When it comes to holiday months, I get excited to see which book clubs select \u201con theme\u201d and who isn\u2019t guided by the calendar. Are there spooky books selected for October? Yes! But if you aren\u2019t looking for that kind of mood reading, there are also plenty of other excellent options to read, from an essay collection to one of\u00a0the best romance novels of 2026. It\u2019s the great thing about having so many book clubs doing their own, individual focus. And all of the book clubs have virtual components and end with either author chats or a discussion.<\/p>\n
Get 15% off annual All Access memberships <\/a><\/strong>for a limited time in celebration of Book Riot\u2019s 15th anniversary! Savings amount to more than 3 months of free unlimited access to our entire content archive, plus features like Collections and the New Release Index. Claim your savings<\/a> and start leveling up your reading life.<\/p>\n So what\u2019s on book offering this month? Eclectix and Audacious picked the same book this month (I highly recommend going with the audiobook!). There\u2019s also a novel getting a big adaptation, a collection of horror stories, a fever dream novel, a teen on death row in a YA novel, a paranormal YA romance, a novel about loneliness, and more!<\/p>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Dawnshae\u00e9 Reid is a self-proclaimed eclectic blogger who created this book club, prioritizing Black authors. It aims to highlight a wide range of genres. There\u2019s an in-person, once-a-month meeting option if you\u2019re in Louisville, KY, and a virtual option<\/a> that meets on the last Tuesday of every month.<\/p>\n What Eclectix The Book Club said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> Follow Eclectix The Book Club on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Discord<\/a>, TikTok<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Tiffany and Alexandra, longtime friends, founded the Subtle Asian Book Club in 2020 to uplift Asian voices and storytellers. You can read along with the monthly book pick, join in on discussions on social media, and watch videos of their live author interviews.<\/p>\n About the book:<\/strong> If you\u2019re looking for an essay collection by a poet and journalist about resistance to anti-Palestinian racism, this is your book club this month.<\/p>\n Follow Subtle Asian Book Club on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Discord<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Author Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist<\/a>, Ayiti<\/a>, The Banks<\/a><\/em>) selects a book every month with the goal of uplifting \u201cauthentic and necessary perspectives from writers who fearlessly share their stories.\u201d Here are the Book Club FAQs<\/a>. And she\u2019s partnered with Allstora<\/a> for book delivery of selections.<\/p>\n What Roxane said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cNext month in the Audacious Book Club, we\u2019re also talking about The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman<\/em> by Deesha Philyaw. I hope you\u2019ll join us at The Audacity to discuss this wonderful novel throughout the month of October.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Roxane Gay on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Goodreads<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n The host of the very popular BooksandLala YouTube channel<\/a> also hosts a monthly book club focused on mystery, thriller, and horror novels. Co-hosts join in for a live show on her YouTube channel at the start of the following month to discuss the book.<\/p>\n What Kayla said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cSee you at the live discussion with my friends @nahomyslibrary<\/a> & @sallysimply<\/a> to chat about Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latin\u00e9 Horror! <\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Literally Dead Book Club on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Goodreads<\/a>, YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Born from TikTok, Sapph-Lit is a safe space book club for sapphic women and nonbinary readers to come together to chat books and life as well as offer each other support. One book a month is selected, alternating between fiction and nonfiction.<\/p>\n What Sapph-Lit said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cA fever dream of medieval horror that follows 3 women in a besieged castle descending into madness under the spell of mysterious, godlike visitors.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Sapph-Lit on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Geneva<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> The Stacks<\/em> is a podcast that chats all about books, and there\u2019s a monthly book club. The book chosen for the month is discussed on the podcast in the last week of the month with a selected special guest.<\/p>\n What The Stacks<\/em> Book Club said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cYA novel is the story of a teenage girl who is on death row and competes in a reality show in the hopes of winning her freedom. We will be discussing the book on Wednesday, October 28, and you can tune in next week to find out who our guest will be.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow The Stacks on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, TikTok<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club<\/a>:<\/strong> Mocha Girls Read is a monthly book club of Black women who love to read. They currently have chapters in 14 cities across the United States. Anyone can join an Instagram Live every first Saturday of the month at 5 p.m. PT to hear Alysia, the founder of Mocha Girls Read, discuss the current book club selection.