Book clubs are making a strong comeback. Readers who enjoy discussing stories, sharing interpretations, and exchanging recommendations are once again meeting—both in person and online. This renewed interest has also been boosted by technology, which makes it far easier to organise groups, keep everyone engaged, and manage reading schedules.
Today, several apps designed specifically for book clubs are available on app stores. These tools offer features such as polls to choose the next book, reading progress tracking, discussion spaces, reminders, and even virtual meetings. Below are six apps that can help readers better organise and manage a book club, whether it’s small and private or large and public.
1. Bookclubs
Bookclubs is one of the most complete platforms for managing reading groups. It centralises nearly every aspect of club organisation in one place, including meeting scheduling, member management, and polls to vote on upcoming reads.
The app also keeps a detailed history of books already read and titles members want to explore in the future. Communication is another strong point, allowing users to send messages either to the entire group or to individual members.
2. Fable
Fable stands out for its focus on keeping readers motivated. One of its key features is the ability to set daily reading goals, which helps members stay on track and maintain momentum throughout the month.
The app also allows users to create discussion rooms specific to each chapter. This structure encourages conversation while preventing spoilers, as members can participate only after reaching a certain point in the book.
3. The StoryGraph
Known for its detailed reading statistics and AI-powered recommendations, The StoryGraph also offers a feature called Buddy Read, which is ideal for book clubs and group reading. This tool allows multiple people to read the same book simultaneously, with comments tied to specific pages.
To avoid spoilers, comments remain hidden until a reader reaches the relevant section. Members can also see how others are progressing, which adds a shared sense of accountability.
4. Goodreads
Goodreads remains a popular choice thanks to its Groups feature. It’s useful for both readers looking to join an existing club and those who want to create one from scratch.
Group creators can decide whether a club is public or private, set general themes, launch polls, and host discussions directly on the platform. Its large user base also makes it easier to discover new clubs and books.
5. Book Club
Book Club takes a simpler approach while still offering essential features. It allows organisers to send automatic email reminders for meetings and create polls to help decide future reads.
Users can also browse what other book clubs are currently reading, which can be helpful when looking for inspiration or discovering trending titles.
- Availability: iOS
- Price: Free
If you’re running a long-standing reading group or starting a new one with friends, these apps can make organising discussions, schedules, and reading goals far easier. With the right tool, book clubs can focus less on logistics and more on what truly matters: reading and sharing great stories together.
