More of a women's fiction than a romance book, but still a decent read. It focused more on the friendship is the three women involved than the romance. While there was romance, it was fade to black and left you wanting resolution for some involved. The way the women bond together is the main star of the story.

I loved this book. I enjoyed it so much that I went and bought the rest of the series. This bok is stand alone and I didn't even realize it was part of a series.

I enjoyed the friendships in this bok and how they came about..

Romance is not just about flowers and rainbows, and this book is a perfect example of how powerful and multifaceted a story about love can truly be.

This is a good book. The three main characters are Annalise, Shauna and Meghan. Annalise is a housekeeper, whose ex husband is in jail and is living upstairs in Shauna’s carriage house. Shauna has twins and rents out her carriage house. Meghan is the art teacher and rents Shauna’s carriage house. They each have trust issues but together they work the issues out.

The Front Porch Club is such a feel good story. There are three women who have all had bad luck with men. They are not looking for love, but when three tall, dark and handsome men walk into their lives, things get heated. There is a lot of slow burn romance and over the top chemistry, but these women still try to fight their feelings. I really liked them all, well Annalise had to grow on me, and as different as they were, they were all smart, strong and eventually independent. Annalise had to deal with a lot of judgement from others, even though she did nothing wrong. Shauna was a bit of a mouse and really didn't want to go home with her tail between her legs. I enjoyed this story, seeing the situations they had to get out of or deal with, watch the romance grow and see these three ladies become sisters. A wonderful feel good, summer read that I recommend.

This is book 5 in the Carolina Girls series and can be read as a stand alone. Previous couples are updated and talked about. Shauna owns the rental that Annalise is desperate to rent. Their lives are both bleak and they learn to help each other out. Meghan is another soul in need of help and Annalise helps her out also. As the three women learn to navigate their new circumstances they find that people are able to change with the right incentive. Michelle Major has many books and I usually pick up new ones with her name.

Three woman, as different as night and day, somehow become friends and support each other when most needed. A single mom with twin boys, Shauna rents out 2 apartments in her carriage house . The first floor to Meghan an art teacher at the elementary school and a divorced mom of 2 kids whose ex-husband is in jail for running a Ponzi scheme, Annelise, takes the 2 nd floor apartment.

As they face challenge and hardship all while dealing with doubts and innuendos, they gather on the front porch to share their lives. As new loves, jobs, and old relationships begin they grow to learn about strength, independence and the true meaning of friendship . You'll laugh and cry along with the ladies as they discover the life they're meant to live.

Although part of a series, this can be read as a standalone book. I received a free ARC eBook from Net Galley and the publisher, however all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Annalise's life falls apart when her husband is arrested for fraud. Now divorced, the queen bee mom needs a job and a place to stay. She rents the top floor of a carriage house from Shauna, also a single mom. The father of Shauna's twins has just come back into her life, and she's not sure what that means for her family. Annalise's downstairs neighbor is Meghan, a shy and single art teacher whose job at the elementary school is being eliminated at the end of the term. The growing friendship between the three women helps them face their challenges and fears, and learn to embrace second chances.

I loved these characters and how the women supported each other. Three romances in one book was a little much for me—I think this would have worked better if Shauna had had her own book, and Meghan's story were wrapped up in that book. Still, I was really invested in Annalise's story and enjoyed the way she got her happy ending.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

I wasn’t sure about this book, but the summary was interesting and I am glad that I requested it. Alternating stories of three women who each have to start over when their lives are in turmoil. Annalise’s husband stole from the people in town, was arrested and she and her children have become outcasts. The once proud Annalise will slowly learn to be a caring person as she comes to the aide of her two new friends, Shauna and Meghan. When the father of her twins comes back into her life, Shauna must deal with his return and her feelings for him. Funds for the school music program has been eliminated and Meghan, the school music teacher, will no longer have a job. When a famous country recording artist returns to town, he is attracted to Meghan and agrees to give a concert to raise money for the art and music programs which could save her job. Will Annalise, Shauna and Meghan finally get the second chance at life and love that they deserve? I received an advance review copy at no cost and without obligation for an honest review. (paytonpuppy)

I truly love the three main characters. The support they give to each other is so heartwarming.
A very enjoyable read about friendship. I want to be friends with Meghan, Annalise and Shauna.
Summer reading/Beach reading recommended!
Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

THE FRONT PORCH CLUB – Michelle Major
The Carolina Girls series
Canary Street Press
ISBN: 978-1-335-43065-6
May 23, 2023
Contemporary Romance

Magnolia, North Carolina – Present Day

Three women that are each going through some difficult times find support and comfort together. While their lives were decidedly different before they met, they will soon mesh as if they’d known each other forever.

Annalise Haverford was part of the elite social circle where the families have maids and never worry about money. She has fallen from grace as her now ex-husband turned out to be a crook. He is in prison but it’s Annalise who is dealing with the fallout as she tries to raise her children and explain to them why they now have to pinch pennies. They’ve moved into an apartment owned by single mom Shauna Myer and the downstairs neighbor is art schoolteacher Meghan Banks. The three women have barely known each other before, but they’re soon sharing margaritas and confidences on Shauna’s front porch. Meanwhile, Annalise starts a housekeeping job at the home of Country Western superstar singer Walker Calloway. The guy’s manager and friend, Jack, rubs Annalise wrong. But could it be because she’s attracted to him?

