Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book.

The story had characters that you could relate to, and the there was so much happening, you are turning the pages to find out what happens next.

I loved the setting and how beautifully Cornwall was described.

I recommend this book.

Another enjoyable romance read from the author!! Set against the backdrop of Cornwall, we are introduced to Melissa who is recovering from the loss of her husband 1 year ago. If it was up to her she'd hide away for longer, but her neighbour Josie won't let that happen and gets her involved in a local book club to get back out into the world!

Her family are back in Tennessee but Melissa loves the Cornwall life and makes her feel close to Robin, and surrounded by people who loved him too. His friend Nathan, for some reason, seems to blame Melissa for Robins' death and it's only until they spend time together and talk that the reality of his belief is shattered.

There's a nice slower pace to this story, and watching her reconnect with the world and think about dating again is approached with care and didn't feel fake or rushed. The characters are the big draw in this book as they are in their 40's so have a more mature attitude to life!

The friendship group have problems of their own too, so that gives you a chance to see that problems happen to everyone and come in all shapes and sizes! And it was good to have different issues to focus on.

A real 'feelgood' book about moving on and the importance of friendship.

This is the perfect book to sit on the beach with and just enjoy the vibes. The book is slow pacing, but I understand why it was done. I didn’t feel connected to the characters as much as I wanted too, but that’s just me not loving the slow pacing. Other wise it was a great read.

Joyful and fun book. Lovely Cornish scenery and characters. Good strong women and great friendships too. This was a great story book and I really enjoyed and struggled to put it down. Great holiday read. Thank you NetGalley for this arc in exchange of an honest review.

This book was really good! The love story was really unique. I’d recommend it to a friend to read soon.

I really really wanted to love this book! The entire plot was intriguing and I was very hopeful but it just fell really flat. For me the pacing was the main reason why I didn’t love it. I thought it was going to be an enemies to lovers type storyline with the late husbands best friend but it wasn’t. They started the booking hating eachother so much and by only 10% in became besties doing everything together after only one conversation.

While there was some chemistry between Melissa and Nathan, it wasn’t so intense that they should have slept together and confessed their feelings not even halfway through the book. I couldn’t keep up with their relationship dynamic and throughout the book some of the things happening felt really childish so I wasn’t sure if I was reading about someone in their 20s or 40s.

There was just alot going on and so many side characters that I had a really hard time keeping up. I didn’t really love any of the characters (even the main ones) and wasn’t that invested in their stories. A lot of the things that happened on the side get resolved or forgotten about so quickly you barely remember them even happening despite the buildup. It just wasn’t the book for me.

This was a cute summer read that had me wishing for the friendships depicted in the book. The pace of the story was slow but did fit in well when learning about the characters.

Turned out to be a great summer read for me. Nothing too involved and allowed me to just sit back and enjoy the story. If you are looking for something to keep you entertained, look no further.

This was such a great book!!!!! I loved every minute of it. If you're in a book club, read this. If you want a closed door/fade to black (no on page sex), read this. If you want interesting side characters with their own drama, read this.
So in conclusion-just read this! It's great!!

A sweet story about second chances and friendship. I enjoyed this village and the wide range of characters living there. Very nice summer day read.

I really wanted to like this. The premise was good, the cover is cute, and it just felt like the perfect book for this time of year. Unfortunately, the pacing killed it for me. The main characters, Melissa and Nathan, are supposed to not be getting along but 10% of the way into the book, it's already been brushed under the rug even though he accused her of being the reason for her husbands death (Nathan's best friend.)

Their ages are not clarified so I wasn't sure whether I was supposed to be picturing people in their 40's or early 30's. As I was reading, there were parts I really liked, but then other parts that I had to slog through because the pacing felt so off. I think I would have enjoyed it more if there would have been more lead up to Melissa and Nathan making up. Instead, the author tells us they don't get along and Nathan has been saying nasty things about Melissa for a year. But one very short conversation and they've made up and are going on an excursion together for a whole day. It just felt rushed to me.

La única manera en la que pueda aceptar que la/el espos@ se quede con el amig@ de cónyuge muerto es que el/la esposa haya sido mala persona y pues aquí se cumplió.

La historia no es mala, pero se tratan muchas cosas que al final ninguna se le dedica el tiempo necesario y todo queda a la mitad. Por ejemplo, ¿qué paso con Laura y Barry? ¿Barry se enteró de la infidelidad? ¿Qué pasó con el ex de Josie?, etc.

