While a couple of the big book clubs are taking a breather until the new year, many are finishing the year with a brand new selection to read and discuss. As always, you can use this list to find your next read, dump them all on your TBR, or pick a book club to join—they’ve each got a virtual component, some meet in person, many have author participation, and all are awesome.
December’s selections offer plenty of interesting choices, from a narrative nonfiction book that had a super popular adaptation to a romance with rich family history. There’s also a contemporary novel about obsession, a multi-generational family novel chosen by many book clubs this year, a fascinating historical novel based on the real Tipu’s Tiger, a novella/short story collection centering transness, a Jane Austen novel, and more! It’s a great time to settle in with a good read.
The Audacious Book Club
Cursed Daughters by Oyinkan Braithwaite
About the book club: Author Roxane Gay (Bad Feminist, Ayiti, The Banks) selects a book every month with the goal of uplifting “authentic and necessary perspectives from writers who fearlessly share their stories.” Here are the Book Club FAQs.
What Roxane said about the book: “Cursed Daughters is an engrossing read, one that asks important questions about how much of our life and our history is inherited and how much of it we are responsible for—and capable of—creating for ourselves. I’m looking forward to discussing it with you throughout the month of December. We will be in conversation with Oyinkan on December 20 at 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET. You can register here.”
Follow Roxane Gay on social media: Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads
All Access members, read on for ten more book club picks.
Mocha Girls Read
Spilling the Tea by Brenda Jackson
About the book club: 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.
What Mocha Girls Read said about the book: “Mocha Girls, the votes are in—and you’ve spoken loud and clear! 🗳️
For our December 2025 Monthly Book Selection, the MGR members chose Spilling the Tea by Brenda Jackson, closing out the year with heart, heat, and hometown drama. This month’s theme — He Said, She Said — celebrated stories by the legendary Walter Mosley and Brenda Jackson, but it was Brenda who took the crown with a strong showing from our readers.
We’re ending the year on a high note with a story full of Southern flavor, second chances, and a reminder that sometimes the best tea is the truth we finally tell ourselves.”
Follow Mocha Girls Read on social media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, MeetUp, Goodreads, Pinterest
Subtle Asian Book Club
Loot by Tania James
About the book club: Tiffany and Alexandra, longtime friends, created the Subtle Asian Book Club in 2020 with the goal of uplifting 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.
About the book: If you’re in the mood for an 18th-century historical novel based on the real Tipu’s Tiger, this is your book club this month!
Follow Subtle Asian Book Club on social media: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Discord
Good Morning America’s GMA Book Club
Best Offer Wins by Marisa Kashino
TODAY Book Club, #ReadWithJenna
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen
About the book club: Jenna Bush Hager—current co-host of Today with Hoda & Jenna—independently chooses a book each month that she personally loves. (“Jenna was not paid to mention these items and is unaffiliated with the authors and publishers.“)
What Jenna said about the book: “’Pride and Prejudice is one of my favorite books of all time,’ Jenna told TODAY.com. ‘I love Jane Austen so much.’
Jenna’s relationship to Austen’s novel, first published in 1813, goes back to her childhood visits to her paternal grandmother, Barbara Bush, in Maine.
‘My grandmother, Barbara, was the one who introduced me to Jane Austen. I’ll never forget it. We listened to Pride and Prejudice on tape, because yes, listening to books is reading. It was in her bedroom and I would come in every afternoon that I was staying with her in Maine. We would read it and then we’d watch the whole PBS miniseries,’ she remembered.”
Follow Read With Jenna on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Read With Jenna Goodreads group
The Stacks Book Club
Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H. G. Bissinger
About the book club: The Stacks is a podcast that chats all about books, and there’s 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.
What The Stacks Book Club said about the book: “Clear eyes, full hearts, can’t lose. For this month’s book club, we’re diving into a classic of narrative nonfiction: Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream by H.G. Bissinger. The book follows the 1988 season of the Permian Panthers, one of the best high-school football teams in Texas history. But this story is about much more than just sports—it chronicles the racial tensions, perilous economy, failing education system, and the impact of the team on the town. The parallels to today are uncanny.”
Follow The Stacks on social media: Instagram, Facebook, TikTok
Reese’s Book Club
The Heir Apparent by Rebecca Armitage
About the book club: Every month, Reese Witherspoon picks a book for Reese’s Book Club that centers a woman in its story.
What Reese said about the book: “There’s nothing better than snuggling up with a great story this time of year. The December @ReesesBookClub pick, The Heir Apparent by @RebeccaArmitageAuthor, has everything I love in a holiday read—royals, romance, family twists, and a woman finding her own path. Can’t wait for you to dive in.”
Follow Reese’s Book Club on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, YouTube
Sapph-Lit
Stag Dance by Torrey Peters
About the book club: Born from TikTok, Sapph-Lit is a safe space book club for sapphic women and nonbinary readers to come together and chat books and life as well as offer each other support. One book a month is selected, alternating between fiction and nonfiction.
What Sapph-Lit said about the book: “This collection pushes the limits of trans writing and examines the rough edges of queer community and desire.”
Eclectix The Book Club
Inklings Book Club
Hamnet by Maggie O’Farrell
About the book club: Book influencer Jack Edwards has started a book club with the fable app: “Inklings will celebrate compelling and captivating storytelling from around the world, fostering a community of book lovers. That’s YOU!!”
About the book: If you’re a fan of Shakespeare, historical fiction, and current film adaptations you can go watch, this is your book club this month!
Follow Inklings Book Club on social media: Instagram, YouTube, Fable
Late Show Book Club
Beasts of the Sea by Iida Turpeinen
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