I was very thrilled to get a netgalley ecopy of this book. It was all over instagram and i was really hoping for a physical copy but this was great. This book was a story of family and how they function. And as expected - there is some romance. Gia must return to her homeown to help her sister care for her sick mother. Gia left home and never wanted to look back but she can't abandon her mother and it is time to reconcile with her sisiter. But her old trouble just seem to follow her. I always like Brenda Novak books and this one was good.

This is a good book. The two main characters are Gia and Cormac. They have known each other each other for all their lives. Something happened to Gia when she was a teenager and it involved Cormac’s father. They went to college and started their lives. Gia’s mother was diagnosed with cancer and not expected to live long. Gia’s sister ask her to come home and help with her mother. She comes home but her sister disappeared with her children. Gia and Cormac start getting to know each other. They each have issues but together they work them out and fall in love.

I really enjoyed this book. Very lovely story and cute characters.
Thanks Netgalley and the publisher for my copy

The title of this book is misleading. Yes, there is a banned book club however, it has very little to do with the story. I found that to be disappointing.

There are two main storylines in the novel. One is about Gia, a woman coming home to help care for her dying mother while facing her childhood trauma and the stigma the town has against her. The other storyline is about Gia’s younger sister Margot, who is trying to escape an abusive marriage. The format of the book has the stories overlap within the same chapters, without smooth transitions. This made it more difficult to follow.

The writing style for this book made it read like a middle grade novel- even though the topics addressed were very much adult issues. It was choppy without the character and plot development that could have made it so much more. The ideas were good and I liked the overall stories, but I found myself skimming through instead of becoming immersed into the book. It was disappointing.

Thank you to #NetGalley for an eARC of #TheBannedBooksClub in exchange for an honest review. -2.5 stars rounded up

A story about forgiveness, family, friendship, and finding love where it's least expected -- The Banned Books Club has a bit of everything you might want. Novak delivers once again!

I thoroughly enjoyed this women's fiction novel featuring family drama concerning two sisters, both facing changes in their lives. It's not so much about banned books, although the club is a way of introducing many of the friends and secondary characters. Recommended.

First, this did keep my interest. Anyone looking for an engaging read with some mystery, some tension, far from daily reality, may enjoy this. However, please note that this book has almost nothing to do with books, despite the title. It’s a crime-adjacent family saga, with a bit of (disappointing) romance. That said, it Thank you, NetGalley, for the arc.

I love that this came out just prior to Banned Book week. It was a good conversation starter for my high school seniors. The book was beautifully written and I really enjoyed all the characters!!

A digital copy of this book was provided to me by the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Parts of this book really kept me engaged. I couldn't put the book down at the beginning when I was trying to figure out if Mr. Hart or Gia was telling the truth. It was also interesting to see how everyone acted when the truth came out. But honestly, this felt like it should have been three different books: One about what happened with Gia and Mr. Hart, one about Margot and Sheldon, and one about the book club. And honestly, there wasn't enough detail about the book club for it to have its own book, which seriously makes me question the title. Barely anything was said about the Banned Book Club. There were no flashbacks to when Mia was in high school, showing her and Mr. Hart's interactions when it was being created. There were also about two lines about the two actual club meetings that took place before some sort of drama happened. The title definitely made me think the book club would be a bigger part of the story, which was disappointing. And as for the other two story lines, there was very little crossover. It felt like it would have been much better if they were each their own stories. I enjoyed each of the plots, but not together. I also felt the book has a lot of internal dialogue and not enough description. It definitely made it an easy read, but without a lot of detail, it lacked some substance I wanted.

Ultimately, I really enjoyed parts of this book, but don't think all of the plots worked together as intended.

Brenda Novak is an auto-read author for me, and this book was another excellent story. Gia Rossi loved to read and when she was just a teenager, she started "The Banned Books Club" where she and her friends would read and discuss books that had been banned over the years for various reasons. She loved English and admired her teacher, Mr. Hart. When he became predatory towards her, she told the principal in order to get out of his class. He was charged and convicted, lost his job and his wife. Many people in town did not believe Gia, so she moved away for college and never returned, until now. Her sister called to tell her that her mother's cancer was advanced and that Gia needed to come home and see her, as well as help with her care in her last days. Gia agrees with trepidation. Meanwhile, what she doesn't know is that Margot is planning to leave her husband when Gia gets there. What will Gia's reception in town be? What is going to happen to Margot? Will the Banned Books Club get together while she is there?

There was a lot happening in this book, yet it is all realistic. My heart broke for the seventeen year old Gia and what happened to her. She is a strong woman, one who stood up for herself and did what was right. Mr. Hart, on the other hand, is a lying you know what. I can't believe he stayed in town. His children also made Gia's life terrible, but they believe their father. The storylines of spousal abuse (verbal), fear, family, friendship, moving one, selfishness/narcissism, dying family members and more were all well presented and tied together so well. There is a romance, but boy is that a sticky situation that must be kept secret for various reasons, but I did like the way it turned out. When the author adds some suspense near the end, it brought this book up to 5 stars easily. This is a story that grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until a satisfying conclusion.

