BOOK OF THE MONTH

How to Read a Book: A Heartfelt Novel of Redemption and Unlikely Friendships in a Small Town Bookstore

"The perfect pick to really light a fire under my book club, and yours....A reminder that goodness, and books, can still win in this world." —New York Times Book Review

"A beautiful, big-hearted treasure of a novel." —Lily King

National Bestseller * From the award-winning author of The One-in-a-Million Boy comes a heartfelt, uplifting novel about a chance encounter at a bookstore, exploring redemption, unlikely friendships, and the life-changing power of sharing stories.

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Published May 7, 2024

288 pages

Average rating: 8.11

487 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say Monica Wood’s *How to Read a Book* is a heartfelt novel exploring forgiveness, redemption, and unlikely friendships through nuanced, imper...

monicaroush

Apr 08, 2025

9, 9, 8.5, 9, 8.5, 8.5, 9, 8.5, 9, 9, 9, 8.5, 8.5 (Soffolk)

Lowlybookworm

Nov 16, 2024

9/10 stars

https://goodreads.com/review/show/6442588815

Rmbteach

Dec 11, 2025

9/10 stars

……,….. Ultimately, the book teaches much more than how to analyze or interpret text. It shows how reading can help us understand people more deeply, heal old wounds, and open ourselves to grace. It invites the reader to see every life as a complex story—one that deserves patience, empathy, and sometimes, the courage to forgive without receiving forgiveness in return.

Ptcl

Dec 03, 2025

I’m li in until five fifteen

ClinicallyBookish

Nov 21, 2025

10/10 stars

“Harriet sits with my story for a few minutes, the way she sometimes did in Book Club. Let it settle first, she'd tell us. Let it settle before deciding what it's about.” Slow down. Take the time to absorb and think about things. Sometimes a second look is necessary. A little time can mean a huge difference in perspective. "Do not conclude. Observe."