15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

December 21 2017
Share 15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

It’s officially winter which means most of our activities will take place in the warmth of our homes, likely beneath layers and layers of sweaters and blankets. But to keep us from catching the winter blues, we’ll be spending most of our winter days doing what a book lover does best: reading books and talking about them. If you’ve yet to join a book club, winter is the perfect season to join one or start one. And the books on this list are the winter book club picks we’re recommending. From dysfunctional family dramas to inspiring cultural movements—these books + wine + good conversation will keep you warm this winter.

In the Midst of Winter
by Isabel Allende

IN THE MIDST OF WINTER begins with a minor traffic accident, which becomes the catalyst for an unexpected and moving love story between two people who thought they were deep into the winter of their lives. Exploring the timely issues of human rights and the plight of immigrants and refugees, this emotional novel recalls Allende’s landmark novel THE HOUSE OF THE SPIRITS.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
In the Midst of Winter
Isabel Allende

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

10 Atmospheric Books to Escape into This Winter

By Zeniya Cooley | November 7, 2023

7 Endearing Stories Where Perfect Strangers Come Together

By Alice Martin | September 9, 2021

Readers’ Choice: Our Top 25 Most Popular Books of the Year!

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 30, 2020

The Best of 2020: The Top 10 Book Lists of the Year

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 29, 2020

Staff Picks: 12 Books Getting Us into the Festive Spirit

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 1, 2020

Bookshelf Envy: 6 Creative Ways to Organize Your Books for a New Look

By Sabrina Sánchez | April 21, 2020

Close
George and Lizzie
by Nancy Pearl

GEORGE & LIZZIE is a riveting debut novel about an unlikely marriage, from America’s librarian and NPR books commentator Nancy Pearl. When a dark secret from Lizzie’s past resurfaces, she'll find out the true mettle of the relationship she and George have so painstakingly built over a decade together. Pearl expertly crafts an edgy, funny exploration of the dark secrets that can threaten even the most solid relationships.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
George and Lizzie
Nancy Pearl

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

6 Fantastic Books New in Paperback This July

By Meagan Harris | July 23, 2018

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

Close
Manhattan Beach
by Jennifer Egan

There’s no way you can pass up Jennifer Egan’s long-awaited WWII-era follow-up to her Pulitzer Prize–winning novel A VISIT FROM THE GOON SQUAD. Anna Kerrigan is the badass heroine in Egan’s first foray into historical fiction. She becomes the first female diver—a very dangerous and exclusive occupation at that time—and navigates a world populated by gangsters, sailors, bankers, and union men. Longlisted for the 2017 National Book Award, MANHATTAN BEACH is sure to be a book club favorite!

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo Libro.fm logo
Manhattan Beach
Jennifer Egan

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo Libro.fm logo

MENTIONED IN:

An Ode to Indies: 12 Wonderful Books I Found At Independent Bookstores

By Erin Madison | April 14, 2020

14 Bold Novels About Women Everyone Should Read

By Off the Shelf Staff | August 26, 2019

New York, New York!: 10 Historical Novels Set in the Big Apple

By Hannah Schaffer | May 29, 2019

9 Groundbreaking Women in Fiction

By Carrie Cabral | March 21, 2019

11 Fantastic Books New in Paperback This Year

By Meagan Harris | December 19, 2018

6 Favorite Novels New in Paperback This June

By Meagan Harris | June 25, 2018

Close
A Window Opens
by Elisabeth Egan

Alice Pearse wants to have a satisfying career and a thriving personal life—but we all know nothing good in life comes easy. When she starts her dream job, her time away from home puts strains on her marriage, her children, her parents, and her friends. Eventually, Alice realizes that what’s most important is not “having it all” but finding out what she really wants.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
A Window Opens
Elisabeth Egan

Alice Pearse wants to have a satisfying career and a thriving personal life. But when she starts her dream job, her time away from home puts strains on her marriage, her children, her parents, and her friends. Eventually, Alice realizes that what’s most important is not “having it all” but finding out what she really wants.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

