Book Swaps London

Book Swap Meetup 📚📚📚

Basic Ideas: 🌞 📚☕ Any books sitting there collecting dust? Some holiday gifts? Or it’s a book that has changed your life that you want to share? Feel free to bring book(s) to discuss or swap, we usually have more books than people in the end, so feel free to pop along just to have a chat as well. Aiming for every 4 weeks book swap meetup. Note: The event is free to attend, so the only cost for you will only be buying a drink at the location, so coffee/tea/beer etc.

Book Swap Social Event - Make New Friends Who Love Books

Do you have spare books lying around your home? Do you want to read new interesting books for free while socializing with interesting people? This is the event for you. We will enjoy nice drinks and snacks together at a beautiful lounge bar in London. You can bring your books and exchange them with whoever has the books you want to read. Since this is a Science and Philosophy book club, it would be great for you to bring non-fiction books that are insightful and thought-provoking. If you want to bring fiction books that are scientifically or philosophically insightful, feel free to bring those as well. Since it is a social event, I encourage everyone to make deep meaningful conversations and make new friends. You can come alone or bring your friends with you. If you come alone, there is no need to be shy or scared. I will welcome you and introduce you to cool interesting people to speak with. Also feel free to come even if you forget to bring any books.

Between the Lines: Bring your own & swap

Bring Your Own & Swap: Books, Wine & Good Company Between the Lines is a curated book club created for thoughtful conversations, great books and even better wine. We meet in handpicked London wine bars, creating a relaxed, intimate space to connect with like-minded readers. Our first Bring Your Own & Swap sold out in just four days, and the lovely people who came made the night unforgettable. Now the swap is back! Bring a book you’ve read and loved, and are happy to pass on. Share why it stayed with you, then swap it for another reader’s book to take home. We’ll also keep building our Between the Lines reading list together, one recommendation at a time. Join us at The Winemakers Club for a curated wine-bar experience, with a complimentary drink on arrival. Whether you joined us last time or this will be your first Between the Lines evening, you’re very welcome. Friday 9 October 2026, 7 pm The Winemakers Club 41a Farringdon Street, London EC4A 4AN To join us, click the following registration link, complete the form and payment, and secure your place: https://forms.gle/46X4rKrD7ZpUBnEz8 Also, give us a follow on instagram! - https://www.instagram.com/betweenthelines_ldn?stkn=enRqOHg4a2Zhczhm&utm_source=qr

October Book Club Meetup: Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk

London's Friendly Book Club's pick for October is **Invisible Monsters** by **Chuck Palahniuk**. She's a catwalk model who has everything: a boyfriend, a career, a loyal best friend. But when a sudden motor 'accident' leaves her disfigured and incapable of speech, she goes from being the beautiful centre of attention to being an invisible monster, so hideous that no one will acknowledge she exists. Enter Brandy Alexander, Queen Supreme, one operation away from being a real woman, who will teach her that reinventing yourself means erasing your past and making up something better, and that salvation hides in the last place you'll ever want to look. The narrator must exact revenge upon Evie, her best friend and fellow model; kidnap Manus, her two-timing ex-boyfriend; and hit the road with Brandy in search of a brand-new past, present and future. Please only RSVP if you think you'll be able to make this event. **We host three sessions per book, you only need to attend one.** Everyone is welcome! Grab your copy and join us for a relaxed and engaging discussion.

