I really enjoyed this book. Nice gentle read but with some interesting insights - Frank sets up a "silent book club" for people who don't necessarily want to be part of a more conventional one. He can't get his wife Grace to join, that is until he dies. Then, Grace becomes involved and enjoys meeting the other members and this helps her with the grief of losing Frank. Several of the characters are neurodivergent including Grace's daughter and grandson and she finds out that Frank was too.
Definitely recommend this book. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey is a touching story about love, grief, and the importance of community. As a book lover, I appreciated how these themes were explored through the power of books.

After the death of her beloved husband, Frank, Grace struggles to move forward, unable to step into his treasured library. Frank, a lifelong book lover, founded a silent book club—a space where people could come together, share a little of their lives, and read in quiet companionship. Encouraged by her grandson to attend, Grace is initially unsure if it's for her, but over time, she realises this unconventional book club might be exactly what she needs. Along the way, she not only rediscovers herself but also uncovers more about Frank and their family.

This was an easy, enjoyable read, and I immediately connected with Frank’s deep love of books. The novel’s themes of community and connection, particularly their impact on mental health, resonated with me. The story also explores ADHD and its effects, and while this was handled with sensitivity, it sometimes felt overemphasized and forced, which affected my enjoyment of the overall book.

Overall, The Forgotten Book Club is a heartfelt read with a unique premise.

Thank you to @netgalley and @avonbooks for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Grace is finding it hard coming to terms with her husband Frank's death. Her grandson Jude persuades her to join Frank's book club where she finds it's a silent book club. She doesn't think it's for her but she gets involved with the members and it seems to be changing her life

Kate Storey’s new book is an emotional and moving tale of one woman’s attempt to deal with her grief at losing her husband through the books that he loved. I thoroughly enjoyed The forgotten book club and would definitely recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel

The Forgotten Book Club explores themes of grief, mental health, and neurodivergence in an accessible format. Grace begins attending the book club that her late husband, Frank, started a decade prior. Through meeting his friends and reading his journals, Grace comes to understand additional facets of her husband and decides to continue progressing the goals he'd set out for himself. The power of community and reaching people where they're at are resonate themes of this book.

As an ADHDer myself, I found the content about neurodivergence accessible and in a story format that I can see recommending to others in my life to better understand my lived experience. I especially appreciated Grace exploring how her grandson's diagnosis has threads back into her daughter and husband's behaviors as well. Additionally, I liked how the discussion centers adult experiences and not just childhood impacts of ADHD.

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this title for my review.

Way out of my comfort zone but a thoroughly good read, enjoyed reading about Grace although it was a sad and heartbreaking journey with excellent characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this very poignant ARC which I can recommend.

This was a lovely and very moving story about Grace, who had recently lost her husband, Frank, and who was struggling with grief and loneliness. She discovers Frank’s old ‘silent’ book club and finds herself surrounded with new friends and a new life. There is a neurodivergent storyline running through this book which is handled so beautifully, showing both the challenges as well as the many positive aspects too. Really enjoyable!

I can do no better to explain the book than to quote from it “This book is about love, loneliness and grief, and it’s about the building of a community of disparate people who all have their humanity in common”. There is also a recurrent theme of neurodiversity.

I found it an enjoyable read but the constant discussion of ADHD felt forced and unnecessary at times. The exploration of grief and loneliness was well done and the different perspectives added positively to the storyline.

I am grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

If there is a book with the word "book" in the title, chances are great that I am going to read it. The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey was such a good book.

What a beautiful read. I absolutely,loved Grace's story it takes her a year for her to find the courage to enter her late husband Frank's library and she learns about his love of his book club which he started and how it had lost lots of members since his passing and when her beloved grandson asks to go along she reluctantly agrees but things don't go well and she quickly leaves.but when a member Annie befriends her things start to get better and she is determined to try and make sure Frank and the book club are not forgotten. A lovely story for anyone who loves books full of joy with really interesting characters and beautifully written a real gem

A thought provoking story about Grace who is grieving after her husband passes away. Grace is trying to prove to her daughter and grandson that she's fine by being out walking the streets when they call to visit her, in reality Grace is not fine but very sad and lonely.
Her grandson encourages her to visit the book club in a local bookstore which was set up by her husband. Grace is reluctant at first but then gives it a try but is surprised and horrified that they are expected to sit and read in silence and silence is the last thing Grace needs.
I enjoyed this story and how everyone gets together to help the book club and support each other. Lots of mentions about ADHD which I know very little about so an informative story as well.
Good read.

