What are the Best Free Online Book Clubs for Adults in 2025?

Looking to share your love of books with others without leaving home or spending a dime? You’re in the right place! In this 2025 guide, we’ll explore the best free online book clubs for adults. These aren’t just passive “read this book” lists – they’re vibrant communities with real back-and-forth discussion (forums, virtual meetups, group chats) where readers connect. From dedicated book club websites to thriving social media groups, you’ll find a welcoming place to chat about stories with fellow book lovers.

Whether you crave deep literary analysis or just a friendly chat about the latest bestseller, there’s an online book club for you – completely free. Let’s dive in!

Why Join an Online Book Club?

Joining an online book club can enrich your reading life in many ways:

• Connect with fellow readers: Reading can be solitary, but book clubs bring people together. You’ll meet bibliophiles from all over the world who share your passion.

• In-depth discussions: Gain new perspectives on books through lively discussions. Often, other readers will point out themes or insights you missed.

• Convenience and flexibility: Participate on your own schedule. Online clubs let you discuss at any time (especially forums or chat-based groups), or join live video chats from the comfort of home.

• Motivation to read more: Having a community reading the same book motivates you to finish (and avoid FOMO on the discussion!). It’s a fun way to tackle that ever-growing TBR pile.

• Free and accessible: The clubs listed here cost nothing to join. All you need is internet access and a copy of the book (grab it from your library or as an ebook/audiobook if you like).

In short, online book clubs create a warm, welcoming environment for adults to share their love of reading. Now, let’s look at some of the best free online book club communities that foster real conversations.

Best Free Online Book Club Communities (With Real Discussions)

Below are some top-notch online book clubs that are free to join and offer actual discussions (not just one-way recommendations). Each has its own style and platform – explore and see which fits you best!

1. The BookBrowse Online Book Club 

About: The BookBrowse Community Forum is a community for book lovers, many of whom are BookBrowse members. It operates like a traditional online forum, with a section dedicated to book club discussions from the BookBrowse Online Book Club. Each month, BookBrowse hosts a vibrant array of online book discussions featuring a mix of new releases, classics, and hidden gems across genres. 

How it works: BookBrowse typically has several books discussed each month (often fiction and nonfiction). All visitors are invited to join the discussions – you just sign up for a free account and jump in with your comments​. Each book discussion starts with questions from BookBrowse’s moderator, but you’re welcome to add your own. Discussions stay up until the participation dies down (usually after 6+ weeks), so if you read a book a bit late, you can still add your thoughts. New discussions are announced regularly (you can even sign up for notifications when a new book discussion begins). You can view the book club schedule here. Readers are also welcome to discuss books that aren’t part of the facilitated discussions in the Recent Reads or other sections of the forum.

Why join: If you enjoy thoughtful, deeper discussions in a friendly forum atmosphere, BookBrowse’s club is ideal. The community is well-moderated to stay civil and on-topic. Because BookBrowse often provides reading guides and discussion questions, conversations tend to be insightful. Another plus: BookBrowse’s selections are broad across genres and diverse (they regularly include authors of different backgrounds and LGBTQ+ literature too). While the forum is free, BookBrowse offers optional paid memberships which can sometimes get you a free copy of a book being discussed,  but you don’t need to be a paying member to participate. It’s a welcoming space for anyone who loves to talk about books in depth, and because the community is tight knit, you’ll see the same friendly faces pop up (virtually) across discussions. If you’d like to learn more about BookBrowse memberships, you can do so here.

2. Goodreads Groups (Goodreads Book Clubs)

About: Goodreads – the world’s largest reading community with tens of millions of members – hosts countless groups that function as online book clubs. In fact, since its founding in 2007, Goodreads has become a go-to resource for book lovers worldwide, who join together to read, share, and rate their favorite books. Any Goodreads user can create or join groups centered around authors, genres, themes, or specific book club projects. Many of these groups run free monthly book picks or reading challenges. Essentially, Goodreads is a platform that allows users to form their own book discussion communities​, so you’ll find book clubs for every niche.

