12 Picks for Your Book Club in 2017

12 Picks for Your Book Club in 2017

 

xholding-jpg-pagespeed-ic-m-nx56esusWe love book clubs… You get to catch up with friends, read books you might not normally try, and you get to discuss (or argue!) with other people who also love to read. A perfect situation.  In this list, we look at some book club read ideas that might inspire your group next year. And don’t forget to check out the Better Reading Book Club – with the opportunity to be in the audience for our next one!

061 We Need to Talk about Kevin_stickeredHolding by Graham Norton is a story set in a small Irish town where nothing much happens… until there’s a grim discovery on a building site, and lots of buried secrets come to life.

With lots of characters and mysteries to discuss, We Need to Talk About Kevin by Lionel Shriver is still one of the most chilling books out there. This is a psychological and philosophical look into culpability; Eva is the mother of Kevin, and Kevin murdered people at his school. When you finish reading this one, you’ll need to talk to other people about it.

Jodi Picoult writes about issues well, and Small Great Things is her latest novel. The story centres around a black nurse, who is instructed not to touch a newborn baby by the parents – because she is black. This is a gripping and timely story, and should provoke much conversation.

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green is not just for younger readers. This is a heartbreaking and insightful story of two teenagers who fall in love. Hazel has cancer though, and it’s terminal. A perceptive book about love and life, it’s one that will make you want to share your tears with others.

Cloud AtlasCloud Atlas by David Mitchell is a difficult book to describe, so let us just say it’s absolutely brilliant, intelligent and mind-blowing. Six lives and one adventure, you’ll want to experience this one with others who have just read it too so you can marvel together.

All Is Not Forgotten by Wendy Walker is a deeply chilling and utterly absorbing psychological thriller. It’s a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, and we think the twists and turns in this book will have your book club engrossed too!

We could probably put all of Liane Moriarty’s books on this list, but The Husband’s Secret is a particular favourite. It starts off with a letter addressed to Cecilia to be opened on her husband’s death – only her husband isn’t dead yet. This kicks of a series of events that will have long reaching consequences…

A House Without Windows by Nadia Hashimi is an intensely moving, deeply sad – sometimes funny – novel. While Hashimi paints a bleak picture of life for women in Afghanistan, her main character Zeba is so lovable, the women surrounding her in prison so likeable and their stories so moving that it’s ultimately uplifting.

leave-meA classic, Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier is the story of a young girl consumed by love and the struggle to find her identity, while living the shadow of her new husband’s first wife. A great example of how books that have been around for years are still relevant today.

No matter what your political persuasions are, Dreams From My Father by Barack Obama is a compelling read. Written when he was 33 and presidency was a distant dream, this is a beautifully written and honest personal memoir from a very interesting man.

Gayle Forman’s Leave Me is a tender story about making new friendships and mending old ones, what it means to be a parent, and how to take care of yourself when you’re expected to be caring for everyone else. Maribeth is a very real and flawed character, and you’ll have lots to discuss.

The Darkest Secret by Alex Marwood is sure to appeal to all fans of psychological thrillers. When three year old identical twin Coco goes missing while the parents have left the children alone, there is a media circus. Taut and twisting, this will keep your book group hooked until the very end.

What has your Book Club been reading this year, or what will you pick for 2017? Let us know in the comments or on our Facebook page, and be sure to sign up to our newsletter for more great recommendations!

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  1. Lindy says:

    How about The Painted Sky by Alice Campion,

    The novel written by a book club.

    Or maybe their new sequel – The Shifting Light – to be published early 2017

  2. Adele Agars says:

    I think ‘The Lakehouse’ by Kate Morton is a brilliant book club read!

  3. The Artist’s Muse – an enthralling interpretation of Egon Schiele through the eyes of his model Wally Neuzil.