If you’re reading this, chances are you already understand the value of picking up a good book. But did you know the average adult in the U.S. spends only about 15.6 minutes a day reading? According to 2023 data, adults over 75 were the most devoted, averaging over 45 minutes daily. For the rest of us, between work, family, and daily demands, finding time to read can feel like a luxury.

Book Clubs Encourage Reading

That’s where book clubs come in.

Reading, in any form, whether it’s a paperback, audiobook, blog post, or magazine, does more than entertain. It sparks imagination, sharpens memory, reduces stress, and helps us see the world through someone else’s eyes. And while I may not know exactly how fast I read (studies say the average is 200 to 400 words per minute), I do know I average 12 to 18 books each month.

How? I double up. I usually have a physical book on my nightstand and an audiobook queued up on my phone. And when I listen to audiobooks, I adjust the playback speed, typically between 1.7 to 1.85, which lets me absorb more content in less time. It’s a system that works for me and keeps stories flowing through my day, whether I’m commuting, folding laundry, or walking the dog.

But reading becomes even more meaningful when it’s shared. That’s the real magic of book clubs.

Book Clubs Offer a Chance to Read and Reflect

Book clubs don’t just give you an excuse to read. They give you a reason to reflect. They offer space to ask questions, to hear someone else’s interpretation, and to engage with stories on a deeper level. As a writer, I’ve found that book club discussions often reveal insights I hadn’t even realized were in the text. And as a reader, I always leave with a fresh perspective and a longer TBR list.

When I released Emily’s Next Chapter, I knew it would be perfect for book clubs because it deals with big, relatable themes: reinvention, second chances, blended families, and learning how to love again after heartbreak. These are just a few of the questions I recently shared for book clubs reading the novel:

• Emily and Lucas both carry emotional baggage from past relationships. How do their histories shape their approach to love and vulnerability?
• The novel explores the challenges of blending families later in life. What does the book get right about step-parenting, particularly Emily’s relationship with Lily?
• In what ways does Emily grow throughout the novel, and what choices mark key turning points?
• Love letters—some shared, some not—play a recurring role in the story. How does this deepen your understanding of the characters?
• If you could write a “next chapter” for one of the secondary characters, who would you follow—and why?

These types of questions lead to rich, rewarding conversations, and they remind us why we read in the first place.

Join Your Local Book Club

Whether you’re reading five books a year or five books a week, joining a book club can help you stay engaged, accountable, and inspired. And if you’re a writer? Listening in on what resonates with readers is one of the best ways to grow your craft.

Ready to start a new conversation? Grab a copy of Emily’s Next Chapter or Perseverance. Reinvention. Both are available now wherever books are sold.