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Rated 
of 5
by JP - North Carolina (Blue Ridge Mountains)
EVERYTHING You Need to Know About How to Start or Join a Book Club! Got questions about your book club(s)??? This book answers your questions and addresses things you never thought about!!! Plus it's well-organized and specific.
Whether you are starting or joining, the Table of Contents will point you to what you need to know:
1. Starting or joining a book club
2. How to run a book club smoothly
3. Choosing and sourcing books
4. Preparing for and having successful discussions
5. Addressing issues and making improvements
6. Virtual book clubs.
7. Ideas to enhance your book club
8. Book club resources
Rated of 5
by Ann H. (Boulder, CO)
A Club of One's Own Wow...what good suggestions. I currently am in a book club and have been having concerns about attendance. This book gave me ideas on how to address this along with some wonderful resources. The letter dealing for removal was especially helpful as well as the Health Check Template. I am going to buy a copy of the "real book". Thank you for putting all this helpful information in one place.
Rated of 5
by Becky D. (Gloucester, VA)
Very informative and helpful I liked how concise the suggestions for bookclubs, old and new were. I have been in 3 bookclubs (not all at once!) through the years and they have all been different. I think I witnessed the demise of one due to an overly dominant person. It was gradual, over several years. We went from 15 (or so) members, to 3-5.
None of the clubs I've been in had any rules that I was made aware of. In one of the clubs I recently dropped out of, the person suggesting the book had not read it. ("The reviews were good.")
I like the idea of doing a regular health checkup for the club. I wonder though if having membership rules might chase people away. A person shows up to read and discuss books and is presented with a list of rules for membership. They might feel the group is a bit regimented for them. But if someone is coming from a chaotic club, this type of organization might bring a sense of relief.
My favorite information given is the list of questions or items to discuss about the book. This should be very helpful for those who aren't that comfortable leading a discussion.
This is definitely a resource book that has many ideas/suggestions for keeping our bookclubs alive and well.
Rated of 5
by Elizabeth P. (Fort Myers, FL)
A club of One's Own by BookBrowse I have been a member of my first book club for a few years now and found this guide very interesting and insightful as to how a book club can be successful. As I have been asked to be one of the 'leaders' this year the recommendations and suggestions will be most helpful.
Our book club has been in existence for over 15 years, and we feel it may be timely for a 'Book Club Health Check' and will use the questions provided.
This guide obviously has been very well researched and will provide the tools needed for us to determine what is working and what may need to be changed or updated within our club.
I highly recommend this book/guide to anyone currently in a book club or who is thinking of starting one.
Rated of 5
by Peggy H. (Erie, PA)
Roadmap for a Great Book Club As one of the leading forces in our local book club, I was excited to read this guide. My hope was to help re-energize our club and find ways to make meetings fun and worth attending. It met and exceeded my expectations, and I am waiting for our first meeting after a summer break to implement.
This is the perfect tool for anyone who is either setting up a new book club, or is part of an existing club. Clearly a lot of thought and research went into to guide, and the many suggestions will fit every taste.
Rated of 5
by Celia P. (Melbourne, FL)
A must-read for anyone who believes in the power of books and book clubs A Club of One's Own is one of the most comprehensive, thoughtful, and deeply validating guides I've ever read on book clubs—and I've been part of them for decades. This isn't just a how-to manual. It's a compassionate companion for readers who believe that books aren't just for solitary enjoyment—they're bridges between people.
Whether you're starting your first book club or (like me) already leading one, this book offers concrete, flexible advice, grounded in decades of research and real-world experience. I especially appreciated the sections on clarifying expectations, navigating conflict, and conducting a "Book Club Health Check." It made me reflect on my own groups—what's thriving, what's stagnant, and what might be gently let go.
Yes, it made me a little sad—because one of my beloved clubs may be beyond saving. But that grief is part of what this book holds space for too: the reality that book clubs are living things, and sometimes they change or end. The beauty is, A Club of One's Own reminds us that new beginnings are always possible.
This is a five-star read for book lovers, group leaders, and anyone craving more meaningful conversations in life. I plan to keep it close, refer back often, and maybe even gift it to fellow bibliophiles. Highly, highly recommended.
