2023 was one for the books! From going viral online, to hitting the front page of the Wall Street Journal, to being featured on the Drew Barrymore Show (don’t worry, it was post–writers’ strike), not to mention the countless local news features in between, the world fell in love with our quiet, bookish revolution.
Last year, Silent Book Club expanded exponentially, with global chapters multiplying faster than our TBR pile. Growing from roughly 200 chapters to more than 600, this community is a testament to the power of bringing people together through shared stories and the enduring love of books. In the first week of January, we’ve already welcomed 30 new chapters to the club. Clearly launching a Silent Book Club is a trending resolution for 2024!
A heartfelt thank you to every one of you who organized, planned, or hosted a meetup in 2023. We loved seeing all of the year-end book swaps and holiday reading parties orchestrated by our incredible volunteers. You're the beating heart of Silent Book Club, and your dedication is what makes this work meaningful.
And let's not forget the quiet heroes behind the scenes. A huge shoutout to our Facebook moderators, who keep our socials kind and civil, ensuring every reader feels welcome. To Jessica Dacher, designer extraordinaire, thank you for updating our shop with fresh merch. And to all of the local businesses and partners, like Graduate Hotels, who provide cozy corners and tasty treats for our readers.
Thanks for reading with us in 2023. Here’s to a new year filled with peace, health, and books!
Guinevere & Laura
Books we loved this month
Elizabeth Finch, by Julian Barnes
Lady Tan’s Circle of Women, by Lisa See
Laberinto: Poemas, by Manuel Hernández
Bookmarks
Book-related links and other good stuff online
10 biggest literary stories of 2023 LitHub
How collective silence can change time Tom McCallum
Poetry Readings Poets & Writers
10 books every board member should read Fortune
The complete list of all 103 Books in Oprah’s Book Club Oprah
It’s my party and I’ll read if I want to NY Times
Ask A Manager 2023 book recs AAM
Jane Smiley on what it’s like to have your book banned Lithub
‘It’s totally unhinged’: is the book world turning against Goodreads? The Guardian
SBC in the news
Rejoice (quietly) at the West Seattle Silent Book Club The Seattle Times
Welcome to ‘introvert happy hour’ with new Silent Book Clubs The Gazette
Silent Book Clubs break traditional reading group rules Inlander
West Seattle's Silent Book Club is an introvert's dream night out! Seattle Refined
Silent reading time, but for adults Western Front
Have 2024 reading goals? Join Silent Book Club to read through your stack Abiline Reporter-News
Find the SBC chapter for you
Find a local chapter near you, or join a virtual meetup.
Say hello to our newest chapters!