“Form a Book Club!” Starter Kit
18 July, 2025 ● Written by STORYVOR
Anyone can form a book club! And we think just about everyone should. Whether you’re siblings or a group of friends, whether you’re seven or seventy years old, reading together and sharing thoughts on what you’ve read is a great way to gain new perspectives, broaden your reading, and simply connect over stories.
We’ve put together a handy starter kit with ideas and tips for your first book club meeting, as well as helpful questions to get the conversation going.
1. Find your crew
Ask your friends, classmates, or family members if they want to form a book club.
3–6 people is a great size to start—enough for good conversation, but not too many to manage.
Pick a fun name for your book club and start a group chat, so you can coordinate dates.
Tip: Don’t worry if you’re all into different types of books. Taking turns choosing makes it more fun, and being open to all sorts of subjects and genres is a big plus, as you’ll discover books you may never have read otherwise.
2. Pick your book
Let the whole group make suggestions and then vote on them in a poll, or take turns choosing which book to read next.
Try to choose something everyone can get their hands on—your school library, a shared ebook, or the local bookstore.
Tip: Audiobooks are also a great way to keep up with book club reading. It won’t be quite the same experience as reading on paper, but it will add a fun new perspective to the discussion.
3. Set a schedule
Decide how often to meet. Every two weeks? Once a month? Whenever you can?
Pick a time that works for everyone, like after school or on weekends.
Choose how much to read before each meeting. (For example, Chapters 1–5 by next Friday. Or the whole book!)
4. Choose a hangout spot
In person: someone's house, school library, classroom, or a park.
Online: use Zoom, Google Meet, or some other video calling platform if you’re not all in the same place.
5. Get the conversation going
Here are a few easy questions to kick off your discussions:
What did you like (or not like) about this part of the book?
Who’s your favorite character so far?
Would you want to visit the world in which the story takes place, or be friends with any of the characters?
What do you think will happen next? (You can even take bets, or write down predictions and see who was closest at the next meeting.)
Tip: Lots of publishers provide discussion guides for certain books. These guides will be full of great questions to discuss. Google the title of your book club book and then “book club questions” or “discussion guide”. Then print it out and have it ready for the final meeting. (Usually, discussion guides also have questions about the book’s ending.)
6. Add a fun twist
Bring snacks or bake items that match the book theme
Dress up as your favorite character for one meeting
Make a playlist that fits the vibe of the book
Act out a scene or draw your favorite moment
7. Celebrate finishing a book!
Have a book-themed dinner
Watch the movie adaptation (if there is one) and discuss the differences.
Have a mini party or create awards for favorite character, funniest moment, best twist, etc.
Take a group photo with your books and start a club scrapbook or blog!
Write to the author if you loved the book, and let them know!
Bonus Tip: The most important rule of book club is: everyone’s opinion matters. There are no wrong answers when it comes to what a book makes you think or feel. That’s what makes reading a book together so much fun. It’s an opportunity to listen, discuss, and really connect with other people through words and stories.
Download your printable “How to Start a Book Club!” guide:
