A SOCIABLE group has been assembled for book-lovers to share their mutual passion for a good read.

Andover Book Club was the brainchild of Amy Hunte who decided to turn her love of reading into a chance to make new friends.

She said: “Being new to Andover, I knew very little people in the area and spent time reading in between looking after the kids and working. The idea for a book club came to me when I just finished an amazing book and had no one to talk to about it.”

The mum-of-three was overwhelmed by the response she had to a Facebook page she set up, with 60 members joining in just three days.

She added: “Lots of people have said how they have wanted to join one for a long time, but have either not been able to find one or not been able to reach out to other readers. I think reading has become quite a private thing for some reason. So on social media you will hear a lot of people raving about films or TV programs they love, but books not so much. I want to change that! Reading can transport you into another world and can stay with you in a way films can’t in my opinion.

“I would say if you like reading, want to meet new people of all ages or just want to get into reading again and have a glass of wine and a natter, whatever your age, come along to our book club, we would love to have you.”

Fellow moderator, Jemma Kirby, said: “We are all excited to meet up with each other to discuss our book ‘ Eleanor Oliphant is completely fine’. We hope everyone will be able to come along. To people who are undecided or unsure, It’s a lovely little group where like-minded people chat about the book and other things. It’s informal and there is no pressure to talk at all if they don’t want to.”

The first meeting is on October 3 at Wyke Down pub at 7pm. For more information search Andover Book Club on Facebook.