10 Recommendations for Lively Coed Book Club Discussions

Recommendations for Lively Coed Book Club Discussions


This list was inspired by my good friend and neighbor, who participates in a coed book club and frequently asks for recommendations. They’ve discussed The Beautiful Bureaucrat, To Kill A Mockingbird, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up and much more.

I chose books that I thought would make enjoyable reading for both sexes and would spark lively, interesting, sometimes heated discussion. And, we’re starting with ten books, but I will continue to add to this list as I find new books that would be great for coed book clubs!

For a version of this list that I continually update, click here!

The List

Black Chalk, Christopher J. Yates, thriller, fiction, Oxford UniversityBlack Chalk by Christopher J. Yates
Fiction (U.S. Release April, 2014)
352 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Summary: Six best friends at Oxford University decide to play “a game of consequences, silly forfeits, and childish dares” (quote from Amazon), which devolves into humiliation and tragedy.

My Thoughts: Black Chalk was one of my favorite books of 2014! Hmm – how to best describe this book (other than AWESOME!)? Think The Hunger Games meets The Secret History meets The InterestingsContinue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics:
Human nature, motivation, risks, friendship

Concussion, Jeanne Marie LaskasConcussion by Jeanne Marie Laskas
Nonfiction – Medical Mystery/Sports (Released November 24, 2015)
288 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Summary: 
The story of Dr. Bennet Omalu, a native of Nigeria, who immigrated to the U.S. and used his neuropathological research into brain injuries of football players (i.e. CTE) to take on the National Football League (NFL).

My Thoughts: Concussion is a so much more than a “football book”; it’s a medical mystery, a David & Goliath story, an immigrant’s story, and a story of a big-business cover-up…and, it’s my favorite nonfiction of 2015! Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics:
Football safety and what can/should be done to improve it, big business cover-ups, willingness to let own kids play football

Going ClearGoing Clear: Scientology, Hollywood, and the Prison of Belief by Lawrence Wright
Nonfiction (Released January 17, 2013)
430 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon

Summary: 
The story behind L. Ron Hubbard’s (LRH) founding of Scientology, its links to the entertainment industry, and the current state of the “religion”.

My Thoughts: Going Clear reminded me a lot of Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, just swapping out Scientology for Mormonism. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics: Scientology as a religion/cult/business, etc, Scientology beliefs, Scientology’s allure, intersection with Hollywood

Missoula, Jon KrakauerMissoula by Jon Krakauer
Nonfiction (Released April 21, 2015)
386 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Summary: Krakauer explores rape and the justice system on college campuses through a look at several acquaintance rape cases at the University of Montana in Missoula.

My Thoughts: Krakauer’s incredibly readable investigative journalism had me turning the issues of rape and the justice system over and over in my head and was almost a 5 star read for me (only a tedious final section prevented me from giving it that last half star). Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics:
Rape on college campuses, fairness of criminal and campus procedure in handling rape cases, what can/should be done to improve a rape victim’s experience with pressing charges and outcome

One Second After, William R. ForstchenOne Second After by William R. Forstchen
Fiction (Released March 17, 2009)
352 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Plot Summary: 
The small town of Black Mountain, North Carolina fights to survive after the United States is hit by an EMP (electromagnetic pulse) attack.
My Thoughts: 
This is a book about something that has not yet happened on Earth, but is entirely possible. An EMP is a nuclear explosion that happens far above Earth, causing all present day electronics to instantly fry, sending civilization back a few centuries. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics: 
Real life threat of an EMP attack, life after an EMP attack

Thank You for Your Service, David Finkel, Iraq war, Afghanistan war, PTSD in soldiers, Traumatic brain injury in soldiersThank You for Your Service by David Finkel
Nonfiction – War (Released October 1, 2013)
272 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Plot Summary:
An exploration of mental and emotional trauma facing soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan and the military’s efforts to curb this group’s high suicide rate.

