**REVIEW OF EXCERPT ONLY**

When I first read the blurb about this book, I thought this sounded like a good premise. I like books about women pulling together and overcoming bad things in their lives. This book had a lot of promise but it didn't really live up to it, unfortunately.

The characters were introduced to the reader in a very rushed kind of way. Trying to figure out who was who I found quite difficult. I didn't think that the main characters were particularly supportive of each other either, which was a surprise. It was almost as if they were rushing through each funeral of their parents so they could then get on with their lives? It was very odd. It would have been better if each character had been introduced slowly e.g. perhaps taking a chapter each, alternating or something? I didn't find myself all that emotionally invested in these ladies at all, which is a real shame. I thought I would really like it and go on to read the full book but alas, that isn't what happened, sorry.

3 stars from me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books.

2.75 stars.

This was unfortunately a bit of a mixed bag for me. I requested it because the cover caught my eye, and I liked the idea of a group of friends who meet under unusual life circumstances celebrating their friendship through Sunday potluck get togethers. Unfortunately, that wasn't the story that was delivered (in my opinion). I think there were maybe two potluck gatherings in the whole book, and the friends didn't spend any time talking. Although I personally didn’t connect with any of the characters, I do wish that we got more page time with the four friends. They’re all different ages and going through different stages of their grief, and I enjoyed what I saw of them together. I appreciated that the author stuck to the friends allowing each other to deal with their grief in their own way and time. These were very realistic portrayals of how people experience big losses in their lives and how they cope with that loss. Everyone handles situations in their own way and to me that was the most believable part of the story.

I think the story would’ve been much stronger if it had a bigger focus on the friendship and grief aspects, as I initially expected the story to have, rather than on the romance because that really didn’t work for me and it’s what made me want to skip through big chunks of it to get to the end (I didn't though).

The Sunday Potluck Club is told through Amy’s perspective. She wasn’t a particularly endearing character from the start and that was one of the struggles I encountered with enjoying this. Bridget was the other friend in the group that also got more, but we don’t get her perspective at all. I understand that Bridget was going through the most recent loss with the passing of her mother at the start of the book, but her arc so almost no development until the very end when drastic measures had to be taken. While she wasn’t particularly likable either, I thought her character more interesting than Amy’s. I was also disappointed with Amy’s character arc because we didn’t really learn anything about her except for the fact that she’s struggling to process the grief from the loss of her mother. Oh, and the fact that she’s obsessed with Trent, one of her student’s father, who she literally meets by accident.

I'm normally a big fan of romance in books, but I was not a fan of this one, and I was surprised by how much of the storyline it took up. After a ‘meet-cute’ that in my opinion wasn’t particularly cute, Amy pretty much falls into insta-love with Trent, and I think the feeling is pretty much mutual. Turns out, Trent is also grieving the sort of recent loss of his wife. It’s bad enough that it was insta-love, but the author mostly tells us about their amazing connection rather than showing it to us. In my opinion, there were zero sparks flying and I just didn’t get their romance and how it was so instant for both of them. I think the only good thing about their “relationship” was how much of Trent’s daughter we saw. She was a precocious and perceptive little girl and made the scenes between the two of them much more enjoyable.

Overall, I feel like this book had a lot of potential, but the characters were underdeveloped and the romance that played such a big role in the story fell completely short for me. You’d think a book about friends grieving the loss of their parents would make me feel at least a little weepy and emotional, but unfortunately, I felt none of that. It was a very quick read though, so at least there’s that!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very beautiful

I keep hearing about this book and that is no surprise. This is women’s fiction, and not quite like her usual work. But very beautiful. Moving. It’s about friendship, but also about dealing with loss. It could have easily become depressing, but it didn’t. It was easy-to-read and not too sad. You know, not heavy. Five stars from me and well-deserved.

While not my favorite from this author, this excerpt did get me in the mood to dive into the rest of the story. I was so bummed when it ended.

Many thanks to NetGalley, Kensington Books, and Melissa Storm for an excerpt from an ARC in exchange for an honest book review of The Sunday Potluck Club. My thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.


Just to clarify, I received an excerpt only of this book and that is what this review will be based on. Four women meet in a hospital while caring for sick parents and form a friendship. They have a potluck dinner every Sunday to unwind, relax, share some laughs and to lean on each other. As each of the friends go through the grief process they promise each other that they will let them grieve their own way. Easier said than done.

