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Fresh from Our Reviewers to Your Book Club
Original reading guides, most anticipated July-December books, and more ...
Book Club News: July Issue
Hello Book Clubbers,
Join us for discussions of the Wizard of Oz prequel Before Dorothy from Hazel Gaynor and Clare Leslie Hall’s Broken Country, a Reese’s Book Club pick, which brings a romance plot to a thriller-esque exploration of first love and family secrets.
Did you know that some of BookBrowse’s free reading guides are now written from scratch by our reviewers, with book clubs like yours in mind? Check out recent examples and stay tuned for more.
Plan your book club selections for the rest of the year with our helpful list of most anticipated reads for July through December.
And it’s not too late for early access to our upcoming book club guide A Club of One’s Own — sign up now to get your copy ahead of the crowd and an exclusive discount!
Thanks for reading,
The BookBrowse Team
Book Club Discussions
Discussions are open to all! If you’d like to participate, you can do so by creating an account here. Please note that discussions can contain spoilers.
Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor
From the Jacket Long before Dorothy visits Oz, her aunt, Emily Gale, sets off on her own grand adventure, leaving gritty Chicago behind for Kansas and a life that will utterly change her, in this transporting novel from New York Times bestselling author Hazel Gaynor. Bursting with courage and heart, Before Dorothy tells the story of the woman who raised a beloved heroine, and ponders the question: what is the true meaning of home? |  |
From the Discussion
“At first, I wasn’t sure how much I would like this story of Auntie Em and ‘Before Dorothy,’ wondering if a prelude could really hit the mark for me, as a Wizard of Oz fan. But I ended up loving it! On the cover of the book, Kristin Harmel is quoted as saying it is ‘enchanting’ and that is how I felt, throughout the book.” —Shirl
“In the original book, Auntie Em is portrayed as a hard woman with little or no color, however, this interpretation brings warmth to her character.” —Carol_N
See what people are saying in response to this question: What is your own connection or response to the natural world? What more could you do to change how you interact with and respond to nature?
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall
From the Jacket Beth and her gentle, kind husband Frank are happily married, but their relationship relies on the past staying buried. But when Beth's brother-in-law shoots a dog going after their sheep, Beth doesn't realize that the gunshot will alter the course of their lives. For the dog belonged to none other than Gabriel Wolfe, the man Beth loved as a teenager—the man who broke her heart years ago. Gabriel has returned to the village with his young son Leo, a boy who reminds Beth very much of her own son, who died in a tragic accident. |  |
From the Discussion
"I liked the book. I liked how it was told. We were kept in the dark about a lot! The author told us what she wanted us to know in her own time!…A well-written book, a fast read and good discussion for book clubs.” —Paula_Walters
“I liked this book a lot and was surprised several times by the secrets that unfolded.” —Rebecca_R
“I truly loved this book not only because of its endearing characters but the weaving of a story for the ages. Love, murder, lies, secrets, tragedy and hope—this book had it all!” —Christine_Brady
BookBrowse Original Discussion Guides
BookBrowse offers over 2,200 free discussion guides for book clubs, some of which are created from scratch by our reviewers. Recent examples include Endling by Maria Reva and Flashlight by Susan Choi. Keep an eye out for more in our current and upcoming e-zines! |  |
Most Anticipated Books July-December
As the second half of the year moves in, we have you and your book club covered with our most anticipated reads for the last six months of 2025, including plenty of fresh contemporary fiction, an exciting haul of speculative and historical works, and some bookish nonfiction, such as a new biography of James Baldwin and memoirs from Margaret Atwood and Arundhati Roy. … continued |  |
Discussions
Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 200 past discussions. Currently, we’re discussing Before Dorothy by Hazel Gaynor and Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall, among many other books. |  |
Later this month, we feature Kate Heartfield’s The Tapestry of Time and Kate Atkinson’s Death at the Sign of the Rook.
Early Access: The BookBrowse Book Club Guide
All our best book club advice, all in one place. Building off of our Inner Lives of Book Clubs report and over two decades of research, we’re excited to announce that BookBrowse will be releasing A Club of One’s Own, a comprehensive guide for book club leaders looking to start and lead thriving book clubs. If you'd like to be one of the first to have access and get an exclusive discount, fill out our form by clicking below. |  |
About BookBrowse
BookBrowse offers a cornucopia of resources for book clubs, including recommended books by genre, time period, setting, and a wide range of themes; advice on starting and running a book club; and much more!
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