Making friends as an adult can feel like applying for a job you’re wildly overqualified for but somehow still nervous about. Add being queer, trans, or non-binary, and finding your people can sometimes feel like searching for one very specific book in a library with no labels.
The good news? Queer hobbies make connection easier. A shared interest gives everyone something to talk about besides the classic conversational panic of “So… what do you do?” For today’s community-building idea, we’re choosing something close to our hearts: starting a queer book club.
Because what’s better than reading a brilliant story? Reading it with people who understand why the forced proximity, slow burn, or enemies to lovers MM romance has you staring at the ceiling at 2 a.m.
Why a queer book club works
A book club is low-pressure community building with an excellent excuse to bring snacks. You don’t need to arrive knowing everyone, sharing your entire life story, or possessing encyclopaedic literary knowledge.
You simply need curiosity and, ideally, a willingness to say, “I have thoughts about chapter fourteen.”
Queer book clubs can create space for:
- Discovering LGBTQ+ fiction that reflects a wide range of identities and experiences.
- Discussing representation without explaining the basics to people who are committed to misunderstanding them.
- Meeting readers who enjoy everything from heartfelt gay fiction to steamy MM romance books.
- Building friendships around shared enthusiasm rather than forced small talk.
- Supporting queer authors and independent LGBTQ+ publishing.
A monthly group can become a reliable anchor: one evening to look forward to, one conversation that leaves you feeling less alone, and one new title added to your ever-growing reading list.
Choose your book-club flavour
Not every group needs to read the same kind of book. In fact, a little variety keeps things lively.
You could create a broad queer fiction club, choosing a different genre each month. One meeting might focus on gay contemporary romance, followed by lesbian romance, queer fantasy, a gay thriller, or an emotional piece of LGBTQ+ literature.
Alternatively, choose a specific reading lane:
- MM romance books: Perfect for readers who enjoy devotion, desire, and men who absolutely should communicate more clearly.
- Trope-based reading: Pick themes such as slow burn, hurt/comfort, only one bed, found family, or enemies to lovers.
- Queer historical romance: Explore gay historical romance and MM historical romance with plenty of yearning, secret glances, and inconvenient waistcoats.
- Queer genre fiction: Try gay fantasy romance, MM fantasy, gay spy romance, or gay psychological thriller stories.
- Joyful queer reads: Balance heavier themes with funny, tender, romantic gay novels that leave everyone smiling.
At Read with Pride, you can explore curated LGBTQ+ ebooks, gay books, MM fiction, lesbian romance, and queer love stories to help your group find its next shared obsession.
Make the space genuinely welcoming
“Everyone is welcome” sounds lovely, but inclusive community building works best when the details are clear.
Before your first meeting, agree on a few simple guidelines:
- Respect names and pronouns. No interrogations, corrections, or identity quizzes.
- Don’t pressure anyone to disclose. People have different levels of outness and comfort.
- Use content notes. Flag themes involving trauma, violence, homophobia, transphobia, or abuse.
- Avoid gatekeeping. Nobody needs to prove they are queer enough, literary enough, or anything enough.
- Make participation flexible. People can listen, contribute in the chat, leave early, or attend without finishing the book.
- Consider accessibility. Offer ebook, print, and audiobook options whenever possible.
The goal isn’t to create a perfect discussion. It’s to create a space where people can show up as themselves.
Keep the format simple
A dependable structure helps everyone relax. Try this:
- 10 minutes: Arrivals, introductions, and a low-pressure check-in.
- 40 minutes: Talk about the book’s characters, themes, relationships, and favourite moments.
- 15 minutes: Discuss representation, emotional impact, and those mm romance tropes that caused maximum chaos.
- 10 minutes: Choose the next read and share other queer hobbies or local events.
You can meet in a library, café, community centre, bookshop, or online. You could even add a rotating activity: a craft night, queer film recommendation, reading playlist, or tiny book swap.
Find your people, one page at a time
If starting a club from scratch feels like a lot, look for existing groups through LGBTQ+ centres, libraries, independent bookshops, local social networks, or online queer communities. Search phrases such as “LGBTQ+ book club,” “queer reading group,” or “MM romance book club” alongside your town or region.
And remember: community doesn’t have to begin with a crowd. Invite two or three people. Pick a short, accessible read. Make tea. See what happens.
A shared story can become a shared ritual, and a shared ritual can become friendship. That’s the quiet magic of queer hobbies: they give us somewhere to gather, something to enjoy, and a reason to keep coming back.
Ready to start your own reading circle? Browse Read with Pride for your next queer read, then connect with the community on Facebook and Instagram.
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