With this collection of book club questions, we’re making it as simple as possible for your group to continue talking well into the night. Now all you have to do is supply some entertaining food, and of course, read the book!
Having book club questions ready is one of the best ways to guarantee a productive book club meeting. You may avoid awkward silences and guide your book club beyond simple questions like whether or not you liked the book with the aid of a solid list of discussion questions.
We’ve discovered that open-ended questions that encourage participants to express their individual viewpoints make for the finest book club discussion topics. If you’re ready to start one, here are some of the best book club discussion questions for both fiction and nonfiction.
Best Book Club Questions
While the standard book club questions are often fine, trying something new can result in interesting discussions and a far deeper comprehension of the book. Check out these best book club questions.
1. Has this book affected the way you go about your life? If so, in what way?
2. Did you agree with the author’s advice?
3. Did you doubt the author’s advice at some points? How come?
4. What are some passages that you underlined, or that particularly affected you?
5. What do you think happens to the leads after the ending?
6. What did you think of the romance’s pacing?
7. Would you fall for either of the leads?
8. Did this book melt your heart? Make you believe in love again?
9. If it’s part of a series, did this book compel you to read the next one?
10. Do you think the author succeeded in what they set out to do?
11. What is the most important point the author makes in this book?
12. Which twist surprised you the most?
13. Was the narrator’s voice compelling?
14. Did you guess the ending? If so, at what point?
15. How did the memoir make you reflect on your own life?
16. What did you learn from hearing this person’s story?
17. Are there any areas you wished the author had elaborated upon further?
18. Are there any people in the book whose perspective you wanted?
19. Are there plot points the book didn’t address?
20. Did you agree with the characters’ decisions?
21. Did the book spook you, or get under your skin, in any way?
22. Did you like the “heat” level of the book?
23. Was the couple’s connection believable? If so, at what point did they click for you?
24. Did you find the author’s story compelling?
25. Were there parts that you felt the author could have expanded?
26. Did you feel the author was honest or that the scenes were true to memory?
27. What are the benefits of this story being told as a memoir instead of a different form of narrative?
28. Would you recommend this book to someone? Why or why not (or with what caveats)? What kind of reader would most enjoy this book?
29. What do you think motivated the author to share his or her story?
30. What did you think of the author’s voice and style? Did the quality of the writing match the story?
31. How did the book compare to other memoirs you’ve read?
32. Do you think the author was honest?
33. What do you think inspired the author to tell their story?
34. How did the memoir make you reflect on your own past or future?
35. How much did you know about this book before picking it up? What surprised you the most about the book?
36. Was there any part of the plot or aspects of the characters that frustrated or upset you? If so, why?
37. How thought-provoking did you find the book? Did the book change your opinion about anything, or did you learn something new from it? If so, what?
38. Did you highlight or bookmark any passages from the book? Did you have a favorite quote or quotes? If so, share which and why?
39. Did you find the author’s writing style easy to read or hard to read? Why? How long did it take you to get into the book?
40. Who was your favorite character? What character did you identify with the most? Were there any characters that you disliked? Why?
41. Did any part of this book strike a particular emotion in you? Which part and what emotion did the book make you feel?
42. Did you enjoy this book? Did it live up to the standards of a good crime story or suspense thriller? Would you recommend it to others?
43. When a book considered a classic? Does it deserve to be?
44. Has the book aged well? What elements hold up and which don’t?
45. Why is this book important or what is its most important idea?
46. What earlier books influenced this one?
47. How did this book influence later books?
48. From your point of view, what were the central themes of the book? How well do you think the author did at exploring them?
49. Compare this book to other books you have read by the same author, or other books you have read covering the same or similar themes. How are they the same or different?
50. How would you adapt this book into a movie? Who would you cast in the leading roles?
51. How was the murder in this book? Was it credible or creative? How about shocking or memorable?
52. Were the characters in this book engaging, fully developed, and emotionally complex? Who was your favorite character?
53. Was the sleuth in this book competent and worthy of solving the crime? Would you read further crime-solving adventures with this sleuth in a series?
