What are the Best Online Communities for Book Lovers?

Welcome, fellow book lover! In today’s digital age, you don’t have to read alone. Online book communities offer a wonderful way to share your love of reading with others and enrich your literary life. Whether you’re looking to discuss the latest bestseller, swap recommendations, or start or participate in a virtual book club, there’s a vibrant community for you. These platforms make it easy for readers to connect across the globe, share reviews and thoughts, and discover new books they’d never have found on their own​. Best of all, the most popular communities are actively moderated, welcoming, and friendly: much like a cozy in-person book club, just available anytime and anywhere.

Below, we’ll explore some of the best online communities for book lovers. From dedicated book discussion forums to social media groups and apps, each of these platforms offers something unique. First up is BookBrowse’s own community forum, followed by other top sites like Goodreads, Reddit, LibraryThing, The StoryGraph, and newer book club apps like Fable and Bookclubs. All of these are great options (most are completely free) and cater to a wide range of reading interests. Let’s dive in!

1. BookBrowse Community Forum

The BookBrowse Community Forum is a dedicated online space “for book lovers to share their love of reading with one another”​. It’s a relatively new forum launched by BookBrowse (a book review and readers’ advisory site) to bring readers together, although BookBrowse has been discussing books online for over a decade. Here you can join in ongoing discussions about what you’re reading, ask for book recommendations, and even participate in structured book club conversations. In fact, BookBrowse hosts multiple in-depth book club discussions each month, much like an online book club meeting, complete with prompts and moderator guidance​. There are also sections for general book talk, “Recent Reads,” Q&As with authors, and more​, so all kinds of literary chatter are welcome.

One great aspect of BookBrowse’s forum is its strong moderation and community guidelines. The environment is actively moderated to keep it civil and kind, with clear rules encouraging respectful, positive conversation. As the site’s FAQ says, the goal is to make it a “kind, friendly place for civilized public discourse” where members treat each other with respect​. BookBrowse even offers a mobile app so you can participate in the forums on the go (simply download the app or add the forum to your home screen for quick access). 

In short, the BookBrowse Community Forum is an excellent online hangout for readers, especially if you enjoy book club–style discussions. It combines the intimacy of a book club (small group discussions led by moderators) with the breadth of an online forum (multiple topics, many participants). You’ll find fellow readers discussing everything from the latest literary fiction to favorite mystery novels. It’s a warm, well-managed community – a perfect starting point for someone seeking an online book forum with a personal touch. (And as a bonus, BookBrowse often has exclusive content like author interviews and reading guides that tie into the forum discussions.) Give it a try if you want a friendly corner of the internet to talk books – you might just find your next great read through a fellow member’s recommendation!

BookBrowse is also unique among book sites because it combines community discussion with editorial reviews and other resources: for example this page for James by Percival Everett has snippets of forum discussion alongside a summary, a professional review from BookBrowse, an excerpt, book club discussion questions, read-alikes, and aggregated critic reviews, all in one place.

2. Goodreads Groups

You can’t talk about online book communities without mentioning Goodreads. If you enjoy keeping track of your reading and connecting with readers who have similar tastes, Goodreads is a fantastic platform. Every user has virtual “bookshelves” to record what they’ve read or want to read, and you can follow friends or favorite reviewers to see their updates. But beyond just tracking books, Goodreads shines as a community through its Groups feature.

Goodreads Groups are essentially online book clubs or discussion forums created by members. There are groups for every genre and interest imaginable, from broad categories like historical fiction or sci-fi, to niche interests like 19th-century Russian literature or narrative nonfiction.  Many groups do monthly reads or challenges; for example, a mystery lovers group might pick a novel to discuss each month, while a fantasy group could host read-alongs of popular series. Discussion threads allow members to post their thoughts, answer questions, and geek out about the details of the book without spoiling it for others. It’s a great way to get that book club experience asynchronously; you can comment whenever you want, and there’s always someone around the world ready to chat about the same book.

Goodreads groups are moderated by their creators or designated moderators (who are usually passionate readers themselves). The quality of discussion can vary by group, but the most active ones tend to have guidelines and dedicated members to keep things on track. 

