And what a rumor it is Eliza moderate a Facebook group for women in the Hudson Valley, NY and when she found out that this group is no longer relevant to younger women she needs a way to show these hip, new young moms old girls get it. Lots of interesting characters with a variety of problems make up the sphere of this small town. The author has done a good job linking all the people who narrate the chapters. Lots of variety in individual issues make a good story.

Eliza Hunt created the Hudson Valley Ladies Bulletin Board when her twins were toddlers and her site grew to be the place moms looked for advice on everything from parenting to marriage to the best purchases or vacations. With her toddlers now freshmen in college, Eliza decides to start a rumor: she anonymously posts about her neighbor's wife having an affair with someone's husband. Unfortunately, this made up rumor has some truth to it, and strikes a chord with several subscribers.

This summer novel has a great formula. The reader meets several of the Hudson Valley moms, each of whom is connected to a secret. The price of those secrets and the lies associated with them play out as the narrator changes, and will have the reader guessing at the resolutions. For every nasty protagonist, there is a compassionate counterpart. I found Eliza Starts a Rumor to be a fun, quick read, very entertaining and perfect for a lazy Saturday or late summer night.

This is a book that did not manage to engage me. And it’s not the book’s fault, this is on me.

There was nothing wrong about the book, the writing, the story. Besides not pulling me in, that is. I think the issue was that the entire book felt more like background music to me. I read it, but didn’t take it in. The characters, the different POVs, it didn’t matter, because I just couldn’t engage with any of it.

At that point I already knew it would be a hard book to review. How can I rate a book that was such a miss on my part, but where there was nothing glaringly wrong, except it wasn’t the right book for me.

Whatever the issue was, the story didn’t sync with me.

So, unfortunately this was only a 2 star read for me.

I loved this book. I loved the witty and supportive banter between the friends. It was such a perfect reminder of the importance of friends to help survive the ups and downs of life. While heavy topics were dealt with, they were done in a way that was not overwhelming and created feelings of hope in light of the support network.

Hello, gorgeous purple cover!

Eliza founded The Hudson Valley Ladies’ Bulletin Board when she was a young mom. Now, the nest is empty, and she’s been diagnosed with agoraphobia. As you can imagine, the bulletin board gives Eliza an important outlet now.

Except there’s a new parent forum in town, and it threatens Eliza’s site.

So does Eliza do? She starts a rumor about the new site.

Eliza Starts a Rumor surprised me. It has plenty of emotion and depth, and I loved the sisterhood between the women. There’s also some charming humor interspersed throughout and the different points of view.

Overall, Eliza Starts a Rumor is a genuine-feeling story about the strength and resiliency of women, especially when we come together to support one another. It’s like a warm hug from your girlfriends after a lingering lunch.

I received a gifted copy. All opinions are my own.

When something you enjoy is threatened it sometimes calls for desperate measures. When Eliza's community bulletin board is threatened by a younger, hipper board, she starts a false rumor to give hers some life. However, not all best intentions end well.
This is a moving, book about a woman that has to step out of her comfort zone to save something important to her and in the process learn more about herself.

I adored this book about the bonds of friendship and the damage a lie can cause. Rosen has developed a fabulous story with delightful characters that you just want to become friends with. Some of the characters have been life-long friends, while others are new to town and develop a bond. I mentioned in a previous post how so many books seem to switch each chapter between characters. I will say that it was bothering me somewhat in this book because I would get so caught up in certain characters' stories, and then it switched, and then the same thing would happen with the next story. The stories are compelling, and I loved the support the women gave each other. I also enjoyed that this was more than just fluff. Rosen touched on some serious issues that the characters were struggling with. I highly recommend this engaging and heart-warming book. It was a great book to read during quarantine.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for a copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

4. 5 stars

Eliza is the founder and moderator of The Hudson Valley Ladies’ Bulletin Board. When she learns of a rival site that seems to be more popular, she decides she needs to do something to shake things up a bit. She sees something going on at a neighbor’s, imagines what’s happening, and writes an anonymous post about it. The post goes viral and creates a lot of drama before pulling the community together.