Bookworm Love: 9 Cozy Reads with Bookish Characters

By Jennifer Proffitt | September 28, 2021

Booktroverts, Unite: 5 of Our Favorite Books about Bookstores

By Get Literary | August 28, 2020

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

13 Books You Should Read Before Summer Ends

By Off the Shelf Staff | August 16, 2016

Close
Lucky
by Alice Sebold

In a memoir hailed for its searing candor as well as its wit, bestselling author Alice Sebold (THE LOVELY BONES) reveals how her life was transformed when, as an 18-year-old college freshman, she was brutally raped and beaten in a park near campus. Sebold illuminates the experience of trauma victims and imparts a profoundly hard-won wisdom: “You save yourself or you remain unsaved.”

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
Lucky
Alice Sebold

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

Close
The Antiques
by Kris D'Agostino

A family reunites after the death of its patriarch just as a hurricane tears through town in Kris D’Agostino’s second novel, THE ANTIQUES. D’Agostino has a gift for making family drama compelling on the page, and the Westfalls are no strangers to dysfunction. Complete with an irresistible plot and deeply flawed, affectionately rendered characters, THE ANTIQUES is a laugh-out-loud funny send-up of modern family life.

Read the full review of THE ANTIQUES.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Antiques
Kris D'Agostino

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Lighthearted Reads with Big-Hearted Moments

By Alice Martin | December 20, 2022

The 10 Most Popular Books of November

By Off the Shelf Staff | November 30, 2021

Rediscovered Reviews: 7 Books We’ll Never Stop Recommending

By Off the Shelf Staff | November 4, 2021

7 Books About Dysfunctional Families That Will Make You Appreciate Your Own

By Ana Perez | November 25, 2019

The Ultimate Emmy’s Reading List: 10 Books to Read Based On Your Favorite Nominee

By Tolani Osan | September 19, 2019

11 Feel-Good Novels to Add Some Extra Sunshine to Your Days

By Off the Shelf Staff | August 13, 2019

Close
The Railwayman's Wife
by Ashley Hay

If you loved Ashley Hay’s latest novel, A HUNDRED SMALL LESSONS, you’ll want to read her previous novel about the power of beginnings and endings. Set in an Australian seaside town, THE RAILWAYMAN’S WIFE tells the story of Anikka Lachlan, a postwar widow who finds a poem on her mantel, which sets off an unexpected love triangle between Ani, the poem, and the poet, who is struggling with his own loss following the war.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Railwayman's Wife
Ashley Hay

Set in an Australian seaside town overlooking the vast, blue ocean, THE RAILWAYMAN’S WIFE tells the story of the town’s locals as they face incredible loss in the aftermath of World War II. When Anikka Lachlan, a postwar widow, finds a poem on her mantel, an unexpected love triangle begins between Ani, the poem, and the poet, who is struggling with his own loss following the war.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

Read by the Seaside with These 8 Shimmering Coastal Stories

By Maddie Nelson | March 24, 2021

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

Readers’ Choice: September’s 10 Most Shelved Books on Off the Shelf

By Off the Shelf Staff | September 29, 2017

13 Oceanfront Books to Tide You Over Until Your Next Beach Vacation

By Erin Madison | June 8, 2017

Close
The Year of Living Biblically
by A. J. Jacobs

When A.J. Jacobs sets out on a quest, you can rest assured the resulting book will be captivating and laugh-out-loud funny. YEAR OF LIVING BIBLICALLY chronicles his hilarious and thoughtful year spent obeying―as literally as possible―the tenets of the Bible. If you can’t immerse yourself in a year of biblical living, you could at least enjoy—and discuss—Jacobs’s fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Year of Living Biblically
A. J. Jacobs

From the bestselling author of The Know-It-All comes a fascinating and timely exploration of religion and the Bible. A.J. Jacobs chronicles his hilarious and thoughtful year spent obeying―as literally as possible―the tenets of the Bible.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
Close
Beartown
by Fredrik Backman

