What we’re about
Join us for adventures in reading & real life! We are a community of readers who discuss books over paired outings. Like to explore? Like to read? You’ve found your people! Join us here in-person and for online discussions wherever you are on the socials! FB, Insta, TikTok, Website
Newsletter/FB group: Meetup isn’t great at sending out notifications, so to stay up to date with the latest book and activity pairings, sign up for the newsletter at https://mailchi.mp/fc5e0725650d/thenoveltourist and join the community on our Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/ I also post regularly on books and book pairings on Instagram via @thenoveltourist
What the Club Will Do for You
The purpose of all NTBC events is to give you the opportunity to socialize with likeminded readers who are life long learners and love to try new experiences. If your goal is read more books, do more stuff and meet more friends, being part of NTBC can be a life-changing experience!
What You Can Do for the Club
Bring your fun-loving, healthy attitude. Be committed to reading, showing up when promised, and being respectful of other members. We require that your profile includes a clear picture of yourself so others can identify you at our events.
Terms and Conditions
By joining the Novel Tourist Book Club or signing up for or attending any event offered by the Novel Tourist Book Club, you agree to the following terms and conditions:
- Readers please: NTBC is, first and foremost, a book club. We do a lot of amazing activities tied to the books. There are lots of Meetup groups that also do these fun activities. So, if you don’t like to read or don’t plan to read, we are sure there is another group out there that is more suited to your interests. Now, that said, it doesn’t mean you have to read the book or finish the book every time. Sometimes, you try and the book just doesn’t resonate with you. That’s okay! Come and tell us how much you didn’t like it! All we ask is that you try.
- No Guests: Sadness, we know! We are all about the more the merrier, but there must be a limit to the number of attendees at any one event. Events fill up really fast and so unless the event allows you to add a guest (which will be very rare) your guest must create a Meetup account and rsvp for themselves as a member. Yay new members!
- Liability Waiver: By signing up for an event, all members take full responsibility for their own actions and agree to adhere to the following terms and conditions: https://docs.google.com/document/d/10ZE-yUJEcHUnXF_A8MUsfxWhEmrKxZEcojrHh8FjQzc/edit; and further agree to hold harmless the Novel Tourists Book Club organizers and members of this Meetup book club from any and all claims and liability in case of possible injuries as stated in Paragraph 6 of the Meetup Terms of Service Agreement ( https://help.meetup.com/hc/en-us/articles/360027447252-Terms-of-Service#h_9e385395-a405-4361-8afc-854a4f586c82 ). When attending an event, you acknowledge that you are doing this at your own risk.
- Event Payments:
- Name: If your name on your Meetup profile is different than your name on your payment profile (PayPal, Venmo), please provide your meetup name when you make your payment;
- Include Date or Event Title: Please include the date of the event or an indication of the event title (e.g. if we are going to a restaurant put the name of the restaurant not just “restaurant” or “book club.”)
- Be Open-minded, Kind and Courteous: We can’t imagine anyone who loves to read being anything but open-minded, kind and courteous. However, I also know we bibliophiles can have some pretty strong opinions about books! Whether you agree with someone or not, no doubt you came here for a welcoming environment. Healthy debates are natural, but kindness is required.
- No bullies: Personal attacks of any kind are not allowed. Period. I have zero tolerance for any bullying, degrading comments about another member’s race, religion, culture, sexual orientation, gender or identity. We are an open and inclusive community and to keep it that way a$$holes will be removed from the group.
- Photos/Videos: Joining the group and attending an event means you’re a-okay with being photographed/video recorded during events. We always takes pics: for the memories and for promotion of future events and NTBC.
- Communication settings: This is just helpful guidance. Events fill up really fast. Make sure your settings are set to maximize communication: Click on your profile pic in Meetup, click Settings, under General select Email Updates, scroll down and find The Novel Tourists Book Club under “Updates about your Group”, click Edit next to The Novel Tourists Book Club and then make your choices. I suggest checking “New Event Announcements,” “Changes to Event Time or Locations,” “My RSVP is confirmed,” and, most importantly: "Announcements to Members About the Group" and “Event updates from Organizer.” Also, you may want to download the Meetup app.
