Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.44 AVERAGE
3.44 AVERAGE
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
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:
No
The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts made my heart so happy and while it is only the second book of hers I have read, it is also my new favorite! I loved how Roberts dove into each character's life and how well we got to know each one along with their triumphs and struggles. The friendships and romance were touching and real, and the story is bookish beyond the book club which I loved. Karissa, Alice, Margot, and Alice’s sister Josie were all unique and well-characterized which made it easy to keep them all straight. Plus, their interactions provided lots of laugh-out-loud moments, even some I wasn't expecting.
The audiobook is narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, and I can't say enough good things about her narration. She did a wonderful job will all of the different viewpoints, and at times it felt like I was listening to more than one narrator! I would 100% recommend the audio for how talented she was, and I think it made the characters and emotional moments feel that much more vivid. The Best Life Book Club was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt that I went into totally blind, and it worked out perfectly for me. Roberts's articulate writing style combined with her blend of humor, wit, and emotional subject matters made for the perfect combo here and I loved everything about it. I would even go so far as to call it a lovely comfort read. 😉
The audiobook is narrated by Ann Marie Gideon, and I can't say enough good things about her narration. She did a wonderful job will all of the different viewpoints, and at times it felt like I was listening to more than one narrator! I would 100% recommend the audio for how talented she was, and I think it made the characters and emotional moments feel that much more vivid. The Best Life Book Club was a #BookstagramMadeMeDoIt that I went into totally blind, and it worked out perfectly for me. Roberts's articulate writing style combined with her blend of humor, wit, and emotional subject matters made for the perfect combo here and I loved everything about it. I would even go so far as to call it a lovely comfort read. 😉
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
fast-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
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
slow-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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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:
Complicated
emotional
inspiring
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Karissa and her daughter are moving from Seattle to Puget Sound after her husband left her for their neighbor and her best friend. Feeling alone, she starts a bookclub to make friends. Her neighbors Alice, Alice’s grumpy sister Josie and also newly single Margot spend time moving on together, led by discussion of great books.
“There was a perfect book match for everyone, and a book club was the perfect place to find that match.” P71
It took me a while to get into this one, but I ended up enjoying it. I loved the novel within the novel and all of the conversation about books.
I have only read one other of Sheila’s books and this seemed very different to me. But I loved the focus on female friendship!
“We all need stories, we all love stories, but we also need to live our own stories. Books should encourage your u to do that. They shouldn’t be a substitute.” P166
I loved all the name dropping of friends:
“At the bookstore she stocked up on novels by some of her favorite writers—-the two Susans (Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery), Marie Bostwick, and Rachel Linden. One of the Friends & Fiction ladies had a book on the shelves. She loved their podcasts!
Oooh, and here was a new one by Brenda Novak. And...” p197
"All those hard things you've gone through, they've been the fertilizer that's made you blossom,…" p280
“There was a perfect book match for everyone, and a book club was the perfect place to find that match.” P71
It took me a while to get into this one, but I ended up enjoying it. I loved the novel within the novel and all of the conversation about books.
I have only read one other of Sheila’s books and this seemed very different to me. But I loved the focus on female friendship!
“We all need stories, we all love stories, but we also need to live our own stories. Books should encourage your u to do that. They shouldn’t be a substitute.” P166
I loved all the name dropping of friends:
“At the bookstore she stocked up on novels by some of her favorite writers—-the two Susans (Susan Wiggs and Susan Mallery), Marie Bostwick, and Rachel Linden. One of the Friends & Fiction ladies had a book on the shelves. She loved their podcasts!
Oooh, and here was a new one by Brenda Novak. And...” p197
"All those hard things you've gone through, they've been the fertilizer that's made you blossom,…" p280
Content Warnings
Moderate: Abandonment
emotional
lighthearted
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Does it feel like summer where you are? I’m not sure why this book feels like summer to me. Maybe it’s the colorful cover.
It’s charming and about found family. Meaning those friendships that pick you up. There’s a little bit of a romance and re-finding yourself. Healing and growing and reconnecting to your best life.