3. Reddit (r/Books, r/BookClub, and more)

If you prefer a more informal and chatty setting, Reddit is home to some of the most active book communities on the internet. Reddit is a massive discussion platform divided into countless sub-communities called subreddits, and naturally there are subreddits for book lovers of every stripe. The two biggest ones are r/books and r/bookclub:

• r/books –  r/books is a giant, catch-all subreddit for book discussions. People post about anything book-related: recent reads, requests for recommendations, literary news, reading tips, you name it. Despite its size, r/books is heavily moderated to keep the focus on in-depth discussion of books. In fact, the subreddit rules explicitly state: “This is a moderated subreddit. It is our intent and purpose to foster and encourage in-depth discussion about all things related to books, authors, genres, or literary techniques.” The moderation team keeps out spam and low-effort content, so what you’ll find is a feed of genuine book talk by readers who are passionate. It’s common to see threads like “What book changed your life?”, “Can someone help me find a book I read years ago?”, or “Let’s discuss the ending of [Book X] (spoilers)”. Because of the community size, you can get dozens of responses in hours. The tone is usually friendly and curious, although because the moderators are focused on preventing spam, they end up biased toward established platforms like Goodreads versus allowing conversation or reviews referencing other platforms.

• r/bookclub – This subreddit is more specialized, functioning as a platform for people who want that book club experience. It has a more modest membership compared to r/books, but is very active. Essentially, r/bookclub votes on a selection of books to read together, and then hosts discussion threads for those books on a set schedule​. For example, the community might nominate and vote on three books for the month of May, assign each to a week, and then anyone reading those books can join the weekly discussion thread to share their thoughts. It’s all done via text posts and comments, so you can participate from anywhere on your own time. The moderators of r/bookclub keep a calendar and guidelines (to avoid spoilers and such). Similar to BookBrowse, r/bookclub is a great option if you want an online book club but don’t have friends or a local group to join. You instantly have thousands of potential buddies to read along with. Readers often come back month after month, so there’s a nice camaraderie in the group. And if the main picks don’t interest you, members are free to create side threads for other books as well. 

Beyond those two, Reddit offers many other book-related subreddits. Whatever specific genre or niche you’re into, there’s likely a subreddit for it. Some examples: r/Fantasy, r/SuggestMeABook (for recommendation requests), r/Bookshelf (sharing photos of bookshelves), r/YAlit (YA books), r/Poetry (poems and poetry books), r/Mystery – the list is endless​. These communities allow you to dive deep into genre-specific discussions and meet people with very similar interests. And of course, the beauty of Reddit is you can subscribe to multiple subreddits and see all the posts in one feed on your Reddit homepage.

The experience on Reddit is a bit more free-form than on a dedicated book site. It feels less like a formal book club and more like a bunch of readers hanging out in a giant room, starting conversations. You might jump into a thread about “books that made you cry” one day, and then help someone remember a long-lost title the next day. The threads can be funny, heartfelt, or intensely analytical depending on the topic. Thanks to moderation and community norms, the atmosphere in the book subreddits is generally positive. (Just be sure to read each subreddit’s rules, as moderators can be quick to enforce rules, albeit sometimes arbitrarily).  Also like other forms of social media, reddit is not only for book discussion and it requires discipline not to be sucked into endless scrolling.  

4. LibraryThing Groups

LibraryThing is a classic in the online book community world. It’s been around since 2005 – essentially a social cataloging site like Goodreads, but smaller and more focused on the community of serious book collectors and readers. LibraryThing lets you catalog your personal library (it’s a favorite for people who have hundreds of books and want to organize them) and find others who have similar books. But it also hosts a robust Groups system for discussions.

Despite being smaller than Goodreads, LibraryThing boasts a dedicated user base of bibliophiles. You’ll find groups for genres (mystery, romance, science fiction, etc.), groups for specific authors or series, groups for people who enjoy a certain classic (like a Jane Austen group), and even quirky interest groups like “Books on the Nightstand” or “Ancient History Buffs.” There are also general groups like “What Are You Reading Now?” where folks simply chat about their current books. One of LibraryThing’s strengths is these niche communities – if you have a very specific literary interest, you might discover a handful of equally enthusiastic people there ready to geek out with you on that topic.

LibraryThing’s discussion format is more traditional forum-style (think threaded conversations), and it tends to feel a bit cozier and slower-paced than the frenetic Reddit or the huge Goodreads groups. Longtime members are very knowledgeable, and discussions can be quite in-depth. 

Similar to BookBrowse, because LibraryThing is not a massive corporate-owned entity (it’s independently run, unlike Amazon-owned Goodreads), it has a bit of a grassroots, indie feel that many readers appreciate.

In terms of moderation and experience: LibraryThing groups are generally self-moderated by their members and group admins, with oversight by the small LibraryThing staff if needed. The culture there values civility and genuine interest in books. It’s less about flashy features and more about the content of discussions. Many members of LibraryThing have been active for a decade or more, so there’s a strong sense of community identity in some groups. Newcomers are welcome, though – just introduce yourself, perhaps mention a book or two you love, and you’ll get friendly responses.

If you’re an adult reader who enjoys thoughtful discussions (and maybe if you have a collector streak in you), LibraryThing is worth checking out. It’s free to join and use.

