Besties, babies and books- how the friends that read together stay together

Leela Morris, along with her daughter Maya, discussed the origins of her book club with Kala Paul-Worika. “I had a series of conversations with people who mentioned they enjoy reading and are looking for something more enriching than partying,” the 34-year-old Morris recalled about the club she started seven years ago. Eva Roberts, 35, a fellow book club member, chimed in with a laugh, “I remember texting you after a party, feeling slightly tipsy on the train, thinking: ‘I’m too old for this; I need something more wholesome!’”

Before long, Morris had gathered a close-knit group of five regular members, including her mother Linda, who she described as “just like one of our friends.” “Then there’s Paige, who I used to work with, and Astrid, whom I lived with in Paris,” she continued, listing off the diverse members of the club. “And of course, there’s ‘horse-crazy’ Abi, who was introduced by a mutual friend. Lastly, we have Louisa from Brazil, who I knew was looking to make friends in London.” Roberts and Morris connected through a mutual friend shortly after Roberts moved to the UK from Canada.

As they talked, the warmth and appreciation for the friendships strengthened by the book club were evident. Roberts summarized it simply: they all just “clicked.”

A typical book club evening includes wine, food, and, of course, discussions about the book. “The only rule is that whoever picks the book hosts the evening,” Morris explained. “We’ve actually started to get more creative with our cooking. Paige had all these Ottolenghi cookbooks but had never made anything from them, and now she’s whipping up beautiful dishes.”

Morris added, “Everyone brings wine, and we sit around chatting—probably a bit about the book and a lot about our personal lives… until someone remembers, ‘Oh wait, we should talk about the book!’”

The group noted that there have never been any heated debates over the themes or topics of the books. Instead, the diverse perspectives have fostered deeper conversations. “Since there are no real rules—besides that whoever cooks picks the book—there are no limitations on what we choose to read,” Morris said. “Some book clubs only focus on fiction, but we explore everything. This variety has really opened my eyes to new books and subjects.”

Over the past seven years, the group has weathered significant life changes. Due to the impact of lockdowns, marriages, and relocations, their monthly meetings have become less frequent. Nevertheless, the book club remains strong. “In between our meetups, we share thoughts and book recommendations in a WhatsApp group, and we even create book bundles of our favorite childhood reads when one of us has a baby,” Morris explained.

“There have been so many new beginnings among us,” she reflected. “We’ve seen promotions, new jobs, engagements, and weddings, and we’ve celebrated each milestone together.”

Roberts noted the club was founded in 2016, with the first baby arriving in 2020—emphasizing that their early meetings were not centered around parenting. “It’s incredible to see my friends thriving as women,” she said. “I come from a small town in Canada, and now I’m part of such an inspiring group.”

Louisa, one member, was a pioneer in motherhood among the group. “She changed her company’s maternity leave policy to allow six months on full pay,” Roberts shared.

Looking ahead, Morris is excited that her book club is inspiring a new generation of readers. “Maya’s favorite book is ‘Bedtime for Maya,’ the personalized book Eva got her,” she said, beaming. “She wants to read it every night and even kisses the little girl in the pictures. It’s completely worn out now!”