Reading Club Novels & Stories

"Book club." "Where?" "The community center on Maple Street." I groaned. "You've got to be kidding me." "I'm not." "Dean, I'm not interested in sitting around with a bunch of strangers talking about books I haven't read." "Then maybe you should have read them," he countered, still not looking at me. I wanted to reach forward and smack the phone out of his hand. Instead, I just sank lower in my seat and glared at the back of his head.

“This club isn’t just about reading books. It’s about sharing ideas, writing your own stories, and exploring literature in all its forms. We organize poetry slams, writing workshops, book discussions, and even field trips” I found myself intrigued despite my initial nervousness. The way Nathan spoke about the club made it sound exciting and welcoming. Rachel took over. “We know some of you might feel shy or nervous, especially if you’re new. Don’t worry. By the end of this semester, we’ll all be like a family”. Hearing that, I relaxed a little, a soft smile forming on my lips. Maybe this wouldn’t be as intimidating as I thought. Nathan clapped his hands. “Alright! We’ll start with a quick in

“It’s pretty wild. You’re in for an interesting night.” Luna grabs another copy of the book from a nearby stack and hands it to me. “Here you go. This one’s a fresh copy, we have plenty. You’ll see why in a minute.” I take the book, glancing between them. “You’ve actually got extras? What kind of book club is this?” Lilly grins mischievously. “One that takes its material seriously. We didn’t just pick this one by chance. We’ve been swapping theories about it for weeks now. Everyone’s dying to hear your take.”

The workshop started small six people on Zoom every other Wednesday at 9 p.m., when Lagos had finally quieted enough for real listening. Adeyemi called it “Reading After Dark.” No syllabus. No grades. Just books, questions, and whatever came up when people felt safe enough to speak.

Her hair was bright pink, her nails painted black, and she wore a T‑shirt that said “Books Before Boys.” “You’re new,” she said, handing me my drink. “Is it that obvious?” “You have that look. The ‘I just moved here and I don’t know anyone’ look.” She leaned on the counter. “I had it too, two years ago. It fades.” I laughed. “How long did it take?” “About a week. Then I found the book club.” “Book club?” She grabbed a flyer from under the counter and handed it to me. “Tuesday nights. The Spined Fox bookstore. We read everything from literary fiction to trashy romance. No judgment.”

Goldstein said. “That’s a good idea,” Rayvin agreed. “You know, Rayvin. You should come to the book club in town,” the older woman said. Rayvin tensed up, and she felt Mikael squeeze her hand. “I don’t think I’m a book club person,” Rayvin said. The mayor and his wife chuckled. “Neither am I,” she confessed. “They have been reading the same book for two years,” her husband said with a grin. “Yes, well, Gossip and sherry club just doesn’t have the same ring to it,” Mrs. Goldstein said, making them all chuckle.

Books are removed and added, so it's kept up to date. What makes it special is the little section of books from best-sellers across the world. For the literature students, of course, I like to take advantage of that perk too. There are no library passes, but you'll have to check in with the librarian to get a book out. There's a common room with several chairs to sit and read, but since it's Tuesday and a little past noon, the place is almost empty. I count two girls and three guys when I passed. I visit the novel section. The likes of pride and prejudice, ugly love, after, and a few rom-com are enticing but I skip them all and take up a psychology text. I'll take those home and read them la

I’m trying to be patient, but it’s harder than I’d like to admit. Two months ago, I opened my bookstore, and it’s been incredible. Twice a week, we host book clubs, and I’ve made it a point to bring one of the guys with me to each session. It’s hilarious watching their faces as we dive into the discussions. The women seem to enjoy it too—something about discussing steamy romance scenes with a bit of eye candy in the room. The door finally creaks open, and I sit up straighter as they walk in.

“You’ll have to read them to me.” I sighed, realizing I couldn’t get him off my lap. I could shove him, but he’s probably prepared for that and would deadweight or pop right back into my lap. It’d be an endless loop. So, I had to give up and endure. “My dad knows what I read. Uncle Alex started Bound To Please, a book club many of us in the ranked families across multiple packs are part of. We all enjoy reading paranormal romance because it’s an interesting escape to see how these humans have tried to describe our reality.” I explained.

"We make a great trio. I love you both." As the day progressed, Ruby felt her weariness growing. She had spent the past few nights studying diligently, but Math remained a subject she struggled with. A part of her believed that she needed Ella's help to overcome her difficulties, and she hoped that she would receive it. The day marked the inauguration of the book club, and the final lecture of the day was canceled. Luke and Olivia tried to convince Ruby to join them for the program, but she firmly refused. She didn't want to spend her time on anything that wasn't mandatory. Saying a quick goodbye to her friends, she made her way to the first floor of the library.