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!

Thank you NetGalley and the publishers for the opportunity to review this title. I've always wanted to be a part of a book club. An odd thing but I never have been able to find one. This book helped me get that feeling I so badly want. I'm rating it four stars.

Karissa Newcomb is ready for a new start in a new neighborhood, as far away as she can get from Seattle, where her husband cheated on her with the neighbor who was supposed to be her best friend. She and her nine-year-old daughter are moving on to the city of Gig Harbor on the bay in Puget Sound. She even has a new job as an assistant at a small publishing company right in Gig Harbor. Her new boss seems like a bit of a curmudgeon, but a job is a job, she loves to read, and the idea of possibly meeting writers sounds fabulous.

Soon she finds she’s not the only one in need of a refresh. Her new neighbors, Alice and Margot, are dealing with their own crises. Alice is still grieving her late husband and hasn’t been able to get behind the wheel of a car since a close call after his death. Margot is floundering after getting divorced and laid off in quick succession. They could all use a distraction, and a book club seems like just the ticket. Together, the three women, along with Alice’s grumpy older sister, Josie, embark on a literary journey that just might be the kick start they need to begin building their best lives yet.

I love a single parent story, it's one of my favorite tropes. This book was adorable. First off I loved seeing the friendship between all four women. Each of them is going through something and I liked seeing all the women band together to help each other. Also this book features a book club, and as a reader I love seeing this trope in books. Would definitely recommend

Four newfound friends explore life and relationships in their book club. While separately they are facing adversity, together they fuel each other to live their best lives. Filled with the author's renown charm, comedic timing and close-knit friendships, fans and first-time readers will delight in Roberts' antics.

Thank you to #NetGalley and the publisher for the early edition of #TheBestLifeBookClub in exchange for an honest review. I'm a Sheila Roberts fan as her books always leave me wishing for another serving. Her latest novel, is perfect for taking the bite out of winter's chill or alongside a glass of wine to wind down the evening!

After my own librarian heart, I loved this book. I loved seeing a fictional book club play out and seeing that being a possibility in a small town in real life. Reading the characters' struggles and victories had me rooting for them the whole time. Definitely a new favorite.

This was a cozy, charming, lighthearted read. But it wasn’t my cup of tea.

The jumping from character to character at times felt dizzying and hard to keep up with. Felt like some of the characters, especially the FMC needed some oomph or something. Her personality just lacked. There were some funny parts here and there but that was it. I just felt like I couldn’t connect with the characters. Kind of glad it was short.

I did like that they formed a bond over being in a book club, each one with their own troubles and they all seemed to get their HEA at the end.

Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the eARC.

This is a good book. It is a story about three neighbors and a sister. They start up a book club with four members. They each try to help each other with words of advice. Two of the members are sisters and widowers, one is divorced and just been let go at work, and the last one is a divorced mother of a girl, who has moved and got a new job. All of them has found love.

It started as just a book club. But for four women in the small town of Gig Harbor, it became a way to build a better life together. Karissa is starting over with her 9-year-old daughter after her husband and her best friend broke her heart. Alice is still grieving her late husband. Margot is floundering after getting divorced and laid off in quick succession. And Josie is, well...she’s Alice’s grumpy older sister. Together these friends embark on a literary journey that just might be the kick-start they need to begin building their best lives yet.

This is a story of second chances, starting over, but above all, female friendship. Perfect for readers who enjoy a positive-when-things-are-messy message, hopeful endings, and an overall sweet read.

I loved the premise of this book, and I'm glad I read it. However, despite my high hopes, this one was just an “okay” for me. I found the writing a bit too positive at times, frequently bordering on overdone. Also, the story jumped from character to character, and it was a bit confusing in places.

This may be a good choice for the reader who loves light, easy fiction with lots of fun literary references.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, NetGalley, and author Sheila Roberts for the complimentary advance copy! It was my pleasure to write this candid review.

Sometimes you need to become the heroine of your own life story, and after a series of ups and downs the members of the Best Life Book Club decide to do just that. For fans of the movies 'Book Club' and 'The Jane Austen Book Club' you're going to love this one!

I will admit I am a SUCKER for all things bookish... and that includes BOOKS ABOUT BOOKS. I can't explain it, but most of my favorites are such! However, this one wasn't anything special. It was still an enjoyable read though; I just had higher expectations!

2.5 Stars *rounded up*