- Carpooling: It’s great for the planet! However, any arrangements are between you and the person driving. The Novel Tourists Book Club organizers and hosts do not provide, endorse, sponsor or take responsibility for any carpool arrangements pertaining to any event. Please use your good judgment when deciding whether or not to carpool with other participants of the book club event you are attending.
- Refund Policy:
- Events with a fee of less than $5: No refunds, even if someone takes your spot. The events fill fast and the only way to really try to make sure that those who are truly interested and able to come get a seat, is a nominal fee. This fee is offered to the event host to pay for their entrance/meal/etc as a way of saying thank you for your time and for putting this together for us.
- Events with a fee greater than $5: The general policy is if the Organizer/Host can get their money back, you’ll get your money back - if you timely cancelled. Once an event location has been paid, however, many times they won’t issue a refund. If they don’t refund us, we can’t refund you regardless of how far in advance you cancelled. That said, sometimes a refund can be issued IF you cancel at least a week in advance AND someone takes your spot. If you want to request a refund, message Audrey via Meetup to discuss. Please note, if you cancel the day before or the day of an event, there are refunds - regardless of the reason and regardless if someone takes your spot.
- If you do not agree to the above terms and conditions, do not sign up for the club. There is probably a different club out there that will better meet your needs.
Happy reading and adventuring!
- Audrey
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- One Good Deed, One Good Dog! Volunteer Morning at 🐶ACCT and 📕Book DiscussionACCT Facility, Philadelphia, PA$3.00
Join Audrey for a volunteer morning at ACCT Philly as we roll up our sleeves to help out at the shelter—laundry, pantry, or cleaning bowls—whatever it takes to support our furry friends! 🐶 We’re pairing this meaningful experience with a lunch discussion of One Good Dog by Susan Wilson—a novel about second chances and the healing power of pups. 💕
After our volunteer session, we’ll get a chance to snuggle up for a photo shoot with a shelter dog—because what’s better than books, service, and sweet doggie kisses? 📸🐕
Due to space limitations, spots are limited to 10 of us —RSVP now and let's do good, read good, feel good!
------------------------HOW TO PAY: Use Friends and Family! Do not use the business option because it charges a service fee. Please note the event name or date on your payment. If your payment name is different than your Meetup name please make sure you note your Meetup name.
Venmo - @audrey-Heller1 (phone ends in 4478)
PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/AudreyBugDETAILS:
🐕VOLUNTEER: ACCT Philly
111 W. Hunting Park Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19140 (map)ACCT is Philadelphia’s largest open admission shelter, helping 18,000 animals from dogs and cats, to small animals, reptiles, birds and wildlife, annually. We'll help them with their mission by doing laundry, cleaning enrichment items or making enrichment items for the dogs/cats.
ACCT's individual volunteers go through specialized training before handling any animals, so they do not allow group volunteers to participate in activities that require dog or cat animal handling. However, we'll end our volunteer session by hanging out with a dog!
🍔LUNCH: TBD
📕NOVEL: One Good Dog by Susan Wilson
Genre: Fiction
Pet: DogOne Good Dog follows Adam March, a high-powered executive whose life unravels after a public outburst leads to his downfall. As part of his court-mandated community service, Adam works at a homeless shelter, where he crosses paths with Chance, a pit bull mix rescued from the brutal world of dog fighting. Their journey together unfolds against the backdrop of Boston's urban landscape, highlighting themes of redemption and the transformative power of companionship.
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Here are the Club’s Basic Rules and Liability Release. You should read them because by signing up for an event you agree to them! 🙂Happy reading!
Audrey
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No need to read this part. It's just for Meetup's algorithm to help these events get seen. Grrr. We love to read books and do fun stuff to celebrate our hobbies and reading. We do many things that involve books and reading and book club. We are adventurous and like to seek out urban adventures and walking tours and like to silent read books and practice hobbies and socialize a lot! Book clubs are the best thing to meet new friends and make friends and socialize and explore for when you are new in town and want to meet people and socialize to talk about books and explore museums and other places.
