Loved it!!! Such a feel good book. The characters are what make it. Some of the confessions that the ladies revealed just made me smile. The reactions that they had to each other were priceless. It's been a while since I read "Night of Miracles, " so I needed a little refresher about who every one was. The book was about so much more than the Confession Club. There was friendship, love, forgiveness, acceptance and so much more. I felt like I got to know Iris and Maddy a little bit more. Once Iris was determined to get some llamas for her house, I knew I would be best friends with her. She was already such a sweet woman and always willing to help anyone. The llamas just sealed the deal. The book just made me happy and I felt like I was sitting around with friends. It was great that the women were able to talk with each other and had each other to rely on.

I definitely recommend the book. I still need to read the first one in the series and find out what a loving man Arthur Truluv must have been. I can't wait to read more books by the author. I wouldn't mind a few more about Iris and the rest of them in Mason, Missouri.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Random House through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What once was a monthly Sunday supper club has turned into a rotating weekly ‘confession club’ of women aged thirties through seventies. Each woman will take a turn confessing something ranging from the soul-baring to the ridiculous - e.g picking up a box of cookies off a grocery shelf, eating a cookie, disliking it and putting the package back on the shelf (which apparently none of the women had a problem with?!). Ordinary women living ordinary lives, reinventing themselves, coping with a variety of decisions. Not my favorite Berg novel but an easy, predictable read in signature Berg style.

* will post online closer to publication date. Thanks much for the galley!

Elizabeth Berg can write. Maybe it’s my age, maybe she’s writing about things that I know about, such as a Magic Slate or the Marlboro Man. And baby goats! Yes, we should all google baby goats.
This is a most beautifully written story. Pretty sure I will put it forward as my Book Club selection next summer. It’s that good.

This book was received as an ARC from Random House Publishing Group - Random House in exchange for an honest review. Opinions and thoughts expressed in this review are completely my own.

Books like these are very heartwarming and they definitely put a smile to my face. It's wonderful to see a group of women coming together and just because one of them shares an intimate story, that was a turn around from a sharing group to a confession club. The stories they share and the support they gave one another was very inspiring and I cried almost through the entire book. Elizabeth Berg really embraced this concept and did a spectacular job bringing it to life. I know our library community will really appreciate but most of all embrace this book and we can't wait to share it with them.

We will consider adding this title to our Adult Fiction collection at the library. That is why we give this book 5 stars.

While I enjoyed this book, I didn't realize it was the third in (so far?) a trilogy. The first one has been on my TBR pile for a little.while, but I didn't realize it came before this one. Do yourself a favor and start at the beginning. My biggest complaint was that I didn't think the characters were very well developed and I wanted more of that, but it's my own fault for not reading the other books first.

Overall, I enjoyed the characters, didn't love the ending, but now I'm guessing there's more.coming, and I can't wait to read the first two books (and any future books in this series.) On it's own, it's probably a 3.5 (it was a bit short, and there were a lot of characters, so you really just get snippets of every one instead of really getting to know and caring about any of them.)

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc of this book. It had not influenced my opinion.

Just a sweet feel good book- I loved the small town characters & simplicity as well as the message of finding good in people. I haven’t read the other books in the series but I don’t think you needed to (still they’re going on my list).
Thanks to Random House and #netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

What can I say? Elizabeth Berg does it again with a touching, funny multigenerational tale of a group of women who meet weekly for food, and conversations filled with confessions, shameful memories and support. She seems to know what touches our feelings and funny bones. When they talked about their guilty pleasure watching The Bachelorette, I laughed out loud. Then I agreed...I too have watched The Voice and thought that could be me doing the same thing, in my dreams. Many thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to pre-read The Confession Club. I'll be recommending it to friends across the country.

I'd like to thank NetGalley, Elizabeth Berg, and Random House for the advanced reader's copy in exchange for my unbiased review.

As this book represents Elizabeth Berg's third book set in Mason, Missouri, I find myself looking forward to each visit to this cozy little town, catching up with old friends, and meeting new ones along the way. In this one, there are reminiscences of Arthur and Lucille (The Story of Arthur Truluv); updates on Iris, Maddy and Nola, Monica and Tiny (Night of Miracles); and introductions to the members of the Confession Club.

Confession Club, originally a Third Sunday Supper Club meeting of a group of friends who had taken baking classes with Iris, switched to meeting twice a month, and then weekly as their friendships grew. As they talked, they began to share more and more details of their lives until they each started to "confess" things in their lives that they were afraid to tell anyone else -- good or bad. Each confession is as unique, and entertaining, as the last!

The meetings of Confession Club are interspersed throughout the chapters of the book as the reader learns about what Iris has been baking and also about her new love. Maddy and Nola are back in town as Maddy tries to make some changes in her life. And it's fun to get to know Nola as she grows up -- she is now seven years old, and quite a character!

