Meet Lolo: The Brain Powering The Hot Girls Book Club
In the bustling city of Calgary, Alberta, resides a girlie whose journey from a solitary childhood reader to a politically awakened analyst has shaped not just her career but her passion for literature and reality television alike.
Meet Lauren, also known as Lolo, a 27-year-old whose love for the written word and interest in politics during her undergraduate years have manifested in the creation of "The Hot Girls Book Club." A space where non-fiction becomes the gateway to exploring complex subjects and empowering women through literature.
In this interview, Lauren delves into the inspiration behind the club's trendy name, the selection process for the books that spark month-long discussions, and the role her book club plays in the broader conversation around female empowerment and societal issues.
With insights into her latest reads and personal favorites like "Good Material" by Dolly Alderton, Lauren shares her perspective on the importance of reading as self-care and the power of literature to connect and inspire.
Can you tell me about the inspiration behind starting "The Hot Girls Book Club" and how you chose the name?
LR: “After a few viral videos I received a lot of comments about starting a book club and thought it would be a fun opportunity to connect with other non fiction book lovers. The name is based off a ‘bit’ that I always would reference as a student through my degrees. It influenced some of my book videos on TikTok and then was used as my book club name.”
How do you select the books featured in your club? Any specific criteria you look for?
LR: “Books chosen have to be non fiction. Otherwise each month I will provide choices for members to vote on and the choices are based on subjects that members have expressed interest in either within the club or on other social media platforms.”
What role do you believe your book club plays in empowering women through literature?
LR: “I think the book club plays a large part in introducing subjects that often seem extremely complex but our club provides a space for comments, questions and group discussions. Our last two books have also focused on female writers which I believe makes reading some of the content more relatable for specific readers.”
You just finished reading "Ejaculate Responsibly" by Gabrielle Stanley Blair. The book presents a unique take on the abortion debate by shifting the focus towards men's responsibility in preventing unwanted pregnancies. How has it impacted your thoughts on the topic?
LR: “In my own personal stance, I’ve always believed in safe abortion access and the right to choose. I think the book made some great arguments, I will say that the information was not new to me so in that case it didn’t change my stance a lot.”
Out of all the books you've read in the past two weeks, which one did you enjoy the most and why?
LR: “Good Material by Dolly Alderton has been my favourite read as of late. As someone who reads a lot of non fiction it was the perfect book to bring me into another world (even if there wasn’t really a plot) but overall it was a great read.”
Does receiving books in PR ever become overwhelming for you?
LR: “As of right now I receive maybe one book every two weeks so no! I do receive a few emails a week but I’m pretty selective with my PR.”
If you could host a dinner party with three authors or thinkers from any period, who would you invite and why?
LR: "Sally Rooney so I could ask why Normal People couldn’t have a happy ending. Noam Chomsky and Angela Davis because I have so many questions about the state of our world and I could listen to them speak for hours.”
Suppose you're tasked with choosing one fictional work to discuss in your online book club as a way to explore narrative storytelling's impact on understanding real-world issues. Which novel would you select?
LR: “In terms of real-world issues such as navigating and dealing with trauma in addition to mental health struggles I would suggest Freshwater by Akwaeke Emezi.”
Outside of books, what are three things you're loving at the moment?
LR: “The anticipation of the new T Swift album, Vanderpump Rules and seeing my friends more often.”
What guidance would you offer to women who believe they lack the time for reading?
LR: “Think of reading as self care time. Reading can be for 5-20 minutes at any point of the day but instead of thinking that you need to read start to be intentional with your reading routine.”
Join Lauren’s book club and visit her socials here.