How it works: To join a book club group on Goodreads, you need a free Goodreads account. Then you can browse the Groups section for topics that interest you – there are groups for everything imaginable. Once you join a group, you can participate in its discussion boards. Typically, a book club-style group will choose a book each month or have reading schedules, and members post threads to discuss various aspects (characters, plot, overall impressions, etc.). For example, there are large groups like “The Next Best Book Club” (with ~25,000 members) and niche groups like “Classic Literature Book Club” or “Mystery & Thriller Book Club.” Some are very active with dedicated moderators, while others may be quieter or even abandoned. The con of such large groups, however, is that they often lack the intimacy of smaller discussions.

Why join: Goodreads groups offer unparalleled variety. Whatever your favorite genre or special interest (historical fiction, sci-fi, romance, etc.), there’s likely a group of people reading and discussing it on Goodreads. It’s also one of the easiest ways to start your own online book club – invite friends on Goodreads and create a private group, or open it to the public.  Tip: Look for groups that have recent activity in their discussion threads. Some groups with thousands of members can occasionally have sparse discussion that lacks depth. But many Goodreads clubs are indeed active and chatty – read through recent posts to gauge the engagement level that suits you. Once you find a good group, you’ll have a ready-made community.  

3. Reddit’s r/bookclub 

About: The r/bookclub subreddit is Reddit’s own public book club community. Think of it as a large, informal book club open to anyone on Reddit. What makes r/bookclub stand out is its democratic selection: each month members nominate and vote on books to read together. In fact, the subreddit hosts multiple books each month, often across different genres, so readers can choose which discussion to join (you can even participate in more than one if you’re ambitious!)​. Discussions happen in comment threads, which function much like a forum.

How it works: You’ll need a free Reddit account to contribute (though anyone can lurk/read). Every month, r/bookclub runs nomination threads where members suggest books, and then voting threads to pick the winners. The moderators then post a reading schedule for each chosen book – typically dividing the book into sections or chapters per week. On scheduled dates, discussion posts go up for those chapters, and members comment with their thoughts. Because the community is global and asynchronous, you can drop your comments whenever you finish the section. The key rules: no spoilers beyond the discussed section, and of course be civil. Interestingly, r/bookclub does not archive old posts, so even if you read a book later, you can still find the old thread and comment – someone might reply even months down the line​.  Some people might find the chapter by chapter discussion tedious, but if that’s what you’re looking for r/bookclubs is a good choice.

Why join: If you like a structured club experience but with a casual vibe, r/bookclub is a great option. The community (currently in at 215k members) is welcoming to newcomers – they even have a sticky “Orientation” post inviting you to introduce yourself. It’s all free and volunteer-run. The democratic voting system means the picks are community-driven​, often eclectic, and you can have a say in what gets read next, plus you can participate only in the ones that interest you. The discussion threads can get pretty lively with readers asking questions, reacting to twists, and sharing insights. Because it’s Reddit, the interface is simple and mobile-friendly. Overall, r/bookclub offers the feel of a big virtual book club where there’s always a discussion going on. Just jump into the thread of your current read and join the conversation!

4. LibraryThing Groups 

About: LibraryThing is a long-running book cataloging site (started in 2005) known for its tight-knit community of book lovers. It’s free to join (as of 2020, LibraryThing dropped all membership fees). The site describes itself as “a warm and welcoming community of nearly three million book lovers” where you can join groups and chat about books​. LibraryThing’s discussion section hosts many user-created groups that function like book clubs or reading communities. Examples include the 75 Books Challenge (where members try to read 75 books a year and discuss their reads) and genre-specific groups like Horror! or Green Dragon (a general fantasy book chat group). While some groups are more about reading together, others are more free-form discussion threads. The key is that LibraryThing’s culture is very community-centric – lots of avid readers engaging in conversations.

