Chapter 25 Book Club レビュー 

I've made some really great friends coming to Chapter 25 book club. Staff and volunteers here belive in the power of community and a good book. They work hard. Without Chapter 25, I'd still be feebly trying to set up my own and wouldn't have met the most amazing group of people.

What an amazing book club to be part of! I love all the bonus extras and self care sessions! Everyone is so friendly and it’s become more than just a book club.

Chapter 25 book club has been one of the best things I have signed up to in years. Everyone that takes part is so lovely and I look forward to our conversations over books every month. The book selection is good with a wide range of different novels which have helped me to expand the genres and types of books I am exposed to. Our club leader Ellie is just fantastic as well and I am always so impressed with how well she organised everything.

Alice is fantastic! Warm, welcoming and kind. A gentle way to make connections in adulthood over a shared love of reading.

A great community and great value for money

I absolutely love Chapter 25 Book Club. It’s such a thoughtful, welcoming community, with brilliant book choices and genuinely meaningful discussions. It’s quickly become one of the highlights of my month.

It's somewhat worrying when the bulk of the positive reviews are held by Chapter25 Hosts, who aren't paid members of the business, but volunteers so therefore can circumvent the TrustPilot process.

Like others have said, Chapter25 sets you up with some faux-contractual agreement by holding your bank details hostage and not implementing a direct debit (because then they would have to obey the DD guarantee). The shadiness of that alone should warn people off giving Chapter25 their money.

Unfortunately their in-person book meets are also poor - from hosts who don't have any real incentive to get involved, to those being overwhelmed by what they signed up for. They appear to me to be taken advantage of, yet its obvious some of them are quite happy with that.

The quality of people who turn up for these meetings are varied - people who only read certain types of books, or who don't engage with the reading material are most frequent. That in turn makes having any discussion with them about the latest read pointless. If you'll only read Sarah J Mass books, and only want to talk about them, why are you coming to this event.

At an event you'll be given a sheet of paper with questions by your host, and someone at the table will ask those questions why you go around talking about them. It's very stilted, very forced and the host sometimes doesn't get involved. This is what you're paying for. And if no one wants to answer a question? Move onto the next. What happens when you get to the end of the questions? Talk about something else.

There's no real 'reason' for Chapter25 (because the benefits are negligible) except to build a human connection (which makes their push for virtual events confusing). You could do the same thing by attending a real book club in your local area.

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EDIT: It should be worth noting that Chapter25 FLAGGED this review in an attempt to hide it. Here's the emails I received from TrustPilot.
_______________
Hi ,
Thanks for reviewing chapter25bookclub.com on Trustpilot.
chapter25bookclub.com has flagged your review for containing defamatory content.
_______________

Luckily, Trustpilot has seen sense in my review and responded:
_______________
Hi again,

We're just following up about your review of chapter25bookclub.com, which was flagged for containing defamatory content.

The decision
Good news — we've assessed the content flagged by the business, and determined that it's not defamatory. Therefore, we've put your review back online.
_______________

That alone should be further evidence to my review.

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EDIT2: Further to Chapter25s comments response.

1) You do not provide the option to cancel through any means but email, and then when asked, you do not action it immediately. Instead, you make attempts to keep the 'subscription' going all while saying you'll not cancel it until you've had further agreement. Which means if you are slow in responding, or you're emailed near the end of a billing period, you'll re-billed. A company with correct values would look to bring in a reoccurring Direct Debit process. However this would mean you have to attach yourself to the Direct Debit Guarantee (which protects buyers...)

2) You might be a host-led community, but that doesn't prove you support them. I've unfortunately witnessed two different hosts having to struggle, which cost them financially and mentally. Hopefully you've doing as you say and have made steps to help and support your hosts going forward.

3) I encountered a number of attendees who were not interested in reading the book of the month, or engaging in any genre they didn't like. I'm well aware you rotate the books (as a former member), but being 'stuck' on a table with people who haven't engaged with the book then it makes the conversation that evening pointless. It's one thing for members to vote, but if those you end up with on a table didn't read the material, what then? Ultimately Chapter25 became a reason for a social event but not focused around its intention, the books. I'd argue what Chapter25 offers on its social media presence, is not what's displayed when experienced.

4) It's unfortunate to see you've stated I was not a member, when I have been. It's disappointing that you wish to be factually incorrect about this (especially when you are challenging my comments, which come from direct experience). We can call that simply an error on your end.

5) I'm unsure which element of my review is factually incorrect. Per bank details, your process is not absolutely clear unless one digs around your T&Cs (which are financially grey in their application...) and the manner in which one has to take to cancel with you is outdated and provides you with complete control (i.e. holding hostage)

Have a great Christmas and a grand ol' year.

Having recently relocated to Glasgow, I joined Chapter 25 to expand my social circle. While I thought the event was well run it wasn't for me. Having 2 A4 pages of questions to answer felt very much like a school class and left no time to get to know the people there. After a long day at work, I don't want to be "tested".

I asked to cancel my membership (understanding I had signed up for 3 months and was happy to pay the 3 months) as I knew I would not go to another event. Life is too short to do things you don't enjoy in your spare time.

As with other reviewers responses are slow - despite them continually posting on social media. When I got a response I was told because my 3 months has not concluded I could not cancel but why not enjoy their online stuff? I want human connections not internet friends.

Apparently I now need to separately contact them again in January to say I want to cancel, relisting the reasons I had already provided.

I had no intention on leaving a bad review just because I didn't enjoy it but the fact they are making it difficult for me to cancel bothers me.

Chapter 25 has been such a wholesome experience! It helped me meet new people and discover so many amazing books. All the hosts are incredibly friendly and supportive — always happy to help, organize fun activities, and even plan events outside the club! As part of my membership, I also get to join other online events, such as author Q&As and craft activities.

