The Silver Petticoat Book Club is back with a fresh start for Winter 2023! After a few months of planning, we’re excited to share the new changes with you. Whether you’re a returning member or new to our book club, welcome! We can’t wait for you to join us.
About The Silver Petticoat Book Club
Every season—Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer—twin sisters Amber and Autumn, who run The Silver Petticoat Review and The Silver Petticoat Book Club, pick six book recommendations. Our club focuses on books that include love stories (not just romances) or those that have a romantic feel. Think of books that are sweet, smart, imaginative, or have an Austenesque vibe. We select everything from classics to debut authors, bestsellers, nostalgic favorites, and more.
Amber and Autumn are dedicated to choosing books that inspire a love for reading, whether they’re entertaining page-turners or literary novels exploring deeper themes. The books we pick range between one and three on a five-point steaminess scale and avoid excessive gore, profanity, or explicit content. If a book does contain some graphic text, language, or violence, it will be minimal, and we’ll provide a content warning.
Romance Steam Levels
Even if a book isn’t a typical romance, Amber and Autumn rate its steaminess. Here’s what the levels mean for our book club:
– One: Like a G-rated movie, similar to Hallmark.
– Two: PG/mild PG-13, might include more kissing or implied sensuality.
– Three: Could have a bedroom scene or a few, but they’re emotional rather than graphic.
– Four: Explicit but with a story beyond bedroom scenes (think Outlander).
– Five: Falls into the erotica category.
For our book club, we stick to books rated one to three on the steam scale. We also consider the level of profanity and violence, rating them similarly.
When Are New Books Announced?
New book selections are typically announced at the start of each new season, giving you a few months to read and choose from the current list. These picks also make great additions to your local book clubs.
Online Book Club Discussions and Social Media
Our discussions are simple. Every two weeks, following the seasonal announcement, Amber and Autumn will ask members on Facebook, Goodreads, and Instagram about one of the selected books. Members can share their thoughts at any time. Use the hashtag: TheSilverPetticoatBookClub to join the conversation and invite your friends. For a more interactive experience, join our private Silver Petticoat Book Club Facebook Group.
A Fun Perk for Our Private Facebook Group
A new addition to our book club is member participation in selecting future books. During the current season, we’ll ask members which book they’d like to see included. We’ll create a poll with those suggestions for voting. The chosen book will be part of our next seasonal picks, provided it adheres to our guidelines (steaminess rating of three or lower and minimal profanity/violence).
Introducing The Silver Petticoat Book Shop
To make it easier to purchase our book picks while also supporting local bookstores, we’ve created a shop on bookshop.org. You’ll find all our book club selections and a few extras listed there, complete with a cute graphic design by a talented artist.
The Silver Petticoat Book Club Winter 2023 Announcement
We’ve chosen six new books (or series) for Winter 2023. Out of these, five are books we’ve read and loved, and one is a new read for us too. Here are the selections with their descriptions and buy links:
Bloomsbury Girls by Natalie Jenner
– Genres: Historical Fiction, Books About Books, Women’s Fiction, Romance
– Published: 2022
– Content Note: A couple of implied love scenes behind closed doors. Rated two on the steaminess scale with some mild profanity.
Description: This charming historical fiction explores post-war London and a century-old bookstore. Three women are determined to find their place in a fast-changing world, interacting with notable literary figures along the way.
Plum Bun: A Novel Without A Moral by Jessie Redmon Fauset
– Genres: Classics, Literary Fiction, Harlem Renaissance, Romance
– Published: 1928
– Content Note: Includes racism, racist language, and a couple of fade-to-black love scenes. Rated two on the steaminess scale with no explicit content.
Description: This classic from the Harlem Renaissance follows Angela Murray, a young black woman who passes for white in New York, exploring the impact of race and gender on her quest for opportunity and love.
All Souls Trilogy by Deborah Harkness
– Genres: Contemporary Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Vampires, Witches, Suspense & Thriller, Historical Fantasy, Time Travel
– Published: 2011-2014
– Content Note: A handful of tastefully done love scenes, some language and violence. Rated three on the steaminess scale, overall PG-13 feel.
Description: This fantasy romance series follows Diana Bishop, a scholar and witch, who discovers a magical manuscript that brings her into a supernatural world. The story is continued in a lush TV series adaptation.
Now, Voyager by Olive Higgins Prouty
– Genres: Classic, Romance, Literary Fiction, Women’s Fiction
– Published: 1941
– Content Note: Subtext/innuendo over vulgarity. Rated two on the steaminess scale.
Description: This novel explores the life of Boston blueblood Charlotte Vale, who transforms herself after a nervous breakdown and finds new strength and love.
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol I by Beth Brower
– Genres: Historical Fiction, Victorian
– Published: 2019
– Content Note: A clean read with nothing of note.
Description: Emma M. Lion returns to her London neighborhood, facing various unique characters and documenting her witty, amusing experiences in her journals.
In Search of a Prince by Toni Shiloh
– Genres: Contemporary Romance, Christian Fiction, Royal Romance, Clean and Wholesome, Inspirational
– Published: 2022
– Content Note: Contains religious content and a fade-to-black moment. Rated two on the steaminess scale.
Description: Brielle Adebayo discovers she is a princess and must assume her royal duties with an old edict requiring her to marry before her coronation, leading to a journey of love and self-discovery.
For more information about The Silver Petticoat Book Club, visit our new official page. Who’s reading with us this Winter? Let us know your picks in the comments!
