Books · Wine · Community
Your standing date with yourself starts here.
A cozy, low-pressure membership that gives you access to expert book and wine picks, a warm community of women, and a creative escape. It’s all digital: no shipping, no commitments.
Cancel anytime.
Sound familiar?
You're in exactly the right place if…
You’ve tried a book club before
But it fizzled, felt like homework, or you ended up running the whole thing. Again.
You’re a little maxed out.
Work, relationships, errands, emotions…the to-do list never ends. You want fun that doesn't cost you more energy than you have.
Wine is your thing (or you want it to be).
You're curious, maybe a little intimidated. You just want smart, easy recommendations from someone who knows their stuff.
You miss meaningful connection.
Not the surface-level stuff. The kind where you find your people and actually look forward to showing up.
You want a ritual that's yours.
A small, recurring gift to yourself. Something to look forward to that no one else put on your calendar.
You're doom-scrolling too much.
You want to trade the scroll for something that leaves you feeling a little better, not worse.
A fair question
Why this isn't just another free book club
You could absolutely read on your own. Or join a free book club. A lot of our members have tried both.
Here's what tends to happen:
The group fades after a few months
No one finishes the book (or one person carries the whole discussion)
The picks feel random, or like homework
You stop showing up, and quietly feel guilty about it
Novel Pairings is designed differently.
Every month, everything is already thoughtfully chosen for you: the book, the wine, the prompts, the experience. So instead of organizing, deciding, or convincing yourself to keep going…
You just show up.
And over time, that's what actually makes the difference.
Free book club
You organize it
Random picks
Fades after months
Guilt when you skip
No wine expert
vs.
Novel Pairings
Done for you
Expert-curated picks
Built to last
Zero pressure to attend
WSET-certified curator
Meet the Founder
Hi, I’m Erin! A book lover, wine editor, and the person doing all the research so you don't have to.
By day, I'm the editor of a national wine magazine and hold a WSET Diploma, one of the most rigorous wine certifications in the world. But my favorite bottle? A $6.49 Grüner Veltliner from Trader Joe's, paired with a paperback (with sprayed edges, of course).
For as long as I can remember, I've been pairing my drink to whatever I'm reading based on the mood of a book, its setting, a character, or its pace. A bold red for a sweeping historical epic. Something crisp and bright for a summer beach read. It started as a personal quirk and became the foundation of everything Novel Pairings is built on.
I started Novel Pairings because I was tired of book clubs that felt like obligations. I've sat through the gatherings where no one clicks, the ones that feel like homework, the ones where you leave wondering why you even bothered.
I wanted something that felt like a treat. Every month, I personally curate the book and wine pairing so you can skip the research and go straight to the good part.
Some of my always-recommend reads? The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova and The Wedding People by Allison Espach.
This isn’t just a book club. It’s a new way of finding fun. A ritual that’s yours.
Your monthly rhythm
What a month inside Novel Pairings actually looks like
Every week has an easy invitation, not an obligation. Show up for all of it, or just the parts that call to you.
A recent example
Last month inside Novel Pairings:
📖 We read: The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware
Full of sharp tension, unreliable memories, and escalating dread, this twisty, atmospheric ride keeps you guessing right up to the very last page.
🍷 Paired with: Petite Sirah from Ward Four Wines
Justin, our friend and winemaker at Ward Four, is a huge Ruth Ware fan, and this bottle was practically made for this moment. It’s the kind of wine you sip slowly while unraveling a locked-room mystery. She gave us a 15% discount!
Inside the community that month:
One member wrote letters to every woman in her life to say she appreciated them…all based on our creative challenge.
Another said it was the first book she'd finished in months
Most people joined the Zoom with a glass in hand, a few just listened with their cat.
Week 1: The Pairing Drop
The month's book pick drops in your inbox, along with Erin's mood-matched wine recommendation and a handpicked playlist to set the vibe. Everything is digital: you shop the book in whatever format you love (hardcover, audio, library, ebook—your call) and grab the wine locally or online. Don't drink? We've got alternatives too. Each book and wine will come with discount codes where we can find them!
Week 2: Journaling + Discord Chat
Thoughtful journaling prompts to reflect with, plus our private Discord community opens up for discussion. Share your hot take, drop a favorite quote, or just lurk and soak it in. Every other month, we host an online wine workshop this week!
