Member Reviews
I loved “Arthur Truluv” and was excited to have the opportunity to read this third installment.. I enjoyed returning to Mason and I loved the time I spent with the ladies of The Confession Club. Another touching and heartfelt story.
3.5 stars .... Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This was my first Elizabeth Berg book, and I can honestly say it will not be my last! I loved this book! I didn't want to put it down. It was a quick read and kept me caught up in the story line. I laughed out loud more than once! I can relate to Iris in so many ways. I would love to join the Confession Club just to sit down with these characters!
Supper Club becomes Confession Club in this book where various women from Mason, Missouri come together to share their secrets, insecurities, and intimate desires. Charming, heartwarming, and inspiring.
Whenever I am in the mood for an easygoing feel good kind of book I know Elizabeth Berg will deliver exactly that. In her third book about the residents of Mason Missouri, a group of women meet to socialize, have dinner and reveal their most personal secrets and confessions. I like Ms. Berg’s sense of humor and her ability to touch on sensitive and true to life issues. I read the first two books in this series titled, The Story of Arthur Truluv and The Night of Miracles, and they also left me feeling warm and fuzzy.
Thanks to NetGalley, publisher and author for this free ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. I'm a fan of this author. I have loved a few of her books. This story was charming and hopeful. Who would have thought a homeless man charming an elegant lady like Iris? Warm and touching characters. I liked everytime the characters got together for a meal. I really liked the details of every dish and decoration, it made me feel like I was there joining them. This author never disappoints, when it comes to bringing to life the charm and warmth of people in a story.
What a sweet uplifting story that just made me feel good! A perfect palate cleanser from all those twisted thrillers. Good people behaving kindly, rather than despicable people behaving badly. This is the third book in this small town series that takes place in Mason Missouri. All three books can be read as standalones, but I strongly encourage you to read the first book “The Story of Arthur Trueluv”, it is the true gem in this series. This story as well as the second in the series are both very sweet however not quite as special.
In this book we are reunited with some familiar characters, Iris who we met in the second book as well as Maddie who has been in all three books. We are also introduced to many new characters including the ladies of the “confession club“. This was a group of ladies who met weekly and confess their secrets to this supportive group of friends. Iris and Maddie are the newest members of the club and it is good timing because they both need a little support. Iris has recently fallen for an unlikely Man and Maddie is struggling with telling her husband that she wants to move back home. Elizabeth Berg is so good at creating that small town vibe. I just loved how kind and supportive these characters were. I also loved the impact that Arthur still has on these characters and this community. Such a lovely feel good story, can’t wait to see what’s next in store for this charming small town.
This book in emojis 📖 ☕️ 🍰 🐶
*** Big thanks to Random House for my copy of this book ***
RATING: 3.5 STARS
2019; Random House Publishing Group/Random House
Please note that while this novel could be read as a standalone, you will miss a lot of the back story of the town and Iris and Maddy. You basically miss the heart of the story if you haven't read The Story of Arthur Truluv (Book 1) and Night of Miracles (Book 2).
We are back in Mason, Missouri - Iris is still doing amazing with Lucille's baking business. When she is given a challenge of making a difficult cake for a customer she gets more than she bargained for. Maddy and her daughter have returned "home" and Maddy goes with Iris to drop off the cake. They find themselves at a club with women. It is a confession club, where women trust one another enough to confess how they feel and/or what they have done (that they think is something awful). Maddy and Iris ask to join and soon find that they have stories to tell of their own. Maddy has fled from her husband as she wants to be back in Mason where she feels at home, and is scared to ask Matthew to move for her. She still feels the rejection from her father. Iris finds herself attracted to the handsome charming homeless man has recently come to town. He has PTSD and has not stayed in one place for very long. After a divorce on her hand is she ready to open her heart again. Monica and Tiny are pregnant but we don't hear much from them. Peppered in the book is the confessions from the members. At times this enhanced the story and other times it was a bit boring. Overall, I enjoyed this book, especially with Berg as the narrator of the audiobook.
***I received an eARC from NETGALLEY***
My Novelesque Blog
This is the third book in the Mason series from Elizabeth Berg. It began with "The Story of Arthur Truluv," then “A Night of Miracles” and now “The Confession Club.”
While it is not necessary to have read the first two books in the series, I encourage you to do so. Even better read them all in order right now. You’ll love the characters so much, you’ll want to spend a lot of time with them!
This continues the story of small town living in Mason, Missouri. This time the story is focused primarily on two characters. One is Iris Winters, a 50-something woman who is living in Arthur’s and Lucille’s old home. The other is Maddy and her 7 year old daughter Nola. Maddy had left Mason and moved to New York City, but is back for a visit (or maybe to stay.)
The Confession Club is a group of women that meets once a week. Each week, someone must confess something that they have done. This provides an entertaining backdrop to the changes going on in Iris’s and Maddy’s lives.
