I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have read, and enjoyed, several books by this author. So I had high hopes for this book and it lived up to my expectations. I enjoyed it a lot.

This tale follows Libby on her journey to discover her place in the world, with the Sawmill Book Club playing a pivotal role in guiding her towards a sense of belonging. Libby's character, marked by sweetness and authenticity, struggles with trust, self-esteem, and fear due to her past. The narrative beautifully explores the bonds she forms with book club members, particularly Minilee and Opal, highlighting how these relationships aid in her healing process.

The book club gatherings serve as a central motif, mirroring Libby's journey of self-discovery and recovery from past traumas. The inclusion of surrogate grandmother figures and the comfort of desserts at every meeting add a layer of warmth to the story.

Additionally, the novel features a gentle, gradually unfolding romance that gains momentum in the latter half, steering clear of explicit details while maintaining an air of intimacy. Occasional mild swearing injects humor, enhancing the story's relatability. Overall, it's a heartfelt exploration of friendship, healing, and finding one's way home.

I was drawn to this book because of the cover and title and my love of book clubs but the actual book club part of this story is a very minor part, unfortunately.
The story line became very repetitious. It was like the author was having difficulty with finding other ideas to add to the plot. I found it hard to keep with reading. I did not need to be reminded about Libby's grandmother leaving her alone. And that her issues with trust were attached. The inherited box for Libby was mentioned way too much. I found myself thinking just open the darn thing! I got it that Ben came had money and did not need to be told so frequently.
It could be a quick and easy read about small town friendships and living but I became frustrated with the repetition and dnf'd the book. Maybe if I could have connected with at least one of the characters I could have continued the story but that didn't happen either. I am giving it 2 stars even though I chose to stop reading. I really wish I could have continued because I love so many of the author's other books.

Thank you for the opportunity!

What a delightful story told by Carolyn Brown in 'The Sawmill Book Club'! It was a fast-paced read full of wonderful characters with depth. The story takes you to Sawmill, Texas, a small town with a population of just currently 3 soon to be four. This true story of friendship, new beginnings, and trust includes a sweet romantic friend-to-lover relationship. I absolutely love that the author gives so much life to her older characters, with great comic relief throughout the book.

Libby swore she would never work in an antique shop again after her grandmother passed away almost 10 years ago. But now, unemployed and not fully qualified for her old type of job, Libby finds herself travelling and working in an antique shop once again. Libby had a lonely childhood and has not fully moved on from the past.

Benny is the owner of the antique shop, and he has a three-legged dog named Elvis. He needs help with his business and his very messy office. Benny left his city life as a lawyer to continue his grandfather's legacy after his passing. This was an easy decision as he spent many summers with his grandfather in the store growing up. It feels like home, but it is a very lonely life working and travelling around looking for stock for the store every week.

Opal and Minilee are the last two members of this small community. They've been friends and neighbours since they both moved to Sawmill as young brides. Now, widows, they founded the cute little book club. These ladies have accepted Libby right into their group. They provide her encouragement while also picking books that help lead Libby in the right direction with problems her life has brought her. They also have many wise words for Libby to help her find herself and overcome the past to start a new beginning.

It's a wonderful read. I felt very immersed in the story of Libby and Benny. I felt a little jagged in mid-portion of the book somewhere, but apart from that it was a smooth read.

Libby has been laid off from work. Her family is gone, all she has is a best friend and a sweet older woman who lives in her apartment building. They encourage her to move to a small community (4 people including herself) for a job in an antiques store. She decides to go, even if it is for a short time. The owner is very nice and the two other community members are two little old ladies. Slowly the people help her heal. She never felt loved of a part of anything. Now MiniLee, Opal, and Benny are helping her feel a sense of belonging and helping her through her challenges.

I really enjoyed this book. Libby has had a hard life, no love or attention from her grandmother. The woman left her alone all the time and expected her to work in her antique shop. She even took money that her father set aside for Libby to go to school and gambled it all way. It's a story of healing and growing. Great story, Easy to read and engaging

I really liked Libby’s thoughts, but the dialogue fell a bit flat for me. Would love more descriptive scene building. Benny was hard to imagine most of the book but I loved Elvis.

