How to Host a Successful Romance Book Club: Expert Tips

Is it finally time for you to embark on a literary journey to a land of mysterious books that feature good amounts of passion, drama, and, of course, happy endings?

Welcome to the world of romance book clubs.

In a survey conducted by BookBrowse 73% of book club members reported that participation in the club gives them more of a sense of belonging to the community.

Isn't that amazing?

Whether you are an experienced reader of romance novels or just starting with the genre, a romance book club hosting can be very rewarding.

Let's take a look at the expert tips that'll help you create a book club so irresistible, that even Mr. Darcy would want to join.

📚 Romance Book Club Tips at a Glance 📚

• Always include diverse books: Mix genres and authors.

• Create a Cozy Atmosphere: Soft cushions and lights.

• Prepare discussion questions: Avoid dead silence.

• Plan some fun activities: Movie nights and themed potlucks.

• Manage negative situations: Assist with discomfort and encourage shy members.

• Widen the appeal: Explore different romance sub-genres.

• Don't be snobbish: All readers have a right to hold different views and sentiments regarding what they read.

• Make it entertaining: Don't stress about perfection, enjoy the journey!

🌟 It is all about sharing your love for reading romance novels. 🌟

Choosing the Perfect Romance Reads

Okay, let's begin with, perhaps, the most important thing in the book club, the books!

I'll never forget the first few months after setting up my romance book club. I was so thrilled with the idea that I picked only historicals for the first three months.

That was a huge mistake!

Boredom started to creep in for some, and feelings of exclusion for others. I learned the hard way that variety is the spice of life – and book clubs.

Now, I make it a point to ensure that the books are always varied and try to mix things up.

One month we start with a cheesy regency romance then to a hot modern romance the next and, possibly, a paranormal romance just to keep the interest up.

It's like a literary buffet, and trust me, your members will thank you for it.

Below are some guidelines on how to choose romance books that will have your club glued to them and turning pages:

• Embrace subgenre diversity: Historical, contemporary, paranormal. Mix it up!

• Balance popular bestsellers with hidden gems. It is indeed engaging to discuss a book that everybody is talking about. However, nothing is more rewarding than finding a new favorite author as a group.

• Incorporate #OwnVoices and diverse authors. Romance is inclusive of all and so should be your books.

• Go through Goodreads lists and consult your local librarians. They are like the fairy godmothers of the book world.

• Rotate who has the privilege to choose the reads. This would enhance involvement with members.

Pro tip: Create a shared spreadsheet where members can add book suggestions. This makes it easy to capture all the ideas and ensure that no voices go unheard.

Additionally, it saves you from that frantic, ‘What should we read next? ‘ moment.

Have been there; done that!

Setting the Mood: Creating an Inviting Atmosphere

Let's face it: environment is everything. For example, you wouldn't want to read a steamy romance novel in a brightly lit office, right?

The same goes for the meetings of your book club. Getting the right ambiance in the meeting can, possibly, be the only factor that splits the boring meeting from the fun one.

There was a time I decided to host our ‘Outlander' book club discussion in the garage on account of my living room being painted. Let's just say that the smell of paint and old lawn equipment didn't exactly scream “18th-century Scottish Highlands.”

Lesson learned!

Here is how one can create an atmosphere or mood fit for romance (book discussions we mean):

• Choose a cozy, comfortable meeting space. Think soft couches, plush pillows, and warm lighting.

• Include some romantic decor elements. Candles, fairy lights, and fresh flowers can do a lot of good.

• Think of serving snacks and beverages that are theme-based. For example, we once had a ‘Pride and Prejudice' meeting with scones and tea. It was appreciated very much.

• Create a music playlist that characterizes the book that has been picked. There is no better mood enhancer than good music in a sit-down.

• It's also good to think of remote members as well. Not every person can attend in person, but that doesn't mean they should miss out on the fun.

One of my favorite hosting tricks is to create a signature cocktail (or mocktail) based on the book we're discussing. For our “The Kiss Quotient” meeting, I whipped up some “Algorithmic Appleinis”. They were a huge success.

Just remember to have non-alcoholic options available too.

Igniting Passionate Discussions

You've got the books, you've got the mood set up. It is time for the main event – the discussion!

This is where the fun starts, people. But I must warn you, leading a book discussion isn't always as easy as it appears. I once showed up to a meeting thinking I could wing it without preparing any questions.

Very bad idea.

