They say time flies when you’re having fun, and that couldn’t be more true because for the last five years, I’ve found a group that has allowed me to thrive in our little corner of the world. Indianapolis Moms Book Club started back in January 2021. At that time, book club meetings were held virtually due to ongoing concerns around the pandemic. It was hard to put myself out there with a group of strangers, and then add in the fact that we were meeting virtually to discuss our first book, that was nerve-racking. I pushed myself out of my comfort zone, and that was the best decision I could have made for myself. Over the past five years, I have made so many new friends and read some fantastic books. As we embark on our 6th year of book club, I wanted to reflect on some of the books we’ve read that really stand out. We’ve read a lot of great books, some that were okay, and not going to lie, some duds. Regardless, I’m excited to share my top 10 list of some of the most loved books we read together!
Books from year one:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue by V.E. Schwab – Our inaugural book from January 2021! Addie is cursed to be forgotten by everyone she meets after making a deal with a dark spirit to escape an arranged marriage. Addie’s adventure across centuries and continents will engross you as you follow her journey. Then one day, 300 years later, she meets a boy who remembers her.
The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare – This is the inspiring story of a teenage girl, Adunni, from a poor Nigerian village that longs for an education so she can find her “louding voice”. While this novel is heartbreaking, it will inspire you to live with hope and to never let go of your dreams.
Year two:
The Reading List by Sara Nisha Adams – This is a delightful book about how books and reading can bring people together. After a chance encounter at the library, an unlikely friendship forms between two very different people.
The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green – From local legend John Green comes his first non-fiction in the form of fabulous, curious essays. He reviews different facets of the human-centered planet on a five-star scale—from the QWERTY keyboard and sunsets to Canada geese, Dr. Pepper, and of course, Indianapolis.
Year three:
Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt – After Tova Sullivan’s husband died, she began working the night shift at the Sowell Bay Aquarium. Tova becomes acquainted with curmudgeonly Marcellus, a giant Pacific octopus. Friendship is formed and Marcellus helps Tova discover what happened when her son disappeared.
This Time Tomorrow by Emma Straub – On the eve of her 40th birthday, Alice’s life isn’t terrible, and she seems satisfied with how things are going with work, friends, and her living situation, but something is missing. When she wakes up the next morning, she finds herself back in 1996, reliving her sixteenth birthday. Now armed with a new perspective on her own life, some past events take on new meaning. Is there anything that she would change if she could?
Year four:
Hello Beautiful by Ann Napolitano – An exquisite homage to Louisa May Alcott’s timeless classic, Little Women, Hello Beautiful is a profoundly moving portrait of what is possible when we choose to love someone not in spite of who they are, but because of it.
Happiness Falls by Angie Kim – Mia’s brother runs through the front door bloody and alone, it becomes clear their father is missing and the only witness is Eugene, who has the rare genetic condition Angelman syndrome and cannot speak. This novel is full of shocking twists and fascinating questions of love, language, and human connection.
Year five:
The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali -In 1950s Tehran, seven-year-old Ellie lives in grand comfort until the untimely death of her father, forcing Ellie and her mother to move to a tiny home downtown. Lonely and bearing the brunt of her mother’s endless grievances, Ellie dreams of a friend to alleviate her isolation.
The Favorites by Layne Fargo – She might not have a famous name, funding, or her family’s support, but Katarina Shaw has always known that she was destined to become an Olympic skater. When she meets Heath Rocha, a lonely kid stuck in the foster care system, their instant connection makes them a formidable duo on the ice. Clinging to skating—and each other—to escape their turbulent lives, Kat and Heath go from childhood sweethearts to champion ice dancers, captivating the world with their scorching chemistry, rebellious style, and roller-coaster relationship.
Honorable Mentions: Educated by Tara Westover, Somebody’s Daughter by Ashley C. Ford, Wintering by Katherine May, Wordslut by Amanda Montell, The Scillian Inheritance by Jo Piazza, The Names by Florence Knapp, My Friends by Fredrik Backman.
Now we are kicking off year SIX with The Correspondent by Virginia Evans! In February, we did a “choose your own” month, and the theme was to read a book about friendship. We are currently voting on our selection for March, and the contenders are all great selections. We meet on the last Wednesday of the month at 7 pm at Liter House in Broadripple. To find out more about the book club, follow us on our Facebook page or on Instagram, @indymomsbookclub.
