The Writers’ Book Club
R(ev)ise and Shine! is delighted to present the Writers’ Book Club, which is just what it sounds like — a bi-monthly book club hosted by writers for writers.
Every other month we select a new book to discuss in an informal group setting online, where we focus on specific questions of craft in order to become better at reading like writers. We also share in advance a list of Discussion Questions designed to guide our conversation and inspire deeper thinking.
The Writers’ Book Club offers a safe, fun, educational forum for rich and rewarding conversations about books and the craft of writing.
Check out our FAQ below for more information.
You can also watch this space for details on upcoming meetings/titles or join our mailing list and FREE Substack Newsletter to receive updates as soon as they become available.
Our Next Selection:
In Conversation: An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys
Join Jennifer Richard Jacobson and author Rob Costello as they discuss Rob's debut novel, AN UGLY WORLD FOR BEAUTIFUL BOYS. Bring your own questions and join us for a fun & lively conversation!
“Toby's coming-of-age trainwreck reads like the tensest of thrillers and hurts like your worst teenage memory. It's gorgeously written, ultimately healing, and absolutely unforgettable."
-Nancy Werlin, National Book Award Finalist for The Rules of Survival
"If you’re looking for a raw, unfiltered journey into the heart of a difficult and complex queer experience, An Ugly World for Beautiful Boys is a must-read. Rob Costello has crafted an unflinching coming-of-age story that dives headfirst into the chaos of self-discovery, loss, and redemption through Toby Ryerson: an imperfect, impulsive young man who is trying to survive when everything falls apart. An unforgettable debut novel."
-Christopher Barzak, author of Stonewall Honor winning novel, Wonders of the Invisible World
Self-styled “beautiful boy” Toby Ryerson dreams in stardust but lives in the dirt. Haunted by the specter of his mom’s overdose, he itches for a life of fun and fabulosity far from the MAGA hats of his backwoods Adirondack town. The only problem: his older brother Jimmy’s plans to polish him into a spotless “Disney gay” with college, career, and husband. Toby knows that Jimmy didn’t sacrifice everything to raise him just so he can waste his life on men and partying like Mom did. But why can’t Jimmy see that he is their mother’s son?
When Toby outs the boy who broke his heart in a fit of rage, the web of lies he’s spun to manage Jimmy’s expectations quickly unravels. A brutal beating leads to a campaign of cyberbullying, culminating in even greater disaster.
Worse: Toby knows it’s all his own fault.
Enter Gabe, a sexy stranger from Mom’s past who seduces Toby with the keys to the Big Apple. But when Toby’s dreams of a fabulous life in the city quickly turn into a nightmare, will Jimmy's love be enough to save him, or will he end up just like Mom?
AN UGLY WORLD FOR BEAUTIFUL BOYS is a gritty and harrowing queer coming-of-age novel as well as a love story between two mismatched brothers coping with the burden of secrets and a legacy of shame.
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 @ 8:00 pm EDT
FAQs
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A book club hosted by writers for writers where we learn more about the craft of writing by discussing a good book together!
Each discussion focuses on specific questions of craft, such as: What works and what doesn't work in the book? What choices did the author make that you agree with? Which ones did you feel were a mistake? What did you think of the author's approach to crafting dialogue? Incorporating backstory? Creating imagery and utilizing metaphor? What ideas did the book give you to weave into your own work? What did you learn about writing from the book? Etc.
Come prepared to discuss and analyze the text like a writer!
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You’ll need to reserve a spot through our Eventbrite page in order to receive the link to attend each meeting.
After that, it’s much like any other interactive Zoom event you have previously participated in.
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Yes. While we understand that money is tight these days, unfortunately there are expenses associated with organizing and running an online book club. Still, we don’t wish cost to prevent anyone from participating, so we are keeping dues as low as possible, or $1.00 per meeting (plus a few pennies in Eventbrite fees). However, for those who can afford it, we kindly request suggested dues of $5.00 per meeting, which helps us offset the overhead of the technology involved and the time and effort required to host these events.*
*We’re also exploring the possibility of establishing a yearly-subscription model for all of our paid online content.
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We host book club meetings on a bi-monthly basis, on the evening of the first Wednesday of the month.
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We mostly read middle grade and young adult novels, although occasionally we dip our toes into adult fiction, non-fiction and memoir (for all ages), short stories, and even picture books (in which case, we select multiple titles from a single author to discuss).
In addition to recent releases, we also feature classics and books we particularly love that we feel didn’t get the kind of attention they deserved when they first came out.
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Our Zoom account caps the number of participants at about 100. If we find that so many people attend a particular meeting that it makes a meaningful discussion impossible, we’ll divide into smaller groups (via breakout rooms) led by each one of us.
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Check this webpage for updates, or better still, sign up for our FREE Substack Newsletter and get the latest info on all our upcoming events and offerings delivered straight to your inbox!