Member Reviews
I loved this book! Very sweet and wholesome. I love reading books that are centered around books (specifically book clubs or book stores) and love a grumpy/sunshine trope.
There was nothing not to like about this one. Friendship, some romance stories, books, the beach. It was all good. The friendship carry the story here, as well as the sister relationship. I really enjoyed it!
I was not familiar with any of Sheila Roberts previous books so I was not sure what to expect. I found the premise for this story to be one that I would typically enjoy so I was excited to read The Best Life Book Club.
Karissa is ready for a fresh start to her life after she discovered her husband and next-door neighbor who was her best friend, are having an affair. Karissa along with her daughter move to a quaint town of Gig Harbor.
Karissa soon discovers that her neighbors, Alice and Margot, are also in need of a life makeover. Along with Alice's older grumpy sister, Josie, the four start a bookclub.
I felt like between each lady's life and problems, Karissa's work setting, and their bookclub that there was too much going on and not enough depth. I got to 60% and I was not enjoying this book at all.
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review
I think this is a perfect example of a three star. For every exciting and genuine character, it was neutralized by a dull, underwritten character. For every interesting plot point, there was another I simple couldn’t get invested in. For every nuance and dynamic obstacle, there was an overdone trope or unrealistic portrayal. The book didn’t allow the best parts of it to really thrive, but that also meant it didn’t let the worst parts of it to sink the ship. A perfect, middling, average read.
The story follows 4 women, brought together by Karissa, who was recently divorced and moving to a new town. Her new next door neighbor, Margot, is dealing with recently losing a job and an overbearing, nagging, mom. Alice, neighboring Karissa on the other side, is grieving her husband who she lost two years ago as it continues to affect her everyday life - namely her ability to drive without an unbearable panic attack. Then we have Alice’s sister, Josie, whose strong personality is putting her at odds with her adult daughter. They form a book club and read through a great range of novels - growing and learning along with the authors they read - and with some fun references for all of the book fans!
I will say that I did feel rather cozy throughout the entire read. While there were flaws, and it wasn’t the MOST cozy read, there was a softness and heart to it that I really appreciated. There were some deeper themes explored, and due to the range of characters - all in different life stages - we really got to see a variety of friendship-filled, family-loving, empowering moments.
There are several romances, and no spice - if that’s your jam! There are several religious mentions - but it’s not overbearing at all, I was just surprised not often reading openly Christian books - if that’s not your jam.
A huge thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC copy!
The Best Life Book Club is a sweet ode to friendship and books. I enjoyed getting to know these characters, and by story’s end wished I could join their club. A lovely light poignant read.
Thank you Sheila Roberts, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.
I really enjoyed The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts. I did have a little trouble getting into the story, but stuck with it and am glad I did. The story takes place in Washington State, with the main character, Karissa Newcomb, having to move herself and her daughter from their home in Seattle because she is getting divorced. She moves to Gig Harbor, which is a much smaller town, where she is starting over with a new job and in a new house. The main story is about Karissa and the friends she makes and starts a book club with. Two are her neighbors, Alice & Margot, and Alice's sister Josie. All four women are sort of trying to move on from involuntary changes in their lives. Josie is widowed, and her only daughter is not speaking to her, Alice is also widowed, but has a fear of driving that keeps her from being able to be 100% independent. Margot, who has been divorced for 10 years, has gotten laid off from her job and the job search is frustrating her. The women decide to start a book club and each take turns picking what book they read & discuss each month. What I liked best about this book, is how their book club picks influenced them in each of their lives. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for sending me this ebook advanced copy to review. #TheBestLifeBookClub #NetGalley
The Best Life Book club truly feels like a hug or snuggling up under a cozy blanket. This is definitely a refreshing feel good story with a bit of romance. Even though the story begins seemingly centered around Karissa separating from her husband amid an affair, quickly other characters are introduced amidst her move. The odd pairing up of book club members allows for almost a “Golden Girls”-esque dynamic that is both loving and comical. There is such good character development here where I was really invested and interested in what was going on in each characters’ lives and rooting for them to overcome their unique challenges they were facing. I will definitely miss checking in on this group but was very satisfied with the ending. I really enjoyed seeing each characters’ growth throughout. Sheila Roberts does an excellent job of creating characters that you can’t help but fall in love with. I recommend this as a good beach read this summer or even a nice cozy fall read by the fire. It will warm your heart.
