Bookclubs makes it easy to organize your book club. Simplify logistics, save time, and read more with the app loved by book clubs everywhere.
DISCUSSION GUIDES
- 1.PerfectionA 2025 International Booker Prize Shortlist Nominee
A scathing, provocative novel about contemporary existence by a rising star in Italian literature.
Anna and Tom, an expat couple, have fashioned a dream life for themselves in Berlin. They are young digital "creatives" exploring the excitements of the city, freelancers without too many constraints, who spend their free time cultivating house plants and their images online. At first, they reasonably deduce that they've turned their passion for aesthetics into a viable, even enviable career, but the years go by, and Anna and Tom grow bored. As their friends move back home or move on, so their own work and sex life—and the life of Berlin itself—begin to lose their luster. An attempt to put their politics into action fizzles in embarrassed self-doubt. Edging closer to forty, they try living as digital nomads only to discover that, wherever they go, "the brand of oat milk in their flat whites was the same."
Perfection—Vincenzo Latronico's first book to be translated into English—is a scathing novel about contemporary existence, a tale of two people gradually waking up to find themselves in various traps, wondering how it all came to be. Was it a lack of foresight, or were they just born too late? - 2.The Art Spy: The Extraordinary Untold Tale of WWII Resistance Hero Rose Valland―A True Account of Her Fight Against Art theft and Tyranny in WWII Paris
* Publishers Weekly Best Books of Summer 2025 * Bookbub Best Non-Fiction Release of the Season * MSNBC/Afar Magazine 10 Best Books for the Summer Traveler * Newsday’s Top Must-Read Book for Summer * Christian Science Monitor Best Book of May 2025 * Longlisted for the 2025 American Library in Paris Book Award
A riveting and stylish saga set in Paris during World War II, The Art Spy uncovers how an unlikely heroine infiltrated the Nazi leadership to save the world's most treasured masterpieces.
On August 25, 1944, Rose Valland, a woman of quiet daring, found herself in a desperate position. From the windows of her beloved Jeu de Paume museum, where she had worked and ultimately spied, she could see the battle to liberate Paris thundering around her. The Jeu de Paume, co-opted by Nazi leadership, was now the Germans’ final line of defense. Would the museum curator be killed before she could tell the truth—a story that would mean nothing less than saving humanity’s cultural inheritance?
Based on troves of previously undiscovered documents, The Art Spy chronicles the brave actions of the key Resistance spy in the heart of the Nazi’s art looting headquarters in the French capital. A veritable female Monuments Man, Valland has, until now, been written out of the annals. While Hitler was amassing stolen art for his future Führermuseum, Valland, his undercover adversary, secretly worked to stop him. She came face to face with Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, passed crucial information to the Resistance network, and faced death during the last hours of Liberation Day.
At the same time, a young Free French soldier, Alexandre Rosenberg , was fighting his way to Paris with the Allied forces battling to liberate France. Alexandre's father was the exclusive art dealer for Picasso, Matisse, George Braque, and Fernand Léger. The Nazis had taken everything from their family—their art collection, their nationality, their gallery, and their home in Paris.
Vivid and atmospheric, The Art Spy moves from the glittering days of pre-War Paris, home to geniuses of modern culture, including Picasso, Josephine Baker, Coco Chanel, and Frida Kahlo, through the tension-riddled cities of Europe on the eve of war, to the harrowing years of the Nazi occupation of France when brave people such as Valland and Rosenberg risked everything to fight monstrous evil.
In the spirit of Hidden Figures, with the sweeping narrative of The Rape of Europa, The Art Spy is an inspiration for us all—an extraordinary tale of courage in a time of violence.
- 3.The Twelve Dates of Christmas'Tis the season for finding romance in this hilarious and uplifting holiday read—soon to be a Hallmark limited series!
When it comes to relationships, thirty-four-year-old Kate Turner is ready to say "Bah, humbug." The sleepy town of Blexford, England, isn't exactly brimming with prospects, and anyway, Kate's found fulfillment in her career as a designer, and in her delicious side job baking for her old friend Matt's neighborhood café. But then her best friend signs her up for a dating agency that promises to help singles find love before the holidays. Twenty-three days until Christmas. Twelve dates with twelve different men. The odds must finally be in her favor . . . right?
Yet with each new date more disastrous than the one before—and the whole town keeping tabs on her misadventures—Kate must remind herself that sometimes love, like mistletoe, shows up where it's least expected. And maybe, just maybe, it's been right under her nose all along. . . . - 4.The Strawberry Patch Pancake House: A small-town romance, perfect for fans of forced proximity, found family, and slow-burn romcoms for fall 2025 (Dream Harbor) (Book 4)Fall in love with Laurie Gilmore's #1 New York Times bestselling cozy seasonal romance set in Dream Harbor! ��
'Never want this series to end!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
��������
Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
As a world-renowned chef, single dad Archer never planned on moving to a small town, let alone running a pancake restaurant. But Dream Harbor needs a new chef, and Archer needs a community to help raise his daughter, Olive.