5. The StoryGraph Community

The StoryGraph is a newer player (launched around 2019) that has quickly gained a loyal following, especially among readers seeking an alternative to Goodreads. The StoryGraph is primarily known as a book tracking and recommendation platform – it lets you log your books and gives you super insightful stats about your reading (breakdowns by genre, mood, pacing, etc.). 

While The StoryGraph started with an emphasis on data and personalized recommendations, it has been expanding its community features. On StoryGraph you can follow friends to see what they’re reading, similar to Goodreads. It also has buddy reads: you can invite one or more friends to read a book with you and share comments or reactions in-app as you progress. This is a fun way to have a mini book club with a friend without leaving the app – you can even add comments chapter by chapter. The platform also hosts Reading Challenges. Users (or organizations) can create themed challenges (e.g. “24 books by 24 authors from 24 different countries in 2024”) and others can join those challenges. Each challenge has a discussion area where participants can talk about the books they’re reading for the challenge, offer suggestions, and encourage each other. It’s a neat way to foster community around common reading goals.

An advantage of The StoryGraph community is the focus on inclusive and thoughtful features. For example, it allows half-star (and quarter-star) ratings, and it has a built-in system for content warnings on books​. This has created a community norm of being mindful of sensitive content, which many appreciate. Discussions on StoryGraph, when they happen, often include these kinds of details, which can lead to deeper conversations about the impact of a book.

In terms of moderation: since StoryGraph is smaller and more structured, outright moderation issues are less common. Interactions are tied to specific books or challenges, and there’s a code of conduct. The vibe is positive and book-focused. You might find that the depth of discussion is still building up – StoryGraph is growing, so some books might only have a few reviews or comments so far. But it’s improving as more people join. As one article put it, StoryGraph aims to be “a fully-featured Amazon-free alternative to Goodreads”​. Part of that full feature set is fostering reader community without the baggage of a giant corporate platform. They have even solicited user feedback on adding more community features (like a possible forum or better social feed), so it’s an evolving space.

If you want a more modern interface and love the idea of stats + community, give StoryGraph a shot. You can import your Goodreads data to get started quickly​, then join a reading challenge or find a buddy read. The satisfaction of checking your progress and discussing in one place is pretty cool. 

6. Fable – The Social Reading App

Fable is an innovative app dedicated to book clubs and reading communities. Launched in 2021, Fable markets itself as a “social reading platform” where you can join all sorts of online book clubs or even start your own​. If you’re someone who loves the idea of curated book discussions – sometimes led by authors or celebrities – Fable is made for you. It’s essentially bringing the book club experience into a sleek mobile app.

Here’s how Fable works: After downloading the app (or using their website), you can browse Book Clubs by theme or host. There are clubs run by influencers, authors, and celebs – for instance, actor LeVar Burton famously hosts a club on Fable, and there are clubs by popular BookTok (TikTok) personalities​. These often focus on particular genres or themes. You can also find community-run clubs (e.g., a “Cozy Mystery Lovers” club or a “Historical Fiction Book Club”). Many clubs are free to join; some premium clubs might require a subscription, but those are optional. Once you join a club, the club’s moderator/host picks the book (or books) to read for a given period, and there are discussion threads within the app where members can post as they read. One nice feature: Fable enables chapter-by-chapter discussions. For example, a club reading Pride and Prejudice might have threads for chapters 1-10, 11-20, etc., allowing readers to comment without spoiling later parts. This creates a rich, interactive reading experience. It’s like reading alongside a bunch of friends and sharing reactions in real time.

Readers can also create private book clubs with their own friends if they want (so you could use it to host your personal book club virtually). The app includes social features like profiles, followers, and a home feed that shows updates or interesting posts from your clubs. 

Moderation and quality: Fable clubs, especially the ones led by known figures, tend to be well-moderated. For instance, if an author or celebrity runs a club, they or their team will guide the discussion and set the tone. The community guidelines emphasize kindness – Fable actually calls its community members “Fableists” and encourages good netiquette. Since many clubs are public, the Fable staff keep an eye on things too. Overall, the experience is meant to feel curated and safe. In Fable’s clubs, you won’t typically encounter off-topic or rude comments; it’s mostly book lovers who genuinely want to discuss the story at hand.

One of Fable’s selling points is also discoverability. The app helps you find new clubs based on your interests. This makes it easy to jump into a conversation that genuinely excites you. Fable also has some clubs that include free ebooks (public domain classics, etc.) so everyone can read without cost.

For readers who ask, “Is there an app where I can discuss books with others?”, Fable is a good answer. It’s modern, mobile-friendly, and purpose-built for book discussions.  However, it did embroil itself in contravesy for its poor use of AI.

