Cle Gals Book Club
This dynamic literary community meets all over the city. The group holds monthly book discussions on the first Thursday, with locations ranging from bars and restaurants to boutiques and parks, highlighting a wide range of Cleveland’s scenery and businesses. Silent reading nights offer calm, library-style events for solo readers. “It’s another way to explore incredible spaces, and instead of chatting about a book, you come reading whatever book you’re reading, and you’re just in a shared community with other people doing the same,” says club founder Sarah Patrick. With weekly reading events, CLE Gals chooses titles two months in advance and opens event sign-ups every Sunday at 7 p.m. via @clegalsbookclub on Instagram. Whether you’re there for the conversation or just the quiet company, CLE Gals turns reading into a citywide celebration. Various locations, instagram.com/clegalsbookclub
CLE Readers
This inclusive, low-pressure book club meets at Roasted in Lakewood from 6 to 7 p.m. on the second-to-last Tuesday of every month. Founded by Melissa Pena to help people reconnect post-pandemic, the club welcomes all, even those who haven’t finished the book. Discussions are casual, spoiler-sensitive and open to any reading pace. Selections are made via Instagram polls and member suggestions, with monthly themes and an optional reading schedule. To keep things accessible, books with minimal library wait times are typically selected. 13417 Madison Ave., Lakewood, instagram.com/clereaders
Cleveland Heights Library’s Read with Pride Book Discussion
Hosted by Cleveland Heights Library, this book club offers a welcoming space for readers ages 19-plus to explore LGBTQIA+ stories and voices. The group meets monthly on the second Wednesday at The BottleHouse Brewery and Mead Hall on Lee Road, with varying genres and titles curated by a staff librarian based on participant feedback and library availability. Registration opens two weeks before each meeting but is not required, and copies of each month’s pick are easily accessible via CLEVNET and Libby. Heights Library also hosts book clubs around short stories, horror, sci-fi, African American authors and more. Check the library’s events page for upcoming dates and discussion details. 2050 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-291-5665, heightslibrary.org
Cleveland Public Library Book Clubs
In addition to its Main Library located in Downtown Cleveland, CPL manages 27 neighborhood branches, offering a wide range of book discussions. That includes the “Banned Book Coffee Chats” (third Wednesdays at the Fleet branch), the “No-Pressure” book club (second or third Saturdays at the West Park branch) or the “Savor the Pages” themed cookbook discussion (dates vary, at the Garden Valley branch). Various locations, cpl.org
Cuyahoga County Public Library Book Clubs
The Cuyahoga County Public Library’s 27 branches host a slew of book clubs that appeal to any type of reader in various Northeast Ohio communities. The offerings include a “Young At Heart” book club (first Tuesdays at the Strongsville branch, minus the months of July and December), a virtual “Heartbreakers” book club (fourth Tuesdays hosted by the Brook Park branch) and a mystery themed “Bookmarks & Body Bags” (first Thursdays at the North Royalton branch). Find details and future book selections at specific branches’ websites. Various locations, cuyahogalibrary.org
Loganberry Books Discussion Groups
This fairytale-esque Larchmere bookstore hosts a vibrant lineup of book clubs in its dreamy shop space, each led by staff or local community members. The Dystopian Book Club meets every other third Thursday, resuming in August. Rebel Readers, led by Dahlia Fisher and Felicia Haney, meets monthly and explores race, culture, sexuality and identity through diverse genres. Queer Book Club and For the Thrill of Lit alternate monthly on third Thursdays. The Naturalist’s Notebook, in collaboration with the nearby Nature Center at Shaker Lakes, meets quarterly on third Sundays and focuses on nature writing and environmental themes. Most meetings are in-store, but virtual attendance can be arranged with advance notice by emailing books@logan.com. Check Loganberry’s website or event calendar for exact dates and upcoming picks. 13015 Larchmere Blvd., Shaker Heights, 216-795-9800, loganberrybooks.com
Mac’s Backs Science Fiction Book Club
Held in the cozy basement of this beloved Coventry bookstore, Mac’s Backs’ Science Fiction Book Club meets on the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. Led by longtime coordinator Melissa Bloom, the group thrives on collaborative book selections — and it’s a fitting genre for the shop, which boasts an impressive sci-fi selection on its second-floor loft. Open to newcomers and regulars alike, the club welcomes drop-ins around 6:45 p.m. for a relaxed, thoughtful discussion among avid readers. Beyond the sci-fi club, Mac’s Backs also hosts an LGBTQ+ book club and silent reading events at nearby Phoenix Coffee. 1820 Coventry Road, Cleveland Heights, 216-321-2665, macsbacks.com
Visible Voices: Movie vs. Book Club
On the first Wednesday of every month, join fellow book and film lovers at Visible Voice’s cozy cafe for an engaging discussion on the latest book-to-movie picks. This casual club run by staff member Isaac Mell, who brings film knowledge and conversation, compares how stories unfold on page versus screen. Whether you’re a regular reader or a movie buff, all are welcome to sip, chat and explore the art of adaptation — with no registration needed. 2258 Professor Ave., Cleveland, 216-961-0084, visiblevoicebooks.com
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