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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
I read the prequels to this one and loved them. I knew falling back into this town would be easy and enjoyable.
I will say that I didn’t like this book as much as the previous two but it was still such a heartwarming read. I just wish the ending was a bit more drawn out. Then it would have been exceptional. I don’t know if Berg plans to write anymore books set in Mason but I hope she does. I just love the characters and the connections. I would love to see how the residents grow and evolve for years to come.
*Check trigger warnings before reading*
A sweet little book about the power of telling your “sins” to your friends. It’s also a nice little catch up with the people of Mason, MO. I look forward to more novels to come as there are so many more stories to tell.
(3.5) Ah Elizabeth Berg. The coziest, warmest, most comforting read. When she stays in her wheelhouse - heartbroken rich middle-aged white women finding love - no one can beat her. (That sounds like a backhanded compliment, but it isn't. She's a genius in the genre.)
But sometimes she stretches and I cringe. For example, this time, her protagonist falls in love with an unhoused man and I could've done without her attempt at describing homelessness. Her heart is there, it's always there, but the same confidence that writes her white lady romances convinces her she can write experiences she hasn't had. Regardless (a big regardless), her attention to detail is unmatched & I wish I could live in the idyllic and sweet small towns she creates.
But sometimes she stretches and I cringe. For example, this time, her protagonist falls in love with an unhoused man and I could've done without her attempt at describing homelessness. Her heart is there, it's always there, but the same confidence that writes her white lady romances convinces her she can write experiences she hasn't had. Regardless (a big regardless), her attention to detail is unmatched & I wish I could live in the idyllic and sweet small towns she creates.
A quick, sweet, uplifting read. Although book 3 of the series, it almost reads as a stand alone. Perfect for a light, beachy read and while slightly predictable, it was nonetheless a comforting, entertaining story about love, friendship and family.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for providing a digital copy in return for an honest, unbiased review.
Iris Winters teaches baking classes in the small town of Mason, Missouri, and when one of her students needs last minute help making Black Cake for the weekly Confession Club, of course she offers to help! In return she accepts the offer to stay for a trial run in the group of women from across the generations that meet weekly to confession the things they've done wrong and make peace with it together. Iris herself might have something to confess when she meets John, a man experiencing homelessness and living on an abandoned farm outside of town, and immediately feels a connection with him. She hopes for the future even as she starts to discover that John is battling demons of his own. Confession, redemption and hope and the themes throughout this women's fiction novel. This is a great read that weaves the stories of different characters and the perspectives of different generations well. Perfect for your own book club (confessions optional). (Advanced copy read courtesy of the publisher and NetGalley. Opinions are my own.)
I loved this. Not earth shattering or profound, but a sweet, lovely tribute to amazing friends and strong love. Elizabeth Berg does such a good job building her characters and her settings. It’s the third in the series, but it works as a stand-alone too.
2.5 stars rounded up. This is the third book in the Mason, Missouri series, and I honestly think it would have been best to stop after the first book, The Story of Arthur Truluv, which was really lovely. This book was… fine. Heartwarming, sweet, but lacking something essential, though I can’t quite put a finger on what is missing. In Mason, a group of women of all ages meet for “Confession Club” where they confess their various past and present transgressions to each other. In between inane meetings of the club, we get more of Iris and Maddy’s stories. Iris’s side story involves a completely unbelievable eye-rolling plot about a homeless man, and Maddy (naturally enough, after the life she’s had) is struggling to trust her husband to love her and be there for her, so she’s temporarily moved back to Mason with her adorable and precocious daughter Nola.
3.5+
Elizabeth Berg's writing is a book version of comfort food.
Elizabeth Berg's writing is a book version of comfort food.
First of all, I would read junk mail if someone told me Elizabeth Berg had written it. Her writing is pure gold. I would give this book 3.5 stars. It was a fast, easy read. I was happy to see my favorite characters again, but this book didn’t have the emotional punch of the previous two books. If you want a light, fun, and fast read you will really enjoy this novel.
funny
hopeful
reflective
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