Brenda Novak has done it again. Wonderful insightful read. Gia returns home to reconnect and heal old wounds with her dying Mother. Past demons from 17 years prior come to a head. Gia realizes her sister Margot did not live the charmed life she envisioned her living. Suspense, trauma, healing of old wounds, romance, righting of wrongs are all found in this very well written book. Highly recommend. I was given an advanced reader copy of this book by NetGalley and I am freely sharing my review.

"The Banned Bookclub" by Brenda Novak is a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel about family, forgiveness, and standing up for what is right. Gia Rossi returns to Wakefield, Iowa, after her sister Margot begs her to help with their ailing mother. Gia's homecoming is anything but pleasant, as she must confront the fallout from her past actions, including the Banned Books Club she started and her public accusations against her former teacher, Mr. Hart.

As Gia tries to make amends and support her sister, she discovers the cracks in Margot's seemingly perfect life. This realization prompts Gia to stand up for what is right, even if it means going against the town and the book club she started. Along the way, Gia learns that she can depend on people in her life and discovers love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.

The book is a gripping and emotional read that touches on important themes such as censorship, sexual misconduct, and family dynamics. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the author does an excellent job of portraying the complexities of family relationships. The story is also a powerful reminder of the importance of standing up for what we believe in, even if it means going against the grain.

Overall, "The Banned Bookclub" is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a thought-provoking and emotionally charged novel. Brenda Novak has created a compelling story that will stay with readers long after they finish the book."

The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak grabs your attention from the very beginning, The story is an HEA tale full of drama and interesting plots. A good mix of unlikable/insufferable characters especially Sheldon and Mr Hart balanced out with likable and relatable characters in Gia, Margot, Cormack and Max. A heartwarming and captivating read.

Thank you Brenda Novak, Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the opportunity to preview the book.

Loved it! So much happening in this one that kept me turning the pages to find out how things would work out for Gia and for her sister Margot/Margaret. Some hard topics in this book (cancer, sexual misconduct by a teacher, abuse) but all were handled very well I thought. I loved watching the relationship develop between Gia and Cormac. I was saddened by Margot/Margaret's situation, but so glad it turned out as it did. A must read!

Everyone has always encouraged me to read Brenda Novak, and I never have until now. The Banned Books Club has left me a huge fan of her work. I mean what book lover is not going to love a book about a book club? This one had mystery and romance both- I was not expecting the romance. Compelling story lines and lovable characters made this an easy 4 star read for me. I highly recommend both this book & the author!

This story really drew me in, even in this stage, still in need of some editing and formatting. I enjoyed it and found it very compelling, though it ended up being very different from what I anticipated. The title is a little misleading as the Banned Books Club isn't really the main focus area at all. I would have loved to have spent more time with that part of the story, actually, as it's such an important topic. I did really enjoy the story and growth otherwise, it was unexpectedly suspenseful at times. It had a good mix of unlikable/insufferable characters and very likable characters. A solid read that I have confidence will be even better upon completion!


Many thanks to Brenda Novak, Harlequin Trade Publishing and MIRA, and NetGalley for the ARC.

Oh, wow! What a great story! Brenda Novak has knocked this one out of the park! There were so many intense emotions and extenuating circumstances to deal with throughout this book that I couldn’t put it down! I think this is one of Brenda’s best stories ever, and it draws the reader’s attention to issues in today’s world that will always need to be addressed, exposed and dealt with. I truly thank NetGalley for the opportunity to read and give and honest review to the advance copy..

I just finished reading The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak, and I have to say, it was a great read. The novel revolves around two sisters, Gia and Margot, who are going through complex and challenging times in their lives. On top of that, they are also dealing with their mother's terminal illness, which adds a layer of emotional depth to the story. At first, I thought the book would be more of a general fiction novel, but to my surprise, Brenda Novak included a sweet romance that balanced out the heavier parts of the story. I found all the characters, both the main ones and the supporting ones, to be very realistic. Brenda Novak never shies away from tackling difficult topics, and I think she did a fantastic job with Gia and Margot's story. As always, I am eagerly waiting for Brenda's next novel!

This book unravelled differently than I thought. Two different sisters going thru two completely different life events. One who was running away from her past and one who needed to escape from the present all while going thru a major family event. Gia was always the rebel. It is she who was behind the episode leading to the Banned Book Club. Gia left town to create a life far away in Alaska and has not really wanted to return. Gia’s sister, Margot (a way to make her Margaret more appealing) has always been the good one, the studious one and the one whose life looked good. However, Margot's marriage is not what it seems and the care of her mother has not been easy. When Margot asks Gia to visit, the stage is set. The twists and turns intensify. The truth has a way to reveal itself and people will need to check themselves. Brenda Novak writes relevant material and makes it relatable. Definitely recommend this one.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for the opportunity.

