Katie Couric Launches KCBC: A New Celebrity Book Club

Katie Couric has announced the launch of her new book club, KCBC (Katie Couric's Book Club), as part of her 2026 New Year's resolution to "scroll less, read more." Couric aims to read one book each month and engage her 2.1 million Instagram followers in the process. The inaugural selection for January is "The Correspondent," an epistolary novel by Virginia Evans, which Couric received as a Christmas gift from her friend, author Carmela Ciuraru.

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Couric's motivation for starting KCBC stems from her desire to reduce time spent on social media, which she describes as "doomscrolling." She expressed that this habit was consuming her mental space and detracting from her reading time. The book club will be hosted on Substack, where Couric plans to hold live discussions with authors. She intends to crowdsource book selections, primarily focusing on fiction but also incorporating nonfiction titles.

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The first live discussion with Virginia Evans is scheduled for January 19, 2026. Couric has expressed excitement about the opportunity to engage with authors and delve into their creative processes. She stated, “There’s something about talking to authors who really pour their heart and soul into a book. I think they deserve our gratitude and appreciation.”

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While Couric's initiative joins a growing trend of celebrity book clubs, including those by Reese Witherspoon and Dakota Johnson, it also faces scrutiny regarding its originality. Critics may question the necessity of yet another celebrity-led book club in a saturated market. However, Couric's approach of engaging her audience through live discussions and interactive features on Substack may distinguish KCBC from others.

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In her announcement, Couric emphasized the importance of reading in community, stating, “I love to read... and I found that keeping up with current events... was just taking too much of my headspace.” She hopes that KCBC will not only help her achieve her personal reading goals but also inspire her followers to engage more with literature.

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• “I love to read,” — Katie Couric, Journalist and Author

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• “I think a lot of people are feeling they spend too much time on their phones,” — Katie Couric

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• “I kind of gave a formal invitation to her, as if I was writing a letter, because The Correspondent is what's called an epistolary novel, which is a series of letters.” — Katie Couric on inviting Virginia Evans

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Katie Couric's KCBC aims to foster a community of readers while addressing the challenges of modern media consumption. By focusing on interactive discussions and a blend of fiction and nonfiction, Couric hopes to create a meaningful literary experience for her followers. The success of KCBC will depend on its ability to engage readers and carve out a unique space in the competitive landscape of celebrity book clubs.

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