There are some amazing book club groups that read one book per month and then reliably get together on the second Tuesday of each month for dessert and coffee to discuss the book.
I love reading, and I love talking about books, but I was a miserable failure when I tried to be part of a book club. I just couldn’t be a reliable member, and I ended up feeling bad that I missed more meetings than I attended. I was often out of town or had some other commitment that interfered with the meeting night, so eventually I gave up on being a member of a “real” book club.
I figured I just wasn’t a book club kind of person, but I still really wanted to be in one.
My Once-a-Year Book Club
I had an epiphany several years ago. Even though I failed at being the member of a normal monthly book club, maybe I could be part of a different kind of book club, one that didn’t meet quite so often. I designed a “book club” that fit my schedule and busy life.
My book club meets once per year. I give my local girlfriends a book for Christmas then schedule a book club dinner meeting at my house a few months later and invite them to attend. I give about 20 books, and usually have about 8-10 people attend. We do a build-your-own salad bar, and I provide the greens, protein, and dressing. Each person brings a yummy salad topper. We end up with the BEST SALADS EVER.
I really enjoy my book club dinners and chats, and I have been 100% reliable in attending!
A few of our past favorite books include:
The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry, John Mark Comer
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry, Gabrielle Zevin
The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend, Katarina Bivald
A Man Called Ove, Fredrik Backman
The Invention of Wings, Sue Monk Kidd
Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, Gail Honeyman
Educated, Tara Westover
Happy Campers Book Club
This year, in addition to my annual live book club with my local friends, I’m doing another book club!
I’m leading an online book club to connect with readers and discuss my new book, Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults.
We’ll cover one chapter per month from September, 2019 – May, 2020. Click on the image below for a printable version of the 2019-2020 Read-Along of Happy Campers.
The good news about the Happy Campers Book Club is that you don’t have to go anywhere, and you don’t even have to show up on time. You can join the live monthly Zoom discussions or just watch a recording later. You can access the resources and join the online discussion in our private Facebook group whenever you have a few moments.
Invite me to YOUR Happy Campers Book Club!
If you’re interested in getting together with some friends and having your own Happy Campers book club meeting, I’d love to join you – either virtually or in person. Get in touch and let me know the details!
I got this great message from my friend Becky, who’s reading Happy Campers with some of her friends in Colorado:
That absolutely made my day. It was definitely a WOW!
Related Podcast Episodes, Interviews, and Reviews
Ep. 94: Happy Campers Book Club Kick Off
Ep. 90: Happy Campers Interview at Branches Books
Live Above the Noise:EPISODE 15: PARENTING EXPERT, AUDREY MONKE – SOCIAL SKILLS AND GRIT
REVIVE Live: Talking about summer camp on REVIVE Live, a daily show about marriage, family, and parenting.
Creative Shift: A Book Launch Case Study, with Author Audrey Monke
TilT Parenting: Episode #162: Summer Camp Success for Differently Wired Kids
Best of Both Worlds: All about camp with author Audrey Monke, Ep. 92
Campfire Conversation:Happy Campers with Audrey Monke
We Turned Out Okay Podcast: Ep. 273: Actual, real happy families with returning champion Audrey Monke
Dr. Sears Family Podcast: Ep. 15: Lessons from Summer Camp with Audrey Monke
Author Accelerator: Mom Writes: Episode 84: Audrey Monke Returns (Like Mary Poppins Returns! Summer Camp Style)
The Pickup Line News: Interview with Audrey Monke, author of “Happy Campers: 9 Summer Camp Secrets for Raising Kids Who Become Thriving Adults,” An episode of The Pickup Line News