The story is told through Amy’s perspective. She is a teacher who has just returned to work after being off for a year to take care of her mother. She is coming out of the grieving process and just starting to feel more like herself. She is concerned about Bridget who seems to be in denial. Bridget is keeping herself overly busy, setting unrealistic goals for herself and Amy is worried about what will happen when she can’t meet them. Amy has tried to talk to her but Bridget is firm in staying in a happy place. Because this is an excerpt, you get a glimpse of storylines that will happen. Amy has a student, Olivia, who she senses needs her help. Amy gets into a car accident with a handsome man who I believe will be the love interest.

I’m not sure if this book is for me. I was thinking something different when I read the blurb. The tone is very congenial. Everyone is super sweet, caring, always concerned for others with never a thought for themselves and their troubles. Everyone tries to put on a brave face despite the grief they are going through. I was hoping for something more real and a bit more raw. Maybe it is a “me” problem, but I don’t think everyone is on their best behaviour all of the time. At least not with their best friends and family. To be fair, maybe it happens later in the story. Without the whole ARC, it is hard to know. This is the first in a series although I’m not sure what that means. Will it have the same characters? Will it feature other Sunday Potluck Clubs? Who knows? I just wasn’t in the mood for sugar-coated emotions and saccharine sweet personalities that know what their friends need without a word being said.

I am willing to give this book another look and see what develops later on in the story, however, if it continues on in this vein it would be a pass for me. One of the problems that I have with stories like that is what we in the cancer world call the “Lance Syndrome”. Lance Armstrong rode the Tour de France when he had cancer. You know the type. Someone who is going to run a marathon, climb a mountain or do something extraordinary while going through something as tough as cancer. You might say “That is such a great thing to do! What could be wrong with that?”. Well, nothing, except that it becomes the face of How You Should Deal With Getting Cancer.

There isn’t any nuance and it doesn’t allow for everyone’s experience. Everybody’s cancer story is different. Every stage is different, the treatment varies wildly and no two bodies react the same way. Two people with the same cancer and the same treatment will not feel the same way. So if you don’t want to go run a marathon people judge you for not reacting properly, or trying hard enough or be brave enough. But for some people just getting out of bed can be the bravest thing you can do on that day. If you want to do something amazing so you can take your mind off of having cancer and that’s what you choose to do - great, you should. But just because someone else can’t they should be made to feel like they are lazy, negative, uncooperative, and a whole host of other uncomplimentary things that people feel free to say to your face.

Don’t get me wrong. Sometimes I love a good, light, upbeat book that isn’t about anything meaningful. It’s just that I tend to respond better to a story when people are more raw, when there is a range of emotions that can help better explain what going through, in this case, grief is like. Usually, the character overcomes their struggle and that can become an uplifting story. I don’t respond well, especially when these are labeled as “women’s stories” or chick-lit when everyone is so upbeat and friendly all the time. I sometimes break out in hives. But don’t get me going on how women are represented in fiction. That would be another rant and I think I should stop this review before it is longer than the excerpt I read.

While I was sad for the reason for this Club I really loved the idea of women coming together and supporting each other especially while suffering loss. While we get to read about four ladies, Amy was the focus of this book and her budding relationship with Trent and his daughter Olivia. Olivia was a doll and quite the matchmaker. The author caused such growth in these characters and we saw real feelings. Great start to the series.

This was more of a 3.5 star read for me. I'm not sure I've ever read anything by this author, but I could see enough in it that I'd like to check out their other work sometime.

I had a hard time with investing in these characters. The first part of the book had such a depressing tone, due to the grief, that I struggled to even want to read the book in the first place! When things finally did progress, it felt flat and slightly manipulated.

The setting is one I have interest in, but there wasn't enough detail given for this reader! I would have liked more about the way of life and hardships of living in Alaska, but those details were sadly lacking in this story.

I can see the potential for a series here with this book, but I don't think I would continue on with it.

This is about Amy.. She, with her three friends, Hazel, Nicole ant Bridget, have formed the Sunday Potluck Club. In which they for friend get together to reminisce about the parents they lost to cancer. And be together for each other. They met in the hospital cafeteria, where each of their parents were receiving treatments. Soon after the funeral of Bridgets mother, Amy meets Trent. She feels a connection, and soon realizes he’s the parent of one of her students, whom she’s been worried over. Amy tries to forget her attraction to Trent, but she can’t seem to do so.
I absolutely loved this story. It was so well written and beautiful. It was both heartwarming and heartbreaking. It had me tearing up because it made me think of my mother who passed away. And a lot of what these characters feel, I too have felt. The author does a wonderful job telling this story.
I definitely recommend reading this book. Such a wonderful story. But I’d recommend you read Hazels story, which is featured in the book Home Sweet Home and a wonderful story as well.

