Carol

10 Discussable Books For Your #BookClub #Fiction #TopTenTuesday

10 Discussable Books For Your Book Club

It’s Thanksgiving week in the U.S., and I’m THANKFUL for authors who write amazing stories for our enjoyment! For today’s Top Ten Tuesday “freebie” prompt, I curated a list of ten engaging and discussable books for your book club. These are all recent releases and I have read each one.

10 Discussable Books For Your Book Club (Image: white text over a background picture of a young woman holdinng a huge stack of books with both hands and balanced under her chin

I’m linking up today with #TopTenTuesday: That Artsy Reader Girl: Thankful Freebie. Today’s topic is a “freebie,” so I’m taking the opportunity to express gratitude to authors for writing these engaging, unputdownable, page-turning books that book clubs will love!

Top Ten Tuesday (meme)

In no particular order, let me introduce you to a few books I recommend for your book club…

Each one has my 4-5 Stars stamp of recommendation!
All read by me!
Most released in 2022 (one released 11/2021, one released 2/2023).

***Titles are links to my reviews or Amazon affiliate links***

The Girl From Guernica by Karen Robards

My favorite book of the year is a histfic/thriller and its engaging storyline and interesting characters will generate lots of discussion.
Discussion topics: trust, family drama, espionage
5 Stars

The Girl From Guernica by Karen Robards (cover) Image: a young woman looks to the side and behind her at planes circling a town

Maureen by Rachel Joyce

#3 in the Harold Fry trilogy (Pub Date: 2/2023) can be read as a stand alone for book clubs looking for more character-driven women’s literary fiction. This is a novella, and I highly recommend reading Harold Fry firstĀ  to enhance your reading experience.
Discussion topics: finding your voice, independence, friendship, grief
5 Stars

Maureen by Rachel Joyce (cover)

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan

Book clubs looking for character-driven literary fiction, might consider Small Things Like These for its poignant story line. This is a novella.
Discussion topics: found family, doing the right thing, sacrifice
5 Stars

Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan (cover) Image: white text over the rooftops of homes and a green background

The Brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly

This historical fiction about the sinking of the Titanic is told from the unique perspective of the captain of the Carpathia. Lots to discuss here about the captain’s character and decision making.
Discussion topics: confident leadership, taking a risk
4.5-5 Stars

A brilliant Night of Stars and Ice by Rebecca Connolly (cover) Image: a nighttime ocean scene with a large white iceberg ahead

The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck

Inspiring stories of real life heroes always make wonderful book club selections!
Discussion topics: taking risks, protecting the innocent, courage
4.5-5 Stars

The Winter Orphans by Kristin Beck (cover) Image: white text over the background picture of a young girl wearing a coat and hat and carrying a suitcase trudging through snowfall

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer

This WW11 histfic might have a controversial topic. How do you feel about bringing ex-Nazi scientists to the U.S. to work as engineers?
Discussion topics: government program called “Operation Paperclip,” prejudice, friendship, Nazi scientists given immunity
5 Stars

The German Wife by Kelly Rimmer (cover) Image: the profile of a young woman with short hair wearing a blue coat

The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb

Book clubs might like this heartfelt early 1900s immigrant story with its Ellis Island setting.
Discussion topics: immigration, corruption, taking risks to help others, friendship, women supporting women
4.5 Stars

The Next Ship Home by Heather Webb (cover) Image: a young woman in a long white cotton dress stands next to a railing looking across the water at the Statue of Liberty

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe

For book clubs looking for a contemporary “own voices” diverse read.
Discussion topics: poverty, project housing, coming of age, friendship, family drama, racism
5 Stars

Last Summer on State Street by Toya Wolfe (cover) Image: black text over a graphic image of colorful large apartment buildings

When We Had Wings by Ariel Lawhon

Intense WW11 histfic set in the Philippines. Three nurses fight for their survival in determent camps.
Discussion topics: friendship, survival, nursing in unfavorable conditions, courage
5 Stars

When We Had Wings by Lawhon, McMorris, and Meissner (cover) Image: three women walk arm in arm along a road lined with palm trees while the sun is setting

The Belle of Belgrave Square by Mimi Matthews

Victorian romance (without the steam of Bridgerton) with a nod to Beauty and the Beast.
Discussion topics: finding your voice, gaining independence, trust, family drama, marriage of convenience
4.5 Stars

The Belle of BElgrave Square by Mimi Matthews (cover) Image: a graphic picture of a woman in a long blue gown sitting on a blue bench reading a book....a black horse stands behind the bench and with its head turned toward the woman

For more discussable books for your book club, see this page.

QOTD:

If you are in a book club, what was your club’s favorite read this year?

Thank you surrounded by a floral wreath

It’s Thanksgiving Week in the U.S. I want to take this opportunity to sincerely thank each one of my followers for your faithful support, engaging comments, and sharing efforts! I appreciate each view, comment, and share more than you know!

Special Thank you

Ā Recently, I received mention on FeedSpot.com in a blog post called “60 Best Book Club Blogs and Websites.” A special shout out to the content creators for including me! The book blogging community is the best and I appreciate the recognition and support!

Happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating this week.

Happy Thanksgiving surrounded by colorful autumn leaves and a few pumpkins

give thanks to the lord

Happy Reading Book Worms

ā€œAh, how good it is to be among people who are reading.ā€
~Rainer Maria Rilke

ā€œI love the world of words, where life and literature connect.ā€
~Denise J Hughes

ā€œReading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.ā€
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society

ā€œI read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!Ā Books take us to places weā€™ve never been, they teach us about our world, and they help us to understand human experience.ā€
~Madeleine Riley, Top Shelf Text

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***Blog posts may contain affiliate links. This means that at no extra cost to you, I can earn a small percentage of your purchase price. This money will be used to offset the costs of running a blog and to sponsor giveaways, etc.

Unless explicitly stated that they are free, all books that I review have been purchased by me or borrowed from the library.

Book Cover and author photo are credited to Amazon or an authorā€™s (or publisherā€™s) website.

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35 comments

    • Hang in there Lydia! Itā€™s TBR worthy! Since itā€™s a novella maybe your wait wonā€™t be so long (that is if readers return as they finish and not wait for due dates)!

      Reply

  8. What a great post, Carol, and a wonderful list. I have read about half of these, but being able to discuss them with a book club would add so much to the enjoyment and thoughtful themes.

    Reply

  9. I have Maureen on my TBR, I can’t wait to get to it. I loved The Belle of Belgrave Square and The Winter Orphans. This is a great topic today!

    Reply

    • Thank you Wendy! I hope you enjoy Maureen! Sheā€™s not entirely lovable but I understand her better and could relate in some ways.

      Reply

  15. This is a great list, Carol! When We Had Wings came in for me at the library, but so did several other holds all at once, so I wasn’t able to get to it before it needed to be back. I’m glad to know it is worth requesting again. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Reply

    • It isnā€™t the easiest read because the women are in captivity most of the time, but itā€™s memorable and TBR worthy! Happy Thanksgiving Gretchen!

      Reply

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