Bias alert: I love Elizabeth Berg's novels and have a particular fondness for the ones set in Small town Mason, Missouri. In the third novel, Maddie returns to Mason with her daughter Nora. They move in with Iris and assist her with the baking classes Lucille started in a previous book. While Maddie struggles with her desire to move back to Mason without knowing how her husband Matthew feels about it, Iris and Maddie are drawn into a group of women who call their group the Confession Club. At each meeting one of the women age 20 to 80 must "confess" something. This leads to a multigenerational sharing that is filled with honesty, emotion, wisdom, and humor.
While Maddie is struggling with her inner demons, Iris meets a sixty something homeless Vietnam veteran who suffers from PTSD. John and Iris form a connection that make them face their pasts and fills the empty places in their lives.
Will Maddie leave Matthew? Will John be able to conquer the ghosts from his past and settle down in one place? ....And what about the neighbors? Return to Mason, Missouri and experience the best parts of small town America.
Thanks to NetGalley and Random House for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Interesting novel about a group of women who get together to confess their faults and sins. It would make a great discussion book for a reading group.

More people are familiar with clubs, you might belong to a book club or knitting club, however, this story focuses on a confession club where members can clear their conscience. This group of members are in many stages of life as they come together to confess the ongoings of their lives.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read this ARC of The Confession Club, by Elizabeth Berg. The people and friends of Arthur Truluv have continued their lives in Mason, Missouri, living lives that would make him proud. Arthur loved everyone and gave them a chance to succeed, no matter their circumstances. Iris, his close friend, still teaches cooking classes, bringing happiness to the townspeople; but she is beginning to want more in her life. Maddy and her young daughter, Nola, had moved to NY in search of a new life, but have recently returned and are living with Iris. Maddy is searching for happiness in her life and marriage to Matthew, who is still in NY. John, a war veteran and drifter, causes them all to take stock of their lives and question what is important to them. The Confession Club, organized to allow women to share their deepest secrets and feel better about themselves, welcomes Iris and Maddy. This book is delightful, causing the reader to think about their own lives. Mason is a town where we would all like to live.

I received an ARC copy of this book from Net Galley in exchange for my honest opinion of it. This is about a group of women of all ages who get together every week and each woman gets the chance to confess something. I did not know that this was the third book in this series and had a hard time keeping up with the characters.

The Confession Club is a novel set in the same location with some of the same characters from The Story of Arthur Truluv.. This is the continuing story of Maddie, they young girl from the previous novel. Her story continues after she has moved back temporarily with her daughter, Nora, New characters are introduced as a group of women of all ages have formed the Confession Club - a meeting where participants discuss their own personal confessions. This heartwarming novel is character driven as each grows and works through their own struggles. It was a nice follow up to The Story of Arthur Truluv and fans of Elizabeth Berg will not be disappointed. Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review the book in exchange for an honest review.

This is book #3 in the Mason, Missouri series by this author who really knows how to tell a great story. Although this is third in the series, this book can definitely be read as a standalone. I did enjoy cameo referrals to Arthur Truluv and to Lucille. The story is basically one of a group of women, ages 20-80 who meet weekly to have a meal or dessert and to confess to each other what they think that they have done wrong that week. The Confession Club, although it is the title of the book, is not the real story of the book. There is nothing scintillating or salacious at the Confession Club. It’s part of the story, but not the whole one. The real tale is that of the women who are lonely or seeking love or running away from someone. The characters were not totally well-developed, but the main characters certainly were. Maddy and Iris took center stage and were extremely lovable and made me want to just reach out to hug them. My favorite character was John, a Vietnam war veteran who is suffering from PTSD and whom Iris befriends. Fans of Berg will not want to miss this one; it is women’s literature at its best!

This is the third in the Mason series by Elizabeth Berg. It works well as a stand alone novel, but even better if you’ve read the other books in the series. I enjoyed seeing the repeat characters and the references to the characters that have passed away.

Just as the books before it, this one is full of references to delicious meals and full of uplifting characters. You won’t find any titillating confessions, but what you will find is a group of women who support each other, who share their deepest fears, shames and desires. The club is more about the friendships within than the confessions.

Readers who are looking for a heartwarming, light read during the holidays will be pleased with this novel, as it covers all the bases for an uplifting read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for allowing me to read an advance copy and give an honest review.

What a lovely follow-up to The Story of Arthur Truluv! Every time his name was mentioned I paused to remember how sweet that book is. This one didn’t disappoint. All the different tales of the group of women and their secrets. Their beautiful friendships and how supportive they are of each other. How I wish I had such a group in my life. Iris’s journey was maybe my favorite as I can relate to her the most. I want more of this group and I hope Ms. Berg continues with it.