7. Bookclubs – Book Club Management Made Easy

Don’t confuse this one with generic “book clubs” – Bookclubs (plural) is actually the name of a specific online platform and app. Formerly known as Bookclubz, Bookclubs.com is a free service designed to help people start and manage book clubs with ease. It’s less of a discussion forum like the others listed, and more of an organizer’s dream tool that has evolved into a community hub.

If you’ve ever tried to coordinate an in-person book club (emails flying around about what book to read, when to meet, who’s bringing snacks, etc.), you’ll appreciate what Bookclubs offers. The platform provides tools to create a book club, invite members, schedule meetings (with RSVP tracking), vote on books, and keep a shared bookshelf of what your club has read or plans to read. All in one place, all for free. The app and website are synced, so members can use whichever is convenient. According to the developers, “Bookclubs makes organizing a book club simple. The app helps you create clubs, schedule meetings, and choose books, all for free.”​ That sums it up well – it takes the administrative hassle out of book clubbing, so you can focus on the fun part (talking about the book!).

Now, beyond just private clubs, Bookclubs also has a directory of public clubs you can join.  Some are entirely virtual, others are tied to real-life groups (for example, a library might host an online discussion via Bookclubs). If you want to find a book club to be part of, this is a great way – there are clubs for “Classics Lovers,” “NYC Moms Book Club,” “LGBTQ+ Sci-Fi Club,” you name it. Many are open to new members. You could join a few and see which discussions you enjoy.

The Bookclubs platform may not have the massive user posts of Goodreads or Reddit, but it excels in facilitating the book club experience, whether in person or over zoom. Each club you join will have its own mini-community (often a dozen to a few dozen people) and a discussion board where you can chat about the book. Some clubs also use Bookclubs’ integrated video meeting feature to hold live virtual meetings – so you might actually jump on a Zoom-like call to discuss, directly through the app.

A big plus: Bookclubs is completely free to use. There is a premium tier for certain extra features (like custom branding for organizations, etc.), but for the average reader, the free version is more than enough. The ethos is accessibility – as their site states, they want book clubbing to be accessible to everyone, so the tools are free and easy.

In terms of user experience, Bookclubs doesn’t impose content or reading choices – it’s up to each club. So the “community” feel will vary depending on the club you join. Some public clubs on Bookclubs might be very active with weekly discussion threads, while others might be quieter except for monthly meeting polls. It’s a bit like Meetup.com but specifically for book clubs. You might have to try a couple to find a lively one. Or, you can easily start your own club and invite folks (friends, family, or even the public) to join. 

In a nutshell: If your idea of a great online book community is video based instead of text based, Bookclubs is your go-to. It’s like having a personal assistant for your book club, plus the benefit of discovering other clubs. It doesn’t replace the big free-for-all forums, but it complements them by offering a more focused, club-centric experience. 

Now that we’ve covered the main communities, let’s address some common questions you might have about joining an online book community.

Frequently Asked Questions About Online Book Communities

What are the best free online book communities?

All of the communities mentioned above are free to an extent, so you have plenty of options! Goodreads and Reddit are completely free with no paid tiers, supported by ads/owners – you can create an account and instantly access millions of book lovers’ discussions, but since these platforms make money from ads, you’re the product they’re selling, so to speak. The StoryGraph is free for core features (they do have an optional Plus subscription for advanced stats, but joining the community and using the service doesn’t require payment). BookBrowse’s forum is free for anyone who has a BookBrowse membership – BookBrowse offers basic memberships for free (and premium for those who want full access to all reviews), so you can register at no cost and jump into the forum. The Bookclubs app is free – and you can utilize all its book club features without paying. Fable is also free for general use; it only charges for certain premium clubs or books, but you can join many discussions and use the app without spending money.

In summary, you don’t need to pay anything to join a vibrant book community online. Start with whichever platform appeals to you: for a broad social network of readers, try Goodreads​; for forum-style discussions, BookBrowse or LibraryThing; for real-time chat and niche topics, Reddit; for organized book clubs, BookBrowse, Bookclubs, or Fable. Since they’re free, you can sample multiple and see where you feel most at home. Many book lovers end up participating in a couple of communities (for example, Goodreads to track and find reviews, plus Reddit to chat casually). Find the mix that’s best for you and dive in!

What are good online book club options for adults?

All of the communities we discussed are suitable for adult readers – in fact, the majority of users on platforms like Goodreads, BookBrowse, LibraryThing, and the book club apps are adults. 

What are the best apps for book communities?

If you’re looking for a mobile-friendly experience or dedicated apps, a few names stand out:

• Goodreads App: Goodreads has a solid mobile app (available on iOS and Android) that lets you do everything from scanning book barcodes to join groups and discussions. It’s essentially the Goodreads website in app form, convenient for on-the-go updates. Many users enjoy tracking their reading progress in the app and responding to group threads or comments as they would with social media.

