How York book clubs build friendships and boost wellbeing

WHEN a group of strangers got together nearly 20 years ago to discuss a book, no one imagined they’d still be meeting all these years later – now as close friends.

“Though we only meet at the reading group, we’ve become firm friends and share intimate details about our lives,” says one long-standing member.

“Most of us would never have met through work or our regular social circle, but meeting through our love of reading has been a wonderful way of sharing opinions and ideas with a varied group of people. We started as strangers and ended up as friends.”

Across the UK, thousands of people are discovering that reading groups offer much more than just engaging stories.

The Queen herself started an Instagram book group during the pandemic – now a reading charity The Queen’s Reading Room.

Research by The Reading Agency showed that being part of a reading club not only broadens reading habits but also boosts wellbeing. In their survey of readers’ groups in the UK:

Book clubs are a great way to meet people and share a joy of reading

• 94 per cent said they read more widely

• 91 per cent said they enjoyed reading more when discussing books with others

• 90 per cent felt happier

• 78 per cent felt more confident to try new things.

What begins as a shared interest in reading often becomes something deeper – a community.

In York, Explore is on a mission to make reading together easy and affordable. We know that reading groups can be a lifeline, offering connection and calm in busy or stressful lives.

Science backs this up: regular reading can reduce stress, build empathy, and improve mental health.

Combine that with friendship and conversation, and you have a powerful recipe for wellbeing.

Finding a book club

Image shows women enjoying their book club

Maybe you’ve tried a reading group, didn’t like it and gave up? Remember there is not just one type of book club. They can range from quiet discussions to lively gatherings with activities, food and drink.

Choosing the right group that inspires you to read and chat and share your views is crucial. Whether you’re looking for a general reading group, one focused on a particular genre or a group that blends reading with creative and social activities, there’s a book club out there for you.

Recommended reading:

Many of our libraries host volunteer-run reading groups during library opening hours. Please ask at your local library and they will let you know if they have any spaces for new members. We don’t have a list of all the book groups in York though so please don’t ask for one!

York Explore library in the city centre has recently started Read and Relax – a different kind of book club. This is a drop-in group where you can meet up with like-minded book lovers for quiet reading and bookish chat.

Simply bring your own book, lose yourself in a story and share the joy of reading over a cup of tea. It takes place on the first Wednesday of every month from 6.30pm to 7.30pm.

Still can’t find the right one? Why not start your own? Many of the most successful reading groups begin with just a few people coming together to share their love of reading.

How Explore Libraries supporting local book clubs

Explore lends sets of books to reading groups who register with us. For an annual subscription of just £30 per group, members can borrow as many sets as they like – at no extra charge – including some in large print, ebook and audio format. It’s a budget-friendly way to access a wide range of titles for monthly meetings without the expense of buying new copies each time. You can register at any library in York.

Find out more at Reading Groups – Explore York

Reading Group sets

We add to our collection every year and currently have 258 sets available to borrow. We are especially grateful to The Friends of Dunnington library who have just donated £1,000 to support reading groups – enough to buy 15 new sets of books which we will be adding to our list over the coming year.

We are always glad to receive donations of lightly used copies from book groups too, it’s a lovely way to share your love of reading with a wider group of people.

If your book group would like to do this, please email us contact@exploreyork.org.uk

Book clubs are about more than books – they’re about connection, discovery, and the joy of reading together. During this National Year of Reading, why not get involving by joining a book group? You never know where the next story might take you.

Explore recommends: 5 thought provoking books for your reading group to try

Andrew Miller The Land in Winter – one of the book sets available at Explore York

There Are Rivers in the Sky by Elif Shafak

From ancient Nineveh to Victorian London to the present day, this is a great read, mingling science, scholarship and myth, domestic drama and history.

A Little Trickerie by Rosanna Pike

Subversive historical fiction with lovable outcast characters and a wry, clever narrative voice.

The Women by Kristin Hannah

This story of one woman who joins the nursing corps in the Vietnam War shines a light on the unsung stories of women who answered the call and paid the price.

The Land in Winter by Andrew Miller

Set during the Big Freeze of 1962-3, this story of two marriages brilliantly evokes the legacy of the Second World War.

Small Pleasures by Clare Chambers

A gripping, powerful, and tender novel set in 1957 suburbia by an author who has been called a 21st century Barbara Pym.

Gillian Holmes is the communications officer at Explore York Libraries and Archives