And of course one of my favorite things, a book about books. Each chapter starts with a quote from a book that is meant to guide the characters. Told in alternating POVs, the friends tell their stories and issues and lean on each other to get through them.
The characters and situations are relatable. Even though I liked some more than others, by the end I connected and understood all the women.
It kinda reminded me of those old time hallmark movies that were heartwarming and charming.
It’s charming and about found family. Meaning those friendships that pick you up. There’s a little bit of a romance and re-finding yourself. Healing and growing and reconnecting to your best life.
And of course one of my favorite things, a book about books. Each chapter starts with a quote from a book that is meant to guide the characters. Told in alternating POVs, the friends tell their stories and issues and lean on each other to get through them.
The characters and situations are relatable. Even though I liked some more than others, by the end I connected and understood all the women.
It kinda reminded me of those old time hallmark movies that were heartwarming and charming.
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
medium-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:
Yes
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts is a charming story that revolves around themes of friendship, community, the healing power of books and most importantly, starting over.
As the story begins, newly divorced Karissa Newcomb moves into her new home in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her nine-year-old daughter. Karissa’s move from Seattle also involves a new job at a publishing house. Karissa is welcomed to the neighborhood by her kind neighbor, Alice, a widow in her late fifties and forty-year-old divorcee Margot, who is out of work after being laid off. Karissa finds herself enjoying their company and they eventually start a book club along with Alice’s cantankerous older sister Josie. Needless to say, with each of the members facing their own set of difficulties, their discussions about the books they read soon turn into heartfelt conversations about their own lives with each of them sharing their own troubles and wisdom, inspiring one another to effect positive changes.
The author does a wonderful job of depicting female friendships – the camaraderie between the friends and how they support one another – with kindness and honesty. Each of these women is quite different –in terms of both life experiences and personality - and it was fun to see how they grew to respect and care for one another. It was interesting how each of their own life experiences and varying perspectives helped the others deal with their own challenges. I enjoyed the descriptions of Karissa’s experiences at work and the peek into life at a publishing company. The romance angle in the narrative is light and does not distract from the primary narrative, which is a plus point for me.
The author touches upon several sensitive themes – infidelity, betrayal, bereavement professional struggles and complicated family dynamics, among others, with heart and humor, making for a light-hearted read despite the heavy themes. I would have liked had these topics been explored with a bit more emotional depth. The ending was a bit too neatly tied up, but that was to be expected.
Overall, with a cast of endearing characters and engaging storylines woven into a fluid narrative, I found this to be an entertaining and heartwarming read.
Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
As the story begins, newly divorced Karissa Newcomb moves into her new home in Gig Harbor, Washington, with her nine-year-old daughter. Karissa’s move from Seattle also involves a new job at a publishing house. Karissa is welcomed to the neighborhood by her kind neighbor, Alice, a widow in her late fifties and forty-year-old divorcee Margot, who is out of work after being laid off. Karissa finds herself enjoying their company and they eventually start a book club along with Alice’s cantankerous older sister Josie. Needless to say, with each of the members facing their own set of difficulties, their discussions about the books they read soon turn into heartfelt conversations about their own lives with each of them sharing their own troubles and wisdom, inspiring one another to effect positive changes.
The author does a wonderful job of depicting female friendships – the camaraderie between the friends and how they support one another – with kindness and honesty. Each of these women is quite different –in terms of both life experiences and personality - and it was fun to see how they grew to respect and care for one another. It was interesting how each of their own life experiences and varying perspectives helped the others deal with their own challenges. I enjoyed the descriptions of Karissa’s experiences at work and the peek into life at a publishing company. The romance angle in the narrative is light and does not distract from the primary narrative, which is a plus point for me.
The author touches upon several sensitive themes – infidelity, betrayal, bereavement professional struggles and complicated family dynamics, among others, with heart and humor, making for a light-hearted read despite the heavy themes. I would have liked had these topics been explored with a bit more emotional depth. The ending was a bit too neatly tied up, but that was to be expected.
Overall, with a cast of endearing characters and engaging storylines woven into a fluid narrative, I found this to be an entertaining and heartwarming read.
Many thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing for the digital review copy via NetGalley. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.