• Fable: As discussed, Fable is an app-first platform built specifically for book club style communities. It’s one of the best apps if your focus is discussion in an organized club format. The interface is visually appealing and designed for conversation and discovery​. It also has neat touches like being able to highlight quotes in the built-in ebook and discuss that highlight with the club – a very interactive reading experience.

• Bookclubs: Bookclubs (formerly Bookclubz) also has a dedicated app. The app makes it super easy to keep track of your book club memberships, vote in polls, and get notifications (like “Reminder: meeting tomorrow!”). It’s more utilitarian in design than Fable, but extremely handy. If you are running or joining book clubs, the Bookclubs app is almost a must-have for convenience. 

• The StoryGraph: StoryGraph has a mobile app as well, which includes all the community and tracking features. You can follow friends, join reading challenges, and do buddy reads all within the app. It’s very user-friendly, and fans love the dark mode and graphs. If you enjoy keeping stats and want a Goodreads alternative on your phone, StoryGraph’s app will be your friend.

• Reddit: Reddit’s mobile app (or a third-party Reddit app) allows you to browse subreddits like r/books easily. So while Reddit isn’t only for books, it’s a great tool to have if you subscribe to book communities. You can set notifications for certain threads if you want, or just scroll r/books when you have spare time. Since Reddit is discussion-centric, it works well on mobile for quick reading and commenting.

• Litsy: This is a smaller app that some readers love – it’s often described as a mix between Instagram and Goodreads. On Litsy, users post photos or short updates about books (like an Instagram post with a book and a caption), and others can comment. It’s very community-oriented and tends to have avid readers sharing their current reads in a visual way. If you’re into Bookstagram (book photography on Instagram) but want a dedicated book app for it, Litsy might interest you. The community there is enthusiastic, though smaller than the giants.

What are the best online communities for discussing specific genres?

If you have a favorite genre and want to dive into discussions focused on that, you’re in luck – there are specialized communities all over the internet. Here are some of the best avenues:

• Reddit’s Genre Subreddits: Reddit likely has a subreddit for every genre. A few shining examples:

  • r/Fantasy – A huge subreddit for fantasy readers (hundreds of thousands of members)​redditinc.com. They do an annual reading challenge and have weekly threads on topics like world-building, plus AMAs with fantasy authors. Very active and welcoming to newbies.

  • r/ScienceFiction – Likewise, for sci-fi lovers. Discussions about classic sci-fi, new releases, and lots of recommendations.

  • r/RomanceBooks – An extremely engaged community for romance genre fans. Readers swap recommendations by trope, discuss the latest romance releases, and the vibe is super supportive (they even have a wiki for newcomers to the genre).

  • r/Horror – Dedicated to horror literature, with over a million subscribers​redditinc.com. Perfect if you like spooky reads; they often have book-of-the-month discussions.

  • r/Mystery and r/Thriller – Smaller subreddits but focused on crime, mystery, and thriller novels. Great for finding hidden gems in those genres.

  • r/Literature – For classic literature and more scholarly discussion, r/literature is a good spot. It’s a bit more serious (more analysis of classics, philosophy, etc.).

  • And there are many more (r/Poetry, r/GraphicNovels, r/HistoryBooks, etc.). Just search on Reddit for your genre of interest + “books” and you’ll likely find a community.

• Goodreads Groups by Genre: On Goodreads, you can search for groups using genre keywords. For example:

  • Goodreads Fantasy Book Club,

  • Addicted to YA (for young adult fiction lovers),

  • Historical Fictionistas,

  • Nonfiction Book Club (there are several for nonfiction readers, including ones run by libraries)​goodreads.com. Goodreads groups often explicitly label their genre, and as mentioned earlier, there are thousands of them covering every literary niche​cae.edu.au. Some popular ones: “Romance Readers Reading Challenges” (for romance), “Mystery and Thriller 24/7”, “Science Fiction Aficionados”, “Bookworm Bitches” (excuse the name, but it’s a big one for general & literary fiction). By joining these, you ensure your feed is filled with discussions of the genre you love. These groups usually have moderator-posted threads like monthly group reads, recommendation requests, and off-topic fun related to the genre.

• BookBrowse – BookBrowse has dozens of threads focused on genres and subgenres, like this one for dystopian fiction.

• Niche Forums and Websites: Outside of the big platforms, there are independent forums and communities devoted to single genres. For example:

  • SFF Chronicles – an old-school forum for science fiction and fantasy readers and writers.

