How We Started
Once upon a time, there was a lonely girl who loved books. (Okay, it was me.)
After uni, I found myself back in Suffolk, where everything was familiar but also… kind of isolating. My best friend Charlotte was still there (shoutout to her for always being amazing), but we were at different stages of life—she had begun a family with a mutual friend, and most of my old connections had moved away or settled in other towns and cities. And, honestly? Making friends as an adult felt like an impossible task. I’m sure many of you, dear readers, can relate. I was at a bit of a stumbling block—working in hospitality again, not knowing what I wanted to do with myself, and craving a strong group of friends like I’d had in Canterbury (where I studied English Literature with Media and Communications).
Hospitality had always been fun, but I was struggling with my health. I have Crohn’s disease, which put me in hospital in 2018 with a stricture, and I later had a bowel resection in 2019. The friendships I made at work often revolved around partying, and while I love a good night out dancing, I just couldn’t keep up all the time. I needed something different—something that wouldn’t leave me feeling drained, but rather fulfilled.
Then, I remembered something—the book club I had joined in Bournemouth. I had moved there in 2014 after uni to live with my partner, Jeff, who was studying journalism after leaving the army. I don't even remember where I first saw the book club advertised—probably the library—but I figured, why not?
Although I didn’t attend many meetings (I was managing the Cosy Club in Bournemouth at the time, so evenings and weekends were chaotic), I liked the idea of bringing people together over books. So, in 2017, when I had settled back into Suffolk for a couple of years, I thought, why not start my own?
We were off to a great start! Our first meeting took place in a gorgeous gastropub (sadly now closed) called The Ram in Hadleigh, and four people turned up (one of them was my mum—bless her for being so supportive). But when we held off our next meeting until January to avoid hospitality’s chaotic Christmas period, I was the only one there. A little disheartening, yes, but at least I had a lovely glass of red to keep me company!
At first, it was just a small group meeting in Hadleigh, then Ipswich, where I was living at the time. I posted about it on a local Facebook community page (very millennial of me, I know) and later, Bumble BFF became a great way to find new members. As the club grew, Instagram played a role too, and now most of our new members join through word of mouth.
Our first book? The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick. It was actually a Poppy Loves Book Club pick, and initially, I had intended for us to read along with their global community. But I quickly realised it was too restrictive—we needed the flexibility to choose books that best suited our group.
We began as Women, Wine & Wit. Then came 2020. Lockdown changed everything, including our name. After a certain author-who-shall-not-be-named (ahem) sparked conversations about inclusion, I knew we needed to be clearer about who we welcomed—everyone. I didn’t want anyone to feel excluded, because that’s just not what our book club is about. So, we became Words, Wine & Wit—an intersectional feminist book club celebrating diverse voices, in all their forms.
Fast forward to today, and this little book club has turned into something bigger than I ever imagined. We now have thriving chapters in Cambridgeshire (where I am now based), Suffolk, and Hertfordshire. What started as a way to make friends has created real, lasting connections—bridesmaids have been picked from this club, baby showers have been thrown, and friendships have flourished.
Books have been at the heart of everything, and certain reads have resonated with us more than others. Some discussions have sparked deep and sometimes tricky conversations, while others have turned into lively debates where we end up almost crying with laughter. Some recent discussions that were particularly good were our meetings for As Long as the Lemon Trees Grow by Zoulfa Katouh—I think it helped us experience, even just a fraction, what life must be like as a woman living in a war-torn country and as a refugee—and Butter by Asako Yuzuki just because it was brilliantly bizarre, sparking fascinating conversations about feminism and what it truly means to each of us.
One standout moment that made me truly realise how special this club had become was our author brunch in July last year. Seeing our members come together, chat with an author they loved, and just enjoy the experience was a real pinch-me moment. We have been so lucky over the years to have had some amazing authors join us—Beth O’Leary, Laura Jane Williams, Ericka Waller (with her husband and dogs Enzo and Weiner), and Jack Strange—bringing their insights, stories, and infectious enthusiasm to our discussions. Each author event has been special in its own way, whether it’s an intimate chat over brunch or a lively Q&A with our members. Seeing the club engage with the very writers whose books we’ve loved has been one of the most rewarding aspects of running Words, Wine & Wit, and I hope to host plenty more in the future!
And then there’s the friendships. One of my favourite stories? Alex, from our Ipswich group, chose Shanice—who now runs the Ipswich chapter—as one of her bridesmaids! Watching connections like that form has been incredible. Because we all follow one another on Instagram, it’s always lovely seeing members hanging out outside of book club events. A few of the Cambridge girls had a murder mystery party the other night, and last summer, plenty of them came along to my birthday picnic. Moments like those remind me that Words, Wine & Wit isn’t just about books—it’s about finding your people.
Looking back, I never expected a book club to shape my life the way it has. Yes, it started out as a way to make friends, but it’s also been a constant reminder of how stories connect us beyond just words on a page. Running this book club has taught me how meaningful community is, how books create dialogue, and how a simple idea can grow into something beautiful.
So, if you're wondering how to build connections in a world that sometimes feels isolating, maybe a book club is the answer. Maybe it’s a creative group, a hobby meet-up, or even just reaching out to someone over coffee. Because sometimes, all it takes is one book—or one conversation—to bring people together in the best possible way.
