Book Clubs Melbourne

Melbourne Meet Authentic Local Singles Online

**💘 Genuine Speed Dating on Zoom connecting Melbourne People** You'll spend your time in quick private Zoom rounds with age-matched personality-sorted Melbourne locals, with a dedicated host managing each round. Before the event, a personality questionnaire is built into the sign-up — that information feeds the matching to identify compatible Melbourne singles for your rounds, so each round starts with genuine compatibility in mind. After the event, mutual matches are shared privately — keeping your selections private otherwise — and there is no pressure on timing. **Register by age group:** - **Ages 18-32** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=collective-of-serious-singles-seeking-commitment&ar=18-32&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 30-46** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=collective-of-serious-singles-seeking-commitment&ar=30-46&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 40-58** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=collective-of-serious-singles-seeking-commitment&ar=40-58&face_v=3.0) - **Ages 55+** → [REGISTER HERE](https://tempodating.com/product?productId=500.0&productType=onlineSpeedDating&city=Melbourne&groupurlname=collective-of-serious-singles-seeking-commitment&ar=55+&face_v=3.0) **⚠️ Note:** Your rsvp here is a signal of interest not a booking, so use your age group link above to register and complete the short personality quiz — numbers are intentionally limited so register early, and skipping either step means your place is not held. --- **Made for:** - Singles who live in Melbourne ready to move past profiles instead of real people and want to meet real locals without the faff. - Singles throughout Melbourne getting away from profiles that never convert to actual dates and want actual face-to-face conversation. - Women and men around Melbourne moving on from shallow connections that never lead anywhere and want real chemistry over profile photos. - Daters calling Melbourne home bored of app fatigue and empty match queues and are ready for something genuine instead. - Daters calling Melbourne home ready to move past conversations that fizzle before a first date and want to try something that actually works. **Four simple steps** 1. **Find your age group** – by using the link for your bracket above, then complete the short personality quiz, since spots are limited and this is your only confirmation. 2. **Hop on** – using the video link shared before the session, works on any device without requiring a download, and the host starts the session and guides you through it all. 3. **Get into the rounds** – brief timed one-on-one chats with Melbourne area singles in your age range, as the host keeps everything smooth and well-timed, and each person in your rounds was chosen for compatibility. 4. **Review your matches** – post-event mutual selections are confirmed and shared, with unmatched selections never disclosed to anyone, and from there you follow up at whatever pace suits you. 💡 **Quick tip:** check your Zoom setup in advance, so the rounds feel natural from the very start, as the host manages the rest and all you need is working tech. --- ✨ It starts with one registration — grab your place above before it goes and we will handle the rest before spots go. The rounds are better than you think. 🦋 ✨

SILENT BOOK CLUB @ DYMOCKS CAFE

Welcome! Last month, we trialled Dymocks Cafe for our venue and people loved it. So we're going to meet there this month too. **HOW TO FIND US** When you enter 234 Collins, go down the escalator to the basement where Dymocks is (you can't miss it, there's books and people everywhere), turn right and you'll see the cafe next to the cashier. Come up the stairs and join us. **ITINERARY** 11am: Meet at Dymocks Cafe (upstairs) inside Dymocks Bookstore, 234 Collins St. Choose your seat. Order a drink to support the cafe. (They have a decent range of sweet and savoury snacks.) Enjoy your book. 12.15pm: Let's chat about what we read, what we loved, and why. 1pm: End of event. [OPTIONAL EXTRA] For those who are not too tired, we can go for lunch together after the event. **COST:** There is an organizer fee of $5 for this event. You can bring cash on the day or PayID me at 0403 413 056 (Serena Low). **GETTING THERE:** The closest train stations are Town Hall (4 min) and Flinders St (6 min).

June Book Club—13 Things That Mentally Strong Women Don't Do

**Discover the habits holding you back from mental strength with our June book club pick** Our June book club explores what it takes to build true mental resilience in a world that constantly challenges women. Psychotherapist and international bestselling author Amy Morin breaks down the specific behaviors and mindsets women must avoid to master their mental strength in this empowering guide. **About the book** This book explains what it means—and what it takes—to be a mentally strong woman. Delving into critical issues like sexism, social media, social comparison, and social pressure, Morin combines personal experiences, stories from former patients, and examples from women across industries to provide practical strategies for building mental toughness. **What you'll gain** * Insights into how mentally strong women don't insist on perfection, don't compare themselves to others, don't see vulnerability as a weakness, and don't let self-doubt stop them from reaching their goals. * Specific tips that each woman, regardless of age or station in life, can follow to make important and significant changes and flex their mental muscles. * Thoughtful advice and actionable strategies for tackling difficult issues—from calling out sexism to fighting harassment and finding confidence. Purchase Links: [[13 Things That Mentally Strong Women Don't Do](https://www.thenile.com.au/books/amy-morin/13-things-mentally-strong-women-dont-do/9781529358452?gad_campaignid=17335838322&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADhOHwij9fCbfRB7h70C0oc8eWZDe&gclid=CjwKCAiA-sXMBhAOEiwAGGw6LEblb29hTucbDlWU6fi4fWzFnAHSPkp_T9fzxg287CRzYXXbfl57cBoCgI8QAvD_BwE&utm_campaign=18141173729&utm_content=&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_term=)] **Please note that this is a paid event to help cover the cost of meetup fees. Thank you for supporting Girl Who Boss and being part of a community that uplifts and inspires!** **Refund Policy** Kindly note that refunds cannot be provided for cancellations made less than 48 hours before the event. If you’re unable to attend, please reach out to one of the hosts to discuss alternative arrangements.

