A review by mandikaye
The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey

4.0

 It took me a bit to warm up to Grace. Her internal monologue when she found out her grandson had ADHD—and when she started piecing together that her late husband probably had it too—was hard to read. Not because it was poorly written (quite the opposite), but because it was real. And as someone who lives with ADHD every day, hearing those knee-jerk thoughts hit a little too close to home. I found myself flinching on behalf of past-me, the one who’s been on the receiving end of comments like those. 

But here’s the thing—Grace grows. And not in a cheesy, all-tied-up-with-a-bow kind of way. She grows in the kind of messy, nonlinear, deeply human way that feels true. Watching a woman in her seventies unpack internalized ableism, reconnect with her past, and stumble toward vulnerability? Yeah, that’s the kind of character arc I’m always hungry for. We don’t get nearly enough stories where older women get to transform and expand instead of just fade quietly into the background. 

And then there’s the book club itself—a cozy little gathering that feels like a beacon to anyone who’s ever wanted to belong without having to perform. It reminded me of my own love for the idea of silent book clubs, and that deep, hopeful longing to find a found family in exactly that kind of setting. Every time the characters came together, it made my heart do the little happy wiggle. You know the one. 

This book isn’t perfect, but it is full of heart. It made me smile. It made me think. It reminded me why I keep showing up for stories about connection, no matter how different the people on the page may be from me. Sometimes, they surprise you. And sometimes, they help you understand yourself just a little bit more. 

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review—and I honestly loved this quiet little gem more than I expected.