The Confession Club is about a group of women of different ages who stumble upon the cleansingh experience of confessing private or personal things to a group of friends. The women in this group take turns confessing, in the effort of relieving themselves of guilt. This also deepens their friendship and relationships with the friends in the group.

A very sweet and entertaining story filled with friends and neighbors that you wish you had. A story of love, redemption, friendship, second chances and compassion.

Like all of Elizabeth Berg’s novels The Confession Club has relatable characters who, despite their different backgrounds, ages and circumstances form lasting bonds. A well-written, feel good story.

This is a super hard one for me to rate and review. It was good. It was okay. It wasn't bad. It just was. There's nothing wrong with the book, nothing I can pinpoint to criticize or point to for my ambivalence. The characters were okay. Conversely, I don't really have anything to rave about or say, "wow, you have to read this!" Even reading the other reviews isn't helping or inspiring me to write my own. It's one of those books that just "is." Or maybe it's frankly just me (which is entirely possible). Maybe it's because I'm not a person who confesses their deepest darkest secrets with others, and I didn't really connect with any characters OR the storyline. I don't know. So it's a solid 3 stars for me, without much else.

I had not realized I had been waiting for this novel since Elizabeth Berg finished her last novel in this series, “The Night of Miracles.” While not a direct sequel, “The Confession Club” returns the reader to small town Mason, Missouri where we meet up with a group of women who had intended to form a supper club, but what they end up is a club where confessions are made and atonement is granted.
Two new members of the club are returning characters, Iris and Maddie. Maddie was first introduced in “The Story of Arthur Truluv” where Maddie was a pregnant teenager estranged from her father. Now several years older and with precocious Nora in tow, Maddie is still struggle with both her relationship with her father and other potential issues. Iris, who took over teaching baking classes from the recently departed Lucille, realizes although her life is busy, something might still be missing. Could it be a potential romantic relationship with John, a homeless Vietnam Veteran who takes up residence in a deserted farm house?
What I love about Elizabeth Berg’s novels is how they focus on ordinary people, facing everyday challenges, but do so with not just grace and fortitude, but also a healthy dosage of humor. What makes her stories exceptional is how the characters cope and persevere. Expect to walk away from this novel with a sense of contentment. Whether this is the first novel you have read by this author or you are a devout fan, I guarantee that you will grow attached to these characters quickly. You will finish this book unable to stop thinking of the characters for a long time. I am hoping that Elizabeth Berg plans to continue this series. I highly recommend this book. I'd like to thank NetGalley for providing me an advanced copy.

I love the familiarity and sense of peace I feel when I read a book by Elizabeth Berg. This book is just as intriguing and enjoyable as any she has written. I can't wait to share it with our patrons.

The premise of confession Club is intriguing. Come to this girls’ night out type of monthly meeting and one of you is to spill your guts about something. Then next month someone else will have a turn. This sounds frightening. Who wants to be vulnerable? And who wants their secrets on public display? The book isn’t so much about the spill as it is about the personality of the women. The people aren’t caricatures; instead, I could recognize their different dispositions from my own group of friends. (I also recognized myself…) I loved meeting their unique personalities. They are funny, vulnerable, tender, loving, giving and forgiving. I could whole heartedly recommend this book to my friends. The title sounds like the book could be risqué, but it is not. Also, there is very little what I term as bad language. Thank you #NetGalley and #ConfessionClub for an advanced copy.

This was an earnest and wonderfully charming book. It's not that bad things don't happen to people, but that when bad things happen or have happened in the past, there's always some element of love or grace to save the day. It's idyllic to be certain, but sometimes the nicest piece of escapism isn't to a magic castle, but to a small town where kindness is the most important currency.

I enjoyed the range of women in this story, in both their ages and what caused them shame and doubt. I appreciated the "nowness" of each woman- they came with histories, but made it clear that it was who they were in the present that mattered the most.

I can see this being a big hit with bookclubs who would like a sweet, slightly sassy, and cozy book.

I had no idea this book was third in a series; had I read the previous two I might have felt more of a connection to this story. When I finished, the word “sweet” came to mind. I thought this book was just ok. There was a sweetness to it, the varied ages of the characters, the feel of a small town, trusting your secrets to a group of friends, the coziness of friend get-togethers. The story seemed to revolve more around one character than any confessions. The side story kept my attention, fortunately. If you want a feel good, sassy, and cute story to curl up with, this book would satisfy your urge. It just wasn’t that engaging to me. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I have a confession to make.

I didn’t really love the chapters which focused on the intimate “confessions” made at the weekly supper club, formed by the women who have taken Iris’s baking classes.

But, I’ve never been one to enjoy chit chat or making small talk at parties.

Thankfully, this club wasn’t really the focus of the story. As with Mason 1 and Mason 2-it’s a story of a town that offers second chances and new beginnings.

