A sweet story about second chances and starting over. I need a book club like they had! What a great group of women friends, a variety of personalities included!

2 stars
This book just wasn’t for me
That’s not to say someone else won’t absolutely love it! There was a good message and themes I love that it follows 4 women and who doesn’t love a book club?! It was just hard for me to fully get into.

The title and cover really drew me in to being interested in reading this story and I thought it was such a cute and heartwarming read, especially if you’re a bookish girly! You will love it, it’s basically a hug in a book!! Thank you for the chance to read this early copy!

Unfortunately this book wasn’t for me. There wasn’t much plot and the varying disjointed view points was slightly confusing. I would have much preferred separate chapters for each character. I had high hopes as a book about bookclubs is usually my jam. Many people have enjoyed this book I just wasn’t one of them. I did enjoy how the romance element was wrapped up nicely at the end.

After moving with her daughter to start over, Karissa forms a book club with her neighbors and we observe each of their lives and how they intertwine with her's. I loved how instead of characters being on the side, we get to see inside their lives as well. This book reminds us that it is never too late to start over and create a life we want. We watch friendships form and grow as well as a romantic interest form and evolve. It was a nice, heartwarming and light read. If you enjoy a bookish read definitely pick this up!

Thank you NetGalley for the arc, and allowing me to leave a honest review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy of Best Life Book Club. This was not my regular, go-to genre, but it was a welcome break from all the thrillers I usually read. A breath of fresh air to read about women having positive, genuine friendships.

The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts is a heartwarming and uplifting novel about second chances, friendship, and personal growth. The story follows Karissa Newcomb, who moves to the charming town of Gig Harbor to escape the heartbreak of her past. Along with her daughter, Karissa starts fresh in a new job and a new community, but quickly finds that she’s not the only one looking for a new beginning.

Teaming up with her neighbors—Alice, who is grieving the loss of her husband, and Margot, who’s struggling after a divorce and job loss—the women form a book club to help them escape their problems and find a sense of purpose. As they bond over books and navigate their own personal challenges, they discover that sometimes the best way to heal and move forward is together.

Roberts has a knack for creating relatable characters who face real-life struggles, and her writing is filled with warmth, humor, and wisdom. The book club acts as a backdrop for each woman’s journey, giving them a supportive space to reflect, grow, and make changes in their lives. The Best Life Book Club is a perfect read for those who enjoy stories about friendship, resilience, and the power of books to transform lives. It’s a story of hope, healing, and the strength of women supporting one another.

This book engaged me immediately, and I found it hard to put down. The plot, about finding new friends, starting over, empowering yourself and embracing change, is one that would appeal to many people, particularly women. I was even able to ignore the grammatical errors and the constantly switching points of view, which sometimes got confusing and were difficult to keep up with.

After reading a few books that were serious and dramatic, it was nice to read something lighter, something with a happy ending. And there were even a few plot twists along the way to keep me entertained.

Although this book kept getting buried in my tbr pile due to unexpected life events, when I did finally start it, it went quickly for me.
This is the tale of four women who come together to form a book club, but after some unexpected inspiration from one of those books, take steps to ensure that they are each living their best life. The story of the main character, Karissa, was entertaining to read, even though I found the outcome to be mostly predictable. She has just moved to a new town with her daughter after a divorce and dreams of writing a book, although somehow she won’t even admit it to herself at first. I became much more interested in the story of Alice, a secondary character. She is a widow, and attempting to navigate some unfortunate trauma. I felt involved in whether she would find resolution. I liked prickly, bitter Josie quite a bit as well, Alice’s sister who is also a widow but bearing her loss much differently. Margot and her job search and nagging mother were my least favorite, but I still found her tale mildly compelling.
Overall, this was a fairly quick enjoyable read. I’d definitely join this book club, and I think we could all use a little bit more inspiration to live our best life. 😊
Thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC I received.

I always love a good story about women supporting each other. Starting over is hard and having people there to walk with you through it is always going to tug on the heartstrings.

This book just was not for me. Not a huge fan of the frequent religious themes, and felt the writing was pretty simplistic. Just not a huge fan of this type of prose.

Starting over is one of the hardest things anyone has to do. Starting over having been married, had a baby, and taken a hiatus from working is almost insurmountable. Karissa has moved to Gig Harbor with her nine-year-old daughter in order to start over after a horrible divorce. Once she has started her new job as a receptionist for a local book editor, she decides that the best way to connect to her neighbors is a book club. While reading all sorts of different literature picked by each member, they all start to find answers to questions that start to change their lives for the better. Books are magical!

Roberts is a true book wizard as she weaves the stories of fictitious authors into the lives of her characters. I would love to live in the characters’ neighborhood and participate in their book club. Both the plot, characters, and settings are amazingly crafty and well worth the read. Anyone who loves books and book clubs will love this book.

