The Best Book Club Books in April

21 Apr 2016

There’s probably nothing more exciting to book lovers than discussing their favorite new reads in a book club. Whether it’s with with your friends or through an online group, book clubs add a whole extra dimension to reading. If you’re anything like us, it’s difficult to finish a book and not express your thoughts about it to someone (everyone!). Book clubs ensure that your post-book feels don’t fall on deaf ears. If you’re thinking about starting a book club but don’t know what books to read, we’re here to help! We surveyed our readers to see what the best book club books are for April. Thank you to everyone who submitted!

The Best Book Club Books for April

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A Man Called Ove

Fredrick Backman

Release Date: May 5, 2015

Why it’s a good book club book:  A Man Called Ove is a heart felt musing on the profound effect that one life can have on many. A perfect book to inspire conversation around the figures in your life and community that have touched you deeply.

 

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A Sudden Light

Garth Stein

Release Date: September 30, 2014

Why it’s a good book club book:  In a story of family secrets, A Sudden Light is a haunting read that will leave you thinking. It’s a great blend of horror, romance, and family drama that will make you want to talk about it for hours.

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All the Light We Cannot See

Anthony Doerr

Release Date: May 6, 2014

Why it’s a good book club book:  All the Light We Cannot See is the 2015 Winner of the Pulitzer Prize, so you know it’s going to be a captivating read. It’s a deeply moving work of historical fiction that takes place during the struggles of World War II.

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Alexander Hamilton

Ron Chernow

Release Date: April 26, 2004

Why it’s a good book club book: This biography of one of America’s Founding Fathers has received a lot of press recently due to the success of the musical Hamilton. Alexander Hamilton’s story is inspiring, and there are plenty of events that took place during this time that are worthy discussing.

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All the Stars in the Heavens

Adriana Trigiani

Release Date: October 13, 2015

Why it’s a good book club book: If you have any interest in the birth of the movie business, then this book is for you! This well-researched piece of fiction paints the picture of a Catholic woman living and working in the early years of Hollywood.

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Brooklyn

Colm Tóibín

Release Date: May 5, 2009

Why it’s a good book club book: Brooklyn is the inspiring story of an Irish girl who immigrated to America in he 1950’s. The story is moving, and the characters, especially the female lead Eilis, are unforgettable.

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Circling the Sun

Paula McLain

Release Date: May 5, 2009

Why it’s a good book club book: Released just last year, Circling the Sun has received critical acclaim from places like the New York Times and NPR. It is an enchanting work of historical fiction set in 1920’s Kenya, and it follows the extraordinary adventures of a free-spirited woman.

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Euphoria

Lily King

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Why it’s a good book club book: Inspired by the life of anthropologist Margaret Mead, Euphoria shows how love can interfere with just about anyone’s life. Mead finds herself in a love triangle that threatens her friendship and her career, and the events that happen as a result will fascinate you.

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Me Before You

Jojo Moyes

Release Date: June 3, 2014

Why it’s a good book club book: If you’re the kind of person who likes to read the book before seeing it’s movie adaptation, you should read Me Before You before the movie comes out in June! It’s a heartbreakingly romantic story that will probably leave you in tears, so you can commiserate about your feelings with your book club friends.

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My Brilliant Friend

Elena Ferrante

Release Date: September 25, 2012

Why it’s a good book club book: If you’re in a book club with some of your best friends, you will be moved by the story of Elena and Lila in My Brilliant Friend. As the two girls grow up together in 1950’s Italy, they experience the drastic changes of their nation.

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The Boys in the Boat

Daniel James Brown

Release Date: June 4, 2013

Why it’s a good book club book: Fans of world history and the Olympics will find plenty to talk about with this book! The Boys in the Boat tells the true story of how a working-class team of rowers steps up to conquer the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

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The Buddha in the Attic

Julie Otsuka

Release Date: August 23, 2011

Why it’s a good book club book: This book is sure to spur discussions on identity and what it means to be American. A group of women are brought from Japan to San Fransisco, and the novel traces their lives as they learn to function in this new country.

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The Girl on the Train

Paula Hawkins

Release Date: January 13, 2015

Why it’s a good book club book: Psychological thrillers are perfect for books clubs since they usually leave you with plenty of thrilling surprises to discuss. As the story of the The Girl on a Train unravels, the main character quickly establishes herself as an unreliable narrator who may have played a role in a woman’s disappearance.

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The Nightingale

Kristin Hannah

Release Date: February 3, 2015

Why it’s a good book club book: The Nightingale was one of the most talked about books of 2015. Focused on two sisters living in Europe during World War II, this book will probably lead to philosophical discussions on life, love, and heroism.

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The Shadow of the Wind

Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Release Date: January 25, 2005

Why it’s a good book club book: The Shadow of the Wind takes place in 1950 after the end of the Spanish Civil War, and it is filled with unusual characters and a gothic twist. The plot is complex, so you’ll enjoy unravelling the story with your book club buddies.

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What She Left Behind

Ellen Marie Wiseman

Release Date: December 31, 2013

Why it’s a good book club book: This thought provoking novel weaves together the stories of two women who are separated by 60 years. Their lives are tragic, and the changing narration of the two characters will leave you with interesting things to compare and contrast.

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