Book clubs in York

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

GT

Avid reader, dabbles in poetry and portraiture. Got online book club going but looking for local connections to chat about anything interesting and well-written. Classics, crime, comedy, fantasy, history, politics, philosophy, and oh… Japanese literature. New to York.

GT recommends:

Strange Weather in Tokyo

by Hiromi Kawakami | Learn more and buy

One online review stated, “it’s the distinctive Japanese sensibilities, in slow-paced almost no-sight-to-end kind of storytelling that’s worked its magic on me. The simplicity in the language, interspersed with musical poetry… makes falling in love with the generously beautiful and uncomplicated so easy. Why do some relationships have to be troublesome? And why are the best so hard to have?” I’ve read it twice and each time it reminded me of Howards End and that crucial human need for deep connections to colour life’s daily grey. It’s a tender story of love that defied differences, the typical and social norms — but without much drama, frills or pretentiousness. Simple, beautiful, poetic, poignant, but with so much hope.

Stella H

Looking for fellow travellers in crime reading! (And Yorkshire walking!) Currently on The City & The City (China Mieville).

Amir

Interested in reading everything, especially lit fic, art history, historical fiction and sometimes fantasy. 25 years old, live in York, keen to meet people and share my love of literature

William

I'm a reader who writes, lives in York and is looking for people who like to take about literature, history and philosophy in pubs.

Beegeearr

I have always enjoyed reading thoroughly, and am open to meeting new people. I’m particularly a fan of sci-fi, but generally enjoy a wide range of fiction new n’ old.

Nina

Big reader and travel enthusiast

Lewis

New to reading and loving it! Reading a real mix of genres and always looking for new recommendations. Faves this year have been The Nightingale and Project Hail Mary!

Emma

I enjoy reading fiction but open to reading short stories or different types of books I’d normally read. I would also like to meet new people at the same time! 📚😀👌

Catie

I’ve just moved to York and want to meet fellow readers! I like a range of books but usually read sci-fi and fantasy novels.

Amelia

I am a voracious reader of essentially everything, though mostly fantasy adjacent and academic history. I am a university student on break who is going slightly insane with a lack of discussion and a desire to talk about things in detail with another human being. I don’t read much sci-fi or historical fiction, perhaps 20-40 books of each per year, out of 700-1000 total, (but plenty of historical fantasy), but I do enjoy both when well done (which I’m picky about with the historical fiction, courtesy of an academic love of daily life history and the history of trades and trade that mean I get my immersion broken very easily). I’d consider my favourite authors to be Prattchet, Kay, Jo Walton half the time (I either bounce off completely or it Does Things to me, there are two relateable books I’ve read in my life and she wrote both), and Sherwood smith slink less than half the time (mostly Time o Daughters, which I have yet to meet anyone else who has actually read. I don’t care for her most popular few, generally). I will however read pretty much anything, these are just the four that I end up rereading on loop when I’m not sure what else to do and that give me reliable book hangovers on the upteenth reread. The only genre I don’t read much at all is pure romance— I’ll only do it if it’s got a very strong alternate plot or if it’s not actually very romance based romance. This is purely me being very ace and very demiromantic and generally considering romance the least interesting character dynamic.

BitskiReader

I live in York and enjoy lots of genres but am mainly into reading fantasy and romance currently.

jamie

e.g. An avid reader of crime, suspense, and psychological thrillers, with a growing interest in fantasy.

Jamie

I mainly enjoy reading mystery, thriller, and suspense novels. I love books with, unexpected twists, and stories that keep me guessing until the very end. Favourite books - and now there was none, the martian

Dan

Reserved

Dan recommends:

Teatro Grottesco

by Thomas Ligotti | Learn more and buy

A collection of Ligotti’s fiction, predominantly concerned with corporate horror. I would liken it to the TV series Severance in tone and theme only. Not conventional horror - gore and monsters don’t seem to interest Ligotti.

Graham MacDougall

Eclectic reader looking to join a book group in York as recently moved here

Adam

Hi, I'm Adam and I'm looking to meet people who like to read. I'm getting a masters in publishing and creative writing at York St John and for the longest time I've been wanting to join a book club to be able to discuss the books I read. Usually I read Sci-Fi books but I also love Horror, Speculative Fiction, Literary Fiction, Classic Literature, and Modern Fiction.

Adam recommends:

Project Hail Mary

by Andy Weir | Learn more and buy

They saved the world with the power of friendship! And also the movie made me cry over a god damn rock. I love that rock so much. It truly is, amaze amaze amaze.

R Carter

I am an avid reader of weird fiction (Lovecraft, Thomas Ligotti, Robert Aickman, China Mieville). I also enjoy sci-fi - M John Harrison is a favourite - but I would like to expand my horizons and discuss with like minded people.

R Carter recommends:

Teatro Grottesco

by Thomas Ligotti | Learn more and buy

Grace

Looking to fill my time with reading especially in the New Year! I enjoy an oxford comma, but more importantly mystery/crime/thrillers… and romance or historical fiction. If it sounds interesting, I’d give it a go.

Clare

Love crime, big Ian Rankin fan, also John Grisham and similar but also broader interests, modern writers. Aspire to read some classics one day. I’m looking for a group to join, a new hobby and people to chat with. Also to make me more accountable with my reading.

Kate

I currently run a short story book group every second and fourth Sunday of the month, meeting at the Amnesty Bookshop on Micklegate. You can find more details on the Meetup App by looking for Short Reads Club, York. It's great for people who don't have time to read a whole novel around their other commitments, or for anyone just getting back into reading, as well as those of us who just love short stories. We read across genres, welcoming suggestions from members, and usually read two stories per session. I'm also considering starting a short story reading club specifically for stories that fall into the horror/weird fic/uncanny genres. If that would be of interest to you, please let me know.

Kate recommends:

Folk

by Zoë Gilbert | Learn more and buy

Whether you read this as a collection of short stories that share a setting, or as an unusual novel about a strange rural town perched between the sea and moors, its inhabitants, rituals, and secrets this wonderfully rich, dark book is perfect for fans of folk horror, the strange, and the weird.

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