Why Women’s Book Clubs Are the Backbone of Literary Culture

Author Roxane Gay has detailed her transition from a book club skeptic to an advocate, arguing that women’s book clubs serve as the backbone of a passionate literary culture, according to a column published by the Los Angeles Times on April 9, 2026.

Gay previously viewed reading as a deeply solitary activity, valuing the ability to immerse herself in a story without external distractions or static from the world beyond the story. Her hesitation toward book clubs stemmed from the requirement of assigned reading, the social demands of the groups, and the concern that the opinions of others would shape her personal reading experience.

She recounted a previous attempt to participate in such a group while teaching in rural Illinois. Gay noted that while the experience with her work colleagues was enjoyable, the literary discussions were secondary, or even tertiary to the time spent gossiping about their professional lives.

A Shift in Perspective

The conversion occurred during a promotional tour for Gay’s debut novel, An Untamed State. She accepted an invitation to attend a brunch with a book club in Kalamazoo, Michigan, extended by her cousin’s mother-in-law.

Gay observed that because book clubs are predominantly the domain of women, they are often dismissed as a cultural punch line. She suggested that this trend reflects a broader societal penchant for diminishing activities led by women.

The Modern Book Club Renaissance

This shift in the perception of book clubs aligns with a broader Book Club Renaissance occurring in the 2020s. While suburban book clubs have long been influential in securing publication success for authors, current trends are being driven by digital grassroots organizing.

The BookTok subcommunity on TikTok has emerged as a significant force within the publishing and marketing industries. This movement involves everyday readers posting recommendations and deep dives that can reshape bestseller lists.

The financial impact of this trend is measurable. A 2023 report from Circana indicated that adult fiction sales in the United States rose by more than 8%, a growth attributed in large part to the influence of BookTok.

Several titles have seen significant chart climbs due to this organic, shareable content, including:

• It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
• The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Historical and Social Influence

The influence of these gatherings extends beyond current social media trends. Historically, women’s book clubs have functioned as more than just literary circles.

According to records from Joyner Library’s Special Collections, these groups have historically served as vital spaces for:

• Community building
• Intellectual growth
• Social activism

This tradition of women gathering to discuss books as both readers and writers is credited by some as having helped preserve the novel as one of the top contemporary art forms.