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.
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!
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
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
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
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
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 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 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
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
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
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
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?
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 Reading Book Worms
āAh, how good it is to be among people who are reading.ā
~Rainer Maria Rilke
āI love the world of words, where life and literature connect.ā
~Denise J Hughes
āReading good books ruins you for enjoying bad ones.ā
~Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
āI read because books are a form of transportation, of teaching, and of connection!Ā Books take us to places weāve 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 authorās (or publisherās) website.
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Iām on a long library waitlist for Small Things Like These. Glad you liked it so much!
My post: https://lydiaschoch.com/top-ten-tuesday-ten-reasons-im-thankful-for-books/
Hang in there Lydia! Itās TBR worthy! Since itās a novella maybe your wait wonāt be so long (that is if readers return as they finish and not wait for due dates)!
Well these are far more appealing than the list of 50 books recommended as Christmas purchases in one of our National newspapers
Lol ššš Thanks! So often books buy their way onto those lists!
The Belle of Belgrave Square sounds good. Great list, Carol.
This is one that surprised me with how much I liked it!
Wonderful recommendations Carol. I want to read them all!
Thank you Bev! They are all TBR worthy and several will end up on my best of year list! Happy reading!
I’m sooooooooooooooooo happy you included Last Summer on State Street!!!
Yes! Wouldnāt that be a fabulous book club read?!
What a great list Carol!! I’m in a book club that has been meeting over 35 years– and we haven’t read any of these! thanks thanks.
Wow! So many reading possibilities here! Happy Thanksgiving Rhonda!
These all sound like fantastic reads. I haven’t read any of them, so I’ve got lots to look forward to! My book club will be deciding on books to read in 2023 very soon. Thanks for the suggestions!
Happy TTT!
Susan
http://www.blogginboutbooks.com
Youāre welcome! Wishing you fabulous reads in 2023! Thanks for commenting Susan!
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.
Thanks Carla! I can imagine all of these as book club reads! Happy reading!
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!
Thank you Wendy! I hope you enjoy Maureen! Sheās not entirely lovable but I understand her better and could relate in some ways.
Winter Orphans is on my TBR and it looks like some of these others should be too. Great list. Have a terrific week.
Terrie @ Bookshelf Journeys
https://www.bookshelfjourneys.com/post/ttt-thankful
Thank you Terrie! Happy reading! š
What great choices! Happy Thanksgiving!
Thanks Davida! Are you celebrating Thanksgiving this week?
Great list! My book club actually has Small Things Like These on our list for next year. š
Thanks Lisa! I hope you enjoy Small Things Like Theseā¦.sheās an exquisite writer! Happy reading!
I always love your lists because I always find some new histfic to add to my TBR, so since the theme of the day is gratitude, thank you for that!
My TTT: https://jjbookblog.wordpress.com/2022/11/22/top-ten-tuesday-395/
My pleasure! Thanks for your kind words and for commenting! I hope you find a fabulous histfic read!
No problem š
Awesome list! That Titanic book is on my TBR. I love when books leave their readers with something to think about.
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the story from a different perspective as much as I did!
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!
It isnāt the easiest read because the women are in captivity most of the time, but itās memorable and TBR worthy! Happy Thanksgiving Gretchen!
All these books sound really good. Great list.
Thanks Jo! You have my guarantee that they are TBR worthy!
Excellent choices, they all look divine!
Thank you so much! I think they are all TBR worthy!