My book club was roasting my picks until I did one simple thing

I kept bringing books nobody wanted to read. Historical fiction. Dense stuff. Got called out hard at our June meetup at Sarah's place. One member said my picks felt like homework. So I tried something different for July. I picked a thriller under 300 pages. Fast paced. Easy to finish in a week. Everyone actually showed up having read it. We argued about the ending for an hour. Best debate we ever had. Anyone else deal with book club members who hate your choices?

2 comments

2 Comments

victor2201mo ago

Respect your group's feedback, but thrillers feel like empty calories compared to a well-researched historical novel.

henderson.vera1mo ago

Oh wow, I felt that in my bones. My group went through the exact same thing last year, it's so awkward when you're excited about a book and everyone just groans. I've got a friend who only brings heavy literary fiction and the tension in the room is thick enough to cut with a knife. Switching to a lean thriller was a smart move, sometimes less really is more when you're trying to get everyone talking. I've learned to mix in one "crowd pleaser" every few months just to keep the peace, even if my secret favorites are the dense historical novels nobody else likes. It's tough when your taste doesn't match the group's vibe, but at least you found a way to get them all engaged.