This novel about community and courage will dazzle you. As Beartown’s junior ice hockey team sets its sight on a big prize, all the hopes of the tiny community rest on the shoulders of teenage boys. By the beloved author of A MAN CALLED OVE, BEARTOWN explores the hopes that bring a small community together, the secrets that tear it apart, and the courage it takes for an individual to go against the grain.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Kobo logo Kindle logo Bookshop logo Libro.fm logo
Beartown
Fredrik Backman

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Kobo logo Kindle logo Bookshop logo Libro.fm logo

MENTIONED IN:

Sweepstakes: Win 8 Page-Turners Perfect for Winter Reading

By Off the Shelf Staff | January 19, 2024

6 Emotionally Impactful Found Family Tales

By Katya Buresh | November 22, 2023

10 Atmospheric Books to Escape into This Winter

By Zeniya Cooley | November 7, 2023

Books Belong: 8 Banned & Challenged Reads That Unite Us

By Off the Shelf Staff | October 5, 2023

10 Winter Book Club Picks to Discuss Over Hot Cocoa

By Book Club Favorites | December 21, 2021

Enter for a Chance to Win 6 Beloved Fredrik Backman Novels!

By Off the Shelf Staff | April 2, 2021

Close
The Sweetness of Forgetting
by Kristin Harmel

While we wait for the highly anticipated forthcoming novel ROOM ON RUE AMELIE to hit shelves in the spring, Kristin Harmel’s novel THE SWEETNESS OF FORGETTING certainly deserves a reread. In this international bestseller, Hope, a baker in Cape Cod, must travel to Paris to uncover a family secret for her dying grandmother—and what she learns may change everything. Paris, baked goods, and secrets? Sign us up, please.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Sweetness of Forgetting
Kristin Harmel

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

Close
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
by Issa Rae

Your book club will enjoy Issa Rae’s hilarious essay collection about the awkward upbringing that led to her popular standing among black girls—awkward and otherwise, especially if you’re anxiously waiting for season 3 of Insecure. In AWKWARD BLACK GIRL, Rae waxes humorously on what it’s like to be unabashedly awkward in a world that regards introverts as hapless misfits and black as cool.

Read the full review of THE MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl
Issa Rae

For fans of “Insecure”

Issa Rae is awkward . . . and black, which is, in the opinion of her peers, a very unfortunate combination. This is made plain in her new TV show “Insecure ” and her New York Times bestseller THE MISADVENTURES OF AWKWARD BLACK GIRL. In this memoir-guide hybrid, Issa humorously illuminates what it’s like to be unabashedly awkward in a world that regards introverts as hapless misfits and black as cool.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

The Best Memoirs We’ve Ever Read

By Off the Shelf Staff | July 29, 2019

[CLOSED]Enter for a Chance to Win These Poolside Reading Essentials

By Off the Shelf Staff | July 9, 2019

8 Laugh-Out-Loud Reads to Keep Your Spirits High

By Heather Waters | June 7, 2019

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

14 Book Recommendations Based On Your Favorite TV Shows

By Tolani Osan | October 24, 2016

Enter for Your Chance to Win 15 Favorite Books from Off the Shelf & Delicious Zabar’s Treats

By Off the Shelf Staff | October 17, 2016

Close
Millard Salter's Last Day
by Jacob M. Appel

In an effort to delay the frailty and isolation that comes with old age, psychiatrist Millard Salter decides to kill himself by the end of the day—but first he has to tie up some loose ends. These include a tête-à-tête with his ne’er-do-well youngest son, Lysander; an unscheduled rendezvous with his first wife, Carol; and a brief visit to the grave of his second wife, Isabelle, with whom he fathered an illegitimate child. In the spirit of A MAN CALLED OVE, MILLARD SALTER’S LAST DAY is a touching journey as one man ties up the loose ends of his life.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
Millard Salter's Last Day
Jacob M. Appel

