Book Club

What to read, watch, and listen to if you lovedBook Club

Bill Holderman · Film · 2018

If you loved Book Club, start with The Thursday Murder Club (Richard Osman, 2020) — a book on the same thread. Below: 4 books, 4 series and 2 podcasts, each matched to Book Club across media.

If you loved Book Club, you will enjoy these stories celebrating the enduring power of female friendship and life transitions.

Books on the same thread

The Thursday Murder Club

The Thursday Murder Club

Richard Osman · Book · 2020

Explores: Retirement, Friendship, Unlikely Detectives.

Much like the group in Book Club, these four friends navigate the complexities of aging and life transitions, proving that retirement is a time for adventure and mystery.

Fifty Shades of Grey

Fifty Shades of Grey

E. L. James · Book · 2011

Explores: Billionaire Romance, Dom/Sub Relationship, Sexual Awakening.

Since this is the exact book that sparked the sexual awakening of the characters in Book Club, you will see firsthand how it changes their perspectives on life.

Fifty Shades Trilogy (Fifty Shades of Grey / Fifty Shades Darker / Fifty Shades Freed)

Fifty Shades Trilogy (Fifty Shades of Grey / Fifty Shades Darker / Fifty Shades Freed)

E L James · Book · 2012

Explores: BDSM, Dominance and Submission, Power Dynamics.

These novels serve as the catalyst for the journey in Book Club, offering a deeper dive into the themes of exploration and romance that drive the characters forward.

The Female Persuasion

The Female Persuasion

Meg Wolitzer · Book · 2018

Explores: Mentorship, Feminism, Ambition.

This story mirrors the focus on intergenerational bonds and the evolution of personal identity found in Book Club, highlighting the profound impact of female mentorship and shared ambition.

Series on the same thread

The Golden Girls

The Golden Girls

Susan Harris · Series · 1985

Shares 2 threads with Book Club: Female Friendship, Aging.

If the camaraderie of Book Club resonated with you, this classic sitcom offers the same warmth and humor found in a group of friends navigating life together.

Grace and Frankie

Grace and Frankie

Howard J. Morris · Series · 2015

Shares 3 threads with Book Club: Aging, Comedy-Drama, Female Friendship.

This series captures the same spirit of starting over in your later years seen in Book Club, grounding the characters' major life transitions in genuine, supportive female friendship.

Sex and the City

Sex and the City

Darren Star · Series · 1998

Shares a thread with Book Club: Female Friendship.

Just as the women in Book Club discuss their lives and desires, this show centers on the candid conversations and unbreakable bonds shared by four close friends.

The Kominsky Method

The Kominsky Method

Chuck Lorre · Series · 2018

Shares a thread with Book Club: Aging.

This series explores the realities of aging and long-term friendship with the same blend of humor and reflection that defines the central relationships in Book Club.

Podcasts on the same thread

Betches Video Club

Betches Video Club

Podcast

Explores: Film Criticism, Humorous Discussion, Pop Culture.

These discussions capture the same lively, opinionated energy found in the reading sessions of Book Club, perfect for those who enjoy hearing friends dissect pop culture with passion.

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend

Team Coco & Earwolf · Podcast · 2026

Explores: parasocial relationships, professional intimacy, self-deprecating humor.

While Book Club focuses on the enduring nature of lifelong friends, this podcast offers a humorous look at the pursuit of connection and the realities of professional intimacy.

Keep exploring

Common questions

What is the premise of the movie Book Club?

Book Club follows four lifelong friends who decide to revitalize their lives after reading Fifty Shades of Grey. They use the book as inspiration to explore and handle sexual pleasure while navigating their elderly years, leading to significant changes in their personal outlooks and relationships.

Is Book Club about a group of friends?

Yes, Book Club centers on four lifelong friends who share a monthly book club. The story focuses on how this group dynamic shifts when they begin reading Fifty Shades of Grey to gain inspiration for improving their experiences and pleasure during their later years.

Does Book Club feature the book Fifty Shades of Grey?

Yes, the plot of Book Club revolves around the four main characters choosing to read Fifty Shades of Grey. This specific book serves as the catalyst for the friends to discuss and seek inspiration regarding their sexual pleasure and life choices at an elderly age.

How does reading Fifty Shades of Grey change the characters in Book Club?

In Book Club, reading Fifty Shades of Grey acts as a turning point for the four friends. It inspires them to address their lives and sexual pleasure with a new, bolder perspective, ultimately leading them to make changes they believe will improve their experiences as elderly women.

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