5 Stars
Rated of 5
by Louise H. (KINGWOOD, TX)
GREAT RESOURCE This is a great tool if you are creating a book club. It also includes wonderful resources for book clubs that are struggling or aging or that just want to check their "book club health". The book provides a brief history of book clubs going back to ancient times. It makes suggestions as to size, how to choose books, meeting frequency, length and location. Great Resource!
Rated of 5
by Lisa S. (Stamford, CT)
A club of ones own I wanted to read this book to gain fresh perspective for hosting a book club. I felt that the book had wonderful recommendations for this. The information and suggestions were very organized and well researched. I also responded to the chapters on starting a book group. The detail and research was great. I learned a lot about the process, and got some great tips. I loved the graphs, what a great visual to highlight the information provided
Rated of 5
by Liz B. (Dallas, TX)
Excellent Resource This book is a terrific resource, not only for those considering starting a book club but also those of us who are 24 years in! Loved the generic sample questions and the templates at the end of the book. This is a great resource for all book clubs!
Rated of 5
by Cheryl R. (Jeannette, PA)
Some Do, Some Don't This book is a good resource for those thinking about starting a book discussion group to those who have been leading one for years. I like the links and resources being provided. You don't need to spend hours tracking down resources on your own. The one thing I would reinforce is that people are different - some like to talk/some don't, some like to lead some don't, some like to bring food/some don't. You get the idea! Make sure you allow people to make those choices and know that they are valued for whatever they bring to the group.
Rated of 5
by Linda M. (Ocala, FL)
This is is a Gem! A Club of One's Own is the new BookBrowse guide for setting up and running a book club. I have been in book clubs for over 25 years and was quite sure this little book would be only marginally helpful but maybe worth a look. What a surprise! It's full of excellent recommendations and general information about the establishment and operation of book clubs. I especially loved the statistics that enabled me to compare our club with others in terms of group size, frequency of meetings, where meetings are held, who leads the discussion etc.
The section on how to word book discussion questions is very helpful and I plan to use the annual Book Club Health Check with my club. This little book is a gem and anyone in a book club should grab a copy. Your club members will thank you!
Rated 
of 5
by Jael R. (Manchester, CT)
A Tidy Collection of Facts While seeming a bit generic in terms of a book about book clubs, I actually think that might be a bigger point in its favor; the information is relevant to all book clubs rather than certain types. The book contains a lot of useful information about the creation and maintenance of book clubs, much of which I've never considered before. For anyone looking for guidance from how to market your book club to how to conduct the meetings, this is a succinct one-stop source.
Rated of 5
by John A. (Ashland, OR)
Helpful As someone who has run book clubs in the past and is now helping run another book club, this book has a lot of useful information.
Rated 
of 5
by Molly A. (Pryor, OK)
A Club of One's Own BookBrowse recently published a how-to volume on organizing and leading a book club. While I, personally, do not prefer a very structured book club, I thought this book was a great resource for people who are new to starting books clubs, or just want a more organized approach.
Statistical research drives the advice in A Club of One's Own. The numbers were very interesting when it came to reasons why members leave a club or addressing common issues amongst the club members. There was also advice on where to host a book club, how to select books, how to deal with difficult members, how to incorporate social time, food choices, and much more. The range of topics included was very broad and all-encompassing, and I felt like the authors did a good job of offering helpful guidance without making the explanations too wordy. Everyone encounters problems when trying to organize people around a common theme, so comparisons of public vs. private vs. virtual vs. postal book clubs was a welcome suggestion. The use of AI, such as ChatGPT, was also a unique twist to the common problem of generating thought-provoking questions for discussion.
For those who want to enhance their current book club experience, or branch out and start a club of their own, A Club of One's Own is a great place to start.
Rated 
of 5
by Suzi S. (The Villages, FL)
Common sense resource For the most part, the information was common sense ideas that anyone who has ever been part of a book club should think of. I felt that this could have been a feature article rather than a book. I did like the idea of the club checkup and may incorporate that into my club.
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