Like the other books in the series, I loved this book. I love the town, the characters, everything. It is like slipping into your favorite comfy pajamas and curling up by the fire.
I received an ARC of the book.
I feel a little bit like I broke the law, as I just realized this is book 3 of the Mason series, and I like to read in order. With that said, I was able to jump right in at book three without missing a beat, and who can resist an Elizabeth Berg story?
This is a nice read that brings to the table a place for the women to release their problems in a comforting manner. Every woman should have friends as good as Maddy & Iris.
*Many thanks to the publisher for providing my review copy via NetGalley.
I’ve fallen behind on my Goodreads reviews, but I’m catching up...
The Confession Club is the third novel in Elisabeth Berg’s series set in Mason, Missouri. To me, these novels are like comfort food. The characters and stories are quite predictable, but still tasty and enjoyable. This one focuses on Iris and a group of friends who meet regularly and share “confessions”. Iris finds herself falling into a friendship with a troubled homeless man. Maddie also returns from New York as an adult with her young daughter. Maddie can’t figure out if marriage is for her. These are people with ordinary problems, buoyed by a sense of belonging and community. There’s no point saying much more about the story. These novels either work for you as comfort food or they don’t. They work for me. This was a monthly buddy read with with Angela and Diane, which as usual gives me a great sense of community...
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an opportunity to read an advance copy.
I’ve read the other two books in this series and loved this one just as much. So glad to see Maddie and Nola, loved Johns story line. Such a feel good book! Post to come on my Instagram
The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg is a cute and sweetly charming read about life in small-town Missouri. A group of friends, ranging in age, have formed a supper club where they take turns making confessions to the group. These can be little or huge confessions. The group is accepting and warm and no one is ever shamed too much for their confession. There's lots of support and good-natured ribbing. This book is #3 in the Mason series written by Berg. Read and enjoy!
A light, fast, predictable yet enjoyable read. A great beach read. I didn't love it as much as The Story of Arthur Truluv, but I would read the next book in the series if there ends up being one!
This is one author who just gets better with each novel. Wonderful story that went by way too quickly. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher!
What a heart warming story. I did not realize that this book was number 3 in the series. I have not read the first or second book. A group of women connected by grief, get together once a month and shares secrets,laughs, drinks and food. Each one of these women find support within the confession club and this becomes a part of their daily lives. I will not spoil anything in the book, but I believe this is the kind of book that everyone will enjoy. I plan on reading the first two books by the author.
Fun, easy read. Cheers for this group of women who get together once a week for dinner and confessions. You will want to laugh and cry with them, just be a part of their group. Learning about life’s lessons, love and friendship.
Thank you NetGalley and Random House for this advanced reader edition and hearing my honest review. Looking forward to reading more with you
#partners
You can tell when you get caught up in life because your favorite reads sit on the shelf way too long. Yesterday I started and finished THE CONFESSION CLUB by Elizabeth Berg. This is the third of the Mason novels and is another engaging story told with colorful local residents of Mason. This one focuses on Iris and her pursuit of simple happiness. It also circles around Maddy and the issues that she carries. Adding in the circle of women in the Confessions Club and John, you get some zing and also deeper insight into Iris’s character. I enjoyed this novel – I read it quickly and found that I love how again how Berg captures relationships between community members. Expectations for this novel were high because the other two were favorites in my collection. This one did read a little more cheeky. But, if you have read others in this series, I think you will enjoy this one. If you haven’t, start with The Story of Arthur Truluv and work up to this one!
Thank you to Random House and NetGalley for the advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own.
I received a reviewer copy of The Confession Club by Elizabeth Berg from the publisher Random House in exchange for an honest review.
What It’s About: Return to the charming town of Mason, Missouri, in the latest of the Mason series, the book tells the story of some of the characters we met earlier in the series and some new ones but with the same charm. BUT please read the first two, they are so delightful (Arthur Truluv and Night of Miracles).
What I Loved: Reading the latest in the Mason series, feels like returning home for the holidays. It is a super comforting book and happy and like watching a happy movie but just because its happy doesn't mean its silly. The story handles tough topics like depression, PTSD, homelessness, but never in an overwhelming way. The book focuses on the inner beauty of people even when they have real issues.
What I didn’t like so much: It was a bit disappointing that some of the characters from the previous books were not really as present in this book and because of the nature of this book, you don't get as much story building as the other ones (the book focuses on people sharing their secrets and fears at a club rather than a clear story).
Who Should Read It: People who love the Mason series. People who love up-lit. People who love cozy reads.
General Summary: A book that feels like coming home for the holidays, comfy and sweet!
Thank you to NetGalley and Elizabeth Berg for allowing me to read and review The Confession Club. I enjoyed this book and look forward to telling friends about it!
Sweet, and feel good read with character were lovable!! Recommend reading this when you need a uplift