2 sisters, a small town and 2 very different lives.
After something happens in Gia's last year of high school she skips town and it hardly seen.

Gia returns home following her mothers illness’ worsening. Margot the devoted wife and mother packs up and leaves town.

The book follows the sister lives as they navigate the changes that come with life.

3 stars, the book was okay, its not one i would consider a thriller.

Books play only a nominal role in this story about a woman who returns to her hometown to help take care of her mother, and faces backlash from the community because as a high school student she made an assault allegation against a well-respected teacher. The story elements, including the sister who is running from domestic violence, are interesting. However, I didn't appreciate the references to the character who must have something wrong with him because he stays up all night reading. It seems that the author is being the hand that feeds her by alienating avid readers.

Everyone has always encouraged me to read Brenda Novak, and I never have until now. The Banned Books Club has left me a huge fan of her work. I mean what book lover is not going to love a book about a book club? This one had mystery and romance both- I was not expecting the romance. Compelling story lines and lovable characters made this an easy 4 star read for me. I highly recommend both this book & the author!


Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, & MIRA for the ARC copy of this book.

Wow, just wow. This book is so full of drama, you won't be able go put it down. It draws you in on the very first line.

I highly recommend this book. But don't start it until you have time go read it from cover to cover.

I felt as if this book was titled to be one thing and ended up being another. I thought it was about a group of people reading and discussing banned books and there would be conversations about literature. Instead, it was about domestic abuse, teenage sexual assault, and dying from cancer. Every once in a while there would be a mention of the Banned Books Club meeting, and even more rarely was a banned book mentioned--the club could have been a gardening club, a postcard club, or a romance reading club and the story could have been the same. The characters were interesting, but some of them were clichés and even though Margot (Margaret) made a major change in her life, the reader does not see her make the decision to leave, it was already planned and we only see the results. Gia is a courageous character, and although the assault is referred to we don’t see the angst that she must have gone through. We are told the setting is Iowa, but actually it could have been anywhere. All that being said, although the story seems to be mainly on the surface, it is definitely readable and if you are looking for a romance with a lot of baggage, you might like it.

I read this ARC on NetGalley
The things we go through as teens affect our lives. The decisions we make and partners we choose affect our futures. This book has family drama, love, overcoming obstacles and some mystery. I found myself fully immersed into the story and could not put it down!

Brenda Novak writes the kinds of stories that readers love. She creates good characters, a domestic world that is complex, settings that feel real, and enough plot/romance to keep the pages turning.

This time Novak features two sisters. Gia was always the rebel. It is she who was behind the episode leading to the Banned Book Club. Gia left town to create a life far away in Alaska and has not really wanted to return.

Gia’s sister, Margot (a way to make her Margaret more appealing) has always been the good one, the studious one and the one whose life looked good. However, Margot’s marriage is not what it seems and the care of her mother has not been easy. When Margot asks Gia to visit, the stage is set. Readers will want to know what happens next.

It is easy to recommend this title to those who are already fans of the author and those who enjoy women’s fiction.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this title. All opinions are my own.

Brenda Novak does a great job in writing this, it had that romance element that I was looking for and enjoyed the overall feel of this book. The characters were everything that I wanted and enjoyed the idea of family loyalty. It had a great style going on and glad it was written the way it was. Brenda Novak does a great job writing this book and can't wait for more from them.

Such an amazing story. I loved the characters. The family dynamic is strong and a wonderful focus. This story will have you staying up late to find out what happens next. The small town rumor mill is lethal and how a dramatic incident involving a stellar citizen of their community has the entire town divided and choosing sides. A beautiful story of family, strength, and forgiveness.
Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

4 stars

I truly appreciate that Brenda Novak took on the topic of banned books! I enjoyed this story, but the ending seemed a bit rushed. Also, some of the dialogue was stiff. Nonetheless, I am a Brenda Novak fan and glad she used her platform to bring attention to the topic of book banning.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review.

Another incredible read by Brenda Novak. I loved the deeply flawed characters with all the baggage, they seemed so realistic and relatable. It seemed a bit slow in the beginning but once it got going I couldn’t put it down. So many lessons seem to be present in this book and I adored it, an absolute must read.