The Sunday Potluck Club focused on four women who met while their parents were undergoing chemo treatment. Three of the four women have now lost their parents and the other parent is in remission. The story told of how they manged their grief which was different for each of them. They have been meeting every Sunday and bringing an item for their potluck dinner.

The story really revolved around Amy, who for a year took care of her mother. Now she feels lost, although she has gone back midyear to teaching second grade. She is also helping a little girl in her class who just lost her mother and has a very cute father named Trent. Pets are also a big part of this story and provide the women and the little girl with a lot of comfort too. I received an advance copy of this book and I willingly chose to write an honest review.

This is an enjoyable story about dealing with heartache and grief. It was very well written and the way it ends leaves me wondering if it is being set up to have more in a a series.

Amy is a people pleaser with a big, albeit broken, heart. Her mother’s death has tramped all over her emotions. She is not sure if she can ever get back to the person se was.

Amy is strong but feels that she is not handling her mother’s death as quickly as she would like. She returns to teaching only to discover one of the girls in her class is being excluded by the other kids. She is shy and keeps to herself. Amy takes it upon herself to try to bring Olivia out of her shell. She quickly discovers two things, that Olivia is sad due to her mother’s death and that Olivia’s father is hot. A relationship is sure to follow.

Bridget, Helen and Nicole have also been the support person for a parent fighting cancer. To have a few moments not revolving around cancer, the women form to Sunday Potluck Club. Every Sunday, the meet to visit, unload, and support each other. This proves to be quite helpful after the death of a parent. However, the rule is that each person must be allowed to grieve in their own way and the others couldn’t comment or try to change the form of their grief.

The book vacillates between happy and discouraging emotions and situations. Amy is trying to move forward outwardly but doesn’t think she is making progress internally. The other are backdrops to Amy’s heartache but are still fully immersed in this story.

The story is true to what a daughter will experience after a parent’s death from cancer. Their emotions are all over the board. I feel that it is true to life by the daughter being happy one minute and then morose the next. However, I felt that Olivia’s change was too quick. She is sad and not speaking for months after her mother’s death. Suddenly, in the matter of an evening of pizza and a movie, she comes out of her shell. I believe it would take a person a little longer, even as a child.

I found the writing to be outstanding even taking my comment above into consideration. Although it has sad portions the story itself centers on healing and moving forward. Showing Amy, Olivia and Trent dealing with tragedy in their own way, allows the reader to recognize that there is no boiler plate way to handle negative emotions. The subject manner is dark but is lifted by a well-written story of optimism.


I received an ARC from Kensington Books through both NetGalley and Goodreads. This in no way affects my opinion or ratings. I am submitting this review voluntarily and am under no obligation to do so.

The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm is a book of friendship, grief, love, unconditional love of animals and healing. The beginning of the story is a little depressing, but the tone soon changes. This is a story about people struggling with their grief which can be overwhelming. Amy, Bridget, and Hazel became friends after meeting in the hospital cafeteria. Each one had a parent going through chemotherapy. Nichole is the fourth member of their group and is fortunate that her father’s cancer is in remission. The four ladies meet each Sunday for a potluck meal and friendship therapy. Amy is having a hard time handling her grief over the loss of her mother. This is Amy’s third funeral in less than a year and it is wearing her down. She is hoping that by returning to work, her life will return to normal. Brigit just lost her mother and is handling her grief by keeping busy. Brigit refuses to talk about her grief. She becomes involved with the local animal shelter and becomes determined to make sure every dog is adopted by Valentine’s Day which is in two weeks. The three friends get recruited to help Brigit pull off this massive endeavor. Amy has a new girl in her second-grade class who has just moved to Anchorage with her father. The child just lost her mother to cancer. Amy notices the girl does not talk in class nor smile. Amy wants to help the little girl and contacts the child’s father. There is an instant spark of attraction between Amy and the father. But there is an issue that prevents them from moving forward. As Amy gets involved in activities, her grief lessens. We follow Amy and Bridgit as the deal with their grief in their own way. The Sunday Potluck Club is an uplifting story. I enjoyed the Valentine’s Day event at the animal shelter. It was a cute idea and a good way for people to interact with the animals (and help them find forever homes). I would have liked more details on the characters as well as Anchorage. It would have added more depth to the story. There are several good lessons in this story. That each person handles grief in their own way, you should be honest with your friends, and grief takes time. I liked that the ladies were close friends and willing to help each other out at a moment’s notice. People who are there for you no matter what are true friends. The animals sounded like such cuties. The author’s word imagery really brought them life. You can tell that Melissa Storm has animals of her own from her descriptions. The Sunday Potluck Club is an emotional novel with first class friends, agonizing grief, scrumptious potluck, furry friends, fun forts, and a cold climate.