Iris has never managed to hold down a job for more than a few months. So when it's suggested that Archer is looking for a live-in nanny, she almost runs in the opposite direction.
Now, Iris finds herself in a whole new world. One where her gorgeous new boss lives right across the hall and likes to cook topless... Keeping everything strictly professional should be easy, right?
The Strawberry Patch Pancake House is a cozy romantic mystery with a single dad and found family dynamic, a small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
Tropes
- Single Dad
- Forced Proximity
- Slow Burn
- Found Family
'Gives off the same level of endorphins as taking a sip of an actual pumpkin spice latte... all the makings of a top tier Hallmark movie that happens to include a nice dash of spice' People
'With a name this cute and a cover this autumnal, how could I not cozy up with my blanket and relax with this adoring book?' New York Post
'Laurie Gilmore has done it again; another solid 5 star read!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'As a devoted lover of the single dad trope, I hereby crown Laurie Gilmore as the undisputed queen!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Literally amazing. I can't say enough good things about Laurie Gilmore. I've fallen in love with every single one of her books' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
-
Laurie Gilmore's book 'The Strawberry Patch Pancake House' was a No.1 New York Times bestseller w/c 2025-03-24.
- 5.The Christmas Tree Farm: A grumpy sunshine viral TikTok sensation romcom for fans of winter cozy mysteries and spicy romances in 2025! (Dream Harbor) (Book 3)From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe comes a #1 Sunday Times bestselling grumpy x sunshine Christmas romcom! ❄️
'A charming break from reality' Publishers Weekly
❄️❄️❄️❄️
Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
Kira North hates Christmas. Which is unfortunate since she just bought a Christmas tree farm in a town that's too cute for its own good.
Bennett Ellis is on vacation in Dream Harbor trying to take a break from both his life and his constant desire to fix things.
But somehow fate finds Ben trapped by a blanket of snow at Kira's farm, and, despite her Grinchiest first impressions, with the glow of the fairy lights twinkling in the trees, and the promise of a warming hot chocolate, maybe, just maybe, these two lost souls will have a Christmas they'll remember forever...
The Christmas Tree Farm is a spicy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed, perfect to curl up with this winter!
Tropes:
- Grumpy x Sunshine
- Small Town
- Forced Proximity
- One Bed
'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 6.The Cinnamon Bun Book Store: The viral TikTok cozy fall romance for fans of opposites attract and small-town romcoms in 2025! (Dream Harbor)By #1 New York Times and Sunday Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café
'Unputdownable, I devoured [it] within days... Dream Harbor is not short of a vibrant and hilarious cast of characters to help breathe life into the already charming town' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
📚📚📚📚
Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
When a secret message turns up hidden in a book in the Cinnamon Bun Bookstore, Hazel can't understand it. As more secret codes appear between the pages, she decides to follow the trail of clues... she just needs someone to help her out.
Gorgeous and outgoing fisherman, Noah, is always up for an adventure. And a scavenger hunt sounds like a lot of fun. Even better that the cute bookseller he's been crushing on for months is the one who wants his help!
Hazel didn't go looking for romance, but as the treasure hunt leads her and Noah around Dream Harbor, their undeniable chemistry might be just as hot as the fresh-out-of-the-oven cinnamon buns the bookstore sells...
The Cinnamon Bun Book Store is a Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling cozy romantic mystery with a HEA guaranteed!
Tropes:
- opposites attract
- small town
- forced proximity
- he falls first
'I absolutely loved this small town, cosy romantic and very steamy novel just as much as The Pumpkin Spice Cafe' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Perfect for reading in the evening with a little fire going' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I enjoyed this so much! Completely heartwarming and unputdownable, the steamy scenes were a bonus' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'[This] gave me everything I needed from an easy read and was the perfect addition to the Dream Harbor series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I read it in one sitting because I couldn't bear to put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Just the perfect amount of sugar and spice... a literal dream to read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 7.The Gingerbread Bakery: The brand-new enemies to lovers cozy romance for 2025 from the international No 1 best-selling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café (Dream Harbor) (Book 5)The highly anticipated new Dream Harbor romance from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Pumpkin Spice Café!
'All the makings of a top tier Hallmark movie that happens to include a nice dash of spice'--People on the Dream Harbor series
'If you like steamy, small-town romance, then global bestselling author Laurie Gilmore should definitely be your go-to'--Fabulous Magazine
Every book in the Dream Harbor series can be read as a standalone.
