Spiritual Book Club 101

What is a spiritual book club, and what can it do for you?

With the number and variety of books being published today, it can be difficult to choose what to read and when. That might be why so many readers are increasingly choosing to read with book clubs. In fact, book clubs made up 31% of events hosted on Eventbrite in 2024, according to a survey done by the platform. Younger event attendees were particularly interested in combining two or more of their existing hobbies when looking for a club or activity to join. 2025 saw a rise in the popularity of "silent book clubs," where readers gather in public spaces to quietly read side-by-side. We're betting that 2026 will continue the trend of people turning back to books for solace, reflection, and inspiration.

A niche in the book club world is the spiritual book club, which combines a love of reading with a focus on personal growth and self-reflection. The phrase ‘spiritual book clubs’ primarily refers to book clubs that read predominantly self-help titles, such as don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements and Sarah Platt-Finger’s Living in the Light. Organizations like The Spiritual Book Club are among the largest in the literary space, offering their members not just reading recommendations but access to author interviews and community events. Other clubs, such as the Women of Faith and The Review Christian Book Club, choose a specific religion or practice to guide their reading.

You'll notice that the word "spiritual" often translates to religious affiliation, but this need not be the case, and not all spiritual book clubs are about self-help. Some spiritually-minded book clubs recommend allegorical fiction such as Paulo Coehlo’s The Alchemist, a common title on spiritual reading lists. Other book groups, such as Inglenook’s very own Lit Witch Coven, discuss mystical memoir and literary fiction, focusing on the spiritual impact of witchy, magical narratives.

Reading improves our mental health, reducing stress and anxiety, so it’s no surprise that many readers have an interest in pursuing personal growth through books. Spiritual book clubs can offer readers an additional level of engagement through community discussion. With weekly or monthly meetings, readers can use these book-loving communities as a space not to just to discuss what they read, but how the book impacted their perspective or daily habits.

Although they’re often perceived as solitary activities, both reading and personal growth are accomplishments best celebrated among like-minded people. Some might argue that the benefits of spiritual book clubs mimic the benefits of group therapy by giving attendees a support system to share their self-reflections with. Group therapy validates its participants by reminding them that they aren’t alone and invites them to voice their thoughts. Doing so can build confidence as well as interpersonal communication and emotional regulation skills.

It’s important to make a distinction here between book clubs that build community and book clubs that follow the Book of the Month subscription model. The latter are not just offering recommendations and discussion; they also profit from the titles on their list. Some, like the Book Club of Shadows, even sell book boxes with witchy flair. While this book club model is growing in popularity as well, their lack of focus on social connection and personal growth sets them apart from other free, community-oriented book organizations.

The diversity and variety of possible clubs to join makes it possible for all readers, regardless of personal practice or beliefs, to find a reading group that best suits their interests and reading habits. There are so many available to readers, in fact, that organizations like bookclubs.com exist exclusively to serve as a directory of book communities for readers to explore.

Whether its Substack, TikTok, or in-person events bringing readers together, ultimately it’s the community that readers find in these spiritual book clubs there that keeps them coming back over and over again. So get out there and explore! Your very own spiritual reading community is out there, just waiting to hear about the new book changing your life.

Claire van Doren holds degrees in English literature and journalism as well as a certificate in LGBTQ+ studies from Arizona State University. She is a volunteer reader for Uncharted magazine, a publisher of genre fiction. Her writing has been published by Inner Worlds, Zocalo Public Square, and ASU News.