Magical Romantasy Book Club Sparks Friendships in Rural Suffolk

In the rural town of Bury St Edmunds, a new book club is bringing people together through their shared love of romance and fantasy novels. Lauren Emms, a 27-year-old from Bacton, started the club after noticing how popular romantasy books had become, especially on social media platforms like TikTok. Romantasy is a genre that mixes romance with fantasy elements, such as dragons, faeries, and witches. Lauren has always loved reading, and she remembers being the kid who would sit in the corner at parties with a book. Last September, she created a book-themed Instagram account, which helped her connect with other local readers. Inspired by these new friendships, she decided to start a book club focused on romance and romantasy books.

Lauren spent about a month reaching out to different venues, like cafes and bars, to find a place for the club to meet. She eventually partnered with Whiting's Bar in Bury St Edmunds, which was excited to host the group once a month and even created special book-themed cocktails for the meetings. After launching an Instagram page for the club, Lauren was surprised by how quickly it grew, gaining over 150 followers in just two days. The club is free to join, and each month, members choose a book to read and discuss at their meeting. Their most recent book was Blood Bound, a romantasy story featuring witches and dragon riders. Lauren said the club has been especially helpful for people living in rural Suffolk, where it can be hard to meet new friends. She recalled one member who was very shy at first but became much more comfortable and talkative by the end of the night.

Other members, like Belinda Hart and Holly Spivey, have also found the club to be a welcoming and supportive community. Belinda, who is 50 and from Bury St Edmunds, started reading as an adult and discovered the club on Instagram. She was nervous about attending her first meeting alone but found everyone to be friendly and inclusive, with members of all ages. She believes it's important for people to get out and socialize, especially after the isolation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. Holly, a 35-year-old single mother, said the club has been a great way for her to meet new people and break up the routine of daily life. She appreciates how the club connects people with similar interests and supports local businesses. Lauren hopes to start more book clubs for different genres in the future, continuing to help people in rural areas connect through their love of reading.