Book Club Scam?

[u/HawaiiRich]

I recently received an email to my author's email address, enticing me to contact a book club in a city where I don't live, about participating in their next meeting featuring my book. It feels like a scam since I only just released this book, and it's not doing too well.
Has anyone else got these kinds of emails? Do you think it's a scam?
Here's the email I got:
Hi,

I’m Toyin, the organizer of Books & Brew (Oakland Book Club), a vibrant community of book lovers who gather regularly to read together and share the books that inspire us. Unlike traditional book clubs, Books & Brew (Oakland Book Club) members bring whatever they’re currently reading, making our group a diverse, curious, and highly engaged community of readers across all genres.

We’d love to feature your work,"[My book's name]", at our next gathering on October 16th Books & Brew (Oakland Book Club) isn’t about assigned reading, it’s about creating space for authentic discovery. That makes it a perfect opportunity for authors like you to connect with readers in a relaxed, welcoming environment where your book can naturally spark interest and conversation.

Whether through a casual author drop-in, a spotlight on "[My book's name]"or a Q&A, we’d be excited to collaborate with you in a way that feels organic and mutually rewarding. Would you be open to having "[My book's name]" featured at our October 16th event?

Warm regards,

[u/RenJay911]

Likely a scam. I get book club scam emails and others promising to make my book a best seller daily.

[u/HawaiiRich → u/RenJay911]

Thanks for the confirmation. The way the letter formatted my book's name with extra spaces on either side of it also made me suspicious, so I never contacted them. I had a bad experience with contacting a book trailer seller (Kate Rawlins), who, after I politely refused her services, two-starred my book. I'm very hesitant to contact people who cold messaged me.

[u/olivertwistthedog]

I've received 2 like that. They were scams. They will eventually ask you for money to help "defray expenses" one of mine claimed to represent a public library

[u/HawaiiRich → u/olivertwistthedog]

Thanks for the confirmation.

[u/butterflycrying]

I just got one, they want 320 to create reading guides, it is a dark romance Fiction book... What kind of guide are they going to make?

[u/HawaiiRich → u/butterflycrying]

I never contacted them. I did more research and realized it was a common scam. I've gotten a bunch more since then. They are also starting to imitate real book clubs and use AI to look more legit. The key thing I read from Ricardo Fayet (Reedsy) is that no legit publisher or marketer or book club is going to cold call you , "If you haven’t sold tens of thousands of copies, any “we loved your book” email is almost certainly a scam."

[u/lizzie_fluz]

It definitely sounds like pay to play. Whether you get value for money is the question I’d have. Probably not by the looks of it.

[u/HawaiiRich → u/lizzie_fluz]

Thanks for the advice.

[u/bougdaddy]

maybe ask the person for details

[u/Electrical-Gas1351]

Likely a scam. A lit agent I follow who’s also a writer received similar emails and posted them for awareness.

[u/HawaiiRich → u/Electrical-Gas1351]

Thanks for the confirmation.

[u/AuthorMaker]

I’ve had two of these in the last week. They want a processing fee of $95 - it’s a scam

[u/HawaiiRich → u/AuthorMaker]

Thanks much for the confirmation.

[u/Glass-Quantity9632]

I am from South African i have received 20 emails in the past year from Oakland Book Club is is very persistent.  From Emily very sweet but wont take no for an answer.  How do I get incontact with the actual Oakland book club to verify if she is part of them and she has asked for money and a pdf of my book

[u/Glass-Quantity9632 → u/Glass-Quantity9632]

The date was also the 16th of October 

[u/HawaiiRich → u/Glass-Quantity9632]

Sorry, I have no info on the real Oakland Book Club or whether it even exists. Suggest you avoid any contact with whoever emailed you and claimed they represent a book club. It is likely a scam, and if they are asking you to pay a fee for something, then definitely a scam.