MIAMI — What started as a few friends swapping book recommendations has become one of South Florida’s most diverse social communities.

It’s part book club, part social club — and proof that a shared story can bring strangers together.

Founder Maalik Nelson launched Maalik Meets book club on Instagram, inviting friends to read and discuss books together. He started it organically, through his own love of literature.

“When it started, it just legitimately was like my closest five, six, seven friends. I started to choose more and more intentional books that I thought the community would want,” said Nelson. “The group went from like 10 to 20, then the next month it went from 20 to 30, then 30 to 50 and it continued to grow as the months went on.”

Currently, the club gathers monthly at Dale’ Zine in Miami’s design district, an independent art bookshop and gallery hosting meetups that also has its own Instagram page.

Members read the same book, then come together to share perspectives, reactions and interpretations. The format is intentionally simple and the books reflect the times.

“We all read a book. We all read the same book. You have stuff to say. You don’t need me,” said Nelson. “I let them talk and let them do their thing and then in the middle we have more of a structured discussion.”

This month’s selection was “Piranesi” by Susanna Clarke.

For longtime members and first-time visitors alike, the discussion revealed a central truth of the club: no two readers experience the same story the same way.

“We can read the same book and everybody will get something completely unique out of it and it’s incredible every time cause they will see something that you’ve never seen before,” said club member, Andrew Mendez.

There’s no professor at the front of the room. No panel. No lecture. Just conversation.

While books may be the reason people show up every month, they’re often not the reason people come back.

Maalik Meets has become much more than just a book club. The group hosts cookouts, panel discussions and social gatherings designed to keep connections growing beyond the page.

In an age driven by likes, followers and algorithms — members say they’re building something more personal. Many show up for the but stay for the people.

Next month’s selection is “Go Tell It on the Mountain” by James Baldwin.

To submit an idea for What Connects Us, email whatconnectsus@wplg.com.

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