
What we’re about
Join us for adventures in reading & real life! We are a community of readers who discuss books over paired outings. Like to explore? Like to read? You’ve found your people! Join us here in-person and for online discussions wherever you are on the socials! FB, Insta, TikTok, Website
Newsletter/FB group: Meetup isn’t great at sending out notifications, so to stay up to date with the latest book and activity pairings, sign up for the newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/fc5e0725650d/thenoveltourist and join the community on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ I also post regularly on books and book pairings on Instagram via @thenoveltourist
What the Club Will Do for You
The purpose of all NTBC events is to give you the opportunity to socialize with likeminded readers who are life long learners and love to try new experiences. If your goal is read more books, do more stuff and meet more friends, being part of NTBC can be a life-changing experience!
What You Can Do for the Club
Bring your fun-loving, healthy attitude. Be committed to reading, showing up when promised, and being respectful of other members. We require that your profile includes a clear picture of yourself so others can identify you at our events.
Terms and Conditions
By joining the Novel Tourist Book Club or signing up for or attending any event offered by the Novel Tourist Book Club, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
- Readers please: NTBC is, first and foremost, a book club. We do a lot of amazing activities tied to the books. There are lots of Meetup groups that also do these fun activities. So, if you don’t like to read or don’t plan to read, we are sure there is another group out there that is more suited to your interests. Now, that said, it doesn’t mean you have to read the book or finish the book every time. Sometimes, you try and the book just doesn’t resonate with you. That’s okay! Come and tell us how much you didn’t like it! All we ask is that you try.
- No Guests: Sadness, we know! We are all about the more the merrier, but there must be a limit to the number of attendees at any one event. Events fill up really fast and so unless the event allows you to add a guest (which will be very rare) your guest must create a Meetup account and rsvp for themselves as a member. Yay new members!
- Liability Waiver: By signing up for an event, all members take full responsibility for their own actions and agree to adhere to the following terms and conditions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ZE-yUJEcHUnXF_A8MUsfxWhEmrKxZEcojrHh8FjQzc/edit; and further agree to hold harmless the Novel Tourists Book Club organizers and members of this Meetup book club from any and all claims and liability in case of possible injuries as stated in Paragraph 6 of the Meetup Terms of Service Agreement ( https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360027447252-Terms-of-Service#h_9e385395-a405-4361-8afc-854a4f586c82 ). When attending an event, you acknowledge that you are doing this at your own risk.
- Event Payments:
- Name: If your name on your Meetup profile is different than your name on your payment profile (PayPal, Venmo), please provide your meetup name when you make your payment;
- Include Date or Event Title: Please include the date of the event or an indication of the event title (e.g. if we are going to a restaurant put the name of the restaurant not just “restaurant” or “book club.”)
- Be Open-minded, Kind and Courteous: We can’t imagine anyone who loves to read being anything but open-minded, kind and courteous. However, I also know we bibliophiles can have some pretty strong opinions about books! Whether you agree with someone or not, no doubt you came here for a welcoming environment. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
- No bullies: Personal attacks of any kind are not allowed. Period. I have zero tolerance for any bullying, degrading comments about another member’s race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity. We are an open and inclusive community and to keep it that way a$$holes will be removed from the group.
- Photos/Videos: Joining the group and attending an event means you’re a-okay with being photographed/video recorded during events. We always takes pics: for the memories and for promotion of future events and NTBC.
- Communication settings: This is just helpful guidance. Events fill up really fast. Make sure your settings are set to maximize communication: Click on your profile pic in Meetup, click Settings, under General select Email Updates, scroll down and find The Novel Tourists Book Club under “Updates about your Group”, click Edit next to The Novel Tourists Book Club and then make your choices. I suggest checking “New Event Announcements,” “Changes to Event Time or Locations,” “My RSVP is confirmed,” and, most importantly: "Announcements to Members About the Group" and “Event updates from Organizer.” Also, you may want to download the Meetup app.
- Carpooling: It’s great for the planet! However, any arrangements are between you and the person driving. The Novel Tourists Book Club organizers and hosts do not provide, endorse, sponsor or take responsibility for any carpool arrangements pertaining to any event. Please use your good judgment when deciding whether or not to carpool with other participants of the book club event you are attending.
- Refund Policy:
- Events with a fee of less than $5: No refunds, even if someone takes your spot. The events fill fast and the only way to really try to make sure that those who are truly interested and able to come get a seat, is a nominal fee. This fee is offered to the event host to pay for their entrance/meal/etc as a way of saying thank you for your time and for putting this together for us.