  • Facebook Groups: It’s worth mentioning that Facebook has many private and public groups for genres. For example, a group like “Historical Fiction Book Lovers” or “Contemporary Romance Readers” with thousands of members each. If you’re active on Facebook, a quick search can yield some very active genre communities. They function like discussion boards in your Facebook feed.

No matter the genre – be it true crime, self-help, fantasy, manga, poetry – there’s likely a corner of the internet fervently talking about it. These genre communities are fantastic because everyone gets the references and tropes of that genre, which makes conversations all the more engaging. You’ll pick up tons of recommendations tailored to your tastes, and you might make friends who have eerily similar bookshelves!

How can I start a book club within an online community?

Starting a book club online might sound daunting, but it’s actually easier than ever now. You have a few routes to consider:

• Use a dedicated platform like Bookclubs or Fable: These apps are built for starting book clubs. For example, on Bookclubs, you can literally hit a “Create club” button, name your club, and invite people via email or a sharable link. You could start one for a specific interest (“Online Nonfiction Club” or “Stephen King Superfans”) and mark it public so others on the platform can find and join, or keep it private just for friends. Fable similarly allows users to start their own club in-app​. When you create a club on Fable, you become the moderator; you choose the reading material and pace. Fable provides discussion prompts and spaces as you go. Both of these platforms handle the logistics (invitations, reminders, discussion threads) so you can focus on reading and chatting. If you want a streamlined experience, this is probably the best way.

• Start a group on Goodreads: Goodreads lets any user create a new Group. You’ll go to the Groups section and find “Create a Group.” There you can define the group’s name, description, and rules. Once it’s live, you can invite friends on Goodreads to join or advertise it (non-spammily) by mentioning it in relevant existing groups or social media. Running a Goodreads group means you might set up folders for monthly reads, create discussion topics, etc. It requires a bit more manual effort to organize since Goodreads doesn’t have built-in scheduling, but many have done it successfully. If you have an audience or friends interested, Goodreads is a good host because of its large user base – people might stumble on your group while browsing genres. Just note you’ll need to take the lead in posting topics to keep it active.

• Use Reddit to form a club: Perhaps you don’t want the formality of an app. You can start an informal book club on Reddit by simply creating a subreddit for it or using an existing one. For instance, if you want to start a classics book club, you might create a new subreddit r/ClassicBookClub or you could coordinate within r/bookclub or r/literature by making a post: “Anyone want to read War and Peace with me over the next month?” If there’s interest, you can then post discussion threads at agreed-upon checkpoints. Some smaller subreddits function exactly like this – essentially a persistent book club. The downside is discoverability (it might be hard for new users to find your club unless you promote it). But Reddit is flexible and free. Moderation tools are there once you make a subreddit (you become the mod).

• Social media and other tools: You might consider starting a book club on Facebook (Facebook Groups), where you can invite members and post like you would on a forum. Many people are comfortable with FB, and it has event scheduling, etc. Or even something like a Discord server: you can start a Discord, create text channels for different books or chapters, and invite folks to chat (including voice/video rooms if you ever want to do a live discussion). Discord requires a bit more tech-savvy from members, but it’s great for real-time interaction.

• Within an existing community: Perhaps you already frequent a forum (say, a parenting forum or a hobby forum) and you want to start a book club with those folks. You could propose a book club thread in an off-topic section. For example, on a cooking forum, start a monthly “Cookbook Book Club” where you all cook from the same cookbook and discuss. This is more ad-hoc but sometimes effective if people in that community are looking for more connection.

Regardless of platform, a few tips:

• Pick a clear theme or goal for your book club to attract like-minded members. It could be broad (“let’s read anything and everything, one book a month”) or niche (“21st Century Prize-Winning Novels Book Club”).

• Have a plan for the first book and discussion format. People are more likely to join if they see something is already happening. For instance: “I’m starting an online book club for mystery lovers. Our first read will be The Hound of the Baskervilles in November. We’ll discuss halfway through the month and at the end. Join us!” This gives a concrete idea.

• Use the tools at your disposal: scheduling polls (Bookclubs app has these, or Google Forms if not on an app), calendar invites, and reminders. Participation can drop if people forget dates, so gentle pings help.

• Be welcoming and consistent. Early on, a fledgling book club might only have a few members. If you as the organizer keep posting thought-provoking questions and encouraging responses, more people will feel comfortable jumping in. It takes a cycle or two to get momentum.

• Leverage larger communities to recruit: If you start a group on Goodreads, mention it on Twitter or Reddit; if you start on Bookclubs, share the invite link with friends, etc. The more the merrier, up to the point it becomes hard to manage (but online, you can usually handle larger numbers by splitting into threads).

