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60+ Generic Book Club Questions + Printable PDF [For Any Book or Genre]

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One of the best ways to hold the interest of your book club members is to come prepared with an interesting set of book club questions.

A great list of book thought-provoking discussion questions will keep things lively and keep your book club members interested in interacting in the book discussion.

Just in case you haven’t had time to find book club questions specific to the book you’re currently reading, I’ve put together a list of generic book club questions that can work for any book in any genre.

Book Club Questions – General

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These questions are split into groups for general questions, and then questions that would coincide with a specific part of a book.

You can modify or add to it as you wish!

• What were your initial impressions of the book?
• What themes or messages did you take away from the book?
• Did the book prompt any strong emotional reactions from you? Which scenes evoked those feelings?
• Did you find the pacing of the book satisfactory? Were there any sections that seemed too slow or rushed?
• Do you think the title fits the story?
• Can you think of a better title?
• Did the book change your perspective or challenge your beliefs in any way? How?
• Was it an easy read? Or did you struggle to get through it?
• Which part of the book did you like the most, and why?
• Did you dislike any part of the book, and why?
• Would you read this book again?
• If you were writing a sequel to this book, what would it be about?
• Would this book make a good movie adaptation?
• What aspect of the book do you think will stay with you for a long while after you finish it?
• Did the book bring up any memories or experiences from your own life?
• Did the book make you think differently about a specific subject or issue and if so, what was it and how did your perspective change?
• Did this book cause you to Google any facts while you were reading it?
• Did you learn anything by reading this book?
• Should this book have a sequel?
• Did this book remind you of any other books you’ve read?
• Was there a recurring theme throughout the book?
• Do you have a favorite quote from the book?
• On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being the highest, how would you rate this book?
• Did the book grab your attention right away within the first few pages or the first chapter?
• How did you feel about the book after the first chapter? Bored, intrigued? Explain your feelings.
• Was it easy to keep track of the characters at the beginning?
• Which character did you like the most and why?
• Which character did you dislike the most and why?
• Did you find the main characters believable?
• Which characters would you like to meet in real life and why?
• Did the characters remind you of the characters in any other book?
• Did the characters remind you of any real people you know? Why?
• Which character experienced the biggest struggle in the book and what was it?
• Were all the characters’ struggles resolved by the end of the book?
• Did you get angry with any of the characters? Why?
• Who would you cast to play the main characters if this book were adapted into a movie?
• Were there any moral or ethical issues in the book? If so, how did the characters navigate these issues, and what would you have done in their place?
• Did you feel sympathy for any character? Which one?
• What do you think happens to the characters after the book ends?
• Were there any plot twists or surprises that caught you off guard? How did they impact your perception of the story?
• Were you happy with the way the author built tension throughout the book?
• Did the plot keep you in suspense?
• Were there any parts of the book that you found confusing? If so, how would you have improved that section?
• If this book were to happen in real life, would the plot be realistic? What about the characters, would they be realistic in real life?
• Did the setting play a significant role in the book? How did it contribute to the overall atmosphere or theme?
• Did the book have a strong sense of place? Could you see the place in your mind as you read the book?
• Have you ever visited the place or places where the book was set? If not, has reading the book inspired you to travel to that place?
• Would the plot of this book work in a different timeframe?
• Did the timeframe and chronology of the book make it easy to understand the events? Or were you feeling lost at any point and not quite sure what timeframe you were in?
• How did the book handle the passage of time? Did it use flashbacks? Multiple timelines? Or some other technique to indicate the passage of time either forward or backward?
• Did you find the ending satisfying?
• Were there any loose ends that you wish would have been resolved differently?
• Did you guess the ending before you got there?
• Did the book end like you hoped it would?
• Did the end surprise you or challenge your expectations in any way?
• Was it a clear ending? Or did it leave you hanging, not really knowing what happened to one or more characters?
• Is this the first book that you’ve read by this author?
• If you’ve read other works by this author, how does this book compare?
• Did the author’s writing style enhance or detract from your reading experience?
• How would you describe the author’s writing style?
• Did this book entice you to read another book by this author?
• How good of a storyteller would you say the author is?
• If you could ask the author any question, what would it be?

