The Afternoon Tea Club

Four friends, Stacy, Raymond, Dora and Marjorie gather together each day to drown their sorrows in tea and cookies. All feel left out of the mainstream for various reasons (love gone wrong, dreams that have withered on the vine and fear of being unseen). While their meeting may have been accidental, the chemistry they create together is nothing short of magical, as their little group helps to restore their self-confidence and sense of self-worth. This is a lovely, warm story, just what a world weary of blowhard politicians and global catastrophes needs

I adored this book! I loved how each of the characters were intertwined and the life experiences they brought to the story. For me it’s the sort of book that anyone could pick up to read and enjoy.

This book was really difficult for me to get involved in. The first fourth of the book was very wordy and went on and on. I sometimes need to make a cheat sheet of characters, if a book has many, to try to keep track of who is who and how they are related. About the time I was 25% into reading, I decided I needed a note sheet. I went back to the beginning of the book and started writing names. Then I began reading again. I enjoyed the story so much more after doing that. Once I reached half way of the book, I was very interested in the story and wanted to know what would happen to these characters that I knew their pasts so well.

Sometimes quite a bit of background is needed at the beginning of a story, and that was true of this book. I think in hindsight, I was being very impatient while reading the beginning chapters. I think it was well written and in the perfect style for this story to enfold exactly as it did.

I am recommending it to other readers, but I would suggest that you note the characters down as I did. I have 23 names written down and I did not write all the character's names on my note paper! I do think it will help you enjoy the story more.

I want to thank NetGalley.com and Avon Books UK for allowing me to go along with these characters on a journey of self discovery. My review is my own opinion, not influenced by receiving the ARC of this book.

A book if you want a no hassle, no nastiness, feel good read

Basically a few lonely people join a new venture some helpers have started which invites folk to join them for tea and cake, there are various characters who go along, Marjorie who now lives with her daughter but rarely sees her, Raymond whose wife has passed away, Dora a restless spirited woman who is air to a family fortune from the hotel business and Stacey,
Stacey was my fav, a librarian and cat lady, the poor love ends up with 8 of them and cant cope and joins the club as needs to speak to more people rather than cats, she has a heart of gold and slips small items
into old ladies bags she sees at the local shop who have little money, she’s leads a wretched life mind and gets attacked more by her cats than anything and realises something has to change
As they all do and yep things do change for them all
And its lovely and wholesome and cute and if your in the mood for it you will love it
The writing is good and chatty, the characters easy to get to know and the predictability that can sometimes be annoying in psychological books is welcome in this book
Am an old softie I guess but really enjoyed it and was everything I knew it would be
8/10
4 Stars

What a wonderful story.Each characters so well written come alive.Their relationships drew me right in a book I didn’t want to end .#netgalley #avonbooksuk

There are so many characters to this story so at first I was a little confused, however on getting to know Marjorie, Stacy, Raymond and Dora (these are just the four main ones!) I was eager to delve into each persons individual story and the reasons for going to the community centre in the first place. Going there introduced them to The Afternoon Tea Club whereby they could meet new people and experience new activities. I found the most interesting character to be Stacy (maybe that’s because she was crazy enough to own eight cats!!)

It was fascinating to see so many people become friends and find common ground regardless of age and background. This is my first read of Jane’s however I now want to go and put her first book on my TBR pile. Her writing is very expressive as she describes the characters and their surroundings in so much detail. I also wanted very much to be part of the club to get to know these friendly heart warming people ♥️ I give ‘The Afternoon Tea Club’ 4*/5* 😊

Thank you to Avon books for an advanced copy of this book via Netgalley

Grab your favorite cup and tea and a cozy blanket and settle in for this delightful story. This book follows several older adults who join a tea club at their local community center for a variety of reasons- some are bored and lonely and some are forced by their children. I particularly loved the story of Stacy who is a younger woman who has had a rough childhood with strict parents. Stacy is able to reconnect with her parents throughout the story and begin rebuilding their relationship. Her mom acknowledges and apologizes for being bad parent and finally learns to stand up against her husband. Each of the characters learn something about themselves even in their old age. This story proves that it’s never too late to change your life and open yourself to new possibilities.