My Thoughts: Thank You for Your Service is a heartbreaking and moving series of stories about various members of the 2-16 Infantry Battalion and their families dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) following war zone deployments. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics:
PTSD and TBI in returning soldiers, effects on the soldiers’ families, the military’s response to this problem

The Beautiful Bureaucrat, Helen PhillipsThe Beautiful Bureaucrat by Helen Phillips
Fiction (Released August 11, 2015)
192 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Summary: When Josephine moves to a new city with her husband and takes a job at a data processing facility, strange things begin to happen, leading her to further investigate the company she works for.

My Thoughts: Helen Phillips’ debut novel is a tiny ball of weirdness…reminiscent of a demented “Office Space”…that had me on the edge of my seat. I just had to know…what the heck is going on here?! The entire book feels like a riddle that the reader needs to unravel. And, once the the riddle of Josephine’s company has been solved, you’re left with much broader questions to ponder. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics: I need to stay vague here so I don’t spoil things, but what does it all MEAN?!

The Dinner, Herman KochThe Dinner by Herman Koch
Fiction (Released February 12, 2013)
306 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Summary: Two brothers and their wives meet for dinner at an upscale, Amsterdam restaurant to discuss how to handle a situation involving their teenage sons.

My Thoughts: Not much happens in the beginning of the story, but I was so busy reveling in Koch’s brilliant writing and biting social commentary that I didn’t even realize that the characters had merely arrived at the restaurant and ordered food. But, rest assured, the action does pick up. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics:
Ethics of parental decisions, the homeless, the main characters’ decisions/actions

Guest Room, Chris BohjalianThe Guest Room by Chris Bohjalian
Fiction (Released January 5, 2016)
336 Pages
Affiliate Link: Buy from Amazon
Plot Summary: The aftermath of a bachelor party that married Westchester investment banker Richard Chapman hosted for his younger brother upends the lives of all the attendees and their families.

My Thoughts: Chris Bohjalian is one of my go-to authors and The Double Bind is one of my all-time favorite books, so I was ecstatic to hear he had a new novel out this year! The topic of this one sounds frivolous and sleazy (and parts of it are sleazy by necessity), but he deals with the ripple effects of the consequences of this bachelor party in a very serious and thoughtful way. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics:
Human trafficking, marriage and what it can survive, humanity, forgiveness, the main characters’ decisions/actions

Without You There is No Us, Suki Kim, North KoreaWithout You, There Is No Us by Suki Kim
Nonfiction – Memoir (Released October, 2014)
304 Pages
Affiliate Link: 
Buy from Amazon
Summary: 
A memoir of Suki Kim’s time teaching English in a Christian missionary sponsored school (Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, aka PUST) for elite North Korean college age men outside of Pyongyang, North Korea.
My Thoughts: 
Without You, There Is No Us shares a fascinating and horrifying glimpse into the black box that is North Korea, an “unknown and unknowable” world as Kim describes it. Continue Reading…
Potential Discussion Topics: 
Life in North Korea (for the elite, as covered in the book, and for everyone else), rules Kim was forced to live under, possible consequences of Kim divulging details of the outside world to her students




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46 Comments

  1. Sara wrote:

    I enjoyed Going Clear and that would be a great book to read for a book club 🙂 The Martian, by Andy Weir would be a good co-ed choice, as well as Ready Player One, by Ernest Cline. Oh, and Mr. Penumbra’s 24-Hour Bookstore, by Robin Sloan!

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      My (all female) book club read Going Clear and it was one of our best discussions! Penumbra is another great one! I haven’t read Ready Player One, but have heard good things.

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  2. JAH wrote:

    What an interesting list! I’ve only read two of the books, Missoula and The Dinner, and I absolutely loved them!

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  3. Both of my book clubs have fallen by the wayside, and I really miss them! Some great titles here, and I love the idea of a coed book club.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’ve been so bad about making it to my book club meetings…and reading the books! But, this month was A Little Life, so I’m going to try to make it to that meeting…even though I read it so long ago.

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  4. MarB wrote:

    I’m in a coed book club and love it! On almost every topic, the male and female perspectives are fascinating to compare. Great list! I’m definitely picking one of these next go around.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Umm..yes, and I will now announce to everyone that you’re the inspiration behind this post! I do think having both perspectives would make for some great discussion!

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  5. Carmen wrote:

    Great selections, Sarah. I think there would be distinct perspectives in a co-ed group about the non-fiction selections you chose.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Yep – I agree 🙂 That’s why I picked them!

