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The more you think about that old canard about Angelenos being shallow, beautiful idiots, the less sense it makes. Sure, New York City has an impeccable literary reputation (which NYC writers have spent a few dozen decades burnishing themselves), but L.A. has inspired everyone from Raymond Chandler and Eve Babitz to John Fante and Bret Easton Ellis. And there's no better time to cozy up with a great book (whether it's set in L.A. or not) than fall.
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Of course, fall in L.A. means something a little bit different, so instead of steaming cups of cider, you may want to set your sights on a crisp glass of bubbles or an icy martini. Something to take the sting out of those notorious Santa Ana winds that sent Joan Didion back to her bed. And while Book Soup and The Last Bookstore are always good for a visit or an author signing, there are a few other book-friendly places to pop into for a sense of reader kinship.
These L.A. book clubs make happy hour a literary event
In San Pedro, The Tipsy Bookworms meets at local bars to discuss its monthly selection over drinks, including a TBA scary book for October, just in time to share spooky season with other readers and tipplers. The group describes itself as casual and low-pressure, and members voting on what to read next.
On September 26, Grain of Salt LA brings an immersive read-along to P.F. Candle Co.’s Echo Park flagship. The evening combines books, cocktails, food, book signings and scent pairings alongside this month's featured guests, novelists Scott Broker, Anna Dorn and Aisha Muharrar. This one is sold out, but there's a waitlist (and honestly, when has an event in L.A. ever not had to call up the waitlist reserves?).
Mimosas & Lit 2.0 meets in the Pasadena area for romance novels and mimosa brunches, with the next gathering scheduled for September 27. It’s an easy sell: come for the happily-ever-after, stay for the bubbles. The club is open to everyone and currently has more than 600 members, so you’ll have plenty of potential brunch companions (although your social anxiety may need more than one mimosa).
If wine is your preferred reading companion, head to Augustine Wine Bar in Sherman Oaks on October 15 for the Literary Wineaux Society LA’s discussion of Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca. The group meets monthly at a local wine bar to actually discuss its selected book—yes, really—and October’s theme is the Seven Deadly Sins. Rebecca gets envy, which feels right for a novel involving a glamorous dead wife and a second wife so nondescript that no one even says her name.
Skip the book club homework and try one of these literary nights out
For something more casual, Pen & Honey Books hosts a Book Swap with Ysa on September 26. Bring a book, take a book and settle in for an evening of wine, food and literary community. It’s less “homework-heavy book club” and more “what if a literary salon had snacks?” The event takes place at Highland Park's Mi Vida.
Where to catch live readings with a cocktail in hand
For those who like their spirits a bit more spirited, there’s the Sunday Whiskey Reading Series from Sevilla Writers House, which is exactly as promising as it sounds: readings in Los Feliz accompanied by whiskey and specialty cocktails inspired by the performers. The series is set to resume this fall, making it one of the rare literary events in town where “I need another drink” can plausibly be described as part of the programming.
And on October 15, The Elysian hosts a live edition of Sounds Like a Cult with Amanda Montell and Iman Hariri-Kia. The evening celebrates Hariri-Kia’s new novel, Once in a Timeline, with ticket-and-book bundles, specialty cocktails and a post-show signing. So technically it’s a podcast recording rather than a reading, but once cocktails and a book signing enter the picture, we’re comfortable bending the category.
Looking for your bookish people? Start with these L.A. clubs.
For women 40 and over, Boozy Broads Book Club has been meeting monthly in West Hollywood at a wine bar since 2022, and members take turns choosing diverse books and leading the discussion. Melanin & Mimosas, meanwhile, meets in Los Angeles once or twice a month, with its October 2 gathering scheduled for 6pm. The club centers Black women and uses books as the jumping-off point for friendship and community, with most genres on the table. The occasional virtual meetup means you can keep the conversation going without having to put on pants twice in one week (or waiting for your next refill).