54. Was there a plot twist in this book that you didn’t see coming? How did the twist change the direction of the story, and did it enhance the story or feel forced or farfetched?
55. Was this book suspenseful? Did you find yourself becoming anxious as you read it—quickly turning pages to find out what happens next? At what point could you not put the book down?
56. Were there any passages—ideas, descriptions, dialogue—that you found interesting or revealing? Did anything make you smile or, better yet, make you laugh out loud?
57. Did you solve the mystery and identify the murderer before the big reveal in the end? Did you pick-up on the clues or were you, ahem, clueless?
58. Did any of the red herrings in this book throw you off track? Which character did you think committed the murder?
59. Was murderer’s motive believable? How was the ending? Did it leave any unanswered questions or loose ends? Was it predictable? Would you have ended the book differently?
General Book Club Questions
These general book club questions are ideal for debating books of any type, ranging from true crime books, vampire, horror, autobiographies and even science fiction and dystopian fiction. Try it out!
1. What is the significance of the title? Did you find it meaningful, why or why not?
2. Would you have given the book a different title? If yes, what would your title be?
3. What were the main themes of the book? How were those themes brought to life?
4. What did you think of the writing style and content structure of the book?
5. What was your favorite part of the book?
6. What was your least favorite?
7. Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
8. Which scene has stuck with you the most?
9. What did you think of the writing? Are there any standout sentences?
10. Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones?
11. How important was the time period or the setting to the story? Did you think it was accurately portrayed?
12. How would the book have played out differently in a different time period or setting?
13. Which location in the book would you most like to visit and why?
14. Were there any quotes (or passages) that stood out to you? Why?
15. What did you like most about the book? What did you like the least?
16. How did the book make you feel? What emotions did it evoke?
17. How does the book’s title work in relation to the book’s contents? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be?
18. Is this book overrated or underrated?
19. Did this book remind you of any other books?
20. How did it impact you? Do you think you’ll remember it in a few months or years?
21. Are there any books that you would compare this book to?
22. Have you read any other books by this author? How would you compare them to this selection?
23. What do you think the author’s goal was in writing this book? What ideas were they trying to illustrate? What message were they trying to send?
24. What did you learn from this book?
25. Did this book remind you of any other books that you’ve read? Describe the connection.
26. Did your opinion of this book change as you read it? How?
27. Would you recommend the book to a friend? How would you summarize the story if you were to recommend it?
28. Was the book satisfying to read? Why or why not?
29. Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?
30. Who do you most want to read this book?
31. Are there lingering questions from the book you’re still thinking about?
32. Did the book strike you as original?
33. In what form did you read the book (paper, ebook, audiobook)?
34. Where did you obtain the book?
35. If you could talk to the author, what burning question would you want to ask?
36. Would you want to read another book by this author?
37. Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so?
38. What surprised you most about the book?
39. How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
40. If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?
41. What did you like about the book?
42. What did you dislike about the book?
43. How would you rate this book on a scale of 1-10?
44. What emotions did this book make you feel?
45. How long did it take you to read this book?
46. Describe the book in one sentence.
47. How honest do you think the author was?
48. Did your opinion of the book change or stay the same as you read it?
49. Do you have any questions about the book?
50. Do you believe the book touched upon any broader social issues?
51. Did any historical or cultural references stand out to you?
52. Are you glad you read this book?
53. Did this book feel original to you?
54. How did this book compare to other books in this genre?
55. Was the book similar or different to what you normally read?
56. What was your least favorite part of the book?
57. Did any parts of the book surprise you?
58. Did the ending answer all your questions? Did you think it was believable or too farfetched?
59. To whom would you recommend this book?
60. What aspects of the story could you most relate to?
61. Why do you think the author chose to write their memoir?
62. Were you rooting for the couple to get together all along? Why or why not?
63. Did the plot make sense or were there some gaps/liberties taken to help get the couple together (or keep them apart)?
