Friendships, personal growth, and relationships woven together around a book club.
What a pleasure to read the journey of four women who start a book club. As they take turns choosing books to read, they share experiences and form a tight bond. I loved the varied personalities and how they support each other. They learn to move on with life, trust others, and forgive. A delightful read that will leave you with a smile. A great read for book clubs as well any reader!
Reviewed by Comfy Chair Books/Lisa Reigel (April 22, 2024)
ARC provided by publisher via NetGalley
Purchased copy via Brenda Novak Monthly Book Box (May)

#TheBestLifeBookClub #SheilaRoberts @sheilarobertswriter #MIRA #Netgalley #mirabooks

There is never a better way to escape reality than to escape into a book. The four main characters of this book find camaraderie, some peace, friendship and go on a journey of self-discovery, individually and as a group as they lift each other up.

Karissa needed a fresh start. She has moved from Seattle with her daughter to get away from her cheating husband and her best friend who had an affair with her husband. The best friend was also her next door neighbor. She definitely needed to get away from this toxic environment. She is working at a small publishing house, which is how she comes up with the idea of a book club for her new friends/neighbors. These four ladies are all hurting and need healing in one way or the other.

Alice lost the love of her life at a very young age, and she is mentally incapable of driving after an accident. She just cannot get behind the wheel of a car now. Margot is recently divorced and lost her job soon thereafter. Then you have my favorite character, Josie. Josie is the older sister of Alice. She is also recently widowed, and she has some other issues. Grumpy does not even begin to describe this woman. She is mad at the world, but as you dig a little deeper into her character, you realize that some of that grumpiness if a defense mechanism. Even though she was a negative Nancy, I just could not help but like her. She was hurting, and did not know how to express her feelings. These ladies are so different, but yet so alike.

I enjoyed going on their journey to find themselves again and put some love and laughter back in their lives. A book club is just what the doctor ordered for these four women. They needed each other to lean on, and some of their chosen books were helpful in guiding them along their journey. There is nothing really exciting about this book. It is just a good solid book about friendship and rebuilding your life after loss. This would make a great book for a book club to delve into together.

Thank you to Harlequin Books and NetGalley for this ARC. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

This was a miss for me.
I felt like I had to force my way through to the end; I'm not sure if it was entirely the style or the writing that missed the mark for me with this one but I struggled through it and was just not able to really connect.

There were interesting characters, but none that really stood out enough, or that I connected with fully enough to be invested.

The premise of a book club of women in the neighborhood and them supporting each other and being there was great, I just feel like overall the plot missed for me.

Four women, each at a difficult time or crossroads in their lives, decide to form a book club. We learn about each of their lives, and truly hope for a happy ending for all of them. This is a heartwarming, and even romantic story about the power of friendship and community.

I’m used to reading mysteries and thrillers so this was a bit different for me. But I’m so glad I read it! I’ve been in a bookclub that was a great support system so that resonated with me. Karissa moves to a new town after her marriage blows up. She meets some wonderful women who help her rebuild her life and reclaim her belief in herself. A diverse and interesting group that was fun to read about!

I always dance a happy jig when I get to read the newest Sheila Roberts’ book because I know it will be entertaining, endearing, and enchanting.
This one is so good! Four women form a book club: Karissa the betrayed, Josie the Harper, Margot the unemployed, and Alice the scared. Each has issues they have to work through but they offer support and friendship as they navigate life. I thought Josie made the most progress character wise. She was a nagger but she had a big heart. I love Margot’s entrepreneurial spirit and Alice’s conquering of her fear. I loved how Karissa commenced with the group,project to deal with her frustration concerning a certain book client. I thought that was the best part of the book!
Of course, there are multiple happy endings. I also loved how Roberts inserted famous authors’ names like Susan Wiggs and Brenda Novak.
Splendid book!

I so wanted to like "The Best Life Book Club." I usually enjoy novels about book clubs. I was also looking for a palate cleanser from mysteries and thrillers when I decided to read this book. It was the first book I had ever read from this author.

