Last summer, deep in editing my first novel. I started reading a ton. I had just moved to Brooklyn, and I had no community. Moving back to a place I called home most of my life after being away for fourteen years, that home felt totally different.
I finished a book, and I had no one to talk to about it. I also like moving my body. I’d seen a walking book club in CA and looked for one in Brooklyn, but it didn’t exist. So, I put out a call on my Instagram, a few mom groups chats I’d joined, and a localized Instagram ad. Inviting people to join an Instagram group called the BK Walking Book Club.
By the time of the first walk a month later, over 20 people were in the chat and 10 people joined for the walk. A year later, there are over 60 people in our chat and a consistent group of walkers. I met new friends, fellow writers, and even a few authors joined us.
To celebrate this year, we’re inviting people to join us for a book swap after our August 12th walk discussing Emma Straub’s American Fantasy.
If you’d like to join us, message me on Substack to join the WhatsApp group for the Book Club or RSVP for the party here. Below are the book picks and dates for the rest of the year:
Here’s a full list of what we’ve read - find them all for purchase:
August 2025: Hazel Says No — Jessica Berger Gross
September 2025: James — Percival Everett
October 2025: Everyone Is Lying to You — Jo Piazza
November 2025: Animal Instinct — Amy Shearn
December 2025: Sandwich — Catherine Newman
January 2026: Julie Chan Is Dead — Liann Zhang
February 2026: Atmosphere — Taylor Jenkins Reid
March 2026: Martyr! — Kaveh Akbar
April 2026: Heart the Lover — Lily King
May 2026: All the Mothers — Domenica Ruta
June 2026: Mothers and Other Strangers — Corey Ann Haydu
July 2026: Strangers — Belle Burden
August 2026: American Fantasy — Emma Straub (our anniversary pick)
September 16: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke
October 21: The Calamity Club by Kathryn Stockett
November 18: The Wedding People by Alison Espoch
December 16: Whistler by Ann Patchett