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We make
running book clubs

easy and​ fun

Book Discussion Scheme is an affordable and convenient  service for the book groups of Aotearoa New Zealand

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How it works

it's as easy as one, two, three!

1

Choose your books 
and we'll deliver them to you

Each month, we deliver a set of books and discussion questions to your book club.

You choose your own books from our extensive catalogue of over 1,000 titles, from classic to recent releases.

2

Meet with your group
and have fun!

Meet with your group to discuss the book — and anything else that comes up!

You can hold the meetings at your home, or somewhere like a library, pub or café. It's up to you.

3

Return the books and 
receive your next set

Each time you meet, you'll collect last month's books and return them to us.

Meanwhile, like magic, another set has arrived for you to hand out to your club members. 
So easy!

HEAR WHAT OUR MEMBERS H​AVE TO SAY

The excitement of opening up the latest monthly parcel of books never fades. We have loved the huge variety of titles, many of which we may never have found and yet thoroughly enjoyed.

Christchurch Book Group

Book group adds a social dimension to my reading passion. I can bounce ideas off others — and even apart from the book discussion it gives the perfect excuse to have have a fun social get together each month.

Sheryl, Porirua Book Group

That's the value of reading and belonging to an organised book group: we're exposed to different points of view and perspectives and broaden our outlook on things. It makes us more tolerant, I hope!

Michael, Auckland Book Group 

Get started

find the programme that's right for your book club

Full

10 books/year

Establish an enjoya​ble reading and socialising routine with our most popular programme 

$82 per member/ $40 for coordinators

Half

5 books/year

A bi-monthly option for those who want to take things a little slower.

$65 per member/ $30 for coordinators

Join a book club

or find new members

We have book clubs all over Aotearoa New Zealand, some of which are looking for more members. Use our online map to see if there's a group in your area, or connect with individuals wanting to form new groups.

Join a book club

Our books

1,150+ book titles to choose from

(and counting!)

Fiction, non-fiction, NZ authors, classics, recent releases and more...we have an incredible range of reads for your book club

View our books

Recently Added

Tom Lake

Ann Patchett

Better the Blood

Michael Bennett (NZ)

The Collected Regrets of Clover

Mikki Brammer

At the Foot of the Cherry Tree

Alli Parker

Fair Rosaline

Natasha Solomons

On Call

Ineke Meredith (NZ)

Adventures with Emilie

Victoria Bruce (NZ)

Lady Tan's Circle of Women

Lisa See

The Girl in His Shadow

Audrey Blake

A Canoe Before the Wind

Vitale Lafaele (NZ)

The Book of Fire

Christy Lefteri

The Waters

Carl Nixon (NZ)

An Unlikely Prisoner

Sean Turnell

Maame

Jessica George

Dust Child

Nguyen Phan Que Mai

Crazy Love

Rosetta Allan (NZ)

Hang the Moon

Jeanette Walls

The Woman with the Cure

Lynn Cullen

The Door-to-Door Bookstore

Carsten Henn

A Line in the Sand

Kevin Powers

The Librarianist

Patrick deWitt

Lawrence of Arabia

Ranulph Fiennes

A Disappearance in Fiji

Nilima Rao

Laughing at the Dark

Barbara Else (NZ)

Under the Weather

James Renwick (NZ)

Becoming Pākehā

John Bluck (NZ)

My Father's House

Joseph O'Connor

Unlikely Animals

Annie Hartnett

House of the Doors

Tan Twan Eng

Gangster's Paradise

Jared Savage (NZ)

Gone to Ground

Bronwyn Hall

Horse

Geraldine Brooks

The Mother

T M Logan

Now is Not the Time to Panic

Kevin Wilson

I Will Die in a Foreign Land

Kalani Pickhart

Pet

Catherine Chidgey (NZ)

Colditz

Ben MacIntyre

Fuzz

Mary Roach

Fox and I

Catherine Raven

The Porcelain Moon

Janie Chang

The Half Life of Valery K

Natasha Pulley

Someone Else's Shoes

Jojo Moyes

Patience

Victoria Scott

Everything is Beautiful and Everything Hurts

Josie Shapiro (NZ)

Minnie

Marianne Van Velzen

The Blackout Book Club

Amy Lynn Green

Healing Lives

Sue Williams

From There to Here

Joe Bennett (NZ)

Not Set in Stone

David Vass (NZ)

Landed

Sue McCauley (NZ)

Go as a River

Shelley Read

Tangi

Witi Ihimaera (NZ)

The Seven Moons of Maali Almeida

Sheehan Karunatilaka

Invasion

Luke Harding

There's a Cure for This

Dr Emma Espiner (NZ)

View all recently added

About us

our story

Our mission is to promote literacy and a love of reading to build a more just and equitable society. Since 1973 we have grown into an independent charitable trust serving over 1,300 book groups across Aoetearoa 
New Zealand

Find out more

Social Agenda

tailored programmes for priority groups

Libraries

10 books/year

Are you a librarian who'd like to borrow our resources to run book groups in your library?