❄️❄️❄️❄️
As owner of her beloved Gingerbread Bakery, Annie Andrews should have a love life to match her business; sugary and sweet. But instead, she's locked in a game of words with the irritatingly upbeat bar owner down the street.
Mac Sullivan has everything he wants, except the girl he dreams of. It's easier to argue with Annie than get her to talk to him but with Jeanie and Logan's wedding coming up, they're about to spend a lot more time together.
As the snowflakes fall and with romance in the air, will Annie see that the one she loves to hate might just be her perfect match after all?
The Gingerbread Bakery is a cozy romantic novel with an enemies to lovers dynamic, small-town setting and a HEA guaranteed!
Tropes:
- Enemies to lovers
- Found family
- Small Town
- Forced Proximity
'The atmosphere of the small town of Dream Harbor envelops you from the very first pages: snow-covered streets, the aroma of freshly baked gingerbread, and a sense of community that only exists in a close-knit and friendly community' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A charming break from reality' Publishers Weekly
'Gilmore's take on the 'enemies to lovers' trope is a real treat' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I absolutely loved this small town, cosy romantic and very steamy novel just as much as The Pumpkin Spice Cafe' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Wonderful story with tears, laughter, mysteries, uncertainty and happiness' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Compelling, cozy and delightful narrative' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'A charming small town romance with sizzling chemistry and plenty of spice' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I LOVED THIS SO BAD. The vibes of the small town were immaculate' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'This book makes my heart happy!' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'The perfect kind of romance for me' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Perfect for reading in the evening with a little fire going' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I enjoyed this so much! Completely heartwarming and unputdownable, the steamy scenes were a bonus' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'[This] gave me everything I needed from an easy read and was the perfect addition to the Dream Harbor series' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'I read it in one sitting because I couldn't bear to put it down' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
'Just the perfect amount of sugar and spice... a literal dream to read' ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
- 8.Brain on Fire (10th Anniversary Edition): My Month of MadnessAn anniversary edition of the award-winning memoir and instant New York Times bestseller that goes far beyond its riveting medical mystery, Brain on Fire is the powerful account of one woman’s struggle to recapture her identity—with a new note to readers by the author.
When twenty-four-year-old Susannah Cahalan woke up alone in a hospital room, strapped to her bed and unable to move or speak, she had no memory of how she’d gotten there. Days earlier, she had been on the threshold of a new, adult life: at the beginning of her first serious relationship and a promising career at a major New York newspaper. Now she was labeled violent, psychotic, a flight risk. What happened?
In a swift and breathtaking narrative, Susannah tells the astonishing true story of her descent into madness, her family’s inspiring faith in her, and the lifesaving diagnosis that nearly didn’t happen. “A fascinating look at the disease that...could have cost this vibrant, vital young woman her life” (People), Brain on Fire is an unforgettable exploration of memory and identity, faith and love, and a profoundly compelling tale of survival and perseverance that is destined to become a classic. - 9.
- 10.Big Stone Gap: A NovelNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • The first novel in the beloved Big Stone Gap series, now a major motion picture written and directed by Adriana Trigiani, starring Ashley Judd, Patrick Wilson, Whoopi Goldberg, John Benjamin Hickey, Jane Krakowski, Anthony LaPaglia, and Jenna Elfman
“Delightfully quirky . . . chock-full of engaging, oddball characters and unexpected plot twists.”—People (Book of the Week)
It's 1978, and Ave Maria Mulligan is the thirty-five-year-old self-proclaimed spinster of Big Stone Gap, a sleepy hamlet in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia. She’s also the local pharmacist, the co-captain of the Rescue Squad, and the director of The Trail of the Lonesome Pine, the town’s long-running Outdoor Drama. Ave Maria is content with her life—until, one fateful day, her past opens wide with the revelation of a long-buried secret that will alter the course of her life. Before she knows it, Ave Maria is fielding marriage proposals, trying to claim her rightful inheritance, and planning the trip of a lifetime to Italy—one that will change her view of the world and her own place in it forever.
Millions of readers around the world have fallen in love with the small town of Big Stone Gap, nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and its self-proclaimed spinster. Full of wit and wonder, hilarity and heart, Big Stone Gap is a gem of a book, and one that you will share with friends and family for years to come.
WINNER OF THE LIBRARY OF VIRGINIA ANNUAL LITERARY AWARD
Don’t miss any of Adriana Trigiani’s beloved Big Stone Gap series
BIG STONE GAP • BIG CHERRY HOLLER • MILK GLASS MOON • HOME TO BIG STONE GAP