Melbourne Horror Book Club

Come and join our friendly group of horror fans as we talk about horror books and movies. You don't need to read or watch everything to come and participate! I kindly ask that everyone purchases dinner and/or a drink to cover the room hire costs. If you're new, we meet in the function rooms on the left hand side of the dining area. The books and film for this meetup are: **Contemporary Book** This'll make things a little easier by Attila Veres **Classic Book** Weird Sisters: Tales from the Queens of the Pulp Er**a** **Film** Se7en

The Reading Room

Step into the room, not just to read, but to experience what happens when curious, learning minds gather in the same space. There’s something unexpectedly powerful about people arriving with different ideas, perspectives, and questions, then discovering what unfolds when they pause, explore, and reflect together. This isn’t a traditional book club—there’s no assigned reading, no pressure to perform—just a simple rhythm: 60-Minute Flow: **👋 0:00–0:15 \| Arrive & Introductions** **📖 0:15–0:30 \| Quiet Reading Time** Settle in with your book, article, or notes. Highlight something that stands out—a line, an idea, or even something you disagree with. This is your space to explore. **💬 0:30–0:45 \| Sharing & Insights** We come back together to share what we picked up. It can be a quote, a question, a new perspective—anything that sparked your thinking. Expect a mix of ideas and thoughtful discussions. **🤝 0:45–1:00 \| Open Networking** A wrap with relaxed conversation. Swap recommendations, continue discussions, or simply connect with others

Paranormal Romance Book Club and Culture

Hi all, Welcome to the June Paranormal Book Club!! If you love books that are lighter and fluffier to read, with supernatural elements (magic, vampires, werewolves, etc.) then you will enjoy this group. After book club we head off and become a tourist in our own city, by attending an exhibition or some other cultural activity. For June, we are going to meet at Time Out Fed Square for book club, then head up to the State Library to visit the Rebel Heart: Love Letters and Other Declarations exhibition: [Rebel Heart: Love letters and other declarations | State Library Victoria](https://www.slv.vic.gov.au/rebel-heart-love-letters-and-other-declarations) The books for Sunday 21 June 2026 are: Can't Spell Treason without Tea by Rebecca Thorne [Can't Spell Treason Without Tea (Tomes & Tea, #1) by Rebecca Thorne | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/61753288-can-t-spell-treason-without-tea) Cinder House by Freya Marske [Cinder House by Freya Marske | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222376570-cinder-house) Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman [Red Star Rebels by Amie Kaufman | Goodreads](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/236064352-red-star-rebels) If you would like to look at all the books that we have read so far, click [here](https://1drv.ms/x/s!Am2wjNpl1c1ijCNvt-hrWM8gPaem?e=riV48x). Finally, if you can't make it, please change your RSVP to a NO. Spaces are limited, so it will give other people a chance to attend. Happy reading until then!! 🤓

May Book of the month - Hekate - The Witch

Book Club: [Hekate](https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223296200-hekate---the-witch) the Witch by Nikita Gill Step into the shadowed spaces where myth, magic, and self-discovery intertwine. Hekate the Witch is a powerful collection of poems that channels the voice of the ancient goddess Hekate, exploring themes of transformation, independence, and feminine power. Nikita Gill gives voice to the marginalized, the mystical, and the misunderstood, weaving a tapestry of verse that is at once haunting, comforting, and profoundly empowering. Through vivid imagery and spellbinding language, Gill guides readers on a journey of introspection and resilience. The poems confront heartbreak, identity, and personal evolution, reminding us that embracing our own power often requires walking through the darkness. With Hekate as both guide and metaphor, this collection asks us to honor our intuition, our shadows, and the quiet strength that resides in the unseen. Gill’s work resonates as both a personal and collective call to awaken, offering moments of reflection, rebellion, and radical self-acceptance. Whether read slowly, aloud, or in fragments, these poems linger—like magic in the air, or footsteps in a midnight forest. Discussion Points: • Power and Autonomy: How does Gill explore self-sovereignty through the figure of Hekate? Are her poems a call to reclaim personal agency? • Darkness and Transformation: How are loss, grief, or shadowed experiences reframed as sources of strength? • Feminine Archetypes: How does the goddess Hekate function as a symbol for modern empowerment? • Poetic Form and Voice: How does Gill’s style—short verses, repetition, vivid imagery—shape the emotional impact of the work? • Spiritual and Emotional Resonance: Which poems spoke to your own journey of self-discovery, resilience, or empowerment, and why?

