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melkelsey 's review for:

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg
2.0

Book 116

First sentence: For Confession Club, Joanie Benson is going to make Black Cake.

Quotes:

At night, in the absence of city light, he spies so many stars that the sky looks salted. P. 43

These little disappointments seem like paper cuts; they can bother you more than the big things do.


I usually love Berg's writing; her characters are so rich and their relationships are incredibly complex. This novel was flat in comparison; the characters didn't exist much outside of their monthly dinners. It read more like a list of only mildly interesting confessions. The Confession Club is a first draft in need of development.

Edited to add: Oops! I just realized I was reading this and confusing Elizabeth Berg for Elizabeth Strout!!! Now I understand why I was disappointed.