Sixteen members of the Prime Time for Women Book Club gathered at my home on Tuesday, December 17 to celebrate the upcoming holidays, share a potluck meal, participate in a book exchange and, most importantly, select the books for the next year.  It’s one of my favorite PTFW annual events, in fact, I lovingly refer to it as the PTFW Book Club Extravaganza!

Everyone arrived bearing not only wrapped books for the book exchange but deliciously prepared main course dishes, appetizers, salads, vegetable side dishes desserts and bottles of wine! While the food warmed in the oven and the wine cooled on the back porch, members took turns pitching their recommended book.  In all fourteen interesting books, ranging in genre from nonfiction to romance, to historical fiction to fantasy were recommended.  So many good books and so little time to read them all!  One of the best things about being in a book club is that I have explored new genres and enjoyed many books that I would not have chosen on my own.

Once the food was hot, we ate!  There’s only one word for it…it was a FEAST!  Not just any old feast, it was a festive holiday feast filled with tons of opportunities to talk, laugh, hug and revel in the gift of our shared friendships. Over the most scrumptious dishes we filled each other in on our busy lives, holiday plans, health issues, grandchildren and…of course, continued to discuss which books we thought should be picked.  After dinner, ballots, with all fourteen books listed, were distributed for members to cast their votes.  Here’s the thing, even though we only pick eleven books, one book each month, except for December (which is always reserved for the Book Club Extravaganza) most of us read all of the recommended books!

There are many benefits to being in a book club besides just reading books.  Take it from two of our members, Amy Vennett and Cathy Cotleur who each shared their thoughts in past editions of the PTFW Newsletter. Also if you’re interested, you can check out 10 Benefits of Joining a Book Club.

Now down to business! Drum roll please! The books selected for PTFW’s 2025 Book Club are listed below along with the member who will facilitate the discussions.

January- The Things We Keep by Sally Hepworth (Amy Vennett)

February- Statistically Speaking by Debbie Johnson (Brenda Finley)

March- The Girl with the Louding Voice by Abi Dare (Sharon Hoppes)

April- The Keeper of Happy Endings by Barbara Davis (Linda Henry)

May- The Glass Maker by Tracy Chevalier (Peni Jo Renner)

June- Beneath the Scarlet Sky by Mark Sullivan (Robyn Sumner)

July- Berry Pickers by Amanda Peters (Tisha May)

August- Spinning Silver by Naomi Novik (Nancy Hadley)

September- Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt (Cidalia Brocca)

October- The Water Dancer by Ta-Nehisi Coates (Maggie Terry)

November- James by Percival Everett (Bernadette Wagner)

Other wonderful books which were suggested include:

The Cure for Women: Dr. Mary Putnam Jacobi by Lydia Reeder

Shelterwood by Lisa Wingate

Life in Five Senses by Gretchen Rubin