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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
The book started off as slow and unrelatable for me - as a young woman reading this for book club, I would find myself more eager to pick this up in 15-20 years time. I thought the story took an interesting turn to focus so heavily on Iris and Maddy, though ultimately I think it was best for the plot. It almost seemed confession club was secondary to the nature of the story.
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2019; Random House Publishing Group/Random House
Please note that while this novel could be read as a standalone, you will miss a lot of the back story of the town and Iris and Maddy. You basically miss the heart of the story if you haven't read [b:The Story of Arthur Truluv|32918898|The Story of Arthur Truluv (Mason, #1)|Elizabeth Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487140969l/32918898._SY75_.jpg|53485117] (Book 1) and [b:Night of Miracles|39025786|Night of Miracles (Mason, #2)|Elizabeth Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531870964l/39025786._SY75_.jpg|60465209] (Book 2).
We are back in Mason, Missouri - Iris is still doing amazing with Lucille's baking business. When she is given a challenge of making a difficult cake for a customer she gets more than she bargained for. Maddy and her daughter have returned "home" and Maddy goes with Iris to drop off the cake. They find themselves at a club with women. It is a confession club, where women trust one another enough to confess how they feel and/or what they have done (that they think is something awful). Maddy and Iris ask to join and soon find that they have stories to tell of their own. Maddy has fled from her husband as she wants to be back in Mason where she feels at home, and is scared to ask Matthew to move for her. She still feels the rejection from her father. Iris finds herself attracted to the handsome charming homeless man has recently come to town. He has PTSD and has not stayed in one place for very long. After a divorce on her hand is she ready to open her heart again. Monica and Tiny are pregnant but we don't hear much from them. Peppered in the book is the confessions from the members. At times this enhanced the story and other times it was a bit boring. Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially with Berg as the narrator of the audiobook.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
2019; Random House Publishing Group/Random House
Please note that while this novel could be read as a standalone, you will miss a lot of the back story of the town and Iris and Maddy. You basically miss the heart of the story if you haven't read [b:The Story of Arthur Truluv|32918898|The Story of Arthur Truluv (Mason, #1)|Elizabeth Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1487140969l/32918898._SY75_.jpg|53485117] (Book 1) and [b:Night of Miracles|39025786|Night of Miracles (Mason, #2)|Elizabeth Berg|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1531870964l/39025786._SY75_.jpg|60465209] (Book 2).
We are back in Mason, Missouri - Iris is still doing amazing with Lucille's baking business. When she is given a challenge of making a difficult cake for a customer she gets more than she bargained for. Maddy and her daughter have returned "home" and Maddy goes with Iris to drop off the cake. They find themselves at a club with women. It is a confession club, where women trust one another enough to confess how they feel and/or what they have done (that they think is something awful). Maddy and Iris ask to join and soon find that they have stories to tell of their own. Maddy has fled from her husband as she wants to be back in Mason where she feels at home, and is scared to ask Matthew to move for her. She still feels the rejection from her father. Iris finds herself attracted to the handsome charming homeless man has recently come to town. He has PTSD and has not stayed in one place for very long. After a divorce on her hand is she ready to open her heart again. Monica and Tiny are pregnant but we don't hear much from them. Peppered in the book is the confessions from the members. At times this enhanced the story and other times it was a bit boring. Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially with Berg as the narrator of the audiobook.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I don't think we are done with the Mason series. I know Berg has released a prequel of Nola and Arthur's story this year, but there is so much left to discover within the town of Mason. I wasn't thrilled about the ending of this book. I wanted more for Iris.
I hope this is an interlude for storylines of other characters we've met in the series.
Maybe having little Nola and Link develop more then a friendship once they reach adulthood...
Mild sexual content. Mild profanity.
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It was a quick, easy, feel good read.
Apparently it is the 3rd book of the series (I didn’t know that
Apparently it is the 3rd book of the series (I didn’t know that
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
It had the potential to be a good story but it dragged on and I found it boring. I was happy when I turned the last page and could move on to something else. I’m glad others enjoyed it but it fell flat for me.
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In the third of Elizabeth Berg’s Mason series, female friends meet to eat, drink and discuss past mistakes, indiscretions and other secrets that they have never divulged to others. At the end of this confession, the women provide the confessor with non-judgmental acceptance and absolution.
We see the return of many of our favourite characters introduced in the first two books in the series including Maddie who returns to Mason after living in New York. We also see the introduction of new characters including John, a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD and homeless, who walks into Mason and makes a home out of a dilapidated building. This character is beautifully written and brings to the forefront the importance of not judging others, especially without knowing their story.
This book is absolutely lovely and a joy to read. It speaks of friendship, kindness, acceptance and community - we need more of these values in our world. I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
We see the return of many of our favourite characters introduced in the first two books in the series including Maddie who returns to Mason after living in New York. We also see the introduction of new characters including John, a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD and homeless, who walks into Mason and makes a home out of a dilapidated building. This character is beautifully written and brings to the forefront the importance of not judging others, especially without knowing their story.
This book is absolutely lovely and a joy to read. It speaks of friendship, kindness, acceptance and community - we need more of these values in our world. I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.
Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.
Totally enjoyed this book. Refreshing. Elizabeth Berg does a great job of looking into how different people look at life and can develop compassion for those with different life experiences.