Philadelphia Book Cub; Book Club; Literary Adventures; Novels; Tours; Philly Book Club; silent reading - 📚NOVEL: The Flying Circus ✈️ADVENTURE: Ride in a WWII Biplane!Philadelphia City Hall, Philadelphia, PA$0.01
Join Audrey on a sky-high adventure at Van Sant Historic Airfield flying in a vintage open-cockpit historic biplane - full on barnstormer style! We’ll pair the flight with a BYO picnic grove discussion of The Flying Circus by Sarah Crandall. The airfield is super charming and there will be all kinds of little planes buzzing around in the sky above us! I went up last week and absolutely loved it! Check out @thenoveltourist on Instagram or FB for video!
Discounted Fee Just for Us!:
If you want to fly by yourself (and the pilot, of course!), it's $190 (normally $220).
If you want to fly in a two seater (plus the pilot) then it's $95 per person (normally $110 per person). We'll pair you up unless you already know who you want to go up with (let me know when you pay).Refund: Refund if you cancel by July 5 or if someone takes your spot.
Limit is 25. First pay goes. Food and beverages at lunch are pay on your own or BYO.
HOW TO PAY: Use Friends and Family! Do not use the business option because it charges a service fee. Please note the event name or date on your payment. If your payment name is different than your Meetup name please make sure you note your Meetup name.
Venmo - @audrey-Heller1 (phone ends in 4478)
PayPal - https://www.paypal.me/AudreyBug🛩️ADVENTURE: Ride in a WWII Biplane!
📍 Where: Van Sant Historic Airfield
Address: 516 Cafferty Rd, Erwinna, PA 18920
11:00am-1pmVan Sant Historic Airfield is a hidden gem about an hour-ish outside of Philly. Tucked into the scenic Bucks County countryside, this historic grass-strip airfield feels like you are stepping back in time. We’ll watch vintage planes buzz the skies (filled with giddy Novel Tourists!) and revel in the on-ground vibe that is pure old-school aviation charm.
You’ll have the chance to take a 15-minute ride in a beautifully restored open cockpit plane - either a WWII-era Stearman biplane (1psgr), a Waco Biplane (2psgr), or a 1928 Travel Air Biplane (2psgr). Feel the wind in your face, sweeping views below. Looping through the sky cruising gently over rolling farmland is an unforgettable experience that’s equal parts peaceful and exhilarating. I loved every single minute and can not wait to go again!
🍔LUNCH: BYO or Food Truck on Site
While we wait our turns we’ll hang out on the picnic grounds and discuss the book while vintage planes buzz above us. You can bring your own lunch or there's a food truck on site that offers burgers, hot dogs, falafel sandwich, veggie burger, fries, and ice cream.It’s a true Novel Tourist-style day—where the pages come to life, of course!
Parking: in the lot or in the grass along road there is plenty of parking!
NOVEL: The Flying Circus by Susan Crandall
Genre: Historical Fiction,Set in the 1920s, the novel follows three unlikely companions—a daredevil pilot, a young runaway, and a sharp-tongued female stunt rider—as they form a traveling barnstorming act. Together, they fly across the Midwest performing aerial stunts and navigating personal secrets, societal pressures, and growing danger.
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Housekeeping!- Here are the Club’s Basic Rules and Liability Release. You should read them because by signing up for an event you agree to them! 🙂
- Some links above are affiliate links which means when you use them to buy your book they help support the club at no cost to you!
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~ Audrey
-------------------The below is silly babble just for the Meetup algorithm - no need for book club members to read this!-------------------------------
Flying tours with socializing book club members in Philadelphia are such a fun way to meet new friends and be social with book loving book club members who like to read and explore authors, house tours, museums and other walking tours and try new activities such as hiking, reading, craft, hobbies, book clubs and more! It's especially fun for a book club to go on indoor tours and outdoor and indoor adventures with all the book club friends who like to socializ explore and try new hobbies. We love going to museums and discussing books. Especially airplanes!