We ended up just gushing about the hot male lead for two hours (which, okay, wasn't terrible, but not exactly intellectually stimulating).

Here's how to make all your discussions interesting, interactive, and on track.

• It is important to have some specific questions that the member can explain. Questions like, “What did you think of the ending?” are okay but, “How do you think the background of the character helped them make that decision?” can lead to more profound answers and discussions.

• Have members comment on their best lines or their favorite scenes from the book. This is a great way to revisit the book's highlights and get everyone involved.

• The evolution of the characters and the roles of the relationships can also be discussed. Romance is all about the journey, right?

• Compare the book to other works in the genre. This can lead to interesting discussions about themes, the use of language in books, and the state of romance literature.

• Explore themes of consent, empowerment, and representation. Romance genre books often cover significant themes – so feel free to go for it!

There is one technique that has worked wonders for my group, and this is the ‘Round-robin' strategy. We will start by posing a question to the participants and each participant will take turns to express their thoughts on that question and after that, we will open it up for other discussions.

It makes sure that even those who are not very vocal get a chance to raise their voice.

Keep in mind that as the host, you are responsible for leading the discussion, and not dominating it. I learned this the hard way when I realized I'd been talking for 20 minutes straight about the historical inaccuracies in a Regency romance.

Oops!

That's why I now ensure I ask plenty of questions and wait for answers too.

Keeping the Flame Alive: Engaging Activities

Let's face it – as much as we enjoy the talk on books, it is inevitable that the time comes when a little change is welcome in order to improve the club further.

Think of it like planning date nights in a long-term relationship – a little effort goes a long way.

There was a time when we decided to have a “Bridgerton” themed tea party for our meeting. I had spent almost the whole day preparing cucumber sandwiches and even requested my husband to put on a footman dress to serve us.

Was it an excess?

No doubt.

Was it appreciated by those who attended?

Of course, it was.

Here's a list of things you can do to keep the romantic vibes of your romance book club in check and feeling fresh and exciting:

• Host author Q&A sessions. Hop on a call and chat with authors! These days, many authors can gladly do virtual visits. One time we had a romance author over Zoom and it was just so fascinating learning so much from the horse's mouth.

• Arrange for romance book-to-movie adaptation watch parties. Pop some corn, wrap yourselves up, and enjoy each other's company and also the screen. The arguments on whether the book is better or the movie is very exciting too.

• Plan themed potlucks based on the book's setting. Reading a book that is based in Italy? It's time for Italian food (Pasta).

• Do some craft activities or writing tasks based on the book. We once wrote our own meet-cute scenes after reading a contemporary romance. We had fun.

• Arrange outings to romantic places described in the books. Local historical sites, beautiful gardens, or even just a cozy café can add a fun dimension to your discussions.

One of the most effective exercises that we developed was a romance trope bingo game. We designed bingo cards, each consisting of common romance tropes, and the members had to cross them out as they appeared in our monthly reads. The first one to score a bingo got to pick our next book.

Navigating Challenges in Your Romance Book Club

As much as we'd like our book clubs to be all hearts and roses, sometimes challenges crop up. It is the same as any other relationship, there are bound to be a few bumps along the way. But don't worry, I've got you covered.

There was one particularly cringe-worthy session that stands out in my memory. That is when the whole book was dedicated to the discussion of a very erotic novel with pretty explicit scenes.

There was one half of the group that shook with laughter and the other half wanted the ground to open up and swallow them.

It was… not pleasant.

Well, we took it as a lesson, and now we handle these situations much better.

Here's how to navigate some common book club challenges:

• Address how audiences view explicit content. Do not sugarcoat how raunchy books can be before one picks them and do advise that people are free to skip such sections in case it brings discomfort.

• Deal with strong disagreements respectfully. Disagreements can lead to great discussions, but make sure everyone feels heard and respected.

• Keep discussions focused and on track. It's easy to get sidetracked (guilty as charged!), but try to gently guide the conversation back to the book.

• Encourage participation from shy members. Direct questions or small group discussions can help quieter members feel more comfortable sharing.

Deal with book preference disputes fairly. A voting system or rotation can help ensure everyone gets a chance to choose a book they're excited about.

One strategy that has proven extraordinarily successful for us is to establish a “safe word,” whenever an argument goes crazy or way off-topic. For us, it is “Mr. Darcy” – one word and we all know it's time to call it quits for a while and refocus.

