We are delighted to introduce our reading groups selected to read and review one of the six books shortlisted for the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction.
These groups may be spread far, with members from across the U.K, but they are all brought together by their collective love of reading. For these book lovers, these groups are not only places to discuss their latest reads but vital support networks through tough times and places of genuine friendship, fun and solidarity. Let’s learn more about them!
Church Road Book Club
We twelve women are Church Road Book Club. Church Road is in a small corner of a rural village in North Somerset. We met virtually during the pandemic in a WhatsApp support group, and discovered we wanted to talk about books. Although we welcomed anyone in the community to join, interestingly, only women responded. Initially, we didn’t know each other well (or at all!) despite living around the corner. We range from mid-30s to 70+, including two sets of mothers and adult daughters, with varied life experiences; some people were ‘hard-core’ readers, whereas others wanted to know where to start. We meet once a month in our homes with one member choosing and then ‘championing’ a book. Over 75% of the books we have read are written by women, and we read widely across genres. We enjoy every aspect of ‘Book Talk’: the nitty gritty of character, style and plot, as well as the stories – and we sometimes bake goodies matching the book. We enjoy sharing our diverse views on what we read but absolutely agree on one thing: after book club, the book is always better!
Church Road Book Club are reading Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout
Chwaeroniaeth Book Club
Chwaeroniaeth book club are eight feisty women who have been meeting to discuss books since 2015 – ten years! All of us worked at one time for Shelter Cymru, and our love of books and each other’s company has kept us meeting every six weeks since then. One of us chooses the book for discussion, another hosts the meeting and provides a meal, and we do this on a rota basis which means we read a wide range of genres from sci-fi, classics, contemporary, new writers, more recently non fiction, with a mix of both male and female authors. Discussion of the books is usually animated – sometimes there are very different reactions to the books read – but always an interesting and enjoyable.
Chwaeroniaeth Book Club are reading The Persians by Sanam Mahloudji
Friends of Ewell Grove
Friends of Ewell Grove primary school PTA started their book club two years ago as a relaxed way for parents and carers to get to know each other. Inspired by a spontaneous playground chat between mums joking (/lamenting) that Hilary Mantel had been ousted by Julia Donaldson on their bookshelves, everyone was so keen on the idea that they picked a short story for the first read – just to get started sooner!
Meeting once every half term, the Friends of Ewell Grove Book Club has brought the joy of reading back into the lives of busy parents. Swapping bedtime stories for grown-up ones, members enjoy a variety of books – often discovering unexpected enjoyment of new genres – and the lively discussions that follow. An eclectic group ranging from stay-at-home mums and childminders to lawyers and lecturers, they bond over a love of literature, a glass (or two) of wine, an occasional Thai takeaway, and the shared experiences of raising children aged 11 and under. There’s a little escape, a lot of laughter, just enough literary debate to call it culture, and no one asks you to read The Gruffalo (again) – what more could a parent ask for?
Friends of Ewell Grove Book Club are reading Good Girl by Aria Aber
Hythe Remainers Book Group
The Hythe Remainers Book Group was inaugurated in October 2019 in the small Kent seaside town of Hythe, as an offshoot of a local group of pro-European campaigners, with a view at least initially to read more books written by European authors or with a European setting. Over time this extended to reading with a worldwide focus and over the last 5 or so years the group have had the opportunity to read potentially over 100 titles. In some months there is a choice of three titles from which group members can choose to read one or all 3 books! Each book is introduced by one of the 15 or so group members and books are scored individually out of 10 on the basis of how much the reader enjoyed the book. A Facebook page is maintained recording notes of the discussion and total scores.
The group meet in the evening in the cabin at the back of their favourite local pub The Hope and often enjoy a Thai meal there before the discussion starts. Several of the group members are from different countries and speak a range of languages. Some work others are recently retired. Some have always been avid readers, others less so. The group has been a way to meet new people, make new friends, discover and discuss new ideas, explore different cultures, and most importantly extend members’ reading diets beyond their usual comfort zones. Most of the group are keen cold water dippers swimming in their local English Channel throughout the year – so a group believing in the health benefits of swimming, reading and talking!
Hythe Remainers Book Group are reading Fundamentally by Nussaibah Younis
Soph’s Book Club
Soph’s book club is based in Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire. The club was created by Sophie just over a year ago after a social media post flagged up the lack of book clubs in the local area. She saw the opportunity to bring people together over their love of books and decided to give it a try. Now with over 400 members following the club online and 30-40 members attending meetings once a month, the club has become so much more than anyone could have expected!
Soph’s book club likes to do things a little differently, offering 4 book choices each month rather than just the 1 which is more traditionally seen. This is to try and make sure there is a choice that appeals to everyone and helps maintain member’s interest in the club. There is also a raffle each month with all money going to a chosen charity, alongside regular quizzes and author events too! Members also get to enjoy social meet ups such as coffee mornings, drinks nights and craft evenings. The club has become a real community offering people from all walks of life and all ages a chance to socialise with likeminded individuals and discover new incredible books!
It has also given Sophie a new lease of life; after being diagnosed with multiple chronic health conditions the club has given her something positive to focus on and a chance to make some incredible friends and connections.
Soph’s Book Club are reading All Fours by Miranda July
Vi’s Book Club
Vi’s Book Club is a community for everyone living in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames who shares a passion for reading and wants to meet local friends. We have a wonderful tradition of reading and meeting local authors. For the past four years, we’ve had the pleasure of discussing books with writers from our community. Each year, every member can contribute three titles they would like to read over the course of the next year, and that forms our reading list. At every meeting, we hold a raffle to select our next book. We also host social events every month because we’re here to build meaningful connections and friendships. Many of our members have been with us since the very beginning!
Vi’s Book Club are reading The Safekeep by Yael van der Wouden
Are you interested in reading the 2025 Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist? Shop via our bookshelf on Bookshop.org here, to support the Women’s Prize Trust and independent bookshops with every purchase.
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The shadowing of the 2025 Women’s Prizes for Fiction and Non-Fiction is run in partnership with The Reading Agency, and is part of our Readers’ Room programme, generously supported by Syl Saller CBE. If you’d like to support us to reach more reading communities in the future, please contact us at info@womensprize.com.
