From the get-go, I was curious how the title tied into this story. While there’s a banned books club in the plot, it doesn’t play a huge role. It wasn’t until I reached the author’s note at the end that things clicked.

Novak explains: “It’s the stories that make us the most uncomfortable that are often targeted; the ones that shine a light on things we’d rather not see. And yet exposure to these stories and the ideas they contain have the power to expand our understanding and make us more empathetic and better human beings. It’s a closed mind that threatens society, not an open book.”

That right there? The *essence* of this book, and I think it would be helpful to read that at the beginning rather than the ending.

Our FMC, Gia, founded The Banned Books Club back in high school. But her world imploded during senior year when she accused her favorite teacher of sexual misconduct, igniting a scandal that split the town in two. Gia left as soon as she could and rarely returned, now running adventure tours out west.

Present-day, Gia comes home to care for her sick mother, despite the lingering tension in town. People are still divided—some believe her, others think she ruined a family’s life with her “lies.”

As Gia tries to rebuild her relationship with her parents, her sister suddenly disappears with her kids, sparking a suspenseful side story I won’t spoil—but wow.

And yes, there’s a romance subplot (closed-door) with the last person you’d expect.

This book was wild, and I would have devoured it in one sitting if I had the time. While the cover and title might feel misleading, they lured me in, and I have no regrets.

I’m giving The Banned Books Club 4 ½ stars (rounded up to 5). Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this ARC!

NOTE TO PUBLISHER: Mr. Hart's name changed to "Mr. Evans" at the end of the book - if you have not yet caught that error, please be aware.

This story is about so much more than a book club….that’s just where it all started! This was a heartwarming book about family, forgiveness, and eventually about love. I found I couldn’t put this book down! Thoroughly enjoyed it!

You will love this one! I love Brenda's books, and this one was amazing! 5 stars for this!
Gia is needed back in her home town to help with her mother who isn't doing well. Her sister Margot is demanding she come and help. The last place she wants to go is home, to many bad memories, that's why she left. But she can't disappoint her sister and heads home. She's met with a divided town as to what happened to her when she lived there, and it's not easy, not to mention, her sister has been going through hell with her husband.
Sit back and enjoy this story, that will hold you from the start right through the ending! Brenda has a way with her words that pull you in and make you feel like you're in the story with the characters! Don't miss out on this one!

I received an Advanced Reader copy and devoured the story. Three main storylines ran throughout the book. Each story was complex. I kept wondering how there could be a satisfying resolution, that didn’t feel construed. A fourth theme of Banned Books arose and the book club that started in high school continued for 17 years. Difficult Topics are dealt with carefully. Each character has an important role to play.

I truly enjoyed getting lost in this story. Gia left her small town in Iowa the first chance she found, after the town she grew up in split in half. Those that believed Gia’s claim that her English teacher molested her, and those that believed Mr. Hart. But now she has to return for her mother’s final days due to a battle with cancer. Gia had never been as close to her mother as her sister Margot. But Margot was insistent that Gia return.

Margot is married to a handsome, successful husband and they have two beautiful boys. But what goes on behind closed doors in that house is something Margot is desperate to escape. Can she be brave enough to take advantage of her verbally abusive husband’s upcoming hunting trip?

Cormac and his sisters have always stood up for their dad after Gia’s accusations and the judge’s verdict ruined their father’s life and career. Their mom divorced him, he lost his job teaching, and had to register as a sex offender. To this day he still claims his innocence. But Gia is back in town, and what Cormac is seeing is a woman who truly cares for others. The more he gets to know her, the more he wonders just how innocent his father really is.

This book had such an engaging story line! I loved following these characters, seeing their growth throughout the journey, and rooting for them along the way.

A daughter who never felt apart of the family this same sister having to deal with a scandal that made her run out of town after graduation.
Another sister trapped in a marriage that no one knows is eating her alive and she wonders how she will survive and put up a good front to her boys family and people in the community. Ms. Novak delve into the world of sexual abuse, emotional abuse in her new novel. Although these are deep serious subject matter it is written in a realistic, touching, heartwarming manner. Another fantastic novel by Ms. Novak

I really enjoyed this novel. It was an emotional story about finding forgiveness, a connection to those we care about as well as independence and love. There are some difficult, yet important, topics addressed. You can’t help but love what a strong person Gia is. She will fight for her beliefs and the truth while fiercely loving and protecting her family.
Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have always loved Brenda Novak's writing and this book is another wonderful one. There are several different things going on in this story. Mia goes home to help take care of her dying mother, an incident (as well as people) from her past resurface to complicate her life, her sister soon disappears, and she starts to have feelings for a man she should be staying away from. Which part of that would not make you want to read The Banned Books Club?