I hope you find this list of generic book club questions useful for your next book club meeting.

I recommend spending some time and trying to come up with some additional questions of your own that you can add to the list.

The more questions you have, the more interaction you’ll get from the members of your book club.

If you’re still a book club newbie, start here with my Book Club 101 Ultimate Guide .

Is this your first visit to Looks Like Books? If so, check out our  About  page so you can learn a little more about me and my Looks Like Books mission.

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Mary Emmer, is the founder of Looks Like Books. She is an avid book enthusiast and self-employed entrepreneur, with an inspiring passion for reading and learning.  With a background in the travel industry spanning four decades, Mary has cultivated a diverse range of experiences that have shaped her unique perspective on life and storytelling.  More about Mary .

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The Best Book Club Questions to Spark Discussion

Get the conversation started.

Besides the below book club questions, remember, the easiest way to be a participant at the book club is to be an active reader. If you're not squeamish about writing in the margins, try taking notes and underlining passages as you go along. For those of you with a library book, author Elise Williams Rikard shared a trick with OprahMag.com. "I put sticky notes on pages that really move me or get me thinking so we can revisit and discuss during book club," Rickard says.

Ideally, everyone would come to the book club bursting with feelings, impressions, and ideas that the book had sparked. Samantha Cerff, an editor for Fandango Latin America and member of the book club Sinopsis in Lima, Peru, recommends organizing all those thoughts prior to the meeting. "Always get your questions ready beforehand and keep in mind some quotes you'd like to discuss," Cerff tells OprahMag.com.

Then, all it takes is one or two prompts to get everyone sharing their takes. Luckily, there's no shortage of thought-provoking book club questions. Bring these with you to your next meeting, and you will be hailed a book club hero .

General Book Club Questions

• What was your favorite part of the book?
• What was your least favorite?
• Did you race to the end, or was it more of a slow burn?
• Which scene has stuck with you the most?
• What did you think of the writing? Are there any standout sentences?
• Did you reread any passages? If so, which ones?
• Would you want to read another book by this author?
• Did reading the book impact your mood? If yes, how so?
• What surprised you most about the book?
• How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
• If you could ask the author anything, what would it be?
• How does the book's title work in relation to the book's contents? If you could give the book a new title, what would it be?
• Is this book overrated or underrated?
• Did this book remind you of any other books?
• How did it impact you? Do you think you'll remember it in a few months or years?
• Would you ever consider re-reading it? Why or why not?
• Who do you most want to read this book?
• Are there lingering questions from the book you're still thinking about?
• Did the book strike you as original?

Nonfiction Questions

• Did this book make you want to explore the subject matter more?
• What were your impressions on the author's style? Did you find the book easy to read, or a slog?
• Of all the information presented in the book, what has stayed you the most?
• What did you Google while reading the book?
• Did you agree with the author's conclusions? Where did you deviate?

Fiction Questions

• Which characters did you like best? Which did you like least?
• Which character did you relate to, or empathize with, the most?
• If you had to trade places with one character, who would it be?
• Guess the characters' zodiac signs.
• What do you think happens to the characters after the book's official ending?
• What are your thoughts on the book's structure? Did it serve the story well?
• How did the setting impact the story? Would you want to read more books set in that world?
• Did the book feel real to you?
• Did the plot proceed in a way that felt natural? Or did you feel manipulated by the storyline?
• Are there any characters you'd like to deliver a lecture to? If so, who? What would you say?

Self-Help Questions

• Has this book affected the way you go about your life? If so, in what way?
• Did you agree with the author's advice?
• Did you doubt the author's advice at some points? How come?
• What are some passages that you underlined, or that particularly affected you?
• Do you think the author succeeded in what they set out to do?
• What is the most important point the author makes in this book?

Mystery and Thriller Questions

• Which twist surprised you the most?
• Was the narrator's voice compelling?
• Did you guess the ending? If so, at what point?
• Are there plot points the book didn't address?
• Did you agree with the characters' decisions?
• Did the book spook you, or get under your skin, in any way?

