Queer Books

A cozy, no-pressure book club. **What to Expect:** Welcome to a cozy, relaxed book club built around conversation, curiosity, and community. There is no assigned book and no pressure to finish anything. Come share what you’re currently reading, a past favorite, or a book you’d love to read in the future. We’ll start with casual mingling, move into a light icebreaker, and then open the space for organic book talk and discussion. Expect thoughtful conversations, different perspectives, and a welcoming mix of like-minded and not-so-like-minded readers. **What to bring:** • Yourself • A book you’re reading (or one you love or want to read) • Curiosity and an open mind **Location:** Art & Dine @ The Springs Souk (Near Emirates Hills, Springs, Meadows, Lakes, Hattans) **Policy:** • Attendees are required to avail any item from the menu • Please be respectful and listen when someone else is speaking **Parking:** Free mall parking available **Contact:** Rinku — WhatsApp +971 58 558 2680 This is a warm, judgment-free space to meet new people, exchange ideas, and enjoy stories together.

### No pressure. No judgment. Just books, curiosity, and good company. **What to Expect** This is a relaxed, judgment-free book club created for people who love books, are getting back into reading, or simply enjoy being around curious minds. There is **no assigned book** and **no expectation to finish anything**. Read at your own pace — whether it’s one page, one chapter, or a book you’re still thinking about months later. Come share what you’re currently reading, something you’ve read before, or even a book you hope to start someday. The focus is not on how much you’ve read, but on the conversations, perspectives, and connections that unfold. We’ll begin with casual mingling, ease into a light icebreaker, and then let the discussion flow naturally. Expect thoughtful conversations, diverse viewpoints, and a welcoming mix of readers — fast, slow, and somewhere in between — all while enjoying coffee, tea, or your favorite beverage. **What to Bring** • Yourself • A book you’re reading, have read, or want to read • Curiosity and an open mind **Location**: Art & Dine, The Spring Souk, Al Assayel Road - Dubai **Policy** • Attendees are required to avail any item from the menu • Please be respectful and listen when someone else is speaking **Parking** Free mall Parking **Contact** Rinku — WhatsApp +971 58 558 2680 This is a warm space to slow down, meet new people, exchange ideas, and feel inspired — without pressure, deadlines, or judgment.

Hello All if you like to join our what'app group to receive our monthly updates. Please join under this link: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KriZ3ly93rsJz9LrD3bhVd Books and Booze Rana

Love stories, but never find the time to read? Always wanted to start reading but don’t know where to begin? **A Few Good Pages** is a weekly short story circle where we slow down, read together, and have thoughtful relaxed discussions. No pressure, No prep! We meet **every Saturday** to read and discuss **one or two short stories**—quick reads that stay with you. Whether you’re a **wannabe reader** looking to get started, a **busy book lover** who wants to rebuild reading habit, or someone who enjoys **sharing perspectives on a great story**, you’ll fit right in. You don't need to prepare anything in advance - Just show up. Over the past year, we've read and discussed over **200+ short stories,** building a warm, reflective community that values attention, curiosity and consistency. Join our WhatsApp Group for updates: https://chat.whatsapp.com/IpIMc6c87W49FJIg1cRDJk?mode=hqrt2 **Cost & Membership** * First session : **Free** * Drop in : AED 30 per session * Membership options available for those who want to build a consistent reading habit. **Location** Location : L'eto Cafe, 1st floor, Mall of Emirates (D7 is the closest parking Entrance) Please update the RSVP if there's any change in your plans :-) Come for the stories, stay for the discussions!

Join us for a cozy, vibrant gathering of book lovers as we share our favorite reads and current page-turners! Whether you're into fiction, memoirs, thrillers, or poetry, there's a seat for every story here. Each meetup, we explore a new venue in the heart of Dubai—so you're not just discovering new books, but also new cafés and experiences. Over a delicious lunch, we dive into conversations about stories, authors, and life—connecting with awesome people along the way. No pressure to finish a book—just come with your curiosity, your appetite, and your love for a good story. ✨ *Great books. Great food. Great people.* We can’t wait to meet you! Location: **The Coffee Shop at Souk Al Bahar Downtown Dubai (nearby Dubai Mall)** Policy: You will have to avail any item from the menu and to listen when someone's turn to speak. Parking: Souk Al Bahar Parking Lot Contact: we have instagram **cece.events** and WhatsApp +971 55 416 9381