Thank you Sheila Roberts and NetGalley for this ARC!
The Best Lufe Book Club was a sweet story. But a little too slow and predictable for me. My favorite story line was the cantankerous Josie meets the curmudgeon Gerard. Otherwise the characters needed to be fleshed out more or have less of them.
This book made me feel as if I was hanging out, right along with the characters. You come to know them, love them, and even see Romance for one of them.
I loved how we get a peek into each characters lives, struggles, and how they got to where they are today. The book club was not just a book club, but so much more for these ladies. It was a place of solace for them. The genuine friendships in and the bonds they formed were beautiful.
Shelia Roberts doesn’t incredible job with her character development. This one is a slower paced book written in third person point of view. This would be a great book to read with your group of friends. There is a readers guide with discussion questions at the end of the book, loved that! There’s also a wonderful quote at the start of each chapter that I really enjoyed.
3.5 stars rounded to 4
The Best Life Book Club is an endearing and heartwarming read. It is a story of found family & friendship, overcoming fear & moving on, falling in love & taking a leap of faith. I love books about books and this one did not disappoint with the book club meetings that I wanted to be a part of. The characters are all so different from each other but so fun and enjoyable in their own ways. Each character’s story was interesting so there were no parts of the story that felt boring or slow for me. There is so much happening in this book that I truly think it would appeal to every reader.
I received this widget from Uplit Reads
I have posted this review on Amazon, Goodreads
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6431175806
And Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/p/C7C0jjTrRE1/?igsh=anM2c2JwdXF4emQ1
The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts ⭐⭐⭐⭐
A wonderful story of starting over and getting over pain and hurt from moving miles away from your home, life, friends to the unknown. Karissa packs up her life and her daughter after her cheating husband is having an affair with the neighbor. leaving everyone and everything behind. Learning to trust again is not ever easy. But they finally find away to heal and move forward to being happy again.
I really enjoyed this book and recommend it.
Thank you NetGalley for the advanced copy for my honest opinion.
Super cute! I enjoyed the natural progression of the women, their growth, and how their book club picks made differences in their lives. I found the characters relatable, especially in how your community and relationships shape you and empower you. Highly recommend for a light-hearted read that cuts out on a lot of the somewhat tedious dramatic elements other books in this genre tend to throw in.
Sheila Roberts newest women's fiction book is centered around Karissa Newcomb and her daughter who moved to a new town to start over after a particular devastating divorce and Karissa struggles to let her guard down after she was betrayed so horribly by her husband. A fresh start, a new job and soon new friends as her neighbors make her and her daughter feel at home in their new home and city. I love this author's past books and found her newest book, THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB, to be full of heart, friendship and more within the pages. It started out slow for me to get into the book but by midway, I was thouroughly enjoying the characters immensely and found myself rooting for everyone to get their own happy ever after. The writing is swift and entertaining, filled with some intriguing though at times predictable moments but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story of Karissa and her new friends adventures.
The reader meets Karissa, her daughter, Macy, with her neighbors, Alice, Margot and Alice's sister, Josie, soon all become close friends and when they start a book club the fun begins even as each character finds their own issues coming unpacked and learn how to jump start their lives in a way that brings them happiness...if they are brave enough to grab a hold of it. I got to admit, I loved Josie the most. She had a caustic wit about her that hid a tender heart and had me snickering several times throughout the book. Margot and Alice are really fun and interesting women that befriends Karissa and her daughter. What I loved the most about these characters are how they built up one another whenever the other was beaten down with insecurity and doubts. That tribe of friends was a perfect for me to rally behind as they learned to find joy and purpose again as their lives moved in ways that left them wondering what was going on. The books they read and discussed became part of their story individually and collectively which made me eager to see within the story if these characters took heart to what they learned from them even as they scoffed over it all in private. The author does an amazing job in keeping each character unique and so different from one another that I never felt like they were just 'dialing it in' so to speak. The characters were wildly entertaining and kept my attention through out the book.
THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB is more than a story about friendships but about each person's journey in life as it tosses curveballs that can make those weaker curl up and whimper. Ms. Roberts delivers a powerful story about the magic of friendship, family love and more as each of the main characters finds their true purpose in life and a friendship that delivers more than a superficial moment of emotion but a richer and much deeper love between all four of them that makes the reader keep reading till the very end. This is such an uplifting story that I was sad to see it end. I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for her readers as we discover Gig Harbor and the residents there that make me long to visit. If your looking for a perfect spring book club book or read, then I highly recommend THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB that delivers, laughs, promises, friendship and more within its pages.
