The Next Best Book Club Novels & Stories

"You stop reading because it feels like work instead of escape." "Exactly," I said, relieved that he got it without me having to explain. "I keep rereading the same pages and realizing I don't remember anything I just read." He smiled. "That's why book club helps. Other people keep you accountable. I’m part of a book club actually that started out in January. It’s just a dozen people, and we read different genres every week. But it’s so nice, and it helps to keep me accountable because without it, I won’t even read anything."

Yet here I was, in this room full of people who had chosen me, not because they had to, but because they wanted to. I smiled, a real one this time, and sat at the center of the circle. April clapped her hands together, bubbling in excitement. “Okay, enough of the emotional display. Let’s get to work. Book Club is officially back in session!” Laughter filled the room. We started tossing around ideas for the next reading list, but the discussion quickly turned into a chaotic mess of inside jokes and playful teasing. Maya insisted we include something “dark and brooding,” while Sammy argued for something “funny, because God knows we all need to laugh more.” April rolled her eyes and wrote both

She doesn't even wait for me to get out before opening her door and standing tall, looking at the front of the club with curiosity. “You look disappointed.” She glances at me as if surprised I called her out for the emotion visible on her face and lifts a shoulder. “I expected more, I guess.” That seems like a reasonable enough response, and I know it in my head. Club Red may not look like much on the outside, but that is a dangerous stance to take because the club isn’t about what's going on at the facade, it's about what's happening within. “Always dangerous to judge a book by its cover.”

she says with an eye roll but I know she is happy that I am here to remind her to take care of herself. "Anything else I should write down in the 100 things to do in a club, super extra boring edition ,your bossiness"she says with a smile while I roll my eyes. "If not let's go and have some fun, miss no fun " she says pulling me deeper into the club, the club Deepest Desire was the most popular and exclusive club in New York City and it was packed to the max . We manage to find some seats by the bar and order some drinks , when our order finally arrives, Mia downs her drinks immediately like she has been dying of thirst in the Sahara desert.

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.”

“You’re one of those conspiracy people.” “I am,” she said proudly. “Thank you for noticing.” I poured tea into mugs and added sugar, too much, as usual. Bailey watched, horrified. “Sweet tea,” she said, sounding like she’d discovered a crime. “You’re a sweet tea person.” “Yes,” I said, defensive on principle. Bailey leaned closer, eyes gleaming. “Okay. So here’s what we do. We start a book club.” I blinked. “What?” “A book club,” she repeated, like it was obvious. “For romance. Specifically romantic fantasy. Specifically.” she lowered her voice again, conspiratorial “ the ones with wolves.”

Another XY chromosome in attendance was a young lad that looked like he'd been forced to be here. Three men among six women, discussing an erotica book. At the risk of sounding like Sawyer, this really did look like one of those cults that adjourned with an orgy. "Shall we start?" My god mother broke the tension almost as if she could read my thoughts aloud. "I'm just going to start by thanking Zade Cutler for showing up to our book club. I didn't know a man of your...ehm..caliber was interested in books" I smiled. A smile that had the Smith women swooning and had Claire rolling her eyes with disinterest.

I say with a shrug and she gets a thoughtful look. "You really don't spend time with any other people?" She asks and I take a deep breath before moving closer to her and lowering my voice. "If I tell you, you promise never to tell another soul?" I ask seriously. She nods, eyes wide as she waits for my next words. "On Sundays, I go to a comic book store and play Dungeons and Dragons with a few other guys." I say and rather than laughing at me, like I thought she would, she gets a wide smile and looks up at me with her twinkling green eyes.

Mia says fanning her face. Oh yeah, somehow in the past two weeks us girls have been getting together on Fridays to discuss our book of the week, kind of like a book club I suppose? Tonight we’re at Steph and Julian’s house while X and Julian are downstairs playing pool. “Fuck me that was such a hot chapter!” Alina squeals and then takes a big gulp from her glass of wine. “I’m telling you guys, you need to role-play that scene! Julian and I did last night,” Steph beams.

Lumen asked. "Apart from working here, the book club is good." "Yeah? What are you currently reading?" "The book club usually has three books at a time we're reading through. One of Sonny's books, one personal development and one for entertainment. I've finished the first two. I'm on to The Hobbit now." "Oh yeah?" Max perked up. "I really liked that one as a kid. It took me longer to get into Lord of the Rings." For the first time, Aspen actually had a little life in her eyes. "Yeah? I've heard it gets really bogged down in description."