The Confession Club was my first read by Elizabeth Berg and based on this novel, I will want to go and explore her backlist titles. This is her third set in the town of Mason, Missouri, and I regret not reading the first two before picking this one up. It's never too late to go back though - one of the beauties of the reading life.

A group of local friends, age 20-80, form a supper club. They share their secrets, loves, worries, and sins over wine and shared meals every month. The members support each other as they face challenges and life decisions. We get to know each individual and together they form one of those appealing casts of quirky, human characters, so that the novel is full of many voices and perspectives and journeys.

If you're after a story that zooms in on small town life, that is thoughtful, quietly funny, and all about friendship, relationships and the hard choices that everyone faces in life, this is one to try. It's satisfying, uplifting and easy reading.

3.5 stars

I ended up reading the other 2 books before this one. While, I don't think that is necessary it made references to previous characters more enjoyable amd nostalgic feeling. This book was light and uplifting and easy to read. The confession club meetings made me laugh when the ladies told their stories. I wish the book had stuck to more of that. Thank you for the copy to review

This was a sweet, uplifting, quick read, and I enjoyed every second of it! This is the third book in a series, you can read this as a standalone, but would be better enjoyed in order of the series.

In this book a Supper Club ends up turning into a Confession Club. The woman start to disclose the inner most secrets of their lives. They start to become closer when they realize they aren't as perfect as they all thought.

Overall I enjoyed the concept of this book, and thought it was a good read. I would recommend it!

This book was the 3rd in the series and I really enjoyed reading it. The characters were very relatable and I love how it was set in the South. I would recommend this to anyone.

When I requested this I didn't realize it was the third in the series, and I had not read the previous two. However, I think it does well as a standalone (although I'd be curious to hear what someone who's read the first two feels). I read a book of Berg's a long time ago, and remember enjoying it, so I was eager to try something newer of hers. A sweet and cozy story, this was enjoyable and a nice, light escape from the real world. I loved seeing women of various ages in this story because that can be hard to find. But Berg represented them all well and it added some much needed varied perspective -- the story could have been much less interesting without those varying voices.

I wish I had known this was the third book in a series so I could've read the first two before this one. Nevertheless, it was heartwarming and uplifting and an enjoyable read.

This book is third in the series about Maddy Harris.

I don't often read series, but Elizabeth Berg consistently delivers feel-good, down to earth, heartwarming stories. I love the cooking classes - good food always makes a book more comforting. In this latest edition of the series a group of women get together to confess their sins and the things that shame them. The strength of these women all supporting each other is lovely to witness.

In these difficult times I found this book to be a much needed escape from reality!

The Confession Club

by Elizabeth Berg

As a group of women, representative of all ages, convene each week, we get a glimpse into their pasts and their presents, their hopes and dreams for the future. The members of the Confession Club eat, drink, talk, laugh, and cry as they share their most secret moments with each other. There is joy and also an underlying sadness as we experience poignant moments of human desires and frailties. The meetings tie together the characters; but their stories extend into other chapters, and their lives overlap outside the club and with others who are not a part of the group.

My favorite characters are Iris, who teaches a baking class, and Maddy, Iris’ landlady. I also enjoyed Maddy’s daughter, Nola, a precocious seven year old with an insatiable appetite for learning, life, and fun. Although unstated, a current flows through the book pointing to the concern that everyone is going through something. The characters are realistically portrayed with frailties and strengths that make you want to know them. The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg is a quick read with a tale that draws you in and keeps you coming back. Berg is a master of both storytelling and language, This is the third book I have read by her, and it just makes me want to return to the well of literary magic found in her writing.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Random House for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult)

Notes: Though I wouldn’t officially consider this a series, there are characters and references in it that originate in The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles. It is certainly not necessary to read either to enjoy The Confession Club.

Publication: November 19, 2019—Random House

Memorable Lines:

“They’re snobby. The displays are so fancy you don’t feel you can touch them. You stand in front of the cheeses and it’s like they’re whispering to one another about you, in French.”

The filing of citizenry out from coffee shops always reminds Iris of cattle coming out of a barn in the morning, in their slow, blinking line. Not the most flattering of images, but for her, it’s calming, suggesting a kind of optimism about at least one thing in the world. A new day. A new start.

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.

The third in the series of books with the characters from Arthur Trulov. It was okay, but a little silly. It's about a club of women who actually meets and takes turns to confess things they have done in their lives. There is a romance that also goes on involving an older woman and a homeless vet.

