Join a chapter
Chapters are small on purpose — six to twelve readers, meeting once a month at the same time and place. You'll know everyone's name by the second meeting and everyone's opinions by the first.
A modern book club
Read together. Actually together.
Betty is the book club for people who miss talking about books with other humans. One great pick a month, a discussion guide that goes deeper than "did you like it?", and local chapters that meet over coffee, wine, or someone's kitchen table.
Buy, borrow, or listen to the book however you like. We're not a bookstore — we're the club.
July's pick
The Lighthouse Keeper's Daughter
Three generations, one island, and a letter that should never have been posted.
Placeholder title — the live pick is announced to members on the 1st.
How it works
One book. One month. One good conversation.
The 1st — the pick
Every month we announce one book worth your time: a mix of new fiction, modern classics, and the occasional wildcard nonfiction. Members vote on the shortlist.
All month — the guide
Weekly reading milestones and a discussion guide written to start arguments in the best way — questions with no correct answers and at least one hot take.
Last week — the meet
Local chapters gather in cafés, pubs, libraries and living rooms. No chapter nearby? Read along from home, or start one — we'll send the starter kit.
Chapters
Two ways to belong
Host a chapter
No chapter in your town? Hosting takes one evening a month and zero experience. New hosts get a starter kit: a how-to guide, printed discussion cards for the first pick, and a listing on the chapter map.
Members
Why people stay
I moved cities last year and Betty was how I made my first real friends here. We disagree about every single ending and it's wonderful.
The discussion guides are the secret. Our old book club always drifted into gossip by minute ten. Now we actually talk about the book — then gossip.
I read along from home with my sister two time zones away. Same book, same guide, one long phone call at the end of the month.
Membership is free
Next month's pick is waiting.
Join now and you'll get the current shortlist, a vote on next month's book, and the discussion guide the moment the pick is announced.
FAQ
Before you ask
Is it really free?
Yes. Membership, the monthly pick, the guide, and chapter access are all free. Your only cost is the book itself — and libraries count. If we ever add paid extras, the core club stays free.
What if I fall behind on the book?
Come to the meeting anyway. House rule: the first twenty minutes are spoiler-free, and nobody has ever been quizzed. Half the fun is deciding whether to finish it after hearing everyone argue.
What kind of books do you pick?
Mostly contemporary fiction with regular detours — a modern classic each quarter and the occasional narrative nonfiction. Members vote from a shortlist of three, so the club steers itself.
Can I just read along without attending anything?
Absolutely. Plenty of members are guide-and-couch readers. The chapter map is there whenever you feel like company.
Contact
Write to us
Want to suggest a book, ask about hosting, or bring Betty to your library or workplace? Send a note — a real reader replies.
Email: [email protected]
Response time: within two business days.
Press: put "Press" in the subject line.
Privacy Policy
Last updated: 22 July 2026
Betty Book Club ("we", "us") operates joinbetty.com. Here's what we collect and why.
What we collect
- Membership sign-ups: your email address, used to send the monthly pick, shortlist votes, and discussion guides.
- Chapter participation: if you join or host a chapter, your first name and city, shared only within that chapter.
- Contact form: your name, email and message, used only to reply to you.
- Cookies: one functional cookie that remembers your cookie-banner choice. No advertising or tracking cookies.
What we don't do
We never sell, rent or trade your personal information, and we don't share it with third parties for marketing.
Your rights
Unsubscribe via the link in any email. To access or delete your data, write to [email protected]. Where applicable we comply with the GDPR and CCPA.
Retention
Membership data is kept while you're a member and deleted within 30 days of unsubscribing. Contact messages are deleted within 12 months of resolution.
Terms of Use
Last updated: 22 July 2026
The club
Betty Book Club provides free membership, reading guides, and chapter coordination for personal, non-commercial use.
Chapters & conduct
Chapters are run by volunteer hosts in public or private venues of their choosing. Be kind, be on time-ish, and disagree about the book rather than the person. We may remove members or chapters that don't keep things welcoming.
Books
We don't sell books and aren't responsible for their availability or pricing. Monthly picks are editorial choices, not paid placements; if that ever changes, it will be clearly disclosed.
Content & copyright
Discussion guides and site copy are © Betty Book Club, for use within the club. Share the sign-up link freely; please don't republish guides wholesale.
Liability
The service is provided "as is". Chapter meetings are organized by members; attend as you would any community gathering. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Betty Book Club is not liable for indirect or consequential damages arising from use of the service.
Changes
We may update these terms; the date above shows the current version. Continued use means you accept the current terms.