Book Club Questions (+PDF)

This post has a list of the most thought-provoking book club questions for your next book club. I wanted to make hosting or attending your book club stress-free and easy by giving you fun and universal questions.

Since Beyond the Bookends started years ago, Kirsten and I have loved doing book clubs. We take time while reading the books to put together thought-provoking questions. I realized that there are many questions that are universal. If you are looking for How to Start a Book Club, we have a step-by-step guide for how to do that as well.

Reading a book for pleasure is often easier than reading a book for a book club. There is often pressure to think of questions that can make reading the book feel more stressful. I do not want that for you! I divided these questions into topics relating to characters, themes, etc. These will be perfect as a starting point or as the only questions you ask. Nobody is judging. The most important thing is to have fun!

Book Club Questions: Plot and Structure

1. What were your initial expectations for the book, and did it meet them?
2. Were there moments in the plot that were unpredictable?
3. Were there any twists or surprises you didn’t see coming? Or were there plot twists that were not surprising?
4. How did the story’s pacing affect your reading experience?
5. Did the story ever feel too fast or too slow?
6. What parts of the plot felt surprising if any?
7. How did the book’s title influence your perception of the story before reading?
8. After finishing the book, do you think the title is fitting, or would you suggest a different one?
9. If you could change one event in the book, which would it be and why?

Book Club Questions: Characters and Development

1. How would you describe the main characters? For example: were they relatable, realistic, or well-developed?
2. Which character did you relate to the most, and why?
3. Were there any characters you disliked? What made them unlikable?
4. How do the characters change and develop throughout the book?
5. Did any character’s development surprise you?
6. Did any character make a decision that you strongly agreed or disagreed with? How would you have handled the situation differently?
7. How do you think the book would have been different if told from another character’s perspective?
8. What do you think happens to the characters after the story ends?
9. Did you relate to a particular character or the circumstances they were in?
10. Were the characters believable? For example, does the narrator sound age-appropriate?

Book Club Questions: Setting and Atmosphere

1. Did the setting play a significant role in the story?
2. How might the plot change if it were set in a different time or place?
3. If you had to move the story to a different setting, what would you choose?
4. Would you like to visit the setting of the book? If familiar with the setting, did it ring true?
5. How did the author’s writing style contribute to the story’s tone and atmosphere?

Book Club Questions: Themes and Symbolism

1. What were the themes in this book?
2. What themes or messages did you identify in the book?
3. Were there any symbols or motifs in the book? How did they enhance the story?
4. Did the book’s portrayal of relationships (friendship, family, romantic, etc.) feel authentic?
5. Which relationship dynamics stood out to you, and why?
6. Did the book address any real-world issues or themes?
7. How did the author handle real-world topics, and did they affect your views on those issues?
8. Were there any images that felt like they had a hidden meaning?

Book Club Questions: Writing Style and Narrative

1. How would you describe the narrator’s perspective?
2. Was the narrator reliable, or did you find them biased? Did you question the truth?
3. How did the author use humor, suspense, or other elements to enhance the story?
4. Were there any parts of the book you found difficult to understand or follow? Why?
5. If you could ask the author one question about the book, what would it be?
6. Do you have any unresolved questions or loose ends at the end of the book? Do you think the author did this purposely?

Book Club Questions: General Impressions and Reflections

1. What were your thoughts on the book’s ending? Was it satisfying, or did it leave you wanting more?
2. What aspects of the book did you find most thought-provoking or insightful?
3. Did the book remind you of any other books you’ve read? If so, in what ways?
4. What did you learn from the book, if anything?
5. Did this book change your perspective on any topic?
6. Would you recommend this book to others? Why or why not? And if so, who should read this book?
7. If this book were adapted into a film, who would you cast as the main character?
8. Would you want to see a sequel to this book and if so, what would it be about?

Book Club Questions PDF

Frequently Asked Questions

Epilogue

Will you use these book club questions for your next book club? Let me know how it goes! I always love to hear which books you chose and how the discussion went.