The easiest way to find reading friends online is to start with one book you want to read and invite someone to read it with you. Try The StoryGraph for a small buddy read, an online book club for regular discussions, or a genre community if you’d like to meet people who share your taste before picking a book together.

A good first invitation is specific enough to answer. “Anyone fancy reading a short sci-fi novel over two weeks, with a couple of spoiler-free check-ins?” gives people a bookish reason to reply and an idea of what they’re signing up for. You can start with one person, one book and a conversation you’re both looking forward to.

Where to find reading friends online

If you want…Start hereWhat to look forOne reading buddy or a small groupThe StoryGraphA buddy read for a title you already want to pick upA virtual book club with regular meetingsBook Club Hub or Cambridge University LibrariesAn upcoming book and a meeting time that suits youA discussion you can join whenever you’re freeReddit’s r/bookclub or FableA reading schedule with discussion threads for each sectionFriends who share a particular tasteGoodreads groups or bookish social feedsRecent conversations about your favourite authors, genres or tropes

Try The StoryGraph for a spoiler-free buddy read

The StoryGraph lets you attach a reaction to a point in the book. Your reading partners can see it once they’ve reached that point themselves. That makes it easier to share a wild theory or a funny line while it’s fresh, even when one person reads much faster than the other. The platform also offers readalongs with dedicated discussion spaces for sections of a book. Explore The StoryGraph’s guide to buddy reads and readalongs. thestorygraph.freshdesk.com

If you’re new to reading with someone, look for a buddy read on your existing reading list. You’ll have an easy way to introduce yourself: say what made you pick the book and ask what drew them to it.

Look for a UK online book club

The Reading Agency’s Book Club Hub is a useful starting point for finding a group. Check whether it meets online, whether it’s taking new members and what it’s reading next. Cambridge University Libraries’ Really Popular Book Club is another option. It holds online discussions and shares talking points before meetings. Explore Book Club Hub or see what Cambridge’s Really Popular Book Club is reading. bookclubhub.co.uk

When you’re choosing between clubs, look at what they read over several months. A brilliant pick this month might be a one-off. A list that makes you want to read three of the last five books gives you a better reason to keep coming back.

Join a book discussion on Reddit or Fable

Reddit’s r/bookclub posts reading schedules and discussion threads for different books. Look at how far the discussion has reached before opening a thread, especially if you’ve just started the book. Fable hosts book clubs with discussion rooms for different parts of a read, so you can look for a club that suits your taste and join the conversation as you go. Browse r/bookclub’s reading discussions or see how book clubs work on Fable. reddit.com

Find readers who like the same sort of books

Search a little narrower than “book lovers”. Try “cosy fantasy buddy read”, “locked-room mystery book club” or the name of an author you’ve just discovered. On Goodreads, look for groups with recent discussions. On Bluesky, search for #BookSky alongside a title, author or genre you enjoy. A reply to someone’s actual reading thought often starts a better conversation than a general request for recommendations. Browse reading communities on Goodreads. goodreads.com

Try asking, “What was the moment you started rooting for that character?” or “Did you guess the twist before the halfway point?” If you enjoy swapping opinions about fictional people, Why We Fall for Fictional Characters gives you another conversation starter.

How to ask someone to be your reading buddy

A good invitation gives the other person four things to work with. Tell them the book or genre, when you’d like to start, roughly how long you’ll take and where you’d like to chat. If you already know video calls or strict deadlines would make you less likely to keep it up, say so. Someone else may be looking for exactly the same arrangement.

I’m looking for a reading buddy for a short sci-fi or mystery novel. Fancy choosing a book this weekend and reading it over the next two weeks? I’d love to swap a few messages at the halfway point and talk about the ending once we’ve both finished. I’m in the UK and happy to keep it to text chat.

Post in a group’s introductions or buddy-read thread if it has one. Start with your reading tastes and a broad time zone. You can keep the conversation on the platform while you get to know each other.

If someone replies, offer two titles and let them choose. When both of you have something on your list, swap the blurbs and see which book you both want to start. The TheDigitalReads Book Finder is a place to start a shortlist, or you can explore The Midnight Train’s genre carriages and each pick a book to put forward.

How to plan a buddy read that suits both of you

Keep the first read simple. A two-week plan could look like this.

1. Before you start, make sure you can both get the book. Agree on an end date, one halfway checkpoint and where you’ll leave comments.
2. At the halfway point, share a favourite moment, a prediction or a character you’ve changed your mind about. Agree on a chapter or named section so people using ebooks, paperbacks and audiobooks can find the same stopping point.
3. When you’ve both finished, talk about the ending. Ask each other which scene you’d keep if you had to describe the whole book through one moment.

Agree to label plot-specific comments with the chapter they cover. “Spoilers through Chapter 6” tells the other person when it’s safe to open the message. If one of you gets ahead, that person can jot down their reactions and share them later. If someone falls behind, move the discussion date or let them reply when they catch up.

For the final chat, pick two or three book club questions that work for any novel. You can keep the conversation going by asking, “What did you read differently because we talked about it halfway through?”

What to read with your new reading friends

Choose a book everyone can get hold of and feels like starting. If cost matters, browse the Free Reads collection together. If you’re choosing across genres, browse the full ebook catalogue and ask each person to bring one title and a sentence about why they’d pick it.

For a sci-fi buddy read, try shortlisting The Comet Rider and The Pilot Who Fell Upward. Read both descriptions and choose the one that prompts the best question. If you want a few more choices before you vote, browse the science fiction ebook collection.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I find a reading buddy for free?

Try public buddy-read threads, genre groups on Goodreads or Reddit’s r/bookclub. Check whether the book is available through your library or choose a free ebook together so everyone can join in.

Can I find reading friends without joining a video call?

Yes. Start with text-based discussion threads or a buddy read where you each leave comments at agreed points. Text is especially useful if you work shifts or read at different times.

How do I find a reading buddy for a specific book?

Search the exact title and author alongside “buddy read” or “readalong”. If you find an active discussion, check its schedule and spoiler rules. Otherwise, post the title, a proposed start date and how often you’d like to chat in a group that welcomes buddy-read requests.

What if my reading buddy reads much faster than I do?

Agree on when you’ll discuss each section and let each person read at their own pace. The faster reader can save reactions for later, and the slower reader can avoid opening comments until they reach the checkpoint.

What if nobody replies to my first post?

Try a community devoted to the book’s genre or join a read that’s already scheduled. If you post again, make the invitation easier to answer by giving a title and a loose timeframe. “Anyone interested in reading this over the next fortnight?” is easier to respond to than an open-ended request for friends.

Pick one book and start a conversation

Find one book you’d genuinely enjoy discussing and invite someone to read it with you. By the time you reach the halfway point, you’ll already have something in common and a question worth asking.

Choose your first buddy read from the free ebooks at TheDigitalReads.