Shauna grew up in the foster care system, which is why she trusts so few people. The one person she trusts in Magnolia is Declan, the uncle of her twin boys. Shauna had a one-night stand with Declan’s brother, Flynn, which resulted in the boys. She hasn’t seen Flynn since—until he rolls back into town. Once he sees the boys, he wants to be their father and part of their life. But Shauna isn’t sure she wants that to happen.

Meghan recently lost her beloved grandmother and has settled into her new apartment nicely. But now she’s been informed by the school principal that her job is being cut. Does the fact that she turned him down for a date have anything to do with it? Her new friends, Annalise and Shauna, come up with an idea to hold a benefit to fund the art program at the school. All they need is a top draw, and it is Walker that Annalise asks to perform. Meghan soon discovers that he is a big supporter of the arts and is stunned when he offers to step in to take over the music teaching at her school after the current teacher quits. Meghan is shy, but there’s no denying the feelings she’s having for Walker.

All three women are feeling down in the dumps as THE FRONT PORCH CLUB opens. For Annalise, the fall from a lofty position as part of the elites has been difficult and she tries to hide her pain from her two children. People she once considered friends want nothing to do with her. With the return of Flynn to Magnolia, Shauna fears that he will force his way into her family’s lives—until he feels the need to leave again. She can’t face that abandonment again. Meghan is slowly adjusting to being alone but now she faces not having a job. She loves Magnolia and doesn’t want to leave.

THE FRONT PORCH CLUB is an emotional read that will tug at your heartstrings. While the women are going through difficult times, they lean on each other. Annalise, Shauna, and Meghan have never had friends like this before. The entrance of men—potential love interests—into their lives has them unsure of what to do as they fear getting hurt again. Call it a lack of trust and being betrayed in the past that has them taking baby steps. Will they each find love and happiness by the end of THE FRONT PORCH CLUB? A compelling and heartwarming read, don’t miss this tale.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major is book 5 in The Carolina Girls series.
I’ve got to read the four books before this one.
A great mix of humor, emotion and romance.
Major is a wonderful storyteller and her latest story is enjoyably captivating sweet and heartwarming moments… along with some laugh out loud moments that has you flying fast through this amazing book. The characters are delightfully genuine and relatable, forming an emotional attachment was simply a given… it was quite difficult not to form an emotional connection to these characters.
Michelle is amazing at creating stories that you are able to fully immerse yourself in, completely falling in love with the locale and the characters. I am looking forward to reading more stories in this series.
The Front Porch Club is a heartwarming tale that is a perfect beach read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Canary Street Press for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

I’m sorry, but until I get a resolution on Meghan and Walker I cannot give this book the five star rating I thought it would deserve. If I could give negative stars to show up as my rating I would. Truly I cannot believe Meghan’s ending. Are you kidding me? She has never had ANYONE and I read a book crying tears for this character as I see much of myself in her… and what does she get? NOTHING. Just another stake through the heart that once again she is not enough. I have loved all of Michelle Major’s books, but I am legitimately mad, upset, angry, and let down. Some of us NEED the happily ever after (or a freaking hint that Walker loves her) because our own lives have been ripped to shreds thanks to years of abuse and need the escape to believe there is happiness and hope and love even if it is fictional. I feel let down by what I thought would be one of my all time favorite books.

The Front Porch Club by Michelle Major is book #5 in the Carolina Girls series. The three main women characters are so admirable. They each rose up to succeed and make better lives for themselves. They supported each other in these endeavors. This was a very enjoyable read. I really liked the characters (well, the jury is still out on Walker) and the stories of these three women touched my heart. I enjoy this author's voice and this book was true to that.

What a cool series! I wish I had been reading this from Book One. I liked the characters, though they made connections a little faster than I think is realistic. Loved the school setting for a lot of the scenes, the farm, and the titular front porch! Those places helped develop the characters more than any other. The male characters were a little flat for me, but that’s ok. The sisterhood that was formed on that front porch won me over.

3 very different women with seemingly nothing on common become unlikely friends and a support system for each other. Shauna is the single mother of 5 year old twins who have grown up without a father, until their father unexpectedly shows up and is shocked to find 2 plotter boys that look like him. Annalise spent years at the top of Magnolia’s high society, but has fallen from Grace since her ex-husband landed in jail, and she rents an apartment from Shauna. Meghan is Shauna’s other new tenant, and she has recently lost her teaching job due to budget cuts. The trio take on snarky PTO moms, hot men, and their own insecurities as they try to pick up the pieces of their lives and put them back together.

What made me pick this one up? I am a sucker for a small town romance, and books set in the South.

Did it live up to my expectations? Absolutely. I loved the friendship that these women built, and seeing them overcome their insecurities. while this book is a part of a series, it is a standalone novel.

I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book. It was two stories wrapped into one. I loved how it talked about more than one character. I'm grateful that netgalley and the publisher let me read this in exchange for an honest review

Three women, starting over, learn to live together in this novel of romance, love, and family dynamics. Friends work together to keep life moving. This is a good book, written by a talented author. It is a cannot put down story of how the three women, the men in their lives, and the children work together to balance out what life deals them. The characters are realistic, and the story moves quickly with minor characters who are great, and some not so much. This book was sent to me electronically by Netgalley for review. Thanks to the publisher and the author also. I liked this book. I was not really familiar with the author, but I liked this book. I said it again. It was funny, sad, and intriguing at times...Enjoy this.