Cheyenne Roche: OPINION: Expand your horizons

Nov. 2—In 2016, I tried to start a book club with some of my friends. We didn't read a whole lot at the time, but I wanted to get back into it. It was a small group and it didn't last long, but we read "Anne of Green Gables," by L.M. Montgomery "The Great Gatsby" by F. Scott Fitzgerald and "Wild" by Cheryl Strayed.

I had already read the first two books and I had similar experiences the second time — loved Anne, hated Gatsby. "Wild" was new for me, and a genre I wouldn't normally read.

The full title, "Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Coast Trail," describes the author's true journey throughout the novel. It has since been made into a movie by Reese Witherspoon, but of course, the book is better.

As I mentioned, the book club didn't last long with interest fizzling out. I hadn't been in another book club until 2022 when the Gibson Memorial Library announced their new Romance Book Club was going to read "After" by Anna Todd, a book on by to-be-read (TBR) list.

I joined the book club with an old friend and made new friends. Most of us didn't care for the "After" series, but we kept up with the book club and found some we did like.

Some of my favorites we've read are "The Wedding Game" by Meghan Quinn, "The Mixtape" by Brittainy Cherry, "Full Court Press" by J Akridge and "The Devil Wears Black" by L.J. Shen.

The book club meets once a month at the library and the best part is the library gets the book to borrow for you if you need a copy. We have gone into all different genres of romance, and Heather Pingree at the library does a great job finding books to fit the group's interests. Call the library or visit their Facebook page to sign up.

A group of us met at the library book club and realized we all liked similar books, so we began our own little group of four — much more casual. We've mostly kept to books we have all wanted to read, and many of this year's five-star reads came from this book club.

We read "Winter Garden," by Kristin Hannah which made me bawl my eyes out. Note to self — don't listen to emotional audiobooks while covering a track meet. If anyone saw me trying not to cry that day, it was just Kristin Hannah slowly killing my soul.

Other five-star reads from this book club were "Home Front" also by Hannah, "Fourth Wing" by Rebecca Yaros and "A Witch's Guide to Fake Dating a Demon" by Sarah Hawley.

This month we are reading "Divine Rivals," by Rebecca Ross and have plans to read "Fourth Wing" sequel, "Iron Flame," the second it has been released. While I enjoy the structure and size of some of the other book clubs I'm in, I enjoy the close-knit intimacy and casual nature of this group.

At our November get together, we are gifting each other with book baskets themed around a book we've chosen for another person. I'm so excited to see my person open the basket I got her.

One of my favorite new bookish accessories are book hooks — decorative trinkets that dangle down the spine of your book. Bee Wild Studio out of Ringgold County has an amazing selection on Etsy. I discovered her shop at Ayr Days this summer and fell in love.

Now with the opening of a romance bookstore in Mount Ayr, That's What She Read, and a bookstore here in Creston, The Latest Edition Bookstore, I've found myself in two more book clubs.

I just finished my second book with the Mount Ayr book club. One of the things I love most about this book club is the size. There are nearly 20 of us, and I find it makes the discussion more thoughtful. I've met a lot of great readers in all stages of their journey at this book club.

Our first book was not a hit by the group, but we just read "Butcher and Blackbird," by Brynne Weaver. This is not my normal book at all. It's a fairly dark romance with a lot of trigger warnings including "accidental cannibalism" and "questionable use of a mummified corpse." But I stepped out of my comfort zone for this read, and I loved it. It was still a hair dark for me, so I gave it four and a half stars.

Next month we are reading "The Simple Wild" by K.A. Tucker and I'm so excited. The book looks so wistful and like a breath of fresh air.

The Latest Edition Bookstore just held their first meeting last week to discuss "Weyward" by Emilia Hart. The consensus was the book was good not great, but I disagreed. I loved "Weyward." It was the perfect witchy, strong woman vibes I needed last month. I gave it an easy five stars.

We're getting a head start on Christmas next month reading "The Christmas Letters" by Jenny Hale. Stop by the store Thursdays and Fridays to talk to Elizabeth about picking up a copy and joining the group. The next meeting is Nov. 16.

While I'm thoroughly overwhelmed being in four book clubs, they each bring something different to the table. If you've thought about joining one, go for it. The library is a great place to start expanding your horizons. There's no judgement if you haven't finished the book or didn't like it, and there's no cost associated with it!