
Top 10 Book-Group Books: 2018
Whether you’re planning ahead for a library book group or selecting for circulating book-club kits, these 10 discussion-worthy titles, reviewed by Booklist from July 2017 through June 2018, will get people talking.
Fiction
Bellewether
by Susanna Kearsley
A small museum holds the secrets to a star-crossed romance during the Seven Years’ War in this blend of women’s fiction and historical fiction, ideal for book groups who like to explore lesser-known pieces of American history.
How Are You Going to Save Yourself
by J. M. Holmes
Interconnected stories of a richly imagined group of childhood friends highlight the travails of black men in America; a timely, nuanced exploration of race and masculinity, sure to inspire conversation.
The Other Side of Everything
by Lauren Doyle Owens
A literary thriller with everything book groups are looking for: fine writing, a flawlessly constructed story, and relatable characters providing plenty of questionable decisions rife for discussion.
Red Clocks
by Leni Zumas
Four women’s lives intersect in a world in which Roe v. Wade has been overturned in this richly realized, compulsively readable, never-didactic novel that invites thought and discussion.
Southernmost
by Silas House
An epiphanic flood compels a pastor to kidnap his son in a beautifully written novel that will appeal to book groups that like to consider issues of morality and crises of faith.
The Sworn Virgin
by Kristopher Dukes
This provocative debut, set in early twentieth-century Albania, follows Eleanora, who declares herself a “sworn virgin” to avoid a brutal marriage, and will appeal to book groups who enjoyed Téa Obreht’s The Tiger’s Wife.
Nonfiction
The Common Good
by Robert B. Reich
Dealing with aging parents is a familiar book group topic. This graphic novel includes art and photography that will enhance the conversation.
Creative Quest
by Questlove and Ben Greenman
The cofounder of the hip-hop group the Roots and musical director for The Tonight Show blends stories, advice, and exercises in this deep dive into the creative process, perfect for book groups in a narrative rut.
The Tragedy of Benedict Arnold: An American Life
by Joyce Lee Malcolm
Malcolm does for Arnold what Ron Chernow did for Hamilton in this adventurous, entertaining read that will appeal to book clubs interested in a multilayered reassessment of a long-misunderstood American.
The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote
by Elaine Weiss
As the 100th anniversary of the Nineteenth Amendment approaches, book groups will devour this fascinating historical account of 1920 and will find much to discuss comparing it to current social and political tensions.
Susan Maguire is the Senior Editor for Collection Management and Library Outreach at Booklist.
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