Title: The Sunday Potluck Club
Author: Melissa Storm
Series: The Sunday Potluck Club #1
Genre: Women's Fiction
Rating: 2.50
Pub Date: March 31, 2020

I received a complimentary eARC from Kensington Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #Gifted #Ad

T H R E E • W O R D S

Wholesome • Quick • Lighthearted

📖 S Y N O P S I S

New friends can be found in unexpected places. For Bridget and Amy, that place was the cancer ward of an Anchorage hospital. Now, as each struggles to overcome loss, they lean on each other for support—sharing suppers, laughter and tears.

Bridget and Amy aren’t about to let hardship knock them down—Bridget plans to return to her veterinarian school studies, Amy to her position as a second-grade teacher—but neither feels quite ready. And so the Sunday Potluck Club is born, a way for Bridget, Amy, and other women who have lost a loved one to find solace and understanding. Savoring favorite dishes while sharing memories and the comfort of connection, the members of the Sunday Potluck Club nourish body and soul.

As weeks go by and the group grows in unforeseen ways, both Bridget and Amy are inspired to find greater purpose. Amy reaches out to a student whose father bravely faces his own struggle. Bridget volunteers at the local animal shelter, rehabilitating dogs whose unconditional love will bring others a chance to heal. And with the help of two special men, Bridget and Amy are realizing that there’s always room at the table for love and rekindled joy...

💭 T H O U G H T S

I thought the idea of The Sunday Potluck Club sounded like it would make a fantastic, heartwarming read. As someone who has witnessed the importance of community in grief, I loved the concept of a group of people coming together to help one another through their grief. Unfortunately, the marketing was misleading, as the 'club' plays such a small role in the plot that I was left disappointed.

I had two major issues. Firstly, the book is very surface level and lacks the emotional depth I craved. There's a huge focus on the 'getting better' after grief and that definitely didn't sit well with me. While it tried to show that everyone grieves differently, there was so much judgement and doing things 'right' mentioned that it just didn't sit right with me. Secondly, there are major issues with Amy's professional boundaries that play a huge part of the plot. I understand her desire to help, but there are better ways to go about things, and it often seemed like she was overstepping as Olivia's teacher. Maybe it was my inability to suspend my belief, but the whole thing felt unrealistic.

The Sunday Potluck Club is a quick, lighthearted read that became some repetitive, yet still had me rooting for the characters and shows the importance of community in grief. However, in my opinion, it would have much better without the romance, focusing on the friendships and the Sunday potlucks. It didn't have the depth I craved and it's not likely I will continue with the series.

📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Hallmark movie enthusiasts

⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, death of partner, grief, cancer

This was my first time reading anything from this author. The book is about 4 friends going through hard times in their lives and being there for each other in sad times and happy times. This was a wonderful book! I really enjoyed it immensely. Parts brought out frustration in me toward a certain character, or sadness for them, or getting a chuckle out of me. For those like me that like to know if there is any bad stuff in a book, this was a "clean" book. No swearing, violence or sexual content. For me this is a really good thing, this is something I look for in books. So having none of that was a really good thing for me. I will most definitely be reading more from this author.

Since The Sunday Potluck Club came out, there have been two more related titles published. Readers may want to take a look at all three. I am clearly behind here.

Sometimes life just doesn’t give us what we want. We know that loss is something that, perhaps can be postponed, but cannot be avoided. The main characters in this novel met in an Alaskan hospital ward when relatives were dying. This is not just a story of loss though; it is one of figuring out how to get through and moved forward. It is about friendships formed and the aspirations that we still go for.

Follow Bridget and Amy as well as some of their other friends. You will be a witness to the goodness of The Sunday Potluck Club.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this title. All opinions are my own.

3.25 stars. I liked this book. It was very sweet and wholesome. My favorite part was the storyline about finding homes for dogs (and cats). I got this from Netgalley but it was an excerpt and not the full story which I was unaware of until I started reading it. I ended up listening to the audibook in its' entirety so I could review it.

