Amber Collins, a leader with Crestview Book Club, said the group’s meetings give her a reason to con-nect with others and try local businesses she might not otherwise visit. “It helps me get out and do things I would probably not do on my own,” Collins said. She cited an upcoming book club meeting at Helen Back Pizza in Crestview as an example. Although the restaurant is well known locally, Collins said it will be her first visit and that she is looking forward to ex-periencing it with fellow book club members.
Mandi Kelly., a local resident who participates in three different book clubs, said joining book clubs helped her form meaningful friendships after moving to the area. “Yes,” Kelly said when asked whether she had made friends through book clubs. “In fact, I’ve met some of my best friends in book club.” She said those friendships have grown into a support system that has carried her through important moments in her life. Kelly said she recommends Overbooked Book Club, Crestview Book Club and Temple Beth Shalom’s Nice Jewish Book Club, citing their welcoming environments and community focus.
Book club members interviewed by the Crestview News Bulletin described book clubs as inclusive spac-es where shared interest in reading helps remove barriers that often make adult friendships difficult. “Book clubs don’t care about age, race, jobs, etc. We just all love to read,” one member said. Organizers said book clubs often serve as an entry point for newcomers to the community or residents looking to meet people with similar interests. While not all local book clubs were interviewed for this article, the Crestview News Bulletin recognizes several active groups in the Okaloosa area, including Crestview Book Club, Overbooked Book Club, Geek Girls Book Club, My Wine Club Has a Book Problem, Eglin Spouses Book Club, Silent Book Club Fort Walton Beach, Spicy Shelf Society of Crestview, and Temple Beth Shalom’s Nice Jewish Book Club.
