I’ve mentioned before that I’m in two book clubs. Due to the pandemic, one hasn’t met for nearly a year – I’ve forgotten what book I was even supposed to read for the next meeting. The Pardon My Youth club is through our local library, and we’ve continued our monthly meetings through Zoom. The club focuses on YA books for the young and young at heart (ages range from 20s through 70s). It’s not your standard club where everyone reads the same book – we have monthly categories instead. This month’s assignment was to read a YA book published in 2020. I thought I’d give you a partial list of some of the books selected.
We enjoy having the freedom to choose different books, but occasionally a couple members have coincidentally read the same one and will give joint reviews. Most of us are also friends on Goodreads and the day after book club you’ll see several members adding titles discussed the night before to their TBR lists. Below are our categories for the rest of the year – you can see we’re committed to reading diverse books. I like being able to plan my reads for the rest of the year, and I always try to choose something from my backlist.
- February Pick Your Poison – Romance vs. Horror (of course I’m choosing horror)
- March Realistic Fiction Set Anywhere but the US, the UK, or Canada
- April Books Featuring a Found Family
- May Books By/About Latinx Folks
- June Pride Reads
- July Books Set During the Summer
- August Books With a Female or Non-Binary BIPOC as the Main Character
- September Banned Books
- October Retellings/Reimaginings
- November Books By/About Indigenous Peoples, First Nations, Peoples, or Native Americans
Maybe I’ve inspired you to create your own book club or ask your library to form one. Our club’s fourth anniversary is coming up in a few months, and most of us have been there from the beginning. In addition to making some wonderful bookish friends, it’s also helped maintain some sanity and continuity for all of us during 2020. Hopefully, my other club will be able to meet again this year – but someone’s going to have to remind me which book to read.
Hope you enjoyed a peek into one of my book clubs. Have a safe and healthy week!
Books and Such 
I like the fact you can pick your own book within a theme/category. My problem with book clubs is that I don´t want to read a book I´m not interested in. Life is too short. Also, I´m a slow reader so I don´t always get the book finished in time to discuss it. I joined a book club here in Spain at the beginning of March, 2020 and we all know what happened in the middle of March 2020. I´m glad your one group is still meeting via Zoom. A great idea.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Same here, Darlene. Sometimes I really don’t care for the book and, as you said, life is too short. We’re really laid back in our club – if you didn’t finish or have time to even start a book, still show up for the fun discussions.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your YA book club sounds like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. No, I can’t help you with the book you were supposed to read. 😁
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our last meeting was February 2020. I remember looking up the chosen book at the end of that meeting, and I have the vague notion it was something that interested me, but I come up with nothing on the title or author. And yes – we have loads of fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Any notes from the meeting?
LikeLiked by 1 person
That would be a no. But the other members are all good friends, so it wouldn’t be difficult to find out. I doubt we could even meet until the end of this year. None of us are in the first several groups to be vaccinated, so our wait will be a long one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Take it from me (a 1B) there is not enough vaccine available. I’m just waiting until there is.
LikeLike
What a neat idea for a book club to have categories instead of specific books! Thanks for sharing.:-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think it benefits all of us. We all enjoy the YA genre, but different categories (I’m outnumbered on the romance – which is why I’m reading horror for this month).
LikeLike
That’s amazing! I so want to join a book club but I guess wouldn’t be able to meet face to face until my daughter’s school starts next year around this time. Great list of categories and I hope you enjoy the book you are going to read for it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve discovered books I never would have come across. Some of the members are really into graphic novels, and that was our selection a few months ago – something I haven’t read much of. It’s great to broaden your reading selections. Hope you can find a club you enjoy, Yesha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
What a great idea! Thanks for sharing your club, Teri.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s like having a book party every month, Jill – always look forward to it.
LikeLike
I’ve been pretty happy with my critique group’s Zoom meeting. I miss the smells and nuances of in-person but it is still good, don’t you think?
LikeLiked by 1 person
it is! I’ve gotten spoiled just walking upstairs to book club instead of driving, lol. I’m just glad we’re able to still get together.
LikeLike
This is such a cool idea! I love that there’s so many options! ☺️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Right? When I first read about it, that’s one of the biggest reasons I joined. One of the best decisions I’ve made.