The Sawmill Book Club by Carolyn Brown is a quick and easy read. With its charming cast of characters, endearing storyline, and cozy atmosphere, this novel will appeal to fans of feel-good fiction.

The story revolves around Libby and Benny and is set in the small town of Sawmill, Texas. Libby, a young and restless woman, accepts a job at Benny’s antique store and sets out to discover herself. Benny, who has inherited the antique store from his grandfather, decides to revitalize the business. Libby forms an unlikely bond with Benny’s surrogate grandmothers, two widows, who make up the Sawmill Book Club, which is mostly a gathering for meddling and local gossiping.

I was drawn to this book because of its title. But, the actual “book club” part is quite inconsequential. The storyline got quite repetitive and I struggled to keep up with it. The ending was quite obvious, and there were no real plot twists as such. However, Brown's writing is warm and captures the essence of small-town life with humor and heart. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a simple, small-town romance.

Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

Thanks to Netgalley for the Advanced Readers Copy

This story is about Libby figuring out where she fits in the world, and how the Sawmill Book Club helps her find home. Libby is a very sweet and genuine character whose upbringing has given her difficulties with trust, self worth, and fear.

This book is about the friendships that Libby develops with the book club members, especially Minilee and Opal, and how those friendships help her overcome her past. I especially enjoyed the way the book club meetings tied everything that was happening together and reflected Libby's progress toward healing from her past experiences. Who doesn't love surrogate grandmothers and dessert at every meal?

There is a sweet, slow burn romance, which doesn't start to really develop until the second half of the book. You know that the characters in the book have sex, but there aren't any graphic descriptions. There were also a few instances of swearing, but they were rare and added some humor.

Descriptions of Texas and the antiques business were interesting.

As far as the writing, I sometimes got lost in the thread of conversation and the language was kind of stilted. I also felt like some of the characters personalities were a little overdone.

I enjoyed several aspects of this book - the surrogate grandmothers, how the character's pets added so much to the story, and Libby's path to personal growth and healing. I give it 3 out of 5 stars.

The Sawmill Book Club
by Carolyn Brown


I loved the characters in The Sawmill Book Club, the widows Minilee and Opal were very protective of the town and especially of Benny Taylor. Busbodies but funny, They have no filters at all Benny hires Libby O’Dell to work in the antique store
,
Minilee and Opal—are ready with homemade cornbread, sweet tea, and an invitation for Libby to join their book club. Even if it is mostly a gathering for local gossip and meddling. The ladies’ main agenda: find Benny a wife. Libby is not on the first day on the job to answer questions to the oldie.
GREAT story.

Life is funny. Experiences with happy and sad, good and bad, kind and uncaring. As we get older we at times tend to explore or investigate our feelings about what has already been done and passed. Or the other choice is to push them as far as possible into the back of our memories and just try to keep moving forward. Such is the case with Libby. Brought up by her grandmother Victoria there’s not much to brag about. In fact Libby has led a determined life trying to forget. Except she is rather haunted by nightmares. And there are things she is candidly frightened by.

So moving to Sawmill was an escape to Libby. Just a time out of her life, not anything permanent. A respite of sorts. Six-month job and place to live. Hopefully she could then get on with her life and find some happiness, security, and safety from her nightmares.

Once again Carolyn Brown reminds us that there is no way to really escape from your past. What Libby knows best are antiques and numbers. Missed the opportunity for a better bookkeeping job lacking the formal education and becoming a cpa. This new job let her work with a man who owned an antique shop and needed help with his books. Pretty much tailor made for Libby.

Lots of ways to get rid of your demons. And the older women in the town have their own method to keep safe.