BOOKCLUB: Atmosphere - Taylor Jenkins Reid

This month we will be reading/discussing ***[Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220817728-atmosphere?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nUOGpaGFum&rank=1).*** If you have not read the book, you are more than welcome to join. Be aware, there will be spoilers! 18:30 - 18:45 - Meet, get drinks, get settled (at the back and upstairs) 18:45 - 19:45 - Discuss the book 19:45 onwards - pick book for next meet and socialize **The Venue: [Shinner and Sudtone](https://shinnerandsudtone.co.uk/)**[ ](https://shinnerandsudtone.co.uk/) A lovely little pub with a variety of craft beer. Usually quiet on a Monday and we get the upstairs area. They serve food and dogs are most welcome. **The Book:** ***[Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/220817728-atmosphere?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=nUOGpaGFum&rank=1)*** Joan Goodwin has been obsessed with the stars for as long as she can remember. Thoughtful and reserved, Joan is content with her life as a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University and as aunt to her precocious niece, Frances. That is, until she comes across an advertisement seeking the first women scientists to join NASA’s space shuttle program. Suddenly, Joan burns to be one of the few people to go to space. Selected from a pool of thousands of applicants in the summer of 1980, Joan begins training at Houston’s Johnson Space Center, alongside an exceptional group of fellow candidates: Top Gun pilot Hank Redmond and scientist John Griffin, who are kind and easygoing even when the stakes are highest; mission specialist Lydia Danes, who has worked too hard to play nice; warmhearted Donna Fitzgerald, who is navigating her own secrets; and Vanessa Ford, the magnetic and mysterious aeronautical engineer, who can fix any engine and fly any plane. As the new astronauts become unlikely friends and prepare for their first flights, Joan finds a passion and a love she never imagined. In this new light, Joan begins to question everything she thinks she knows about her place in the observable universe. Then, in December of 1984, on mission STS-LR9, it all changes in an instant.

The Not-New-Books club

📚 The Big Idea Welcome! We are a community of readers aged 45+ who gather to discuss great books that have stood the test of time. We aim to choose books that should be readily available at your local library, or may even already be on your own shelf. Where possible, I'll provide a link to a YouTube audiobook. Let's work through our "I really must read that, one day" booklist, together. ⏳ What We Read We skip the brand-new releases. Instead, we dive into: * **Modern classics** from past decades. * **Hidden gems** you may have missed over the years. * **Forgotten favorites** worth re-reading with mature eyes. * **Biographies and histories** that offer deep perspective. 🍷 Why Join Us? * **Life experience:** Books that we read in our 20s can feel different, now. * **Less pressure:** We're aiming to meet every six weeks, which should hopefully give us enough time to actually finish a book. I'll send out a few 'discussion prompts', a week before each meeting, to give us some food for thought. * **Real connections:** This is a space to make genuine, lasting friendships with like-minded people who share your love of a good story. 🗓️ Our Routine * **When:** Saturday, every six weeks at 2 PM. 2026: Oct 10th, Dec 26, 2027: Feb 16, Mar 20, May 1, Jun 12, Jul 24, Sep 4, Oct 16. * **Where:** Currently at Pret in High Holborn, which has a quieter back room. * **Format:** 15 minutes of settling in, 90 minutes of book discussion, followed by 15 minutes of voting for our next book. You are welcome to nominate your favourite read, or we can randomly select one from The Guardian's "Readers' top 100 novels of all time" https://tinyurl.com/mwczm6d9 **October's book is '1984' by George Orwell** Did you know that, according to a [World Book Day](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/mar/05/uk-reading-habits-1984) survey, 42% of respondents who admitted to lying about reading a book falsely claimed to have read George Orwell’s *1984*, making it the most commonly lied-about book? I started it as a teenager, and found it boring. I picked it up, recently, and found it terrifying. Still haven't finished it, though... As always, please only sign up if you are planning to attend. The event is free but the usual £1.50 is a non-refundable maintenance fee and meetup will also charge you £0.60. We would appreciate it if you cancelled no later than 2 days before the event and please avoid cancelling on the day as that may get you removed from the group.

October 2026 - War and Travel - Slaves of Solitude by Patrick Hamilton

For our October meeting, we will be reading a book from the War and Travel category of The Guardian's "*[1000 Novels Everyone Must Read](https://www.theguardian.com/books/2009/jan/23/bestbooks-fiction)*" list. The winner of the poll was 'Slaves of Solitude' by Patrick Hamilton. To find out why this was nominated please see the [discussion page](https://www.meetup.com/1000-books/discussions/?eventOrigin=home_groups_you_organize). You can find our Code of Conduct [here](https://docs.google.com/document/d/1s3kphOY8w_uH_ay5RVpdwVkHgG6O3QYsCZ5wpaE6A1E/edit?usp=sharing).

