Get your Happily Ever After fix from the Romance Book Club! | Online | Adults
ONLINE via Zoom
Saturdays once a month | 10:00-11:00 AM ET | Adults
Upcoming dates:
May 3, June 14, Jul 12, Aug 9, Sep 6, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 13
CLICK FOR ZOOM LINK for meeting each month.
Join us for the Romance Book Club! We read as many romance genres as we can, sharing our thoughts and expanding our romance reading experience. As long as it has a Happily Ever After, it’s fair game.
Typically each month we choose the book for the following month.
May Book Choice
We will be reading
The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows by Olivia Waite.
When Agatha Griffin finds a colony of bees in her warehouse, it’s the not-so-perfect ending to a not-so-perfect week. Busy trying to keep her printing business afloat amidst rising taxes and the suppression of radical printers like her son, the last thing the widow wants is to be the victim of a thousand bees. But when a beautiful beekeeper arrives to take care of the pests, Agatha may be in danger of being stung by something far more dangerous . . .
Penelope Flood exists between two worlds in her small seaside town, the society of rich landowners and the tradesfolk. Soon, tensions boil over when the formerly exiled Queen arrives on England’s shores—and when Penelope’s long-absent husband returns to Melliton, she once again finds herself torn, between her burgeoning love for Agatha and her loyalty to the man who once gave her refuge.
As Penelope finally discovers her true place, Agatha must learn to accept the changing world in front of her. But will these longing hearts settle for a safe but stale existence or will they learn to fight for the future they most desire?
See previous group book choices below the group guidelines – scroll down.
Register if you’d like to be added to our email list, but no registration is required – just join us at the Zoom link, above. For adults 18+.
Please email Elizabeth McKinstry at emckinstry@springfieldlibrary.org or Anna Mickelsen at amickelsen@springfieldlibrary.org if you have any questions, or call either one of us at 413-263-6828 x213.
Group Guidelines
The book group will meet monthly via zoom to discuss books in the romance genre. Our definition of romance includes both HEA (Happily Ever After) and HFN (Happy For Now) endings. We will discuss what we read on our own, talk about forthcoming titles, and also pick books to read as a group, either voting on titles prepared by group leaders or taking turns selecting titles.
This book group will strive to be a safe and inclusive space. Racist and homophobic remarks will not be tolerated, and the group may set other content lines to be drawn in discussion or in reading material (e.g., mentions of self-harm, gore, sexual assault) in order to make the experience as fun for all participants as possible. As this is a romance book group, it should be assumed that books read and discussed will often include sex, sometimes explicit in nature.
Book group leaders will:
- Read the entire book
- Gather information to help enhance the discussion
- Be prepared to offer counter opinions – even if they differ from our own
- Be prepared to begin new lines of discussion when necessary
- Not let one person monopolize the discussion
- Be willing and prepared to take control of the group, firmly but respectfully
Book group participants will:
- Make their best effort to complete the book
- Come ready to both share and listen
- Be ready to back up opinions with the “why”
- Have a great time — if you stop enjoying it, let the leader know
Previous books read:
- May 2025 – The Care and Feeding of Waspish Widows, Olivia Waite (F/F Historical)
- April 2025 – You Had Me At Hola, Alexis Daria
- March 2025 – After Hours, Lynda Aicher (F/M, Erotic Romance Contemporary)
- February 2025 – We Could Be So Good, Cat Sebastian (M/M, Historical)
- January 2025 – Queen Move, Kennedy Ryan (F/M, Contemporary)
- December 2024 – A Merry Little Meet Cute, Julie Murphy and Sierra Simone (Contemporary Holiday, F/M)
- November 2024 – Full Contact, Sarah Castille (Contemporary “Alpha”, F/M)
- October 2024 – Dragon Actually, G.A. Aiken (Fantasy, F/Dragon)
- September 2024 – Xeni, Rebekah Weatherspoon (Contemporary, F/M)
- August 2024 – A Carribbean Heiress in Paris, Adriana Herrera (Historical, F/M)
- July 2024 – Sweet Little Lies, Jill Shalvis (Contemporary, F/M)
- June 2024 – Mistakes Were Made, Meryl Wilsner (Contemporary, F/F)
- May 2024 – Custom Built, Chantal Fernando (Thriller, F/M)
- April 2024 – The Heiress Hunt, Joanna Shupe (Historical, F/M)
- March 2024 – How To Catch A Queen, Alyssa Cole (Contemporary African Royal, F/M)
- February 2024 – Toxic Desire, Robin Lovett (Alien Mate Sci-Fi, F/Alien)
- January 2024 – The Holiday Trap, Roan Parrish (Contemporary Holiday, F/F & M/M)
- December 2023 – Priest, Sierra Simone (Contemporary, M/F)
- November 2023 – Hell on Wheels, Julie Ann Walker (Thriller, F/M)
- October 2023 – And They Lived Happily Ever After, Therese Beharrie (Magical)
- September 2023 – Something Wilder, Christina Lauren (Adventure, F/M)
- August 2023 – The Baller, Vi Keeland (Sports, M/F)
- July 2023 – I’m in Love with Mothman, Paige Lavoie (Paranormal, F/Mothman)
- June 2023 – Scandalous Passions, Nicola Davidson (Historical Menage, F/F/M)
- May 2023 – D’Vaughn and Kris Plan a Wedding, Chencia C. Higgins (Contemporary F/F)
- April 2023 – Mafia Casanova, M Robinson and Rachel Van Dyken (Mafia)
- March 2023 – Pride, Prejudice and Other Flavors, Sonali Dev (Contemporary)
- February 2023 – Hard Sell, Hudson Lin (Contemporary, M/M)
- January 2023 – The Duke Who Didn’t, Courtney Milan (Historical)
- December 2022 – Reader’s Choice Holiday Romance
- November 2022 – The Ex Hex, Erin Sterling (Witchy)
- October 2022 – Natural Born Charmer, Susan Elizabeth Phillips (Sports-ish)
- September 2022 – Neon Gods, Katee Robert (Fantasy Hades/Persephone)
- August 2022 – Fatal Affair, Marie Force (Romantic Suspense)
- July 2022 – Never Been Kissed, Timothy Janovsky (Contemporary New Adult M/M)
- June 2022 – Polaris Rising, Jessie Mihalik (Science Fiction)
- May 2022 – Luckiest Lady in London, Sherry Thomas (Historical)
- April 2022 – Writing Her In, Holley Trent (Polyamorous)
- March 2022 – A Cowboy to Remember, Rebekah Wetherspoon (Contemporary Black Cowboy)
- February 2022 – Battle Royal, Lucy Parker (Contemporary British)
- January 2022 – Every New Year, Katrina Jackson (Holiday Second-Chance Contemporary)
- November and December 2021 – The Matzah Ball, Jean Meltzer (Holiday Contemporary)
- October 2021- How To Bang A Billionaire, Alexis Hall (Billionaire M/M)
- September 2021 – Deal With The Devil, Kit Rocha (Science Fiction)
- August 2021 – Gray Hair, Don’t Care, Karen Booth (Second Chance)
- July 2021 – Angel’s Blood, Nalini Singh (Paranormal Romance)
- June 2021 – Entangled, Melissa Brayden (Contemporary F/F)
- May 2021 – The Obsession, Nora Roberts (Contemporary Romantic Suspense)
- April 2021 – Destiny’s Embrace, Beverly Jenkins (Historical)
- March 2021 – Loathe At First Sight, Suzanne Park (Contemporary)
- February 2021 – Reader’s Choice
