A Bumper Start to 2026

What a way to begin 2026!

January was a milestone for us: our first book club meeting at Arco Lounge and our biggest turnout EVER. Seeing that many people gathered around a shared love of reading felt really special and we’re so grateful to the Arco Lounge team for making space for us and looking after everyone so warmly all evening.

We started the year with Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell, which turned out to be the perfect book for some rich conversations. Some of us were completely absorbed by the family dynamics and O’Farrell’s ability to consider the small, unspoken moments between characters. Others found it slower and more meandering and wanting a bit more momentum but those differences are exactly what made the conversation so rich and hearing how the same book can land in completely different ways depending on the reader.

What really stayed with me, though, wasn’t just the book but it was the people in the room. New faces alongside familiar ones (it was the New Year after all! We always see a boost in numbers at this time), people who’ve been coming for months and even years chatting with those attending for the first time and conversations happening long after the ‘official’ discussion ended. I hope new members found a sense of ease and openness (this is something I’m incredibly proud of with HBC).

Starting the year like this reminded me that book club isn’t just about what we read but about the community we’re creating together. A genuinely kind group of readers. If this is how 2026 has begun, I can’t wait to see where the rest of our reading year takes us! We have an amazing event coming up alongside the Silent Book Club in March - I’m so excited to be branching out.