Founder & Community Builder
Let’s be honest: making adult friends is weird. Book clubs solve this by giving you structure, shared experiences, and automatic topics of conversation that go deeper than “So… what do you do?”
Plus, there’s something about discussing whether a fictional character made the right choice that breaks down social walls faster than small talk ever could.
If you’re the type of person who has strong opinions about whether the main character should have made different choices, traditional book clubs might be your social sweet spot.
JC Book Club offers exactly what you’d expect from a solid neighborhood book club: monthly meetings where the group collectively chooses what to read next, covering everything from contemporary fiction to classic novels, biographies to nonfiction. Their next gathering is Monday, October 6th at O’Hara’s.
Books, Brunches & Booze is women-focused group that creates exactly what their tagline promises – a fun, welcoming space where making new friends matters just as much as discussing the monthly read.
BB&B emphasizes authentic connection over literary analysis, making it perfect for people who want meaningful conversations that might start with books but naturally evolve into real friendship. Their next meeting is Wednesday, September 24th at Wurstbar.
30-Something Book Club creates a community for women aged 30-39 living in Jersey City. Their inclusive approach welcomes anyone who identifies as a woman or womxn, plus “all beautiful humans who simply prefer the company of us femmes” – because as they put it, “You CAN sit with us.”
With intimate gatherings of 10-15 women per meeting, you’ll actually get to know everyone rather than getting lost in a crowd. They’re meeting Wednesday, September 24th, creating that perfect mid-week social break!
JC Queer Book Club creates space for LGBTQ+ readers to discuss books within a community that understands their experience. Meeting (usually) on the first Sunday of every month, they combine IRL discussions with book swaps.
Their next gathering is Sunday, October 5th, featuring two very different but equally compelling reads. They’ll be discussing Thirst by Marina Yuszczuk, a 2024 feminist gothic novel that reimagines vampire mythology through a Latin American lens, alongside Clive Barker’s classic horror novella The Hellbound Heart – the story that inspired the cult film Hellraiser.
If you’re the type who’d rather quietly judge fictional characters than share those judgments out loud, silent reading parties might be your perfect entry point into the Hudson County book scene.
We host monthly silent reading gatherings that work exactly like running clubs – but for reading. You can absolutely read alone at home, but choosing to read with a group creates designated time each month to prioritize your reading habit while surrounded by community.
Just like runners who could jog solo but prefer the motivation and accountability of group runs, our reading parties provide structure and social connection for book lovers. It’s intentional community building around something we all want to do more of anyway.
Reading Rhythms offers something completely unique in Jersey City’s social landscape. There’s no assigned reading, no pressure to participate in discussions, and definitely no pop quizzes on plot points.
Instead, Reading Rhythms creates what they call “community-centric reading parties” where you bring whatever book you’re currently enjoying and settle in for focused reading time surrounded by other book lovers. The organizers curate light background music to create the perfect reading atmosphere, and the whole experience feels like the grown-up version of library story time – but way cooler.
Meeting on Sundays, Jersey City Reads offers a more intimate reading experience. The smaller group size means you’ll get to know the same faces week after week, creating those natural friendships that develop when you consistently show up in the same space with the same people.
Meeting twice monthly, the Hoboken Silent Book Club embraces the “bring whatever you’re reading” philosophy. The optional socializing afterward is brilliant for people who want to test the social waters. You can participate as much or as little as feels comfortable, and there’s always the book in your hands as a conversation starter if you want to chat.
The Hoboken Library is hosting a silent reading party on Wednesday, September 25th. Bring whatever you’re currently reading or select a book from their book buffet – no discussion required, just the peaceful presence of others who share your love of books.
Hoboken offers diverse book club options that cater to different reading preferences and social styles. Here’s what’s available for book lovers in Mile Square City:
Little City Book Club offers two book clubs to serve different interests within Hoboken’s literary scene.
Their monthly book club will meet Thursday, September 18th to discuss Mexican Gothic by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, a New York Times bestseller that blends Gothic horror with Latin American storytelling.
Little City’s Queer Book Club creates dedicated space for LGBTQ+ readers, meeting Sunday, September 28th to discuss An Education in Malice by S.T. Gibson. This dark academia tale explores themes of secrets, power, and desire within the atmospheric setting of an isolated Massachusetts college.
Lit in Hoboken meets during the week and focuses on contemporary fiction. Their recent selection was The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark, a New York Times bestseller and psychological thriller.
The Mystery Book Club meets on the second Tuesday of each month, covering the full spectrum of mystery fiction from cozy whodunits to hard-boiled detective stories and classic crime novels. This month, they’re reading Death in Cornwall by Daniel Silva.
The Science Fiction and Fantasy Book Club reads both classic and contemporary speculative fiction. Their next meeting is Monday, September 29th to discuss Never Let Me Go by Nobel Prize winner Kazuo Ishiguro – a haunting modern classic that blends literary fiction with speculative elements.
The Romance Book Club focuses on romance-centered stories, often in the contemporary romance and chick-lit genres. They’re meeting Thursday, September 25th to discuss The Blonde Identity by Ally Carter – a fast-paced romantic comedy about a woman with amnesia who discovers she’s the twin sister of a spy and must team up with a grumpy secret agent.
Sometimes the best way to meet fellow book lovers is at special events that bring the entire literary community together. Here are two upcoming opportunities to expand your bookish social circle:
The Hoboken Public Library is hosting their annual festival on Saturday, September 20th from 12-3pm across both the Main Library (500 Garden St) and Grand Street location. This community celebration combines everything book lovers adore: meeting local authors, browsing an extensive book sale, participating in a book swap, and enjoying literary-themed activities.
For those willing to take the PATH train adventure (because sometimes the best literary events require a small journey), the Brooklyn Book Festival offers one of the Northeast’s premier free literary celebrations. The Literary Marketplace features over 250 publishers, making it the largest book market in the Northeast and a paradise for discovering new titles and publishers.
Follow us on Instagram @JerseyCityConnects !
Get the best Jersey City & Hoboken events and local happenings delivered weekly