May City Meetup - New time!

**PLEASE NOTE: We're now starting our city meetup at 11am, so it's the same time as our suburb meetup.** Come to our city book club in May! We'll be at the Dymocks Melbourne cafe sitting upstairs in the mezzanine level and we want to hear about what you like to read! For those of you who haven't joined us before, we're a book club with no set book, no homework and no judgement! Come along and tell us what you enjoy reading and what's on your to read list. We ask that you bring no more than four books in total, being a couple you've recently read and/or a couple that are on your to-read list. Given the often adult topics discussed, our meetups aren't suitable for children under the age of 14. **Please note that as advised in our email and post of November 14th 2024 our fees have increased from $5.00 to $6.50 per person per meetup. This is due to Meetup.com doubling the organiser fees for meetup groups. We now pay at least $50 a month to have a Meetup site (unfortunately this cost fluctuates due to Meetup charging us in USD). All fees go towards paying the meetup fees. This can only be accepted via the Meetup site and we do not accept cash on the day.** Similarly, if you are planning to attend, please RSVP on the Meetup site. RSVPs can be made right up until the moment the event starts, we are unable to accept cash on the day or attendances from those who have not RSVPd as we need to plan for attendance numbers and space.

Semiosis by Sue Burke

Pride Inside Book Club - June Meeting - Our Wives Under the Sea

The Famished Road, Ben Okri (Booker 1991)

Just a quick bit of admin. Once we complete this Booker we will have covered every winner from 1978-2023. I purposely wanted to cover that range to then expand the list to International Bookers (so we're not stuck doing some 70s books that didn't stand the test of time). This book is challenging, but this is the reward! Ben Okri was the first black and youngest writer to win the Booker. When he was first published his father gathered the elders of his town so they could buy a pen and he could continue writing. This book is an allegory for the transformation of Nigeria from a British colony to an independent nation. Written as magic realism inspired by *One Hundred Years of Solitude,* the novel follows a spirit child of native myths who is repeatably reborn taking multiple journeys through different realities creating a wise and terrifying character. The time scale is simultaneously a present-day ghetto and a primitive village. So the challenging part? The Guardian describes it as a 574 page dream sequence that is really a nightmare where "hardly anything of note occurs" and "pretty much everything you need to know is expressed in the first paragraph." I hope people are up for the challenge and that this is indeed a "Marmite" book where you either love it or hate it. Since starting this book club a few years ago we have formed a nice core membership. If you haven't come yet, please look out for the books on the table, pull up a chair, order a wine and join us. We like to hear what everyone has to say and enjoy the conversation, we're not cliquey at all! Oh, and to defray the Meetup monthly bill I will accept gold coin contributions or wine if you want to pay for multiple in one hit. I hope to see everyone again at this one with some new faces.

June Book of the month - Three Reasons for Revenge

Book Club: Three Reasons for Revenge by Dervla McTiernan It is a high-stakes standalone crime thriller focusing on a dangerous game involving three targeted victims, featuring Detective Sergeant Judith Lee as she investigates a series of tailored, malicious packages. The story begins when Alexis Turner reports an assault and then disappears. Shortly after, three identical packages arrive at different homes, containing items that will destroy the recipients' lives. The thriller tackles themes of modern, intimate danger and revenge. This follows her highly successful 2024 thriller, *What Happened to Nina?* Discussion Points: * **The Ethics of Revenge:** Does the novel suggest that vigilante justice is sometimes necessary when the legal system fails? Discuss the motivations of the "antagonist" versus the moral failings of the three victims. * **Cycles of Trauma:** How does the childhood trauma of sisters **Renee** and **Margaux** mirror the past of **Judith Lee**? Discuss how their shared history of being "damaged" by others influences their present-day actions. * **Manipulation and Control:** The novel is described as a "deadly game". Talk about how the perpetrator uses intimate knowledge to hurt victims where they are most vulnerable and how they force Judith into playing along. * **Modern Dangers:** How do themes like **deepfakes**, **online manipulation**, and the rapid spread of misinformation heightening the stakes for the characters?