The good news is technology has made it very simple to start a book club and gather people without everyone needing to be in the same room. So go for it! Identify what kind of club you want, choose a platform, and invite others to read along. Many book lovers out there are also looking for a community – by starting one, you’re doing them a favor and creating a space for mutual enjoyment.

It’s also important to remember that starting a book club is a lot of work, and if you’re looking for a space to discuss books online, there are plenty of options already available, so do your research!

Are there online communities focused on non-fiction books?

Yes, absolutely! While a lot of bookish communities discuss fiction (novels, fantasy, etc.), there are plenty that either specialize in or warmly welcome non-fiction readers. Here are some to check out:

• Goodreads Non-fiction Groups: Goodreads has numerous groups centered on non-fiction. For example, “Nonfiction Readers”, “History Book Club”, “Biographies & Memoirs”, etc. 

• Reddit communities:

  • r/nonfictionbooks – This subreddit is specifically for discussing nonfiction books​reddit.com. Readers post about their favorite nonfiction reads, ask for recommendations (e.g., “What’s a great narrative history book about World War II?”), and have discussions on recent reads. While smaller than r/books, it’s focused and the folks there love to dive into factual books.

  • r/AskHistorians (not exactly a book club, but this subreddit often references history books and could indirectly guide your reading – it’s a place where history experts answer questions, often citing books).

  • r/Science and r/History and similar subs occasionally have threads like “What are the best books about X?” which can lead to community discussions in the comments.

  • r/BookSuggestions – If you request nonfiction recs there, you’ll get a mini-community response too.

• LibraryThing: LibraryThing’s groups include many nonfiction topics. For instance, there’s a group called “History Fans” and one called “Science! (for nerdy books about science)”. Given the more academic-leaning user base, nonfiction is well-represented. Also, LibraryThing’s Early Reviewers program often includes nonfiction titles, meaning a number of members read and discuss those early. You could start or join a talk thread on a nonfiction title and likely find takers.

• BookBrowse: BookBrowse regularly discusses nonfiction books (like The Devil Finds Work by James Baldwin), as well as discussing nonfiction in other threads, like this one on nonfiction books for book clubs.

In summary, yes, there are lots of online communities for non-fiction fans. Whether you’re into history, science, self-improvement, biographies, or essays, you’ll find fellow readers out there eager to discuss the real world subjects captured in books. The key is to join the conversation – non-fiction readers often love when someone asks “Hey, has anyone read something good on this topic?” because it gives them a chance to share their favorites and insights.

How do online book communities compare to traditional book clubs?

Online book communities and traditional in-person book clubs both revolve around the joy of reading, but they offer slightly different experiences. Here’s a comparison of key points:

• Accessibility & Convenience: Online communities are incredibly accessible – you can join discussions with people from all over the world, at any time that suits you. There’s no need to drive to someone’s house or coordinate schedules across a small group, with most online book clubs  you read and comment in your own time (asynchronously). Traditional clubs, on the other hand, require everyone to be free the same evening once a month, for example. If you have a busy or irregular schedule, online groups let you participate whenever you have a spare moment – even if that’s 2 AM or a 15-minute break at work.

• Geographic Diversity vs. Local Intimacy: Because online groups are global, you’ll encounter a wider range of perspectives. People from different countries, cultures, and backgrounds can all chime in. This can deeply enrich a discussion as you get viewpoints you might never hear in your local circle​. Traditional book clubs are usually local – often friends, neighbors, or coworkers in the same area. The upside of local clubs is the in-person camaraderie: sharing a pot of tea or glass of wine, reading body language, and perhaps forming lasting friendships that go beyond the book; it’s a more intimate social experience. Online communities, while friendly, may not always reach that same level of personal connection (though they certainly can; many online book friends have become real-life friends too!).

• Discussion Style: In a live book club meeting, usually one person speaks at a time, and it can be a deep dive on that month’s book for an hour or two. Online, the discussion can be continuous and multi-threaded. For example, on a forum, one thread might focus on Chapter 1 spoilers, another on overall impressions, another on related book recommendations, all happening concurrently. People can take time to compose thoughtful responses (leading to very well-thought-out points, even quoting passages, etc.), which is less pressure for those who like to gather their thoughts. In person, the conversation can sometimes go on tangents or be dominated by a couple of voices. Online, everyone can “speak” without interrupting anyone else, and you can scroll through all opinions. However, the flip side: in-person can feel more immediate and engaging in a visceral way – there’s real laughter, real emotions in the room, and you might cover nuances more fluidly through back-and-forth dialogue. Some people find online text discussion lacks the warmth or the quick clarification you get face-to-face (e.g., it’s easier to say “Oh I didn’t mean it that way” in person; online you must be careful with tone to avoid miscommunication).

