USPS Publication Number 16300
THE
SUMMATIONWeeklyy
This Community Newspaper is a publication of the Escambia-Santa Rosa Bar Association
S E RV I N G T H E F I RS T J U D I C I A L C I RC U I T Vol. 26, No. 16
April 22, 2026
SummationWeekly.com
1 Section, 8 Pages
Section A, Page 1
FOR THE LOVE OF BOOKS LOCAL BOOK CLUBS TO JOIN THIS SPRING
By Bella Shields
B
ook clubs are a great way to make real-world connections centered on a shared passion for reading and fictional worlds. Here in Pensacola, there are plenty of opportunities for book lovers to connect with each other and find community. From traditional book clubs with assigned titles each month to casual gatherings for general book lovers and genre-specific groups tailored to particular reading tastes, there’s a club for anyone looking to connect with fellow readers in the area. If you’re still on the hunt for a bookish friend circle, you might want to consider giving any of these local options a try! West Florida Public Library Book Clubs The West Florida Public Library (WFPL) hosts a number of active book clubs throughout the year, but two of our favorites offer something a little different for local readers. The Popular Literary Book Club is open to members ages 18 and up and follows a traditional book club format, with a new title selected each month for the group to read and discuss together. Meetings are held at the Pensacola Library at 239 N. Spring St. in downtown Pensacola on the third Wednesday of every month at 10:30 am. April’s featured book is My Friends by Fredrik Backman, a heartfelt story exploring the life-altering bonds of friendship. Another WFPL library-based book club targeted to a slightly
different demographic is the Graphic Novel Book Club. Open to members ages 15 and up, the club also meets at the Pensacola Library. The group meets on the last Monday of each month at 5 pm, and rather than assigning a specific title, participants are invited to bring a favorite graphic novel to share and discuss. To learn more about these and other WFPL Book Clubs, visit mywfpl.com. WUWF Book Club This book club was established in 2019 by local listener-supported radio station WUWF-FM. Six years later, the club is still running strong, growing to include a membership base of 300 people. Every other month, members vote in the group’s private Facebook group on a new book to read. The Facebook group also acts as a discussion hub where members can talk about the books they’ve read and other book-related topics, helping build a sense of community among readers. Members are encouraged to chat about group-assigned books, recommend their own favorites and use the group as a space to share their love of books with each other. The club meets virtually and typically hosts in-person gatherings at various locations throughout Pensacola, though in-person meetings are currently on hold. The WUWF Book Club is open to everyone, and membership is free. If you’re interested in becoming a part of it, check out WUWF Book Club on Facebook. Barnes & Noble Book Club The Barnes & Noble Book Club is a nationwide program featuring
monthly fiction selections, often with exclusive, in-store editions, special content and discussions held at store cafes. Designed for engaging and enthusiastic readers, it encourages community discussion, frequently highlighting new, thought-provoking contemporary literature. Meetings are held in Barnes & Noble cafes on the last Tuesday of the month or other scheduled times, usually led by booksellers. Each month, the club assigns a new book, which is highlighted at the front of the store. In March, the book selection was Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney’s Lake Effect, a drama set in the 1970s about a scandalous affair between neighbors. Each month, members are invited to participate in group discussions in-store or online using the hashtag #BNBookClub. For details on the latest book selection and upcoming in-store meetings, visit barnesandnoble.com and check the event calendar at your local Barnes & Noble store. Read Pensacola Book Club This independently run book club for readers ages 18 and up is made up of four different genrebased groups that meet throughout the month. If you’re hoping to find a book club that matches your reading tastes, this group offers plenty of options. Each subgroup focuses on a different genre and meets during a specific week of the month. The Literary Fiction group meets on the first Tuesday of every month, and has recently focused on reads
like Girl Dinner by Olivie Blake, The Women of Wild Hill by Kirsten Miller and The Book of Lost Hours by Hayley Gelfuso. The Romance group meets the third Tuesday of the month, and has recently enjoyed titles like An Academic Affair by Jodi McAlister and the ever-popular Heated Rivalry by Rachel Reid. The Fantasy Club readers meet on the fourth Tuesday and recently discussed Alex Harlow’s The Everlasting. Finally, the Horror Club meets every three months on the fifth Tuesday, with past selections including titles like Mayra by Nicky Gonzalez and The Library at Hellebore by Cassandra Khaw. To stay updatedon meetings and upcoming reading lists, follow @readpensacola on Instagram. UWF Silent Book Club If traditional book discussions aren’t your style, the University of West Florida’s (UWF) Silent Book Club offers a relaxed alternative where readers can simply enjoy a good book in quiet company. Hosted at the University of West Florida, this book club is open to current students, faculty and staff who want a low-pressure way to make time for reading. Instead of a structured discussion, attendees bring their own book and spend the meeting enjoying quiet, independent reading alongside other book lovers. Snacks are often provided, and the goal of this group is to serve as a getaway to unwind, destress and pause your hectic schedule to dive into a book. Meetings take place on the third floor of John C.
Pace Library. The group does not follow a fixed monthly schedule, so sessions are planned individually in advance. Two meetings are scheduled during the spring semester, with hopes of expanding to more regular gatherings in the future. To see upcoming meeting dates, check the UWF Library Calendar of Events at uwf.edu/library. Books & Bubbly One of Pensacola’s most social book clubs, Books & Bubbly blends great reads with meaningful conversation and a welcoming community of local women. Launched in 2018 as part of the women’s community group, Positively Pensacola, the club was created to help women connect through books, thoughtful discussion and new friendships. The group meets once a month for relaxed, conversation-driven gatherings where members discuss a selected book while enjoying light refreshments—often with a celebratory glass of bubbly. Rather than focusing on traditional literary analysis, conversations center on books written by women, stories of women’s empowerment and topics that inspire meaningful dialogue about life, relationships and personal growth. Meetups are casual and welcoming, making it easy for newcomers to join whether they’re devoted readers or simply looking to meet new people in the community. Readers interested in joining can stay up to date on meeting dates and sign-up details by following Positively Pensacola on Facebook and Instagram. ■
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