Escape into Literary Adventures


Welcome to 'The Cotswold Book Nook' FREE Reading Groups, your once a month escape for light-hearted book discussions and literary chats.
Join me as we explore all types of books and build friendships with fellow readers in Gloucester. I look forward to welcoming you to my book club community. 

My Mission


At The Cotswold Book Nook Reading Group, I aim to create a welcoming and enjoyable gathering for everyone who shares a love of reading.

I calmly facilitate both Groups in a way that makes all of my members feel included and listened to. I offer you a welcoming space where you can discover new perspectives, engage in fun and lively conversations and make new friends.

I host my 2 Reading Groups in cosy coffee shops/cafes in Gloucester, the heart of the local community.

My Reading Groups are FREE - all you pay for is the price of a beverage and possibly the cost of the book*. There are NO monthly subscription charges for my Reading Groups and there are WhatsApp Groups for both Book Clubs to keep you up-to-date.

*Hucclecote offers a library and several charity shops to borrow your book for free or to buy at a lower price. Longlevens also has a library. 

Two Reading Groups


Explore my Gloucester Reading Groups based in Hucclecote and Longlevens, each offering a fun and friendly reading experience. Whether you're interested in crime/thrillers, contemporary fiction, classic literature, biographies, chick-lit, poetry, non fiction etc - my groups will accommodate your reading choices. These Book Clubs are only open to Over 18's. 

How do my Cosy Cafe Reading Groups Work?

 

1. Let me know in advance that you want to attend and which group. I have 9 to 10 places per group.

2 . I will have set you a 'theme' beforehand, you can borrow a book for free from your local library or a friend/family member or you can buy one. My current members often find their books in the local charity shops. World of Books is another great option to buy pre-loved books online.

3. Read your book before the meeting date, if it helps - jot down some useful summary notes in a notebook, on a piece of paper or on your phone etc. For example: What was the genre? What was the book about? Who were the main characters? Was there a protagonist? What did you think of the plot twist if there was one? Did you enjoy the book? If not, why not? Who would it be suitable for? Key takeaways?

4. On the day of our Reading group/book club, please arrive at 9:30am and order your beverage/food at the counter, pay for it there and then, before you come over and join me.

5. I will start the session at 9:45am by introducing myself, welcoming you all and inviting quick intros around the table. I'll briefly mention a few book club rules and gauge your preferences (e.g. a monthly book theme vs everyone reading the same book title).

6. Then I'll ask each of you to provide a verbal summary to the group (approx 10 mins).

7. I will ask you to rate the book out of 10 (10 being the highest, 1 being the lowest).

8. At the end of the session, I will ask if anyone would like to propose a new theme for the next meeting.

☕️ Both of my groups are FREE to attend, (I do respectfully ask that you buy a beverage from the cafe/coffee shop owner for kindly offering us the space).

📚 It's always nice to SHARE non-borrowed books amongst the group members if you don't plan on keeping/reading them.


Disclaimer: My Groups are fun, light hearted and full of laughter. If you are seeking a more serious Book Club these ones might not be for you!

Book Festivals & Author Talks


In November 2025, four members of The Cotswold Book Nook (Hucclecote Reading Group) listened to a fascinating Author Talk by Elif Shafak. Her sold out event was at The Stroud Book Festival where she was talking to fellow Author Dr Rachel Clarke about her book 'There are Rivers in the Sky' at the Subscription Rooms. 

We will have more book related outings in 2026 and there will be an Author Q&A session at my Hucclecote Group in the Spring.

Socials & Raffles


I will be arranging more Socials during 2026.

Raffles:

From February I will be running a raffle at each book club - £1 a strip to win a book related prize. 


Christmas 2025 Social:

Our Hucclecote Group had a lovely breakfast and fun book discussion at a local pub in December 2025. The theme was 'Books from your Childhood'. It was fun to hear members stories and memories from that time. 

Where & When We Meet

 

Based in an independent coffee shop and a cafe within local communities, there are the options to walk, drive (free parking) or catch the bus to my Reading Group venues.

Venue Accessibility: Please note there is a staircase up to the meeting area at Coffee House 43 (no lift) and a couple of shallow steps to access Cafe Elm.


Hucclecote Group: We meet on the first Wednesday of every month at 9:30am in Coffee House 43, Hucclecote Road, Gloucester. 

 

There is a Waiting List for this fully subscribed group. Please message me.

Longlevens Group: My second book group started on 5th January 2026. We will meet on the first Monday of the month* at 9:30am in Cafe Elm, Longlevens.

*Please Note: There are a couple of dates in 2026 where our meetings will be held on the second Monday of the month due to Bank Holidays or my non-availability. 

This is a NEW group, please message me to join us, I have one place remaining (23/01/26).

About Me


Hi, I'm Jane.

My initial Cotswold Book Nook Reading Group was born out of my passion for books and a desire to connect with like-minded individuals.

I hosted my first Group in March 2025 and have been running it monthly since. Fully subscribed, I have a waiting list for my Hucclecote Group. In January 2026, I started a second Group in Longlevens.

I believe that reading and sharing our book experiences has a valuable place in the community. I'm committed to providing a welcoming, cosy space where everyone can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and ideas.

My groups are FREE to attend, just bring along your book and book review notes, buy a beverage and maybe a pastry or a cake.


What makes my Reading Groups different?

There are no monthly subscription fees and we don't all read the same book. My WhatsApp Groups and Social Media will keep you up-to-date with useful info (dates/themes/socials).


Visit my 'About Me' for further info (menu option at top right of screen). 

Hear from Group Members

See what my lovely members are saying about their experiences with The Cotswold Book Nook Reading Group:

“With The Cotswold Book Nook I’ve found my happy place. I’ve met new friends. Anyone is free to suggest a theme for the next read and yes…we laugh a lot. To come away from our meetings not only having recommendations for future reads (or sometimes not 😂) but also feeling lighter and happier than the day before has got to be a win.“  Vic.

 

"Jane has come up with something different for The Cotswold Book Nook, namely free-choice reading based on a broad theme. In this book club, I'm able to choose to read something I really enjoy. Not only do I like enthusing about 'my' book at our meetings, I always look forward to hearing how everyone else has interpreted the theme and I come away with recommendations for titles I wouldn't come across without the book club."  Rachel.


Visit my Testimonials page for full descriptions.

 

Please explore my website further via the menu options at the top right of the screen. 

Contact Me

Location

Gloucester, UK