• Group Size and Scope: Traditional book clubs tend to be small (maybe 5-15 people is common), which means every member usually reads the same book and contributes to the same conversation. Online communities can be huge – tens of thousands of members – where not everyone is reading the same book at once. Online, it’s more akin to many little book clubs under one umbrella or many topics co-existing. For example, on Goodreads or Reddit, at any given time there might be 50 different books being discussed by different subsets of people. This means online communities offer variety – you can simultaneously talk about Moby Dick in one thread and The latest Colleen Hoover novel in another, with different people. Traditional clubs usually focus on one title per meeting; the benefit is a concentrated, shared experience, but the drawback is if you’re not into that title, you’re out of luck until next month. Online, you can skip to content you care about easily.

• Moderation and Etiquette: In a living room book club, moderation is informal – usually social etiquette suffices, or a gentle host guides the conversation if needed. Online communities often have explicit moderators and rules to maintain decorum​. For instance, spoilers must be tagged, personal attacks are typically forbidden by community guidelines, etc. In well-moderated online groups, this creates a respectful environment not unlike a polite in-person club. However, in very large online spaces, moderation challenges can arise (spam, off-topic posts, trolls). Most established book communities handle this well (book folks are generally nice!), but it’s something unique to online – you wouldn’t have a random internet troll walk into your living room, but they might pop up in a public forum until mods remove them. The plus side: you can often ignore troublesome users online (mute or block features), whereas in person you may have to deal with that one member who always monopolizes the conversation or says something off-color, at least until group dynamics sort it out. As another article put it, in an online club “you can easily ignore opinions” that you find unhelpful by just scrolling past, while in person you might have to politely navigate it.

• Depth of Analysis: This can go either way. Some argue that in-person allows for deeper analysis because you can hash things out in real-time and maybe continue the conversation over months (“Remember when we discussed Book X last year, I just found a new article about it…”). However, online, especially in dedicated literature communities, the analysis can be extremely deep too – people may write essay-length posts or bring in external references and links​. In fact, online you can even have the author join in an AMA (ask me anything) or Q&A, which can be mind-blowing for a club – something logistically tough for a local club to arrange regularly. The written record of online discussions means points don’t get lost; you can read and re-read someone’s insight. A traditional club’s insights are ephemeral (unless someone takes meeting minutes!). Some online forums also persist over time, so you can discuss chapter by chapter, which is not possible in a single-session live meeting (everyone in person must finish the book before meeting, typically). So online can allow progressive discussion without spoilers, enriching the experience as you read.

• Social Experience and Accountability: One nice thing about traditional clubs is the social commitment. Because you’re meeting friends, you’re motivated to finish the book and attend; there’s a bit of peer pressure (“I don’t want to be the only one who didn’t finish!”) that can push you to read more. Online communities are more laissez-faire – if you fall behind or drop out of a read-along, no biggie, the thread will be there if and when you finish. That flexibility is great, but some people miss the gentle pressure of a real meeting to keep them on track. On the flip side, online communities are there 24/7, so if you finish a book in three days and are dying to talk about it, you can likely find or start a discussion immediately, rather than waiting for the end of the month meeting.

In essence, online communities vs. traditional book clubs is not an either/or choice – they each have charms. Online communities excel in convenience, diversity, and volume of discussion. Traditional clubs shine in personal connection, atmosphere (there’s something lovely about the ritual of gathering maybe with snacks or dinner), and perhaps in fostering long-term friendships in a small circle. 

Many avid readers actually partake in both: You might have a local book club that meets monthly for deep discussion on one book, and you engage daily on a forum like r/books or a Goodreads group chatting about all sorts of books. They complement each other. The online communities can even enhance your traditional club – giving you background material, discussion questions, or additional interpretations you can bring to your in-person meeting (you’ll look very well-read!). And if your in-person club goes on hiatus, you can fill the void online easily.

To wrap up the comparison, let’s just say both forms share the same heart: people who love books coming together to talk about them. Online or offline, that’s a rewarding experience. Online just breaks the barriers of distance and time, while offline breaks the monotony of screens and brings faces together. Neither is inherently better – it depends on your personal needs and circumstances. The good news is you don’t have to choose just one. In today’s world, you can enjoy rich online book discussions during the week and still meet your local club on the weekend. It’s truly the best of both worlds for a book lover!

Now, armed with all this information, you can explore the communities that appeal to you most. Whether you participate in BookBrowse’s Community, jump into a massive Goodreads group, lurk on r/books until you’re ready to comment, download Fable to join a celeb-led club, or rally a few friends to start your own online club – the key is to engage with fellow readers. Talking about books amplifies the joy of reading. Online communities offer endless opportunities to do just that, on your terms. Happy reading and connecting!