The wafting blend of benzaldehyde, ethyl hexanol and the faint hint of dust evokes nostalgia for many. For a true bookworm, the familiar scent of thousands of pages as one enters a bookstore or library is an irresistible invitation, promising the next literary adventure. Books offer more than an escape, they also open a window into another world.
While reading has long been a solitary pursuit, a growing desire to discuss, dissect and discover new meaning in stories has fueled a resurgence in book clubs. Technology has made finding fellow readers easier than ever, and independent bookstores and libraries are seeing renewed interest as readers gather around every genre imaginable.
It’s proof that while technology may bring people together, meaningful conversation is what keeps them coming back.
Technology brings readers together
Social media, reading-specific apps and communication platforms have become the gold standard for avid readers seeking instant community. “Bookstagram” and Facebook are used by millions to suggest, discuss and critique books of every genre.
When Lauren Higdon joined the Romance Book Club at Johns Creek Books, she was excited to discover she had an entire community with whom to discuss the books she loved.
“Once I’m done with a book, I tend to go on social media to search for the title and see what other people are saying,” she said. “I read ‘Fourth Wing‘ right after it came out on a friend’s recommendation, and I fell into the #Romantasy Bookstagram algorithm hard. My feed went to nonstop fantasy romance reels almost overnight, so I ended up reading a lot of similar books based on what kept coming up repeatedly.”
Fable and Goodreads offer community and discussion through their popular apps. Likewise, platforms such as Discord and Reddit foster live discussions centered on individual books, giving users a taste of what they crave without the face-to-face connection.
Independent bookstores are community driven
According to the American Booksellers Association, independent bookstore launches increased by 31% in 2025, continuing the steady growth seen since the pandemic. This has given book clubs ample spaces and opportunities to meet in person.
Kim McNamara, owner of Read It Again Bookstore on Peachtree Parkway, sees this increase and believes it has benefited the community. It has also prompted her to expand the store’s offerings.
“The increase in bookstores has in turn increased the amount of book clubs and events that people are able to attend locally,” McNamara explained. “We have worked to create a third space for our customers where they can come to socialize and form community connections through events and other offerings.”
“When we expanded in 2019, we added comfy chairs and an open space at the back of the store where people can sit and read. We also have a desk with a typewriter where kids can interact with one for the first time,” she added.
These nooks and crannies, strategically placed throughout bookstores, foster community and encourage people to connect.
Katie Bossie, owner of Hollow Oak, a bookstore, shop and community gathering space opening at Medley this fall, said, “Indie bookstores have always been the beating hearts of the communities they serve and a space for human connection; I think folks are just needing that now more than ever.”
“I saw a quote recently that said, ‘We used to go to the internet to escape reality. Now we go to reality to escape the internet,’” she continued. “We are craving ways to connect and be together that are real. Bookstores create space for that.”
Johns Creek Books and the local library
Johns Creek Books has been a fixture in the community for nearly eight years, and owner Erin Elwood is proud of the book club offerings at her shop and the life enrichment they bring to the community. With 12 book clubs ranging from fantasy to non-fiction to page-to-screen selections, there’s a community waiting for every kind of reader.
“I have seen people meet each other and become great friends. They are meeting in book clubs, exchanging numbers and having dinner together,” Elwood said. “They are also finding that they have other hobbies and interests outside of reading, such as going to events like the Renaissance Festival and Dragon Con together.”
“Sunday night book release watch parties can also be a great book club activity,” she added. “The Romance Book Club will celebrate Sarah J. Maas’ new book, “A Court of Thorns and Roses 6” (ACOTAR 6) that will be released in October, and members are encouraged to come dressed up to celebrate the release at midnight.”
Libraries have been in operation almost as long as our country has existed, and they have always been places to gather. Yet, the community’s growing demand for book clubs has not gone unnoticed by Ellen Baxter, senior librarian and assistant branch manager at the Northeast/Spruill Oaks Library.
Baxter hosts an Adult Fiction Book Club at the library, and they have seen an increase in attendance and membership.
“We did do a virtual/Zoom meeting during the pandemic, but we all prefer to meet in person. I think the group provides a little bit of community and belonging for those who come,” she said.
Beyond the pages of a book
Even though technology might bring people together in an instant, the desire to hold a book in hand, gather, discuss, look into someone’s eyes, share emotions and find common ground is a basic human need that technology alone can’t fill.
Loneliness has become an epidemic in the age of technology, where it is easier to open an app than drive to a bookstore. Yet, many readers are discovering the benefits of the social connections book clubs provide, which can also help combat stress, anxiety and depression.
Al Urrutia, a dedicated Johns Creek Books book club patron, currently runs two book clubs and participates in four others. He said he cherishes the intimacy of his groups and has formed lasting bonds with many of the members he meets with.
“My 36th birthday was the first birthday that I celebrated with friends as an adult. That wouldn’t have happened without the book clubs. Additionally, within the past week, I’ve seen one of my regulars become a grandma for the first time, which made my heart grow three sizes that day,” Urrutia shared.
Sofia Perez has enjoyed being a member of three book clubs for more than a year and a half and often feels the hardest part of reading alone is not having someone to talk to about the books afterward.
“Book clubs give you the opportunity for a genuine back and forth conversation,” she said. “I also can’t emphasize enough how good it has been for my mental health to attend book clubs. For me, book clubs have been a form of behavioral activation, getting me socializing and doing something I love and find rewarding.”
Literary communities and human connection
As book clubs continue their resurgence, readers are discovering that the real story often begins after the final page is turned.
These literary communities offer the authentic human connection that people have been craving. Through conversation, shared experiences and genuine human connection, readers are reminded that while books have always had the power to transport us, they also have the remarkable ability to bring us together.
As Bossie put it, “Books are literally magic. They are a tactile, inexpensive, accessible means to profound transformation and enjoyment. There is nothing better. It doesn’t surprise me at all that folks are so eager to celebrate that together in a big way!”