How it works: Create a free account on LibraryThing to get started. You can then browse the Groups section to find communities of interest. Some groups do a shared read (e.g. a monthly book selected by the group), while others might be continuous threads where members post what they’re reading and others chime in. The interface is forum-style (threaded discussions). Because LibraryThing started as a cataloging tool, many members join to log their personal libraries, then end up socializing in the groups. It’s not as flashy as newer apps, but it has a solid, mature community. You might find a group for a favorite author or a theme (for instance, there’s a “Tea and Murder” mystery lovers group, and various LGBTQ+ literature groups as well). Once in a group, just introduce yourself and start participating in ongoing discussions or any scheduled group reads.

Because these groups are user generated / managed, there are some that are quite dormant, but others that are lively.

Why join: LibraryThing is beloved by those who want a more intimate, slower-paced community. The discussions can be quite thoughtful. Since many members are prolific readers, it’s a great place for recommendations too. The atmosphere tends to be friendly and geeky (in a good way!). If you’re the type who could discuss books endlessly, you might find your tribe here. Also, because the site is not driven by algorithms or ads, the focus is really on books and readers. Similar to BookBrowse, give LibraryThing a try if you like the idea of forum discussions and maybe joining a long-term group of readers who get to know each other over time. It’s free, and you might end up sticking around for years. 

5. Bookclubs.com

About: Bookclubs.com is a dedicated platform/app created to make running a book club simple – whether online, in-person, or hybrid. It’s free to use (they also have some premium features, but basic functionality is free). On Bookclubs, you can find public book clubs to join or start your own private club. The platform provides handy tools like polls (to vote on the next book), scheduling and RSVPs for meetings, shared bookshelves of past reads, and group chat/message boards. Think of it as the logistics helper for book clubs, with discussion features built in.

How it works: If you want to join a book club: just head to the Bookclubs website or app and use the “Join a Book Club” feature. There’s a directory where “Readers wanted!” clubs (open to the public) are listed by genre, location, etc., and you can filter by virtual/online clubs​. Once you join a club, you’ll have access to its discussion board (chat feed) where members post thoughts about the book, and you’ll see the schedule for upcoming meetings or discussion dates​. If you can’t find exactly what you want, you can start a new club (and you can indicate if it’s open for others to join or private with invite-only).

Why join: Bookclubs is fantastic if you want a bit more structure and organization for your book discussions. It’s like having a virtual clubhouse for your group. The integrated polling and scheduling tools take the headache out of coordinating a book club. Many real-life book clubs turned to Bookclubs during the pandemic to go virtual, and stayed for the convenience.

However the discussion experience is more of a message board/chat rather than long forum posts – so it feels a bit like a group text or WhatsApp, but on a platform designed for book talk, and it’s primarily for virtual book clubs that still want to chat over a video call vs. text based. For example at the time of writing this post, the first ‘virtual book club’ promoted on BookClubs.com was ‘Read the Classics’, which had over 4,000 members, but the most recent message on the book club was posted over six months ago.  Currently the chat interphase doesn’t lend itself well to discussing multiple books within the same book club; it’s really more for organizing in person or virtual meetings.

6. Fable – Social Reading App with Free Clubs and Chapter Chats

About: Fable is a newer player in the online book club scene – it’s a social reading app (available on iOS, Android, and web) that reimagines book clubs for the digital age. Fable offers thousands of free book clubs covering every niche interest​. Many clubs on Fable are led by well-known “book influencers,” authors, or even celebrities, while others are just regular readers creating a space to discuss their favorite genres. The app also doubles as an ebook reader and tracker, but you can use it purely for the community aspect. The unique feature of Fable is its “chapter rooms”: discussions are organized chapter-by-chapter to avoid spoilers​. This means as you read a book in the app, you can jump into the discussion for that specific chapter and see what others thought, which keeps things spoiler-safe and very interactive.

