Book clubs in Edinburgh

Below you'll find every active listing we have for book clubs and readers in Edinburgh

Alison

Looking for a book club to read widely. I enjoy classics and contemporary. I like Updike and Philip Roth. I would be happy to take the Edinburgh Book Festival Guide and work my through it!

Alison recommends:

Hamnet

by Maggie O'Farrell | Learn more and buy

My current book. So descriptive of life and death in Shakespeare's time.

Eva

Hi, I’m Eva, 27, currently living in Edinburgh. I’m looking to join a book club with like-minded, bookish people who enjoy a good chat. I’d also love to make new friends in the city and join regular meet-ups, it’d be great to have something engaging outside of work every once in a while. My favourite genres are fiction, young adult, romance, fantasy, dystopian, science fiction, and thriller.

Eva recommends:

All For The Game

by Nora Sakavic | Learn more and buy

AFTG? I don’t even know where to start.This series has had me in a chokehold for the past decade. Oh before someone says it, is it unrealistic? Yes. Do I absolutely love the hell out of it and continue to indulge myself by rereading it for the 100th time? Also yes. All for the Game by Nora Sakavic follows Neil Josten, a runaway with a dangerous past who ends up joining a college sports team called the Palmetto State Foxes, a group of chaotic, broken players bound together by their shared love for Exy(a made-up, high-speed sport that’s like lacrosse on steroids). But beneath all that, it’s a story tangled with secrets, survival, the Japanese mafia that threaten to unravel everything Neil’s built and an enemies-to-something-much-more dynamic that will wreck you in the best way possible. It’s messy, dark, and often uncomfortable, but it has a beautiful and addictive blend of found family, trauma, loyalty, and violence that somehow turns into something beautiful and unforgettable. The characters are complex, morally grey, and painfully real in the most unexpected ways. Trigger warnings: abuse, trauma, violence, and heavy themes etc. its a whole page of warnings; please please please check before reading! But if you love stories about resilience, trust hard-won through chaos, found family, this one will live rent-free in your head forever. Trust me on this one and give it a shot. (Ps. If you did love it as much as I did, come over to the dark side and reach out to me, because we’ve got loads to unpack:))

Wurlitzer

I am looking for a book group to meet new people and encourage me to read more widely. I used to be a very prolific reader but now find it hard to really find a book I get totally absorbed in. If anyone is interested in starting one with me in the Barnton /Cramond area please let me know.

Booker? I hardly know her

The book club is loosely following the booker prize. Essentially meaning reading new releases eligible for the booker prize 2026, and eventually reading the long list and picking our own winner. Book club is currently full at the moment

Jaime

I have recently moved to Edinburgh and I love reading. I thought joining a book club would be a lovely way to meet people and explore the city through books and conversation. I enjoy a wide range of genres, but I’m especially drawn to historical fiction and books that explore the complexities of culture, human behaviour, relationships, and inner lives. I’m always open to discovering new authors and perspectives and enjoy thoughtful discussion as much as the reading itself.

HangryHippo

Hi! I love reading, and I used to read loads, but I haven't been into it for a while because I was always on my phone instead. I would love to join a book club to connect with others about their favourite books (maybe I'll find a new book!), and hopefully slowly help me to reconnect with reading again. I'll read almost anything, although fantasy, historical fiction and non - fiction, classics and romance (as well as a good mystery sometimes) are probably my favourite genres!

Phoebe R

Looking for a book club to meet other book lovers in Edinburgh 📖 30 year old F who loves to read fiction that sheds a light on different cultures

Phoebe R recommends:

The Mountains sing

by Nguyen Phan Que Mai | Learn more and buy

📖

Kat

Hello! I'm in my mid thirties. As most yous I love reading and talking about books. Fave genres are crime stories

Kat recommends:

The book thief

by Markus Zusak | Learn more and buy

I've been re-reading this novel every year since 2005, I always find something new.

Bronwyn

I love reading general fiction from all around the world, I'm willing to read any genre and love to learn more about cultures and people through reading

Bronwyn recommends:

What you can see from here

by Mariana Leky | Learn more and buy

A brilliant book based in western Germany which explores grief, moving forward, and love.

The Secret Book Swap

The Secret Book Swap is a book group with a difference, starting with no set reading. Here’s how it works: choose a book you’ve read, enjoyed, and are ready to pass on to someone else, then wrap it up—keep it simple or make it fancy, there are no rules, the choice is yours. Think about how you want to introduce your book, letting others know why you enjoyed it and why you think they would too, but without revealing the title or author, as it is a secret swap after all; you might include hints like “a heartwarming tale for lovers of adventure” or “this story made me laugh out loud,” and feel free to bring notes if that helps. On the night, introduce your book to the group without giving too much away, then choose a book that catches your eye—or rather, your ear—and together we’ll unwrap our books and chat about our finds. Each time we meet, we’re joined by a special local guest, and we’ve been fortunate to welcome authors, poets, storytellers, publishers, illustrators, debut novelists, and international bestsellers, all sharing their own unique connection to books and stories. From book-themed parlour games to readings from banned books, we aim to make each event interactive, engaging, and memorable, while also creating space for community and connection, as we’ve loved seeing friendships grow through a shared love of reading and storytelling. 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗗 𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗔𝗧 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗰𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝘀𝘄𝗮𝗽.𝗰𝗼𝗺 𝗼𝗿 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗯𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗲

BookSook

Keen reader although reading time sometimes looks muted due to work. Love discovering new books and like minded people.

Delilah

Hey! I'm Delilah. 30, based in Leith and keen to join a book club, mainly to get myself back into reading after a lull in motivation, and to meet new people. Big fan of literary fiction, unusual contemporary fiction, translated fiction.

Abby

I'm 26. I really enjoy reading but I'm a bit out of the habit and would love to join a book club to get back into it again! I usually read fiction (literary/historical/horror) but happy to try out anything including non-fiction too!

Jessica

Hello! I’m Jess, 27 and an avid reader who loves talking to friends about books. I’ve never done a proper book club though and thought it would be fun to try. Mostly read fantasy / fiction (science-fi, historical, romance etc) but have dabbled in other genres and happy to give anything a try!

Matthew

I'm keen to find a community of fellow readers where I can discuss the books I read. I'm a tour guide, so I often read Scottish history and non fiction for work, but enjoy a lot of sci fi and horror for relaxing.

Rebecca

Hey, I’m Rebecca (28) and have a love of reading! I typically read historical fiction or mystery books however am always keen to try different reads :)

Lucy

I am looking to join a friendly book group to help me in finding books I wouldn't otherwise read. I enjoy discussing what I've read with others and look forward to any feel and meaningful conversations that stem from a book group setting. I am a lover of a psychological/crime thriller, but am open to all genres.

Juliet Weenink-Griffiths

An avid reader who enjoys most genres from science fiction to Scandinavian crime to the classics.

Amgad Haroun

Political and social science Psychology and psychotherapy Philosophy and religions

Iain

I'm interested in history, fiction, science and people to discuss them with.

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