This is a sweet, funny, sometimes sad, but always endearing, story of people that you feel like you've always known -- and can't wait to get together with again soon -- hoping that Iris will bring along some of her famous baked goods! Enjoy!

In the third of Elizabeth Berg’s Mason series, female friends meet to eat, drink and discuss past mistakes, indiscretions and other secrets that they have never divulged to others. At the end of this confession, the women provide the confessor with non-judgmental acceptance and absolution.

We see the return of many of our favourite characters introduced in the first two books in the series including Maddie who returns to Mason after living in New York. We also see the introduction of new characters including John, a Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD and homeless, who walks into Mason and makes a home out of a dilapidated building. This character is beautifully written and brings to the forefront the importance of not judging others, especially without knowing their story.

This book is absolutely lovely and a joy to read. It speaks of friendship, kindness, acceptance and community - we need more of these values in our world. I rate this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House for the ARC of this book in exchange for the honest review provided here.

Elizabeth Berg's third book in the Mason (Missouri) series continues to develop characters introduced by Arthur Trulove in Mason #1. New characters enter by way of a weekly dinner club that evolves into a tell-all group — humor and tragedy surface each time. Iris and Maddy, figures from the original book (The Story of Arthur Truluv), captured my attention.

Iris is the center of the story, a divorced woman, who settled in Mason and is content with teaching cooking classes and living in a small town. I have never wanted to live in a small village, but stories set in a small-town, middle America, always seem to create the best characters and storylines. EB knows how to win hearts with Iris's story.

In this third book of the series, Iris meets a man. John is handsome, mysterious, and quite likable. He and Iris enjoy each other's company, and I developed hopes for a love story. Never hope too much when a middle-aged woman feels something more than friendship. Tragedy struck me as a likely outcome of this sojourn into intimacy.

I enjoyed this EB story almost as much as the other two books.I hope this is not the last one!

Thank you to Elizabeth Berg, NetGalley, and Random House for this fun ARC (November 19th).

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg is the third in a series (following The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles) — and hopefully not her last! Although this can definitely be read as a standalone, please do yourself a favor and read the previous novels in this series before this one. The characters will become even more memorable as you read along.

The story Berg tells in The Confession Club is a one which takes place in a small town in middle America — Mason, Missouri. It focuses on a dinner club in which the members take turns confessing personal details about themselves for which they feel guilty and are then forgiven by the other women. It is a character-driven story of community, camaraderie and women supporting women. The characters are very well-developed, and the novel is beautifully written, heartwarming and inspiring.

I have found all of Berg’s novels to be wonderful reads, and this one is no exception.

In this installment of the Mason, Missouri series, a Supper Club turns into a Confession Club, where the women disclose the secret parts of their lives. Intimacy grows when we learn that our friends aren’t perfect and we all carry these things inside of us. “That’s what life is, at its best. A confession club: people admitting to doubts and fears and failures. That’s what brings us closer to one another, our imperfections.”

I love Elizabeth Berg because her writing often gives a voice to what’s in my heart, but she says it much more eloquently than I could.

Unfortunately, of the 3 books in this series, this was my least favorite. I loved that the club had members of varying ages, including ‘women of a certain age’. However, the confessions often fell into the silly (stealing make-up) or the TMI (sex lives) category, and none of the characters are well-developed enough for me to care. There’s also a side story with a homeless man that made my eyes roll.

Although deep issues are raised they were given a light treatment. It’s sweet and heartwarming and perfect for when you want a predictable sweet read. For me, it was just too much of both. I’m the wrong reader for this book. It was ok, but unmemorable.

We are again invited back to the small town of Mason, Missouri (once home to the now deceased Arthur Truluv), and the welcoming, interesting, and ever-helpful people who live there. I for one thoroughly enjoy my visits there!

The Confession Club, originally started as a monthly supper club by eight women who had met in Iris Winters baking classes, has transformed into a weekly Confession Club. The women are a variety of ages, occupations and at various points in their lives. Each hostess provides supper, and on rotating turns, one of the women confesses something bad she did, while the others give her their full attention. After the woman reveals her secret, the others discuss it with her. While this may seem rather odd, the relief of unburdening oneself of something held secret which has chafed at your sense of self, followed by being accepted as you are, flaws, misdeeds and all, bring a sense of healing and deeper friendship to each member of the club. We are brought closer to one another by our weaknesses and vulnerability. I loved the camaraderie, the openness, honesty and support of the club members. Anyone who has ever been part of a group like this knows what a treasure it is!

