This one got 3.5 stars but I’m rounding up to 4 stars. This one was a very good story following 4 different women at different stages of their lives and I loved the dynamic that was formed.

Hattie, a widow and single mother, meets three best friends who come to visit her Vermont Inn for their book club week. Can I just say, out of the MANY things I liked about this book, I want to belong to a book club that meets at an amazing hotel for a week each year! Seeing the friendship between Erika, Anna, and Claudia was beautiful. The author showed how they’re friendship had grown and changed since college and it was very relatable.

The start of the book seemed a little bit slow BUT the foundation that the author created of the characters helped with the rest of the story. There was a bit of mystery to get me through those first few chapters. Then once the mystery was revealed, I was invested. A beautiful story with found family, wonderful character growth, and friends to significant other (not calling it friends to lovers, the author has closed door romance and the characters don’t cross that bridge during this book) story too!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me an electronic arc of this book.

THE BOOK CLUB HOTEL
by Sarah Morgan
Release date September 19, 2023

Another great Sarah Morgan book!

Three college friends, Erica, Claudia and Anna meet up every year at a different hotel. They do read a book to discuss and to catch up with each other.
Erica is usually the one that chooses the hotel. This year she has Claudia and Anna really wondering. Erica generally looks for a nice warm atmosphere. This year she chose a winter wonderland. There is definitely an ulterior motive behind this choice of hotels.

I highly recommend this book, and this is my honest opinion

A sweet story in a lovely setting. The multiple perspectives lent some depth to an otherwise surface-level story . Lacking in some substance but pleasurable, nonetheless. 3 Stars.

Sarah Morgan is one of my favourite Christmas authors. This was another great edition by her. I loved that we followed 4 women through the journey of their life, and really see the growth. I felt like it was all realistic too. The Christmas vibes added to the story for me, like a nice Hallmark Christmas movie.

Friends since college Erica, Anna and Claudia work hard at their friendship despite their lives going in different directions. Each woman is close to 40 and is experiencing major changes. They meet together for a week and discuss a book as well as spend time together. This time Erica picks a place that is totally out of character for her. The reason is a major part of the story that changes everything she thought she wanted in life. Anna is facing an empty nest and realizes she keeps thinking about what she is losing rather than what remains. Claudia's relationship of 10 years has ended and she lost her job. She is floundering and needs this time away. Hattie is the owner the the Inn and is trying to maintain everything she and her husband started before his death two years ago. A wonderful story of friendship, second chances in an inviting setting of Vermont.

Sarah Morgan's Christmas novel is a sort of tradition like panettone or Christmas tree. I enjoyed this sweet and festive story, rooted for the characters and had fun.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan is a captivating novel that offers an ideal escape for readers seeking self-discovery. Overflowing with warmth and charm, this book is a must-read for anyone whose life has been unexpectedly turned upside down. Set in a cozy inn during the enchanting Christmas season, this delightful tale explores the themes of friendship, romance, and, of course, the love for books. Just like a magical snowfall, The Book Club Hotel will transport you to a world filled with joy and wonder.

A great cozy read with an inn, book club and women whose lives are interwoven. The perfect book to curl up with and escape. Definitely want to read more from this author.

I thought this book was very cute! Who doesn't love a Christmas story set in a cozy inn? I personally only found myself connecting with 1 out of the 4 main characters, and so I was a bit bored with chapters that weren't from that character's point of view. That could just be me though, and I will definitely be recommending this book to people that come into the shop looking for new cozy Christmas read. :)

I enjoyed the book. The plot was fairly predictable but the characters were likable. It was an easy read and kept me entertained.

Three college friends who are now in/approaching 40, meet at Christmastime for their annual book club week long get together. The friend who planned the trip had a hidden agenda-to see her stepsister whom she has never met. Off to Vermont, the Maple Sugar Inn is the perfect location, as well as being in a cute little town where everyone knows everyone. Hattie (said stepsister), has been running the inn since her husband passed with their little girl. Each woman has her own drama to deal with during the story, they come together, and it is a all ends well Christmas make you feel good story. Having never read anything by Ms Morgan, I would recommend this book to others.
Thanks to NetGalley, Ms Morgan and Harlequin Trading Pub for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Mother Daughter Murder Club by Nina Simon
This tale takes place in Monterrey Bay, California and is the story of family, relationships, murder while rebuilding a relationship between mother Lana and daughter Beth.
Beth welcomes her sick mother into her house and nurses her through a cancer diagnosis. Beth is also a single mother to 15-year-old Jack, a budding naturalist who gets mixed up in a murder investigation.
Nina Simon weaves the murder of two local characters with the backstory of Lana, helping the reader to understand the strained relationship between the two. Relationships begin to heal and understanding of the past is found while murders are solved by these strong female characters.
#netgalley

It’s always the right time of year to read a cozy Christmas book! I wish i could check into the Maple Sugar Inn, it sounds dreamy. Thank you for the ARC NetGalley!

While it's true that I don't usually read Christmas themed stories unless it's December, I can also never seem to resist a good contemporary with a bookish/travel element. The Book Club Hotel seemed to be offering both and I've enjoyed Sarah Morgan's writing in the past, so in the end I simply couldn't resist the opportunity to read this newest story early. And I think this might just be my new favorite book by this author! The Vermont setting, the characters, the bookish references... This turned out to be a wonderful Christmas romance.

