For those times when you maybe didn’t quite make it to the end of the book, a list of all-purpose book club discussion questions can help you be ready to start off a meaningful chat about any fiction book, no matter the content!

Questions that are too difficult or require too much thought can sometimes make your book club discussions feel like homework — and that’s the last thing you want. But if you pick questions that are too easy, the discussion just feels fluffy and sometimes a little silly — cue those cringy feelings of social awkwardness. To help prevent this, I’ve developed a simple formula that guides you through a book club discussion that’s both thought-provoking and fun!

I remember as a kid feeling like there’s so much build-up to the winter holidays and then — whoomph, they’re done, leaving this kind of dolldrums vacuum in their wake. Thankfully, this is not the case for me now because once that new year hits, I’m immediately turning my attention to my favorite authors and looking to see what they may have coming out soon.

Getting to the end of another year of reading is always exciting for me — looking back at my list of books I’ve read is almost like flipping through a slideshow from a trip abroad. I have flashbacks of books both good and bad, and an irresistable urge to tell the world all about it. And this urge isn’t just limited to my own “best of” list. I enjoy scrolling through recaps from other readers just as much! In case you are just like me and can’t get enough reading recommendations from end-of-year book lists, I pulled together my top 24 books that I read in 2024.

Our book club is pretty casual when it comes to discussing the book — never got around to reading it? Come anyway! We’re casual with our snacks, too. Despite that chill vibe, I still like to have fun with themed book club snacks when I’m hosting. I’m also a working mom of three with a busy schedule, so I look for shortcuts that allow me to create themed food without a lot of time or complicated steps! When our book club picked After the Flood by Kassandra Montag, I knew my snacks were going to be nothing but ocean, ocean, ocean … because naturally there is a lot of water in that book! 

When I looked at books that are coming out in 2024, I was thrilled to find the list packed full of the latest (and hopefully greatest) books from many of my favorite authors. If you’re looking to grow your TBR stack, this book list featuring many of the most anticipated books of 2024 will help you get on your library holds list before the line is long!

The Last Verse should be a big hit with both crime fiction and historical drama lovers alike. Twyla is a nineteen-year-old aspiring musician who decides to head to Nashville with little but the guitar on her back. When she is swept up into a crime and circumstances wholly outside of her nature, she writes a song and sings it to what she thinks is an empty bar. Weeks later, though, she hears another woman performing it on the radio — and it's an instant hit.

One of my absolute favorite subgenres of fiction is “uplit” — those often quirky but ultimately heartwarming stories that just absolutely hit the right spot and maybe even redeem your faith in humanity. I am an absolute sucker for any book centered around a lost soul finding their place in the world. I often see readers looking for more books with that flavor, so here are 15 of my favorite books in the uplit, found family genre.