You love books. Your friends…not so much.
Or maybe they read, just not the way you do. You finish a book at 1am, desperate to talk about that ending, and the best you get is a thumbs-up emoji in the group chat.
So you google “book club Melbourne”. And then you find out the one at your local library has a waitlist for its waitlist.
Good news: Melbourne is a UNESCO City of Literature, so the book clubs are out there. You just need to know where to look, and which kind suits you.
What kinds of book clubs are there in Melbourne?
Roughly five types, each with its own vibe.
1. Library book clubs
Free, friendly and often themed (crime, classics, books set in Melbourne). The catch is that the popular ones fill up fast, so join the waitlist early. Check your local library’s “what’s on” page.
2. Bookshop book clubs
Many independent bookshops run monthly clubs. You get a well-chosen book, sometimes author visits, and an excuse to buy more books (as if you needed one).
3. Meetup groups
There’s a group for almost every niche: genre clubs, age-based clubs, suburb-based clubs. Quality varies, but it’s the easiest way to try a few and see what sticks.
4. Social book clubs
Dinner, drinks, book swaps. These are as much about meeting people as about the books, which is perfect if you’ve moved to Melbourne or your social circle has gone a bit quiet.
5. Online book clubs
For when your Tuesday nights are spoken for. You still get a curated pick, a proper discussion and a community, without leaving the couch.
Not sure which one you are? Here’s how to choose a book club that feels right for you.
What to look for in a Melbourne book club
Set book or no set book? Some people love the structure. Others want to turn up and chat about whatever they’re reading, with no homework.
Size. A table of eight feels very different to a room of thirty. Smaller usually means better conversation.
Location and timing. A club across town on a Monday at 6pm sounds fine until it’s raining sideways. Be honest with yourself.
The vibe. Literary deep-dive or laid-back chat? Wine and pasta or tea and biscuits? There’s no wrong answer, only the wrong club for you.
Books & Bites: a bookish dinner for women in Melbourne
This is where I come in 👋
I’m Hanna, founder of Busy with Books, and I started Books & Bites for women who want bookish friends in real life. Our first dinner sold out in four days, which told me I wasn’t the only one looking.
How it works:
When: one Tuesday evening a month, 6–8pm
Where: Il Mercato Centrale on Collins Street, a beautiful Italian food hall a few minutes’ walk from Southern Cross
Who: a maximum of ten women, so you actually get to talk
The book: there isn’t one. No assigned read, no homework. You just bring whatever you’ve been reading (or what you wish you’d been reading)
Food: order whatever you fancy from the stalls, on your own tab
Tickets: $15, which secures your spot and includes a small goodie to take home
Plenty of people come solo, and most are a little nervous walking in. Everyone is chatting within ten minutes. There’s also a recommendation jar, so you’ll leave with a longer TBR than you arrived with.
See upcoming Books & Bites dates here.
Prefer to read from home? Join our online book club
If evenings out aren’t realistic right now (hello, small children, shift work, or simply loving your couch), the Busy with Books online book club gives you the good parts without the commute:
One curated pick a month: mostly either contemporary fiction, historical fiction, women-focused, fantasy or thrillers, chosen so you’re not stuck with something you’ll abandon on page 40
A monthly Zoom discussion: cosy, smart and never like a uni tutorial
A private Slack community for recommendations, rants and all-caps reactions to plot twists
Early access to our reading retreats in Australia and New Zealand
Members join from all over Australia and New Zealand, and plenty of our Melbourne members do both: Zoom from home, then Books & Bites in person.
Book club in Melbourne FAQ
Are there free book clubs in Melbourne?
Yes. Many libraries run free book clubs, though the popular ones often have waitlists. Meetup also lists free groups across the city and suburbs.
Is there a book club for women in Melbourne?
Yes. Books & Bites by Busy with Books is a monthly bookish dinner for women in the Melbourne CBD, capped at ten guests, with no set book.
Can I join a book club on my own?
Absolutely. Most people do. Smaller clubs and dinners are the easiest to walk into solo, because everyone gets a chance to talk.
What if I haven’t read the book?
At Books & Bites there’s no set book, so that problem doesn’t exist. In clubs with a set book, most people are relaxed if you haven’t finished. Just maybe skip the spoiler section.
Is there a good online book club in Australia?
The Busy with Books online book club meets monthly on Zoom, with a curated pick and a private Slack community for members across Australia and New Zealand.
A final thought
Finding your book people can take a couple of tries. Go to one thing. Then another. The right table is out there, probably arguing about an ending you also have opinions on.
See you at the next one ♥️