64. What songs did you think of while reading this book?
65. At what point in the book did you have an idea what was going on? What was the key clue that gave it away?
66. How did the author build the tension?
Funny Book Club Questions
Fun-focused book club meetings have a somewhat different format and call for an entirely new strategy. They also need funny book club questions to generate engaging debates and keep the talks lively and beneficial for all participants. Check out few here!
1. Did you Google anything about the book while reading it?
2. Did the book change your opinions or way of thinking at all?
3. What will you remember most about this book in a few months?
4. Did you learn anything new by reading this book?
5. What Enneagram number would you assign to the characters?
6. What Zodiac sign do you think the characters are?
7. What is the personality type of the characters?
8. What would you ask the author about this book if given the opportunity?
9. Which supporting character would make the most interesting main character in a spinoff?
10. Did reading the book affect anything in your own life?
11. What character do you think is most likely to end up in jail after a wild night out?
12. What character do you think is most likely to max out their credit card?
13. What character would you be friends with in real life?
14. If you had to pick one song to be the anthem for this book what would it be?
15. Explain this book to someone who hasn’t read it in 5 words.
16. Who would you cast in a movie about this book?
17. What emojis best capture this book?
18. If you had to cook a meal for (insert character) what would you cook?
19. If the main character had an online dating profile what would the bio say?
20. If the main character won 10 million dollars in the lottery what would they do with the money?
21. If you had to book a weekend trip for the main character where would you send them and why?
22. What character would you invite to a family dinner?
23. What songs would you add to a playlist for this book?
24. What would be the ideal food or drink to consume while reading this book?
25. If you were this author’s editor, what feedback would you give?
26. Is there another author you would like to see tell this story?
27. Do you think there should be a sequel or a prequel or is this book better as a stand-alone?
28. What character would you want to make you breakfast?
29. If you could redesign the book cover what would it look like?
30. If this book was made into a movie who would you want to play the main characters?
31. Would you read any other books in a series including this book?
32. Were you rooting for the couple in the book to make it?
33. Did the book make you think of any particular love songs?
34. Which one of the characters do you think made the biggest mistakes?
35. How soon did you understand the plot twist?
36. Did you expect the book to end the way it did?
37. Were all your questions answered in the end?
38. Compared to other books in the genre, how would you rate the title?
39. Should any characters have been forgiven for their mistakes and haven’t been or the other way around?
40. Was the love story believable and relatable?
41. Would you have acted differently than the characters in the book in a similar situation?
42. Does the cover artwork well for this book?
43. How would you design the cover art?
44. Did you get hooked from the beginning or did you have to power through the beginning?
45. Did you find the book to be more character-driven or plot-driven?
46. Was the book too short, too long or just right in length?
47. Was the pacing too fast, too slow or just right?
48. Was the story presented with any bias?
49. How believable do you find something like this to really happen in the future?
50. Do you think the author managed to create an alternate reality that you can relate to?
51. How far fetched would you say the story is?
52. Do you think there’s any truth the story is based on?
53. How extensive would you say the author’s research has been?
54. What were your thoughts on the writing style?
55. Do you have any favorite quotes from the book?
56. Did you find the book to be a page-turner or a slow burn?
57. Do you think the author managed to create the right atmosphere throughout the book?
58. How scared were you while reading the book?
59. Did the book keep you up at night?
60. Were there any sections you found particularly scary or disturbing?
Great Book Club Questions
You’re prepared for a lively debate with other book lovers once you’ve chosen the great book club questions for this month’s read. Check out this list of few questions and choose from it.