Week 3: Creative Challenge
An optional, low-key creative prompt arrives; things like a themed recipe, a letter to yourself, a genre stretch, something small that sparks a little joy. Zero pressure. No grades. Just an invitation to play.
Week 4: Book Club Meetup (Zoom)
A relaxed, come-as-you-are virtual gathering. Whether you finished the book or just showed up for the vibes, you are welcome here. No one gets put on the spot and we always encourage you to share your hot take.
✨ Plus, anytime access to…
Live and recorded online wine workshops (like our Rosé 101 class) + occasional in-person events
Member discounts at women-owned wineries
Book swaps & surprise giveaways
Exclusive event pricing
The full Discord community archive
Seasonal challenges & huge discounts to our annual reading retreat
The real reason people join
What actually changes when you join
Most members don't join because they need another thing to do. They join because they want to feel different.
📖 Reading becomes something you return to not something you "should" do
✅ You finish more books without forcing yourself
💬 You have a place to put your thoughts instead of keeping them to yourself
🍷 Wine feels approachable instead of intimidating
🤝 You find your people, without forcing it
📅 You have something on your calendar that's just for you
It's a small shift. But it adds up quickly.
Why Our Members Joined (and Stayed!)
Why Our Members Joined (and Stayed!)
“I really enjoyed the solo journal during the latest Novel Pairings meeting. Erin had us write down 10 cool things about ourselves and while it was challenging at first, a list of 5 things soon turned into 11. It was exactly the pick-me-up and confidence boost I need after being in a weekend funk.”
— Katherine M.
“I have absolutely LOVED this month’s book and challenge — it brought so much joy into my week.
I love being part of a space where I get to drink delicious wine while discussing awesome books with thoughtful, welcoming women.
— Jessica H.
“Nothing beats getting into a good book with a glass of wine—and being able to share that with a fun group makes it even better. I loved hearing everyone’s take on the book and the wine at the October event.”
— Carol B.
This isn't your
average book club.
Most book clubs quietly become another obligation. Novel Pairings was built to be the opposite: a space that bends to your life, not the other way around.
✕ No required reading or homework
✕ No wine knowledge required (or even wine—tea, soda, water, juice, etc. is welcome)
✕ No awkward icebreakers or being put on the spot
✕ No shipping subscriptions or commitments
✓ We curate! You just sip, read, and show up when you want
✓ Links to shop local, online, or skip the bottle entirely
✓ Every format welcome: hardcover, audio, e-book, library
What’s not included
We believe in flexibility, accessibility, and supporting community and that includes letting you choose where and how you sip and read.
Optional add on + Open to EVERYONE
Want to take the ritual further?
Add the Quarterly Wine Club.
Most people start with the book club membership. But the Wine Club is simply an optional add-on if you want the full pairing experience delivered to your door.
Whether you're a member or just wine-curious, you can add a quarterly shipment of three curated wines, hand-selected to match that season's book picks, with an educational pairing guide from Erin, completed in partnership with Social Somm. Think of it as the upgrade your reading ritual didn't know it needed.
🍾
3 curated bottles
Aligned with our quarterly book picks, chosen by a certified wine expert.
📝
Pairing education
Erin's tasting notes and pairing guide so you actually know what you're drinking.
📦
Seasonal drops
Delivered quarterly so you’re always ready to sip along with us. Skip if you need to.
~$90–$140/shipment via our partner Social Somm. Open to members and non-members alike. Seasonal drops — sign up before the deadline to secure your spot.
Ready to join? Here's how it works.
Choose your chapter
Most members go annual: It's the best value and the real commitment to yourself. Not quite there yet? Start with a month and see how it feels. Registration closes May 15.
Perfect if you want to test the waters before committing.
Our most popular option! Members say they joined for the books, but come back for the community. This is the one most members wish they'd chosen from the start.
🔒 No risk. Cancel anytime from your account in two clicks. No phone calls, no guilt trips, no hard feelings. Most members don't want to leave, but the door will be open when they want to come back.
This is your invitation to pour into yourself.
Not another obligation. Not a subscription you'll forget. A small, recurring gift to yourself of books, wine, and a community of women who actually get it. Sweats encouraged.
If you're on the fence, try it for a month and see how it feels. Most members are glad they did.
$10.99/month · Cancel anytime · Cozy guaranteed