A year on from her beloved husband, Frank's, death and Grace is still struggling with her loss. Her grandson Jude,suggests she joins the bookclub that Frank founded with local bookshop owner. Grace has never really been a reader, and especially not one as avid as Frank was, but decides to go to please Jude. She's surprised to find that everyone is reading a different book to each other and that most of the session is spent in silence. She learns from the others this is what Frank wanted. On finding his journal she learns more about her husband than he had told her, his worries and anxieties laid bare within the cover.
To fulfill his final wishes Grace enlists the help of the members to make the club bigger and more inclusive. In doing this she realises that there is a life after grief.
Reading has always been my thing, I can get lost in a good book. The characters can feel like friends as you go through lifes ups and downs with them, this novel is no exception. Books and reading have an impact on our lives without us even realising. This novel has stayed with me long after i finished it.

I absolutely loved this book from the first word. The characters were so real. The way the author describes their quirks and foibles helps make them so. Grief and neuro diversity in the form of ADHD are two main topics of the book. Both are dealt with with knowledge and sensitivity. The idea of a silent book club where everyone can read a different book is just brilliant. My main bugbear with book clubs is I don't like half the books they make you read. The ending of the book was perfect. I was in floods of tears. A really wonderful read everyone should try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this ARC.

Grace is still grieving her husband Frank who died 18 months ago from a heart attack. He was a total bookworm and had founded a book club he tried to take Grace to but she always resisted. Her daughter Rosie and her husband Paz plus grandson Jude are worried about her isolation and make her promise to attend the book club just once.

When she reluctantly makes the journey, she discovers it's a silent book club - the members don't discuss a set book but all read whatever they like while they are there. Grace doesn't see a point in this, but slowly she is won over by the motley crew that attends fortnightly. However, the book club is not very well attended. After finding one of Frank's old journals, Grace makes the decision to change that and at the same time raise awareness of ADHD which seems to run in the family.

God, I loved this book. Oftentimes when you get a book that takes place in a book-filled environment like a bookshop or library, the books are just in the background. This novel is all about reading. It mentions lots of great books that I have read (both books Crash gave Grace are excellent) and gives recommendations on many more. I believe even one of the author's own is mentioned! It shows how books are for everyone - they give us access to different worlds but also connect us to others who love to read, and they can educate, entertain or soothe us.

Personally, I've never liked the idea of a traditional book club. I don't have the time to discuss a book with other people but I love the idea of a silent book club where you take the time to read without interruption by your telephone (I can lose hours on social media), but you're not on your own while doing so. It feels like quiet gardening, but in company. I read quite a few different genres, ranging from romance to historical to cosy and other crime and psychological thrillers. To see those genres honoured and find a man reading romance is giving me life.

The second topic is mental health, especially ADHD and anxiety and depression. It covers all the prejudices people have about conditions that people are increasingly being diagnosed with, but the warped ideas about just getting on with it and harmful medications as initially displayed by Grace about her grandson Jude are thankfully no longer common and the stigma of mental illness is receding. There is still work to be done though and this book is contributing with lots of info on the condition. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the author knew people with ADHD or had it herself.

I loved all the characters and their challenges, from grieving widow Grace to rock chick turned bookshop owner Crash to posh Harry and his cat Earnest, to kind but troubled Annie and fact-loving Lee who takes a bit of getting used to. Grace's family are wonderful and loving too and I was very happy for Jude who got so much support. It's rare I want to be in a book I read but I really wanted to be a member of this book club and be friends with these lovely people who rally around you when you need help.