1. What did you like best about this book?
2. What did you like least about this book?
3. What artist would you choose to illustrate this book? What kinds of illustrations would you include?
4. Had you heard about the book before starting it? Do you think it was overhyped or should be celebrated more?
5. What aspects of the author’s story could you most relate to?
6. Think about the other people in the book besides the author. How would you feel to have been depicted in this way?
7. What other books did this remind you of?
8. Which characters in the book did you like best?
9. Which characters did you like least?
10. If you were making a movie of this book, who would you cast?
11. Share a favorite quote from the book. Why did this quote stand out?
12. What other books by this author have you read? How did they compare to this book?
13. Why do you think the author chose to tell this story?
14. Which short story/essay did you like best?
15. Which short story/essay did you like least?
16. What similarities do these stories share? How do they tie together?
17. Would you read another book by this author? Why or why not?
18. What feelings did this book evoke for you?
19. What did you think of the book’s length? If it’s too long, what would you cut? If too short, what would you add?
20. What songs does this book make you think of? Create a book group playlist together!
21. If you got the chance to ask the author of this book one question, what would it be?
22. Which character in the book would you most like to meet?
23. Which places in the book would you most like to visit?
24. What was your favorite quote from this book and why?
25. Which part of the book resonated emotionally with you?
26. How do you feel about the book’s pacing? Were there parts you wished the author slowed down and explored more? Were there parts that lagged?
27. What were some recurring themes or motifs throughout the book?
28. What do you think of the book’s title? How does it relate to the book’s contents? What other title might you choose?
29. What do you think of the book’s cover? How well does it convey what the book is about? If the book has been published with different covers, which one do you like best?
30. What do you think the author’s purpose was in writing this book? What ideas was he or she trying to get across?
31. How original and unique was this book?
32. If you could hear this same story from another person’s point of view, who would you choose?
33. Do you see a parallel with today’s social or political climate?
34. Why do you think the author set this story during this time period?
35. Do you feel like this book was well-researched? Why or why not?
36. Do you think any of the stories could be expanded into a full-length book?
37. There have been many popular films that have been adapted from short stories. Which of these do you think would be well adapted into a show or movie?
38. On a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, how would you rate this book?
39. Did this book remind you of any other books you’ve read?
40. Did you think the first sentence of the book was effective? Why do you think the author started with that sentence?
41. If you could pick a different book cover design, what would it be?
42. Did you find the ending of the book satisfying?
43. Why do you think the author ended the book with the last sentence? Do you think it was effective?
44. If you could ask the author one question about the book, what would it be?
45. What’s a song or album that captures the essence of this book?
46. Why do you think the author chose this particular book title?
47. If you could pick a different title for the book, what would it be and why?
48. Do you feel the book cover captures the essence of the book?
49. What gaps do you wish the author had filled in? Were there points where you thought he shared too much?
50. How did this book change your perspective on this historical time period or historical event?
51. Does the book address the social and/or political issues of that era, and if so, how?
52. How honest do you think the author was being?
Fiction Book Club Questions
We are transported to new worlds through fiction. Each of us is drawn to different facets of those worlds depending on our upbringings, values, and belief systems. When we talk about fiction with our friends, we not only become more immersed in the story but also discover a lot about them. Here are a few fiction book club questions to aid in that process.
