I was so happy to return to Mason, Missouri and revisit some of these characters. Iris and Maddy join Joanie and her confession club, a fun group of all ages. Elizabeth Berg just has a way about her writing, it just flows and her characters, I just love spending time with them. There are many ups and downs throughout the book and I laughed and almost cried as our characters worked through their confessions.
A great addition to the Mason, Missouri group of books by Berg. Still ruminating on this book, may come back and add to my review later.

Elizabeth Berg is my most favorite author EVER and this lovely story doesn’t disappoint! It is beautifully written and several stories are told, not just one, in a way that is not confusing or chaotic. I loved the reappearance of Nola (and her mom) from Elizabeth’s previous two books. Iris and Johns story is quite compelling, and I read this one all the way through without stopping (almost... well, I did have to eat!). Elizabeth has such a keen eye and ear for detail and for helping us see each other’s failures and foibles with kindness and compassion, which is something we can always use a little more of in our lives!

Thanks to, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to #netgalley and Random House Publishing for letting me read and review this early copy of #theconfessionclub. But thank you most of all to Elizabeth Berg who wrote such a wonderful book. The Story of Arthur Truluv is one of my absolute favorite books and this book will rank right up there with it. You don’t have to have read Arthur Truluv to enjoy The Confession Club but I love seeing the continuation of the characters lives and stories. Ms Berg wraps everything up in a neat little bow but without being too saccharine sweet or predictable. I highly recommend this book and would love if there was a continuation of this story and the lives of these characters.

"It's all well and good to congratulate someone on something good that they did, or to acknowledge what's wonderful or exceptional about them. And we should do that; we should never be spiritually stingy. But to say out loud our missteps or inadequacies - to _confess_ in an honest way and to be lovingly heard - well, that's the kind of redemption we need on a regular basis."

Elizabeth Berg's novels are a joy to read. They are quiet and sweet and kind and wind their way through your heart and soul. Her characters are richly layered and multi-dimensional and human. They have flaws, fears, delights and everything in between.

"Apparently, sometimes when you feel yourself done with something, you're not done with it at all."

This lovely story is just like what we've come to expect from Berg, it's about women aged 20 to 70 who meet regularly for "confession club" where they confess to something they feel bad about. Something they are ashamed of or embarrassed to admit out loud. There are a wide range of confessions, from funny to sad to serious but they all have a lot of heart, of course.

"She envies Nola for the way she is always in a rush to do everything, the way she rises so quickly to the possibility of joy. Most of all, she envies Nola her default setting of goodwill toward man, beast, or weather."

It's also about a homeless Vietnam Vet who is finding his way through and meets one of the main characters in the novel. I found him to be a great addition to the story, and really enjoyed his chapters, his journey, and his struggles.

"There are quite a few design flaws in us humans, you know. More than in animals and plants. And I guess we have to cope with them. Don't have to like them, just have to cope with them."

There is some plot in this story but really it's about people, it's about getting old, it's about being lonely, it's about navigating life or marriage or motherhood or friendship. It's about what it means to be human.

"That's what life is, at its best. A confession club: people admitting to doubts, fears and failures."

I am always left with a deep feeling of gratitude when I read Berg's novels. This one is no exception. They make me feel less alone, softer and kinder.

"We forget how ready people are to help. You can talk all you want about the evil spirit of man. But I don't think it's true. I think most of us are just dying to be good. And one way we can do that is to forgive the bad in others as well as in ourselves."

So many good reminders in this story, about taking risks, giving people chances, giving ourselves chances, and most of all about forgiveness. So grateful for writers like Berg.

Huge thanks to netgalley and Random House for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange of an honest review.

I didn't realise this book was the third of a series until halfway through the book. I was a bit lost about the background stories of some of the characters, otherwise it was fine to read this as a stand=alone novel. The Confession Club is funny, sweet, and heart-warming. I will definitely read the first two novels of the series to find out more about the stories of the residence of Mason.

I was expecting a lighter, more fluffy sort of book but it was a broader, deeper, more poignant experience. The author is a talented story teller, and I appreciated her weaving a tale that involved women of all ages being friends with one another in an authentic and trusting way. The love story between Iris and John moved along at a rather fast clip, but it was believable and engaging. I'd recommend this book to my customers who enjoy romance and who are interested in fiction with mature female characters.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book is more homespun, picturesque humor and that you would expect from this author – pure comfort reading. If you were expecting deep dark confessions – and I kind of was – just sit and acceptance that this is not the book. It’s about women in a small town making do. But Elizabeth Berg does that very well, so I can’t complain

The confession club is a story about these women who live in Mason Missouri , who started their own confession club almost like a book club , but instead they confess their secrets , embarrassing moments that happened to them during the week , their past , concerns or other things that could be on their mind .

This book was ok .. kind of slow paced was a tad bit boring for me . Some moments I thought were cute and funny and actually enjoyed reading . But I really didn’t connect with the characters , other than Maddy who I really enjoyed her character in this book , I felt more of a connection towards her . But other than that it was a cute read nothing really grabbed my attention or moved me in this story .

Thank you Random House and NetGalley for an ARC of this title. I hadn't realized it was another in the TruLove series (even though it stands alone), but I loved finding that it was. It was like visiting old friends and finding out what they've been up to. This book warmed my heart and I really loved it.

