Book Drives London

Fantasy Book Club - Witchcraft for Wayward Girls by Grady Hendrix

They call them wayward girls. Loose girls. Girls who grew up too fast. And they’re sent to the Wellwood Home in St. Augustine, Florida, where unwed mothers are hidden by their families to have their babies in secret, give them up for adoption, and most important of all, to forget any of it ever happened. Fifteen-year-old Fern arrives at the home in the sweltering summer of 1970, pregnant, terrified and alone. Under the watchful eye of the stern Miss Wellwood, she meets a dozen other girls in the same predicament. There’s Rose, a hippie who insists she’s going to find a way to keep her baby and escape to a commune. And Zinnia, a budding musician who knows she’s going to go home and marry her baby’s father. And Holly, a wisp of a girl, barely fourteen, mute and pregnant by no-one-knows-who. Everything the girls eat, every moment of their waking day, and everything they’re allowed to talk about is strictly controlled by adults who claim they know what’s best for them. Then Fern meets a librarian who gives her an occult book about witchcraft, and power is in the hands of the girls for the first time in their lives. But power can destroy as easily as it creates, and it’s never given freely. There’s always a price to be paid…and it’s usually paid in blood. In Witchcraft for Wayward Girls, the author of How to Sell a Haunted House and The Final Girl Support Group delivers another searing, completely original novel and further cements his status as a “horror master” (NPR).

Book shop exploring (Liverpool Street → Brick Lane)

In the digital age💻📡📱, do you still like getting a physical book to read? Where do you buy them? Amazon? Waterstone? Blackstone? How about join us for a bookshop crawl, let's try to find some hidden gems of independent bookshops. (Or just tag along for a chat😁) Don't worry, it's not a marathon, don't feel under any obligation to finish all the bookshops. The two hour time is just a guidance, some shops take longer and some are less. If you ever want to stay in one shop for longer (I know, been there, done that😂) feel free to do so, you can join us at other shops. (See itinerary below) Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with any of the shops, so you are not obliged to buy any books, just get whatever you like. *** 📚💃🏼 📖💃🏿☕️ ITINERARY ☕️💃🏾🍷💃🏻🍴📚 We will all meet outside the Liverpool Street Station at street level. Don't worry if you are late, join us in along the walks. Then the tour shall begin! 1: Libreria Bookshop Address: 65 Hanbury St, London E1 5JP 2: Books Iconica Address: The Tea Rooms Old Truman Brewery, 91 Brick Ln, London E1 6QL 3: Brick Lane Bookshop Address: 166 Brick Ln, London E1 6RU *** Wow, you made it, hopefully you have found some books that will make you happy🎈🎉✨. For people who likes to have more socials or talk more about books (or just to show off your purchases😆), we can find some place for a cup of coffee or a late lunch. *** Google map link for the bookshops: (Not ready yet, will update in the future)

September Harrow Women’s Book Club: There Are Rivers in the Sky, Elif Shafak

CLOSEST TRAIN STATIONS
• Harrow & Wealdstone 4minwalk.
• Harrow on the hill 10 min bus (get off at stop: Harrow and Wealdstone station) and then it’s a 4minwalk.
• There is bus stop for H9 and H10 right outside The Palm House, stop: Palmerston Road.

PARKING
• Palmerston Road car park 2minwalk (quite a small car park)
• Harrow and Wealdstone station car park, about 4min walk
• Some street parking but not loads

Land by Maggie O'Farrell - Suggested by Sam

Friendly book group Please remember to change your RSVP if you can't make it so someone on the waitlist can take your slot. New books chosen by popular vote and read 2 months later. We look forward to seeing you there!

