Novels for womens book clubs

Need a little inspiration for your book club's next read? Check out what Real Simple readers love. We related to Sedaris's struggles to learn a foreign language and converse with the locals. We each had our own moments of "What the heck did I just say? The Secret History, by Donna Tartt.

Related: How to Start a Book Club in The Last Resort by Marissa Stapley. Two struggling marriages will be put to the ultimate test in The Last Resort. This pick will be right up your alley. Cara Hargraves would much rather focus on the past than her own future, so when she finds a diary from World War II while clearing out an estate, she takes up immediate interest. You, Me, and the Sea by Meg Donohue.

I have been a part of one or more book clubs for over 20 years, and I have learned a few things about what makes a book club successful and how to get your book club talking. I have two cardinal rules in selecting the best book club books: choose mostly books available in paperback and pick books that will foster great discussion. While you occasionally want to read the hot new bestseller with your book club, the truth is that a lot people just cannot afford to buy new hardbacks all the time. I have found that participation is better when you choose books that are more affordable in paperback, can be borrowed from the library, or can be purchased used. The following list includes ten tried-and-true book club picks. These are novels that have inspired some of the most thought-provoking discussions in my own book clubs over the years, and these book club books are all available in paperback or at your local library.