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  6. Great and varied list! I read and enjoyed Going Clear and Missoula, and I am reminded that you have mentioned Black Chalk several times, so I definitely need to look this one up! The Guest Room is also on my radar because I read almost anything by Chris Bohaljian, though I prefer his contemporary fictions. Thanks, Sarah!

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I think Guest Room is one of Bohjalian’s best contemporary fictions! And please please read Black Chalk…I hope that one gets more attention!!

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
      • Will do! Sounds good!

        Posted 1.27.16 Reply
      • Julie wrote:

        Thanks for your recommendations. I am in a co-ed book club and I think I will go with one of these books. Torn between Black Chalk and The Dinner. Will definitely read the Guest Room too!!

        Posted 10.3.17 Reply
        • Sarah Dickinson wrote:

          Oooh – both are so good and kind of have the similar dark vibes. Make sure your club is cool with dark storylines if you’re picking either one of those.

          Posted 10.4.17 Reply
  7. Leslie wrote:

    Hi! Great varied list. 🙂 I’ve watched part of Going Clear. It’s fascinating!
    My TTT
    Leslie

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  8. That’s a great list! My husband and I have been in a coed book group for years, and have some hits — and misses. In general, we’ve had better luck with nonfiction than fiction. I think the very first book we discussed was Jon Krakauer’s Into Thin Air. But we have had a couple really successful discussions about novels — in particular, The Absolutist by John Boyne and Sutton by J.R. Moehringer.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Interesting! And I would imagine it’s touch to find books that appeal to both sexes in coed book clubs. And – I absolutely loved Sutton. Great choice for a coed club..also his memoir The Tender Bar.

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • Would like to join a coed book club; I’ve been very busy for fiction reading but recently read Doctorow’s
      Andrew’s Brain – a funny tale; Don’t want to sell the engravings on my website but I’m suppose to be re-doing it – hence busy.

      Posted 3.25.17 Reply
  9. Oh — I should have mentioned that the new rule for this group is that the book has to have been some sort of award winner. We’ve been reading all the National Book Award and Pulitzer winners. Most recently, we’ve read The Good Lord Bird, Behind the Beautiful Forevers, Redeployment . . . even if we don’t always love the books that win, they always inspire good discussions.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Oooh – I like that! Great way to focus your picks! And, I just finished Youngblood, which is a debut Iraq novel blurbed by Phil Klay. I need to read Redeployment.

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  10. Judy wrote:

    I love making lists like this! Since I am in several book clubs and need to come up with suggestions, I kind of keep a running list. Two of the book clubs I am in are coed and it is good getting the different viewpoints though they don’t always run on gender lines, I am happy to report.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Interesting that the perspectives don’t always run along gender lines – I like that!!

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  11. Kay wrote:

    I have several of these books, but have read none of them. A co-ed book group would be interesting. My mystery book group is technically co-ed, but we only have one gentleman. And his wife also attends. He does very well with it and he’ll read whatever we’re discussing. We had another man at one time, but his wife was not a member. Again, he did very well with a just him and 10-12 women. I haven’t been able to convince my husband to come yet – LOL! Oh, we did have one guy who came to one meeting in between the two ‘regular’ guys. He wanted us to only read Scandinavian mysteries and seemed put out when I told him that we didn’t limit ourselves to one type of crime novel or one setting. And he didn’t return. 😉

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Haha! Usually doesn’t go over well when the new guy tries to change all the rules!

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  12. The Beautiful Bureaucrat and Concussion are on my to-read list. I loved The Dinner!

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  13. I LOVE your list!!!!! I think it is often difficult to find books that appeal to both sexes, and I love your combination of fiction and nonfiction. I just added several books to my TBR!

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Thank you and I agree! And, throw in books that would make for good discussion and it gets even harder!

      Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  14. Fascinating list. Black Chalk looks intriguing, as well as The Dinner and One Second After.

    Posted 1.26.16 Reply
  15. Andi wrote:

    COED book clubs are a thing in the world????! Ok, snark. But really, so few men do anything book clubbish in my area. Sigh.

