Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read the Kindle ARC of The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg. The Confession Club is a follow-up to Ms. Berg's books that include The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles. Her writing is sweet and simple, without being cloying. The town of Mason, Missouri is once again the setting for her beloved characters, some of whom originated in The Story of Arthur Truluv. Maddy and her 7 year old daughter, Nola, Iris, and the ladies that compose the Confession Club. The ladies gather once a week to have a dessert and coffee at each members house and decide, in the midst of one of their visits, to start a Confession Club, in which each woman describes an event or time in her life of which she is ashamed or embarrassed. There's no judgment, just shared stories. This book focuses mainly around Iris, who is living in a house owned by Maddy. Iris meets John and feels hopeful for a friendship and love that she's never had. In the meantime, Maddy is considering reconciling with her husband, Matthew. The dialogue and hopes of the characters are real and tender. I've enjoyed every one of Ms. Berg's books (I even have one signed copy!) and the "trilogy" so far of the Mason, Missouri characters is one of the best.

I loved this book. Some of the characters were old friends, which always makes a book more fun. The situations these women described during their 'confessions' could have been anybody's. The ladies were such good support for each other and their neighbors. Small town or not, you won't find many people that are as wise and or as caring as these women. A most comforting book and inspiring book.

Thank you NetGalley for the free ARC. Like in all of Elizabeth Berg's book you feel like you want to know the characters. In this book, the friends form a confession club where the share the unmentionable that has happened in their lives. Read it in one sitting.

Probably closer to 3.5 stars. Nice easy read on a long weekend. Spend time with the sweet and quirky good hearted people of Mason, Missouri as they lean into each other with their everyday worries and deeper troubles. Received a complimentary ARC through netgalley.

Writing: 4/5 Plot: 3.5/5 Characters: 4/5

The Confession Club is the third book in the continuing chronicles of Mason, Missouri (aka the Arthur Truluv sequels). Iris Winters — almost 50, renting the house where Arthur Truluv once lived, and continuing Lucille Howard’s baking classes — falls slowly and gently in love. The target of her affections is a man most would consider inappropriate — a homeless man who has taken up residence in a nearby abandoned farm. As a kind of Greek chorus, we also meet a group of women who belong to the Confession Club, where each meeting focuses discussion on one woman’s confession of perceived misdeed or general shame. This opens the story up to interesting exchanges about morals, guilt, and general life expectations.

Berg writes comforting books — books where happy endings exist and joy can be found even by those who least expect it as a possibility. Her characters are not young, hunky, and confused — instead they are older, experienced, and possess beautiful souls rather than bodies. The characters are well developed and endowed with a wide range of personalities — I found it interesting to see which characters I was drawn to, which irritated me, which I found prissy, funny, warm, or refreshingly direct. I’m sure each reader will have his/her own personal reactions to these realistic individuals — they serve as a kind of Rorschach test for understanding ourselves.

I did enjoy this book, but it didn’t bowl me over as did The Story of Arthur Truluv. Whereas I found Arthur to be a believable (and very lovable) character, I had a little more trouble with John Loney, the homeless veteran. He didn’t feel quite as fleshed out or believable (to me) and definitely not a representative sample of the homeless people I encounter regularly in San Francisco.

Berg is an excellent writer and this is a great installment in her Truelove series. Well done!

Many thanks to Netgalley, the author, and the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Loved this book the 3rd in the Mason Missouri group. Mason has the small town values of friendship and looking out for their neighbors. A group of Mason women start a monthly supper club that evolves into a weekly confession club. The rich enduring characters in this book makes it a delight to read. Just loved the Mason Missouri series and would like to see it continue.

This book is another good book by Berg in the Truelove series . I like the other two better but as ever Berg’s writing captivates you

THREE, it’s good but not dramatic, heartbreaking, tear jerker, ugly crier or so memorable kind of story, I was expecting something more moving, shaking, captivating but I think this is too sweet, soft and fast reading for me STARS!

As soon as I saw the name Elizabeth Berg, the author of “The Story of Arthur Truluv”, I clicked the request button and next day I miraculously saw the book on my shelf, felt like NetGalley genies left their bottles to make my wish come true! I literally danced as a celebration. I have never been delightful so long from since I had seen my husband’s pale face when I’d ordered two hundred books online after having so much Chardonnay!