LikeLike
I love the idea of a bookclub, and I think it’s great you have one that’s geared specifically for your reading tastes. I also really like that the club plans out the type of read for each month. It sounds like everyone has a lot of fun.
Wonderful share, Teri!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Mae! It’s funny how we’ve all learned each other’s tastes. Everyone knows I don’t read much romance, and there are several who won’t go near a horror book, lol. It makes it easy to recommend books to other members.
LikeLiked by 1 person
What fun, Teri! I’ve been a member of the Rave Reviews Book Club for over six years and have found that it’s turned into more of a family than just a book club. It’s invaluable to me in my growth as a writer. Thank you so much for sharing!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes! We’ve made some wonderful friendships that feel more like family over the years, Jan. Births, deaths, marriages – it’s been a whirlwind.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Our libraries are pretty disfunctional here in South Africa, Teri. I belong to two on-line books clubs: Rave Reviews Book Club and Rosie Amber’s book club. I also like to have time to read books I want to read so this is enough for me.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I know what you mean, Robbie, lol. I have soooo many books to read, and one of my goals this year is to whittle down my backlist. That’s why I try to choose books I already own to fill the categories.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I love that you get to choose your own book. I’ve read and loved The Institute and will have to check out the others too. Happy reading, Teri 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m embarrassed to admit how behind I am on my King books, Harmony. I used to start reading them on the release date, but it’s been far too long. Thanks for dropping by!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I agree with Harmony, it’s better that you can choose your own read. I’m in a read/review club where we read each other’s books (chosen by the team leader) and post our reviews on Bookbub. It’s okay, but I like this idea more.
LikeLiked by 2 people
I love that aspect, Jacquie. It gives all of us a chance to hear about books we may never pick up and broaden our horizons a bit. But also not have to read a book that doesn’t excite us.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never been in a book club. Actually, never even knew of one near me. I haven’t really given it much thought but this one sounds great. YA and being able to choose your book preference. Also, loving the name: “Pardon My Youth club”. 😀 Some of those covers are absolutely gorgeous.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I think you’d fit in quite well with us, Sarah! And that name is perfect. When I attended the first meeting, I thought for sure I’d be the oldest person there – not true. I love the varying age range and freedom to choose my own book.
LikeLike
Thanks for the peek in to your book club’s workings. I love that you have themes rather than requiring everyone to read the same book… If I was in a book club, that’s the kind of thing I’d prefer. I also love how diverse the themes are. Sounds like an awesome book club to be a part of.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s really fun, Tori. At the end of every year, we try to come up with some new categories for the next year, but some are staples – pride month, banned books. It can be a challenge to think of something new, but we usually brainstorm a few.
LikeLike
Like I said, it sounds like a great book club. You’re really lucky to be a part of such a great one.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’ve never been in a book club. Sounds like lots of fun!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I look forward to meeting with my bookish friends every month, Joan.
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s a great list. What a fun book club. All the ones I’ve been in are all standard – everyone agrees on a book and then we read and get together to talk about it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Maybe start your own (when all this crap is over) and use the flexible format, Tessa. Be the trendsetter!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I like the themes you have for each month – kind of makes it a bit more interesting than just, hey, read this book!
That said, I’m definitely not a book club person. I’m way too much of an anti-social non-conformist!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Actually, we’re all anti-social in this club, Jess, lol. All of us are introverts who found our people. I get the feeling you’d fit in very well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hehehe, introverts unit! Seperately…in your own homes.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How did you guess our motto? Did someone talk?
LikeLiked by 1 person
Bahahahaha!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Aww I absolutely LOVE this idea! Can I join your book club? xD We’ve been talking about starting something like this at our library, and I really like your model here! It’s definitely something we’re going to look more into. :3
LikeLiked by 1 person
We’ve been going nearly four years strong, Sammie – can’t believe it’s been that long! I love that we don’t all read the same books, then bring something new to the table for others to hear about every month. I can give you our librarian/moderator’s name if you’d like.
LikeLike
That is quite the age range in your clubs. I bet it makes for some interesting conversations from what must be, very different perpectives.
LikeLiked by 1 person
And that’s another reason I enjoy it so much, Mark. A diverse group of folks.
LikeLiked by 1 person