The Next Best Book Club discussion

Exile in Guyville (1993)

“6’1” – Read a book that’s more than 400 pages long
“Help Me Mary” – Read a book in a genre people make fun of you for liking
“Glory” – Read a book that was published in (or is set in) the nineteen eighties
“Dance of the Seven Veils” – Read a book that features music or dancing
“Never Said” – Read a book you see everyone else talking about
“Soap Star Joe” – Read a book in which the lead character has a hero complex
“Explain it to Me” – Read a book that’s complicated to describe to others
“Canary” – Read a book featuring birds or that has a bird on the cover
“Mesmerizing” – Read a book that captures you right from the start
“Fuck and Run” – Read a book that involves a one night stand
“Girls! Girls! Girls!” – Read a book written by an author who identifies as female
“Divorce Song” – Read a book that makes you ugly cry
“Shatter” – Read a book that changes how you feel about a particular author or genre
“Flower” – Read a book with flowers on the cover
“Johnny Sunshine” – Read a book with a man’s name in the title
“Gunshy” – Read a book you’ve been hesitant to pick up
“Stratford-on-Guy” – Read a book that involves an airplane/airport, or read a book while on/in one
“Strange Loop” – Give in and read a book that someone’s been recommending to you


Whipsmart (1994)

“Chopsticks” – Read a book that features food or has food on the cover
“Supernova” – Read a scifi book
“Support System” – read a book club pick
“X-Ray Man” – Read a medical drama or a book that features doctors/nurses
“Shane” – Read a book with a one word title
“Nashville” – Read a book written by a musician or that features one
“Go West” – Read a western
“Cinco De Mayo” – Read a book that features a victory and/or celebration
“Dogs of LA” – Read a book that features a dog
“Whip-Smart” – Read a book that taught you something
“Jealousy” – Read a book that you’ve seen others rave about
“Crater Lake” – Read a book that takes place in or near a body of water
“Alice Springs” – Read a book that takes place during a day and a night
“May Queen” – Read a book that features mythology

Whitechocolatespaceegg (1998)

“White Chocolate Space Egg” – Read a book with a nonsensical title
“Big Tall Man” – Read a book in which the main character doesn’t fit into binary norms
“Perfect World” – Read a book that takes place in the future
“Johnny Feelgood” – Read a book that you’re obsessing over
“Polyester Bride” – Read a book that features a wedding
“Love is Nothing” – Read a book that left you feeling meh
“Baby Got Going” – Read a book that features some erotica/romance elements
“Uncle Alvarez” – Read a book in which the protagonist is a dreamer /follows their dreams
“Only Son” – Read a debut novel
“Go On Ahead” – Read a book that doesn’t fit any of these prompts and take credit for it here
“Headache” – Read a book that hurt your head
“Ride” – Read a book while on a road trip / traveling
“What Makes You Happy” – Read whatever you want and take credit for it here
“Fantasize” – Read a fantasy book
“Shitloads of Money” – spend some money on a book you really want and take credit for it here when you read it
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist
“Freak of Nature” – Read a bizarro book
“Hurricane Cindy” – Read a cli-fi book / that features weather


Liz Phair (2003)

“Extraordinary” – Read a book just because of its cover
“Red Light Fever” – Read a book with a red cover
“Why Can’t I” – Read a book about breaking up/falling in love
“It’s Sweet” – Read a book that takes place in a city (the darker, dirtier, the better)
“Rock Me” – Read a book that rocked your world
“Take a Look” – share your TBR on social media and let someone pick your next read
“Little Digger” – Read a book that really got up under your skin
“Firewalker” – Read a book about a character with special abilities
“Favorite” – Read a book and if you predict if will be favorite of the year, take credit for it here
“Love/Hate” – Read a book that pushes all your buttons
“HWC” – Read a book that has initials in the titles
“My Bionic Eyes” – Read a book that has robots in it / in which the main character is not of this world
“Friend of Mine” – Do a buddy read and take credit for it here
“Good Love Never Dies” – Read a book by your favorite author

Somebody’s Miracle (2005)

