Community Highlights: Meet Sarah Dalley of Bonding Over Books

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Dalley

Hi Sarah, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
In 2022, I moved from NYC to the suburbs of Detroit and immediately felt the impact of today’s loneliness epidemic. Working from home, I deeply craved genuine connections and meaningful interactions.

Fortuitously, I joined a book club. Little did I know, this decision would become a cornerstone of my life. Immersing myself in the book club was transformative. It introduced me to new friends, fostered healthy habits, and opened doors to meaningful connections.

When the time came for me to host our book club, I wanted to ensure it was more than *just* a wine club. I aimed to move beyond the usual format of fragmented conversations and endless Googling of discussion questions. It was important to me that we spent time talking about the book, but also had the opportunity to connect on a personal level.

Then it hit me: Why can’t we get to know each other while discussing the book? Inspired, I created a set of thoughtful questions and prompts, each designed to spark engaging conversations and deepen our understanding of both the book and each other.

What started as a simple idea soon revealed itself to be more than just a new way to discuss books—it became a remedy for the isolation many of us face. As we passed around the bowl of prompts, I was amazed at how naturally and openly everyone shared. The book provided a shared foundation, but it was the prompts that encouraged us to explore our personal stories and perspectives.

By the end of the evening, it was clear that something special had emerged, and Bonding Over Books was born: a conversation card game designed for book clubs to foster deeper connections through meaningful conversations.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has it been a smooth road? Not exactly! Building a business is always a challenge, and ours has definitely had its share of ups and downs. While creating the brand has been the fun part, thanks to my marketing background, pretty much everything else has been a learning curve.

We’ve faced hurdles like finding the right manufacturer, developing our packaging design, and setting up efficient systems for everything from point-of-sale and e-commerce to working with retail partners. For instance, I can’t even count how many times we went back and forth on color choices. I was learning about the nuances of CMYK vs. Pantone while needing to make a crunch-time decision about it.

It’s still early days, and we’ve learned so much already. We know there will undoubtedly be more challenges ahead, but we’re ready for the ride!

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Bonding Over Books?
Meet Bonding Over Books
Bonding Over Books is on a mission to turn book talk into real talk. Our conversation card game is designed to bring book clubs closer to the stories they’re reading and the people they’re reading them with.

Our Why
At Bonding Over Books, we believe a book club can be so much more than *just* a wine club. We see book clubs as a powerful antidote to today’s loneliness epidemic. They offer an opportunity to build meaningful connections, spark thoughtful conversations, and support healthy habits, like reading and in-person interactions.

But when the book no longer stays the focus, it can be quite frustrating. That’s where we come in. Our conversation cards are designed to help book clubbers deepen their connections while still keeping the book at the center of the conversation. We exist to ensure that every meeting is a chance to go beyond surface-level chatter, dive into the story, and leave feeling more connected each time.

The Card Game
Meet your book club’s missing member. With over 100 questions and prompts, our conversation cards are designed to add depth to your bookish conversations and foster deeper connections. To play, simply pick a card, share your answer, open it up to the group, and be ready to connect in a whole new way.

Perfect for group settings, these cards can also be used for personal reflection. They can be played with any book, but we find this deck works best with fiction.

Available online at bondingoverbooks.co and select retailers nationwide.

What were you like growing up?
From a young age, I’ve always had a knack for connecting with people—whether it was chatting with my grandparents about their life stories or making new friends at school. I’ve always been fascinated by the stories of others and loved capturing my own experiences through journaling. Storytelling has been a huge part of my life, so it’s no surprise that I ended up starting a company focused on bringing stories and connections together.

The mission behind Bonding Over Books is deeply personal, shaped by the losses I’ve faced from a young age. In high school, I lost my first friend to suicide—a loss that was both heartbreaking and formative. Since then, I’ve tragically lost four more dear friends in the same way. Bonding Over Books exists in their memory, honoring their lives by striving to create meaningful connections that combat the loneliness and isolation so many face.

Pricing:

• Conversation Card Game is $24.99

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.bondingoverbooks.co
• Instagram: @bondingoverbooks.co