I wonder if these type of social events would work? Everyone meets at a place like a cafe and brings a book - everyone sits for 30-45 minutes and just reads their book and after that time, people stick around and chat abiout the books or whatever else is on their mind.
There use to be actual book clubs that used to meet at cafes libraries, and bookstores (I knew of a couple of them thst used to meet at Barnes and nobles). When members got to know each other pretty good, they would be a roundtable of homes they would do. Check around, there may still be some around.
That is really nice to chat and exchange book reviews and thoughts.