“Leap of Innocence”- Read a book from a genre you haven’t read before
“Wind and the Mountain” – Read a book that takes place outdoors or that has mountains on the cover
“Stars and Planets” – read a space opera / a book that takes place in outer space
“Somebody’s Miracle” – Read a book that features religion
“Got My Own Thing” – Read a book you haven’t seen anyone else reading yet
“Count on My Love” – Read a book with a number in the title
“Lazy Dreamer” – skip your chores and read a book instead, and take credit for it here
“Everything to Me” – Read a book about unrequited love
“Closer to You” – Read a book that someone you know has read and loved
“Table for One” – Read a book that deals with mental health
“Why I Lie” – Read a book you’d be embarrassed to have people seeing you read
“Lost Tonight” – Read a book in one sitting / straight through the night
“Everything (between us)” – Curl up in your favorite reading spot with a good book, warm blanket, and favorite hot beverage and take credit for it here
“Giving it All to You” – Read a book that was gifted to you
“Can’t Get out of What I’m Into” – read a book from your favorite genre


Funstyle (2010)

“Smoke” – Read a book about a character who doesn’t fit in
“Bollywood” – Read a book and then watch the movie version and take credit for it here
“You Should Know Me” – Read a small press book (because you should know me by now!)
“Miss September” – Read a book with a month in the title
“My My” – Read a book that’s written in first person POV
“Oh, Bangladesh” – Read a book that’s set in a foreign country
“Bang! Bang!” – Read a thriller
“Beat is Up” – Read a book that leaves you feeling happy / a book with positive vibes
“And He Slayed Her” – Read a murder mystery
“Satisfied” – Read a book that hit the spot
“U Hate It” – Read a book that just plain sucked

Soberish (2021)

“Spanish Doors” – Read a book that’s been translated
“The Game” – Lay out some books from your TBR pile in a circle, play spin the bottle to choose your next read and take credit for that book here (bonus points if you post it in your social media feed)
“Hey Lou” – Read a book and then review it in as many places as possible
“In There” – Read a book that’s kinda horror kinda thriller kinda get in yer headish
“Good Side” – When you’ve read what you consider the best book of an author’s backlog, take credit for it here
“Sheridan Road” – Read a book in which the main characters go on a road trip
“Ba Ba Ba” – Read a book with repetitive words in the title
“Soberish” – Read a book that features drinking
“Soul Sucker” – Read a book that nearly killed you
“Lonely Street” – Read a book when you are home alone
“Dosage” – Read a book that deals with drugs or drug abuse
“Bad Kitty” – Read a book that features animals, or has a cat on the cover
“Rain Scene” – Stay in on a rainy day and read

My reading theme this year is all things Goth-ish: romance, horror, and noir.

Sounds like fun!

The Small Hand by Susan Hill:
“Bollywood” – Read a book and then watch the movie version and take credit for it here;
“My My” – Read a book that’s written in first person POV;
“Oh, Bangladesh” – Read a book that’s set in a foreign country;

Moonfall by Tamara Thorne:
“6’1” – Read a book that’s more than 400 pages long;
“Shane” – Read a book with a one word title;
“Somebody’s Miracle” – Read a book that features religion;
“Lazy Dreamer” – skip your chores and read a book instead, and take credit for it here

The Witch of Painted Sorrows by M.J. Rose:
“Baby Got Going” – Read a book that features some erotica/romance elements;
“Uncle Alvarez” – Read a book in which the protagonist is a dreamer /follows their dreams;
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“Why Can’t I” – Read a book about breaking up/falling in love;

Dark Echo by F.G. Cottam:
“Crater Lake” – Read a book that takes place in or near a body of water;
“Somebody’s Miracle” – Read a book that features religion;
“In There” – Read a book that’s kinda horror kinda thriller kinda get in yer headish;
“Lonely Street” – Read a book when you are home alone;

Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
“Mesmerizing” – Read a book that captures you right from the start;
“Polyester Bride” – Read a book that features a wedding;
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“Little Digger” – Read a book that really got up under your skin;
“Oh, Bangladesh” – Read a book that’s set in a foreign country;

Named of the Dragon by Susanna Kearsley:
“Dogs of LA” – Read a book that features a dog;
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“Everything (between us)” – Curl up in your favorite reading spot with a good book, warm blanket, and favorite hot beverage and take credit for it here;
“Oh, Bangladesh” – Read a book that’s set in a foreign country;

