to read more often, the Ann Arbor area is home to plenty of great book clubs for every type of reader.
Sci/Fi Book Club at Booksweet
Science fiction lovers will find a joyful experience at Booksweet, where they open their club to anyone who loves a great sci/fi read. The club usually draws about 15 people, some who have finished the book and others who have read as much as they are able. According to the website, “all are welcome, valued, and celebrated.” The Sci/Fi books club meets bi-monthly, with members voting on the next books and the Booksweet co-owners prepping and facilitating meetings.
Meetings are held at Booksweet. For more information, visit the Sci/Fi Book Club at Booksweet website or call 734-929-4112.
Eco Book Club at Literati Bookstore
Combine a love of reading with a passion for our planet at the Eco Book Club. Hosted by activist and poet Alison Swan, the Eco Book Club is focused on environmental issues such as climate change, extinction crises, environmental racism, and fostering hope for a sustainable future.
This club meets once a month at the Literati Bookstore. For more information, visit the Eco Book Club at Literati Bookstore website or call 734-585-5567.
Brunch and Books Club
Great food is a definite benefit of books clubs. The Brunch and Books Club seeks to create a relaxed (and delicious) atmosphere where members can eat, laugh, find community and share good reads. The club rotates venues, choosing a new restaurant for each meeting. They also use a collaborative process when choosing literature. According to their website, they “aim for a diverse range of genres and authors, ensuring everyone’s reading preferences are represented.”
Brunch and Books Club meets on the third Sunday of each month at various restaurants. For more information, visit the Brunch and Books Club event page.
Ann Arbor Classics Book Group
Do you love the classics? The Ann Arbor Classics Book Group has made it their mission to read and discuss Boxall’s “1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die.” The Classics Book Group has a thriving membership, with group members nominating and voting on the book they will read next. They also occasionally host a post-discussion dinner together.
Ann Arbor Classics Book Group meets monthly at an organizer’s house. For more information, visit the Ann Arbor Classics Book Group event page.
Rambling Readers Book Club
If you are a nature lover, the Rambling Readers Book Club might be the perfect club for you. Led by naturalist Elle Bogle, the Rambling Readers read nature-focused books, both fiction and non-fiction. After discussing the book, group members further explore the nature themes by hiking together through Washtenaw County’s beautiful trails.
Rambling Readers Book Club meets on quarterly basis. For more information, visit the Rambling Readers Book Club webpage. Pre-registration is required at the Washtenaw County website.
Silent Book Club
For a less traditional option, try the Silent Book Club at the Ann Arbor Public Library. During the book club time, members arrive and settle in for some comfy silent reading among fellow community members and book lovers. Bring your own book and enjoy a quiet hour reading with time scheduled to chat after for anyone who would like to discuss their books (or, according to the website, you can just keep reading!).
The Silent Book Club takes place on Sundays at the Ann Arbor District Library Downtown. For more information, visit the Silent Book Club event page or the website for the Ann Arbor District Library.
Ann Arbor Book Club Meetup
Choices abound through the Ann Arbor Book Club Meetup, where you have the option to join three different groups that each meet once per month at the Pittsfield branch of the Ann Arbor Library. This book club includes a fiction group that meets on Tuesdays, a sci/fi and fantasy group that meets on Saturdays and a group for members who are aged 20-40 that meets on Tuesdays. Discussion questions are posted in advance so that you can feel fully prepared.
For more information, visit the Ann Arbor Book Club Meetup event page.
Bløm Book Club
Enjoy Bløm’s delicious food and drink menu while you discuss books from large range of topics and authors. Bløm’s Book Club uses books that can be easily found at the Ann Arbor District, Saline and Ypsilanti Libraries. They’ve even partnered with Literati Bookstore for a 15% discount on all featured books.
Bløm’s Book Club meets every 6 weeks in Bløm Meadworks. For more information, visit the Blom Meadwork’s website.
Literati Cultura Book Club
The Literati Cultura Book Club not only focuses on engaging and challenging book selections, they also provide members with a signed first edition, letterpress and letter of introduction typed on an antique typewriter for each book. They also offer a monthly subscription and both virtual and in-person options for meetings.
The Literati Cultura Book Club meets monthly at the Literati Bookstore. For more information, visit the Literati Cultura Book Club at the Literati Bookstore website or call 734-585-5567.
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