Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the ARC!

The Best Life Book Club was a sweet novel about starting over, trust, and friendship. The characters were fun and engaging, and I love how they all made slight changes from the beginning (changes to themselves that were very believable!) I sort of fell in love with Edward and I hope he makes a reappearance in a future book by Sheila Roberts!

Thank you again for the ARC!

This was a really cute very slow burn Romance but at the same time so much more. The friendships made in this book were so fun to watch unfold and I loved the mix of personalities. Not only were friendships blossoming but you got to see each character grow! The only negative I have on this one was the way it would switch from one point of view to another. It felt abrupt and I felt like it would have maybe been better if they were split up by chapters because each group of characters had their own things going on on the side. Thanks so much to Netgalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this great story!

In her heartwarming and uplifting novel, The Best Life Book Club, Sheila Roberts weaves a tale of friendship, resilience, and the transformative power of literature. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Gig Harbor, Washington, the story follows three women as they navigate personal challenges and find solace and inspiration in the pages of books. Karissa Newcomb, a single mother fleeing the pain of betrayal, embarks on a new chapter in her life in Gig Harbor. She takes a job as an assistant at a small publishing company, where she meets her gruff but enigmatic boss. Meanwhile, her neighbors, Alice and Margot, grapple with their own demons: Alice struggles with grief and PTSD after losing her husband, while Margot grapples with the aftermath of divorce and unemployment. As fate would have it, these three women, along with Alice's prickly older sister Josie, are drawn together by a shared love of reading. They form a book club, seeking solace and companionship in the written word. As they delve into the lives and experiences of literary characters, they find parallels to their own struggles and begin to find new perspectives and hope for the future. Through the power of storytelling, The Best Life Book Club provides an escape from the characters' troubles and offers them a fresh outlook on life. They learn to confront their fears, embrace change, and forge unbreakable bonds with one another. With each book they read and discuss, they take steps toward healing, self-discovery, and building the best lives they can. Roberts' writing is warm and empathetic, capturing the complexities of human emotion with grace and sensitivity. She skillfully weaves together the individual narratives of the four women, creating a tapestry of shared experiences and growth. The Best Life Book Club is a celebration of friendship, the transformative power of literature, and the resilience of the human spirit, leaving readers inspired to embrace their own journeys with newfound courage and optimism.

What a lovely story about healing, hope, and friendship! Easy read. Relatable characters. Multiple story lines.

I want to start by thanking net gallery and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review.
All opinions are my own.


This is the second book by Sheila Roberts that I've read, I liked this one much more than the last :)
This is perfect for book lovers, and has the second chance trope. Very cute clean book.

Sheila Roberts' "The Best Life Book Club" offers a heartfelt journey of friendship and the transformative power of literature.

Through the lens of four women navigating life's challenges, the novel explores the complexities of relationships, loss, and personal growth.

At the heart of the story is Karissa Newcomb, a newly divorced single mother who finds herself in a new town. Reluctant at first, Karissa discovers companionship among her diverse group of neighbors, united by their shared love for reading. As they form a book club, the chosen texts become more than just stories—they become guiding lights along the paths through their individual struggles.

From the beginning, the characters feel relatable, drawing readers into their lives with authenticity. Karissa's journey, in particular, resonates deeply, mirroring the complexities of modern motherhood and the quest for belonging.

While the characters and their romantic dilemmas are compelling, some aspects of the storytelling feel rushed, particularly in the resolution of each storyline. The neat tying up of loose ends may leave readers craving more depth and complexity, especially in Margot and Josie's arcs, which could have benefited from further exploration.

Another critique lies in the narrative structure (in the eARC I received), which occasionally falters in distinguishing between the various points of view. Clearer markers or identifiers would enhance the reading experience, preventing confusion as the story shifts, often, between characters.

"Here's to our book club. And to books, and the lives they change." 

If you enjoy reading books that are book-centered, then “The Best Life Book Club” is for you. There are also a list of fun questions at the end to further connect you with the story.

I finished this book, because it was a short and sweet read, but I definitely wouldn't read again. Four women, three whom are neighbors, form a book club where they read various (hokey sounding) books and also Jane Eyre. Karissa, who is new to Gig Harbor, falls in love with her new boss despite any build up of backstory or anything other than the most cursory interactions. Alice learns to drive again after a scary experience. Margo develops an app because she can't get hired after a layoff. Josie falls in love with a curmudgeon. This book maybe had promise but everything seemed half-fleshed out with weird Christian undertones. There were just so many FAST plot swings - Edward was cordial but not overly so to Karissa, and by the end of the book was declaring his love for her. All of the women wrote a book together and it was immediately picked up by Karissa's publisher employer and published.

Positive points for setting - I love Gig Harbor and now want to visit again. I also enjoyed Karissa's relationship with her daughter, as her daughter grapples with the ramifications of divorce. Alice reminded me of my old neighbor, who loved the energy of being around younger folks while dealing with her own life trials and tribulations.

I truly wanted to like this, but it just felt so incomplete, plot wise.

I LOVED the title and idea for the book. This is the 1st book by this author I've read, and it didn't read quite as smoothly as the lighter reads I tend to recommend in my shop, but happy to have it on the shelf.