Discuss September's Book

This month, we’re diving into historical fiction—a genre that brings the past to life through compelling characters, stories and settings. This month's read is: True Grit - Charles Portis

September Meeting 2 - High Fidelity (Nick Hornby)

In September's second meeting, the book will be Nick Hornby's debut novel, *High Fidelity*. Springing to fame for his memoir about football fandom, *Fever Pitch*, this first fiction work tells the story of 'a neurotic record collector and his failed relationships.' (Wikipedia) 'A million-copy bestseller, and adapted into a 2000 film starring John Cusack, *High Fidelity* explores the world of break-ups, make-ups and what it is to be in love.' (Book jacket) 'A wonderfully wry deconstruction of male emotional constipation and trivial obsession, Hornby’s debut novel about a record shop owner and his tangled love life provokes gales of knowing laughter.’ -Waterstones https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/285092.High_Fidelity The meeting will take place at Blues Kitchen Camden. Come along for some intriguing discussion of this observant and funny novel in a musical atmosphere (though live music does not start until after our meeting!) with some tasty American food. N.B. We will be charging an event fee of £3, non-refundable, to discourage no-shows and contribute to the running costs of the group. Please only sign up if you intend to come along as space is limited to make for an effective discussion!

LGBTQ+ Queer Fiction Book Club - Fruit Fly by Josh Silver

**QUEER FICTION BOOK CLUB!** Our next read will be ‘Fruit Fly’ by Josh Silver ***Synopsis:*** A mordantly dark literary satire about our insatiable desire for authenticity, the gripping adult debut from the author of Happy Head sees a struggling writer begin to unravel when she attempts to tell a troubled young addict's story. Anyone can write a bestseller. Here’s how… **Go gay.** It’s been seven years since Mallory shot to fame as a literary sensation. But after years of struggling with writer’s block, she’s desperate to resurrect her career before it spirals into obscurity. She needs inspiration to strike – and fast. **Go sad.** Enter Leo – a young struggling addict sleeping under bridges and trading sex for survival. He’s vulnerable. He’s enigmatic. He’s exactly what Mallory has been looking for. **Go dark.** Mallory needs Leo if she wants another bestseller. Authenticity sells, and there’s nothing more authentic than real life. She’s the perfect person to tell Leo’s story. Gay, sad, dark – just what the world needs right now. But as secrets threaten to unravel more than just her career, Mallory must decide: just how far will she go to pen the perfect story? A darkly funny literary satire that examines privilege, queer identity, and our modern obsession with authenticity, perfect for fans of Detransition, Baby, Evenings and Weekends and Eliza Clark. Purchase the book here: [LINK](https://www.amazon.co.uk/Fruit-Fly-Savage-darkly-hilarious/dp/1836432399/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0) At the end of the meeting we will set the next book, based on ideas and feedback from the group, giving everyone two months to read the book. All the books will be LGBTQ+ themed, by LGBTQ+ writers, or with themes likely to be of interest to LGBTQ+ people and communities. Please read the book ahead of the meeting and come with a view to share your opinions and views. If you would like to attend but are unable to afford the book, please email Chris on cwray@kingstonlgbtforum.org.uk who will be able to help out. **Support us**: Kingston LGBTQ+ Forum is run by unpaid volunteers and funded by the generosity of the local community. If you'd like to donate to Kingston LGBTQ+ Forum, [please click here](https://www.kingstonlgbtforum.org.uk/donate).

In-Person SBC at the London Night Cafe

Book Swap Social Event - Make New Friends Who Love Books

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

Silent Chapters🤫☕️📖🧁

September 2026 - State of the Nation - Personality by Andrew O'Hagan

For our September meeting, we will be reading a book from the State of the Nation category of The Guardian's "*[1000 Novels Everyone Must Read](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jan/23/bestbooks-fiction)*" list. The winner of the poll was 'Personality' by Andrew O'Hagan. To find out why this was nominated please see the [discussion page](https://www.meetup.com/1000-books/discussions/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize). You can find our Code of Conduct [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s3kphOY8w_uH_ay5RVpdwVkHgG6O3QYsCZ5wpaE6A1E/edit?usp=sharing)

The Big Smug Read 2026 - 'Midnight's Children' by Salman Rushdie