Book Brunch Club

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions! The Book Brunch Club meets on the fourth Thursday of each month at 10am. This book club does not meet on holidays when the library is closed. Participants have the option to meet either in person in the Conference Room (Second Floor) at Bloomington Public Library or online via Zoom.

Registration is required and can be completed online, by calling 309.590.6168, or by visiting the Help Desk on the library’s second floor. To register online, the upcoming book club meetings are listed to the right. Click on the date you would like to attend to register online.

The Library receives extra print copies of book club books leading up to the date of the meeting. To reserve one of the extra print copies of the next title to be discussed, contact the Help Desk by phone at 309.590.6168 or by email to reference@bloomingtonlibrary.org. Digital copies of each title (eBook or eAudiobook) may also be available through the Libby or Hoopla Apps.

 

2026 Book Selections

Book cover showing a woman sitting in a dark room with a large window behind her looking out on a rocky shore.

January 22, 2026

 The Inheritance by Trisha Sakhlecha

Meet the Agarwals, who have gathered on a private, luxury island off the west coast of Scotland for a much-anticipated family reunion. Raj, the patriarch and a business tycoon, is about to announce to his wife and three children the succession plan for his multimillon-dollar Delhi-based company. Shalini, the fragile matriarch, is ready to have her husband to herself after years of sacrifice to the family business. Myra, the golden child, owner of the island and host of the reunion, is, unbeknownst to her family, on the brink of bankruptcy. Aseem, the son and supposed heir, is torn between his love for his wife and his duty to family. Aisha, the youngest, a party girl whose antics are legendary, can’t pass up an opportunity to wreak havoc. And then there’s Zoe, Aseem’s wife, the outsider whose #InstaPerfect life is built on a foundation of lies. They’ve all got secrets they would die to protect. Who will survive this high-stakes reunion.

Book cover showing the author of the book, Christian Cooper looking through some binoculars.

February 26, 2026

 Better Living Through Birding: Notes from a Black Man in the Natural World by Christian Cooper

In Better Living Through Birding , Cooper tells the story of his extraordinary life leading up to the now-infamous incident in Central Park and shows how a life spent looking up at the birds prepared him, in the most uncanny of ways, to be a gay, Black man in America today. From sharpened senses that work just as well at a protest as in a park to what a bird like the Common Grackle can teach us about self-acceptance, Better Living Through Birding exults in the pleasures of a life lived in pursuit of the natural world and invites you to discover them yourself.

Book cover that is modeled after a stain glass window and the pieces fit together to make a woman who looks like a nun smoking a cigarette.

March 26, 2026

 Scorched Grace by Margot Douaihy

When Saint Sebastian's School becomes the target of a shocking arson spree, the Sisters of the Sublime Blood and their surrounding community are thrust into chaos. Unsatisfied with the officials' response, sardonic and headstrong Sister Holiday becomes determined to unveil the mysterious attacker herself and return her home and sanctuary to its former peace. Her investigation leads down a twisty path of suspicion and secrets in the sticky, oppressive New Orleans heat, turning her against colleagues, students, and even fellow Sisters along the way.

Book cover showing a green stormy sky with lightning and a deserted road with a man walking along carrying a large sword.

April 23, 2026

 God Country by Donny Cates

Meet Emmett Quinlan, an old widower rattled by dementia. Emmett isn't just a problem for his children--his violent outbursts are more than the local cops can handle. When a tornado levels his home--as well as the surrounding West Texas town--a restored Quinlan rises from the wreckage. An enchanted sword at the eye of the storm gives him more than a sound mind and body, however. He's now the only man who can face these otherworldly creatures the sword has drawn down to the Lone Star State.

Book cover with a green background and a tomato with stem and leaves

May 28, 2026

 The Apology by Jimin Han

In South Korea, a 105-year-old woman receives a letter. Ten days later, she has been thrust into the afterlife, fighting to head off a curse that will otherwise devastate generations to come. Hak Jeonga has always shouldered the burden of upholding the family name. When she sent her daughter-in-law to America to cover up an illegitimate birth, she was simply doing what was needed to preserve the reputations of her loved ones. How could she have known that decades later, this decision would return to haunt her — threatening to tear apart her bond with her beloved son, her relationship with her infuriatingly insolent sisters, and the future of the family she has worked so hard to protect?

Book Cover showing a man standing near some water wearing a minotaur mask.

