Best Online Book Clubs for Women: Communities Worth Joining
Women make up roughly 80% of book club members, yet finding the right community still takes effort. Here's a curated guide to the best online book clubs for women—and how to start your own.
What Are the Best Online Book Clubs for Women?
The best online book clubs for women combine strong book curation, welcoming communities, and flexible participation that fits real life. Top picks include Reese's Book Club for contemporary fiction with strong female leads, Oprah's Book Club for culturally significant reads, Read with Jenna for accessible literary fiction, and platforms like Readfeed that let women create and customize their own virtual clubs around any interest or identity.
Women have always been the backbone of book club culture. Research from the National Endowment for the Arts shows that women are 77% more likely than men to read literature, and data from multiple reading platforms confirms that roughly 80% of all book club members are women. Despite this dominance, not every reading community feels like the right fit. This guide breaks down the best online book clubs for women across every category—celebrity-led, genre-specific, professional, and community-built.
Why Do Women Thrive in Book Clubs?
A 2024 study published in the Journal of Consumer Research found three primary drivers:
- Social connection through shared experience. Women are statistically more likely to seek communal processing of ideas.
- Intellectual stimulation outside of work or caregiving. A book club represents protected time for personal growth.
- Discovery and accountability. The social commitment creates gentle accountability to actually finish the book.
Celebrity-Led Book Clubs Worth Following
Reese's Book Club
Each month, Witherspoon selects a book—typically contemporary fiction or memoir featuring a strong female perspective. With over 2.8 million followers, many of her picks have become major adaptations.
Oprah's Book Club
Now hosted through Apple Books, Oprah's selections tend toward literary fiction and non-fiction that tackles race, identity, trauma, and resilience. Includes video interviews with authors through Apple TV+.
Read with Jenna (Jenna Bush Hager)
Focuses on literary fiction that is emotionally resonant without being intimidating. The Today show segments provide built-in discussion context.
The Skimm's Book Club
Focuses on contemporary fiction and non-fiction relevant to busy professional women in their late twenties to early forties.
Niche Online Book Clubs for Women
Feminist Book Clubs
- The Feminist Book Club — curated feminist reads via subscription
- r/FeminismBookClub on Reddit — free, open discussion forum
- Various Discord feminist reading communities
Women in Business Book Clubs
- Lean In Circles — career development with book discussions
- Women Who Lead Reads — for women in leadership positions
Mom Book Clubs
- #MomReads communities across Instagram and Facebook
- Modern Mrs. Darcy's Book Club — large following among mothers
How to Start Your Own Virtual Book Club for Women
Step 1: Define Your Focus
Genre, demographic, or thematic focus. A focused club attracts committed members.
Step 2: Choose Your Platform
Readfeed is purpose-built for book clubs, offering club creation, book voting, meeting scheduling, AI-generated discussion questions, and spoiler-safe conversations. Discord works for tech-comfortable groups. Facebook Groups remain popular for accessibility.
Step 3: Recruit Intentionally
Start with 6 to 10 members. Quality matters more than quantity.
Step 4: Set Expectations Early
Agree on frequency, book selection method, and attendance norms.
Step 5: Use Tools That Reduce Friction
Using a dedicated tool like Readfeed keeps everything in one place.
Popular Genres in Women's Book Clubs
| Genre | % of Women's Clubs Reading It |
|---|---|
| Contemporary/Literary Fiction | 68% |
| Memoir & Biography | 42% |
| Historical Fiction | 38% |
| Mystery/Thriller | 35% |
| Romance | 27% |
| Self-Help/Personal Development | 24% |
| Fantasy/Sci-Fi | 18% |
What Makes a Women's Book Club Different?
- Deeper emotional engagement — more likely to connect book themes to personal experiences
- Greater consistency — average lifespan of 5.4 years compared to 3.1 years for mixed-gender clubs
- Broader genre range — actually more likely to read across genres
- Stronger social bonds — members frequently describe their groups as among their most important friendships
Frequently Asked Questions
Are online book clubs only for women?
No. While women make up approximately 80% of book club members overall, online book clubs are open to everyone. Many women-focused clubs exist because they create a space for discussing books from a specifically female perspective.
How do I find online book clubs for women near me?
Search for groups on Readfeed, Facebook, Meetup, or your local library's website. Many libraries host virtual book clubs that welcome remote participants.
Are celebrity book clubs worth joining?
Celebrity book clubs are excellent for book discovery but function more as curated reading lists than interactive communities. For genuine discussion, pair a celebrity club's picks with a smaller private group on Readfeed.
How many members should a women's book club have?
The ideal size is 8 to 12 members—large enough for diverse perspectives but small enough that everyone has space to speak.