The Slow Down Book Club

A literary chain for the thoughtful mind

Become a founding member of this Verse experience

** UPDATE: THE SLOW DOWN BOOK CLUB HAS NOW SOLD OUT **

I’ve been toying with the idea of running a book club with a difference. Something that feels thoughtful, intriguing, calming and expanding. Why?

Life moves fast. Too fast.

There’s always another email, another notification, another thing calling our attention.

Somewhere in all that noise, books become just another thing on the to-do list. A patient stack on your coffee table. A shelf of not-yet-read but definitely meaning-to-start.

Something to finish. Something to get through. Something we’re not quite getting to.

But what if we reset? What if we focused more on experiencing?

This is a reset that focuses on reawakening and opening the mind.

Join us for our first Verse experience.

This is a book club for people who want to slow down.

To rediscover what it feels like to truly sit down with a book. To think, reflect, read with intention.

Why now?

We are in March. The spring equinox is around the corner: a natural reset point. A time of awakening, renewal, and unfurling.

And just in time, the International Booker Prize longlist was announced. It couldn’t be more interesting:

• The prize focuses on translated works, offering fresh, new perspectives

• The authors are first time nominees, voices we haven’t heard before

• They are short! Under 250 pages, designed to be read with care, not rushed

• They are from independent publishers, outside the mainstream

This is your chance to discover something unexpected.

Here’s the longlist.

Rules of the club

• The club lasts 10 weeks, and we’ll read 5 books together

• You’ll receive a book once a fortnight, and then forward it to the next address in time (think of it as a postal book relay)

• You don’t know who else is in the club

• You don’t have to finish the book! Life is too short to struggle through something you don’t enjoy. Reader’s rights to not finish apply. This is about discovery, trying something new.

• You do have to have on opinion on the book!

• Book club runs: 17 March - 25 May

• In person meet up to discuss the books: London, 1 June

Who this is for

This is for you if:

• You are looking to expand your world, your thinking and your horizons

• You love to read but feel stuck in a rut. You’re tired of the same voices, and want to explore something new

• You long to slow down and reset. You want more offline activities, to get away from technology and boost your nervous system

• You love the mystery of the unknown. You won’t know who else is in the club until the very end. This is part of the magic

• You believe books aren’t just for reading, they’re for discussing, debating, feeling

• You like a commitment to showing up, just for yourself, and building new habits

• You are looking for a reason to carve out time for yourself. 20 minutes a day, just for you

This is not for you if:

• You know what you like and like what you know - you won’t enjoy this

• You prefer reading alone, without discussion, debate or discovery

• 20 minutes a day feels too much - this probably isn’t the right time

The commitment

• 5 books, 10 weeks. That’s under 20 minutes of reading a day.

• 1 in person event

• £30

• Be a founding member of a new experience

Have a question? Check out our FAQs or drop us an email.

This is limited by design, we can only support a small number of members.

This is live exclusively to our newsletter for 24 hours only. On Tuesday we go public.

This will be something different, something remarkable.

Don’t miss it.

Check out our FAQs about the club. When you’re ready, come join us.

A call to any female founders, leaders & businesses

To celebrate International Women’s Day, we’ve teamed up with Female Founders Rise to curate the ultimate reading list for entrepreneurs. This will feature the most game-changing reads for founders, by founders.

Whether it’s a book that sparked a new idea, shifted your mindset, or helped you build your business, we’d love to hear your recommendations.

👉 Share your go-to founder reads here

Books have the power to shape how we think, lead and grow. Let’s create a resource that inspires each other — and the next wave of founders! 🚀💜

Support us through books 📖

If you love what we’re building, consider supporting Verse through our shop. Every purchase helps to fund our development efforts — at no extra cost to you! Thank you if you choose to do this! 💙

Say goodbye to bad recommendations and hello to a better reading experience 👇