I love this series about Mason, Missouri and the folks that live there. This is book #3 and I would highly recommend that you read them in order. The people that we revisit in The Confession Club will certainly have much more meaning to you in this very heartwarming series.

I hope that Ms Berg is not quite done with Maddy, Nola, Iris, Tiny and all the rest.

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

I’ve loved all 3 books and this community that Elizabeth Berg has created! Can’t wait to visit again!

The Confession Club is a story about a group of women who meet regularly for dinner, and to confess secrets, concerns, or other items on their mind - kind of like a book club meeting. Iris and Mandy join the group and each have items in their life that they are struggling with. This book carries over characters from previous books by Berg, however it is easily read as a stand-alone book. For me, this book got a little slow, and there wasn't a strong enough character or main story line to keep me eagerly turning the pages. However, it is a pleasant story and plot.

The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg is a character driven story of community, friendship, and camaraderie, and reunites the women of Mason, Missouri. This was my first introduction to the women of Mason, but I believe that the novel works fine as a standalone story. I was thrilled to reacquaint myself with the writing of Ms Berg after an extended hiatus, and I was not disappointed.

The women of Mason have organized a monthly supper club where they will share food, recipes, and fellowship. But the club quickly takes on a new direction when one of the women divulges some of her most intimate and private thoughts. As each of the women begin to feel the support within the group, and to recognize it as a safe space, more secrets are revealed and the Confession Club is born.

This is a lovely novel that will have you longing for your own tribe of supportive female confidantes. I would be quite happy to revisit this charming Missouri town, and will make a point of keeping in touch with the supremely talented Elizabeth Berg.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for this ARC.

I think I love the idea of The Confession Club more than I loved reading the book, but Elizabeth Berg does bring a solid group of ladies together that I would love to meet! This book starts out with getting to know the main characters and sitting in on the Confession Club's meetings. The pace starts out slow to introduce the characters to the reader. Some of the characters are familiar, beloved friends from some of Elizabeth Berg's novels. I have not really read any of her work, so I did not feel the connections as strongly as some readers who had read her novels.

The women are sweet, with their own sets of issues and concerns... and the relationship between Iris and her new man are the focus of the majority of the book. Moral lessons and sweet reads combine to wrap this book up nicely.

The book was good, just a bit predictable and the pace slower than I cared for in the beginning. I did enjoy the women and their stories as well as the story line.

Thank you to Elizabeth Berg, NetGalley, and Randhom House Publishing Group for an advanced reader copy of The Confession Club for me to read and review. As always, my opinions are my own.

This book was what all of us needed, as readers and in real life! A great story about a group of friends who have each other for life.

Thank you to NetGalley for a Kindle ARC of The Confession Club.

I used to be an avid reader of Ms. Berg when I was in college so this is my first book by Ms. Berg in quite a few years.

And I wasn't disappointed.

The Confession Club is a heartwarming tale about several women who get together to talk; to confide in one another, to share secrets and confidences, joy, sorrow and laughter.

There is no slut shaming, no judgement, no jealously and no catty behavior.

The women range from the young to old and everything in between, and they talk about everything; divorce, sex, old age, marriage, more sex, relationships, and each women responds with their typical humor and irrepressible personality.

There is a little romance here, but not much.

The story is about the women, all unique individuals with varying dramas in their lives they resolve with the help of their friends at a welcoming place called The Confession Club.

This is a story about a group of friends in a quiet town called Mason.

Years ago the women started a Book Club but organically it became The Confession Club.

The women meet, they share a meal, a dessert and a secret.

The secrets aren’t incredibly life changing and they aren’t always scandalous.
This book isn’t really about a big whopper of a secret.
It’s about the rare friendships where you’d actually tell anything and everything to another person. It’s not a simple thing. These women are neighbors, hypothetically one of them could turn on the others and spill everyone’s secrets. But they all know that won’t happen.
In fact, they also know that if any of them needs support they will all be there.

This is mostly Iris’ story.
A new man moves to town with secrets of his own.
He’s homeless, not a fact he keeps from Iris.
He’s majorly wounded by his past.
Neither him nor Iris expects to find each other.

I haven’t read anything by this author before but I imagine I’ll look for the previous books set in this town. Some of the characters from previous books are mentioned but I don’t feel like it was necessary to read the prior books first.

This book was sweet, fairly drama free and had nice characters.

I got to read an early copy from NetGalley. Thank you!

Loved Night of Miracles by Elizabeth Berg and loved The Confession Club even more. Loved the writing style and how thoroughly the characters are developed. You grow to love every single character and feel like you're sitting in the room with them. Highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley for the arc in exchange for my honest review.

I always love Elizabeth Berg books, especially this newest one with great characters, and plot. I highly recommend.

THE CONFESSION CLUB is the third of Berg's novels about Mason, Missouri. In this novel she focuses on Iris (who took over Lucille's baking classes) and Maddy and Nola (Truluv and Lucille's "adopted" grandchild and great grand child." Like her other books about Mason, Berg uses THE CONFESSION CLUB (great idea, by the way, if you have friends you trust enough) as a vehicle to remind us that the true value in life comes from those we love, not from what we possess. THE CONFESSION CLUB is a bit predictable, but still utterly charming.