If you've ever been a member of a book club, you'll know that while the mission is to complete and dissect a novel, the process usually involves snacks, beverages and a night out. Prose is paramount, but catching up with friends (and making new ones) is the best chapter of book club. And, while it's always fun to host, sometimes it's a tall order to clean your house and think of scintillating conversation around a book you just finished. Here are a few options for taking book club out on the town.
Rushing Trading Company serves locally sourced, globally inspired brunch, craft cocktails and gourmet espresso. The Rushing Family, having lived in Switzerland for some years, has recognized that quality should not be spared and every small detail counts. Owned and operated by women, this bright space is a perfect setting to discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon with a strong female protagonist.
SUGO is a family-style Italian and Greek restaurant that focuses on dishes crafted from locally sourced ingredients. Its communal, shareable plates make it an ideal spot for book clubs discussing immersive fantasy worlds.
South City Kitchen at Avalon: From classic brunch favorites to elegant evening entrées, South City Kitchen highlights bold flavors, fresh ingredients and a generous helping of Southern charm - perfect for readers exploring Southern-based stories like Where the Crawdads Sing.
Rumi’s at Avalon brings Persian warmth to book club gatherings with shareable dishes like charcoal-grilled kebabs, savory seafood and flavorful basmati rice dishes. The inviting space encourages relaxed discussion, and the variety ensures everyone finds something they love while lingering over the latest chapter or plot twist. The patio is perfect for groups too.
Johns Creek Books can help plug you into a book club. Check the shop or their website for this month's reads. Here are a few clubs where new members are welcomed.
Erin's AP English for Adults Book Club
Meets every second Tuesday of the month at 7pm.
Tina's Book Club
Meeting twice a month on Tuesdays
Now reading:
Michael Connelly, The Proving Ground
Good morning Monster, Catherine Gildiner
Joshua's "The Future is Female" Sci-Fi Book Club
Meets the third Wednesday of the month, featuring Sci-Fi books by female authors.
Erin's Book Club of "Award-winning books you keep meaning to read but they just sit on your TBR shelf and now you are at a cocktail party pretending to have read them."
Meets every fourth Tuesday of the month at 7pm, featuring all those books you've been meaning to read.
The "Fellowship of Fantasy" Book Club
Meets the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7pm.
Now reading:
The Chosen and the Beautiful, Nghi Vo
Horror Book Club
Meets the last Wednesday of the month at 7pm.
Now reading:
Lone Women by Victor Lavalle
Immortal Pleasures by V. Castro
Current Events Book Club
Meets the last Friday of every month at 12pm.
Now reading: Trust by Pete Buttigieg
Mostly Fiction Book Club
Mondays, 5:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Northeast Spruill Oaks Library
Silent Book Club Johns Creek, GA
Monthly meetups in Johns Creek and Alpharetta to read, discuss books and socialize. BYO (Books) and enjoy the conversations! Silent Book Club donates 5% of their annual revenue to literary nonprofits and organizations dedicated to supporting public libraries and the freedom to read.
Owned and operated by women, this bright space is a perfect setting to discuss The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon with a strong female protagonist.