Program Spotlight: The Book Club

Virtual book clubs made their way into the zeitgeist during the pandemic and while some have returned to their in-person origins, many (like Senior Planet’s) continue to thrive online. Senior Planet’s book club brings people from all over the country together to discuss a new book – chosen by Senior Planet participants – every month. Best of all, there are multiple ways to participate! 

Every other month, the Senior Planet team puts together a list of books for people to vote on and the top two vote-getters become the next two month’s reads.  

“Most of our books come from suggestions made by our book club members,” says Nicole Alcime, Senior Manager of Virtual Programs. “Every other month, we select four titles for a poll and ask participants to vote. We look for books that are at least a year old, have good reviews, and feature diverse voices.” 

For each book we publish an article sharing different ways you can acquire a copy, what sections to read each week, and when the discussion will take place. At the end of each month, we host a live discussion over Zoom (that’s also where you can suggest future books!). But we also encourage people to share their thoughts while they read in the article’s comments section and on Senior Planet Community. 

“I love that participants have several ways to get involved,” continues Nicole. “I also love hearing that we’ve selected books participants wouldn’t normally read on their own, and that those books often broaden their perspective and give them a greater appreciation for different genres.” 

The best way to keep up with book club is by subscribing to The Orbit newsletter. You can also find a history of books we’ve read here. 

Now Reading 

This month’s book is Love, Chai, and Other Four-Letter Words by Annika Sharma, described as “a sweet story of finding love where you least expected to” by fellow author Sonali Dev. Grab a copy today and join us for the discussion on Zoom on Thursday, November 20 at 4:30pm EDT. 

Want to Join?

Are you new to the book club? Joining is easy! Follow these simple steps:

1. Obtain a copy of the current book.
2. Read the book club article (updated every Tuesday) to find out the assigned chapters for each week.
3. After reading a section of the book, share your thoughts in the comments section of the book club article.
4. Finally, at the end of the month, join us on Zoom for our group discussion with fellow readers. (The next Zoom session will take place on Thursday, November 20 at 4:30pm ET. Click here for more details)

Missed the November meeting? Our book selections for December 2025 and January 2026 have now been announced! Click here to learn more.

Your Turn 

What are the best books you’ve read lately? 

Deirdre Lee serves as Director of Virtual Program Experiences for Senior Planet from AARP (formerly managing the organization’s licensing program). Based in Denver, she oversees Senior Planet’s online programs as well as the free hotline for tech or Senior Planet questions (available at 888-713-3495).