Romance Questions

• Did you like the "heat" level of the book?
• Was the couple's connection believable? If so, at what point did they click for you?
• What do you think happens to the leads after the ending?
• What did you think of the romance's pacing?
• Would you fall for either of the leads?
• Did this book melt your heart? Make you believe in love again?
• If it's part of a series, did this book book compel you to read the next one?

Memoir Questions

• Did you find the author's story compelling?
• What do you think motivated the author to share his or her story?
• What did you think of the author's voice and style? Did the quality of the writing match the story?
• How did the book compare to other memoirs you've read?
• How did the memoir make you reflect on your own life?
• What did you learn from hearing this person's story?
• Are there any areas you wished the author had elaborated upon further?
• Are there any people in the book whose perspective you wanted?
• Do you think the author was honest?

Elena Nicolaou is the former culture editor at Oprah Daily. 

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30 Non-Fiction Book Club Questions For Your Next Read (+PDF Download)

This blog post contains affiliate links, no extra cost to you, thank you for your support!

Non-fiction books make great book club reads because there’s just so much to discuss – theories, experiments, quotes, real-life events and more.

In this non-fiction book club question guide, you’ll find 20 discussion questions that can be used for any non-fiction book. 

Most of these are open-ended questions for non-fiction books. Meaning you’ll never again hear just a “yes” or “no” from your fellow book-club members. 

The aim of these questions is to aid them to “open up” about the book more so your bookclub can have an active discussion session.

More Book Club Questions:

• Atomic Habits Book Club Questions
• Verity Book Club Questions For Colleen Hoover Fans
• It Ends With Us Book Club Questions & Quotes
• Reminders of Him Book Club Questions & Guide

The Viscount Who Loved Me Book Club Questions

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30 Non-Fiction Book Club Questions

• What were your expectations before diving into this book?
• What do you think about the title of this book?
• If you could rewrite the title if this book, what would it be?
• What do you think about the cover of this book?
• How would you design this book’s cover art?
• Have you read this author’s books before? If yes, did you enjoy them? If no, why did you choose to try reading this book?
• What is your preferred format for reading non-fiction books like this one? Why? (E-book, audiobook, paperback)
• Did you find any note-worthy quotes from this book? What were they?
• How long did it take for you to read this book?
• What parts of the book did you enjoy?
• What parts of the book did you dislike?
• If you were able to meet the author, what would you say to him/her?
• Did do any additional reading or research for this book club session? Would you like to share them?
• What emotions did this book evoke in you?
• What is something new you’ve learned from this book?
• What was the main idea the author was trying to get across to its readers?
• To whom would you recommend this book and why?
• Is there a similar author or similar book you’d recommend and why?
• Did this book meet your expectations and why?
• Is this type of book your usual cup of tea or did it make you read out of your comfort genres?
• Do you have any thoughts on the writing style of this book?
• Describe this book in one sentence.
• Did you take away anything from this book and apply it in any part of your life?
• Describe this book using 3 emojis.
• What songs would you add to a playlist for this book?
• How do you think the author could have improved this book?
• Is the topic of the book something you’re familiar with?
• How often do you see yourself reaching out for this book again?
• What do you think about the length of this book?
• Do you have any tips on reading non-fiction books?

Printable Non-Fiction Book Club Discussion Questions

My top 3 non-fiction books for your next book club session, atomic habits by james clear.

Atomic Habits by James Clear is a self-help book that discusses how the accumulation of tiny changes can lead to big, impactful results.

Positive tiny changes or negative tiny changes can have a compounding effect. This is where Clear’s very famous 1% better everyday concept comes to play. 

This book teaches how to build tiny habits instead of giving in to instant gratification.

Read More: Atomic Habits Book Club Questions & 30 Note-Worthy Atomic Habits Quotes By James Clear

How To Change by Katy Milkman

Written based on a combination of principles of psychology, Milkman’s own research and findings. The book sheds insights into understanding our own internal obstacles – laziness, procrastination, forgetfulness, among others. 

Milkman points out that failure is inevitable so it’s important to shift our focus to learning how to navigate around those situations instead.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

7 Habits of Highly Effective People different from Atomic Habits is the approach – the former is more strategic and the latter is more tactical.