How it works: Download the Fable app (or use their website) and create a free account. With a free account, you can join clubs and participate in discussions (Fable does have a premium tier, but that’s mostly for accessing certain books or curated content – joining clubs and talking is free). Browse the Club section to find a club that interests you – you can filter by categories like “Fantasy,” “Classics,” “LGBTQ+,” etc., or see what’s trending. Each club’s page shows the current book pick and past reads. When you join a club, you’ll typically see a welcome thread (lobby) to introduce yourself, a reading schedule or chapter list, and discussion threads for each segment of the book​. For example, if the club is reading Pride and Prejudice, there might be a discussion thread for Chapters 1-10, then 11-20, and so on, plus a final overall discussion. You can post your thoughts in each thread as you reach that point. The app will often prompt you to leave reactions or favorite quotes as you read, making it a fun, interactive experience.

Why join: Fable is perfect for readers who want a modern, mobile-friendly book club experience. It feels a bit like a combination of Goodreads and a messaging app. The chapter-by-chapter discussion format is fantastic if you love doing read-alongs – it’s like having a buddy reading with you at the same pace, and you can gush or rant about plot twists the moment you hit them without spoiling others who aren’t there yet. The community on Fable skews towards avid readers and often younger, social media–savvy crowds (lots of crossover with BookTok trends, etc.). You might find clubs for the latest TikTok-famous fantasy novel, a club led by a popular author reading their favorite classics, or a cozy club where people vote on monthly picks. Another neat aspect: Fable lets you track your reading and even purchase ebooks if you want, but that’s optional. Joining and chatting in clubs doesn’t require buying books through Fable – you can read your own copy. 

Those are some of the best free online book club options as of 2025. All of them prioritize actual discussion and reader interaction, so you really can’t go wrong – it just depends on the style of community you prefer. But you might still have some questions. Let’s address a few common FAQs to help you further.

FAQ: Online Book Clubs and Communities

1. What about celebrity book clubs? Are they “online book clubs”?

Celebrity-led book clubs (like Oprah’s Book Club or Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine book club) have become very popular, but they typically don’t offer the kind of two-way discussion that the online clubs listed above do. Usually, a celebrity book club means the celebrity (or their team) picks a book each month and announces it to fans. The actual online discussion is often limited. For example, Reese’s Book Club communicates via Instagram, and they had an app that’s now defunct. Similarly, their Goodreads group isn’t actively managed. Oprah’s Book Club often involves an author interview on TV or Apple Books and again, discussion happens in scattered comment sections. In short, these celebrity book clubs can be helpful for reading recommendations and feeling part of a trend, but they lack a built-in online community discussion component.

If you enjoy celebrity picks, by all means follow them (they often highlight great books!). But you might use one of the platforms above alongside it. For instance, maybe you read Reese’s pick each month, and you could start a thread on BookBrowse to discuss that book with others. Some readers do exactly that – forming unofficial discussion groups for, say, Oprah’s latest pick. So, while celebrity clubs are fun, think of them more as “reading guides” rather than true interactive clubs. If you’re craving dialogue, join one of the free communities we listed where you can actually chat with fellow readers.

2. Are there online book clubs focused on LGBTQ+ literature?

Yes, absolutely! Niche and identity-focused book clubs thrive online, including many dedicated to LGBTQ+ books and authors. For example, Goodreads hosts numerous LGBTQ+-themed groups. 

On Reddit, you might find subreddits like r/lgbtbooks or specific queer book club threads (and as a side note, the main r/bookclub subreddit often includes LGBTQ+ titles in its rotations, and has done special themes like LGBTQIA+ Month). The Bookclubs.com directory also shows public clubs centered on LGBTQ+ topics if you search by genre or keywords. Libraries and organizations sometimes host online LGBTQ+ book clubs as well.