On the surface, it seems this book is fluff but Rosen does an outstanding job of tackling some tough issues (infidelity, rape, agoraphobia, and more) without making things too heavy. There are a lot of fun, light hearted moments in this book that made me laugh, cry, and think. I thought the plot and characters were terrific and

ELIZA STARTS A RUMOR by Jane L. Rosen (Nine Women, One Dress) is a summer read choice that will make you laugh and cheer for female empowerment and likely cringe at times, too. The story is set in Hudson Valley suburbia and the rumor (on a local social media site) involves infidelity. When Eliza, an older woman struggling with agoraphobia, alludes to her neighbor having an affair, it's surprising how many wives suspect their husbands. Of course, one young wife actually has reason to be suspicious and an unlikely sisterhood forms to help her uncover the truth. Babies and romance are involved in this mostly light read, plus secrets and more online deception. With several male characters learning to face the consequences of their actions, some tougher #MeToo moments surface, although it works out in the end for a cast of genuinely likeable, supportive women.

3.5 stars rounded up
This is an ultimately touching and empowering book. So many heartfelt moments that brought me to tears.
One quibble is that there's quite a bit of head hopping and jarring POV changes, even from one paragraph to the next. It made it difficult to follow with changes in tense and going from an omniscient POV to a limited one and back again quickly.
Other than that, I warmed to all of the women characters and appreciated insights into each of their lives and histories. I thought Olivia's story was particularly meaningful, and of course Eliza's was as well. I loved the idea of the message board/Facebook group, it made the entire story relatable.
Glad I read this one!

Eliza Starts a Rumor by Jane L. Rosen is a new book that I enjoyed. I really liked the characters in this book about a group of women when their lives intersect due to an online billboard for women in their town. There is drama, romance, and friendship all mixed in to make this a great read. Thanks to Berkley via Netgalley for this review copy.

My Rating:
4.5
Favorite Quotes:

There was no way Eliza’s polished, stick-thin mother, with her shiny golden hair, would have admitted that her daughter, who did not receive her skinny gene or her shiny gene, had only inherited her crazy gene.

The only thing worse than being cheated on was being made a fool of, and if that was what was going on, she would take him down.

She assumed that those first accusations against Carson were only the tip of the iceberg. Her gut told her that her husband would be going down like the Titanic, and like on the Titanic, all women and children belonged in lifeboats.

I am a twenty-eight-year-old feminist woman intent on raising a feminist daughter. We are just starting out on this journey together. There are no circumstances that would make me suck it up.”

“Do you want a protein shake?” “If by protein you mean tequila, then yes.”

“Alison could defend me. Temporary insanity.” “One can only hope it’s temporary,”



My Review:

This was a highly amusing yet thoughtfully written, perennially relevant, timely, engaging, and cleverly paced tale with multiple story threads that tangled and converged into a smoothly woven unit. The large cast of characters was diverse, endearing, deeply flawed, and interestingly quirky while dealing with humorous and curious conundrums as well as common and uncommon issues. There were a few mysteries to solve and personal and professional snooping was required to mete out the appropriate justice to make most things right in the end. And it all started with an impulsively spread yet titillating and synergetic rumor that had been posted in haste in a desperate attempt to stay relevant.

My Highly Caffeinated Thought: A fun, witty, timely, and addictive read.

ELIZA STARTS A RUMOR is on its surface a completely entertaining book laced with humor, soap opera worthy actions, and extremely identifiable characters. However, once you get into the book, it becomes apparent that Rosen has a message encoded within the stories of these women.

While reading this book, many times I felt like I was watching a juicy TV Show. The words of the author transported me right to Hudson Valley as I got to know Eliza, Amanda, Allison, and Olivia. And let me tell you, I wasn’t quick to leave. There was something so relatable about these women. The honesty and candor behind these characters were refreshing. I truly loved how their flaws and vulnerability were shown as a vehicle to give them strength.

I would be remiss if I didn’t give a bit of credit to Rosen for infusing this book with women empowerment. Though I though initially thought that she was using the #metoo movement to keep the book relevant, I soon retracted this idea as the story played out. I am not going to give anything away, but by the end of the book, I was happy with how the author addresses all the issues brought up within the narrative.

Honestly, this book is a perfect summer read. It has it all…friendships forged, pain, love lost as well as found, tantalizing antics, fun banter, and sincerity both in actions and the characters. So who is ready for a trip to Hudson Valley?

