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When you think of company book clubs, the first thing that comes to mind is usually business titles and leadership manuals. But what if the secret to sparking innovation, empathy, and out-of-the-box thinking is to switch up the book picks? Have you considered fiction? 

More and more organizations are discovering the unexpected power of storytelling to drive real change in their organizations. Fiction has been proven to foster creativity and allows space for deeper conversations. Studies show that reading fiction improves empathy and critical thinking, skills that boost collaboration in teams. Even better? According to a report by the Harvard Business Review, workplace book clubs have been shown to increase employee engagement and communication. Gallup also found that highly engaged teams show 21% greater profitability.

By swapping out the usual business reads for powerful novels with rich themes, companies can tap into the emotional and intellectual benefits of reading, while also aligning stories with their core values. It’s not just a book club, it’s a catalyst for connection and innovation in the workplace.

So if your team’s usual reading list could use a refresh, we’ve rounded up a list of thought-provoking novels that are perfect for workplace book clubs. Each book is aligned with common company values and goals and is perfect across different industries. Get ready to explore your organization’s next favorite read!

Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin

Best for: Companies in creative, tech, or collaborative fields looking to spark conversations on teamwork, identity, and innovation. 

This popular novel follows two childhood friends who reunite to build a video game empire. Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow is a deeply layered exploration of creativity, ambition, identity, and the complicated dynamics of long-term collaboration. It’s a perfect pick for organizations that thrive on innovation and depend on creative partnerships, such as tech companies, design firms, advertising agencies, or startups.

This book opens the door to powerful discussions around what it means to work closely with others over time, how we define success, and the emotional toll of burnout in high-pressure work environments. Team members can reflect on how they collaborate and navigate creative conflict, making it incredibly relatable to the workforce.

The Measure by Nikki Erlick

Best for: Purpose-driven companies or nonprofits looking to spark reflection on legacy, decision-making, and the power of perspective.

In The Measure, every adult across the globe wakes up to find a box containing a string that predicts the length of their life. What unfolds after is a powerful, speculative narrative about choice, bias, and the ripple effects of the decisions we make. This book invites deep philosophical discussion, making it perfect for organizations focused on long-term impact, social good, or fostering empathy within their teams. 

Whether your company is in healthcare, education, sustainability, or community work, this novel offers rich prompts about how we prioritize what matters, how unconscious biases shape our choices, and how we respond to uncertainty. Teams can discuss how individuals approach risk, how labels and perceptions influence workplace dynamics, and what it truly means to live (or work) with purpose. Would you open your box? 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Best for: Companies committed to equity, inclusion, and empowering underrepresented voices, especially in STEM, education, or corporate leadership.

Set in the 1960s but packed with timely relevance, this book centers on Elizabeth Zott, a brilliant chemist who challenges gender norms in science, work, and media. With wit and heart, this novel examines barriers women face in male-dominated spaces and how resilience, intellect, and integrity can fuel quiet revolutions.

This title is the perfect powerful pick for organizations invested in DEI efforts, gender equity, or breaking down systemic barriers. It can spark important conversations around who gets a seat at the table and how unconscious bias manifests at work. Companies in STEM fields, higher ed, publishing, or leadership development will especially find rich takeaways, but the themes are universally applicable. Discussing Lessons in Chemistry with your team can lead to deeper reflection on how your workplace treats voices that challenge norms and how to cultivate a culture that values everyone. 

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

Best for: Companies focused on community-building and hospitality, ideal for teams valuing emotional intelligence, hidden strengths, and unlikely connections.

At first glance, a novel about a grieving woman and a giant Pacific octopus might not scream “corporate read”, but this book has a surprisingly profound and tender exploration of connection, purpose, and the quiet power of paying attention. Through alternating perspectives, the story reminds us that everyone has untapped potential and unseen struggles.

This book is a standout choice for workplaces that prioritize culture, empathy, and personal growth. It’s particularly suited for teams in healthcare, senior services, hospitality, or customer-facing industries, where emotional labor and interpersonal dynamics play a large role. It encourages teams to think about how small moments of kindness can ripple outward, how people from different backgrounds and generations can learn from each other, and how we can build more supportive, human-centered workplaces. 

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

Best for: Forward-thinking companies in tech, innovation, or global industries seeking big-picture thinking on change, resilience, and the future of humanity.

Spanning centuries and timelines, Sea of Tranquility is a speculative, philosophical novel that weaves together pandemics, time travel, art, and the search for meaning. It’s a quiet but powerful meditation on disruption and how individuals and systems can adapt and respond to change. 

This book is ideal for organizations navigating transformation, currently scaling, or grappling with the impact of technology and uncertainty. It prompts conversations about how we maintain humanity in the face of rapid progress and how we stay grounded when everything around us is shifting. For companies focused on innovation, future planning, or social impact, this book offers a thought-provoking launch point that employees will engage with throughout. 