And as mentioned, BookBrowse’s own online book club frequently features LGBTQ+ literature among its selections – they make a point to include diverse voices. Over the past year, BookBrowse discussions have included books by LGBTQ+ authors and stories with queer themes, The Lilac People and The Devil Finds Work are two recent examples. 

In short, if you’re looking to connect with fellow readers around LGBTQ+ books, you won’t have trouble finding a community. It could be a dedicated group like the ones on Goodreads or a broader club that celebrates queer stories regularly. These spaces can be wonderfully affirming, as you’ll be discussing books with people who share an interest in queer perspectives. Don’t hesitate to join and ask for recommendations – LGBTQ+ book club communities are usually very enthusiastic about sharing beloved titles and new discoveries!

3. What is the etiquette for online book clubs?

Online book clubs are meant to be enjoyable and inclusive. While each community may have its own specific rules, here are some general etiquette tips to ensure a good experience for everyone:

• Be respectful and kind: Treat other members with courtesy, even if opinions differ. Healthy debate about a plot point or character is great; personal attacks or rude remarks are not. Remember there’s a real person behind each username.

• Avoid spoilers (or warn appropriately): This is big. Don’t reveal major plot twists or the ending of a book unless you’re in a designated spoiler thread or you use spoiler formatting (many platforms including BookBrowse have a way to hide spoiler text). In any club, if you must mention a spoiler, label it clearly so others aren’t blindsided.

• Stay on topic: Try to keep the discussion related to the book or the prompt at hand. Tangents happen (and can be fun), but avoid derailing the conversation too much with unrelated topics. Also, refrain from excessive self-promotion – an online book club isn’t the place to constantly plug your own book or blog. Contribute as a fellow reader, not as a salesperson.

• Give everyone a chance to speak: In a live chat or video meeting, don’t dominate the conversation. Be mindful to let others share their thoughts. In forum or comment discussions, similarly, be wary of posting too frequently or long-windedly in a way that might intimidate others from chiming in. Encourage quieter members if possible, and acknowledge others’ points.  

• “Netiquette” basics: Write clearly and avoid all caps (which can come across as shouting). Sarcasm and jokes might be misinterpreted without tone of voice, so maybe use emojis or clarify if you’re kidding. If someone says something you find offensive, address it calmly or involve a moderator rather than escalating conflict.

• Follow the group’s guidelines: Many groups will post their specific rules (e.g. “no political discussions unless relevant to the book,” or “one post per chapter” etc.). Read any pinned posts or guidelines when you join, so you’re aware of the norms. This also includes things like how to format spoilers, whether off-topic discussion is allowed, etc.

• Etiquette of disagreement: It’s fine to disagree about a book (“I didn’t like the ending at all” vs. someone who loved it). Just do so politely and explain why you feel that way without disparaging the other person. Focus on the book, not the reader. “I felt the character’s actions were unrealistic” is better than “How could you like this? That’s dumb.”

• Participate in good faith: If you’re joining a book club discussion, ideally you’ve read the book or are reading along. It’s okay if you didn’t finish in time – just be upfront and maybe avoid the final spoilers thread until you do. Try not to mislead (e.g., pretending to have read it). The more honest and engaged everyone is, the better the conversation.

Overall, the golden rule is respect. Online book clubs work best when members feel safe to share their genuine thoughts. If you bring a friendly attitude and a love of books, you’ll fit right in. And don’t stress – book people are generally some of the nicest people! If you’re ever unsure, observe the group’s interaction for a bit and follow suit. By respecting each other and the story being discussed, you’ll help create an enriching experience for all.

Conclusion

Happy Reading and Discussing! There’s never been a better time to join a free online book club. In 2025, our global village of readers is just a click away – ready to swap insights, debate plot twists, and gush over favorite characters with you. Try out one (or several) of the communities above. You might end up not only reading more, but also finding new friends who love books as much as you do. So grab that cup of tea or coffee, pull up your e-book or paperback, and say hello to your new book club – the conversation is waiting. Happy book-clubbing!