What To Read

Winter’s dark days got you down? Shake things up and start a book club—it’s like therapy, but with snacks and better plot twists. Whether you’re rebooting an old group or diving into your first one, there’s no better way to bust out of a reading rut than bonding over brilliant books with fellow bookworms.

The Tertulia team has curated these 12 books for your book club to consider this winter, all accompanied by an engaging author interview or discussion questions to help guide your session.

This father-daughter story that plumbs the generational divide was one of The Atlantic’s 10 Best Books of the Year

The Hypocrite by Jo Hamya

A young playwright turns her father’s decline into a provocative play, raising questions about art, family, and ethics. Selected by The New York Times Book Review and Dakota Johnson’s book club this year, this novel invites rich discussion about creativity, personal boundaries, and the complexities of real-life inspiration.

➳ See the discussion guide from The New York Times Book Review, which selected this book as its September 2024 pick.

A sharp, darkly comic novel that perfectly captures millennial angst and the absurdities of modern life

Worry by Alexandra Tanner

With a mix of chaotic sisterhood and neurotic humor, this bestselling novel follows two sisters navigating the mess of life, love, and existential dread while caught in the digital age. “Worry contains both the chaos of Lena Dunham's Girls and the neurotic humor of Curb Your Enthusiasm,” declared the Chicago Review of Books.

➳ Explore the Worry reading group guide provided by the publisher.

A must-have for any history buff's book club

The Great Divide by Cristina Henriquez

This Read with Jenna pick brings to life the untold stories of the people who shaped the construction of the Panama Canal, from local fishermen to foreign laborers, doctors and engineers and others. The Washington Post declared that it “joins novels by Julia Alvarez, Sandra Cisernos, and Gabriel García Marquez in deepening the people's literary history of Latin America. Henríquez is a master of prose whose enchanting words capture the landscape…”

➳ See the The Great Divide discussion guide from Bookclubs.com.

A workplace caper about low-wage labor in small-town America

Help Wanted by Adelle Waldman

A group of quirky, underpaid employees at a big-box store hatch a wild plan to secure a management job and escape the grind. With sharp humor and biting social commentary, this Obama summer pick is a perfect choice for book clubs looking for a laugh while exploring the realities of modern work and ambition.

➳ See the Help Wanted discussion guide from Bookclubs.com.

A Shakespearean gem for time traveling literary detectives

By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult

In this unforgettable “blend of historical fiction and modern-day settings,” a contemporary playwright struggles for recognition, while in 1581, her ancestor Emilia Bassano secretly writes plays for Shakespeare. “The novel gives us timelines that intertwine and surprise,” remarked Harper's Bazaar. “This one is definitely for fans of Shakespeare's work; Picoult has done her research."

➳ Picoult is a favorite among book clubs, and she provides discussion questions for each of her books on her website. See them here.

A twisty and sly literary exploration of motherhood and survival

Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker

A woman’s hidden past erupts when she receives a letter from a women’s prison, unraveling her seemingly perfect life. “Bieker’s writing is raw, breathlessly confessional, brilliant in its depiction of the long shadows cast by domestic violence, the constant tension carried by survivors,” hailed The New York Times. “However, her true secret weapon is humor.”

➳ Explore the Madwoman book club kit provided by the publisher.

This brilliant twist on the colonial narrative is one of The New York Time’s 10 Best Books of the Year

You Dreamed of Empires by Álvaro Enrigue

The Sudden Death author turns his focus toward fourteenth century Tenochtitlan – today’s Mexico City -- with this fantastical work that reimagines the famed city’s fall at the hands of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. “Parts of the novel play like an Aztec West Wing, taking us deep into the political manoeuvrings of the royal court but blending its particularities with 21st-century psychology. It's a rich approach that achieves a hallucinatory vividness," hailed The Guardian.

➳See the author discuss his novel and the childhood moment that inspired it on Shondaland.

This taut, atmospheric thriller set during the early days of lockdown will keep your group on edge

The Rich People Have Gone Away by Regina Porter

When a long-held secret is revealed during a pandemic era hike, it spurs a heated argument that leads to a mysterious disappearance. With class divides and personal histories colliding, this literary thriller explores love, inequity, and the inescapable grip of the past, making it an ideal pick for a book club eager for suspense and social reflection.

➳ Listen to the author explore the themes of The Rich People Have Gone Away on The Stacks podcast.

Fans of Practical Magic will find themselves enchanted by this tale of witches, family bonds, and self-discovery

What We Sacrifice for Magic by Andrea Jo Dewerd

This coming-of-age novel follows three generations of witches in the 1960s, exploring the importance of family and the joy of discovering who you truly are. "DeWerd serves up a hefty portion of comfort food and witchcraft... With enough summer sausage, seances, and '60s scene-setting to charm even the least nostalgic of readers," praised Publishers Weekly.

➳ See the reading group discussion guide for What We Sacrifice for Magic: A Novel.

Bill Gates' favorite book on AI is the nonfiction pick your book club can’t miss

The Coming Wave by Mustafa Suleyman

As AI rapidly transforms our world, this urgent and insightful work by expert Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind, offers a crucial perspective. Bloomberg calls it "dazzling," stating, "You have by now read a great deal of both hype and doom-mongering on the subject [of AI]. But Suleyman's is the book you cannot afford not to read... Brilliant."

➳ Co-authors Michael and Mustafa share 5 key insights from their book in the Next Big Idea Book Club.

A timely meditation on freedom from an acclaimed historian 

On Freedom by Timothy Snyder

A thought-provoking book from one the most clear-eyed and influential commentators of our times, whose previous works have been essential to understanding the roots of tyrannical authoritarianism and its revival around the world in recent years. In his latest release, the acclaimed historian embarks on a wide-ranging journey to uncover the philosophical, intellectual, and cultural roots and foundations of freedom and provides guidance so that this freedom can be preserved in these unsettling times.

➳ Listen to Timothy Snyder on freedom and democracy on WHYY Public Radio.

A memoir of life under communism that sparks deep discussion and remains a favorite among book clubs

Free by Lea Ypi

This debut memoir, written by an Albanian political scientist, recounts growing up under Communism and offers reflections on political theory and Europe’s ideological divisions—insights that remain highly relevant to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

➳ Publishers Weekly talks with Lea Ypi about her book.

For even more ways to elevate your book club sessions, explore 50 Great Book Club Discussion Questions For Any Book on Book Riot, featuring unique and open-ended prompts, and the Ultimate Book Club Discussion Question List on Bookclubs.com, packed with ideas and a handy printable guide.