I love older characters and this is such an intelligent book. It's a romance, a love declaration for books and a manual on grief and mental health. It's also a warmhearted book about community and found family, about shared passions and new beginnings, and it manages to be light-hearted, inspiring and hopeful without compromising on emotional depth. I had tears in my eyes at the end. What a rare treat, with a gorgeous cover. My heart is full. Thank you.

#DesertIslandReads
#ReadWithEarnest
#TheSilentBookClub

Grace's husband Frank was an avid reader, Grace not so much. When he passes away, their grandson Jude persuades Grace to visit the book club Frank set up. Here Grace finds friendship and reconnects to Frank in a way she didn't think possible. A lovely story about not judging a book by it's cover and accepting the hand of friendship.

I loved the way the book club ran in this story - everyone silent reading was a fabulous idea (where can I find a club like this?!) The mix of characters was great too, from the confident to those needing help. I particularly like Annie and Jude, and of course the travelling cat Earnest! The reference to other literature throughout was also great to read.

The amount of references to ADHD was a little overwhelming and felt a bit preachy at times, although it was clear that it was Grace working through her own thoughts and feelings.

A lovely read.

Grace's husband of maybe years, Frank, passed away suddenly more than a year ago and she really hasn't moved on. She's started taking long walks so her daughter thinks she's found a social life.

The truth comes out and her grandson convinces her to try attending the book club Frank had started. She shows up and discovers that it's a silent book club. How odd! She slowly changes her mind and finds new friends in this wonderful group.

I was drawn into Grace’s story from the very few pages. Her isolation from everyone but her family since being widowed was poignant and palpable, her determination not to be a burden to them the force which would drive her to change.
Her late husband Frank had been an avid reader and Grace stumbles into joining his book club – a silent one, not what she had expected at all – and once which initially left her feeling even more lonely. But encouraged by her grandson and by the friendliness of Annie, a book club member, she perseveres. And once she discovers Frank’s reading journal has unfinished business too.
As well as grief, and friendship, the book explores themes of mental health, something which sadly isn’t brought out in the blurb, and gives the supporting characters’ journeys real depth.

I have a soft spot for books about books and anything that shows humanity within the struggle for mental health. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kate Storey's last novel <i>The Memory Library</i>. So it was a pleasure to get the opportunity to read an ARC of this one.

Grace is floundering after the death of Frank her husband of forty-six years. She knows she needs to stop isolating and work on joining the world again but finds it easier said than done. Especially, given that she's an introvert. Her grandson suggests a visit to the book club that meant so much to Frank. Grace agrees despite not being much of a reader. She attends expecting a normal book club format, but Frank's book club is anything but. Each member of the club faces unique challenges, and the sense of community and acceptance was uplifting.

I have a heartfelt appreciation for mental health rep in novels because many lives and much quality of life has been sacrificed due to stigma. However, a little subtlety would have gone a long way in this case. The impact was watered down because the approach was heavy handed. Perhaps more showing through characterization and less telling through info dumps would've been more effective.

Otherwise, this is a lovely novel about the importance of connection and glorious books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon UK for providing an Advance Reading Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

This book had me crying from the very beginnig.
Was an extremely moving read about losing a loved one and navigating the works without him. Instantly I thought of friends who this book would help. This book was extremely moving , emotional! And I shed lots of tears!

The Forgotten Book Club focuses on Grace after her husband, Frank, passes away and she has to find a way to navigate the grief she's feeling. She's also realizing how much of her recent life was centered around him. At the suggestion of her daughter and grandson, she reluctantly joins the unusual book club he created and finds a second family and a way to make sure her husband's legacy lives on.

Honestly, this story has me written all over it. I happen to love stories about grief and older people trying to move on when the partner they've spent almost their entire life with passes on. I also LOVE books about books. There's some great neurodivergent representation in this book as well. Some of it was a bit cliche but I can forgive that.

Overall, this is a really sweet story with some fun and relatable characters. It made me laugh and of course, it made me cry.

Thanks so much to Net Galley and Avon for providing me with an advanced copy of this book! :)