As far as Christmas stories go, the Vermont setting couldn't have been more perfect. The snow, the small town, the many descriptions of Maple Sugar Inn and its surroundings; they made for the perfect backdrop for this story, and it made me wish I could visit there myself. I also liked how the Christmas season was present, but not the main focus of the plot itself... Instead, The Book Club Hotel focuses a lot on family, friendship, relationship issues as well as a dose of romance. There were more serious moments than expected incorporated into the plot, but as a whole I still thought it was quite balanced out with the lighter elements.

The Book Club Hotel uses a multiple POV structure, switching between the four female main characters in play here. Each of them has their own problems and background, and it was interesting to see them react to the things happening in the plot. True, certain aspects were a bit cliche, and I did see some of the 'twists' coming from the very beginning, but as a whole I enjoyed spending time with them. I could have done with some of the twists that seemed to have been incorporated simply to create tension and conflict for the sake of conflict... But those are only minor niggles.

The main focus is on the character development, and most of them were both flawed and surprisingly easy to like. Sure, there were certain aspects about some of the characters that annoyed me, but there is no denying that I was invested in what happened to them. I especially liked the growth in Erica and the little Delphi was a true delight. The romance wasn't as present as expected in The Book Club Hotel, but I appreciated how it was a slowburn romance and I liked the couple together.

If you are looking for a Christmas contemporary to read this holiday season, and like your stories to focus on more than just romance, The Book Club Hotel will be an excellent choice. While there are more serious topics incorporated as well, as a whole it still gives off that feel-good vibe and holiday cheer.

Solid Sarah Morgan Christmas Tale. For long time fans of Morgan or those who have never heard of her, know that this particular tale is *exactly* the type of tale she always tells for Christmas, at least in my few years' experience reading her books. In this particular case, it is long time friends - each with their own secrets they've been hiding from the others - reuniting for Christmas at a small town bed and breakfast... that happens to have some needs of its own that these three friends just so happen to be particularly well suited to help with. You've got the Hallmarkie charm and at least one romance thread, you've got the female friends bonding even more, you've got the small Northeastern town at Christmas, complete with all the decorations and snow. You've got the slight flair for the dramatic, just to spice things up a bit. And overall you've got the great "cozy-read-by-the-fireplace-in-the-evening" feel that Morgan so often brings to the table so well. Again, nothing truly earth shattering here... but sometimes "not earth shattering" is exactly the kind of book you're looking for. Very much recommended.

Name of Book: The Book Club Hotel
Author: Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing – Canary Street Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: September 19, 2023
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐feel good Stars!
Pages: 368

As you might guess this is a story about a book club. IIf you belong to a book club, you understand that members of a book club have a unique friendship.
I am a big psychological thriller fan! However, I have been in a book club for twenty-five years and have a weakness for a nice pleasant book about books!

In this story three college friends - Erica, Claudia and Anna are in a book club and typically go on a summer destination book club outing. (Something my book club has talked about doing but haven’t-well not yet- perhaps this story will be an inspiration!)
This year these friends head to the beautiful Maple Sugar Inn in Vermont not in the summer but mid- December. The historic inn has a charming library perfect for a book club discussion.

Hattie Coleman is a young twenty-right year old widow and a busy mom to five year-old Delphi. She loves the lodge as it is something she and her husband worked hard so that it became a popular place to stay; however, since he died she is exhausting and hopes to make it through the upcoming Holiday season.
The book club members no sooner arrive when Stephanie the long –time housekeep and the chef who has anger issue get into a nasty battle where he is actually throwing things. Words are said and sweet Hattie fires both of them. Once Hattie realizes what she has done she is sure this is the end of the Lodge.

The book club ladies come to her rescue!

This story is truly the definition of a feel-good read.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing- Canary Street Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 19, 2023.

I call this book, a light, fun, engaging, feel good book. There’s lots of holiday spirit, and Christmas nuances throughout the book and the characters are all very likable. It was quite the refreshing touch to help me get through the dog days of summer! Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

This is exactly the book I needed. A story of friendship and family and not being afraid to find what makes you happy. Hattie is running the Maple Sugar Inn in Vermont and she is exhausted. She has been trying to make it exactly what her husband, who died in an accident, envisioned but she is struggling. Erica plan a weeklong book club trip to the Inn with her closest friends in December and they are shocked. Erica does not like Christmas or the country so why did she pick here? Claudia and Anna are intrigued by the Inn and why Eric chose it but they are both struggling with their own issues. Will the week at the Maple Sugar Inn be just what they need?

The Book Club Hotel is a enjoyable story of family and friendship. It revolves around four women who end up sharing time at the hotel. Three of them are long time friends who get together once or twice a year for a stay in a hotel somewhere to discuss a book they have chosen. This year they chose the Maple Sugar Inn which is owned by a young widow with a pre-school age daughter. Each of the women has an agenda and those become apparent as the story evolves. This is a well-written story of people finding connections and happy endings. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest review.

I want to go spend a week at Maple Sugar Inn! I want to spend time in the beautiful, well-stocked library. Hattie, recently widowed and trying to live out her husband's dream of owning the inn, all the while juggling too many things at one time. She has a five-year-old daughter, a conceited chef, and a housekeeper who thinks she runs the world as well as the inn.

Hattie's three book club friends always spend one week together, and this year, they choose to come to the Inn in December. They arrive in time for all sorts of chaos, the chef quits, the housekeeper is fired and the Inn is full - how on earth can Hattie manage all these things.

This story would be the perfect Hallmark movie.