I have been a member of Chapter25 since August 2024 and it is honestly the best thing I have ever done.

It changed my life, as an adult over the age of 30 the idea of finding new and forever friendships is unheard of. I have found my people!

Whether that be in my monthly book club meet ups which has expanded my eyes to more and different reading, the friends I have made or the UK wide community that always gives me an opportunity to gush about my current reads, and read about others. My TBR is insane!!

Whether you are an avid reader, a sometimes reader, or just getting back into it there is a place for everyone and all are welcomed and included.

100% recommend and will be a member for life :) XX

Joining Chapter 25 is the best decision I have made in ages!

I’ve been a member of Chapter 25 for over a year now and I honestly look forward to the meet up every month and always leave feeling great.

As someone who thought about joining book clubs before but felt too nervous to join alone, I felt instantly comfortable and welcomed from first joining the group WhatsApp chat. I’ve met loads of new people and made great friends since joining. I’ve also read some amazing books that I otherwise wouldn’t have picked up, and have been recommended books that I’d never even heard of but but absolutely loved.

On top of the monthly meet ups the bonus chapter, extra events (like Christmas party) and group chat make Chapter 25 totally worth it.

I would 100% recommend to anyone thinking of joining!

Chapter 25 is a fantastic concept and the structure of the club, the bonus content you can access and the way in which you are so warmly welcomed are some of the many advantages. If you love reading (and none of your friends do) then this is a great way to find your tribe and spend a wholesome evening with like-minded people. The only negative I have to say about Chapter 25 is that I wish I had found it sooner. Highly recommend!

I joined Chapter 25 in August 2025 when my one opened up in a town near me. I had recently been made redundant and was missing the social element of working as well as wanting to find a book club.

Well this was one of the best decisions I have made. The interaction between a group of what were strangers at the first meet was amazing. A room full of people who loved books and reading as much as me. I love going to the monthly meet ups and really miss going if I have a clash. Its like a night out with friends.

Everyone is so friendly and it doesn't matter who you sit with and whether you liked the book or not we still manage to talk about lots of things.

The group is so good that we regularly meet to do other things outside of the book club and thats in addition to all the extra bonus chapter and discord events that take place.

For me I think is great value for money.

I have been part of Chapter25 since summer 2023, first as a member and then as a host.

My experience as a member was that meet ups were always a friendly and relaxed place to discuss our most recent read and get to know each other. Of course, there are differing opinions about the books - that's true of any book club - but that's part of the fun. The addition of The Bonus Chapters (free online events) has added an extra way to engage and connect with the C25 community - my favourite Bonus Chapters are the author Q&As.

My experience as a host is that I feel completely supported by C25. They make it really easy for me to host (they choose the books, organise the venue, provide the discussion questions etc), plus I have a dedicated person to contact if I have any questions. They are really open to feedback and always looking for ways to improve members' and hosts' experience.

I love being part of the C25 community and love getting to support a small business at the same time.

Joining Chapter 25 was the best decision I made in 2024! When I left uni and moved home, I really felt very lonely as most of my home friends were living away. Joining the Chapter 25 book club in my local area helped me find a whole community of like minded, wonderful people who I feel very lucky to call friends now. I cannot tell you just how much I've gained from joining the Chapter 25 community and I am so appreciative of the team and their hard work to create such lovely spaces up and down the country - I think it's a testimony to just how well organised and welcoming it is that they have SO many clubs and well established members, and I think the price we pay is incredible value considering all the online and offline community events we can be a part of! I bloody love it and can't wait for more Chapter 25 goodness

I have attended Chapter25 book club for over two years and have to say it is the highlight of my month! The subscription price includes a place at your local meeting with ice breaker activities, genuinely thought provoking questions and discussion prompts for the book and a HUGE range of online content including author Q&As, virtual book discussions, board game nights, yoga sessions and much more. The community that has formed both online and locally is so welcoming and enthusiastic and it’s so lovely to just spend a whole evening per month chatting about books!

I joined Chapter 25 in August 2024 - and can say this is the best decision I have made. I go on my own and never worry about who I will be sat with everyone is lovely . I have read so many different books and really enjoy the monthly meet ups when you can’t go the process to receive your book is so easy.
Anyone who loves reading and book clubs should definitely give this club a go

Brilliant book club i have been come since the Wellingborough club started.
Its a brilliant way to meet like minded people and try different genres of book.
The hosts are so helpful and come up with different bookish tasks each month.
I would highly recommend chapter 25 to any book lover

After spending many years being a bit of a recluse and raising small children I wanted to join a bookclub as something to do for myself! With my anxiety that makes it extremely hard, but when I came for my first book club in October 2024 I immediately felt at ease, everyone is so so lovely, Alice is an amazing host and to top it off the venue is great!

Even if a few of us haven’t read the book because it’s not our vibe we always have stuff to talk about, it’s the one day a month I truly look forward to and gladly skip out on bedtime with the children (which I absolutely adore doing) to go see the group and have book and more chats!

We’ve organised a few events outside of bookclub too! Cinema, dinner, painting, crafts evenings, etc. I am so thankful for Chapter25, thank you for helping me realise that there are groups of wonderful people out there that enjoy reading just as much as I do, and not only that, thank you for helping me meet people who I can talk to about bigger things than books when times are hard ❤️

P.s, love the merch and need the hoodies back 😌😉xx

I joined Chapter 25 in Jan 2024 with the hopes of meeting new people and making new friends and to say that’s been achieved would be an understatement!

I love chatting through all things books and reading books I would never normally pick up, it’s been eye opening to explore so many new genres.

It’s a friendly, welcoming and relaxed atmosphere making book club night a fun staple in my month!

I’d highly recommend if you are looking for a new way to make friends and connect with other like minded people!