NoVA Women's Cozy Book Club

**This book club is a women-only space. Please request to join only if you meet this criterion. For the safety and comfort of our members, all events are held in locations with staff or security presence, and individuals who are not registered members will be asked to leave by on-site personnel**

Book Club Rules of Engagement:

To keep our cozy mystery/fantasy book club welcoming, fun, and engaging for everyone, please keep these in mind:

1. Respectful Conduct Required

We’re here to build a positive space. As such:

No religious, political, or ideological promotion

No bullying or harassment

No fundraising activities or promotion of businesses

2. Share the Floor

We love lively discussions, but let’s make sure everyone gets a chance to speak—especially our quieter members. If you tend to talk a lot, consider pausing now and then to invite others in.

3. Respect All Opinions

It's totally fine to dislike a book—but please express strong opinions thoughtfully. What wasn’t your cup of tea may have been someone else’s favorite, and we want everyone to feel comfortable sharing their views.

4. Stay On-Genre

We focus on cozy mysteries and fantasy, so please keep that in mind when suggesting future reads. A little crossover is fine, but let's stick to the vibe that brought us all together.

5. Come When You Can

We get it—life happens. That said, we ask everyone to attend at least one in-person event per year to stay active in the group. More is always better!

6. Vote In Person

To keep things connected and fun, book selections will now be voted on in person at meetings. This helps ensure our choices reflect the preferences of our regularly attending members.

7. Before Attending: Please Read at Least a Bit

We kindly ask that members read at least part of the selected book before attending events (even better if you can finish it!). While we always enjoy friendly conversation, the main purpose of our book club is to share insights and appreciation for the cozy mystery and fantasy genres—not to drift into unrelated discussions.

Please note: We meet in person in Northern VA (no virtual option is available at this time). To ensure safety of participants at events, we require that all members' faces be visible in their profile pictures.

Some pertinent definitions:

Cozy mysteries are lighthearted crime novels with amateur sleuths solving mysteries in small communities, often featuring humor and minimal violence.

Cozy fantasies usually include heartwarming, low-stakes adventures set in whimsical, magical worlds, focusing on character relationships and comfort rather than conflict.

Some of my favorite authors include Donna Andrews, Meeti Shroff-Shah, and Agatha Christie.