Fue como leer los chismes del pueblo.

Melissa es editora y hace un año su esposo murió y Nathan el mejor amigo del esposo, le echa la culpa de la muerte de su amigo, entonces desde hace un año se llevan como perros y gatos. Cuando deciden hablar él se da cuenta que todo lo que le dijo su amigo fue mentira, también se da cuenta que ella es maravillosa y empieza a sentir cosas por ella. El problema para lo dos es que se siente como si traicionaran al muerto.


Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoyed this book. The themes of loss and love running side by side really gave a dilemma for the main characters but it all turned out well in the end. Lots of other themes were covered including a small amount of domestic abuse, IVF, hostages. In fact, for just one book there was a LOT!
The book was well written and the author clearly researched and wrote respectfully about the topics without it being too ‘dry’.
I’d recommend the book for sure, a fun read

Review of “The Back of Beyond Book Club”

By: Angela Britnell

Available June 27/2024

Check it Out on Goodreads!!

Disclaimer: Please note that I received a Digital ARC from NetGalley and Joffe Books, in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

⭐⭐☆☆☆

I had high hopes for “The Back of Beyond Book Club” by Angela Britnell, but unfortunately, it just didn’t hit the mark for me. The premise sounded promising – a fresh start for Melissa after the loss of her husband, a cozy Cornish village, and a love story with her late husband’s best friend, Nathan. But the execution fell short.

Let’s start with the positives. The chemistry between Melissa and Nathan is undeniable, and their bond over books is charming. I also appreciated the sweet relationship between Nathan and his niece, which added some warmth to the story. The book does a decent job of depicting the struggles of moving on after a loss.

However, I was expecting a slow burn romance, but by a quarter of the way through, what I thought would be a gradual build-up of longing was already over. It felt rushed and took away from the emotional depth I was hoping for.

Additionally, while some parts were engaging, other aspects felt quite juvenile. The secret-keeping and drama had a very high-school feel to them, which was disappointing given that these are supposed to be mature adults.

There was a moment in the book that seemed like a big event was unfolding, making me think I was nearing the climax. But it was resolved so quickly and then almost forgotten, which made the pacing feel off.

It also seemed like the author tried to incorporate too many character stories, which detracted from the main plot. The book summary basically covers the first quarter of the story, and after that, it felt like it lost its direction, focusing more on secondary characters than on Melissa and Nathan.

Overall, while the idea behind the book was great, it didn’t live up to its potential for me. Maybe it will resonate more with other readers, but it just wasn’t what I expected based on the summary.

Get it at…

📗 - Hard Copy -📗

Your Local Canadian Book Seller

Indigo - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Amazon Canada - (Not Available at Time of Review)

📱 - Digital - 📱

Kobo - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Kindle

🎧 - Audio - 🎧

Audible - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Libro.FM - (Not Available at Time of Review)

Wow this was a great story. I loved it. Not what I expected. You had amazing characters, secret love, hidden unhappy marriages, over protected and pushy parents, lovely descriptions of Cornwall, It kept you gripped . The knife incident was a clever story and an interesting outcome . Funny how we hide things from our friends and how people jump to the wrong idea. You just have to read it. So much I want to say but can’t . Enjoy

The Back of Beyond Book Club has is cozy romance about finding yourself and new love while dealing with grief, but it also has a side of mystery thrown in. It is a cute and wholesome story about finding yourself after loss. Nicely paced and definitely made me smile by the end knowing the MC was happy and had found herself again. Highly recommend!

Brilliant! Another great book in the Angela Britnell way surrounding the wonderful Cornish villages.
Melissa’s husband was from Penworthal and when he died she felt a bit adrift as she’s from Tennessee. She and her friends start a book club and do the pub quiz every week. But her late husband’s best friend Nathan seems to still hold grudges. Can the be friends or even more?
Love the closeness of village life in this book fantastic read.

Like a Christmas book, but in summertime. heartwarming people in a small town. Could have used a little more bookclub :)

I thought this book was well done and great mixture of romance and some mystery. I will admit that when I first picked up this book I thought it was going to be just like every other book i’ve read, self-healing and new beginnings type thing, but in all actuality it was a well done book and gave me a better perspective.

I enjoyed Melissa and her group of friends trying to help her navigate grief, and the romance was an added bonus.

There’s nothing more than I enjoy than a book about books!😂 I absolutely loved this book!! It was so good!