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

8 Emotionally Fulfilling Novels for Fans of The Midnight Library

By Alice Martin | December 22, 2021

11 Books About Death That Are Bursting with Life

By Alice Martin | June 7, 2021

11 Novels with Older Characters You’re Sure to Love

By Taylor Noel | August 21, 2018

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

Close
All the Single Ladies
by Rebecca Traister

The year 2017 will forever be marked by the resiliency and bravery displayed by women far and wide. What better way to celebrate than a lively book club discussion of women? In ALL THE SINGLE LADIES, Rebecca Traister offers a comprehensive study of the power of independent women in America through the fascinating history of unmarried women and their lasting, radical effect on the nation.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
All the Single Ladies
Rebecca Traister

For your feminist friends

Rebecca Traister offers a comprehensive study of the power of independent women in America through the fascinating history of unmarried women and their lasting, radical effect on the nation.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

10 Empowering Nonfiction Must-Reads for Women’s History Month

By Alice Martin | March 25, 2022

7 Deeply Satisfying Reads with Happily Single Protagonists

By Melissa Croce | February 12, 2021

The Mary Tyler Moore TBR: 8 Books with Awesome Women to Feed Your Inner Mary Richards

By Erin Madison | September 18, 2020

6 Essay Collections on Why We Should All Be Feminists

By Nikki Barnhart | November 23, 2018

Books That Will Inspire the Activist in You

By Anabel Jimenez | June 24, 2018

Singletons, Meet Your Match with These 9 Books

By Kerry Fiallo | February 15, 2018

Close
The Impossible Fortress
by Jason Rekulak

A love letter to the 1980s and to nerds everywhere, THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS will make you remember what it feels like to love someone—or something—for the first time. This charming novel follows 14-year-old Billy Marvin as his plan to seduce the local convenience store owner’s daughter goes sideways when she turns out to be his computer-loving soulmate.

Read the full review of THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS.

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Impossible Fortress
Jason Rekulak

If your favorite character is Steve Harrington

If you liked the era cameos in the Duffer Brothers’ ode to the 80s (from D&D games to Steve Harrington’s hair) you’ll love the mentions of Commodore 64s, early Springsteen & Jolt cola in the love letter to the 80s which is THE IMPOSSIBLE FORTRESS. It follows Billy Marvin and his friends as they hatch a madcap scheme which leads Billy to falsely befriend a loner girl who happens to be a computer whiz. But just as Steve seems like a jerk initially, his heartfelt feelings towards another bad-ass female character (Go Nancy!) mimics how Billy’s feelings also lead him down the right path.  

Amazon logo Audible logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

11 Feel-Good Novels to Add Some Extra Sunshine to Your Days

By Off the Shelf Staff | August 13, 2019

8 Great Books to Read When You Need a Break From Politics

By Julianna Haubner | October 16, 2018

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

The Best Book About First Love Since ELEANOR & PARK

By Julianna Haubner | December 7, 2017

11 Books You Should Read Based On Your Favorite “Stranger Things” Character

By Glommable | May 29, 2017

Close
The Done Thing
by Tracy Manaster

Lida Stearl prides herself on always doing the right thing. But now that she’s widowed, retired, and an empty nester, the small perfections of her orderly life aren’t enough to stop her from feeling adrift. When she learns her brother-in-law is on death row for murdering her sister, Lida begins to write him, pretending to be a flirtatious 23-year-old, in an effort to seek retribution. THE DONE THING is an utterly memorable and engrossing exploration of forgiveness, loyalty, and justice, and how a tragic event can suddenly change a life’s course—and Lida is a character your book club will never forget.

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo
The Done Thing
Tracy Manaster

Amazon logo Barnes & Noble logo Books a Million logo Google Play logo iBooks logo Bookshop logo

MENTIONED IN:

15 Books to Read if You’re Obsessed with BIG LITTLE LIES

By Taylor Noel | February 5, 2018

15 Favorites Your Book Club Must Read This Winter

By Off the Shelf Staff | December 21, 2017

Close

You must be logged in to add books to your shelf.

Please log in or sign up now.