Klara and the Sun by Kazuo Ishiguro

Best for: Teams exploring the intersection of technology and ethics, especially in AI, healthcare, or companies asking “what does it mean to care?”

In this quiet, haunting novel, Ishiguro introduces us to Klara, an Artificial Friend observing and learning about human behavior while waiting to be chosen. Through Klara’s innocent lens, the story explores love, loneliness, AI, and what it means to be truly human. Klara and the Sun is an ideal conversation-starter for organizations that sit at the crossroads of innovation and responsibility, think tech companies, biotech firms, healthcare systems, or educational institutions.

The book raises timely ethical questions about automation, empathy, and the ways we assign value to human lives. It also touches on themes of caregiving and sacrifice, making it a powerful read for teams looking to deepen conversations around emotional intelligence, the future of work, and our shared humanity in increasingly digitized spaces. 

The Emperor of Gladness by Ocean Vuong

Best for: Organizations prioritizing mental health, social impact, and human-centered leadership, especially in fields like mental health, education, nonprofit, or community services. 

Ocean Vuong’s novel takes readers on a lyrical, poetic journey through grief, survival, and the complexities of family and identity. When nineteen-year-old Hai is pulled back from the brink of despair by an elderly woman facing dementia, he becomes her caretaker, launching an intimate and life-altering bond. Their connection offers a tender reflection on identity, loneliness, and the healing power of empathy. 

This novel resonates powerfully with organizations that support vulnerable communities, foster intergenerational understanding, or promote emotional resilience in their teams. It invites readers to discuss how care work is essential to sustaining both individuals and systems. Use it to explore themes of burnout, healing, and second chances, and examine how the work you are doing matters. 

The Collected Regrets of Clover by Mikki Brammer

Best for: Purpose-driven organizations and teams prioritizing mental health, especially in fields like healthcare providers, hospice teams, counseling, or grief support. 

Clover is a death doula, spending her days helping strangers find peace in their final moments, but she’s neglected to permit herself to live fully. When a dying woman’s last wish sends her on a journey across the country, Clover is finally forced to reflect on her own desires, regrets, and capacity for joy. This book is a powerful fit for workplaces that encourage introspection, service, or emotional intelligence, especially in healthcare, counseling, education, or mission-driven nonprofits.

This novel prompts conversations about burnout, the emotional toll of caregiving roles, and how we balance supporting others with prioritizing ourselves. It also opens space for dialogue about purpose and how even taboo topics like death can be a mirror for how we choose to live and work. Use it to inspire teams to think about what kind of impact they want to have, and how small daily choices add up to a life and career worth remembering. 

Aftertaste by Daria Lavelle

Best for: Culinary teams, hospitality groups, or companies navigating innovation and looking to explore creativity and the emotional meaning behind food. 

In this inventive and emotional debut, Konstantin has a secret: he can taste the favorite foods of the ghosts that follow him. As he begins cooking meals that temporarily reunite the living with their lost loved ones, Kostya becomes a spiritual chef for the grieving. This novel is a great choice for organizations in the food industry or any creative business where pressure, passion, and reinvention intersect. 

Aftertaste dives into topics like grief, burnout, ambition, and the way purpose can both drive and consume us. Teams can explore how creativity can become a form of healing and what it means to find your place in a world that doesn’t always make space for the unconventional. A timely conversation starter about artistic identity and the hunger, literal and metaphorical, that drives human connection.

The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb

Best for: Companies working in restorative justice and community impact, like criminal justice professionals, reentry program staff, and social workers.

After a devastating mistake destroys his family and lands him in prison, Corby Ledbetter must face the consequences of his actions while navigating the harsh realities of incarceration. Inside, he finds unexpected kindness and kinship that help him reclaim hope. The River is Waiting is a deeply empathetic story of redemption, accountability, and the long road back from ruin. 

This book is a must-read for those working in the criminal justice system. It humanizes the incarcerated and sheds light on the inner emotional world of those navigating guilt, trauma, and the hope for a second chance. It also invites important dialogue around restorative justice, the importance of community-based support, and the role empathy plays in rehabilitation.

Fiction has a unique ability to tap into the emotional, ethical, and human sides of work. They spark conversations that traditional business books can sometimes miss, and present these important topics in a different, engaging way. The stories we read together can shape the cultures we build. If you’re interested in bringing any of these titles to your workplace, you can request a quote, and an account manager will be happy to help you find the best fit for your team and goals. From retreats to ongoing book clubs, choosing the right fiction book can fuel innovation, deepen understanding, and strengthen bonds between colleagues.