So good! This book was a super fun journey! I found myself smiling so much and really enjoyed the writing style. The cover drew me in and I am looking forward to seeing TikTok and all the media blowing up on this story! Excuse me while I go see the what else the author has written!

As someone who is a member of a book club that I love I was excited to read a story about a book club. There were themes of fresh starts, new friendships, overcoming grief, facing fears and people falling in love. I enjoyed how at the beginning of each chapter there were quotes from the books the club was reading. My favorite POV was Karissa and seeing how she faced life and overcame her fear of starting over after divorce. Each character had something that they needed to reconcile or fix and it was interesting seeing how the different personalities approached that.

The reason for the 4 star review instead of 5 stars was more for how confusing it was to have the point of views change in the middle of chapters. It felt abrupt and at times hard to keep track of who I was reading about. It also felt like each woman had way too much going on to juggle throughout the story. I was hoping it was mainly going to focus on Karissa but each woman could have been the main character with the amount of information and conflict they experienced.

Overall I did enjoy reading the book. It was a light and easy read. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for allowing me access to this ARC!

This is a cute “clean” book about female friendships, love, loss and new beginnings. It’s very reminiscent of a Debbie Macomber novel. Not just because it takes place in the Pacific Northwest. There were no surprises, but just a solid friendship story following four friends of varying ages and in different situations. A book club brings them closer and it has an ending that suits the story. I’ve never read this author before and am curious if all her stories are similar - happy feel good novels. I’ll be reading a few more.
Thank you Netgalley for the digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this story of a few women who find themselves neighbors. All going through various difficulties in life, they form friendships through a love of books. It was a nice read.

Wonderful story of moving on and conquering fears! Sheila Roberts has brought a group of women together and shown the reader how each one grows to overcome a life changing event and reach for something better. I absorbed the fabulous quotes at the beginning of each chapter, and I felt that they were meant for me! Thanks for another winning story! Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Although I loved the description, this book just did not work for me. The constant change in the point of view between the 4 women made it feel scattered. I felt like there were a lot of plot holes and missing details.
Some of the characters were just so unlikable, ahem Josie. And the romance all just felt weirdly forced and not organic.
I did like the book quotes at the beginning of chapters.

Karissa Newcomb is ready to start fresh in a new neighborhood- one that is far away from her cheating husband. She and her daughter move to the city of Gig Harbor and she starts a new job as a publishing assistant. Karissa quickly learns that she is not the only one who is in need of a fresh start. Her new neighbors, Alice and Margot are also going through difficult times and are in need of distraction. They decide that a book club is the best place to start (I love love love a book about books). This story follows these women, and Alice's sister (Josie), as they embark on a literary journey that might just change their lives.

Things I Loved:
- My book club has been life-changing for me- and I loved how this book focused on how the bonds of female friendship forged through book clubs can be truly transformational
- The setting and the characters are so charming and loveable
- This book made me feel al the emotions

Things I Didn't Love:
- The abrupt POV shifts were a little difficult to follow at times

This was a heartwarming story that left me smiling long after I finished reading it!

It's a very slow read with many characters introduced quickly. I lost interest and stopped reading at 27%
DNF


*************I received an ARC for my honest opinion from NetGalley.********************

I love books about books so I was excited about this one. I loved the relationships between the neighbors- what a great neighborhood for Karissa to move into. This definitely felt "cozy." I read LOTS of books with different points of view, but the POV in this one changed many times, and in the middle of chapters-- it felt strange and disjointed. I liked, but didn't love this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this eARC!

Karissa is starting over after her ex-husband moves on with her ex-best friend. Their two young daughters are besties but when Macy and Karissa move to another town, the girls are heartbroken. Karissa finds a job at a publishing company and tries to be positive. After meeting her neighbors, Alice who is mourning the loss of her beloved husband and Margot who lost her job and can't seem to find another one they decide to start a book club. Alice invites her snarky sister Josie to join the group, but Josie has an opinion on everything. She is estranged from her daughter because she can't stop her criticism of her son-in-law.
As the friends become closer, they each overcome a struggle and become a family. I really enjoyed this book. I was given an advanced copy by NetGalley and this is my honest review.

This book was cute. It was hard to follow along with all the different points of view. They changed rather abruptly. All the characters stories wrapped up nicely. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

This was my first book by this author and I am IN LOVE.

Karissa is a newly single mom after learning her husband has been having an affair with her best friend and neighbor, Allegra. She moves to a new town to start a new job at a regional publishing company while her daughter gets ready to start a new school without her best friend Charlotte, Allegra’s daughter.

While getting settled in her new town, Karissa develops a friendship with her neighbor, Alice. Alice’s friendships lead to meeting her other neighbor Margot along with Alice’s sister, Josie. Each woman is going through her own life struggles and with Karissa's encouragement, join together and start their own bookclub. They don’t know that the bookclub and the books they choose will change each one of their lives in ways they didn’t think were still possible.

We get to experience each woman's struggle and grieving and I felt like it was one of those stories where you feel like you really get to know each character.

FIVE BIG STARS and can’t wait to read more by this author! Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this!