- Events with a fee greater than $5: The general policy is if the Organizer/Host can get their money back, you’ll get your money back - if you timely cancelled. Once an event location has been paid, however, many times they won’t issue a refund. If they don’t refund us, we can’t refund you regardless of how far in advance you cancelled. That said, sometimes a refund can be issued IF you cancel at least a week in advance AND someone takes your spot. If you want to request a refund, message Audrey via Meetup to discuss. Please note, if you cancel the day before or the day of an event, there are refunds - regardless of the reason and regardless if someone takes your spot.
- If you do not agree to the above terms and conditions, do not sign up for the club. There is probably a different club out there that will better meet your needs.
Happy reading and adventuring!
- Audrey
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Walk the Ben Franklin Bridge, Tour Walt Whitman House, Ferry BackAlmost Home , Philadelphia, PA$22.00
Join Audrey for a stroll across the Ben Franklin bridge into Camden to take a guided tour the Walt Whitman house. We’ll return to Philly by ferry and then grab a late lunch at Spruce Street Harbor Park. Along the way we’ll discusss Whitman’s poem Song of the Open Road.
STRICT LIMIT OF 10 PEOPLE because the house is small. First pay goes.
“I have always loved to walk… the free air, the open road.” - Walt Whitman (Song of the Open Road)
PLEASE READ: Plan to walk - a lot! Bring plenty of water to drink. Wear comfortable shoes.
💵Fee: $22 covers guided tour of museum and ticket for ferry ride back. Coffee, pastry and everything else is pay on your own.
HOW TO PAY: Use Friends and Family! Do not use the business option because it charges a service fee. Please note the event name or date on your payment. If your payment name is different than your Meetup name please make sure you note your Meetup name.
Venmo - @audrey-Heller1 (phone ends in 4478)
PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/AudreyBug📔READ: Song of the Open Road
By Walt Whitman
Genre: Poem
Available here freeTHE PLAN
☕️9:00am - 9:30 Coffee
Almost Home Coffee Shop
📍 205 Race St, PhiladelphiaArrive before 9:30am to grab a cup of coffee and a pastry for the walk or just meet us at 9:30am to start the walk.
🚶🏻♀️9:30am: Walk Ben Franklin Bridge
We’ll walk across the Ben Franklin Bridge, letting the poetic 😜 rhythm of our steps carry us between Philadelphia and Camden. With sweeping views of the river and skyline, it’s the perfect passageway to reflect on Whitman’s words and the city he once called home.
11:00am: Guided House Tour
👨🏼🦳The Walt Whitman House
📍330 Mickle Boulevard (also known as Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard)
CamdenThe Walt Whitman House preserves the legacy of America’s “Great Poet of Democracy.” Once home to Whitman during his final years, it became a gathering place for admirers who celebrated his birthday and safeguarded his memory through the Walt Whitman Fellowship, later the Walt Whitman Association—the oldest Whitman society in the world. Thanks to their efforts, the modest house was opened to the public in 1923 and designated both a New Jersey State Historic Site and a National Historic Landmark. Today, it continues to welcome visitors from around the world with poetry readings, research programs, and celebrations of Whitman’s enduring masterpiece, Leaves of Grass.
⛴️ 12:30 Ferry Back to Philly
📍2 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJWe’ll take a lovely 15 minute ride across the Delaware River on the RiverLink Ferry Freedom from the Camden Waterfront in New Jersey to get back to the Delaware River Waterfront in Philadelphia.
🎉Wanna be social?
📸Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thenoveltourist/
🌟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNovelTourist❓Event Review Guidance:
Meetup reviews are now public. Did you love the event? Tell the world with a 5-star rating AND a comment!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love putting together fun literary adventures and your comments feed my soul. But, if you didn't like something, please don’t submit a negative review — instead, message me (Audrey) directly with your suggestions so we can improve the club together! Also, please remember, you’re reviewing the club experience, not the location. So, for instance, if we go to a play and you didn’t like it, don’t give the Meetup event a negative, it’s not my fault the play stunk. I can’t change what I can’t control.📏Club Rules:
Here are the Club’s Basic Rules and Liability Release. You should read them because by signing up for an event you agree to them.
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You can ignore all this part. It’s just for the Meetup algorithm. To make sure our Book Club events get seen. The Novel Tourist Book Club is a fantastic book club where people social can get to know each other meet new friends have fun, exploring hobbies dining out at restaurants. We read books. Make new friends. Lots of fun with Book Club. Socializing. Social event. Rodeos and westerns Lots of hobbies dining out is great fun. We read a lot of fun books. we visit libraries and eat food at restaurants. love to explore and meet new people to try out hobby. socializing is great and we love to read books and explore our hobbies we meet new friends and socialize - Little Free Library Crawl - Collingswood and Clover Market!Collingswood PATCO Station , Collingswood, NJ
Let’s crawl around Collingswood! Join Audrey on a Little Free Library Crawl to “Give a Book. Take a Book”. We’ll get our steps in on this 2.5 mile stroll (there is a longer option, too) through the charming neighborhood and main street of Collingswood, NJ. After the crawl we can check out the infamous Clover Market!
