Book Club Discussion Questions: 50-Plus Prompts to Spark Lively Conversation

Of course we had to write a post titled book club discussion questions. I mean, we are a book club (yes, the real-life kind who meet in person and soon-to-be digital). While we host cosy evening chats over tea and scones, we’re also gearing up to launch a digital version so you non-local readers can join in too. Let us know in the comments below what you think of that idea.

I’ve now had the pleasure of hosting enough book club nights to know that whether you’re gathered around the kitchen table or zooming in from your sofa, nothing kills the vibe faster than awkward silence when no one knows what to say. That’s where this list comes in: your fail-safe arsenal of prompts to turn “did anyone like it?” into “wow, I never thought of that angle”.

How We Chose These Book Club Discussion Questions

There are approximately nine million book club questions floating around the internet (we counted… loosely). So, when putting this list together, we didn’t just copy-paste the same tired prompts like “Who was your favorite character?” or “What did you think of the ending?”

We wanted questions that do four things:

1. Actually spark conversation.
   You know those awkward silences when everyone looks at their notes and says, “It was… good”? Yeah, we’re allergic to those. Every question here was chosen to open the floor, not close it. They invite stories, opinions, and a little friendly chaos (the good kind).

2. Work for any book, any genre, any vibe.
   Whether your club’s current pick is a twisty thriller, a sweeping romantasy (looking at you, Fourth Wing fans), or that memoir everyone swore they’d read last year, I promise you these questions will fit. We built flexibility into every section, so you can adapt them to fiction, non-fiction, or even your “this book wrecked me emotionally” phase.

3. Balance depth and fun.
   Let’s be honest: not every question needs to feel like a college seminar. We mixed serious prompts with light, creative ones to keep your meetings feeling like a gathering of friends, not a literature exam. After all, half the joy of a book club is the snacks, the gossip, and the “I can’t believe they did that” reactions.

4. Encourage every voice in the room.
   The best book clubs aren’t about who speaks loudest - they’re about everyone finding something to say. So these prompts were curated to draw out both your quiet thinkers and your serial interrupters (we all have one).

In short, these book club discussion questions were chosen not just because they sound clever, but because they work. They get people talking, laughing, disagreeing (politely), and seeing the story in new ways.

Book Club Discussion Questions by Category

Below you'll find a generous selection of questions (about 50) grouped into helpful categories. You can pick a handful for your next meeting, or print the whole lot and use them creatively. You know what, we might actually create a free downloadable and add it here later on (if I don’t forget… if I forget, someone please remind me, my mind is like Dory’s at this point).

1. Opening / Ice-breakers

1. What three words would you use to describe this book before we read it - and what three describe it now after reading?

2. If the book were a colour / a piece of music / a dish, what would it be and why?

3. Which character’s life would you most want to live for one day, and how do you think that would go?

4. What part of the book did you underline, dog-ear or screenshot/log? (Yes, it’s allowed).

5. Did you finish the book early, late, or just in time? How did that affect your experience?

2. Character & Relationships

1. Who was your favourite character and why?

2. Which character irritated you the most, and what does that irritation say about you as a reader?

3. If you could spend an afternoon with any character, who would it be and what would you talk about?

4. How did relationships shift over the story? Did any alliance surprise you?

5. Did any character make a decision you strongly agreed/disagreed with? What would you have done differently?

6. Did any character grow (or regress)? Who changed the most and were you on board with that change?

7. Which friendship or relationship in the book felt most real and why?

3. Plot, Structure & Pacing

1. Which scene or chapter would you label “unforgettable” and why?

2. Was there a twist or turning point that made you gasp or yell at your book/Kindle?

3. Did the pace feel right? Too slow? Too fast? Did it impact your enjoyment?

4. If you could cut one scene or add one, what would it be and how would it change the book?

5. Did the ending satisfy you, or did you find yourself typing “tell me there’s a sequel”?

6. How did the author’s structure (timeline, POV, chapters) either help or hinder the story?

4. Themes & Big Ideas

1. What do you think the central theme(s) of the book were?

2. Did the story speak to something happening in the real world right now?

3. What moral or ethical question did the book raise and what’s your view on it?

4. What kind of symbolism or recurring motif did you notice (even if you weren’t “tracking” them)?

5. What quote stuck with you and why did it resonate?

6. How did the setting or world-building reflect the characters’ internal journeys?

5. Genre & Format Specific

1. (For mystery/thriller) Did you guess the culprit or the twist? Were you satisfied with the reveal?

2. (For fantasy/sci-fi) What rules of the world stood out? What would you have changed about the world-building?

3. (For literary/realistic fiction) How did the narrative voice feel to you - reliable, unreliable, charming, shocking?

4. (For non-fiction/memoir) What surprised you most, and did the author admit what might have been left out?

5. If it was an audiobook / graphic novel / hybrid format - How did format affect your enjoyment?

6. Did switching from physical book to e-book/audiobook change your experience? Why?

6. Fun & Reflective

1. Would you live in the world of this book? If yes, what job would you choose? If no, how soon would you leave?

2. Which character would make the worst roommate and why?

3. What’s one scene you wish could be made into a movie and who would you cast?

4. Which song / playlist / emoji sums up the book for you?

5. If you were to give the book a new cover (or title), what would it be?

6. What drink or snack pairs best with this book, and why?

7. What “hot take” did you have while reading, and did it change by the end?

7. Action & Next Steps

1. Are there other books this one reminded you of? Which will you read next?

2. Would you recommend this book to someone and why (or with what caveats)?

3. What question would you ask the author (assuming you could)?

4. Did your view of the author’s other work change after reading this one?

5. What do you think happens to one of the characters 5 years later?

6. On a scale of 1-10 where 10 means “I’ll read this again tomorrow,” where do you land and why?

7. Did the book prompt you to learn more about a topic, place or idea?

8. What’s the one thing you’d change about this book - no mercy.

8. Closing Round

1. If you could sum up the book in one emoji, what would it be?

2. What was your favourite line and why?

3. What moment in the discussion today surprised you?

4. Did anyone in the group change their mind about the book, the author or the theme?

5. What are you reading next, and will it live up to this one?

How to use this list like a pro

• Pick 5-10 questions ahead of each meeting - don’t overload your group, keep the focus.

• Mix up categories - a little fun (Section 6) + some serious (Section 4) = balance.

• Tailor to your book - for fantasy, lean into Section 5; for memoir, skip to non-fiction-style questions.

• Save the rest for follow-ups - keep the momentum going into your next meeting.

• Digital/Zoom friendly: For our upcoming online hub, we are going to use polls or breakout rooms to tackle these questions, so everyone gets to speak.

Final Thoughts

When you host your next meeting, armed with this arsenal of book club discussion questions, you’re not just making conversation - you’re sculpting moments. More than “Did anyone like it?” you’ll have laughter, insight, a bit of healthy debate, and maybe someone changing their mind mid-meeting (always fun).

Whether you’re at a table filled with pastries or on a Zoom grid in slippers, these prompts help your book club feel less like “another meeting” and more like the event everyone looks forward to.

And yes, our digital book club is on its way (I know I said that like 5 times above but I’m really excited about it, sue me…) Do drop us a line in the comments if you’d join, and what format you prefer. Because after all, the right question can turn a book into an experience.

Happy reading, happy chatting, and may your next book club question spark exactly the kind of conversation you’ll still be talking about days later.

If you like this post, you might also enjoy our recent breakdown of our favourite romantasy reads or the best fantasy books of 2025, according to BookTok. both perfect to tie into your book club schedule.