Novak is always able to weave a good story and this is certainly a prime example. Each little substory is fully developed and plays a pivotal part overall. The characters are very well fleshed out and it soon feels like you know them personally. Mia and Margot are tough ladies. They have been through a lot and are working to come out on top. There are possible triggers. Some are terminal illness, sexual abuse, spousal abuse and dominance, and lying. If you can deal with those, you should definitely read this book!

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing-Mira and NetGalley for the copy. All thoughts are my own.

Three and a half stars rounded up. Brenda Novak’s “The Banned Books Club” appealed to me because I usually love books about book clubs, libraries, etc. The reader quickly realizes the title and book description is slightly misleading. The book club aspect is more of an afterthought from a plot perspective.

Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, asks her to come home to Iowa and help care for their mother, who has been battling cancer and most likely only has a few months left. Gia loves her parents, sister, and nephews, but has not been back in her hometown for longer than a weekend in years. She left town once she graduated after she accused her former favorite teacher, Evan Hart, of sexual misconduct.

Mr. Hart was convicted at his trial by a judge. He was sentenced to community service and required to register as a sexual offender. While Gia’s back in town, old wounds around the accusation, trial, and conviction are reopened and examined.

Gia reconnects with her family and several members of the book club she started and has kept active since high school. However, while caring for her mother, the town takes sides between her and Evan Hart and her sister, Margot, flees her abusive husband with Gia’s nephews.

While in town, Gia also starts a relationship with Evan Hart’s son, Cormac. For me, the relationship aspects in the book didn’t work. I also struggled with how the town residents, as well as Evan Hart’s own children, reexamined the events of what happened between Gia and Mr. Hart back in high school.

Up until the last few chapters, I struggled with the characters, writing style, and where the book was headed. This is one of those books, though, where the author did a great job and gave the reader a satisfying ending.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

It’s hard to write a review of this book because, on the whole, I really enjoyed it! It was a page turner, I liked the characters, wanted to know what was going to happen with the romance and the disappearance and the conflicts and the darling elderly parents… The overall plot was compelling and tight.

The first third of the book, the dialogue felt forced and amateurish, trying to squeeze backstory into dialogue into ways that felt stilted and unrealistic. But once the story was underway, the dialogue became more natural and I stopped being distracted by that.

The thing that really hung me up throughout is that this book has absolutely the wrong title! The Banned Book Club itself is an underdeveloped plot line that, at best, was meant to tell us something about the main character’s rebellious nature, relationship with an English teacher, and tie her back to a group of former classmates in her hometown. But there wasn’t enough development to make that real. There was next to no discussion of the books themselves, no commentary or illustration of what book banning does/what is wrong with it, and zero big picture relationship between what was happening in the main plot and the overall concept of book banning (except maybe an inference from the author’s note that this is the kind of story that might be banned because it touches on some difficult subjects?).

It almost seems like it was added later so it could catch people’s eye and sell books. If so, it worked on me! I requested this ARC because I was excited to read another book about banned books (I’ve read two great ones this year: Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller and middle grades book Ban This Book by Alan Gratz). So for me, this distracted and detracted from what was otherwise a really great book! I’d still recommend it - just don’t expect something like Lula Dean.

A gripping and emotional read.

It’s about Gia Rossi, who returns to her hometown to care for her sick mother and ends up confronting a past scandal involving her former teacher.

The story dives into heavy themes like sexual misconduct and societal judgment but also highlights the power of community and personal resilience.

Novak’s writing is so engaging that you’ll find it hard to put down. It’s definitely a thought-provoking book that stays with you long after you finish it.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advance review copy in return for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I was hoping this book would be more about the book club but that wasn’t really the main narrative. I honestly had to take a full star away for that because that made me want the book and I was reading for that and it was not really there. I was looking for a fun and light story about a book club but I got a dark story instead.

I loved this BUT the title is misleading!

This book had very little to do with banned books other than a few topical references and the mention of a banned books club that some of the characters joined. Despite this, I really enjoyed the book, but the title really doesn’t fit.