But my dreams turned into sleepless, boring nights with frustration and disappointment after reading several pages. Concept is: a book club’s gatherings turns into a confession club. No they didn’t bring a priest and a booth on their meetings. They just share a meal and desert and then voila A SECRET!
I had several books lately with the same concept. On “Never have I ever”: they were also sharing their dirty little secrets after several heavy drinks later which ended with the tragedy. And on “Rumor”: They also gossiped about a serial killer’s moving of their town at their book club meeting. As a thriller concept, this plot worked always better for me but as an emotional, women fiction, I had hard time to connect with the characters and their compelling stories. Only Iris’ story a little got my attention but it wasn’t so effective at least it was not effective enough to rip a piece of my heart like some emotional books had already did before!

I think the writing style didn’t work for me, too. This reminded me of a book consisted of short, moving, remarkable life stories but I couldn’t focus on any of these characters. And sharing your big secret voluntarily without thinking a second after a desert instead of blurting out after too much Dirty Martini didn’t work for me, too. But that’s my opinion because in my personal life, I’m always good listener but not a good secret whisperer (of course this changes If I’d had gallons of Cabernet)

It’s a smooth, fast, lack of edginess and angst book! Something darker and heart-wrenching is always my better fit but it doesn’t mean it’s a bad book. I was just expecting better one when I compare it with the author’s previous works. (So I danced and hurt my feet for nothing! Shame!)

Thanks to NetGalley, Random House to share ARC COPY with me in exchange of my honest review!

Many thanks to Netgalley and Random House for this advanced readers copy. The release date for this book is set for November 2019.

This is a third book in the Mason Series. I would recommend that you read the other two first.
The heart warming stories will mean more if you do.
I liked this book but not as much as the first two.

I really liked the first two books in the Trulov stories, but this one not so much. Nevertheless it was an enjoyable and heartfelt read. A community of women are always interesting and I will definitely continue to read Elizabeth Berg's tales.

It started as a dinner club, but turned into a confession club when numerous ladies from Mason started to get together. The ladies found sharing embarrassing and poignant moments to be cathartic and brings them closer together. Iris and Maddy join and both benefit from the group's support as they navigate turning points in their lives; Iris has met an interesting man, with a questionable past and Maddy has returned to Mason, with her daughter, but without her husband.

The Confession Club isn't fast-paced and has some unnecessary details, but is overall a pleasant, easy read. The Confession Club could be read as a stand alone novel, but the previous novels, The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles, also set in Mason, add more depth to the characters.

3.5/5 stars

Elizabeth Berg never disappoints me! I was thrilled to continue learning about Iris and Maddy. And The Confession Club and its members - hilarious and emotional all at once. The ending was also terrific! I couldn’t put it down and then I didn’t want it to end! So good!

I am a huge fan of Ms. Berg. I have loved her books and got to meet her at a book reading last summer. This book is wonderful. I love that some of the Arthur Truluv characters are in this book. Her books are like visiting with old friends you’ve never met. Highly recommended!

This book is different from the ones I normally read but it was a really cute and adorable book. I liked the characters and I have to admit, made me wanna bake more. So cute. I'll definitely have to read the previous ones.

Thank you Netgalley, the author and publisher for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Confession Club was a joy to read. Just like The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles, which are the books preceding this one. Elizabeth Berg has written another uplifting book with characters from the town of Mason that you just can’t wait to meet. Is it bad that I want to take one of Iris’ baking classes? As I began to get closer to the end, I tried to stop reading so I could stretch it out a bit longer. I took a few breaks but couldn’t stay away. I enjoy reading a lot of different kinds of books but sometimes, I just need a good, old-fashioned feel good book - this was that book for me.

I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley in return for my honest opinion - I honestly love this series of books and maybe this book most of all.

Received an ARC do #theconfessionclub from #netgalley. Elizabeth Berg is one of my favorite authors. This is the third in the Mason Series. It works as a stand alone, however it is richer if you read the books in order. The characters could be your own neighbors. The best part of a small town is that everyone knows you! Iris and Maddy are beginning to reflect and grow into their true selves. Even though we don't know much about John, he becomes a central character. I highly recommend all of Elizabeth Berg's novels.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I thought it was an enjoyable, feel good story with great characters.

Elizabeth Berg's books are the feel-good stories everyone needs in their life! In this book she brings back some of the characters from the Arthur books and as always ends on a happy note, but leaves you waiting anxiously for the next book!

Elizabeth Berg does it again! I loved the first two books about this community in Missouri.
The books can be read in order: The Story of Edward Truluv, Night of Miracles and The Confession Club, or they can each be read individually and still leave the reader completely satisfied.
This is an enjoyable book about real people with real problems. People who come together to help and to support each other. The character are lovable and the book is heartwarming. Mrs. Berg creates the kind of town we all would live to be a part of. This book will make you smile!