1. Which characters did you like best? Which did you like least?
2. Which character did you relate to, or empathize with, the most?
3. If you had to trade places with one character, who would it be?
4. Have you experienced anything similar to one of the events in the book?
5. Were you kept in suspense by the storyline?
6. What did you feel about the main characters and their actions?
7. Were you able to relate to any of the characters?
8. Which part of the book did you like the most and why?
9. Guess the characters’ zodiac signs.
10. What do you think happens to the characters after the book’s official ending?
11. What are your thoughts on the book’s structure? Did it serve the story well?
12. What didn’t you like and why?
13. Would you re-read it?
14. What were the main themes you identified in the novel?
15. How did the setting impact the story? Would you want to read more books set in that world?
16. Did the book feel real to you?
17. Did the plot proceed in a way that felt natural? Or did you feel manipulated by the storyline?
18. Were you happy about how the book ended?
19. Was it a clear ending or an ambiguous one?
20. What do you think the sequel would be about if you were writing one?
21. Would you recommend this book to other readers?
22. Are there any characters you’d like to deliver a lecture to? If so, who? What would you say?
23. How did the book make you feel – were you amused, bored, intrigued?
24. Was it an easy read or did you have to push through in order to finish it in time?
25. Are you happy you read it?
26. Did you find the title to be relevant?
27. What did you think of the story?
28. Did the novel leave you wishing the story was told differently or from a different perspective?
29. Did the storyline go as you would have expected it? What surprised you?
30. Would you have liked it better if the story was told from the perspective of a character? Which one?
31. Would you like to meet any of the characters in real life? Which one?
32. Do you already know somebody who resembles one of the characters in the book?
33. Did the characters seem believable to you? Did they remind you of anyone?
34. Did the book’s pace seem too fast/too slow/just right?
35. If you were to write fanfic about this book, what kind of story would you want to tell?
36. Was the pacing— beginning, middle, and end— done well?
37. Which other character would have made an interesting protagonist?
38. Did the characters’ motives seem reasonable or a little far-fetched?
39. Would you like this book to be turned into a movie? Would you watch it?
40. Who would you cast to play the main characters in the movie?
41. Did this book change you? How?
42. How would you rate this book compared with other books from the same genre?
43. Did this book seem realistic?
44. How well do you think the author built the world in the book?
45. Sometimes books start off strong, but have endings that fall a little flat. Then there are books that are a little hard to get into at first, but are enjoyable after a while. How did you find this one?
46. If there were any twists or big reveals, how believable were they?
47. How did the setting progress the story?
48. If you had been a character in the book, what would you have done to influence the outcome?
49. How does the setting contribute to the story?
50. Did you guess the ending of the book, and if so, how?
51. What do you think happens to the characters after the book ends?
52. Who would you cast in a film adaptation or TV adaptation of this book?
53. Was there symbolism present? If so, what did you think of the message the author was trying to convey?
54. Did you feel the narrator of this book was reliable?
55. Was there a moment when you disagreed with the protagonist’s decisions? What would you have done differently?
56. Which character did you feel the most sympathy for?
57. If this were to happen in real life, would these characters and plot points be realistic?
Nonfiction Book Club Questions
Depending on the book’s genre or whether it is a work of fiction or nonfiction, the discussions vary widely. Despite the fact that there is an essentially limitless number of book club discussion questions that might be raised, we have compiled a list of some of the most intriguing nonfiction book club question.
1. Did this book make you want to explore the subject matter more?
2. What were your impressions on the author’s style? Did you find the book easy to read, or a slog?
3. Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed you the most?
4. What did you Google while reading the book?
5. Which part of the memoir can you relate to the most?
6. What do you think pushed the author to write their memoir?
7. Would you say the book presented the events in an impartial manner?
8. What’s the most important thing you learned about the events the book is about?
9. Did you agree with the author’s conclusions? Where did you deviate?
10. What did you already know about this book’s subject before you read this book?
11. What new things did you learn?36. What questions do you still have?
12. What else have you read on this topic, and would you recommend these books to others?
13. What parts of the book do you agree with?
14. Do you disagree with the author’s view? Why?
15. Do you feel like the book has helped you improve as a person?
16. Did you find the advice in the book to be spot on for the issue it is trying to help others overcome?
17. Do you think the author was true to the cause of the book?
18. What do you think about the author’s research? Was it easy to see where the author got his or her information? Were the sources credible?
19. Conveying research in a way that’s understandable and enjoyable to read for non-experts can be a challenge. How well do you feel the author did this? What do you think of their writing style?
20. Did you learn something you didn’t already know?
21. Did you find the topic intriguing?
22. Did you get a new perspective on the topic?
23. What is the most important thing you learned from this book?
24. Would you recommend this book to friends and family?
25. Did the book push you to do any additional research on the topic?
26. Do you think the events the book is about have influenced our lives today?
27. Has the author’s ideas changed the way you look at our existence?
28. Can you relate to the author’s view?
29. What’s the most important part of the book to discuss?
30. Do you feel the book answers any existential question?
31. Do you think the author wrote the whole story honestly?
32. Do you think the author left out any important facts?
33. Did you find the way the author told his story to be relatable?
34. How do you feel about the author after learning everything about his life?
35. Is there anything in particular that impressed you?
36. What period of the author’s life did you find particularly interesting and revealing?
37. Do you feel like the book gave you a decent overview of the author’s life an personality?
38. Would you recommend this book to a friend or family member who faces the issue the book is trying to resolve?
39. Did the book motivate you to become a better self?
40. Has the book changed your view of our past?
41. How do you think the events of the book changed the course of history?
Book Club Questions about the Title
For engaging discussions and a deeper comprehension of the book for everyone in meeting, having a fantastic set of questions for your book club sessions is crucial. Check out this list of book club questions about the title.