Think you know your books? 👀📖 Join us for Bookends Trivia Night, a fun, bookish evening filled with clever clues, laughter, and friendly competition. 🗓 Feb 7, 2026 ⏰ 6:00 PM 📍 Bookends, Dubai Digital Park, DSO. 🎟 AED 69 (includes AED 25 redeemable in-store!) 🏆 Win a dinner voucher for two Spaces are limited, DM us to buy your tickets 💛 Bring your A-game and your squad. See you there 📚✨ #BookendsTriviaNight #BookendsUAE #BookendsAlQuoz #BookishFun #TriviaNightDubai #ReadersOfDubai

Most of us don’t know how to spend money. We chase things that impress others but leave us cold. Or we save endlessly, afraid to spend on what would actually make life better. We confuse admiration with envy, comfort with excess, and utility with status. The Art of Spending Money doesn't provide budgets, hacks, or one-size-fits-all solutions. It gives you understanding of how your relationship with money shapes your decisions—and how to reshape it so money works for you. Morgan Housel’s work has helped millions rethink how they earn, save, and invest. Now he turns his attention to the other side of the equation: how to spend. With insight and warmth, he shows why the most valuable return on investment is peace of mind, why expectations matter more than income, and why doing well with money has less to do with spreadsheets and more to do with self-awareness. This book isn’t about getting rich. It’s about getting the most out of what you already have—and learning to want what’s worth wanting.

et’s get together for a cozy evening of **shisha, books, and great conversation** on **🗓 Sunday, 8 February** **⏰ 7:00 PM** **📍 Korma Sutra, Barsha** **✨ Deal:** AED 69 for **shisha + one drink** The venue also offers shisha, coffee, and delicious food. **Please bring:** * 📖 A book you love and want to talk about * 🔄 A book to exchange For a fun twist, feel free to **wrap your exchange book** to keep it a mystery 🎁 Looking forward to a relaxed evening of good reads and great company 💛 **Attendees (Limit: 20):** 1. Ipshi 2. Rana 3. Harlee 4. Kit 5. Farah 6. Anita 7. Amandeep 8. Shweta 9. Riham 10. Tina 11. Karen 12. Tara 13. Sara 14. Sita 15. Tulika 16. Imrana 17. 18. 19. 20. Confirm attendance by sending whats app to 0567694516 as adding ur name here will not count

يسر "ملتقى الراويات" وبرنامج "مدارس الحياة" التابع لهيئة دبي للثقافة و الفنون أن يدعوكم لحضور جلسة حوارية بعنوان: “الهوية والتراث الإماراتي في السرد المعاصر” ، بمشاركة الكاتب عمر الأنصاري ، ومناقشة لروايته "حرز تالا" ، الأحد ٨ فبراير 2025 ، الساعة 7 مساءً ، بمكتبة الصفا للفنون والتصميم ، الوصل، دبي. يدير اللقاء ا. ميسون الشريف الدعوة عامة **متوافر نسخة pdf فقط لمن يرغب في قراءة الرواية ويحضر المناقشة** نتطلع لحضوركم جميعا.

Each month, we'll read a Nebula or Hugo Award-winning book. We meet on the second Sunday of each month to discuss the story and share our thoughts. This month the book is The Man in the High Castle by Philip K. Dick. It is available for purchase from Kinokuniya in Dubai Mall. Explore new worlds with us. All science fiction and fantasy fans are welcome!

Let us read the second part and can also reflect on the author who passed away in 2025. Please buy your own coffee and sit down. It is not a big coffee shop so you will easily find me. Happy reading!

## Details Join our [WhatsApp Group](https://chat.whatsapp.com/L1pC0svZ8iI0AXtmK16dxU?mode=ac_t) to stay updated with the event details. Hey folks, Dubai Youth Connect (DYC) is a group that aims to provide a safe and friendly environment for Dubai residents to meet and socialize. DYC Book Club is a space for people who want to start or restart reading and just need a little push or accountability—without the pressure of committing to a single book. Feel free to bring any book, read a few pages at the venue, and share your takeaways during the discussion. The idea is to welcome all genres and ideas. I would appreciate it if you could RSVP if you’re attending this event, as there is an attendee limit. Looking forward to seeing y’all. Feel free to DM me if you have any doubts, and feel free to join our [WhatsApp group ](https://chat.whatsapp.com/L1pC0svZ8iI0AXtmK16dxU?mode=ac_t)