**LFL CRAWL COLLINGSWOOD **
I plotted out a delightful, mostly flat 2ish mile loop (or additional extensions to go 4 miles if you want) featuring six Little Free Libraries (LFL), great coffee, and an indie romance bookstore.We'll start with coffee (obviously) because caffeine is non-negotiable. Then, set off on our adventure to visit LFLs along the way.
Along the crawl, we’ll see charming homes and explore Collingswood’s delightful Main Street (Haddon Ave), packed with unique shops, fantastic food, and a bombdastic ice cream shop.
Stay with the main group, break into smaller groups or head off on your own - how you crawl is totally up to you.
Come for the books, stay for the small-town charm. See you in Collingswood!
Bring*:**
- A book (new or used) or two to stock the LFLs
- A bag to collect books/purchases
- NOTE: Fun facts- one LFL has a living roof!
Parking: Collingswood PATCO station or street parking
Public Transport: You can take PATCO and get off at Collingswood
Let’s be social!:
🎉Follow for more bookish adventures:
📸Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thenoveltourist/
🌟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNovelTourist
❓Event Review Guidance:
Meetup reviews are now public. Did you love the event? Tell the world with a 5-star rating AND a comment!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love putting together fun literary adventures and your comments feed my soul. But, if you didn't like something, please don’t submit a negative review — instead, message me (Audrey) directly with your suggestions so we can improve the club together! Also, please remember, you’re reviewing the club experience, not the location. So, for instance, if we go to a play and you didn’t like it, don’t give the Meetup event a negative, it’s not my fault the play stunk. I can’t change what I can’t control.Housekeeping!
- Here are the Club’s Basic Rules and Liability Release. You should read them because by signing up for an event you agree to them! 🙂
- Some links above are affiliate links which means when you use them to buy your book they help support the club at no cost to you!
-------------------The below is silly babble just for the algorithm - no need for book club members to read this!-------------------------------
Walking tours through Philadelphia neighborhoods is such a fun way to make new friends and be social with book loving book club members who like to read and explore urban areas and try new activities such as hiking, reading, craft, hobbies, museums and more! It's especially fun for a book club to go on outdoor and indoor adventures with all the book club friends who like to explore and try new hobbies. - Apple Orchard Tour/Picking and Discuss Book "At the Edge of the Orchard"Highland Orchards, West Chester, PA$15.00
Where else can you walk in Johnny Appleseed’s footsteps 🌱 while filling your basket with crisp apples 🍎 and chatting about At the Edge of the Orchard, a novel steeped in orchard lore?
Join Audrey for the “Growing Tour” at Highland Orchards, where we’ll take a guided wagon tour of the orchard, learn about orchard growing and apple varieties, and pick our own to take home. After the orchard, we could pop into West Chester for lunch and window shopping
FEE: $15 (tour only), $25 (tour plus Pick Your Own). Brunch and any other purchases are on your own.
HOW TO PAY: Use Friends and Family! Do not use the business option because it charges a service fee. Please note the event name or date on your payment. If your payment name is different than your Meetup name please make sure you note your Meetup name.
Venmo - @audrey-Heller1 (phone ends in 4478)
PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/AudreyBug
------📚 NOVEL: At the Edge of the Orchard by Tracy Chevalier
Genre: Historical FictionIt’s 1838, and the Goodenough family is barely surviving in the swampy lands of Ohio. James is determined to grow sweet “eating” apples, while Sadie prefers the bitter ones for hard cider. Their struggle for survival and control is shaped by the unforgiving land — and by Johnny Appleseed himself, who wanders the region planting nurseries. Years later, their son Robert flees west, carrying the memory of apples with him all the way to the California Gold Rush.
ADVENTURE: Apple Picking “Growing Tour”
📍 Where: Highland Orchards, West Chester, PA✅ Guided wagon/shuttle ride and educational tour of the orchard & apple-picking 🍏
✅ Learn how orchards grow & thrive
✅ Pick 3 apples to enjoy later
🍎 OPTIONAL ADDITION ($10) - pick more apples 1/2 peck (most varieties)Happy reading!
Audrey🎉**Stay connected **to other adventurous readers! Join the Novel Tourist online community:
📸Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thenoveltourist/
🌟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNovelTourist
➡️RULES:
Here are the Club’s Basic Rules and Liability Release. You should read them because by signing up for an event you agree to them.Happy reading!