1. If you ever write a book about any of world war what would be the title?
2. Do you find that most of the books title is accurate?
3. What is the funniest book title you ever heard?
4. What is the most stupid book title you ever heard?
5. Do you ever buy a book because you find the title is attractive and the book is garbage?
6. What would you title this book?
7. Explain the title of the book in 5 sentences.
8. Do you like the title of the book?
9. Do you think this title suits the plot of the book?
10. Why do you think this is not suitable title for the book?
11. What book you read that have a mismatched between the title and the plot? And why do you think the title is mismatched with the book?
12. How much a book title contain about the plot of the book?
13. How should the kid’s book be titled?
14. Do you support a book title with vulgar word/words?
15. What would be the best title for the book?
16. Why do you think this title spoils the books?
17. Does the title relatable for the book?
18. Name a book you read which title is not right to you but another book title perfectly matched with the book.
19. What is the best titled book you ever read?
20. If you ever write a book about your life what would be the title?
21. What would be the title of the book if you wrote a mystery book?
22. Would you rather choose an uncommon word for a sci-fi book title or a common word?
Book Club Questions about the Author
Are you having trouble thinking of book club questions to assist lead your group discussion? Make sure these book club questions about the author are on your list the next time your book club chooses a well-known author.
1. Was this the first book you read from this author?
2. Was the book written the way you would have expected considering what you know about the author?
3. Do you think the author was honest and open when writing the book?
4. Did you feel the author held anything back?
5. Why do you think the author chose to write this book?
6. If you could ask the author a question about this book, what would that be?
7. How would you describe the author’s writing style?
8. How good a storyteller would you say the author is?
9. Do you think any sentences or passages are worth quoting?
10. Would you cut out any sections of the book? Which ones, and why?
11. Was the world created by the author believable?
12. Were you able to find any inconsistencies in the writing?
13. Would you recommend the author’s other work to book club?
14. If you could ask the author one question (personal or book-related) what would it be?
15. Make one assumption about the author.
16. If you imagine the author writing this book where are they and what is their daily route.
17. Would you read another book by this author?
18. Is there a place in the imaginary world created by the author that you would like to visit?
19. Was the book structured the way you would have expected it to be?
20. Did you notice any symbolism in the way the author wrote the story?
21. What do you think the main intention of the author was while writing the book?
22. Did the author make the points he was trying to make?
23. Were you happy with the way the author built tension throughout the book?
24. Can you imagine this story being told by another author? Which one? Why?
25. Did this book entice you to read other books written by this author?
26. Was the author impartial or did you feel any bias in the way the book was written?
27. Did you learn anything new about the author?
28. Do you believe the author’s personal life affected the story in any way?
29. Discuss the author’s world view.
30. Is this your first time reading a book by this author?
31. What would you assume the target audience was for the author when he decided to write the book?
32. Is there another author you can think of that could have done a better job approaching this topic?
33. What did you already know about the author?
34. How does this book compare to other books or work of this author with which you are familiar?
Book Club Questions about the Characters
The book club discussion questions can lead your group through an insightful debate about virtually any book. You might want to add these book club questions about the characters to your list if you’re reading books, whether they are classics, fantasy novels, young adult literature, or something in between.
1. How would you describe the characters?
2. What did you like about the characters?
3. What did you dislike about the characters?
4. What were the characters’ biggest struggles?
5. What are the characters’ strengths and weaknesses?
6. Which character did you most relate to and why?
7. Who was your favorite character? Why?
8. Which character or moment prompted the strongest emotional reaction for you? Why?
9. What motivates the actions of each of the characters in the book?
10.Did the characters seem believable to you? Did they remind you of anyone you know?
