Christie Vick doesn’t believe reading is dying. Her new website, Good Land Reads, is her proof: a directory of over 160 local book clubs for interested readers to browse by genre, location, schedule and vibes – such as whether discussions are “analytical” or “social first.” Most of the clubs are open to the public or accepting new members. Like a dating app, the site lets readers create a profile and then matches them with like-minded groups. From there, clubs and prospective members message each other and potentially meet to find out if it’s a good fit. Clubs can also log the books they read – an appeal for groups closed off to new readers.
Gift An Issue For $1 Today!
The germ of the idea formed in 2025, when Vick and a group of families contemplated ways to save The Little Read Book store in Wauwatosa from closing in 2025. “At essentially that same exact time, I turned 40, had my first mammogram and I was diagnosed with breast cancer,” Vick said. It was Stage 1. After surgery, she turned her focus toward treatment while working a full-time job as a project manager in software development. Following chemotherapy, Vick took a leave of absence and spent the time voraciously reading, and thinking about how she can give back to her community.
Then, one of her friends asked her: Why isn’t there a dating app for book clubs? “I was like, that feels like something that should exist,” Vick remarked. “And I work in software – this feels like a problem that I could solve.”
She searched for book clubs on social media, library websites and bar events listings to build the initial database and met with organizers to explain her vision and hear their feedback. By the site’s launch in June, 130 clubs had signed up.
“Milwaukeeans tend to be pretty game for trying new things,” Vick said. It’s a model that’s replicable for other cities, but Vick is intent on staying Cream City-focused. “I am exploring if operating as a nonprofit is the best path for this because of the goals around connection, community and people’s deep desire to not be lonely and to connect in a real-life way.”
As the list grows, Vick has organized events for other book clubs to come together, such as author talks and a book swap for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. “Reading makes you more empathetic and opens your eyes to the world in different ways,” she says. “And when you read with other people, you can appreciate them more.”