I've found that I am big fan of Elizabeth Berg's writing. I've had the privilege of reading both The Story of Arthur Truluv and the Night of Miracles. Both of these novels are so rich and powerful. The Confession Club continues the stories of the residents of Mason, Missouri, but each one of these books can truly be read as a stand alone novel. I just love how Elizabeth Berg creates the quintessential small town feel but doesn't make it corny or demeaning in any way. The characters are fully developed and personal. The storylines feel classic, but also timely. If you haven't visited the town of Mason through one of Elizabeth Berg's novels, I highly encourage you to book your literary trip today.

The Confession Club is a group of wormen who instead of discussing attending a traditional book club, they decide to each share a truth about themselves, or a confession if you will. Through this process, we catch glimpses of each woman and their true selves. The novel centers around Iris Winters and Maddy Harris. Iris Winters is conflicted about feelings she has for a man she recently met that has a troubled past. Maddy's marriage seems to be in trouble and she isn't sure what she should do. The story unfolds and each woman begins to navigate their own path. I truly enjoyed all the characters in this story and the way the plot line developed.

I received this book courtesy of Random House through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you for the opportunity to read this. I will be posting a full review to Goodreads, Amazon, and Instagram.

This book was really good and gave me a different perspective on things. It was really sweet and quick read for me. It had everything from friendship, companionship, family, etc. This book is more of fun read if thats what you are looking for that you might not care about. It wasnt my favorite but still a good read.

I didn't realize this book was the third in a series until I was ready to read it. I put it aside to quickly read the first two, and I enjoyed them very much. After reading the three books back to back, I am sad to find that The Confession Club was my least favorite of the three. It seemed to lack the charm of the first two books. Even the characters that I'd loved in the first two who appeared in this book were harder to connect with than in the previous books. This one was a bit of a letdown after the previous books.

Sometimes you just want to read a book that you can escape into and just make you feel good. This is one of those books. When I read this book I did not realize it was third in a series. It can definitely be a stand alone book. I love reading stories of women's friendships. The Confession Club was a delightful book. I enjoyed getting to know all of the characters and the idea of a monthly supper club turning into a confession club was just too enticing not to read!! I particularly loved the story of Iris.

I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher for my honest opinion. Definitely a 5 out of 5 stars for me!! I will go back and read the other two books in the series and look forward to reading more from Elizabeth Berg.

I've loved this series from Elizabeth Berg. She has long been a favorite author; her books are like settling in to catch up with a good friend, and this series feels like the epitome of that sentiment.

The characters are likable, the story is relatable, and by the end of it, you wished that you were in this club!

If you're looking for an escape-the-real-world book, this is it.

The Confession Club is the third in Elizabeth Berg's wonderful Mason, Missouri series. After falling in love with The Story of Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles I was happy to continue along with the residents of this sweet small town. In this book, we meet a group of women who have turned a supper club into something much more revealing- a Confession Club. It's a little like book club, but without the books and with a lot more truth-telling. All those deep dark secrets that have haunted us for years, well, maybe it would feel better if we just let them out? The group of women, ranging in age from mid-thirties to late-seventies, invite Iris and Maddie to join them. Iris has met, and fallen for, someone quite unexpected and Maddie isn't sure what direction her relationship will be taking, but they both find comfort in the talking and the confessing.

This whole series is sweet and cute and comforting. Had a bad day? This is just the right book for you. Need something to distract you from the real world? This'll do the job happily. In the mood for something challenging and thought-provoking? Well, maybe not this, but it will be here as the perfect respite after that more challenging read. I personally love having something light and soft to read after something dark and scary and this is perfect for that very thing.

When I got this book I didn’t realize it was a part of a series. It can easily be read as a stand alone book but I do think I would have enjoyed it more had I realized it was in a series and read the other two first. (In fact I will probably go back and read the first two books now.) From the description I thought the book would focus more on the Confession Club and the repercussions of people’s confessions but that is honestly a pretty small part of the story. Although it was a different story than what I expected I really enjoyed the book. The characters were lovable which always makes a book easier for me to read and I really wanted to know how it all turned out. I hope there is another book in the series for me to keep up with this group.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for a free copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.

"Confession Club started accidentally. It used to be Third Sunday Supper Club . . . after a while, they decided to meet [weekly]. At each meeting someone confessed to something she'd done . . . And just like in church, it made people feel better . . ."

