One of the University of Iowa’s most valued areas is the creative writing program, a marketplace of ideas, where anyone who seeks to improve their skills can learn from great writers of every generation. This importance of creative writing at the university has rubbed off on the rest of the Iowa City area, too.

 Naturally, with such a deep history rooted in literature and education, you can find people expressing their passion for the spoken word around every corner in Iowa City. Whether in poetry readings in downtown coffee shops, libraries flooded with students, or in this case, book clubs. 

Book Club at the Museum

Of all the buildings in Iowa City, there is one that seems to stand taller than the rest. With its brilliant golden crown and lofty throne overlooking the river, the Old Capitol is hard to miss. 

The significance of this building has also made it a great location for the exchange and discussion of literature. 

The Book Club at the Museum held its first meeting in February 2026, where members got together and shared suggestions on what books they would be reading during the upcoming year. 

For the month of April, they will be reading “Bunny” by Mona Awad. 

Amanda Stout, the Education and Engagement Coordinator for the Old Capitol Museum said the setting of the Museum contributes to the club’s image. 

“Being immersed in a historic building with architectural details, atmosphere, and a connection to the past creates a sense of curiosity that pairs beautifully with reading and discussion,” Stout said. 

“The setting encourages us to slow down, reflect, and engage more deeply with the stories we read.”

The next meeting of the Book Club at the Museum will be April 6, at 7 p.m. at the
Old Capitol. 

Members also stay in contact with each other in between meetings through a group chat, where they can share their thoughts, questions and conversation. 

Silent Book Club

For those who enjoy reading but find the discussion portion of a book club more intimidating, the Silent Book Club is a great place to cozy up and get lost in a novel of your choosing. 

Meeting downtown monthly at the Java House cafe, the Silent Book Club is a less traditional clique made up of a significant number of introverts, according to Emerson Craig, a volunteer chapter organizer for
the club. 

“We definitely attract a lot of people who consider themselves introverts–the tagline for the organization is along the lines of ‘Introverts’ Happy Hour’” he said. 

The Iowa City Silent Book Club is only one chapter of a vast community of tight-lipped bookworms in more than 60 countries across the globe. 

While chapters of the club may take many different forms, there are a few things that stay the same, according to Craig, 

“The idea is that there’s no assigned reading. Everyone who attends a silent meetup brings whatever they’re reading at the moment,” he said.

Craig detailed that attendees could even bring alternate forms of media, such as audiobooks or e-books. 

For those who do feel the urge to share with others, there is designated time before and after the reading for chatting. 

Bitchin’ Book Club

Even before mainstream hits like “Heated Rivalry” by Rachel Reid, romance novels have been one of the most popular genres of book. 

Thankfully, all those romance lovers out there have a place where they can indulge in community and literature. 

Once a month, the owner of the event planning organization Bitchin’ Events, Tiara Phillips, hosts a gathering at Fix! Coffee where readers indulge in a monthly romance novel, one of which was the aforementioned “Heated Rivalry.”

This month’s book is “The Seven Year Slip” by Ashley Poston, which brings the fateful romance story, but mixes in time-travel shenanigans alongside a magic apartment. Phillips emphasized the importance of third spaces in Iowa City

“It’s about creating spaces that make people feel comfortable, and people are craving community right now,” she said. “They’re also getting back into reading!”