October Meet-up (in person): Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe

Discuss: Yesteryear by Caro Claire Burke

Yesteryear - Caro Claire Burke (390 pages) Kindle £9.99 Amazon paperback £9.99 Natalie lives a traditional lifestyle (‘trad wife’)– and her followers are sick with envy. Her charming farmhouse on her working ranch is artfully cluttered, her husband is a handsome cowboy, her homemade sourdough boules are each more beautiful than the last. So what if there are nannies and producers and industrial-grade ovens behind the scenes? What her followers don’t know won’t hurt them. Then, one morning, Natalie wakes up in a strange, horrible version of reality. Her home, her husband, her children—they’re all familiar, but something’s off. Is this a hoax? A reality show? A test from God? Natalie knows just two things for sure: this isn't her perfect life, and she must escape, by any means possible. As darkly funny as it is shocking and gripping, Yesteryear is an electrifying examination of tradition, fame, faith and the grand performance of womanhood, from a thrilling new talent in fiction. The cost of the meetup is £2. Looking forward to seeing you there!

The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Fancy joining us for a relaxed book club meetup to chat about The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde? It’s a casual get-together to discuss the book, share thoughts and have a good conversation. No need to be an expert or have read every page — just come along if you’re interested! It’s also a nice way to meet new people, make friends and connect with others who enjoy books and good conversations. Everyone is welcome. Come along, grab a coffee, and let’s talk Jekyll, Hyde and everything in between!

The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley

In this event, we will discuss about a science or philosophy book chosen by London Science and Philosophy Book Club. The attendees will be divided into groups and each of them will focus on a chapter or one of the main ideas in the book. This month we will discuss about a fascinating book called The Doors of Perception by Aldous Huxley. If you haven't read the book, it's no problem. I will bring you up to speed with the discussion materials. We will meet in a nice lounge area at 6 p.m for introductions. Please come on time so you will not miss out on valuable discussion midway. If you end up in the waitlist, feel free to show up. Book Description: In 1953, in the presence of an investigator, Aldous Huxley took four-tenths of a gram of mescalin, sat down and waited to see what would happen. When he opened his eyes everything, from the flowers in a vase to the creases in his trousers, was transformed. Huxley described his experience with breathtaking immediacy in The Doors of Perception. In its sequel Heaven and Hell, he goes on to explore the history and nature of mysticism. Still bristling with a sense of excitement and discovery, these illuminating and influential writings remain the most fascinating account of the visionary experience ever written. Agenda: 6 p.m to 7 p.m: Introduction and Socializing 7 p.m to 9:30 p.m: Book Discussion 9:30 p.m to late night: Drinks, Dinner or Feel free to go home

Deeper Conversations - Monthly Book Club (Oct '26) - The Bell by Iris Murdoch

Join us for our monthly book club, where we read thought provoking fiction and get together to share our thoughts, different interpretations, and whatever the book left us thinking about. Whether you read all the time or are just trying to read more, everyone is welcome. **This Month's Book: The Bell by Iris Murdoch** Set around a small religious community in the English countryside, The Bell follows a group of people trying to make sense of their relationships, beliefs, desires and the choices they make. First published in 1958, it gives us plenty to talk about around love, morality, freedom, faith and how well we really understand ourselves and other people. **IMPORTANT: Please only RSVP if you are planning to finish the book. If you've RSVP'd but don't think you'll be able to finish it, please change your RSVP to No in advance rather than on the last day, so someone else can take your place. Regulars get priority when moving from the waitlist to confirmed.** **No show policy: If you can no longer attend, please cancel your spot at least 24 hours in advance so someone else can take it. Two no shows without cancelling, or two last minute cancellations, will result in a ban from future book club events. This also helps us give the venue accurate numbers.** **About Deeper Conversations** We have a mission at Deeper Conversations to improve the quality of people's lives through conversation. All our events are centred around the concept of connecting deeply, because we believe we all deserve to be seen, felt and understood for who we really are. To have the 'deeper conversation' approach when relating with others can change our lives and can change the world **Our Value** \*\*\ \*Respect: \*\*Treat everyone with kindness and consideration. ❤ \*\*\* Open-mindedness: \*\*Be open to different perspectives and ideas \*\*\ \*Active Participation: \*\*Share your thoughts and engage in meaningful discussions.