The best books to revisit with your book club this year

There’s an art to choosing a book club read.

Striking the perfect balance is challenging. You want something literary but not alienating, relatable but imaginative, well-written but accessible. 

And with so many wonderful books published each month, choosing just one to read is a lot of pressure. As more great books constantly hit the ‘new releases’ shelf, it’s too easy to forget about all those stand-out titles you swore you’d come back to.

Fear not: This refresher is here to jog your memory.

It’s time to hit pause and revisit some of the best recently published – but not exactly new – book club picks. Ripe with concepts for discussion, each of these books makes a fantastic group read – juicy conversations guaranteed.

The Best Book Club Books for Interesting Discussions

The Sanatorium by Sarah Pearse

This debut crime thriller was published in 2021, but one year on, it still makes for a fantastic book club read. Both beautiful and eerie, this atmospheric thriller takes place in a hotel that was originally a sanatorium. When a guest goes missing from an engagement party, everyone begins to panic . . . but it’s only the beginning.

The Paper Palace by Miranda Cowley Heller

The Paper Palace follows Elle for a span of 24 hours as she decides what kind of life she wants to live. Torn between her much-loved husband and childhood love, she must make a life-changing decision about what to do next. If a story of love, lies, and secrets sounds perfect for your book club, see our book club notes to inspire your future chats.

We Were Never Here by Andrea Bartz

If you didn’t read this when it was a Reese Witherspoon Book Club pick, now is the time! This high-intensity book focuses on two friends on a mountain trip in Chile and a murder. When Emily returns to her hotel room to find her friend Kristen inside and blood everywhere, she agrees to help hide the body, but can she trust her friend?

Life After Life by Kate Atkinson

Now a major BBC series, this global bestseller follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the last century again and again. With a strong sense of history, the book explores deep questions about second chances, third chances, and infinate chances. This read will make you question how much is within our control, and whether you would want to change destiny if given the chance.

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong

This Sunday Times bestselling novel is a beautiful debut from Ocean Vuong, and one worth a spot on your reading list. Focused on one family’s history, this book is a fascinating exploration of identity and relationships.

Once There Were Wolves by Charlotte McConaghy

Part thriller, part love story, and pulse-pounding, Once There Were Wolves is a wonderful pick for your book club. Centred around two sisters who are reintroducing grey wolves into the Scottish Highlands, the twisting plotline will have you on the edge of your seat. When a farmer is found dead, the main character, Inti, knows that the wolves will be blamed. But how can she prove their innocence? This book is full of interesting discussion points which we’ve outlined in book club notes for the novel.

Need more ideas? Check out our book club notes to discover the best books for discussion.