This is one of those books that readers would either hate or love. Some readers found that the 7 habits helped remind and rekindle what lies within them.

Hi there, i'm Sonia. The founder and author at Brewing Writer, a blog that features detailed book reviews, bookstagram tips, book blogging tips, thoughtfully curated book lists (which my readers love!) and cozy aesthetic photography that’ll make you crave a cup of coffee and a good book.

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The Women by Kristin Hannah

• Publication Date: February 6, 2024
• Genres: Fiction , Historical Fiction , Women's Fiction
• Hardcover: 480 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• ISBN-10: 1250178630
• ISBN-13: 9781250178633
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The Women Book Club Questions and Discussion Guide

What does it mean to be a hero? This question is more complicated than you may think, and Kristin Hannah explores its meaning through the turmoil experienced by her characters in The Women . This fictional novel is inspired by the very real women who served in the Vietnam war, only to have their service ignored and dismissed by veteran organizations and American citizens. Our The Women book club questions will help you explore the tragedies of the Vietnam war, war protests, loss, strong female friendships, sexism, and patriotism.

The main character, Frankie, leaves her comfortable Californian home to serve as a nurse in Vietnam after her brother is killed in service. The horrors she experiences are unimaginable, but her hardship only continues when she returns home. With the help of her close friends who served with her, Frankie must navigate complicated familial and romantic relationships, betrayal, disappointment, PTSD, and the dismissal of her service in the war.

In our discussion guide for The Women , you’ll get everything you need to have an in-depth book club discussion of this moving book. Included is a synopsis from the publisher, selected reviews from other readers, and 10 The Women book club questions. Also included is a list of 3 books like The Women for further similar reading.

(This article contains affiliate links. This means that if you choose to purchase, I’ll make a small commission.)

The Women Synopsis

(We always chose to provide the publisher synopsis because we feel that it’s worthwhile to discuss whether the official book description actually squared with your experience of the book.)

The Women , Kristin Hannah

Women can be heroes.  When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances “Frankie” McGrath hears these words, it is a revelation. Raised in the sun-drenched, idyllic world of Southern California and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing. But in 1965, the world is changing, and she suddenly dares to imagine a different future for herself. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is over-whelmed by the chaos and destruction of war. Each day is a gamble of life and death, hope and betrayal; friendships run deep and can be shattered in an instant. In war, she meets—and becomes one of—the lucky, the brave, the broken, and the lost. But war is just the beginning for Frankie and her veteran friends. The real battle lies in coming home to a changed and divided America, to angry protesters, and to a country that wants to forget Vietnam. The Women  is the story of one woman gone to war, but it shines a light on all women who put themselves in harm’s way and whose sacrifice and commitment to their country has too often been forgotten. A novel about deep friendships and bold patriotism,  The Women  is a richly drawn story with a memorable heroine whose idealism and courage under fire will come to define an era.

10 Book Club Questions for The Women

These questions have been tailored to this book’s specific reading experience, but if you want more ideas, we also have an article with 101 generic book club questions .

• “The women had a story to tell, even if the world wasn’t quite yet ready to hear it, and their story began with three simple words. We were there.” Were you aware of the service of women in the war in Vietnam? 
• What do you think about Frankie’s romantic partners? Which were the best or worst?
• Were you familiar with the poor treatment of Vietnam Veterans after they returned from the war? What do you think about it?
• “Deep down, she was still the good Catholic girl she’d been in her youth. She believed in good and evil, right and wrong, the dream of America. Who would she be if she chose to look away from the wrongness of this war?” How did Frankie’s morals change throughout the book? How did her view of America, and right and wrong, change?
• “Some things don’t bear the weight of words. That’s the problem with your generation, you all want to talk, talk, talk. What is the point?” There was a huge generational gap in how Frankie and her parents dealt with grief and trauma. How did this affect Frankie in her healing process? Have you experienced this? Do current generations still have this gap?
• “The question was, how? How did you get through grief, how did you want to live again when you couldn’t imagine what that life could be, how you could be happy again?” There is a lot of grief and tragedy in this story. What touched you the most? What did you most relate to?
• Hannah brings up several real life issues that occurred in Vietnam; toxic herbicide spraying, attacks on civilians, prisoners of war, and government lies about the status of the war. How much did you know about the Vietnam war before reading this book? Did you learn anything new?
• What did you think of Frankie as a character? Did you relate to her? Would you have acted similarly in the situations she found herself in?
• “Thank God for girlfriends. In this crazy, chaotic, divided world that was run by men, you could count on the women.” What did you think about Ethel and Barb, and the friendship they shared with Frankie? How did their relationship contrast with others in the book?
• How does the “heroes wall” in Frankie’s childhood home influence Frankie’s decisions? How does it reflect her fathers and society’s views on women, and what it means to be a hero?

