The book club app for RSVPs, seat limits and a waitlist.

• Everyone sees the dates

  One link lists every upcoming meeting, so nobody has to scroll back for the plan.

• You know the headcount

  Members RSVP yes to a date, and you see exactly who is coming and how many seats are left.

• Full is not awkward

  When a meeting fills up, the link says Full - Waitlist and new members join the list.

• Cancellations get covered

  When someone drops out, the next person on the waitlist is offered the seat automatically.

1. 1

   Create one series

   Choose how often you meet, like the first Tuesday of every month, or pick the dates yourself. A series can hold up to 52 dates, which covers more than four years of monthly meetings.

2. 2

   Set the seats for your living room

   Tell Cheers! how many people fit. Each meeting gets that many seats, so the room never gets squeezed past what you planned.

3. 3

   Put the book and the host home in the details

   Each date has its own title, time and location. Put the book in the title, like "Book Club: The March Pick", and the host's address in the location. That way the details live in one place and not in a thread.

4. 4

   Members pick their meetings

   Everyone gets the same private link. It lists each upcoming meeting with "N spots left" or "Full - Waitlist". Members RSVP to the ones they can make, so someone who misses March can still come in April.

5. 5

   The waitlist fills empty seats

   If a member cancels, the next person on that meeting's waitlist is offered the seat by email, and by text only if they opted in. They have two hours to claim it, and then it moves down the list. You can reorder the waitlist yourself.

6. 6

   Reminders do the nudging

   Cheers! sends a reminder a week before and another the day before. Each one has a cancel link, so a seat that opens up does not sit empty. After they RSVP, members can add the meeting to their calendar.

• Plus-ones and dietary notes

  Let a member bring a partner if you allow it, and collect dietary notes with every RSVP for the snack table.

• Custom RSVP questions

  Ask "What are you bringing?" with a drop-down, or ask which genre members want next. You see the answers on the guest list.

• Vibe tags

  Tag a meeting as BYOB or potluck so members know what to expect before they say yes.

• Import your members

  Pull people in from Google Contacts instead of typing every email.

1. 1

   Decide on the size

   Aim for 6 to 12 members. With fewer than six, one absence changes the whole evening. With more than twelve, not everyone gets to talk.

2. 2

   Pick a lane

   Choose before you invite anyone: any fiction, one genre, nonfiction, or a mix. A clear idea makes it easier for people to say yes.

3. 3

   Choose a rhythm

   Monthly gives people time to read. Pick a standing day, like the first Tuesday, so the club becomes a habit.

4. 4

   Decide where you will meet

   Rotate homes, or use a library meeting room or a quiet café table. Know how many seats you have before you invite.

5. 5

   Settle how books get picked

   Take turns choosing, or vote from a short list. Agree on this before the first meeting so nobody feels stuck.

6. 6

   Invite a few, then add more

   Start with friends who already love to read, and ask each to suggest one more. You will find your real size after the first meeting or two.

7. 7

   Send one link with the dates

   Put the next several meetings in one series so people see the plan up front. Cheers! does this with a single link, and your members RSVP to the meetings they can make.

8. 8

   Keep the first meeting simple

   Start with ten minutes of catching up, then a few questions about the book. Keep a waitlist for the people who ask to join later.

Want the same setup for a monthly dinner? Read the dinner club guide.

• Friendsgiving with one linkAn invitation, a headcount and a "What are you bringing?" question.
• Start a dinner or supper clubA simple guide, and the RSVPs without the group chat.
• Partiful, Evite or SignUpGenius alternativeA fair comparison, with a link to each help page.
• How recurring events workOne invite, every date, and guests pick their nights.