Pi Phi Pages 2025 Book List
Ready to dive into a full year of thought-provoking reads with your sisters? Pi Phi Pages, our interactive online book club, invites you to explore a new book each month, connect with fellow Pi Phis and engage in meaningful conversations. Join the Pi Phi Pages Facebook group to keep the discussion going or attend our monthly Zoom gatherings for deeper dives into each selection.
No matter how you enjoy books—flipping through a physical copy, reading on an eReader, borrowing from the library or listening to audiobooks—we’re excited for you to join us in exploring the Pi Phi Pages 2025 Book List.
January
Holding It Together: How Women Became America’s Safety Net by Jessica Calarco
Sociologist Jessica Calarco explores how the U.S. relies on women to compensate for the lack of a robust social safety net, often at great personal cost. Drawing on five years of research and powerful stories, Calarco reveals the systemic roots of this reliance and its devastating consequences for women and families. This compelling story is a call for institutional change to address the inequities that women bear in holding society together.
Join the discussion on January 16 at 7 p.m. CST.
February
James: A Novel by Percival Everett
Percival Everett reimagines the classic journey of Huck Finn and Jim, casting new light on Jim’s agency, intelligence and compassion as he escapes enslavement and fights to reunite with his family. Set against the backdrop of a perilous raft journey down the Mississippi, this novel preserves familiar elements of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn while offering a bold, transformative perspective.
Join the discussion on February 20 at 7 p.m. CST.
March
There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension by Hanif Abdurraqib
There’s Always This Year is a poetic exploration of basketball’s golden era in 1990s Columbus, Ohio, intertwined with reflections on success, role models and personal memory. Through his lyrical prose, Abdurraqib examines the game’s joy and pain while inviting readers to rethink how sports and culture shape our lives.
Join the discussion on March 20 at 7 p.m. CDT.
April
All We Were Promised by Ashton Lattimore
This thought-provoking book follows Charlotte, a formerly enslaved woman in 1837 Philadelphia, as she navigates a precarious freedom while hiding her past and identity. When a friend from her former life appears in desperate need of rescue, Charlotte teams up with a young abolitionist to plan an escape—risking their own safety in a city torn by race riots and attacks on abolitionists. This gripping historical tale explores friendship, courage and the relentless pursuit of freedom.
Join the discussion on April 17 at 7 p.m. CDT.
May
Grief is for People by Sloane Crosley
Sloane Crosley’s memoir is a darkly funny and deeply empathetic exploration of loss, sparked by the death of her closest friend to suicide. Weaving together personal reflection, philosophy and a search for meaning amidst the chaos of New York City during the pandemic, Crosley examines friendship, grief and the struggle to hold onto the past without being consumed by it.
Join the discussion on May 15 at 7 p.m. CDT.
June
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
In a near-future world, a civil servant joins a secretive government project tasked with investigating the feasibility of time travel by working closely with historical expatriates. Assigned to live with Commander Graham Gore, a 19th-century Arctic explorer presumed dead, she navigates their unlikely partnership as he adjusts to the modern world. As their relationship deepens and the Ministry's true motives come to light, she must confront the boundaries of love, history and her own role in shaping the future.
Join the discussion on June 19 at 7 p.m. CDT.
July
Sandwich: A Novel by Catherine Newman
Rocky’s annual family trip to Cape Cod becomes a journey through past and present as she navigates the chaos of aging parents, teenage kids and her own changing body. When unexpected events force her to confront long-buried secrets, Rocky must find a way to balance the tenderness and turmoil of family life.
Join the discussion on July 17 at 7 p.m. CDT.
August
Come and Get It by Kiley Reid
Set in 2017 at the University of Arkansas, Millie Cousins, a senior resident assistant, takes on an unusual opportunity offered by a visiting professor, only to find her plans derailed by new friendships, dorm drama and risky entanglements. Come and Get It is a sharp and compelling exploration of ambition, desire and the chaos that ensues when boundaries blur.
Join the discussion on August 21 at 7 p.m. CDT.
September
Gather Me: A Memoir in Praise of the Books That Saved Me by Glory Edim
For Glory Edim, books have always been a refuge, shaping her identity and providing community amidst the challenges of her upbringing. In this book, Edim reflects on how Black writers like Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou and Audre Lorde helped her find her voice and create connections with other Black women. This heartfelt memoir celebrates the transformative power of literature and its role in self-discovery and belonging.
Join the discussion on September 18 at 7 p.m. CDT.
October
Darkly by Marisha Pessl
Arcadia "Dia" Gannon is thrilled to land an internship at Darkly, the legendary game company shrouded in mystery after its founder's death. As Dia and six other teens uncover hidden clues and secrets, they realize the true nature of their selection—and that they’re caught in a game more twisted than they ever imagined. Darkly is a chilling, suspenseful tale of obsession, ambition and the dark side of genius.
Join the discussion on October 16 at 7 p.m. CDT.
November
A Very Private School: A Memoir by Charles Spencer
In this poignant memoir, Charles Spencer offers a raw and unflinching account of the cruelty he endured at boarding school, drawing from his diaries, letters and the memories of his peers. Through candid reflections, he examines the pain of homesickness, the sense of abandonment and the lasting impact of those formative years, reclaiming his childhood in a powerful reckoning with the past.
Join the discussion on November 20 at 7 p.m. CST.
December
Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
Set in a small Irish town in 1985, Small Things Like These follows Bill Furlong, a coal merchant, as he makes a discovery at a local convent that forces him to confront his past and the silent complicity of his community. Claire Keegan’s poignant novel is a powerful exploration of quiet heroism, empathy and the courage to challenge injustice.
Join the discussion on December 18 at 7 p.m. CST.
On the first Thursday of every month, join Pi Phi Pages for Reading Between the Wines and Silver Blue, a digital book discussion and happy hour. There is no required reading for this meeting—just bring yourself, your favorite beverage and any books you’d like to discuss. Or join to spend time with your sisters and gather reading recommendations! Learn more here.
Photos from Goodreads
Published December 19, 2024