I think I will always be drawn to books about books and book clubs since I’m such a bibliophile. I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
Karissa and her 8 year old daughter, Macy, have moved 50 miles away from their home since Karissa’s husband, Mark, cheated on her with her best friend and next door neighbor. Both Karissa and Macy are scared to start over, but their new neighbors are friendly and Karissa has gotten a job working for a small publication company. Soon enough both have made friends and Karissa starts a book club with her neighbors and the sister of one of them. They books they read are self help and nonfiction and each finds something within the pages to help them grow as a person and better their lives.
While real books and authors are mentioned, the books Karissa’s book club reads are all fictional. Each chapter opens with a quote from one of the book club reads which means the quotes are not actually self help quotes but advice Ms. Roberts either gives to others or has been given. Regardless I felt like it wasn’t really needed since the reader not only hasn’t read the book from which the quote came but can’t ever read it since it doesn’t exist. I appreciate Ms. Roberts attempt to make this book more realistic, but it just added to the annoyance factor for me.
I normally enjoy books with multiple character voices but this jumps from character to character without any discernible difference that all it adds is a level of confusion.
Taking place over a year thing I enjoyed was the character development. With the exception of one rushed character, the development that take place amongst the others is actually quite interesting.
With the way this is written, I find it hard to believe that Ms. Roberts has nearly 50 books on her repertoire. WIth such dull writing and insipid characters (despite their great development) this read like a novice writer wrote it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this. The Best Life Book Club hit the shelves on May 7th.
The Best Life book club follows Karissa and she tries to restart her life after her husbands infidelity. She soon realizes she’s not the only one in town needing a refresh. Together the women create a book club to spend time together, get to know each other, and leave their troubles behind.
I was a bit envious of this small but close-knit book club/friendship group. But I enjoyed seeing how they worked together to help one another have new beginnings and new loves while reading great books along the way.
Karissa Newcomb is still reeling from her husband cheating on her with her ex-best friend. As she and her young daughter try to start over in a new place, Karissa meets some great neighbors, Alice and Margot.
They decide to start a book club, especially since Karissa’s new job is with a small publishing company. Alice invites her grumpy sister Josie to Book Club, and the four women turn the page to see what could be the best chapters of their lives yet.
With a sprinkling of sweet romances, parenting struggles, and female friendship, I loved spending time with these ladies. They all had hurts and past wounds: widowhood, divorce, family strife, job loss, etc. Together, as friends, they supported one another and moved forward.
This was heartwarming, and the characters were so endearing. I loved all the book talk about publishing, writing, and reading - I definitely wanted to join this book club!
Thank you @uplitreads and @sheilarobertswriter for a spot on tour and a gifted book.
This is my first time reading any of Shiela Robert’s novel. I must say I can’t wait to read more novels from her! I definitely recommend!
The Best Life Book Club is a wonderful story about new friendships, lost loves, new loves and new beginnings. Sheila Roberts is a great storyteller with enjoyable, well rounded characters. The Best Life Book Club is an enjoyable read that made me rethink some of my actions and relationships.
Who wouldn’t want to read a sweet story of a book about books? I did and I so enjoyed this book. The thought of. Books club and the women becoming part of each other’s lives is great. I wish I could find a local book club where I live. I love the story of Karissa moving to a new place to start over and finding such a wonderful group of women that all become friends and support each other. I totally got lost reading this book. This is a great story and well worth the read.
After her husband leaves her for her best friend and neighbor, Karissa is distraught, but determined to make a better life for heroes fan her daughter Macy. She is cautious of trusting people and making new friends after the betrayal, but her neighbor Alice finds a way into her heart, bringing along Margot and Josie. The four decide to start a book club. Each has things in their life they need to overcome, and having a crew and books to light their way, they each begin to face their issues.
This is such a beautiful book about the joy and value of great friendships! While each of these ladies had something to face and/or tackle in their lives, the bond of their friendship helped them through it every step of the way! I really enjoyed that Karissa worked at a publishing house and fun that comes with that, including terribly mean authors. Overall this was just a wonderful feel good book about a very unique set of women in a book club! What could be better?