This book is about a group of women who meet up because of cancer and the losses that these family members might be facing. Amy is the main character in this book and I really like her. She is struggling and she is trying to keep afloat with her friends and working but she feels like she is making a mess of it all. I like how the author weaves the story around her and makes the story about not only grieving and loss but about redemption, love, and friendship.

The Sunday Potluck Club by Melissa Storm is a warm and thoughtful book about overcoming adversity and embracing life’s many joys. This novel centers around Bridget and Amy, two young women who met in a cancer ward, who find comfort and solace in forming the Sunday Potluck Club. This book takes readers through Bridget and Amy’s journeys of coming to terms with their losses, but also emphasizes the importance of understanding, friendship and compassion. The narrative is enriched with the engaging characters, poignant conversations and lively dinners at the Sunday Potluck Club. Storm has a knack for blending moments of humor and light-heartedness with darker moments of grief, crafting a novel that both uplifts and moves readers. Through Storm’s brilliant and powerful story, The Sunday Potluck Club reminds readers of the profound and heart-warming power of friendship and acceptance.

This book was not what I thought it would be but I definitely enjoyed it. All of the characters have their own "story" and they all come together to form a tight knit community that provides comfort, friendship, and even some romance. I'm looking forward to reading more books in this series.

This was a nice, light summer read. I loved how the women bonded together to support one another and will definitely read the rest of the series.

Great characters. Well written. Incredible premise. Beautiful cover. This book has it all, and it is part of a series - what more can you ask for! There is also loss and pain, so not all butterflies and unicorns. But let's be honest, life is often raw and sometimes we need to relate.

It has taken me a couple of years to finally read this, but it is a light summer read that is heartwarming and sweet. You find yourself being so supportive for the characters and their growth.

The Sunday Potluck Club is a lighthearted read that deals with what most people go through when they lose a family member. I adore the friendship that Amy, Bridget, Nichole, and Hazel have formed. These ladies have been through a lot, and their love for one another shines through on every page. They are there for each other and offer assistance when needed. I admire how they work together. Amy is the main focus of this one. She is an elementary school teacher with a big heart. When she meets Trent and his daughter Olivia, her light shines even brighter. You will adore Olivia, and your heart will ache for her. Trent has been through a lot, and you can feel his burden. I adore Amy and Trent's friendship, as well as her bond with Olivia. This is a delightful read that kept me glued to the pages. I couldn't stop thinking about it. I'm hoping to see more members of the Sunday Potluck Club.

There were some good aspects to this book. The depth of pain and grief at the beginning is a little intense. But the atmosphere improves as the characters begin to deal with their grief. The friendship factor is positive and the willingness of the four women to support and encourage each other is uplifting. And when you factor in the furry friends and how a pet can help you heal from a lot of emotional issues, it touches you. This was a good book but I can’t see myself being invested in the series.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I really enjoyed this read, it was heartwarming and such a great premise. I liked that dog rescuing was worked into the story as well, this was such a great one overall.

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.

Such a sad story. A light read. I got all in my feels with this one. I’m not sure if I’m ready for the second book.

The Sunday Potluck Club is composed of four friends who met while their parents were fighting cancer. This is Amy’s story. Overall, I wasn’t a huge fan of this one. It felt very surface, and everything worked out a little too quickly for me. I’d pass.

Thanks to @NetGalley and Kensington Books for my ARC!

Unfortunately, I was only provided a sneak preview of this novel so I was not able to thoroughly enjoy the story as I was anticipating.

Really enjoyed this book, it was such a nice read which I would definitely recommend. Would love to read some more books by this author in the future.

I really enjoyed this book and thought that it was well-thought-out and well-written. My interest was kept throughout the entire novel and I am thankful for the opportunity to read and review The Sunday Potluck Clun. I look forward to reading more books by Melissa Storm.

This book definitely hit me in the feels. My family has been affected by cancer so it definitely hit home for me. I really enjoy the rawness of Melissa Storm's writing and how it really dug deep into my own feelings of sadness, as well as the happiness and thankfulness through it all.

I received an arc of this title for an honest review. A group of people come together on Sundays to mourn the loss of a loved one and learn about themselves and one another. Struggled to get through this one as it hit a little too close to home.