A great way to spend a cold winter day is to curl up with a good book. While reading is often considered a solitary activity, it can also be a fun group experience and a wonderful way to make new friends. Astoria is home to a variety of book-loving organizations that provide engaging opportunities to connect with fellow readers!

The Astoria Reading Party, founded by Meline Rosales, a volunteer with 31st Avenue Open Streets, has received an overwhelmingly positive response. As a result, they’ve decided to continue meeting through the offseason. During the winter, Meline enjoys bringing a book to local coffee shops like Madam Sousou and Jhoanes. These cozy spots serve excellent coffee and pastries, providing a great, lowkey atmosphere for reading.

Though the Astoria Reading Party has only been around for a short time, it has quickly become a valuable outlet for the local book-loving community. Many of the same people attend regularly, and they recently started a WhatsApp group to stay connected. They plan to meet once a month throughout the winter. To learn more, follow their Instagram account @AstoriaReadingParty or join their WhatsApp community.

Ladies First Astoria’s book club held its first meeting in January 2020. Little did they know, it would be the only in-person gathering before the pandemic. Fortunately, the club was able to transition seamlessly to Zoom, providing a way for fellow Astoria women to stay connected and make new friends during isolation. Once it was safe, they returned to in-person meetings and have been thriving ever since.

The club meets about every six weeks, with book selections chosen through an Instagram poll based on member suggestions. They have two favorite spots for meetings: Rivercrest during the colder months and Bohemian Beer Garden in warmer weather. Both venues are spacious, quiet enough for conversation, and accommodating to large groups, allowing everyone to order individually.

In addition to the book club, Ladies First Astoria hosts a monthly happy hour on the second Thursday of each month at local bars. Popular spots include Maggie Hall’s and Heart of Gold. They also organize various events throughout the year, such as craft workshops, movie screenings, and their annual murder mystery party. The club’s mission is to bring women in the community together, whether they are book lovers or simply locals seeking to meet new friends.

Astoria Book Club, founded by Ben Kandov, was created as a way to talk to people in person about the books he was reading. The club meets once a month, on Wednesdays at 7 PM, at Omonia Café on Broadway. Astoria Bookshop orders the selected book each month and offers a discount for that selection. The process of choosing books is democratic, with a monthly theme. Members submit suggestions, and the group votes on their choice.

Ben’s advice for anyone looking to start their own book club is simple: stick with it, and don’t be afraid to experiment and see what works best over time. Astoria Book Club fosters a real sense of community, and members often organize social events outside of the book discussions.

Marissa, also known as Bookish City Gal on Instagram, loves sharing her book recommendations and engaging with the local Astoria community. Her involvement with the book community grew exponentially when she hosted a fundraiser for the Queens Public Library in collaboration with 31st Avenue Open Streets. In July, she organized a mystery book sale, often referred to as “Blind Date with a Book,” sourcing all the books from local Astorians. The event not only allowed her to meet many new people but also attracted a large turnout, which was a fantastic way to connect with fellow readers.

For anyone considering starting a bookstagram account, Marissa’s advice is simple: just go for it. She joined bookstagram because of her love for reading and discussing books, and through the community, she’s met some wonderful new friends.

Last but certainly not least, the lifeblood of the Astoria book community—Astoria Bookshop. The shop, opened by owner Lexi in 2013, filled a gap in the neighborhood after the only bookstore in Astoria closed in 2012. Inspired by the community’s demand for books, Lexi decided to open the shop and offer a place for book lovers to gather. The store features a charming patio, perfect for relaxing with a newly purchased book on a nice day.

Astoria Bookshop also hosts the Hidden Gems Book Club at the store, and partners with other local book clubs to offer members a discount on books purchased from them (just like they do for Ben’s book club!). In addition to the book club meetups, they offer a variety of events, including Sunday morning Storytime for toddlers, a weekday “Parents’ Storytime” reading and discussion group, a community Tarot meetup, and a storytelling show hosted by David Lawson. They also frequently host readings and author signings, so be sure to check their website for upcoming events.

Astoria offers a vibrant and welcoming book community that provides numerous opportunities to connect with fellow readers. Whether through casual meetups at local coffee shops, engaging book clubs, or fun social events, these organizations foster a sense of camaraderie among book lovers and create lasting friendships. There’s something for everyone who shares a passion for books. So, grab a book, join a group, and embrace the power of reading to build connections and enrich your life in this dynamic community.