How to Start a Book Club with the Girls 

The Perfect Galentine’s Day Idea

I’m sure most friend groups, especially over the past couple of years, have had a least one person suggest that they start a book club. It’ll be so fun! We’ll get together once a month, put out drinks and snacks, and can discuss the book that we all definitely read in time for the meeting. Très simple, right?

This was the idea I had for some of the girls in the office. I’d been reading pretty intensely for the past few years and wanted to share some of my favourite books with my colleagues and friends. Maybe I’d widen the scope of genres and authors I read. We could discuss themes, characters, plot. Very intellectuelle. I found some potential candidates, and we were off! 

However, it didn’t go quite as I had planned, and here’s what you should know especially if you’re hoping to turn your book club into a cosy girl night tradition starting this Galentine’s Day.

Pick the Right Book But Don’t Stress About It

Even between a small group of friends, book preferences can vary a lot. I prefer to read Fantasy and Romance, but it wasn’t fair to expect everyone else to read what I wanted to read. To make sure all tastes were accommodated, I made a list of genres (Sci-Fi, Literary Fiction, Thriller, Historical Fiction, etc.) and used a random generator to select one per month.

I’d then research recommended books within the genre, trying to avoid ones I’d already read, so that I could read along with everyone else and discuss it properly at the end. This approach also makes your meet-ups feel more like a fun girls’ night in, rather than homework.

Be Realistic About Time (and Attention Spans)

As someone whose main hobby is reading, I’m happy to dedicate hours each day to sitting on the sofa or in bed with my Kindle. In my head, a month to read one book was more than enough time for everyone to finish in time for the meeting. En théorie, at least.

Apparently, a month is not enough time for everyone in the group to finish a book.

For the first few meetings, everyone is still excited about the idea of being part of a book club, so maybe they will all finish in time. As the months go on, it may be that some people still have 50% or more left to finish when the meeting comes around. Maybe they’ve been extra busy at work, or they’ve been away travelling, or they just couldn’t be bothered.

Make sure you set realistic expectations for how often you should be hosting your meetings and try to be flexible when others may need a bit more time to finish. At the end of the day, it isn’t a race,  especially if the real goal is quality time, laughs, and a relaxed atmosphere. Don’t be like me and act like a teacher collecting homework.

Even a Bad Book Deserves a Girls’ Night

In February 2024, I thought it would be a fun idea to select a romance novel to tie in with Galentine’s Day. A themed read, a cosy night in with the girls - what could go wrong? It was a book I hadn’t read yet, as I was following my own advice.

The book turned out to be… not great.

I felt awful, as I’d been the one to suggest it and I was now responsible for the rest of the group having to read it. But it turned out to be one of the most memorable book club nights we’ve ever had, and we still mention it to this day.

Even if a book isn’t particularly good, you still have plenty to talk about. In fact, sometimes a bad book is even better. It opens the door for criticism, inside jokes, and discovering the kinds of books you maybe don’t want to read again. If the book is a bit cringey or has questionable writing? Perfect. That’s half the fun of a girls’ night in. Not every pick needs to be a Booker Prize winner.

Bribe the Girls with Drinks and Macarons

Let’s be honest : at the end of the day, you’re starting a book club because you want to hang out with your friends and chat. Maybe you want an excuse to whip up a charcuterie board, create some themed cocktails, or finally treat yourself to an indulgent box of French macarons.

Alongside wine, cocktails, or mocktails, French macarons are an easy way to make the evening feel special. Bring a hint of nostalgia with the Love Note Macarons Gift Box or indulge in elegance and luxury with the Valentine’s Box . Either choice is perfect for sharing the love. 

If you really want to make a statement, the Large Love Heart Macaron doubles as dessert and table décor.

The real reason you’re starting this book club is because you want to create a moment with your friends - even if one still has five chapters left because she just didn’t get around to it. C’est la vie. And honestly, that’s what makes a book club so good in the first place.

Discover our collection of luxury macarons delivered across the UK and turn your girls night into the most fun night

Bisous, 

MM x