This is a cute and heartwarming story, but it didn’t fully capture my attention. The premise is fun—a group of women coming together to support each other through their ups and downs—but at times the pacing felt slow. The characters were likable and relatable, though I wish they were developed a bit more.

There were some sweet moments that made me smile, and I enjoyed the theme of friendship and personal growth. Overall, it’s a light and pleasant read, but it didn’t leave a lasting impact for me. A nice book if you're looking for something cozy. 3.5 stars.

This novel focuses on a group women, all of whom are at a crossroads of sorts in their lives. As they form a book club, they also work through specific issues in their lives and find ways to address those issues.

Each chapter begins with a quote from one of the books they are reading (but only one book actually exists!) I liked those little special "Easter eggs." The book deals with themes such as betrayal, adultery, grief, fear, divorce, and family estrangement. However, the story line keeps moving and I wanted to continue reading to see how the story ended. I think this would be a great book group discussion book. Most readers who enjoy reading about book clubs and female protagonists would enjoy this book.

I received this book from the publisher and from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

I thought this was very good and I will have to add this to the shop shelves. Thank you for the chance for us to review.

This book had it all with libraries, bookshops, fun and enjoyable characters and n enjoyable story. This is a great quick read.

The Best Life Book Club is a story of four women who, despite their different life paths, all meet in one book club. Karissa and her daughter are excited to be starting a new life here in Gig Harbor. Alice is a grieving widow with a paralyzing fear of driving. Margot is a jobless divorcee. Josie and her daughter are in a tough spot right now, leaving Josie feeling off at all times. All these women have different stories, but they all share a love for reading and connection, thus starting a book club.
I thought this book would be boring, if I'm completely honest...
I signed up for this ARC on NetGalley, but by the time I received it, I thought there was no way l'd be able to get through it. As you can see by the four star review, I was pleasantly surprised!
I felt connected to each and every character in a unique way for each person. And yes I say person, because they felt so real. I enjoyed seeing each of them go through their own journey.
The main thing to keep in mind about this book is that it is a book where you need to focus. With so many characters in one space, it can be difficult to keep them all straight (especially when the chapters jump around at unpredictable points). It's not an issue if you're truly paying attention. As long as formatting issues are dealt with by publication date (which I'm sure it wil), then transitions will be much smoother. I tried to write my review despite the way the E-ARC was formatted, but it was hard to ignore that I had to reread so many parts. Other than that, this book is great! Love the found family vibes and the way these women didn't need each other, they just needed a little push to start working towards their best lives.

A Novel
by Sheila Roberts

#TheBestLifeBookClub #NetGalley

I very much enjoy stories that offer a window into the lives of characters who are facing the sorts of issues that any of us made have to deal with. In this story, for example, there is divorce, death of a spouse, raising kids, looking for and starting new jobs and even a cute dog who needs a bit of training.

Readers get to know Karissa and her daughter who are learning to live with their new circumstances. When they move to their new home, they meet Alice. She was widowed a few years ago. The third primary character is Margot; she, too, has a divorce and (lack of a)job issues with which to deal. In addition, there is also Alice’s sister in the story.

How these women and those around them fare makes for an involving read. Plus, I do love any book that is about books and book clubs.

Anyone who reads book by authors such as Brenda Novak, Susan Mallery will, I think very much enjoy this title. I will now look to read more novels by Roberts.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed the "build a book club" storyline and the diverse (at least in age/life stage) group of characters who form supportive friendships throughout the book. However, the storylines resolved a bit too perfectly, tipping the book from optimistic to unrealistic, especially given that many characters have personal challenges to overcome. I'd recommend it to fans of cozy, uplifting stories and books about books.

REVIEW: The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts

A heartwarming tale of friendship and resilience

Sheila Roberts' The Best Life Book Club is a charming and uplifting novel that celebrates the power of female friendship and the transformative nature of literature. The story follows Karissa, a woman starting over after a painful divorce, as she forms a bond with her new neighbors, Alice and Margot, and their grumpy sister, Josie. Together, they create a book club that becomes a sanctuary for support, laughter, and shared experiences.

Roberts' writing is warm and inviting, and her characters are relatable and endearing. The book club's discussions of classic and contemporary literature provide a rich backdrop for exploring love, loss, and personal growth themes. While the plot may be predictable, the author's ability to craft heartwarming moments and meaningful connections between the characters satisfies the story
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The Best Life Book Club is a delightful escape that will leave readers feeling inspired and uplifted. It's a perfect choice for those seeking a feel-good novel that celebrates the power of friendship and the transformative nature of literature.

Thank you, Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for the free advanced copy for my honest review!