Cancer is an evil that has affected us all in one way or another. I have had my share of scares and right now I have a mother-in-law that is fighting to keep her second round of breast cancer in remission. Watching someone you love battle this nightmare is almost too much to take and sadly for many that battle ends in death.

The Sunday Potluck Club is comprised of four women who met in a hospital cafeteria, all with one parent battling different types of cancer, and going through the treatments to try to save their lives. These women became a support system for each other while each had to stop their lives to be by their parents side, and each other, while they eventually grieve the loss of their loved one. After the final death, each woman has to find their new normal, and go on with their lives.

Each Sunday, the group meets up, brings food, and just talk, support, and love on each other. It is raw and real, yet handled in such a simple and beautiful way. This first novel in the series focuses on Amy; the "yes" girl, the peacekeeper, the one that puts everyone ahead of herself, and who in the process realizes just how much she loses herself when she is always putting everyone's needs ahead of her own.
I also loved how the love focus wasn't all on the man and woman, but also included the children involved as well. I think this was beautifully woven into the tapestry of the story, and made for an amazing picture of a new family.

Short chapters and great writing made this a wonderfully breezy read, and reminded me how important it is to have a good support system, especially when times get tough, like they are right now.

Such a perfect start to a new series! I can't wait to see what happens to The Sunday Potluck Club!

A Heartwarming Story

This is such a touching story. It is about grief, but it is also about healing, love, hope, and friendship. Four women work together to get through grieving for loved ones. Their story is sure to touch your heart. This story has romance, but there is much more than that. You will want to keep a box of tissue handy.

The short excerpt was wonderful! Good friends and food make life so much better. When I read the entire novel I will update, so far it's 5 stars all the way.
UPDATE: This book is absolutely wonderful! If you like a well written book that will keep you turning the pages, grab this book, just make sure you have a box of kleenex handy. This book will touch your heart and soul. I loved it! Thank you Kensington Books via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this wonderful book. All opinions expressed are my own.

Great circle of friends concept, although they have a sad common denominator, the story is emotionally well-balanced. It is uplifting and very encouraging even with real life insights. There's always more than one way to look at things and these ladies share another perspective that engages the thinking cap. Love the characters, they all have their individual quirks, very realistic with each having strengths and weakness yet very supportive and have big hearts. Enjoyed this one and I look forward to the next one.

When I requested this ARC from NetGalley, I did not realize that it was an excerpt and not the entire book. So it is really hard to judge a book by just a small portion of the book.

This is a store about our women who meet as a result of their parents' journey with cancer. Each woman is handling the journey and subsequent loss differently and this is where the story starts.

I would be interested to see how the story progresses and what the full story is.

I received an ARC of this book. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

This was a sweet, well-written book. Amy's mother had cancer, and Amy has made friends with several other women she met who had a parent with cancer. They have formed the Sunday Potluck Club and lean on each other for support. They reach out to others to offer their help and friendship, and the group grows in ways they did not anticipate. I enjoyed this book and would read other books by this author.

Four young women meet through a common activity - waiting while their parent gets a chemo treatment. Only one parent survives but the friends are supportive of each other as they grieve, each in their own way. Finally Amy is returning to her classroom after caring for her mother until her death. The friends meet on Sundays for a potluck to support, share, and yes, even laugh. Romance comes into this emotional story along with some regrets and questions. Amy is pulled all ways as the peacekeeper and the one always willing to help. This is one story you just cannot put down. I highly recommend this one!
I received an advance copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley and I voluntarily wrote an honest review.

As having dealt with similar issues with cancer, thou mine was not until I was older, it is a story that will be heartfelt by many. I found this to be well written with a story that brings tears at some times and happiness at others.
I received a free copy and I am leaving a voluntary review.