I loved that it’s part women’s fiction, part romance, and part suspense.

There is good commentary on how victims of SA are treated after coming forward. Gia handled her situation with grace and compassion, especially after returning to her hometown so many years later. Shoutout to Cormac for fighting for the truth and his unwavering integrity.

There is a lot going on in this book and several plot lines, but it’s easy to follow and I was thoroughly invested. Some parts were admittedly a bit clunky or even superfluous, but overall I really enjoyed it.

***Please be sure to review trigger warnings, which include SA and DV.

Thank you HTP and The Hive for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love books about books. This was such a wonderful book. I would definitely recommend reading it, if you also enjoy reading books about books.

I expected a bit of a lighter read but was pleasantly surprised that it was a bit loaded with heavy subject matters. Gia needs to go home to help her sister with the care of their mom who is dying of cancer but her hometown is filled with ghosts. Her sister, Margot needs her there to help with their mom but also for her own personal reasons.

The book has themes of forgiveness, emotional abuse and assault.

This book is a wonderfully crafted romance, with suspense built in along with family drama. With two storylines centered around the Rossi family, the complicated plot was well-woven and included some thrills, chills and a heart throb or two. Gia Rossi is an adventurer, striking out on her own in Alaska and now living in a small town in Idaho where she has a successful business. She doesn’t want to return to her home town of Wakefield but when she is called home due to her mother’s terminal illness, Gia reluctantly and dutifully shows up. She knows that her return will mean facing her past there, but she is courageous and determined to do the right thing. Her sister Margot is in a troubled marriage with a controlling spouse and really wants to escape. Gia’s return offers her that opportunity if she has the boldness to pursue her freedom. The story line is absolutely mesmerizing, with multiple characters chiming in with their opinions about Gia’s past and Gia continuing to stick to the truth and not apologize for what happened to her. The story is extremely powerful and deals with some gripping topics. With escalating tension as well as a sparkling romance that develops, this novel captured my heart and my imagination and was almost impossible to put down. It was thought-provoking as well as relevant in the topics that were front and center in the plot, and I definitely related to the characters and their dilemmas. This is a cleverly written page-turner, with a little steam and a lot of edgy and brilliant insight. Having been a fan of the author for years and having read almost all of her books, I can honestly say that this is the best one so far. The depth and insight were profoundly moving and memorable.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I was invited to participate in the blog tour for this book by the publisher. It is not my typical genre, but I'm a sucker for anything that addresses the topic of banned books and thought it would be a quick end easy read. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I didn't enjoy the writing style or the family drama and found the whole thing to be slower moving than I anticipated. This just wasn't for me. She's apparently a very popular author though, so I suspect this is just a matter of the wrong book for the wrong reader...

First- know that this isn't about a book club nor is it the rom com you might be expecting from the cover. Know also that it's a well written and thoughtful look at what happens after a teen reports a teacher for inappropriate behavior and the ripples that go on for years because no one except a judge believed her. Gia left town 17 years ago and built a big life elsewhere but she's come back because her mom is dying and her sister Margot asked for her help. Margot is at the end of her rope in her psychologically abusive marriage. Gia knew things wouldn't be easy but she didn't expect that Cormac would be her backyard neighbor or the extent to which people, especially his sisters, blame her for their father's fall. This moves between Gia, Margot, and Cormac as they work toward positive futures- and you'll feel for all three of them. If I have a quibble, it's the insta-love but that's balanced by the portrait of Gia as caregiver for her mom. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is much more than I thought it would be and it's a very good read.

While the title hints at a focus on a banned book club, the story primarily centers around family drama, personal growth, and romance. Gia Rossi's return to her hometown following a scandal uncovers complex relationships and past traumas. The characters are well-written, though some may come across as insufferable, and the multiple POV shifts can be confusing, detracting from the flow of the story. The themes of family loyalty and redemption are compelling, but readers might find the misleading title and underdeveloped subplots a bit disappointing. Fast-paced, yet underwhelming for those expecting more about the book club.

There's so much to this book! When Gia comes back home to assist with her mother who is dying from cancer, she knows she will have to face the town who still harbors feelings about her molestation by a trusted high school teacher. Meanwhile, her sister Margot is stuck in a controlling and emotionally abusive marriage. There's some romance but I wouldn't call it a romance book. There's just so much more. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.