11. Were the characters clearly drawn and depicted?
12. If the book were made into a movie, who would play each of the lead characters?
13. What were the power dynamics between the characters and how did that affect their interactions?
14. How does the way the characters see themselves differ from the way others see them?
15. What motivated the characters’ actions?
16. What did you think about the way the characters related to each other?
17. Discuss the characters’ world view.
18. How did the characters influence each other?
19. Was the main character reliable or unreliable?
20. Were there times you disagreed with a character’s actions? What would you have done differently?
21. Which character would you most like to meet in real life?
22. What character do you feel the most attached to and why?
23. If you could drink a glass of wine with one character who would it be and why?
24. What character did you feel was most like yourself?
25. If you disagreed with (insert character) what would you have done differently?
26. What character did you dislike the most and why?
27. Were you able to envision the characters in your mind?
28. How do you think you would act if you were in the characters’ shoes?
29. How did the characters change throughout the course of the book?
30. Did the characters learn any lessons?
31. Use one word to describe the main character (Characters).
32. If you could switch places for one day with any character who would you pick and what would you do?
33. Where do you think (pick main or supporting character) is in 10 years?
34. If you could add one character to the book what would they add to the story?
35. Do the characters seem convincing and believable? Can you relate to their lives and situations? Do any characters remind you of yourself or someone you know?
36. How do characters change, grow or evolve throughout the course of the story? What causes these changes?
37. If you had to create the movie version, who would play the lead roles?
38. To which character did you most relate or empathize?
39. What do you think would happen in the characters’ lives if the book continued?
40. Did you agree with any specific actions of the characters?
41. Did you disagree with any specific actions of the characters?
42. Did the characters remind you of anyone?
43. Were the characters believable?
44. Were the characters’ actions believable?
45. Were you able to easily keep track of the characters?
46. How did the characters process their emotions?
47. Were the characters one-dimensional or multi-dimensional?
48. Did the main character’s journey come full circle?
Book Club Questions about the plot
We’ve compiled this useful collection of book club questions about the plot
in case you can’t find a guide for the book your group is reading. These all-purpose book club discussion questions are among our favorites since they apply to practically any book, whether you’re reading fiction or nonfiction.
1. What was the major conflict to be resolved?
2. What were the themes of the book?
3. How possible is it that something like the dystopian world in the book could happen in real life? What can/should be done to stop it?
4. Name a book that’s plot is inspired from other book.
5. How do you explain the plot of a book which is based on a controversy?
6. Is the plot well-developed? believable? Do plot events unfold naturally or do they feel forced?
7. Were there events that left you with unanswered questions?
8. What choices did the characters make that you agreed with? Are there times you would have made a different choice?
9. What do you think was the main point of this book?
10. Were there any holes in the plot?
11. Was the plot believable?
12. Did you uncover any symbols in the book?
13. What real or hypothetical historical events might have been the inspiration for this book?
14. Would you cut out any sections or storylines from this book?
15. Would you add any sections or storylines to this book?
16. Were there any plot twists that you loved? Hated?
17. Did the author do a good job of organizing the plot and moving it along?
18. What was your favorite chapter and why?
19. What (if any) questions do you still have about the plot?
20. What makes this world a dystopia? What went wrong?
21. Whose “story” was this — the author, the narrator or another character?
22. Were you satisfied with the story ending? If you weren’t, how would you resolve things differently?
23. How would you rewrite the first sentence of the book?
24. What was the inciting moment that set this book into motion?
25. What scene would you point out as the pivotal moment in the narrative? How did it make you feel?
26. What scene resonated with you most on a personal level? (Why? How did it make you feel?)
27. What surprised you most about the book? Why? Were there significant plot twists and turns? If so, what were they?
28. Is there an event in the story that you would like to read from another character’s point of view?
29. What was the climax? How did you feel at this point? (nervous, anxious, excited, disappointed…)
Book Club Questions about the Ending
Take a look through this list of book club questions about the ending, choose a couple that you believe will fit your book the best, and you won’t ever have to be concerned about running out of topics to discuss at book club again!
