Why can't people just sit and read books and be nice to each other?

The first read for my summer book club is Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes!

It's summer break, which means it's time for my annual summer book club! This is the third year that I have held my book club, and every year it just seems to get better and better.

I first decided to form my book club the summer after my senior year of high school as a sort of last hurrah for me and my friends before we all left for college that fall. I've always loved to read, so I thought book club would be a fun way to connect with my friends before we all went our separate ways.


That first summer we read some amazing books:
        -Gone Girl, by Gillian Flynn,
        -The Book Thief, by Markus Zusak,
        -and Wild, by Cheryl Strayed.

Getting my book club started that summer was as easy as putting a survey out on social media for my friends to sign up on. I gave them a list of books I knew I was interested in reading and asked for their opinions, too, and then we chose the books from there.

When I got home from school last summer, I knew I wanted to do book club again because it went so well the first time. So I put the same survey out and was so excited to see a few more people sign up!

Last summer we read even more great books:
        -Yes Please, by Amy Poehler,
        -Since You've Been Gone, by Morgan Matson,
        -and Room, by Emma Donaghue.

I considered not having book club this year because so many of my friends from home won't be in town for the summer. But then I realized that people had participated in my book club from afar in the past, so I figured why couldn't everyone participate from afar? So this year's book club is completely digital.

I'm so excited that a whopping 17 people signed up for my annual summer book club this year! And they're all doing it from around the world! People have signed up who are going to be in different cities, states, and countries, which is so, so cool to me. My friends are going to be around the world, but we're all going to be connected by a book. Reading is so cool.

There is still time for you to join my summer book club! Whether you know me or not, no matter where in the world you will be, I would love to connect with you through the power of a book. Sign up here!

This year, most of the titles are still being decided. We do, however, have our first book selected: Me Before You, by Jojo Moyes. (It's going to be a movie! And it comes out the day we finish the book!)

Have you ever been in a book club? What was your experience like? What are you reading this summer? Do you have any suggestions for my book club? I'd love to hear from you! Happy reading!

Lots of love,
Sarah

David Baldacci, "The Camel Club"