The History of Book Clubs (and Why We Still Love Them)
One of the fun things about starting a new project such as The Nookery Book Club is that we get to do lots of research. A particular part of that research we have enjoyed is looking into the history of book clubs. It is not something we were really aware of but it seems that hundreds of years people have been gathering together to discuss books and beyond.
Book clubs, it seems, have always been about more than just books. They have been sources of community, a place for conversation, and for shared discovery.
The Origins of Book Clubs: Salons, Reading Circles, and Early Women’s Groups
If you go far enough back, you’ll see that book-ish hangouts have roots in what were once called salons and religious study groups, many of them led or at least heavily participated in by women.
In 18th-century England, the Bluestockings Society was a loose group of women (and invited men) who met to talk literature, arts, and philosophy. Two ladies named Elizabeth (Elizabeth Montagu and Elizabeth Vesey) led and hosted the group at a time when only men were allowed to attend university. The Bluestocking Circle may have started out as a coherent London-based group, but in the 1770s and 1780s the bluestockings developed into a broader social and literary network in which friendship, charity and female education were celebrated as the foundation of modern civilised society, both in London and the regions.
In the U.S. in the 1760s, the historian Hannah Adams was part of a group called belle lettres (a French term for ‘beautiful writing’) that was a women’s discussion group focusing on an ‘aesthetic-focused alternative’ to traditional fiction, poetry, and prose. Apparently some of the members brought their own writing to share and discuss as well.
Margaret Fuller, a journalist and intellectual in Boston, hosted “Conversations” in 1839, which were early women’s discussion groups about what women should do with their lives, often using literature as a starting point for the discussions.
These gatherings were about more than simply reading: they were about speaking, questioning, learning, and belonging.
Book Clubs as Women’s Spaces of Learning, Community, and Social Change
Some of these reading circles and literary clubs became powerful spaces for women’s learning and social connection, especially when formal education and public life were often off-limits.
In 1827, Black women in Lynn, Massachusetts formed one of the earliest known reading groups for Black women, it was known as the Society of Young Ladies.
The Women’s Reading Club of Mattoon, Illinois, founded in 1877, is still running, and was among those early groups aiming to make reading and progressive ideas more accessible.
These weren’t always “just for fun” reading groups, they often helped women build confidence, find voices, and shape what was socially and politically possible.
The 20th Century Boom: Libraries, Workplace Clubs, and Oprah’s Influence
By the 20th century, book clubs were no longer fringe or small-scale. They became widespread, thanks to changing social norms, greater literacy, more public libraries, and eventually mass media.
Public libraries and schools often hosted reading groups, helping reach communities that might not otherwise gather around novels. Also workplaces sometimes did too. These provided more access points.
One big turning point was Oprah’s Book Club which launched in 1996. It turned reading into an event. Often you would get more lesser-known or minority-voice authors getting huge exposure, and books picked by Oprah regularly saw surges in sales.
Studies of Oprah’s Book Club show that her recommendations have sometimes increased book sales by millions, making her choices cultural touchstones.
Modern Book Clubs: Cafés, Online Communities, Hybrid Spaces
Nowadays, book clubs are everywhere in every shape. They’ve gone beyond private homes and galleries.
Many meet in cafés or pubs, because the informal, and casual setting makes for a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere.
Other book clubs are fully virtual whether it is in Facebook groups, Goodreads discussions, Discord, or Zoom, etc.
Social media platforms like TikTok (BookTok) also spread book recommendations, often leading to informal or loosely organised clubs around popular books or authors.
Hybrid models are increasingly common: some members will meet in person; others join via video or contribute online between meetings.
There are also special types of clubs: genre-specific, identity-based (queer book clubs, feminist clubs), or format-flexible (e.g. clubs that also read graphic novels, poetry, non-fiction).
Modern tech makes it easier to share reading lists, vote on the next read, even annotate or highlight in shared spaces. The book club essence remains: reading plus conversation plus community.
Why We Still Love Book Clubs Today
Even after centuries of evolution, people keep joining book clubs for many of the same reasons and a few new ones.
Connection: We are social beings. Book clubs give us a reason to gather, to talk, to laugh, to argue, to think together.
Discussion and depth: Reading something on your own is one thing; talking about it forces you to see what you missed, interpret differently, consider other perspectives.
Accountability and discipline: It is much easier to finish a book if you know you'll have a group talk about it.
Discovery: You’re more likely to read outside your comfort zone when others are recommending, pushing you, or when club rules ask you to try something new.
Joy and wellbeing: Many people say book clubs support their mental health by reducing loneliness and providing structure, especially in a time when many of us live more digitally and more isolated. Recent coverage suggests Gen Z, especially, are turning to book clubs to combat loneliness after the pandemic.
If this is you find out more about our book club here.
The Future of Book Clubs: Blending Tradition and Technology
Book clubs will keep adapting and growing. We think some key adaptations in book clubs will keep expanding on will include:
More hybrid clubs: some people in person, some online. This allows wider participation, including across geographical limits.
Better tools and platforms: apps that help with scheduling, discussing, highlighting, even versions that integrate audio or video or mixed media.
Inclusivity and diversity: more focus on making clubs accessible to those who’ve been excluded (by race, class, gender, disability). More clubs led by underrepresented voices. More languages and formats (audiobooks, large print, etc.).
New models of discussion and formats: silent reading meetups (you read quietly together, then share), thematic clubs (e.g. books about climate change), book clubs tied to activism, or cross-media clubs (podcasts, films, etc.).
We still love book clubs because at their heart, they give us connection, curiosity, and community. Whether you want to debate a classic, discover a hidden gem, or just have a reason to leave the flat once a month and drink coffee with friends, there’s something timeless about sharing stories together.