You should, however, understand that it is alright to make errors. For example, I once accidentally scheduled our meeting on the same night as the finale of a popular dating show.

Suffice it to say, there were very few bodies in that meeting.

Anyway, it was funny and we rescheduled. The key is to learn from these hiccups and keep moving forward.

Expanding Your Romance Reading Horizons

When I first started reading romance, I was all for those Dukes in the Regency.

I mean, who doesn't love a brooding nobleman in tight breeches, right?

Nevertheless, as time went on, I came to the conclusion that there is quite a large number in this genre that I have yet to conquer. And I have to say, expanding your romance horizons can be just as exciting as any swoon-worthy meet-cute.

Here's how to broaden your club's romance reading palette:

• Read romance across sub-genres. Look for books that feature diverse characters and experiences. It's amazing how much you can learn about different cultures and perspectives through romance.

• Encourage members to read indie and self-published authors. In fact, some of the surprises I enjoyed to the greatest extent happened to be self-published. Moreover, these writers are more than appreciative of the support more than you think.

• Discuss the evolution of the romance genre. It's fascinating to see how romance has changed over the years. Once, we had a meeting titled “Then and Now” and we chose one traditional romance and compared it with a contemporary one. The discussions were really eye-opening.

Related: The Evolution of Consent in Contemporary Romance Literature

• Compare international romance novels and tropes. Did you know that romance tropes can vary across cultures? Mind-blowing, right?

• Analyze the impact of romance on popular culture. From “Bridgerton” to “Outlander,” romance is having a major moment in pop culture. It's fun to discuss why these stories resonate so much with people.

One activity that really helped us broaden our thinking was the “Romance Around the World” challenge we embarked on. Every month, we would pick a romance novel set in a different country. Thus, besides discovering new authors, we also learned a lot about different cultures and customs.

it's okay if not every book is a hit with everyone. The goal is to explore and discuss, not to find a universal favorite. I'll never forget the heated debate we had over a reverse harem paranormal romance – half the group loved it, half hated it, but everyone had something to say.

Conclusion: Your Happily Ever After Awaits!

Wow! That was intense.

I think we have come a long way now. From choosing the perfect reads to navigating tricky discussions, hosting a romance book club is an adventure. But believe me, the additional effort is worth it.

Nothing beats the feeling of connecting with others over a shared love of romance novels.

In the event that setbacks do occur, I would like to remind you that your book club doesn't have to be perfect. Mine certainly isn't. We've had our share of awkward silences, heated debates, and meetings where more wine was consumed than actual discussion happened.

But you know what?

Those imperfect moments are part of what makes our club special.

Thus, whether you are interested in launching a new club, or want to liven up an existing one, these suggestions will help you set up a unique and wonderful romance book club as your favorite love story.

Most importantly, do have fun, be kind, be inclusive, and always celebrate the joy of romance.

Eager to start your own romantic reading adventure?

Take that first book of yours, send out those invites, and allow the love story of the book club to begin. I assure you, it will be the start of a beautiful relationship.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I choose books that everyone will enjoy?

Mix up genres and styles. Try alternating between popular bestsellers and hidden gems. Include diverse authors and stories. Let members take turns picking books.

Remember, it's okay if not everyone loves every book – different opinions make for great discussions!

What if discussions get awkward or off-track?

Have prepared questions to help steer the discussion. Use mechanisms to bring back conversations that have gone overboard, like a “safe word”.

For specific scenarios, make it fun and advise that it's perfectly fine to skip some sections that make your team uncomfortable. It's worth noting that laughter can ease tension.

How can I make shy members feel more comfortable sharing?

Begin with methods such as using a 'round-robin' where everyone shares a brief thought. Proceed with discussion in smaller groups then to the whole club. Address quieter members with easier questions.

Emphasize that there's no right or wrong answer, and every opinion is valued and should be embraced.

What are some fun activities beyond just discussing the book?

Try themed potlucks based on the book's setting, watch book-to-movie adaptations together, or host virtual author Q&As. Create book-inspired crafts or writing exercises.

Plan field trips to romantic locations from the books. Mix it up to keep things exciting.

How do I handle disagreements about book choices or content?

Use a fair voting system or rotation for book selection. Be upfront about content warnings. Encourage respectful debates – different opinions make discussions interesting.

Remind everyone that exploring new perspectives is part of the fun. If needed, take a breather and refocus on what you all love: romance books.