    Posted 1.27.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      HA – that was sort of my reaction when I heard about my neighbor’s book club! No male I know is in a book club or would ever want to be in one, which is disappointing. I’m totally intrigued by the idea of a coed book club and would kind of love to be in one. Alas, my neighbor travels all over creation to attend hers (it started in NYC and everyone in it has now moved to an array of suburbs or Brooklyn, so it meets everywhere) and I’m more of a convenience girl.

      Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  16. YES, YES, YES!! These are all such great suggestions, Sarah! I would love to be in a book club that discussed any of these titles; I’ll be sure to pass this along!

    Posted 1.27.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      And, obviously, I think they’d work for an all female book club too 🙂

      Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  17. I really like this list, and so many of them are on my shelf to be read. I would love to read The Dinner this year (maybe in my next capsule read shelf) because it’s been on my list for a while. The Guest Room is coming up for me, and I think Missoula might be my non-fiction go-to for this year.

    Posted 1.27.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Yes, yes, and yes!!

      Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  18. susan wrote:

    The Dinner by Herman Koch was well done! Gave me the creeps for weeks!

    Posted 1.27.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      So well done! Loved that one and it was somewhat unexpected b/c I read Summer House with Swimming Pool (which he wrote after The Dinner) first and wasn’t a huge fan, so loving The Dinner was a nice surprise!

      Posted 1.28.16 Reply
  19. Athira wrote:

    This is a great list! I certainly agree with Missoula – so important for people of both sexes to read and very hard to put down too. I do need to pick up Beautiful Bureaucrat at some point – it does have a very interesting plotline.

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Thank you! And I think a coed Missoula discussion would be so worthwhile.

      Posted 2.1.16 Reply
  20. Naomi wrote:

    I’m not in a coed book club, but these sound great for any book club. We read The Dinner a few months ago, and it might have been our best discussion yet (our books club is only a year old). Black Chaulk and One Second After (this is the first I’ve heard of this book) sound like ones everyone might go for!

    Posted 1.30.16 Reply
  21. Deborah S. wrote:

    So happy I came across this blog post! My book club is always having a hard time agreeing on books that both the men and women can enjoy. I love that these are recommendations that will help generate some lively discussion too. A favorite in my book club was “And They Found No Witches” by retired police sergeant Tom Alessi (http://www.twalessi.com/)He and four of his colleagues in the Rochester police department were indicted for crimes they didn’t commit and the 2 1/2 years that followed were an absolute nightmare as they did everything they could to prove their innocence. The book covers the court case as well as the intimate details of how is life was put on hold for something he didn’t do. He lost his job, his wife, and once he was found innocent he had to start all over again. It is amazing how these men stood and fought against the justice department, the media, as well as friends and family who didn’t believe them. It is an inspirational and fascinating read. I cannot recommend this book enough. I hope you will check it out and I am sure it will provide some riveting conversation at your next book club 🙂 Thanks again

    Posted 2.2.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      Thank you and I’m glad this list can hopefully give your book club some great choices! I’ll be adding to it as I come across new books that would fit, so keep checking in!

      And – glad you did find something that worked for the club in And They Found No Witches!

      Posted 2.4.16 Reply
  22. Kendra B wrote:

    My book club recently read a really great memoir from Tom Gallagher that made for some really interesting and diverse discussion. Tara’s Halls (http://thegallagherplace.us).
    A few of us were fans of Frank McCourt and this seemed to be a similar kind of memoir.
    I thought the book was absolutely wonderful and I really enjoyed some of the questions and debates it provoked over cultural differences. I highly recommend this book for a book club. A truly fascinating life story.

    Posted 2.6.16 Reply
    • admin wrote:

      I’m glad your book club enjoyed it! And it’s nice when the book raises an “issue” that makes for good discussion..I imagine cultural differences was a good one!

      Posted 2.8.16 Reply
  23. Charles P. wrote:

    I am interested in starting a coed book club where I live at,Kansas City, but like some of the above comments…I don’t believe the average guy is interested in anything that doesn’t require a remote control.

    Posted 9.5.17 Reply
    • Julie wrote:

      Just started our coed book club a couple of months ago and we actually have more guys than girls. Love the different points of views. Start your club!!

      Posted 10.3.17 Reply

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