Browse our selection of the best books to read with your book club as recommended by independent publishers. These books are sure to engage, entertain, and spark discussion at your meetings!
The Happiness Thief by Nicole Bokat
In Bokat’s spine-tingling new novel, 41-year-old Natalie Greene still believes she might have caused the car crash that killed her mother decades ago. But did she? Haunted, Natalie joins her sister on a business trip to the Cayman Islands to relax, but she's spooked when she thinks she strikes something—or someone—on a desolate street while driving back to their hotel. She finds nothing in the road. When she later receives an anonymous email hinting at foul play, Natalie decides to investigate. But looking into the island accident also sparks a trip down a foggy, frightening memory lane—exposing dark secrets and chilling revelations.
The Artist Colony by Joanna Fitzpatrick
Part mystery, part historical fiction, this engrossing novel celebrates the artistic talents of early women painters, the deep bonds of sisterhood, the muse that is beautiful scenery, and the determination of one young woman to discover the truth, to protect an artistic legacy, and to give her sister the farewell she deserves.
Shutter by Ramona Emerson
Both a gritty paranormal thriller and a poignant coming-of-age story set in the Navajo Nation, Ramona Emerson’s Shutter follows Rita Todacheene, a forensic photographer tormented by the crime victims she documents. An explosive debut from one of crime fiction's most powerful new voices, this blood-chilling debut set in New Mexico’s Navajo Nation is equal parts gripping thriller, supernatural horror, and poignant portrayal of coming of age on the reservation.
Indigo Isle by T.I. Lowe
Indigo Isle is a Southern retelling of Beauty and the Beast that’s a perfect summer book club read. When Sonny discovers a secluded island, she comes across “the Monster of Indigo Isle.” Discover if two people haunted by their pasts can find a second chance in each other in this romance.
The Gifts by Liz Hyder
October 1840. A young woman staggers alone through a forest in the English countryside as a huge pair of impossible wings rip themselves from her shoulders.
In London, rumors of a "fallen angel" cause a frenzy across the city, and a surgeon desperate for fame and fortune finds himself in the grips of a dangerous obsession, one that will place the women he seeks in the most terrible danger . . .
The Gifts is an astonishing novel, a spellbinding tale told through five different perspectives and set against the luminous backdrop of nineteenth century London, it explores science, nature and religion, enlightenment, the role of women in society and the dark danger of ambition.
Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City by Jane Wong
In her debut memoir, Jane Wong tells a new story about Atlantic City, one that resists a single identity, a single story as she writes about making do with what you have―and what you don’t. What does it mean, she asks, to be both tender and angry? What is strength without vulnerability―and humor? Filled with beauty found in unexpected places, Meet Me Tonight in Atlantic City is a resounding love song of the Asian American working class, a portrait of how we become who we are, and a story of lyric wisdom to hold and to share.
Silent Came The Monster by Amy Hill Hearth
During the summer of 1916, a surgeon fights denial, conspiracy theories, defiance, and confusion as he tries to convince a skeptical public that a man-eating shark is the culprit behind a series of ongoing, fatal attacks. From New York Times bestselling author Amy Hill Hearth comes her first historical thriller, inspired by the story of the 1916 Jersey Shore shark, known as “the real JAWS.”
Go as a River by Shelley Read
A riveting and deeply moving debut—a love story in the spirit of Where the Crawdads Sing—that is both a stunning exploration of the natural world and an unforgettable coming-of-age novel. “Shelley Read's lyrical voice is a force of nature, and when she lends it to a woman leading a hardscrabble life in rural Colorado, the result is tragic, uplifting – and completely unforgettable.” —Bonnie Garmus, author of Lessons in Chemistry
Daughter Dalloway by Emily France
Perfect for fans of Marie Benedict and Renée Rosen, Daughter Dalloway is both an homage to the Virginia Woolf classic and a brilliant spin-off. A deeply evocative coming-of-age story, it follows two rebellious young women through interwar London, whose paths are inextricably entwined as they search for the truth about the people they love.
The Boys by Katie Hafner
A delicious summer read filled with humor and surprise for readers of Anne Tyler and Kevin Wilson. When introverted Ethan marries fun-loving Barb, he has every reason to believe he will be delivered from a lifetime of solitude. Barb suggests they foster two young brothers at the start of the pandemic. Instead of bringing the couple closer together, Ethan’s remarkable bond with the boys drives them apart. The New York Times calls it “a wonder of storytelling,” Washington Post says it is “nearly impossible to put down,” and the San Francisco Chronicle says it’s “A laugh-out-loud delight to read.”
The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese
From the New York Times-bestselling author of Cutting for Stone comes a stunning epic of love, faith, and medicine set in Kerala, South India following three generations of a family seeking the answers to a strange secret. Through this story of land and family, spanning the years 1900 to 1977, you will witness unthinkable changes, joy and triumph as well as hardship and loss, and the constant pull of faith and love.
The Best Summer of Our Lives by Rachel Hauck
The summer of ’77 was supposed to be the best of Summer Wilde’s life. But instead of a grand European adventure, she and her three best friends end up as camp counselors when a teenage prank goes awry. Now thirtysomething, after her music career crumbles, she returns to the place where everything changed and must face a reckoning with her past and the friends she lost to gain the closure she needs to move forward. “The Best Summer of Our Lives is a nostalgic novel of friendship, romance, and the choices that define a life.”—Brenda Novak, bestselling author
Emilienne by Pamela Binnings Ewen
The most beautiful, sought-after woman in Belle Époque Paris, Émilienne sees her youth and beauty fade. And where is love? As war threatens, her friend Coco Chanel has ideas of how to survive. From the bestselling author of The Queen of Paris comes a glittering new novel about youth, beauty, and having the courage to carve your own path in a world on the brink of war.
Mastering the Art of French Murder by Colleen Cambridge
Fans of Jacqueline Winspear, Marie Benedict, Nita Prose, and of course, Julia Child, will adore this magnifique new mystery set in Paris and starring Julia Child’s (fictional) best friend, confidant, and fellow American. From the acclaimed author of Murder at Mallowan Hall, this delightful new book provides a fresh perspective on the iconic chef’s years in post-WWII Paris.
Behold the Monster: Confronting America's Most Prolific Serial Killer by Jillian Lauren
New York Times bestselling author and lead of the Starz docuseries Confronting a Serial Killer, Jillian Lauren delivers the harrowing report of her unusual relationship with a psychopath. But this is more than a deep dive into the actions of Samuel Little. Lauren's riveting and emotional accounts reveal the women who were lost to cold files, giving Little's victims a chance to have their stories heard for the first time.
These book picks are a combination of titles chosen by the Bookclubs editorial staff, and the top titles recommended for book clubs by our publishing sponsors, including Blackstone Publishing, Soho Press, Speigal and Grau, Sourcebooks, Caitlin Hamilton Marketing and Baker Publishing Group. If you buy books through links on this page, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you.
Looking for more book club book recs? Check out our lists of the most popular book club books
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