Her love for books sparked a social movement, helping adults form new friendships in KL

When you hear the term book club, you think about introverts with their noses buried in books. You don’t really think about community or socialising. This 28-year-old has her own idea of what a book club should be.

Rish’s Bookclub isn’t just any book club in KL, it’s a vibrant social movement ignited by the passion and guts of Rishika Lazarus.

A true bibliophile, Rishika has transformed her love for literature into a blueprint for adults to connect. What began as a small-scale endeavour has blossomed into a lively community where friendships flourish, laughter echoes, and respectful literary debates spark meaningful connections.

Rishika’s love for literature is bringing people together in the most charming way, and I had the pleasure of sitting down with her to hear about how it all began.

Everything you need to know about Rish

Rishika is a full-time speech therapist who dedicates her time helping adults with communication and swallowing challenges. Her patients include those recovering from strokes, living with Parkinson’s, or facing dementia and other neurological issues.

She truly loves her work and confidently shared during our chat that she “can’t imagine doing anything else” career wise.

The inspiration behind Rishika’s book club stemmed from her resolution to rekindle her love for reading and forge new friendships along the way. Growing up, she was an avid reader, thanks to the public school Nilam Project that kept her accountable, and her parents’ encouragement—but as life got busier, she found herself struggling to carve out time for her beloved books.

Once she began working, she also realised that making friends as an adult can be a real challenge. Aside from family, childhood pals, and colleagues, Rishika craved new connections.

With her 2024 resolution in mind, she decided it would be more fun to tackle it in a group. Encouraged by her university friend, @lucysbookclub, she took the leap.

Thus, Rish’s Bookclub became the perfect way to spark engaging conversations over coffee and snacks while bonding over great reads—killing two birds with one stone.

Navigating challenges

Starting her own book club was no easy feat. Rishika had to overcome her own nerves while grappling with the daunting question, “Where do I start?”

Prior to starting her book club in January this year, Rishika had started a ‘Tiny Chats with Rish’ series on her TikTok in May 2023—just for kicks and giggles. Familiar with the platform, she felt confident and comfortable, even featuring lighthearted videos with her grandparents.

With a modest following, she decided to document her book club journey, gradually attracting more members and building her audience.

Literary picks, creative processes, & floral arrangements

Choosing the read of the month involves a more inclusive process than I expected.

Rishika occasionally selects books she genuinely likes, but club members will also collaboratively choose a theme and narrow it down to two books. A vote is held on Rish’s Bookclub on Instagram for all followers to determine the month’s read. The club explores a variety of genres, including self-help, fiction, and non-fiction.

The planning of each book club meet is a lengthy process that requires thought and creativity. From scouting for the right venue based on seat capacity, to food, and adding her personal touches to the decor; everything is planned from scratch according to the selected theme, even down to the floral arrangement.

“Finding the ideal venue is tough,” she admitted, having to consider factors like good food and drinks, and how secluded the space is to avoid noise and crowds. Fortunately, many local cafes and businesses are supportive and willing to host her events.

Making friends & saying no to comfort zones

“I would say that I’m 80% extroverted and 20% introverted,” Rishika shared; while she’s naturally chatty, she also values her downtime.

She noted that whenever she’s conversing with strangers there’s always a bit of buildup and nerves involved—it can be quite daunting, especially in today’s cancel culture. What helps her tackle these socially challenging moments, like hosting book club events, is the unwavering support of friends and family.

She’s also confident that as long as she stays true to herself and believes in her good intentions, she can summon the courage to simply go for it.

Rishika lives by the mantra, “You won’t know until you try,” reminding herself that the worst thing someone can say is no, and then she just moves on. “The right people will come to you,” she added assuredly.

Making meaningful friendships as adults can be challenging, and she had some insightful thoughts.

To her, being genuine is essential, along with good intentions, respect, and openness to differing opinions. “We’re all here to learn from each other,” she said, highlighting the importance of kindness, as you never know what someone else might be going through.

When talking about comfort zones, Rishika reflected on her nerves about organising these public book club meetups. This had previously held her back, but she didn’t want the opinions of others to stop her from pursuing what she is passionate about.

She uses TikTok as a platform to express herself authentically, reiterating that as long as you share good content with genuine feelings, you’re on the right track.

Success stories & future goals

Rishika shared that the most rewarding part of starting her book club has been witnessing strangers come together and form meaningful connections. It fills her with such joy when attendees return for more events and begin socialising on their own.

At a recent gathering, three girls discovered they attended the same university and made plans to have a meal together. Moments like these are what Rishika considers success stories, as they embody the community she set out to create.

“The community we have built as a book club is so amazing,” she said proudly.

The growth doesn’t stop there. She aims to expand her ‘Tiny Chats’ series and grow her platform by engaging in more meaningful conversations with prominent figures and conducting interviews on a larger scale.

She would also like to raise awareness about her work in speech therapy, as well as deepen her collaborations with local businesses. For example, working with Gung Jewellery this year was a surreal experience as she considers them to be one of her favourite jewellery brands.

Rish’s growth & building a community

Rishika’s journey into loving literature began with The Witches by Roald Dahl, her favourite book and a stepping stone into more complex reads. This cherished gift from her late father, inscribed with heartfelt words, holds deep sentimental value—a reminder of where her love for books first took root.

What began as a personal passion has blossomed into something much greater. Through her book club, she has created a vibrant community that celebrates not just literature but also the meaningful connections it fosters.

While books remain central to her vision, Rishika has expanded her events to include non-book-centric activities. These social and engaging elements make each gathering unique and memorable. Inspired by her enriching experiences abroad, she’s dedicated to crafting a space that is welcoming, inclusive, and brimming with exciting opportunities for connection.

Despite her initial nerves, Rishika has built something truly beautiful and wholesome from the ground up. Rish’s Bookclub not only allows her to read more and make new friends, but it also opens the door for many others to do the same, creating a rippling effect of connection and community.

Psst, even if you haven’t had the chance to read the book before the event, don’t sweat it, you can still attend to socialise and connect!