Most of my adult life, I’ve been a librarian—which is why it might come as a surprise to many that I’ve only been part of one book club in my personal life. It wasn’t until early 2022 that a few friends and I decided to start a book club of our own. This small group would meet once a month over brunch to talk about a selected title, as well as other books we were reading and loving.
That experience opened my eyes to something I hadn’t realized I was missing: the joy and enrichment that comes from discussing books with my peers. What had always been a solitary activity—reading alone in my apartment—suddenly became something that connected me to my community. It deepened my friendships, sparked new conversations, and brought an unexpected layer of meaning to the books I read.
These days, I’m fortunate to lead two book clubs in Pacific County: PageTurners in Ocean Park (first Tuesdays at 2:00 PM) and Lit Happens in Ilwaco (fourth Tuesdays at 5:00 PM). And once again, I’ve found that same magic. Although similar in format, PageTurners is a well established group of about 15 people and Lit Happens is 3-5 people and was recently started in March of 2025. If you are curious about the books being read in these groups you can find the 2025 list of books discussed by Ocean Park PageTurners here, and the list of books discussed by Lit Happens here.
Gretchen Rubin, author of The Happiness Project, says it beautifully:
“A book club creates a feeling of community and exposes you to new perspectives and ideas. Meeting on a regular basis ensures you’re connecting consistently and have something on the calendar you look forward to with pleasure.”
I’ve found this to be absolutely true. Being part of a book club allows me to do what first drew me to literature: understand the perspectives and lived experiences of people different from myself. It stretches me beyond my comfort zone—challenging me to read books I might not have picked up otherwise and to consider viewpoints I might not have encountered on my own.
Gerrie Penny, a member of the Ocean Park PageTurners for an incredible 20 years, shares a similar sentiment:
“Book clubs are the icing on the books I read. Even if I don’t care for a book, it’s always interesting to listen to what others thought of it. Once, I read a book that didn’t make sense to me—until I attended our club meeting and discovered others were thinking the same thing. We were all over the place with our remarks, and then one woman gave us the answer in one sentence. We all went, ‘Wow! Never thought that!’ Suddenly it made sense. The best times are when everyone wants to share their thoughts, even if opinions differ. It’s amazing how the same words can mean something different to different readers.”
And if you're located outside of Pacific County, TRL staff host dozens of book clubs across the district and virtually, welcoming readers of all ages to discuss a wide variety of books.
Whether you’re a lifelong reader or just getting started, joining a book club can transform your reading life. It turns a solitary habit into a shared journey—and along the way, you just might find your world expanding, one book at a time.
