Which books did you read? Which will you recommend next for you book club?

In 2023, the realm of book clubs grew and the need for different style books became more and more in demand. Pairing we not only provide top reads for book clubs each month, but exclusive content from authors and publishers as well as the perfect pairing. That way the heavy lifting is on us and all you have to do is relax and read! We even provide discussion questions.

Before we move into 2024, let's explore the pages from the top reads for book club in 2023!

#10

Wine People

by Michelle Wildgen

FOR PAIRINGS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND MORE VIEW HERE!

What happens when two ambitious young women, opposite in every way, join forces in a competitive male-dominated industry?

Wren and Thessaly collide when they land coveted jobs at a glamorous New York City boutique wine importer. Hardworking, by-the-book Wren comes from a modest background and has everything to prove while Thessaly hails from a family of prestigious California growers-but she is plagued by self-doubt. Thrown together at work, where they're expected to have exquisite palates, endless tolerance for alcohol and socializing, and the ability to sell, sell, sell, they regard each other with suspicion.

#9

The Wolf Hunt

by Ayelet Gundar-Goshen

FOR PAIRINGS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND MORE VIEW HERE!

Lilach has it all: a beautiful home in the heart of Silicon Valley, a successful husband and stable marriage, and a teenage son, Adam, with whom she has always felt a particular closeness. Israeli immigrants, the family has now lived in the U.S. long enough that they consider it home. But after a brutal attack on a local synagogue shakes their sense of safety, Adam enrolls in a self-defense class taught by a former Israeli Special Forces officer. There, for the first time, he finds a sense of confidence and belonging.

#8

We Love to Entertain

by Sarah Strohmeyer

Holly and Robert Barron are attractive young real-estate investors and contestants in a competition run by To the Manor Build, the nation's most popular home renovation app. With millions in product endorsements and online followers at stake, they're rehabbing a Vermont home they scored at a bargain price into a chic hilltop estate ideal for entertaining.

It's all camera-ready laughs and debates over herringbone tile until Holly and Robert go missing hours after their picture-perfect wedding--leaving behind a bloody trail.

#7

Here Lies

by Olivia Clare Friedman

FOR PAIRINGS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND MORE VIEW HERE!

Louisiana, 2042. Spurred by the effects of climate change, states have closed graveyards and banned burials, making cremation mandatory and the ashes of loved ones state-owned unless otherwise claimed. In the small town of St. Genevieve, Alma lives alone and struggles to grieve in the wake of her young mother Naomi's death, during which Alma failed to honor Naomi's final wishes. Now, Alma decides to fight to reclaim Naomi's ashes, a journey of unburial that will bring into her life a mysterious and fiercely loyal stranger, Bordelon, who appears in St. Genevieve after a storm, as well as a group of strong, rebellious local women who, together, teach Alma anew the meaning of family and strength.

#6

The Half Moon

by Mary Beth Keane

Malcolm Gephardt, handsome and gregarious longtime bartender at the Half Moon, has always dreamed of owning a bar. When his boss finally retires, Malcolm stretches to buy the place. He sees unquantifiable magic and potential in the Half Moon and hopes to transform it into a bigger success, but struggles to stay afloat.

His smart and confident wife, Jess, has devoted herself to her law career. After years of trying for a baby, she is facing the idea that motherhood may not be in the cards for her. Like Malcolm, she feels her youth beginning to slip away and wonders how to reshape her future.

#5

Really Good, Actually

by Monica Heisey

Maggie is fine. She's doing really good, actually. Sure, she's broke, her graduate thesis on something obscure is going nowhere, and her marriage only lasted 608 days, but at the ripe old age of twenty-nine, Maggie is determined to embrace her new life as a Surprisingly Young Divorcée(TM).

Now she has time to take up nine hobbies, eat hamburgers at 4 am, and "get back out there" sex-wise. 

#4

Brown Girls

by Daphne Palasi Andreades

Welcome to Queens, New York, where streets echo with languages from all over the globe, subways rumble above dollar stores, trees bloom and topple over sidewalks, and the funky scent of the Atlantic Ocean wafts in from Rockaway Beach. Within one of New York City's most vibrant and eclectic boroughs, young women of color like Nadira, Gabby, Naz, Trish, Angelique, and countless others, attempt to reconcile their immigrant backgrounds with the American culture in which they come of age. Here, they become friends for life--or so they vow.

#3

Olga Dies Dreaming

by Xochitl Gonzalez

It's 2017, and Olga and her brother, Pedro "Prieto" Acevedo, are boldfaced names in their hometown of New York. Prieto is a popular congressman representing their gentrifying Latinx neighborhood in Brooklyn, while Olga is the tony wedding planner for Manhattan's power brokers.

Despite their alluring public lives, behind closed doors things are far less rosy. Sure, Olga can orchestrate the love stories of the 1 percent but she can't seem to find her own. . . until she meets Matteo, who forces her to confront the effects of long-held family secrets.

#2

The Housekeepers (Original)

by Alex Hay

FOR PAIRINGS, EXCLUSIVE CONTENT, DISCUSSION QUESTIONS AND MORE VIEW HERE!

Mrs. King is no ordinary housekeeper. Born into a world of con artists and thieves, she's made herself respectable, running the grandest home in Mayfair. The place is packed with treasures, a glittering symbol of wealth and power, but dark secrets lurk in the shadows.

When Mrs. King is suddenly dismissed from her position, she recruits an eclectic group of women to join her in revenge: A black market queen out to settle her scores. An actress desperate for a magnificent part. A seamstress dreaming of a better life. And Mrs. King's predecessor, with her own desire for vengeance.
 

#1

Factory Girls

by Michelle Gallen

It's the summer of 1994, and all smart-mouthed Maeve Murray wants are good final exam results so she can earn her ticket out of the wee Northern Irish town she has grown up in during the Troubles. She hopes she will soon be in London studying journalism--away from her crowded home, the silence and sadness surrounding her sister's death, and most of all, away from the violence of her divided community.

Our pairings hit the nail on the head for the setting, story, and plot! See below for Factory Girls Pairing!

Justice of the Pies: Sweet and Savory Pies, Quiches, and Tarts Plus Inspirational Stories from Exceptional People: A Baking Book

by Maya-Camille Broussard

In Justice of the Pies, Maya-Camille Broussard shares more than 85 recipes for sweet and savory pies and other mouthwatering creations that put her social mission-based bakery on the map, including her famous Salted Caramel Peach Pie and Brandied Banana Butterscotch Pie, as well as hearty renditions like the Fig + Pig Quiche and Roasted Brussels Sprouts + Cherry Tart. Maya-Camille also tells the stories of heroes outside the kitchen: luminaries who strive for social justice and equity, and shares recipes they've inspired. Maya-Camille's bakery was launched in honor of her father, who was a criminal defense attorney and had a deep love of baking pie. Through her bakery she proves that good work and delicious decadence can go hand in hand.