"I didn’t join for the community—I joined because I thought the book choices seemed cool. But the people in this group? They’re amazing and super sharp, and they’ll bring up angles I’d never think of. One person connected Orlando to a Cindy Sherman photo, and suddenly the whole book felt different to me. I’m not even a big talker in the meetings, but it’s worth it just to listen."

“So Textual's book club walks that fine line of feeling both cool and exclusive, but also supportive and welcoming. The book selections are thoughtful but not on the nose, (we haven't read something I've already been through yet) and the reading guides help me contextualize what I'm reading and how I feel about it. The monthly meeting and always-on Geneva forum is the perfect choose-your-own-engagement-level adventure. I wish I had a group like this for every genre of literature I'm into!”

”…the prompt mailing, beautiful packaging of the book, & the thoughtfulness of the onboarding materials also in hard print is beyond my expectation. This has been such a pleasant surprise for me, & I am so looking forward to my journey in this group! …Bar none the most pleasant consumer experience I have encountered in quite some time.”

“I have been a voracious reader my entire life, and So Textual is giving me the opportunity to access books I otherwise would never have known existed. I feel intellectually challenged by the selections, and I love the opportunity to connect with others who care so deeply about literature. I also love that there’s no “snobbery”—readers of any level can feel comfortable learning how to engage a text. I’m glad I joined!”

“So Textual is one of those internet gems I'm tempted to gatekeep, but I can't stop telling everyone I know. Every newsletter is sharp & delicious. Receiving one in my inbox feels like being invited to a fabulous dinner party. All for the price of a coffee date? I'm obsessed.”

"I got tired of book clubs where the picks felt like they were just plucked from bestseller lists. So Textual is different—the books are chosen for their depth and how they connect to bigger ideas, not just because they’re buzzy. This month we read something I’d never heard of before, and I’m still thinking about it weeks later. It’s nice to feel like someone’s actually putting thought into the choices, not just following what’s trending."

"There’s no pressure here. It’s not about being the most well-read or knowing all the answers. I joined to bring a little more structure to my reading, and I’ve found myself looking forward to the monthly book guides and discussions. They’re low-key but meaningful. The Source Material prompts have actually helped me keep track of what I’m reading and why it matters to me. It’s a nice way to slow down.”

"I didn’t realize how much I missed reading until I started again with So Textual. Having a set book each month makes it easier to stay on track, and now I find myself reaching for books more often—not just for the club, but in general. It’s been a nice shift."

"I used to start books and never finish them. Now, I actually make time to read every month—it’s become something I look forward to."

"I didn’t expect to get much out of the onboarding materials, but they were honestly so useful. The prompts made me think about my reading habits in a new way, and now I feel more intentional about how I read."

"…the thought and care put into everything, from the printed onboarding materials to the way the book arrived packaged so beautifully, made it feel so intentional. I joined because I wanted to read more, but this experience has been so much more than I expected. It feels personal and really intimate, which is hard to find on the internet.”