Here’s a surprising trend— not all book clubs take a summer break! Interviewing such a variety of local groups has shown me that these clubs develop their own unique cultures, traditions and routines. This month, I had the pleasure of talking with Jenn from The Cover Ladies book club.
This cleverly named club began three years ago. While all of the members currently live in the same neighborhood, Jenn quickly points out that “living in this subdivision isn’t an actual requirement.”
“We intentionally keep it small, just six to eight members,” Jenn says. Their fearless leader, Grace, started the club. The members genuinely enjoy each other’s company, so sometimes it’s tough to get around to discussing the book because we’re busy catching up on life.
One of the club’s favorite traditions is drawing discussion questions at random from a bowl, creating lively and often unexpected conversations. Jenn offers this advice to other book clubs: “The group stays organized using the Book Club by Book Movement app. The upcoming hostess selects the book, and members have 48 hours to agree on a meeting date and time through the app. It also tracks books they’ve read, offers recommendations, and provides ratings.”
Hosting continues to evolve over the years. Today, each hostess prepares dinner for the group, a tradition that grew naturally as members wanted to give something personal back to the club. Occasionally, someone brings a hostess gift, but it’s never expected.
The Cover Ladies enjoy historical fiction, stories featuring strong women, and plenty of thrillers to spark conversation. In fact, Jenn recently selected a beach thriller, Something in the Water by Catherine Steadman and embraced the theme by serving a tropical charcuterie board inspired by the novel’s Bora Bora island setting.
Other recent favorites include The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post by Allison Pataki, In Pieces – Sally Field’s Memoir, and Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan. The friendships extend well beyond monthly meetings. The club recently planned a field trip to Columbus, Georgia, to see the paintings featured in Theo of Golden. They celebrate Christmas with a restaurant gift exchange, host Fourth of July gatherings where spouses are welcome, and enjoy evening neighborhood walks together.
Their diverse membership includes teachers, a nurse, businesswomen, a stay-at-home mom, a gardener and artist, and an animal rescue volunteer. Like the books they read, their varied perspectives and genuine friendships make every meeting memorable.
Written By Aileen Swartz
Aileen lives in East Cobb with her husband, six children, and their dog. An adventure-loving family, they enjoy skiing, SCUBA diving, biking, and hiking together.
Aileen is the author of three swim fundamentals books and enjoys writing middle grade fiction and reading across all genres.