My book club, the Blue Ridge Readers, just finished discussing Elizabeth Berg's #2 book in the Mason, Missouri series - Night of Miracles. Someone says,"Did you know there is a new Elizabeth Berg book set in Mason?" The group votes unanimously, "Put it on the list for next season!"

You don't need to read "The Story of Arthur Truluv" and the "Night of Miracles" to enjoy "The Confession Club" - but I recommend you do so. In any case, I want to give a thumbnail of each book in the series to entice you to read the entire series.

We had all fallen in love with Arthur Moses in Book #1 -"The Story of Arthur Truluv". We were enchanted with the characters and felt like we should move to Mason, Missouri in these turbulent times. Sometimes you need to go a place where everyone knows your business and your neighbors accept you with all your warts, quirks and flaws. That kind of book that makes you feel good inside and out without being sappy or cookie-cutter cute.

Arthur gave a homeless pregnant teenager (Maddy), abandoned by the child's father, a place to live. We meet Arthur's next-door-neighbor, Lucille and we fell in love with her eccentricities and hugged her when she needed it. In time, Lucille moves into Arthur's house joining Maddy, her daughter, Nola, named after Arthur's wife, and Arthur; together they form a loving family. When Arthur passes on to reunite with his beloved wife, we know he is in a better place.

Arthur's home becomes the central setting for book #2 - the "Night of Miracles". The house now belongs to Maddy. When Maddy completes college, she marries her college professor. The newlyweds move away leaving Lucille, alone, living in Maddy's house. Lucille's baking classes have become a booming success and she hires an assistant, Iris Winters; an unlikely choice as she doesn't know the first thing about baking, to help her handle the financial and business aspects. Arthur's loving presence is always there.

Book #3, "The Confession Club", is once again is set in Mason, Missouri. Our beloved Lucille has passed on (not without giving the angel of death a run for his money). Iris Winters now lives in "Arthur's" house and is carrying on Lucille's baking classes. Maddy and Nola have inexplicably returned to Mason and moved back into the house with Iris.

The newest book opens with a cluster of town women in a weekly meeting of the Confession Club commiserating with each other over mistakes and "naughty" moments in their past that they regret. The confidences are not exactly earth shaking but the fellowship with friends is the point of the whole exercise. In time, Iris and Maddy stumble on the group and soon become members.

The central stories involve Iris and Maddy. Iris develops a relationship with an unlikely new love interest - a homeless man squatting in a remote abandoned house. As we learn more about the man, I am not sure that it is a healthy relationship but -hey - I'll suspend my suspicion until the fourth book. Hint hint Elizabeth Berg. Meanwhile, Maddy and Nola's sudden return to Mason, Missouri bewilders Iris along with the faithful fans of the first two books.

I will be honest. "The Story of Arthur Truluv" is my favorite. The next two books feel comfortable and easy. Reminds me of coming home to Grandma's house and finding out what is new in town since my last trip to my old hometown.

Recommended women's fiction.
Thank you Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for my review and opinion.

This is a lighthearted read about a group of women who meet on a weekly basis to share dinner and confess. It's a cute premise, but it felt very superficial. It is the third book in Berg's Mason series, the first being The Story of Arthur Truluv, which I adored, and the second Night of Miracles, which I enjoyed less so. In Arthur, there seemed to be more of an emotional story and a bond between the characters, and the fact that it later became the beginning of a series seems like an afterthought. There is a character link to all of the books, but the connection just isn't there in Confession Club. *Advance copy provided by the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

Elizabeth Berg's Mason series is the definition of a cozy read. I have read and enjoyed all three. They are the perfect palate cleansers to read in between heavy or heartbreaking books that tend to dominate so much of my reading life. Like the previous two, THE CONFESSION CLUB is set in Mason, Missouri, a setting I can only liken to somewhere like Mayberry. Both the people and the town are simple but are also equal parts warm and welcoming. I loved the idea of a confession club where women of all ages come together in a safe space to confess their secrets, their hurts, their worries. Throughout the book, meetings of the Confession Club are spaced between chapters focusing more specifically on the lives of your favorite returning characters. This book doesn't contain any huge crescendos, no pivitol mind-blowing moments of shock or surprise. Instead we are allowed a peaceful glimpse into the lives of normal people experiencing normal life. This would seem boring but Berg's writing makes it anything but. There is comfort in the normal. These books are heartwarming, their normality calming. The world today is filled with so much chaos, it is nice to pick up a book that a true escape from the crazy.