Berg sets scenes beautifully, and once again excels at capturing a wider range of emotions realistically. She expounds on the virtues of living in a small town where you are know by most, if not all, offered help when needed (without needing to ask for help and no matter the situation), where people take care of one another and do the right thing. Spending time with a book written by Elizabeth Berg is like curling on the couch with a cup of tea and a dear friend. You may not know what the topic will be, but you know it will be handled openly, honestly and with utmost care.

Take a trip to Mason, Missouri with The Confession Club. I know you'll enjoy it!!

So grateful to NetGalley, the author and Random House for allowing me to read a copy of the book in exhange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

This was a cute book about friendship and love. I love the idea of getting together with friends and confessing things lol. I feel like Iris and John's story was a little *out there*, and I feel like John settled (I won't spoil anything). All in all it was a quick and fun read. Ill give it 3.5 stars.

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg is a charming and light read. The characters are quirky and delightful and I truly enjoyed reading about them, especially the bickering, complaining, and commiserating during the Confession Club meetings! I had many a chuckle at some of the things these woman said and did! What a wonderful concept this group is, I would love to be part of one! Not only were the characters engaging, but the actual content of the novel was written so well that I was able to breeze through it and remain interested and intrigued. The simple way these characters live and think is so refreshing and entertaining, I just adored them.

In this beautiful third book in the Arthur Truluv stories, Elizabeth Berg's The Confession Club, continues the warmth of friendships and family. Iris has found new love, not without some differences and issues, but love indeed. The story is filled with a group of women who had a Supper Club forever, and with a shift to what they may want to have is the Confession Club, one lady each week gets the spotlight. They share in grief, long buried secrets, love and wanting love along with helping each other to acquire or heal. The books is cozy, warm, loving, nurturing and written so beautifully you can picture each sentence. This is a book to share with a girlfriend, so much to talk about! I loved it. Thank you #netgalley#theconfessionclub#randomhouse.

As a member of two book clubs with only women, I see up close how we share and rely on each other. And we’re the same ages as the older members of The Confession Club. “Not young anymore, not old, but looking down at old like it’s a pool she’s going to have to dive into soon.”

I’m not sure I would be as brave or foolhardy as Iris, befriending John. But I loved that storyline.

The writing is gorgeous and there are some wonderful ideas, like a psychic divorce. The book reminds me in some ways of Olive Kitteridge. We get a variety of characters, each dealing with their own issues. They provide a support network for each other. They’re the kind of friends you want for yourself.

This book makes you think. It’s the right mix of humor and pathos. There’s no heavy drama, no tearjerker scenes. It’s just quietly thoughtful.

My thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advance copy of this book.

When a member of Mason's monthly supper club reveals something that surprises everyone, their group abruptly transforms from a casual get-together to the Confession Club. The timing is perfect when Iris and Maddy are invited to join the rest of the ladies, as they both need support from friends to help with some difficult decisions.

This is book #3 of this series set in Mason, Missouri, although the series has changed names as it has developed. I enjoyed getting to know this new group of ladies, but especially liked re-connecting with Iris and Maddy. The town of Mason could almost be considered a character as well, and one I would definitely love to visit. Reading this book, with its themes of friendship, second chances and being non-judgmental, was a wonderful break from the murder and mayhem in the books I usually read, and I hope we will get t read more about Maddy, Nola, Iris, Tiny and the others.

The Confession Club brings the reader back to the comforts of the small town of Mason and cleverly introduces us to some new neighbors while weaving in some old friends.. Elizabeth Berg has created a heartwarming novel of community and friendship that feels like home. Berg's characters are charming, witty, and at times a bit quirky! While it's not necessary to have read the first two books in this series, I would highly recommend them.

This book was such a pleasure to read and I hope we'll be visiting Mason again very soon! Well done!

Thank you to Random House, NetGalley, and Elizabeth Berg for granting me the opportunity to read and review this book.

There are times when you just need a bit of a respite from those heavy hitting, deep thinking, and weighty books. If you find yourself in one of those times, you might want to pick up a copy of this new book in the Arthur Truelove trilogy.

I loved Arthur and all his wonderful friends and the kind and loving nature he exhibited. He was exactly what one searches for in a friend.

In this book, we see a continuation of the lives of some of the people who lived in Arthur's community. Some of the women in this neighborhood, decide to meet and form a club. When one of them decides to share a secret that she is embarrassed by, the whole tenor of the club changes and it's no longer your typical book club, cooking, or sewing club. No, this one is dedicated to the idea that confession is good for the soul. And these ladies do confess. Mixed within these stories is a feel good message, that of forgiveness and redemption.

It was a sweet story but somehow for me, did not pack the punch, or that warm your heart element of the former two books in this series. However it was a nice story and a perfect one to be viewed on the Hallmark channel someday.
Thank you to Elizabeth Berg, Random House, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book due out November 19, 2019.