# 🌿 Barakah Bookclub: Reflecting on the Names of Allah (Dubai) **Date and time:** Saturday, 15 November 2025, 10:30 AM **Venue:** Yvonne, Dubai Hills Mall **Fee:** 30 AED per session **Host:** The Productive Sister Barakah Bookclub. **About this meetup:** We will journey through Allah’s Beautiful Names with our next book, Reflecting on the Names of Allah by Jinan Yousef. This circle is about more than memorizing. It is about understanding, reflecting, and living each Name in daily life at work, in study, and at home. **Why this book:** 1. It is accessible and practical, with short reflections and prompts you can apply the same week. 2. It is Quranic and heart centered while remaining easy to discuss in a group. 3. It fits our Barakah Culture focus on presence, reliance on Allah, and meaningful action. **What you will get:** A welcoming women’s circle, guided reflection prompts, simple weekly practices to live the Names, and gentle accountability within a supportive community. Agenda (75 to 90 minutes): 1. Arrival 2. Opening and intention (5 minutes) 3. Reading focus on selected Names and key passages (20 minutes) 4. Group reflection and takeaways (30 minutes) 5. Weekly practice and duas (10 to 15 minutes) **Get the book:** I have limited stock on hand. Reserve your copy here: [add your reservation link] Public price: 178 AED Your price: 160 AED when purchased through the host https://buy.stripe.com/14A6oH1b13ujehqgscdIA0A **Matching journal:** 99 Names of Allah Guided Journal by Towards Faith https://buy.stripe.com/cNi5kDcTJ4yngpy4JudIA0B **Practical details:** Fee: 30 AED per session, pay on site **Who it is for:** Individuals seeking a calm, spiritually grounded space to reflect and apply **Bring:** Your book and a pen **Location:** Yvonne inside Dubai Hills Mall. Free mall parking available **Capacity:** Limited seating. Please RSVP early **Accessibility:** Mall venue. Message the host if you have specific needs **RSVP and notes:** Click Attend to save your spot. If you need the discounted book at 145 AED, reserve it using the link above after RSVPing. If you cannot make it, update your RSVP so someone on the waitlist can join. Fees are not refundable but are transferable to another attendee for the same session. We look forward to welcoming you, inshaAllah.

💕 Galentine’s Coffee & Paint 💕 Grab a cup of coffee, pick up a paintbrush, and spend a relaxed afternoon getting creative with great company. No painting experience needed—just come as you are and enjoy a fun, low-pressure art session with other amazing gals. We’ll sip coffee, paint something fun, chat, laugh, and celebrate friendship. 💖 All skill levels welcome! ✨ What’s included: 🎨 A heart shaped wooden canvas with easel (to take home) and all painting supplies 💖♥️ Pink/Red theme setup ☕ Coffee/ any hot beverage Perfect for: Creatives and non-creatives alike New ladies in town Anyone looking for a fun, low-pressure way to meet others 📍 DIFC 📅 7th feb, Saturday 12-2PM 💵 AED 99 🔗 Whatsapp +971 529810589 https://www.instagram.com/dubaicreativemeetups Whatsapp community - https://chat.whatsapp.com/E3qoJlZfdcaAkyu0tf6xbI Unfortunately we won’t be able to entertain walk ins as we have to arrange all materials in advance, please pre book.

Join us for our February Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *A Master of Djinn* by P. Djèlí Clark in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

Join us for our March Book Club gathering where we will come together to discuss *The Manor of Dreams* by Christina Li in a safe and welcoming environment. Make new friends who share your passion for books and connect with fellow LGBTQ book enthusiasts.

**First Gathering: Love as Transformation** Reading: **The Forty Rules of Love** by **Elif Shafak** We begin Men, Meaning, and Madness with a novel that treats love not as sentiment, but as a force that disrupts, humbles, and reshapes the self. The Forty Rules of Love explores love as discipline, surrender, and moral risk. It asks what happens when certainty breaks, when the ego is wounded, and when meaning is found not through control, but through transformation. This gathering is for men interested in serious literature and honest inquiry into how love shapes character, responsibility, and the inner life. Discussion will be guided by questions rather than summaries. The aim is depth, not debate. Come having read the book or engaged with it seriously.

A quiet writing and sharing space, Queer Quills features some prompts, supplies and friendly faces to help get some inspiration or feedback for your writing. Hope to see you there!

**I’m planning future book club meetups and would love your input. Please choose your top three from the list below—your picks will help decide what we read next!** **Book Options** *The Hong Kong Widow* – Kristen Loesch *American Spy* – Lauren Wilkinson *God of the Woods* – Liz Moore *Listen for the Lie* – Amy Tintera *The Swallows* – Lisa Lutz *The Drowning Kind* – Jennifer McMahon *The Eights* – Joanna Miller *The Quiet Librarian* – Allen Eskens Thanks so much for sharing your pick! Please **reply in the comments** with your top three. I can’t wait to see which books rise to the top and to discuss them together at our next meetups.

Join fellow Queer birders on February 22nd for birding at Pickerington Ponds Metropark. No expertise required!