Audrey--------
❓Event Review Guidance:
Meetup reviews are now public. ***Did you love the event? ***Tell the world with a 5-star rating AND a comment!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
I love 💓putting together fun literary adventures and your comments feed my soul. But, if you didn't like something, please don’t submit a negative review — instead, message me (Audrey) directly with your suggestions so we can improve the club together!------
You can ignore all this part. It’s just for the Meetup algorithm. 🙄 The Novel Tourist Book Club is a fantastic book club where people social can get to know each other meet new friends have fun, exploring their passions and book hobbies dining out at restaurants. We read books. Make new friends. Lots of fun with Book Club. Socializing. Social event. and passions! Urban exploration, bookstores, and lots of hobbies dining out is great fun. We read a lot of fun books. we visit libraries and eat food at restaurants. love to explore and meet new people to try out hobby. socializing is great and we love to read books and explore our hobbies we meet new friends and socialize together. - Sailing Adventure on the Delaware and Discussion of The Lost VintageFreedom Pier, Gloucester City , NJ$50.00
Back by popular demand! Who needs a French chateau when you've got a sailboat, a sunset, and your favorite bottle of wine? Join Audrey to nosh from a plateau de fromages, sip your BYO wine, and discuss The Lost Vintage aboard the award winning sail boat - the Northwind Schooner. Strictly limited to 30.
💵Fee: $50 Includes sail, (non-alcoholic) beverages and cheese plate
HOW TO PAY: Use friends and family option/non-business option please. • Venmo - @audrey-Heller1 (Last four digits of my phone # are 4478) • PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/AudreyBug
First to pay goes, as always.📚NOVEL: The Lost Vintage by Ann Mah
Genre: Historical Fiction
⭐Notable: September's Member Choice Book!If you enjoyed Sarah’s Key and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale, then this wonderful book by Ann Mah is for you.” -- Tatiana de Rosnay
To become one of only a few hundred certified wine experts in the world, Kate must pass the notoriously difficult Master of Wine examination. She’s failed twice before; her third attempt will be her last chance. Suddenly finding herself without a job and with the test a few months away, she travels to Burgundy to spend the fall at the vineyard estate that has belonged to her family for generations. There she can bolster her shaky knowledge of Burgundian vintages and reconnect with her cousin Nico and his wife, Heather, who now oversee day-to-day management of the grapes. The one person Kate hopes to avoid is Jean-Luc, a talented young winemaker and her first love.
⛵ADVENTURE: Sailing Adventure on the Delaware
Depart and Land: Freedom Pier on The North Wind Schooner
101 South King St in Gloucester City, NJ 08030We'll spend about 2 hours on the Delaware river sailing between the Walt Whitman and Ben Franklin bridges. We'll pass the sights along the river on the Philadelphia as well as the New Jersey side, Penns Landing and the historical ships docked there. We also pass the SS United States and the Hershey's Cocoa Pier and sail under both bridges.
The captain will share some sailing knowledge and point out the sights along the Delaware. And!, you can even help raise or lower the sail!
IMPORTANT NOTES:
🕰️Be on time! The ship sails at 5pm sharp. We cannot wait for latecomers. Be at the dock at 4:45pm
👟Wear soft soled shoes - NO FLIP FLOPS or SANDALS
🍷BYOB (alcohol) - NOTE: Water and a special non-alcohol beverage is included in the fee
🧀Fee includes snacks from a plateau de fromages on board
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🎉Follow for more bookish adventures:
📸Instagram! https://www.instagram.com/thenoveltourist/
🌟Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheNovelTourist
-------------------------------------------------------
❓Event Review Guidance:
Meetup reviews are now public. Did you love the event? Tell the world with a 5-star rating AND a comment!🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Please remember, you’re reviewing the club experience, not the location. So, if we go to a play and you didn’t like it, don’t give the Meetup event a negative, it’s not my fault the play stunk. 😫I can’t change what I can’t control.I love putting together fun literary adventures and your positive comments feed my soul. But, if you didn't like something, please don’t submit a negative review — instead, message me (Audrey) directly with your suggestions so we can improve the club together!
Rules: Here are the Club’s Basic Rules and Liability Release. You should read them because by signing up for an event you agree to them.
Happy Reading!
Audrey
—------------------------------------------------------------------
You can ignore all this part. It’s just for the Meetup algorithm. To make sure our Book Club events get seen. The Novel Tourist Book Club is a fantastic book club where people social can get to know each other meet new friends have fun, exploring hobbies dining out at restaurants. We read books. Make new friends. Lots of fun with Book Club. Socializing. Social event. Rodeos and westerns Lots of hobbies dining out is great fun. We read a lot of fun books. we visit libraries and eat food at restaurants. love to explore and meet new people to try out hobby. socializing is great and we love to read books and explore our hobbies we meet new friends and socialize.