Chilled Book Club - The Last House on Needless Street

The Chilled Out Meetups Book Club meets at the HEART Centre in Headingley on Thursday 22 October, with Catriona Ward's The Last House on Needless Street as the book of the month. It's a psychological thriller with horror elements, and the organiser does give a heads-up that it deals with subject matter that could be upsetting, so it's worth keeping that in mind before you dive in.

If you've never come across the group, it's a relaxed, member-run social for book lovers that's been running since 2024. The whole thing is built on a low-pressure format: there's no expectation to prepare anything, no need to analyse the text, and you don't even have to finish the book to turn up. Readers of all levels are welcome, and the evening is as much about the social side as the reading. You're encouraged to bring along a book you're currently reading, share a recent favourite, talk about a title that's stayed with you, or just listen to recommendations. If you're not in the mood to talk books at all, you can just have coffee and cake and enjoy the company.

The session runs from 18:30 at the HEART Centre, specifically in the Assembly Bar + Kitchen on Bennett Road in Headingley. It's a friendly, open sort of gathering rather than a formal discussion, so it works whether you've spent the last few weeks obsessing over The Last House on Needless Street or you've only managed a few pages. If you're just looking for a quiet night out with other readers in Leeds, this is a good one to have on your radar.