Selected Reviews for The Women

(Use these selected Goodreads reviews to compare with your own experience of the book. Do you agree or disagree with the reviews?)

“[…] From the moment you dive into Frances “Frankie” McGrath’s story, you’ll become engrossed. It’s almost as if you’re under a spell – you won’t be able to put it down. Her story will grip you, tearing at your heartstrings and evoking numerous tears, as you connect with her fears, heartbreaks, pains, anger, and frustrations. […] She might be the most honest, poignant, tough, and resilient heroine the author has ever created.”

“ […] The foreshadowing is so heavy that the book becomes predictable, and there are far too many characters—all of them are undeveloped. The author did far too much telling instead of showing. Show us memories of Finley and Frances. Give us the backstory on Ethel and Barb. Don’t tell us. Show us.”

“ […] This book also shows how PTSD affected nurses, doctors, and soldiers. How many self-medicated with drugs and alcohol. This book also depicts scenes of great bravery, political upheaval, war protests, the effects of PTSD, self-medication with drugs, friendships, family dynamics, sexism, and growth. The characters are fully fleshed out and feel real. I felt for them, rooted for them, and cried with them.”

“Emotionally, this book is seriously “everything but the kitchen sink”. Just throw in every tragic thing you can think of, it’s there. Just when you think something good might happen, nope. The tragedy gets almost repetitive and boring. Like, how many times do I want to read about her bloody clothes and men’s gaping wounds? How many times do I want to read about her drunken pill popping à la Valley of the Dolls? In a few cases, tragedy conveniently disposed of some plot points and characters which I found annoying. For instance, rather than Frankie having an honest conversation with another character, something traumatic occurs so she doesn’t have to.” 

NEED BOOK CLUB IDEAS?

Use our guide to find dozens of book ideas for your group.

3 Books Like The Women

If you really loved Hannah’s writing style, we’ve also got discussion guides for The Four Winds and The Nightingale . And for more books with a backdrop of war, have a look at The Rose Code and All the Light We Cannot See .

The Diamond Eye , Kate Quinn

Based on a true story, The Diamond Eye tells the story of Mila Pavlichenko and the journey that took her from a mother and librarian in Kyiv to becoming one of the most deadly snipers in WWII. Her story continues to the United States, where she is hailed as a hero and involved in the highest levels of government, and must battle ghosts from her past, romantic relationships, and come to terms with her own life decisions.

Read this one for book club and use our Diamond Eye discussion guide .

When We Had Wings , Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris, Susan Meissner

For another story about female nurses during wartime and their friendship, When We Had Wings is an excellent choice. The story follows three nurses who sign up for service in WWII and are stationed in the Philippines. All three are looking for an escape from their past, but things go downhill when they are caught in intense combat when the US and Japan fight for control of the Philippine Islands, ending up as POWs. This powerful story is based on true stories of nurses known as “the Angels of Bataan”.

Courageous Women of the Vietnam War , Kathryn J. Atwood and Diane Evans

(subhead: Medica, Journalists, Survivors, and More)

This non-fiction book explores the true stories of women who experienced the Vietnam war in different capacities. This is a perfect read if you are interested in learning more about the experiences of real women in the war, and the history surrounding them. This book tells the story of various women who served as medics, journalists, resisters, revolutionaries, were POWs, and native Vietnamese. 

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