Prisons

10 books/year

Are you a volunteer or staff member ​who'd like to set up a book group in a prison?

ESOL/Migrant

10 books/year

Are you a volunteer who'd like to set up a book group for those wanting to improve their English?

Schools

5 books/first half of year

Are you a teacher or school librarian who'd like to set up a book group for students?

Find out more

News and events

what we're up to

Winter Mixer Intro Image with golden 50 and two women toasting

Winter Mixers — Raise a toast to BDS!

Ever been curious about the other BDS book groups in your area? After 50 years of operation, BDS now serve 1,330 book clubs across New Zealand. While...

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Meet our Chatham Island Book Group

Finding Connection in an Isolated Place: Life and Books on Rēkohu

We are CHAT 001 – a group of 12 women living in the Chatham Islands/Wharekauri/Rēkohu. We work at the local primary school (of which there are two...

Read more
Graduating Students throwing caps in the air overlaid with an image of the book Find Me Unafraid

Find Me Unafraid: An Update

AUCK 465 recently read popular BDS title Find Me Unafraid and were inspired to write to Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO), the organisation featured...

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2023 Most Requested

Most Requested Books of 2023

Here are the 15 books that BDS book clubs around the country requested the most in 2023. As in 2022, NZ authors make a strong showing — while around...

Read more
Extreme caution sign and the DANNE 001 book group in a group selfie with their books

Come Hell or High Water

A Dannevirke book group has battled the effects of Cyclone Gabrielle in order to make their meeting.

Pam Menzies of DANNE 001 recently sent us some pictures...

Read more
BDS Open Day Intro image

Open Day at Book Discussion Scheme

Come learn more about Book Discussion Scheme at our Open Day in Christchurch.

BDS are throwing open the doors on Sunday 10 September to invite people...

Read more
Download your book list intro image

How to Download and Print Your Book List

We received some requests from book club coordinators/convenors asking us to make it easier to download, print and share your book lists with your group...

Read more
Narrative Muse Book Club

The Narrative Muse Book Club

Book Discussion Scheme (BDS) is partnering with Narrative Muse to offer the Narrative Muse Book Club — a chance for readers to ​enjoy a year of social...

Read more
Love Literature? Join the Club. BDS Interview on RNZ Nights

Interview on RNZ Nights

On 23 May, Book Discussion Scheme were invited to chat with Mark Leishman (Nights on RNZ National) about book clubs. Far from books 'being dead' they...

Read more
The Word May Meet Ups over an image of people gathering and talking at night

May Meet Ups

We can help you get connected to a book group at one of our in-person events during May!

If you are in Christchurch, Waimakariri or Selwyn and are interested...

Read more

Book Group Survey Results

At the end of 2022, BDS surveyed our book groups, asking them about the benefits and challenges of book group (including COVID-19) and how satisfied they...

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Men's Book Groups Image

Men's book clubs about 'more than just reading books'

This article was originally published on 5 January 2023 by Carly Gooch on Stuff.

 

WATCH ON STUFF: David Grant runs a men’s book club which meets...
Read more
2022 Most Requested

Most Requested Books of 2022

Here are the 15 books that BDS book clubs around the country requested the most in 2022. Interestingly, six out of the 15 are by New Zealand authors —...

Read more

How to build your book list

Choosing the books for your book group's reading year doesn't have to be a headache. Check out our top tips for building a book list for maximum enjoyment...

Read more

Darker Reads for All Hallows' Eve

Crime, horror, thriller, suspense, mystery — whatever your darker reading 'pleasure', there are stories to make your skin crawl, your spine tingle and...

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BDS takes out People's Choice Category

BDS have taken out the top spot in the popular People's Choice Category of the 2022 David Awards.

The David Awards celebrate small business heroes, who...

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DUNED 002 celebrating 40 years together with cake

Otago Book Group Celebrates 40 Years

Lala Frazer wrote to us about DUNED 002, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this year. Lala shares memories of books they've loved, discussions they've...

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Orange Light

Orange Light Settings

We are pleased to let you know that under Orange Light settings, from Tuesday 7 June BDS office hours in Christchurch will return to normal:

9:00AM-5:00PM...

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Woman participates in an online meeting

Book Club during Lockdown: ReadNZ interviews BDS

Read an interview of BDS Promotions person, Renee Blackburn, as she talks to ReadNZ about how New Zealand's book clubs are cope with lockdowns, what they're...

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Book Covers Image

Thrillers and Darker Reads

'cause this is thriller, thriller night...and we've got some chilling BDS reads for those of you want to indulge your more sinister side. From an intriguing...

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