It’s always nice to catch up with the charming residents of Mason, Missouri, but this third installment is not nearly as touching as “The Story of Arthur Truluv” (Mason #1). Not even close. Definitely start there if this is a series that you plan on reading.

Thank You to Netgalley, Random House and Elizabeth Berg for the digital ARC that I received in exchange for a candid review! This title will be available on Nov. 19, 2019!

I have reviewed this book for New York Journal of Books where it will be posted on their site the evening before the release date.

"The Confession Club" by Elizabeth Berg
Random House
November 19, 209
10-1984855174
Contemporary Women’s Fiction


Mason, Missouri, is a typical small town where everyone knows everyone—and their business, too. But this is a place one would want to live, for you can count on your friends and neighbors when in need.

Recently divorced Iris Winters has given up her thrift shop in Boston to move to Mason to start over. She holds baking classes at the house she rents from Maddy who inherited the home from Arthur Truluv.

As a teenager, Maddy got pregnant and the elderly Truluvs, Arthur and Lucille, had taken her in, giving her care and devotion then later to her daughter, Nola, after her birth. Maddy grew to love the Truluvs and considered them more than family, though she met and married Matthew and moved to New York City.

Iris is surprised and happy when Maddy shows up with seven-year-old Nola explaining she needs a "break." She is thrilled to have them, especially Nola, for never having a child of her own, she enjoys this precocious young girl.

Joanie Benson calls Iris asking her to make Black Cake for her club meeting; a dessert filled with surprise ingredients, and Joanie had gotten the idea for this after seeing the play, The Belle of Amherst. Though this proves challenging for Iris, she's determined to fulfill her order.

Maddy accompanies Iris when she delivers the unusual concoction and the two are drawn into the group originally started as the Third Sunday Suppler Club to share meals. That later segued into The Confession Club when the female members from ages 20 to 80 decided that in addition to sharing suppers, they would all divulge their innermost secrets, embarrassments, and antics—never to be repeated outside their walls. This gathering commences as the main premise of this novel as it brings many together, and as can be expected when a bunch of women gather, their tales are hysterical, sobering, and insightful, but as it usually happens, they often go off track and hit on many other subjects. Someone may call this a "hen party."

The cake is received with great applause, and Iris and Maddy are invited to join them, which they readily agree to. After all, everyone has something they want to disclose and/or need to commiserate with others.

Maddy has an unhappy past that she can't seem to shake. This is one of the reasons she needs a "break" from her husband. She does not want him to see her frailties and believes he can do better with someone else.

As they each take turns: "Maddy is grateful; she doesn't want to talk much. She's thinking about something. She's wondering where Matthew is right now, what he's doing. In the conversations they've had since she left for her visit to Mason, she'd felt herself growing increasingly distant. She doesn't want to be that way, yet she is. She doesn't know what to tell him. She doesn't know what to tell herself.

"And then, to make matters worse, she called her father last night to set up some time with him, and though he pretended to be glad, Maddy knew that he wasn't. She feels he will never get over blaming her for her mother's death, which happened just after Maddy was born; it's as though he can't separate the two events. 'I can't help my feelings,' he told her once when she was still in high school, and she remembers thinking, But you can help your behavior.

"Things didn't get much better when she got pregnant by a guy who couldn't dump her fast enough, nor did they improve after Nola was born. And then after Maddy got married and moved to New York, the two of them became even more estranged. . . .

. . . "If there's anything Maddy learned after Arthur and Lucille took her in as a pregnant teenager, it's that families don't have to be biological. She finds it hard to let go of the notion that you should matter to your father, though."

Maddy is not the only one wrangling with torn emotions. Iris misses the life she had with her ex, and the family they could have shared together. Sometimes she believes she is totally alone and wonders where life will take her next.

One day, John, a 60-something homeless Vietnam vet suffering from PTSD shows up in town. Iris meets him and is intrigued by him, and she visits him often as the abandoned farm, where he is squatting. She is surprised her feelings for him are unlike any she's ever had for anyone else. John confides in her about his experiences in Vietnam, his destroyed marriage, living on the streets, and the need to feel free. Their friendship intensifies, and Iris falls in love with him. But could a lasting relationship work with a man who is plagued by so many demons?

"The Confession Club," book #3 in the Mason series, stands well on its own, though some characters from the two previous editions are reintroduced, so the reader may want to catch them if they have not already done so. Maddy, Iris, and John, keys to the plot, are so down to earth and likable as are the secondary players, so it is easy to commiserate and appreciate the problems, foibles, and personalities of those of all ages, making this a well-rounded read offering a lighthearted break from everyday concerns by highlighting that no one is truly alone.

The Confession Club is set in a small town where women of all ages get together in each other’s homes to confess something in a safe environment. Mix in the necessary baked goods and it presents an interesting story. However, things were too predictable and worked out too easily for some of the characters.,