The writing style was a little too saccharine for me. Additionally, the dialogue, at times, did not seem realistic to me. Especially the conversations Karissa had with her mom. I also struggled with some of the plot points that were used.

Overall, this book did not quite work for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was just a meh of a book. The characters were cute enough but everything was so surface level that I didn't really care one way or another, and despite everyone's very real problems, they all seem to magically go away in the end. This wasn't enough to make me want to keep picking this book up, and more I felt I had to force my way through it. However, if you're looking for a feel-good, brain break, this will entertain you.

In' The Best Life Book Club, Sheila Roberts delivers a heartwarming tale of friendship, healing, and second chances. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Gig Harbor, Puget Sound, Roberts introduces us to Karissa Newcomb, a woman determined to start fresh after her divorce and forge a new path for herself and her daughter.

Karissa settles into her new life and encounters her neighbors, Alice and Margot, who also grapple with their struggles. Together with Alice's sister, Josie, the four women form an unlikely bond through a book club.

Roberts' storytelling introduces the reader to richly drawn characters and heartfelt dialogue, exploring themes of loss, forgiveness, and learning to embrace the future. As the women delve into their reading selections, they find solace, inspiration, and the courage to confront their fears and embrace new beginnings.

With its blend of wit, warmth, and wisdom, Sheila Roberts' latest novel is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the transformative magic of literature.

My thanks for the ARC goes the NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction, Book about Books
Spice Level: Sweet
Language: I don't remember any swearing
Format: Multiple-POV

THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB draws us into four women's lives. They're different ages and at different stages of life except that they're all single. The book club brings them together, and they learn from the books they read. (There's a bit more to that, but I don't want to spoil it for you.)

Karissa is the first woman introduced, and I felt like she is the primary protagonist. A single mom who has just moved, and her trust is shattered. She's rebuilding for herself and her child. I felt like her kiddo was almost always at her dad's because she wasn't on the page much.

Alice, Karissa's neighbor, lost the love of her life and has somewhat shut down her life. She is sweet and demure.

Josie is Alice's sister, and also a widow, though she doesn't miss her husband. She is brusque.

Margot is another neighbor, but she and her husband divorced equitably. She's managing her life and figuring out her relationship with her mom.

I wanted to feel more deeply connected to the characters. Mind you, I knew how each one felt, but it didn't seem as interior as I expected. I cheered for the women as they made strides to improve their lives. This was a fun book that centers around self-improvement and change, and I recommend it. The literary bent of it is fun.

Happy reading!

Unfortunately this was not for me. The characters and plot were very surface level. All the references to praying made me uncomfortable. I think part of the issue is the generation gap between the author and myself as the reader. Fans of this author’s prior works will probably enjoy it, but as a newcomer to this author, she’s not one I will read again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of The Best Life Book Club. I wanted to enjoy this book as the premise hooked me, but the actual book was a bit tough to get through. I don't know if it was the format of the e-arc, but it was tough to decipher whose storyline/POV we were following as it suddenly switched (what felt like) without any formatting change. I thought the romance element was sweet, but it felt rushed/forced/not thought through. The characters were lovely, but their language/dialogue felt a bit dowdy to me. Overall, one that was a bit of a struggle to get through and not one that I'd necessarily read again/recommend.

The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts is a story about a fresh start, trust, friendship, and feeling better about yourself. I have been reading Sheila Roberts novels for seventeen years, and this is the first story by Ms. Roberts that I did not find to be an enjoyable reading experience. The point of view switches between the characters. The switch is abrupt (can change from one paragraph to the next). The bouncing around can give you whiplash (and it can be hard to tell who is currently speaking). It is also hard to keep the women and their journeys straight. With the various storylines and characters, I found there to be plot holes and missing details. The romance between Karissa and Edward felt forced and rushed. Personally, I wish the story had focused on the women and their journeys. I did not feel that romance was needed. I liked seeing the women come together. They encouraged and helped each other. Together they created something special. I enjoyed the book discussions and the book references. I could tell that the author is familiar with Gig Harbor, Washington based on her beautiful descriptions. The depictions allowed me to visualize the town. The Best Life Book Club had an ending that will leave you smiling. Better times were ahead for the Karissa, Alice, Margot, Josie, and young Macy.