Lotería by Mario Alberto Zambrano:
“Flower” – Read a book with flowers on the cover;
“Shane” – Read a book with a one-word title;
“Love is Nothing” – Read a book that left you feeling meh;
“Only Son” – Read a debut novel;

Marina by Carlos Ruiz Zafón:
“Glory” – Read a book that was published in (or is set in) the nineteen eighties;
“It’s Sweet” – Read a book that takes place in a city (the darker, dirtier, the better);
“My Bionic Eyes” – Read a book that has robots in it / in which the main character is not of this world;
“Spanish Doors” – Read a book that’s been translated;

Very cool, creative reading goals :)

The Queen of the Night by Alexander Chee:
“6’1” – Read a book that’s more than 400 pages long;
“Dance of the Seven Veils” – Read a book that features music or dancing;
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“It’s Sweet” – Read a book that takes place in a city (the darker, dirtier, the better);
“Satisfied” – Read a book that hit the spot;

Velvet Was the Night by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“It’s Sweet” – Read a book that takes place in a city (the darker, dirtier, the better);
“Smoke” – Read a book about a character who doesn’t fit in;
“Oh, Bangladesh” – Read a book that’s set in a foreign country;

Prince of Foxes by H.L. Macfarlane:
“May Queen” – Read a book that features mythology;
“Fantasize” – Read a fantasy book;
“Firewalker” – Read a book about a character with special abilities;
“Oh, Bangladesh” – Read a book that’s set in a foreign country;

Curious Toys by Elizabeth Hand:
“Big Tall Man” – Read a book in which the main character doesn’t fit into binary norms;
“And He Slayed Her” – Read a murder mystery;
“The Game” – Lay out some books from your TBR pile in a circle, play spin the bottle to choose your next read and take credit for that book here (bonus points if you post it in your social media feed);

Dreamland by Nancy Bilyeau:
“Extraordinary” – Read a book just because of its cover;
“Table for One” – Read a book that deals with mental health;
“Can’t Get out of What I’m Into” – read a book from your favorite genre;
“Dosage” – Read a book that deals with drugs or drug abuse;

The Escapement by Lavie Tidhar:
“Explain it to Me” – Read a book that’s complicated to describe to others;
“Go West” – Read a western;
“Headache” – Read a book that hurt your head;
“Freak of Nature” – Read a bizarro book;
“Love/Hate” – Read a book that pushes all your buttons;
“Leap of Innocence”- Read a book from a genre you haven’t read before;

Coma by Robin Cook:
“Fuck and Run” – Read a book that involves a one night stand;
“X-Ray Man” – Read a medical drama or a book that features doctors/nurses;
“Bang! Bang!” – Read a thriller;

The Backbone of the World by Stephen Graham Jones:
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“Wind and the Mountain” – Read a book that takes place outdoors or that has mountains on the cover;
“Bad Kitty” – Read a book that features animals, or has a cat on the cover;

The Prince and the Troll by Rainbow Rowell:
“Soap Star Joe” – Read a book in which the lead character has a hero complex;
“Hurricane Cindy” – Read a cli-fi book / that features weather;
“Lost Tonight” – Read a book in one sitting / straight through the night;

The Tiger Came to the Mountains by Silvia Moreno-Garcia:
“Girls’ Room” – Read a book with a female lead protagonist;
“Wind and the Mountain” – Read a book that takes place outdoors or that has mountains on the cover;
“Bad Kitty” – Read a book that features animals, or has a cat on the cover;

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel:
“Shatter” – Read a book that changes how you feel about a particular author or genre;
“Stratford-on-Guy” – Read a book that involves an airplane/airport, or read a book while on/in one;
“Supernova” – Read a scifi book;
“Perfect World” – Read a book that takes place in the future;
“Stars and Planets” – read a space opera / a book that takes place in outer space;

The Stroke of Winter by Wendy Webb:
"Chopsticks” – Read a book that features food or has food on the cover;
“Giving it All to You” – Read a book that was gifted to you;
“Beat is Up” – Read a book that leaves you feeling happy / a book with positive vibes;