Readers, I’m excited for the days of reading on the front porch with Daisy at my feet and a cold pineapple Spindrift in my hand. And then discussing all things books and reading with you in Book Club!
We’re kicking off the summer season on Thursday, May 20 with our Summer Reading Guide Unboxing, and that’s just the beginning of an incredible summer full of author chats, new classes, small group discussions, and ALL the book recommendations.
This is all happening in the MMD Book Club community, where we delight in every season of reading.
If you’re in need of escape, community, or bookish joy, the Modern Mrs. Darcy Book Club is the place for you.
Our one-of-a-kind community is more than a book club, and it’s filled with kindred spirits who love talking all things books and reading. We read and discuss a monthly selection together, but that’s just the beginning of what we do. We also provide special events and content and host regular classes that help us get more out of our reading lives.
When you join, you also get instant access to our full library of past classes and author chats, including perennial favorites like Book Journaling for Book Lovers, How to Read a Classic, and One Hour to a Better #Bookstagram.
The Summer Reading Guide Unboxing
This might be the best book party we have all year: in a ninety-minute live session, I reveal every title in the Summer Reading Guide, and tell readers why I chose it. Our conversation is casual and unscripted, filled with real talk about great books, in the presence of people who love books and reading.
Unboxing is a DELIGHT, and this year we’re doing it twice to accommodate more readers live: at noon AND 7pm Eastern time on Thursday, May 20. Book Club members get the guide in their inboxes just after the Unboxing—which means they get it four days early.
Our members also get our expanded guide with exclusive content, including sixteen additional titles, extra book lists, and more fun bonus content. If you’ve ever considered becoming a member, this is an excellent time to jump in.
A new look and a new Instagram!
We’re thrilled to show you our new MMD Book Club logo! In fact, our whole book club site just got a makeover. We integrated your feedback—plus our new look—into a user-friendly, beautiful community hub where you’ll find every book we’ve read together, forums for all the book talk, and more ways to connect with your fellow readers.
You can also find us on the brand new MMD Book Club Instagram, where our community manager Ginger will be sharing announcements, highlights, and backlist book recommendations. We’d love to see you there!
We’re learning to read better, together
Last season, we learned so much about Zora Neale Hurston and the Harlem Renaissance, plus 25 things readers need to know about the publishing industry. These classes are recorded and available for you to watch anytime with your membership.
This summer, we’ll continue learning how to get more out of our reading lives with brand new classes and events. We’ll learn how to find your “reading people” and talk with incredible authors Stacey Lee, Emily Henry, Nadia Hashimi, and Elizabeth Brooks about their books, their research and writing experiences, and (of course) what they love to read.
Our Summer Book Club selections
JUNE:
People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. This will they/won’t they contemporary romance from Beach Read author Emily Henry is every bit as playful as its tangerine cover. And because this book is inspired by When Harry Met Sally, we’ve already scheduled our Book Club watch party so we can enjoy the film together!
JULY:
Sparks Like Stars by Nadia Hashimi. Statistically speaking, avid readers read lots of historical fiction—and it’s no wonder with offerings as good as this new release from Hashimi. With references to Anastasia Romanov and nods to the main character’s love of literature, this story will captivate history and book lovers alike.
AUGUST:
The Whispering House by Elizabeth Brooks. With a compelling narrator, absorbing atmosphere, and loads of literary references, this modern gothic novel is a stunner. We’re also continuing our “Austen in August” tradition with Northanger Abbey, a perfect pairing for The Whispering House.
Backlist Book Club
In celebration of our 5-year Book Club anniversary, we wanted to take a look back at some of the best of Book Club from the past few years. Introducing…the Backlist Book Club!
We have three Backlist Book Club selections this summer: Everyone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave (June), Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin (July), and Stay with Me by Ayobami Adebayo (August). These aren’t flight picks for our main summer reads; they’re simply bonus selections from the book club archives. Read the Backlist Book Club picks at your own pace and join in whenever you desire.
Discussion forums and author chats already exist for these selections, but you’ll get a fresh take during our Member Meetups, where we’ll break into small groups to discuss each backlist pick live with fellow members.
Join Us
Our summer season will help you get more out of your reading life as we learn to read better, together—and we’ll have so much fun in the process!
Do you (or a friend) have a graduation or summer birthday coming up? We’ve got gift memberships, too. A membership for yourself or a reading friend would make a wonderful birthday, graduation, or just because gift, whether or not you combine it with our physical box of bookish goodness.
I can’t wait to read with you this season. Happy reading, friends!
Anne
11 comments
I wonder if there is a Covid phenomenon of growing out bangs? Anne, I see that you have and I did as well, as did my niece, anyone else?
I did too, Shannon! Somehow, the Covid lockdown allowed me the patience to get through the growing out stages!
It was fortuitous that I started growing them out in late fall 2019—one of the small things I was thankful for in the pandemic was that I didn’t have to cut my own bangs! 😂
I just love your charming photos, Anne. The porch swing (swoon), your armful of books with that magnificent shrub (tree?) providing a perfect floral backdrop, and that oh-so-tempting book lover’s picnic on the lawn…WOW! I’m itching to grab the pile of books I just received from the Novel Neighbor and head out to the back yard! If I wasn’t already a member of this wonderful book club, I’d be racing to join up. (And, for anyone on the fence about joining us, let me just assure you: this is the best book club EVER!
Colleen, thanks for the kind words! (And yes, it’s a shrub——a vibernum that smells amazing!)
Joining the book club a couple months ago was the best decision I’ve made recently. I have found my nerdy bookish people and my place on the web! It’s so much fun, and my TBR list is now a mile long(er) with so many great books to read for book club. Thank you for all you do to make the community so much fun.
Where do I find the When Harry Met Sally watch party though? I can’t figure that one out on the site. But I’m in!
Lisa, I’m so glad to hear it! You’ll see the watch party appear on our events page very soon. It’s going to be fun!
Hi, so quick question: will patreon be getting the expanded guide as well, or is it just the book club members?
Patreon will get it as well. 🙂
Yay! Can’t wait to read it! 😊
Hope that one day you can recommend myvboojk FIRST TO. GO to your readers. A lovely read -you will love it.many thanks. Pam Skelton