It might sound that this is yet another light and entertaining story about a suburb, but it is not. It is funny and there are many moments and scenes where I have laughed and many that I have found very amusing. But then, in the end, ELIZA STARTS A RUMOR has made me cry. Foremost, because this is a story about bad things happen to good people and about their resilience in overcoming them. It is also a wonderful and warm story about the power of female friendship. I am so happy that I have read it.

This is my first time reading Jane L. Rosen and I was not disappointed. I was lucky to receive an early copy of this gem thanks to Berkley Publishing. This is just the distraction that I needed during this crazy time. I laughed, cried, and just over all felt good about this read. This is an absolute must read!

This takes us on a journey of different women who come together after a rumor has started. Eliza is homebound with anxiety and watches a neighbor and makes up a story and puts it on the community board online. Different people read it and think that it is other people or them. Friendships are formed and sisterhoods are made. I found it different than anything I have read before and have never heard of this author before.
I received this from Berkley and Netgalley for review.

I had a hard time keeping the characters straight. Maybe because I am living in a town that actually does have competing FB groups, it seemed a bit "basic" to me.

This was a great read that ended up being a beautiful story about all the issues we deal with as woman and how we can come together to help overcome them. I connected with all the characters and enjoyed getting to know each of them. I also loved the way that they developed throughout the story! This book is definitely an uplifting read and I highly recommend it!

Eliza Starts a Rumor; an enjoyable, endearing read

Today Eliza Starts a Rumor, the new novel from Jane L. Rosen is published.

When I was offered to review this book I thought ‘Ooh I like the sound of that‘ but when I started reading it I quickly decided it wasn’t quite for me, believing it was too cliché, too predictable etc etc. But I carried on regardless – and you know what – it’s just as well I did because I soon found myself investing in the characters and wanting to just get lost in the story.

Yes, I still believe Eliza Starts a Rumor is predictable – but sometimes predictability is just what is needed and an absolute tonic. For me, this is what this endearing book gave me and I thoroughly enjoyed it. And lets face it, I think we’re all craving predictability at the moment. 🙂

I could have easily (and very wrongly) pigeon-holed this novel. However as well as being endearingly predictable, it also sensitively explores the #MeToo movement, sexual abuse and the devastating legacy of that abuse.

The plot focuses around Eliza, the founder and moderator of the Hudson Valley Ladies Bulletin Board. This is an online forum that has been running for 15 years. Through her hard work and dedication Eliza has created an online community of young mothers to share their experience, anxieties and fears. However Eliza discovers she has serious competition – ‘Valley Girls that’s more relevant‘ for the young mothers of today.

Feeling threatened and insecure Eliza makes up a rumour that she posts on the Hudson Valley Ladies Bulletin. Crikey – Eliza’s rumour definitely spices up her online forum; but her white lie is viewed more than just harmless gossip by some and has the power to change lives for ever.

For me Eliza Starts a Rumor is a heartwarming novel with a sprinkling of romance (I’m always a sucker for a good romantic story). But at its core is the #MeToo movement as well as the enduring power of female friendship and emotional strength.

So if you’re looking for a summer read to enjoy and get lost in I recommend you read Eliza Starts a Rumor.
Thank you to Stephanie Felty from Berkley Publishing and NetGalley for my advance copy in return for my honest review.

Happy reading everyone! 🙂

Jane L. Rosen, Author of "Eliza Starts A Rumor" has written an intriguing, captivating, emotional, memorable, and thought-provoking novel. The genres for this novel are Fiction and Women's Fiction. The timeline for this story is in the present and goes to the past when it pertains to the characters or events in the story. This takes place in a small suburban town. The author describes her characters as complex and complicated. Each character has their own set of problems. The themes that run through this book are the importance of sisterhood, family, friendship, honesty, communication, love, and hope.

Eliza Hunt is a wife and an empty_ nest Mom. She created a bulletin that has served her community for quite a while. Poor Eliza also has the fear of leaving the house (agoraphobia) and finds out that her bulletin is losing viewers and popularity to a new kind of publication. To prevent that from happening Eliza is determined to modernize and update her bulletin. She does this by putting in a fake rumor to spice up the news. 

Sometimes truth is stranger than fiction, and Eliza's "rumor" seems to be too close to home for some people, who question this in their lives.  Other newer community members also now put questions and discussions on this board that make it more controversial. This bulletin has certainly changed, and it looks like there is going to be "changes"  in this community. Will this community ever be the same? I highly recommend this thought-provoking and memorable novel.