Cozy night
Homemaking With BabsBook club questions, food & host guide
Barbara Costello
#1 New York Times Bestseller
1 week on the list
A cozy book club night for Homemaking With Babs by Barbara Costello. Includes 8 spoiler-free discussion questions, food and drink pairings, a playlist, and a host guide, ready to print and share.
Relaxed clubs, multigenerational groups, and friends who love a good kitchen-table story more than a debate
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Barbara Costello, the grandmother millions know as Babs, shares warm, practical wisdom on keeping a home that feels loved. It reads like a visit to a favorite grandma's kitchen, which makes it an easy, heartwarming pick for a gentle night in.
Why it works for clubs
- Everyone has a memory of the home, kitchen, or person who taught them to take care of things
- Nonfiction with no plot to spoil, so people can dip in anywhere and still join the conversation
- Practical tips spark swapping of family tricks, recipes, and old habits
- Its grandmotherly warmth invites sharing without anyone feeling put on the spot
Themes & mood
Heartwarming
Home & Hearth
Family Traditions
Grandma Wisdom
Comfort Read
Reading level
Easy
Warm-up questions
- 1 When you opened this book, whose kitchen or home came to mind first, and what did it smell like?
- 2 Which tip or bit of advice from Babs made you smile, or had you saying 'my grandma did that too'?
Digging in
- 1 Babs treats everyday chores as small acts of love. Is there a household ritual in your life that feels more like caring for people than a chore?
- 2 Who taught you the first 'grown-up' home skill you ever learned, and how did they teach it to you?
- 3 Which part of the book felt most comforting to you, like a warm hand on your shoulder, and why do you think it landed that way?
- 4 Babs found a new community sharing her know-how later in life. Is there something you know how to do that you would love to pass on to someone younger?
Going deep
- 1 The book suggests a home is made more by attention and care than by perfection. Did reading it change how you feel about the 'messy' parts of your own home or routine?
- 2 If you could sit down for coffee with Babs after finishing the book, what would you want to thank her for, and what would you want to ask her?
On the table
Warm Cinnamon Coffee Cake
A brunch classic that feels just right for a book by the author of Brunch with Babs. Bake it in one pan and serve it warm.
Mini Chicken Pot Pies
Old-fashioned, from-scratch comfort food that fits the book's homemaking spirit. Use store-bought pie crust to keep things easy.
Grandma's Cookie Tin Assortment
A tin of homemade sugar cookies or chocolate chip cookies, the kind every grandma seems to have on the counter. Invite guests to bring a family recipe to share.
To sip
Hot Spiced Apple Cider
No alcohol
Simmered on the stove with cinnamon sticks and orange slices so the whole house smells like a welcome. Non-alcoholic and good for everyone.
Fresh Pot of Coffee with Real Cream
No alcohol
The heart of any grandma's kitchen table. Set out a creamer pitcher and sugar bowl for an old-school touch.
Irish Cream Hot Cocoa
Rich hot chocolate with a splash of Irish cream and a dollop of whipped cream, a little indulgent and very cozy.
Soft, sentimental oldies and warm crooners, like a radio playing in grandma's kitchen on a Sunday morning
Tap a track to play it. Full songs play when you're signed into Spotify.
Run of show
7:00
Welcome In
Greet guests with warm cider already simmering and soft oldies playing. Let everyone settle in with blankets or slippers.
7:15
Cookie Tin & Nibbles
Pass the coffee cake and cookie tin. Invite anyone who brought a family recipe to tell its story.
7:35
Warm-Up Chat
Start with the warm-up questions. Keep it light and let memories of grandmas and old kitchens flow.
7:55
Pot Pies & Heart-to-Heart
Serve the mini pot pies and move into the theme questions over a relaxed plate of food.
8:30
Tip Swap & Trivia
Everyone shares one favorite household trick, then play the gentle Babs trivia round with no scores kept.
8:50
Cocoa & Closing Thoughts
Pour the hot cocoa, share the deep questions, fill out scorecards, and hand out bookmarks as a take-home keepsake.
Host tips
- Leave a few throws and extra pillows out so guests can get comfortable right away and the night feels unhurried.
- Invite guests ahead of time to bring one family recipe card or household tip. It gives quieter members an easy way to share.
- Let the conversation wander. On a cozy night a long story about someone's grandmother is the point, not a detour.
You're invited
Come Over, the Kettle's On
Join us for a cozy evening of Homemaking With Babs, with warm drinks, comfort food, and stories from the kitchens that raised us. Bring slippers and a favorite family recipe if you have one.
Trivia
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1
What affectionate nickname has Barbara Costello earned from her online fans?Answer: America's Grandma
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2
What was the title of Barbara Costello's first book?Answer: Brunch with Babs
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3
On which short-video platform did Babs first build her huge following?Answer: TikTok
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4
'Babs' is a classic nickname for which first name?Answer: Barbara
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5
What genre does Homemaking With Babs belong to?Answer: Nonfiction (home and lifestyle advice)
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6
Which two humble pantry staples are famous old-fashioned household cleaners, often used together?Answer: Baking soda and white vinegar
Bookmarks
Cozy night
Kitchen Warmth
A clean kitchen, a warm pot, and someone to share it.
Homemaking With Babs
Cozy night
Gentle Wisdom
Every home is built one small kindness at a time.
Homemaking With Babs
Cozy night
Timeless Comfort
Put the kettle on. Grandma's advice still holds.
Homemaking With Babs
Rate the book
Warm Fuzzies
Useful Tips I'll Try
Grandma Charm
Memories It Stirred
Cozy Factor
The tip I'll try first:
This book reminded me of:
One word for how it made me feel:
Print pack
- Recipe cards for guests to write and swap a family favorite
- Question cards tucked into teacups or cookie tin lids
- Handwritten-style place cards with each guest's name and a 'grandma tip'
- Keepsake bookmarks tied with baker's twine
- Printed tip-swap sheet to collect everyone's household tricks
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