While the title leads readers to assume this is a story about a banned books club, the story really centers itself around one extended family's drama, growth, and romances. Gia returns to her hometown after a scandal digs up some complex relationships and past traumas involving her family. The characters are well-written and the story is told through multiple perspectives, which is a storytelling device I enjoy. Some of the content is serious but it's handled with care and sincerity.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

I honestly expected a story about a book club and got so much more. The story revolves around Gia and all the relationships she has to navigate when she returns to her hometown to help with her sick mother. It was a very engaging read as I couldn’t put the book down once I stated.

I enjoyed The Banned Books Club, though the title is slightly misleading. It's less about banned books and more about how Gia's past haunts her when she returns home after being away for years. The club she started in high school is still going, but the real focus is on the emotional journey she goes through with her family and the fallout from the accusations she made against her former teacher.

The story hooked me, especially as it dove into the dynamics between Gia’s family and the unresolved trauma from her past. Margot’s side of the story had me worried for her the whole time, and I kept wondering how everything would be resolved, especially with her controlling husband. The romance was a bit messy, but that’s what made it feel more real.

There were a lot of emotional and suspenseful moments that had me on edge, but I flew through this book in a day! It kept me engaged, though I would have loved more closure on some storylines, especially between Margot and Max, or Gia and Cormac. Overall, this was a gripping read, with plenty of heart and drama. 3.5/5 stars

Thanks to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA, and Brenda Novak for the ARC!

Banned books are just mention to get characters together. What follows are action with unexpected consequences. Interesting read. Great plot. I was pulling for the two sisters.

The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
Contemporary romance.
Gia Rossi walked away from a college scholarship and backpacked to Alaska. She’s now a co-owner of a helicopter adventure company and hasn’t spent but a weekend occasionally back home with her family. But her sister Margot is calling, asking Gia to come home. Their mother is sick and it’s Gia’s turn to be the caregiver.
The residents of Wakefield aren’t all that happy to have Gia back. Most blame her for getting one of her high school teacher’s fired for sexual misconduct. Since Gia left town and he’s still blaming her for ruining his life, there used to be a rumor that Gia ‘s story wasn’t true. Even though the court, and his wife, believed Gia.
Now with Gia home and helping to care for their mother, Margot takes off with her children but no explanation. The neighbor saw her loading the suitcase so they know it was voluntary but this leaves a lot of questions on what Margot was hiding. Her husband is blaming and threatening Gia. Fortunately Gia is learning that there are people that believe and support her and that she can depend on.

Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Both Gia and Margot’s lives are changed with this trip home. Both are standing up for themselves and becoming stronger than ever. Especially with the support of family and friends.
I admit I cried a few times. In particular with a “you’re smiling more” comment.
Loved the small town feel, the romance, and the feeling of family.

I received a copy of this from NetGalley.

The Banned Book Club is a small-town family drama with a bit of romance.
Gia is returning home for a bit of an extended visit to see her mother who was diagnosed with cancer.
She hasn't spent that much time in her hometown since she left after graduation following a scandal that rocked her small town and kind of split the town in two.

Now she's back and it becomes obvious that the person who was on the other side from Gia in the scandal as well as his family isn't happy she's back and they make it known.
While this didn't have as much to do with banned books as I was expecting from the title, I really enjoyed Gia as our MC, and how strong she was through half the town trying to make her admit she lied about the scandal, as well as taking care of her mother in her final days. And while the romance was definitely an unlikely coupling I really rooted for their romance, and the rest of the town finally realized the truth about what happened in the past.
We also get a side plot about Gia's sister Margot that I didn't expect but really enjoyed how it all played out.
I enjoyed many of Brenda Novaks past books and look forward to whatever she comes out with next.

I enjoyed this book! I felt like the characters were relatable, the storyline kept my interest and I wanted more!

I enjoyed this book so much! The storyline was amazing. I enjoyed the characters as well . I couldn't put the book down. The cover drew me in. This was such a feel good story.

I had a hard time putting this book down, a compelling family drama with suspense and a romance that I didn't see coming. Gia has returned home after many years to help with her dying mom. Margot, has her secrets that she has kept from her mom and sister and this is a much needed break for her. Gia left town after a scandal and now it resurfaces, will there be forgiveness within the families that it affected.

This is a thought provoking novel that I could not put down. Loved all of the family drama from two different families. Loved how Cormac and Gia struck a friendship. Margot turned out to be so strong!
There are trigger points of student/teacher misconduct and spousal abuse. I highly recommend this book.

The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak explores themes of truth, healing, and moving forward in life, drawing subtle parallels between the concept of banned books and how society ostracizes those who speak uncomfortable truths.

After a scandal forces her to leave her hometown, Gia Rossi builds a new life. But when her sister Margot calls with news that her family needs her, Gia must return and confront the accusations that branded her as the one who destroyed a family despite having told the truth. Now, juggling her mother’s care, Margot’s strange behavior, growing feelings for Cormac, and the sting of small-town gossip, Gia must face her fears and decide if she can finally move on.

This novel offers a compelling mix of small-town family drama and romance, with strong characters at its core, particularly Gia and Margot, each showing strength in different ways. However, the title feels somewhat misleading, as the banned books club plays a minor role, with little discussion of books. While I can see a symbolic link between the title and the story’s themes, it remains subtle.

Overall, The Banned Books Club is an enjoyable read with well-drawn characters and an engaging plot.

Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, Mira, and The Hive for the opportunity to read this book.