Rust Belt Reads is a Chicago book club exploring Rust Belt literature.

Rust Belt Reads is a Chicago-based book club dedicated to exploring the literature of the Rust Belt region. The group focuses on works from and about cities such as Chicago, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and the communities in between, aiming to discover the cultural and historical narratives of the area through reading. As a general literature group, it welcomes discussions on a variety of authors and texts that reflect the Rust Belt experience. The club's reading selections include literature by authors connected to the region, providing a space for readers to engage with regional stories and connect over shared literary interests. With a small membership, the group fosters intimate conversations about the industrial heritage, social dynamics, and evolving identity of the Rust Belt as portrayed in fiction and nonfiction.