How to Host a "Blind Date with a Book" Night in Your Club
Table of content
- 1. Key Takeaways
- 2. What Is a "Blind Date with a Book" Night – and Why Try It?
- 3. Choosing the Right Books for the Night
- 4. How to Wrap and Label the Books
- 5. Setting Up the Room for the Event
- 6. Running the Exchange: Rules and Flow
- 7. Discussion Ideas After the Unwrapping
- 8. Themed Add-ons: Snacks, Gifts, and Activities
- 9. Make It a Tradition – Or Try These Variations
Key Takeaways
- A “Blind Date with a Book” is a mystery book exchange where the title and author are hidden.
- It's a creative way to refresh your book club meetings with surprise and curiosity.
- Each member brings a wrapped book and adds short teaser words to the front.
- Works well in person or online, and only requires minimal supplies.
- Add themes, snacks, or small prizes to make it more memorable.
- It can be repeated monthly or seasonally to match your club’s reading goals.
What Is a "Blind Date with a Book" Night – and Why Try It?
A “Blind Date with a Book” night is a fun twist on regular book clubs. Everyone wraps a book and writes a few teaser words on the outside—no title, no author. Then each member picks one based only on those clues. It keeps things fresh and lets readers try something they might not choose on their own.
Related: How to Create a Personalized Book Gift Box
Choosing the Right Books for the Night
The best books for this event are ones that left an impression—fun, thoughtful, or surprising reads. Encourage members to avoid titles that are already popular in the club. You can even create themes like “hidden gems,” “books with a twist,” or “short but powerful.” Mixing genres also adds variety to the picks.
Explore: 10 Books Every Book Lover Should Read At Least Once
How to Wrap and Label the Books
Use basic materials like kraft paper or newspaper to wrap each book. Add a string, ribbon, or even stickers for personality. On the front, write a few keywords or a teaser sentence (e.g., “Time travel, Found Family, 1920s”). You could even include the first line of the book—just no spoilers.
Setting Up the Room for the Event
Arrange all the wrapped books on a table where everyone can see them. Set the mood with cozy lighting, calm music, and comfy seating. Add simple snacks like cookies, tea, or popcorn to keep things relaxed. If your group likes photos, create a book-themed corner for snapshots.
Related: 5 Ways to Make Your Home Feel Like a Book Haven
Running the Exchange: Rules and Flow
Each person places their wrapped book in the center of the room. Then, draw names or numbers to decide the picking order. Everyone chooses a book based only on the teaser notes—no touching or shaking allowed. After all books are picked, unwrap them together and reveal the titles.
Related: 10 Icebreaker Questions for Your Next Book Club Meeting
Discussion Ideas After the Unwrapping
Once the books are revealed, take time to talk about each one. Ask members what they expected based on the clues and whether they’re excited to read their pick. You can even guess who brought which book. Follow up in the next meeting to see what everyone thought after reading.
Need prompts? 5 Questions to Spark Engaging Book Club Discussions
Themed Add-ons: Snacks, Gifts, and Activities
A few extras can make the event feel more special. Serve book-themed snacks or cookies with quote cards. Hand out small bookish gifts like bookmarks or pins as prizes for “Best Wrap” or “Most Mysterious Clue.” You could also run a game where members guess the book’s genre based on the teaser.
Gift inspo: Why Books Make the Perfect Gifts
Make It a Tradition – Or Try These Variations
Try running this event every season or during holidays. In February, wrap books with red paper and focus on romance. In October, choose spooky or banned books. You can even limit all picks to one genre and make it a mystery challenge.
Tip: How to Achieve Your 2025 Reading Goals
Can this work for online book clubs?
Yes. Members can mail or drop off books ahead of time, then unwrap together over video.
What if someone already read their book?
No problem. Offer a swap option at the end or suggest treating it as a reread.
How can we prevent duplicate books?
Have everyone send the title to one person beforehand to check for overlaps.
Can we use library books?
You can, but it’s better to use owned books if people want to keep what they pick.