Thank you to Jane Gilley, Avon Books UK, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

At first I thought ‘Oh Dear! Another sweet and cosy story about how having tea together makes you less lonely.’
But it was friendship, and intergenerational friendship too, that worked.
However, reading the characters’ back stories and finding that the characters struggled to adjust to their lives and circumstances made the book. It lifted it above the mundane. Even if it took until the end of the story for Dora to find her position in life.

This book is a timely reminder for anyone getting old (and who isn't) to be cautious about your temperament and character because you might end up all alone, curmudgeon ly and a total bore!

Set amongst a group of people growing old lonely, some quite bitter and mixed up, a social gathering of an Afternoon Tea Club tries to get this group of very disparate people to forget their troubles of the past and move forward in the best way they can. Whether it is beginner computer studies or art studies or even a simple trip to the beach this is indeed a start for all of them.

The progress of each of our characters was a very good study of human behaviour. The setting and story were rounded and matter of fact.

I absolutely adored this book. When I read the last page I felt I had just lost my best friends. The author created diverse and quirky characters that everyone would want to befriend. The book begins with a group of people arriving at a community centre for a cup of tea and a sweet. They are mostly complete strangers from various backgrounds and of a wide range of age who are confined to their homes or lonely. What follows is the development of friendships that will last a lifetime. The author develops each character separately letting you get to know and like each person and as we are finding more about what has happened to them to be this alone they are also learning from each other. This is one of the best heartwarming, feel good books I have every read. Perhaps it is because each character has a little something that I could relate to but I fell in love with each of them and wanted them to be happy and fulfilled. The story centres around four main characters but with each storyline they slowly integrate and we get to know their families. I really encourage all of you to read this lovely book, it will leave you with a smile on your face. Thank you so much NetGalley, Jane Gilley and AvonBooks UK for the opportunity to read this wonderful book.

This was a heartwarming read which is perfect for escaping into. It covers quite a current problem of loneliness amongst older people which made it quite an emotion read at times as it seemed very real.

The characters were all wonderful, realistic creations and I enjoyed finding out more about them. I didn’t particularly warm to any of them at the begining but as I discover more about their back story I found myself growing fond of them. They are definitely an eclectic mix of people and it was interesting to see the many different reasons that they had seeked out the club for companionship. My favourites was Stacey the librarian whose love of cats has meant that she has ended up with 8 of them. I think I felt a bit of sympathy for her as she joined the club so she’d have someone to talk to other than the cats, which is similar to the reason I go to groups so I have someone other than the kids to talk to.

The book is written in a lovely easy style that has a great flow to it. This just draws the reader into the book and ensures that they get fully emersed into the story. There is some funny parts and wry humour which I enjoyed and helped give the story a lighter feel to it. I’m normally a bit wary when books are described as similar to Rachel Joyce’s books but in this case I think the comparison is justified as the style did remind me of those books.

Huge thanks to Sabah from Avon for inviting me onto the blog tour and for my copy of this book via Netgalley.

The Afternoon Tea Club by Jane Gilley is a story about community and friendship and how these two can literally save lives. Just exactly the kind of book I like to read and I recommend other people read because it's inspiring and real, like life. I enjoyed it very much and look forward to more books by Jane Gilley.

Thanks to Avon Books Uk and Netgalley for the reviewer's digital copy.

Ray, Stacy, Dora and Marjorie all join an afternoon tea club. They are from different walks of life, they are different ages and on the surface, they don't seem to have much in common. However, they have all had trauma in their pasts and are socially isolated in one way or another, which is why the club works so well for all of them.

This was a great premise for a book, it made me wish there was something like this close to me! I found this book to be a little long-winded and confusing to get into though. I think I was about a third of the way through before the story really clicked into place for me. A bit of editing would have been a good idea, just to tighten the story a bit.

I really enjoyed it though, it was a real feel good story and everyone needs to read these kinds of stories on a regular basis.

4 stars from me.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books.

This book was both sad and uplifting! I felt so sorry for the characters because of their lives and loneliness. However, the respite provided by the Afternoon Tea Club was incredible and the ending proved that there is always an opportunity for happiness, despite your age.