Along the way Carolyn Brown managed to find ways and opportunities to share some of her sage wisdom. In the instance of forgiving and forgetting it was we don’t forgive the person who hurt us to relieve them, but so we don’t carry hurt and anger in our hearts. Learn to trust your own heart.

There is a lot to love about THE SAWMILL BOOK CLUB which is essentially a tale about new beginnings. Lots of good old folk have amazing supporting roles. The leads are Libby who is going to learn much about who she is having spent her entire life so far under an umbrella of misinformation. Benny, her boss in Sawmill, spends his life being busy. He seems to thrive on always moving around. No down time and you wonder at times why that is so. Libby brings that element of time to breathe and dare we say relax into Benny’s life. Benny brings something Libby sorely needs, safety and trust.

Another lovely story that almost seems to be about real people. And of course there are the requisite number of four legged critters to round up a wonderful cast of characters. Once again Carolyn Brown creates a space to relax and soak up some entertaining and candidly important elements that will make you stop and think.

It took me a bit to get into the book, I found the writing to be a little stiff but the further I went the more I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the story and truly appreciate that there was no big drama added in. So many books like this tend to throw in something that will try to pull the characters apart in a misunderstanding that often shouldn't have happened. This book doesn't do that, it gives you things to think on and lets the characters figure it out without too much assumption. I really loved it in the end.

Carolyn Brown has become on of my favorite authors, for her simple, feel good stories full of rich characters, strong dialogue and fun storylines. This one hits all those marks. Another great story featuring a girl who is starting over in a town with a group of well meaning ladies who take an interest in seeing her happy. Loved this. thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I had trouble getting in to this book to begin with and nearly gave up, but after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. Lovely characters in a nice place. As someone who lives near London UK, I think I forgot just how hot it would be in Texas in the summer. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and managed to read it in a week even though I had a very buys week at work. Just wanted to read it whenever I got home.

"The Sawmill Book Club" is an adorable story of love and friendship that will make you laugh, cry and warm your heart.
The synopsis of this book really caught my attention , and I was not disappointed. It is one of those stories that make you feel like you are part of the people in the book. The characters have enchanted me, also the way the author writes is something that has captivated me page after page.
It is the first novel I read by Carolyn Brown and the truth is that I need to read more of her.
This kind of stories, of starting over are the kind of stories that I consider very necessary, they are a ray of light and hope that it is never too late to start again, and this story makes it very clear that it is possible.
Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.

I pleasant read, Nothing too exciting - could have gone into a little more detail about her upbring and the contents of the box.

Enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Easy read

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC.

Elizabeth, aka Libby, is moving to Sawmill, TX to take on a job at an antique shop owned by a stranger named Benny and is being offered an apartment.

She quickly becomes acquainted with 2 elderly women, Minilee and Opal, who invite her to join their book club, and lucky for them, Libby loves to read! 

I loved the small town romance of boy meets girl with a twist. Libby will uncover many family secrets along the way and the book club is a way to help her navigate life, which I thought was unique. She learns to deal with her past and erases the negativity with the support of the Sawmill community. Family is not always chosen by blood. Such a heartfelt story for a cold day and gives you all the butterflies!

The sawmill book club is a wholesome romance. Libby grew up an unwanted girl. But now she must trust in herself and others to find love and friendship

Carolyn Brown books never fail to brighten my day, and The Sawmill Book Club was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

A sweet small town romance from Carolyn Brown is like a warm blanket on a cold day. When Libby comes looking for a job she finds just what she's been look for all her life. While growing up at her grandmother's antique store she learned a lot but was always looking for love and acceptance something she never received at home. But once in Sawmill, Texas she begins to see just how much she missed out on when she meets the sweet old ladies, Opal and Minilee. With their help a long with a budding relationship with Ben she begins to heal and finds what a family really looks like. The cute little book club these ladies have accepts Libby right into their group. They proved her encouragement while also picking books that help lead Libby in right direction with problems her life has brought her. If you are ever in need of a warm hug a Carolyn Brown is exactly what you're looking to read.
(Thanks Netgalley for an advance reader copy)