We’re not your typical book club.
BOOK OF THE MONTH
April 2025
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A family on a remote island. A mysterious woman washed ashore. A rising storm on the horizon.
Dominic Salt and his three children are caretakers of Shearwater, a tiny island not far from Antarctica. Home to the world’s largest seed bank, Shearwater was once full of researchers. But with sea levels rising, the Salts are now its final inhabitants, packing up the seeds before they are transported to safer ground. Despite the wild beauty of life here, isolation has taken its toll on the Salts. Raff, eighteen and suffering his first heartbreak, can only find relief at his punching bag; Fen, seventeen, has started spending her nights on the beach among the seals; nine-year-old Orly, obsessed with botany, fears the loss of his beloved natural world; and Dominic can’t stop turning back toward the past, and the loss that drove the family to Shearwater in the first place.
Then, during the worst storm the island has ever seen, a woman washes up on shore. As the Salts nurse the woman, Rowan, back to life, their suspicion gives way to affection, and they finally begin to feel like a family again. Rowan, long accustomed to protecting her heart, begins to fall for the Salts, too. But Rowan isn’t telling the whole truth about why she set out for Shearwater. And when she discovers the sabotaged radios and a freshly dug grave, she realizes Dominic is keeping his own dark secrets. As the storms on Shearwater gather force, the characters must decide if they can trust each other enough to protect the precious seeds in their care before it’s too late—and if they can finally put the tragedies of the past behind them to create something new, together.
APRIL 2025
Bonus Book
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The author of Bird in Hand and The Way Life Should Be delivers her most ambitious and powerful novel to date: a captivating story of two very different women who build an unexpected friendship: a 91-year-old woman with a hidden past as an orphan-train rider and the teenage girl whose own troubled adolescence leads her to seek answers to questions no one has ever thought to ask.
Nearly eighteen, Molly Ayer knows she has one last chance. Just months from "aging out" of the child welfare system, and close to being kicked out of her foster home, a community service position helping an elderly woman clean out her home is the only thing keeping her out of juvie and worse.
Vivian Daly has lived a quiet life on the coast of Maine. But in her attic, hidden in trunks, are vestiges of a turbulent past. As she helps Vivian sort through her possessions and memories, Molly discovers that she and Vivian aren't as different as they seem to be. A young Irish immigrant orphaned in New York City, Vivian was put on a train to the Midwest with hundreds of other children whose destinies would be determined by luck and chance.
The closer Molly grows to Vivian, the more she discovers parallels to her own life. A Penobscot Indian, she, too, is an outsider being raised by strangers, and she, too, has unanswered questions about the past. As her emotional barriers begin to crumble, Molly discovers that she has the power to help Vivian find answers to mysteries that have haunted her for her entire life - answers that will ultimately free them both.
Rich in detail and epic in scope, Orphan Train is a powerful novel of upheaval and resilience, of second chances, of unexpected friendship, and of the secrets we carry that keep us from finding out who we are.
WHAT WE’RE UP TO
Virtual Events
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Kicking off the year with some extra fun for the community! 🎉 I’m excited to announce that I'll be hosting monthly giveaways exclusively for members. Each month in 2025 (starting in February), I’ll be giving away a free copy of our Monthly Book Pick to one lucky member.
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Join us every month for a relaxing online yoga class led by Sukha with Markie - it's the perfect way to unwind and find your inner peace!
Looking to unwind and relax from the comfort of your home? Look no further! Markie will guide you through a rejuvenating yoga session that will leave you feeling refreshed and centered. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned yogi, this class is suitable for all levels. Don't miss out on this opportunity to take care of your mind, body, and soul. Grab your mat, find a quiet space, and get ready to flow with us!
MEET MARKIE
Markie is an astrologer, yoga instructor, retreat leader and host of Led by the Cosmos podcast. She is passionate about helping others find compassion for themselves and their life experiences through learning about their birth charts, intentional conversations with their communities, and mindfulness practices.
She is a proud Sun Devil alumna and has a background working for multiple e-commerce start-ups in NYC. Although her childhood had constant divine influence, it wasn't until she graduated college that she came back to her connection to spirituality through a series of serendipitous events.
What started as frequent angel number sightings and practicing yoga in her windowless 90 sq. ft. room in NYC, turned into a path of healing, growth, freedom, grief, and love.
Outside of her work, you can catch her reading a new book, finding the best mint chocolate chip ice cream around town, or planning her next trip abroad.
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Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Books, Brunches & Booze® by joining our virtual scavenger hunt! This fun challenge encourages you to visit your favorite local indie bookstores, complete bookish photo challenges, and share your finds with the BB&B community.
HOW IT WORKS:
Visit any independent bookstore on Saturday, April 26
Snap photos of items from our scavenger hunt list (link below)
Post your photos on Instagram and tag @booksbrunchesandbooze
The person who completes the most challenges creatively will win!
🏆 THE PRIZE: A gift card to the winner’s favorite independent bookstore!
Let’s support indie bookstores, discover new reads, and have some bookish fun together! 📖✨
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Join us for a chat with April Book Pick’s bestselling author, Christina Baker Kline!
MEET THE AUTHOR |A #1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train, and A Piece of the World, Christina Baker Kline is published in 40 countries. Her novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award, and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, among other prizes, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections. Her essays, articles, and reviews have appeared in publications such as the New York Times and the NYT Book Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Chronicle, LitHub, Psychology Today, and Slate.
FIND YOUR CHAPTER
Meet-Ups
BECOME A MEMBER
Join the Club
We believe that book clubs should be about more than just the book. BB&B creates a space for building new friendships and celebrating old ones over binge-worthy books, good food, cold brews, and lots of laughs. Join us on our mission to hit every delicious brunch spot, beer garden, and cozy corner we can find!
TESTIMONIALS
What Our Members Are Saying
“I love that this book club brings so many bibliophiles together. People who are from different backgrounds, socioeconomic statuses, and occupations all have a common denominator with one book each month.”
— Sarah | Columbia, SC
“I love the atmosphere of BB&B—laid back and fun! There are no strict guidelines for members to follow—some months, I am able to read the book of the month, some months I’m too busy to find the time. All of the BB&B book picks that I’ve read, I’ve loved—from the historical fiction tear jerkers to the nail-biting psycho-thrillers. When I am able to make the social meet-ups, I always enjoy meeting new members and everyone has the same M.O.—we just want to have fun!”
— Kellie | Philadelphia, PA
“It is hard to make friends as an adult. BB&B has been a great way to meet more girls who have shared interests in books, who I may not have crossed paths with otherwise. I have met so many new friends and can’t wait to keep building those friendships and making more!”
— Reaganne | Alexandria, VA
Become a Host
Interested in bringing BB&B to your city? As we continue to grow, we are always looking for new hosts in new cities to bring more women together!
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@BOOKSBRUNCHESANDBOOZE