June 25, 2026

 Monsters: a Fan's Dilemma by Claire Dederer

Claire Dederer asks: Can we love the work of Hemingway, Polanski, Naipaul, Miles Davis, or Picasso? Should we love it? Does genius deserve special dispensation? Is male monstrosity the same as female monstrosity? Does art have a mandate to depict the darker elements of the psyche? And what happens if the artist stares too long into the abyss? She explores the audience's relationship with artists from Woody Allen to Michael Jackson, asking: How do we balance our undeniable sense of moral outrage with our equally undeniable love of the work? In a more troubling vein, she wonders if an artist needs to be a monster in order to create something great. And if an artist is also a mother, does one identity inexorably, and fatally, interrupt the other?

Book cover showing a cloudy sky with a lot of birds flying around near some rocky plateaus

July 23, 2026

 Lost Birds by Anne Hillerman

Joe Leaphorn may be long retired from the Navajo Tribal Police, but his detective skills are still sharp, honed by his work as a private detective. His experience will be essential to solve a compelling new finding the birth parents of a woman who was raised by a bilagáana family but believes she is Diné based on one solid clue, an old photograph with a classic Navajo child’s blanket. Leaphorn discovers that his client’s adoption was questionable, and her adoptive family not what they seem. His quest for answers takes him to an old trading post and leads him to a deadly cache of long-buried family secrets.

Book Cover showing a green orc and a pink creature standing back to back with their arms crossed behind a bakery counter.

August 27, 2026

 Legends & Lattes by Travis Baldree

After a lifetime of bounties and bloodshed, Viv is hanging up her sword for the last time. The battle-weary orc aims to start fresh, opening the first ever coffee shop in the city of Thune. But old and new rivals stand in the way of success. If Viv wants to put the blade behind her and make her plans a reality, she won't be able to go it alone. But the true rewards of the uncharted path are the travelers you meet along the way. And whether drawn together by ancient magic, flaky pastry, or a freshly brewed cup, they may become partners, family, and something deeper than she ever could have dreamed.

Book cover showing illustrations of a variety of figures like a woman in a dress, a fox, a whale, a crab and other people.

September 24, 2026

 Relit: 16 Latinx Remixes of Classic Stories edited by Sandra Proudman

In classic stories remixed, Latinx characters take center stage. Pride and Prejudice is launched into outer space, Frankenstein is plunged into the depths of the ocean, and The Great Gatsby floats to an island off the coast of Costa Rica. A shapeshifter gives up her life to save the boy she loves from an evil bruja. La Ciguapa covets a little mermaid’s heart of gold. Two star-crossed teens fall in love while the planet burns around them. Whether characters fall in love, battle foes, or grow through grief, each story will empower readers to see themselves as the heroes of the stories that make our world.

Book cover showing a café with fall décor and a white cat exiting the front door.

October 22, 2026

 The Pumpkin Spice Cafe by Laurie Gilmore

When Jeanie's aunt gifts her the beloved Pumpkin Spice Café in the small town of Dream Harbor, Jeanie jumps at the chance for a fresh start away from her very dull desk job. Logan is a local farmer who avoids Dream Harbor's gossip at all costs. But Jeanie's arrival disrupts Logan's routine and he wants nothing to do with the irritatingly upbeat new girl, except that he finds himself inexplicably drawn to her. Will Jeanie's happy-go-lucky attitude win over the grumpy-but-gorgeous Logan, or has this city girl found the one person in town who won't fall for her charm, or her pumpkin spice lattes.

Upcoming Events

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.

This event is in the "Adult" group

Book Brunch Club

10:00am–11:00am
Adult
Bloomington Public Library & Online
Register
Registration Required
Library Branch: Bloomington Public Library & Online
Room: Conference Room & Online
Age Group: Adult
Program Type: Book Club, In-Person Program, Online Program
Registration Required
:

Start your day right with Book Brunch Club, a cozy book club where you bring your coffee and snacks, we provide the books, and together we dive into lively discussions!

Disclaimer(s)

Hearing Device Assistance

To accommodate hard-of-hearing patrons, the library offers the use of assistive listening devices in each Community Room and in each Children’s Program Room. For these devices to work, the presenter must use the room’s sound system. For the clearest sound, make sure the device is unobstructed by clothing or jewelry and sit in the first few rows.
If you experience connectivity issues, please let a staff member know. A guide on using the assistive listening devices is available.