<\/p>\n What Mocha Girls Read said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cOur 2026 global theme, AROUND THE WORLD, continues this month with a literary journey to Italy.<\/p>\n This month, we are exploring a story that unfolds in Italy, moving across more than a century as it examines art, migration, race, identity, and belonging.<\/p>\n We are thrilled to announce that The Color Line<\/em> by Igiaba Scego has been selected as our official October 2026 Monthly Book Selection.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Mocha Girls Read on social media:<\/strong> Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, MeetUp<\/a>, Goodreads<\/a>, Pinterest<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Lillianne Leight and Amanda Spivack created this book club, which focuses on Jewish books and characters \u201cwith varying relationships to Judaism<\/a>\u201d that welcomes all readers\u2014Jewish and non.<\/p>\n What Matzah Book Soup said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cwe\u2019re so excited to announce that our October pick is A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DATING A DEMON by @hannahelisawren<\/a>! this paranormal YA romance is perfect for spooky season and we hope you\u2019ll read along with us this month.<\/p>\n Our meeting will be on Zoom on 10\/29 at 8 PM EST!\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Matzah Book Soup on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Every month, Reese Witherspoon picks a book for Reese\u2019s Book Club that centers on a woman in its story.<\/p>\n What Reese said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cWhen your inner monologue gets a little too convincing\u2026 Sophie, Standing There <\/em>by Meg Mason is our October @reesesbookclub<\/a> pick! A funny and tender story about loneliness, connection, and finding your way back to yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Reese\u2019s Book Club on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a>, Twitter<\/a>, TikTok<\/a>, YouTube<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club: British singer\/songwriter Dua Lipa is clearly a book lover and created \u201ca space to enjoy all things literary, including Dua\u2019s Monthly Reads and exclusive Q&As between her and the authors\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n What Dua Lipa said about the book:<\/strong><\/a> At a time when AI\u2019s impact is questioned daily, this novel feels prescient. But at its core, this is a book about our humanity \u2013 what it means to be human and why that is irreplaceable.<\/p>\n Klara And The Sun <\/em>is one of my favourite novels by one of our greatest living authors. I can\u2019t wait to get into it all with you.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow Service95 Book Club on social media: Instagram, YouTube, Facebook<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Read along with Good Morning America<\/em> Book Club, which aims to \u201cshowcase book picks from a wide range of compelling authors.\u201d<\/p>\n What GMA said about the book:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cAre you ready to Take What You Can<\/em>? August\u2019s #GMABookClub pick is here!<\/p>\n Take What You Can<\/em> by @NaimaCoster is a dazzling story about the complex dynamic between two best friends as they navigate their changing relationship, marriages, class, and motherhood.\u201d<\/p>\n G<\/a>MA\u2019s August YA selection:<\/a><\/strong> \u201cWe won\u2019t only be dancing in October, but reading this month\u2019s #GMABookClub YA pick!<\/p>\n It\u2019s Only Dancing<\/a><\/em> by @jasminepics is a heartwarming coming-of-age romcom with a Dirty Dancing inspired element.\u201d<\/p>\n Follow GMA Book Club on social media:<\/strong> Instagram<\/a>, Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n About the book club:<\/strong> Jenna Bush Hager\u2014current co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna<\/em>\u2014independently chooses a book each month that she personally loves. (\u201cJenna was not paid to mention these items and is unaffiliated with the authors and publishers<\/a>.\u201c)<\/p>\nEclectix The Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman<\/a> by Deesha Philyaw<\/h3>\n
\u201cLucky me, I was an early reader of this one over the summer and I instantly wanted to talk about it with the book club \u2013 so now I\u2019m making my dreams come true! This debut is equal parts hilarious and constructive in the way we view megachurches, sexual wellness, and one woman\u2019s desire to create space for herself in a patriarchal world.\u201d<\/p>\nSubtle Asian Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
Perfect Victims and the Politics of Appeal<\/a> by Mohammed El-Kurd<\/h3>\n
The Audacious Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
The True Confessions of First Lady Freeman<\/a> by Deesha Philyaw<\/h3>\n
Literally Dead Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
Something Followed Us Home: Tales of Latin\u00e9 Horror<\/a> edited by Cynthia Pelayo<\/h3>\n
Sapph-Lit<\/a><\/h2>\n
The Starving Saints<\/a> by Caitlin Starling<\/h3>\n
The Stacks<\/em> Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
Last Chance Live<\/a> by Helena Haywoode Henry<\/h3>\n
Mocha Girls Read<\/a><\/h2>\n
The Color Line<\/a> by Igiaba Scego<\/h3>\n
Matzah Book Soup: A Jewish Own Voices Book Club for All<\/a><\/h2>\n
A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon<\/a> by Hannah Reynolds<\/h3>\n
Reese\u2019s Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
Sophie, Standing There<\/a> by Meg Mason<\/h3>\n
Service95 Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
Klara And The Sun<\/a> by Kazuo Ishiguro<\/h3>\n
Good Morning America<\/em>\u2019s GMA Book Club<\/a><\/h2>\n
Bad Words<\/a> by R\u00edoghnach Robinson<\/h3>\n
TODAY Book Club, #ReadWithJenna<\/a><\/h2>\n
Partita<\/a> by Barbara Kingsolver<\/h3>\n