The plot focuses on four key protagonists and gradually we learn about their past. The Afternoon Tea club provides respite and solace: the chance for company and a break from routine. Indeed, Gilley highlights that loneliness, particularly for the older generation, is a massive issue and that more could be done in communities. Idyllic, the Afternoon Tea Club transported me back to simpler times when strangers could meet and be friends and, whilst the protagonists are reluctant and have an emotional past, it was lovely to see these boundaries broken down.

The stories of the key characters are all so different which made the plot more interesting. I liked how Gilley was able to develop this characterisation. I could not help but favour Raymond the most but, honestly, feel that all four people deserved a jolly good hug! It was lovely to see their progression over the novel and the changes that each of them have; finding inner strength and reaching out to the Club becomes the catalyst for them to make personal changes.

It was very easy to picture the scenes that Gilley describes. I think the circumstances portrayed are relatable to all; often I was reminded of my Nan and the loneliness she experienced. Reading this novel, I wonder if Gilley is trying to encourage more of a community spirit. Despite the mixed ages of the characters, Gilley illustrates that loneliness can come to all, regardless of generation and background. It is stereotyped that the older you become, the inevitable loneliness will set in. However, being younger and surrounded by so many people can still lead to isolation. As such, the writer encouraged me to consider the importance of reaching out to others: even a stranger in the street could have a better day just by saying “Good morning”.

Whilst this novel was thought-provoking, it was still a light-hearted and enjoyable read. The novel concludes during Christmas, adding to the feel-good vibes! However, of course this is not an overtly Christmas novel and could be read all year round. It was so enjoyable that I think I would try and read other books by this author.

My only criticism with this book was the writing style. I felt that Gilley over-used the exclamation mark. Whilst it did reflect the lengthy dialogue – emphasising the speeches and excitement from different characters – I thought that the exclamation could have been witheld a little bit. There was too much for my liking and I honestly find this slightly irritating, regardless of the narrative. This criticism is a totally personal one, so certainly do not let this distract you from picking up this book!

If you are after a heart-warming story with a bit of soul, then I think this is one for you. I relished in the happy ending and found the lack of complications and easy-going narrative a pleasant change to some of my recent reads.

With thanks to Avon books and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A heartwarming read for the current heartbreak in this world. A little piece of happiness and a haven away from the real world, I loved the characters and their friendship, it was like a warm hug on a cold night this book. Highly recommended to everyone, they need it.


Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for a free copy for an honest opinion

A contemporary story that deals with the invisibility and loneliness of being older.

The story begins with a gathering of individuals from the community, mostly, but not exclusively older. Most do not want to be there, but gradually realise that it may add something to their lives. The story has lots of characters and perhaps would benefit from a character list at the beginning.

This a gentle story, where the characters earlier lives are explored, so that the reader knows how they came to be in the situation they find themselves in. The story charts laughter, sadness, and an unmistakable camaraderie between its characters. It is diverse and reflects how an increasingly significant portion of the population feel about their lives.

Older people often feel surplus to requirements and invisible, and this story reflects this well but gives hope that with a little understanding and courage life can be fun and worthwhile at any age.

I received a copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

A wonderful story, poignant and heartwarming a the same time.
I found it engrossing and entertaining, well written and with a cast of realistic, relatable and well thought characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Oh boy this book warmed my soul and had me wanting to weep. Im sure by now we have all seen Terrance on the news discussing loneliness and this book tackled a bunch of people who were feeling lonely and with the invitation to a Afternoon Tea Club the reluctant gang head off to see what is about.



Whilst non were really excited about going - something that started off as a few people meeting for a cup of tea and some cake turns into something bigger for them all.



We follow Marjorie, Stacy, Raymond and Dora - we learn their stories, the troubles they have had in life - and getting their stories out into the word seems daunting but as they discover more about their new friends and themselves relationships bloom.



I cannot express how much i loved this book and how much it made me think about others in the community. It was a delightful read and full of plenty of cups of tea and cake as they start to focus on their new friendships.



A read that makes you think about those who are vulnerable and those who dont seem but may be facing their own issues. Its certainly one to read at this time of year and really does hit the feels.