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Book Club Poll: Help Choose Our Next Pick!

The Downtime book club is coming back in an exciting new format...

Alisha Ramos

Aug 20

READ IN APP

Hello dear Downtime readers, I’ve got some exciting news.

In June, I sent out a survey to paid subscribers asking if you wanted the book club to return. The response was a resounding “yes”—73% voted in favor! Even those who weren’t sure shared thoughtful caveats:

“I love the idea but am so bad at keeping up with book clubs!”

“Maybe bi-monthly or quarterly? I am already in an IRL monthly book club so probably can’t commit to another monthly one!”

“Maybe not EVERY month, but yes!”

I’ve taken all of that into account—and I’m thrilled to announce that the book club is making a comeback this fall, in a way that’s uniquely Downtime…

Downtime Presents: The (Take Your Time) Book Club 🐌

We’ve got many busy readers in this community who want to join a book club, but keeping up with a monthly reading schedule can be a challenge. So instead of reading one book every month, we’ll slow things down and read one book every two months.

Let’s give ourselves the space to read, relax, and savor the experience. Take your time. That’s what reading should be about: joy, not stress.

The Downtime Book Club is perfect for busy and/or leisurely readers who want to enjoy one great book at a time, and connect with others along the way.

Friendly reminder: If you’re NOT interested in book club, book reviews, or any emails about books, you can update your email notification settings here to opt out.

We’re kicking things off this fall with our September–October pick, and you can help choose it! Voting is open now, below. Thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions! I loved seeing a mix of buzzy new releases and backlist gems from my own TBR.

Submit your vote here!

^ click the button above to vote in the poll

Q: How do I participate in the book club?

Get the book! While our discussions will be exclusively for paid subscribers, there’s no official sign-up sheet or page for the book club. Just grab the book and start reading! You can borrow it from your local library, buy it from a favorite indie bookstore, or snag a copy from a friend. (The fall book club pick will be announced next week.)
Read the book. Over two months, you’ll receive biweekly “Reading Check-Ins” - casual posts where we can share thoughts, favorite quotes, and early impressions. I’ll also include a suggested reading schedule if you'd like to follow along in real time.
Join the discussion. See below.
Submit questions for the author. If the author is available for an interview, I’ll open a thread where you can submit questions.

Q: How will we discuss the book?

In the survey, most of you said you prefer asynchronous discussion (no live Zooms—understandable!). So here’s how we’ll connect:

Community Discussion and Q&A: We’ll gather in the comments section of a discussion post/thread, which will be emailed to you and also live on the Downtime site. If the author is available, we’ll share a Q&A featuring your questions. These discussion threads will be open to paid subscribers only.
In-Person Book Club Meetups: Meet other readers! I’ll have an online sign-up sheet available to anyone who’d like to connect in person to discuss the book in their city. These meetups are free and self-organized by readers. In fact, there are already a few readers and book clubs in cities like Austin and NYC who have been meeting up, which is so cool.
Or just read along: If you’re not up for discussions or meetups, you’re more than welcome to read at your own pace and enjoy the Check-In posts. I’ll also share a reflective book review at the end of each cycle, free to all subscribers.

I’m so excited about this and hope you are too. Reading brings me so much joy and calm these days, and sharing that joy in community makes it even more special. Whether you join every discussion or just quietly read along, I hope you’ll be part of it.

If you haven’t already upgraded, here’s the link to become a paid subscriber and fully participate in the book club. I’m running a 20% off promotion right now to celebrate the relaunch:

Get 20% off for 1 year

The fall book club pick will be announced next week. Can’t wait to share it with you!

—Alisha

Friendly reminder: If you’re NOT interested in book club, book reviews, or any emails about books, you can update your email notification settings here to opt out.

You’re currently a free subscriber to Downtime. For the full experience, consider upgrading your subscription.

Paying subscribers get the good stuff: weekly recs and links sent every Friday, entry into monthly reader giveaways, access to our reader chat, and the full archives.

If you have a moment, please tap the heart button, a *free* way to show appreciation. ❤️ It helps others find my work. Also: refer a friend, get free months!