1. How did you feel about the ending? How might you change it?
2. How have the characters changed by the end of the book?
3. How long did it take you to read the whole book?
4. Do you think this book should have been shorter or longer?
5. Were you able to “guess” the ending?
6. Was the ending satisfying?
7. How did you want the book to end?
8. Discuss the last sentence of the book
9. What do you think will happen next to the main characters?
10. Have any of your personal views changed because of this book? If so, how?
11. Discuss the setting(s) and the impact of the setting(s) on the story.
12. Have you ever been to a location of this book?
13. How would you rewrite the last sentence of the book?
14. Did the ending leave anything unresolved?
15. Did the book inspire any travel plans for you?
16. How would the book differ in another setting?
17. Were you able to envision the setting in your mind?
18. Did the timeframe of the book affect the plot?
19. What character changed the most by the end of the book?
20. If you could change the ending would you?
21. How would your ending differ from what was written in the book?
22. Were all your questions answered by the end of the book?
23. How would the plot differ in another timeframe?
24. What did you think of the way the author presented the chronology of events (i.e., linear, backward, jumping in time)?
25. How would a different chronology of events change the story?
26. If you could pick one character to get a happy ending who would it be?
27. Did you see the ending coming or was it a surprise?
28. At any point did you consider not finishing the book?
5 Tips for Choosing Book Club Questions
Getting a group of people to read the same books and debate them is the whole point of a book club. As a result, intriguing discussions are sparked. Each participant can discuss the book, and by absorbing the ideas and perspectives of numerous participants, you will have a bigger knowledge of what you read.
For that matter the book discussion questions can be ready to go material for the group members. However, choosing the right book club discussion questions for your group discussion is as essential as the questions itself. The below are the 5 tips to help you with that.
1. Choose questions that encourage short answers, such as “one thing” or “one word” questions, whether you’re running a small or large meeting. In order to facilitate conversation and brainstorming around a particular topic during bigger meetings, you can start breakout sessions that divide attendees into smaller groups.
2. Trying to accomplish too much is one of the most frequent errors we find with book club questions. There are some restrictions to how many questions you can ask at once, even while in-depth queries regarding spirit animals and time travel have their place. It’s acceptable to start with the fundamentals if this is your team’s first time getting together or you’re organizing an event with plenty of strangers.
3. Reviewing commonly asked book club questions (and knowing what to look for in group member answers) can help you prepare to make a list of good book club questions that you can use in future as well.
4. While not the only way to start a group discussion, questions are a fantastic way to do it. You can pick from three different categories of book club questions: sharing, interactive games, and team-building exercises. You get people moving physically and cognitively throughout the week, make sure to incorporate a variety of all three.
5. Some the book club questions may be weird. The host should ask the following participant to speak after each answer. This not only gives your group time to consider their response, but it also enables them to know when to unmute during a virtual meeting or consume one final cup of coffee before responding. Consequently, there is no need to have concerns about dead air or overtime during the group discussion.
Final Thoughts on Book Club Questions
A book club can be a superb way to meet folks who share your interests and to get you reading more than you might otherwise do. With these issues in hand, all you require is a good book, delicious food, and an engaging discussion.
Because of this, we’ve selected the greatest book club questions to discuss with your fellow bookworms, ranging from analytical thought-provokers about writing technique and style to thoughtful questions about characters and storyline. These book club questions will keep the conversation going and exciting, leaving you feeling inspired and having a better comprehension of the subject.
Bring these book club discussion questions to your next meeting, regardless of whether your book club is discussing the best fiction books of 2022, the best books ever written, mystery books, romance novels, nonfiction books, beach reading, or books based on your favorite TV shows.
It is always a great idea to attempt and come up with your own questions anytime you read a fascinating book, regardless of how long our list of recommendations is.
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