If you’re searching for book clubs in Rhode Island, let us help. Below we’ve featured 10 top book clubs operating in the state.
1. Bookworms of New England
Based in Warwick, Rhode Island, Bookworms of New England is a book club that welcomes people from all genders and walks of life who enjoy all genres of reading. Organizer Sam K is a local from Rhode Island who helps manage this 500+ member group by organizing monthly book club meetings, as well as fielding questions that book club members may have.
To get an idea of the kind of books that Bookworms of New England is into reading, take a look at “The Round House” by Louise Erdrich and “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. Bookworms of New England meets on the second Thursday of every month online.
Contact Bookworms of New England!
2. Providence Athenæum Reading Groups
Providence Athenæum Reading Groups are a number of in-person and online book clubs hosted by and run through Providence Athenæum, a library in Providence, Rhode Island. The Providence Athenæum was founded in 1836 and continues to be a resource for locals who love reading and connecting with other book lovers in the community.
Participation in any one of Providence Athenæum’s book clubs is restricted to members of Providence Athenæum. Individual memberships are available starting at $165 per year or for households at $200 per year. Providence Athenæum Reading Groups include “Spooky Action At A Distance”, a book club that meets in the Athenæum’s Bound on the third Tuesday of every month and focuses on fiction about ghosts, magical realism or horror, and online book clubs such as “The Big Three” that meets on the third Wednesday of every month and focuses on classic English literature such as “Bleak House” by Charles Dickens.
Reach out to Providence Athenæum Reading Groups for more information!
3. Cranston Public Library Book Groups
Located in Cranston, Rhode Island, Cranston Public Library Book Groups are a number of book clubs facilitated by the Cranston Public Library. Whether your interest is in fiction or non-fiction literature, there’s bound to be one book club among the Cranston Public Library Book Groups that will align with your interests.
“YA for Adults Book Group” meets at Central Library on the fourth Wednesday at 6:30 PM of every month to discuss a monthly young adult novel, and at around the same time in William Hall Library, “Reading in the Hall Book Discussion for Adults” takes place, focusing on different genres within English literature. There is also the “Nonfiction Book Group” which meets on the fourth Wednesday at Central Library and the “Modern Mystery Book Group,” which meets on the fourth Monday of every month.
Speak to Cranston Public Library Book Groups!
4. East Providence Public Library Book Clubs
East Providence Public Library Book Clubs are a number of book clubs held by East Providence Public Library. For over 30 years, the library has been active in gathering book-loving men and women from within their neighborhood of East Providence, Rhode Island and forming book clubs to meet monthly and discuss books of all genres.
Some of the books East Providence Public Library Book Clubs has gone through include “The Year of the Witching” by Alexis Henderson and “Tomorrow Will Be Better” by Betty Smith. Those interested in joining East Providence Public Library Book Clubs for in-person book club meetings should visit their book club meetings, which are held on the last Tuesday of every month at 11:00 at Weaver Library. Online book club meetings are held on the last Monday of every month.
Learn more about East Providence Public Library Book Clubs!
5. Maury Loontjens Memorial Library Book Clubs
Situated in Narragansett, Rhode Island, Maury Loontjens Memorial Library Book Clubs are a number of book clubs organized by Maury Loontjens Memorial Library. The book clubs meet once a month for book discussions, inspiring conversations and to form friendships and connections.
Three book clubs form the Maury Loontjens Memorial Library Book Clubs, all which meet at different times of the day. The “Morning Book Club” gathers in the morning on the second and fourth Monday of the month. Members are encouraged to bring their own books, and there’s usually coffee available as well. The “Afternoon Book Club” meets on the afternoon of the second Wednesday of the month, and the “Evening Book Club” meets in the evening of the fourth Wednesday of every month. Members of the “Afternoon Book Club” and “Evening Book Club” read a shared book, respective to each group, including titles like “The Guncle” by Steven Rowly and “The Sentence” by Louise Erdrich.”
Speak to Maury Loontjens Memorial Library Book Clubs!
6. Providence Public Library Book Clubs
Providence Public Library Book Clubs, or PPL Book Clubs, are a number of book clubs hosted by Providence Public Library, an establishment with a 146-year history in the neighbourhood of Providence, Rhode Island. Its many services are offered free of charge, including the provision of a number of book clubs that local men and women can join.
Providence Public Library Book Clubs usually meet once a month to discuss an agreed-upon book. “Tuesday Brown Bag Book Club” meets in person at Providence Public Library on the last Tuesday of every month. “History Hijinks Book Club” holds its book club meetings on the first Monday of the month in person as well as online.
Take a look at what else Providence Public Library Book Clubs can offer you!
7. Rogers Free Library Adult Book Club
Adult readers of all genders and backgrounds in Bristol, Rhode Island, are welcome to join Rogers Free Library Adult Book Club. The book club is hosted by Susan Tacent, who holds a Ph.D. in comparative literature from Brown University. Rogers Free Library Adult Book Club meetings are held once a month on the last Wednesday of the month.
“Clean: The New Science of Skin” by James Hamblin and “Assassination Vacation” by Sarah Vowell are a few examples of the fiction and non-fiction books that Rogers Free Library Adult Book Club goes through. Book club members can take out the book of the month from the library, and Rogers Free Library Adult Book Club is always looking forward to welcoming new participants.
For more information about Rogers Free Library Adult Book Club, check out their website.
8. South Kingstown Public Library Book Groups
South Kingstown Public Library Book Groups are a number of book clubs that take place in person at three libraries in the town of South Kingstown in Wakefield, Rhode Island. All of South Kingstown Public Library Book Groups welcome all men and women who are interested in reading to their book club meetings, which are free of charge to join.
Multiple book clubs across multiple locations allow locals to choose the book club which best fits their schedule and reading interests. Peace Dale Library’s “Evening Book Group”, for example, meets every month on the first Tuesday of the month, reading books like “The Giver of Stars” by Jojo Moyes. Over at Kingston Free Library, “Beyond Words Book Group” meets on the second Wednesday of every month in the evening to discuss books like “Such a Fun Age” by Kiley Reid. Meanwhile, “Bookmarks Book Group” meets at Robert Beverly Hale Library, and has gone over books like “A Long Petal of the Sea” by Isabel Allende, among other past titles.
Find out more about South Kingstown Public Library Book Groups!
9. League of Women Voters of Rhode Island Book Club
For locals in and around the area of Rhode Island, the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island Book Club is a book club which has been an ambassador for grassroots leadership since 1920. In addition to their political activity and community service, the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island has managed a book club that meets monthly to discuss great literature.
League of Women Voters of Rhode Island Book Club welcomes men and women interested in reading great books and having exciting discussions to join them at their book club meetings, held on the first Thursday of every month. Some of their past books have included “Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom” by Catherine Clinton and “Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore” by Elizabeth Rush.
Discover what else the League of Women Voters of Rhode Island Book Club is up to!
10. Silent Book Club
Introverts who prefer reading to discussing what they are reading will be familiar with Silent Book Club, a book club that has become an international sensation for its unconventional book club format of reading silently with other book club members. It encourages book club members to bring their own reading material and join up with other readers, both men and women, who enjoy the company of others reading alongside them silently.
Silent Book Club has chapters in Westerly and Newport, Rhode Island. Their Westerly chapter usually meets at Savoy Bookstore & Café, a great spot for a coffee to go with your book. The Newport chapter meets weekly on Wednesdays and welcomes all who can join them at their meetings.
Connect with Silent Book Club!