Are you in a rut and looking for new ways to get-together with friends? Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting a book club, but you’re not sure where to start. I’ve teamed up with Chinet brand to show you how to Host a Modern Book Club Get-Together that your friends will actually want to attend.
This year I made it a goal to spend more quality time with friends. It seems like our lives just keep getting busier and busier, and with all the technology at our fingertips, we keep getting more and more disconnected from actual people. Throughout the year I’ve been working on finding intentional ways to celebrate and connect with friends, from a casual Backyard Bonfire party to the ultimate Friendsgiving celebration I’ve had so much fun making memories with friends. I decided to create a monthly book club get-together to keep the fun going.
In the words of my favorite book club host Oprah “a story is always better if you have someone to share it with.”
How to Start a Modern Book Club:
This book club get-together isn’t your mother’s book club. It’s a simpler version of the traditional book club that is much more relaxed and fun! And speaking of simplicity, my go-to entertaining brand Chinet is helping make this celebration a breeze. I love that when I use Chinet products I don’t have to worry about cleanup and can spend more time with guests!
Unlike a traditional book club where everyone is typically assigned the same book and a set timeframe to read it in, this modern book club encourages friends to bring a copy of their favorite book to discuss and share.
Instead of assigning a book and planning a formal discussion, ask each guest to bring their favorite book or a recent read to pass along. At the start of the party ask everyone to briefly tell the group what they loved about their book selection. After everyone has shared their book encourage friends to take turns swapping books and picking out a new book to take home and read.
You can keep track of who borrows what book with these fun printable library cards. This way you know the book will make it back home to the original owner.
Tips for Hosting a Book Club Get-Together:
Getting together with friends doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. That’s why I count on the Chinet® brand for products that take the stress out of hosting—so I have everything I need to pull off the ultimate get together with friends. Now that you’ve got the basics of how this modern book club get-together works, here are tips for hosting this get-together with ease and convenience.
Create Your Book Club Community
Any type of club is a great way to build friendships, and a book club is no exception. Book clubs are a great opportunity to cultivate existing friendships or an opportunity to widen your net. Even if you only meet once a month, over the course of several books and some interesting discussion, you’ll quickly start to form some sense of community.
Keep it Simple
Apart from the books and great conversations, your book club isn’t a success without some yummy nibbles. Keep things simple and serve small bites like a charcuterie cheese board and bite-sized desserts. I set up a simple buffet with the food and my go-to party essentials from Chinet brand. Chinet® Classic White™ dessert plates are perfect for the small bites, and guests can fill Chinet® Comfort Cup® insulated hot cups with warm hot chocolate or coffee and curl up and get cozy for the book club discussion.
Chinet® Classic White™ All Occasion napkins look perfectly pretty tucked into burlap napkin holders. Add printable library cards, a pencil and a sprig of baby’s breath for a simple and pretty presentation.
Encourage Discussion
While this isn’t your typical book club discussion where everyone is providing their feedback about the same book don’t be afraid to encourage discussion about the books each guest brings. If someone else in the group has read the book be sure to encourage them to share their point of view after all this is what will entice guests to take home your book.
Avoid Over Meeting
Err on the side of caution when organizing a meeting schedule. Anything more than once a month, maybe overly-ambitious. Also, 2-3 hours seems to be the sweet spot. General rule-of-thumb: Plan 30 minutes for food, wine and catching up with friends, an hour for discussion and the final 30 minutes for a more informal discussion, nibbling and socializing.
Have Fun
Let’s be honest, if you’re not having fun at book club, you’re doing it wrong! Laughing and spending time together is just as important as the actual book discussion. 
Everyone is sure to have a great time choosing a book, discussing their favorites, noshing on food, and ultimately getting caught up in a great story. This is one book club meeting your friends will actually want to attend!
I love this idea as a way of discovering new books to read! I tend to reread my favorite books over and over again, because I am always wary about picking up a random book I might not enjoy – my time is too precious to waste reading a book that’s just ok! 🙂 Recommendations from friends with similar tastes is the best way I’ve found for picking my next book, and exchanging those recommendations through a fun book club seems like a win-win! I’ve also had good luck picking books from collections of favorites, like this one https://www.upparent.com/lists/best-books-of-all-time-for-adults.