I can't believe I am doing this, but this is a Do Not Finish for me. I don't like to do this with ARCs because I was gifted a book in return for my review. I feel it is my obligation to see it through to the end and give it a fair chance. But I just couldn't make myself go another page deeper. This is my first book by this author. I was about 20% in and really struggling when I looked her up. Immediately I knew what my problem was with this book. She is an older author at 71 years old. I just don't care for the writing styles of most older adult authors in this genre. I find them stiff and old-fashioned.

I am honestly having a hard time finding a positive here. I liked the setting…anything Pacific Northwest usually draws me right in. Outside of that, I have nothing. I felt the plot and the characters were both sorely lacking. The plot was shallow. Scenes were skimmed over. There wasn't a lot of detail. The transition between character perspectives was clunky and it threw off the flow of the story. There would be a lot of time spent on mundane parts that really made no contribution to the story, such as detailed accounts of Karissa's work day; however, other parts were glossed over, often jumping from one day to several days later. I just didn't get it.

I felt that most of the characters lacked a true identity. They had little to no personality. They felt stiff and formal and their portrayed age did not match up with their actual age. When Alice was introduced, I assumed she was in her late 60’s or early 70’s, so imagine my surprise when the author tells me that she is 57…only 10 years older than I currently am. On the other hand, Macy is supposed to be a 9 year old but she comes off as much younger. Her first day of school scene had me thinking she was in kindergarten or first grade. Karissa also treated her as if she was much younger. I also felt that the interactions between the characters just did not feel authentic. They felt superficial and forced. The dialogue felt unnatural and did not have an easy flow to it. No one under 60 talks like the characters in this book. No one says things like "doofy dog" or "posse" or "I didn't mean to frighten the whiskers off of you." What does that even mean? I also hated the names of some of these characters. They sounded like medications...Allegra, Lystra, Emerald. I felt like the author was trying to be young and hip but it did not work for me.

I made it to chapter 7 - 24% and just couldn't do it anymore. This might be the perfect book for someone else but this reader is not the right audience for this book.

The beginning did not grab my attention, and it felt like extra detail was given on things that didn't matter. Couldn't finish.

After a betrayal by her husband and best friend, Karissa and her daughter Macy move to a new town to start over. Alone and sad they both need a new beginning. Slowly they each find new friends.
They now have a sense of purpose, they learn forgiveness, the power of shared comradery through literature and begin to take control of their lives. Moving on is tough but true friendships make life better.
This is a story of self-discovery and a journey personal growth.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Best Life Book Club is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of friendship, community, and the joy of reading. Roberts crafts relatable characters and a cozy setting that will make readers feel right at home. With its uplifting message and charming storytelling, this book is a delightful reminder of the magic found within the pages of a good book and the bonds formed through shared stories. Perfect for book lovers everywhere, it's a feel-good read that leaves a lasting impression.

The Best Life Book Club is my first Sheila Roberts book and I enjoyed it.

We meet four women who are in different chapters of life who come together to form a book club. The four of them become friends and help each other through the struggles they’re dealing with.

I loved all the characters but didn’t relate to any of them. I’ve never gone through any of the situations they were, but not relating to them didn’t take away from the story.

I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

The only thing I didn’t care for was the change of POV in the same chapters. It was hard for me to keep track of who was speaking because it wasn’t noted whose POV we were reading.

Other than that, the story was great. The character growth and individual stories was great, too.

A book club that brings four women together who are all in different phases of life and navigating hard things. Something so simple that ends up being so life changing. I am a sucker for a good feel-good book and anything about a book club. Thank you so much for the ARC of this sweet read!!

This is a sweet read. Four women are navigating changes in their lives. They each need to figure out how to move on and take risks to engage in new opportunities and experiences. Life changes are hard but at least they have each other!