While it's true that I don't usually read Christmas themed stories unless it's December, I can also never seem to resist a good contemporary with a bookish/travel element. The Book Club Hotel seemed to be offering both and I've enjoyed Sarah Morgan's writing in the past, so in the end I simply couldn't resist the opportunity to read this newest story early. And I think this might just be my new favorite book by this author! The Vermont setting, the characters, the bookish references... This turned out to be a wonderful Christmas romance.

As far as Christmas stories go, the Vermont setting couldn't have been more perfect. The snow, the small town, the many descriptions of Maple Sugar Inn and its surroundings; they made for the perfect backdrop for this story, and it made me wish I could visit there myself. I also liked how the Christmas season was present, but not the main focus of the plot itself... Instead, The Book Club Hotel focuses a lot on family, friendship, relationship issues as well as a dose of romance. There were more serious moments than expected incorporated into the plot, but as a whole I still thought it was quite balanced out with the lighter elements.

The Book Club Hotel uses a multiple POV structure, switching between the four female main characters in play here. Each of them has their own problems and background, and it was interesting to see them react to the things happening in the plot. True, certain aspects were a bit cliche, and I did see some of the 'twists' coming from the very beginning, but as a whole I enjoyed spending time with them. I could have done with some of the twists that seemed to have been incorporated simply to create tension and conflict for the sake of conflict... But those are only minor niggles.

The main focus is on the character development, and most of them were both flawed and surprisingly easy to like. Sure, there were certain aspects about some of the characters that annoyed me, but there is no denying that I was invested in what happened to them. I especially liked the growth in Erica and the little Delphi was a true delight. The romance wasn't as present as expected in The Book Club Hotel, but I appreciated how it was a slowburn romance and I liked the couple together.

If you are looking for a Christmas contemporary to read this holiday season, and like your stories to focus on more than just romance, The Book Club Hotel will be an excellent choice. While there are more serious topics incorporated as well, as a whole it still gives off that feel-good vibe and holiday cheer.

Solid Sarah Morgan Christmas Tale. For long time fans of Morgan or those who have never heard of her, know that this particular tale is *exactly* the type of tale she always tells for Christmas, at least in my few years' experience reading her books. In this particular case, it is long time friends - each with their own secrets they've been hiding from the others - reuniting for Christmas at a small town bed and breakfast... that happens to have some needs of its own that these three friends just so happen to be particularly well suited to help with. You've got the Hallmarkie charm and at least one romance thread, you've got the female friends bonding even more, you've got the small Northeastern town at Christmas, complete with all the decorations and snow. You've got the slight flair for the dramatic, just to spice things up a bit. And overall you've got the great "cozy-read-by-the-fireplace-in-the-evening" feel that Morgan so often brings to the table so well. Again, nothing truly earth shattering here... but sometimes "not earth shattering" is exactly the kind of book you're looking for. Very much recommended.

Name of Book: The Book Club Hotel
Author: Sarah Morgan
Publisher: Harlequin Trade Publishing – Canary Street Press
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Pub Date: September 19, 2023
My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ ⭐feel good Stars!
Pages: 368

As you might guess this is a story about a book club. IIf you belong to a book club, you understand that members of a book club have a unique friendship.
I am a big psychological thriller fan! However, I have been in a book club for twenty-five years and have a weakness for a nice pleasant book about books!

In this story three college friends - Erica, Claudia and Anna are in a book club and typically go on a summer destination book club outing. (Something my book club has talked about doing but haven’t-well not yet- perhaps this story will be an inspiration!)
This year these friends head to the beautiful Maple Sugar Inn in Vermont not in the summer but mid- December. The historic inn has a charming library perfect for a book club discussion.

Hattie Coleman is a young twenty-right year old widow and a busy mom to five year-old Delphi. She loves the lodge as it is something she and her husband worked hard so that it became a popular place to stay; however, since he died she is exhausting and hopes to make it through the upcoming Holiday season.
The book club members no sooner arrive when Stephanie the long –time housekeep and the chef who has anger issue get into a nasty battle where he is actually throwing things. Words are said and sweet Hattie fires both of them. Once Hattie realizes what she has done she is sure this is the end of the Lodge.

The book club ladies come to her rescue!

This story is truly the definition of a feel-good read.

Want to thank NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing- Canary Street Press for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for September 19, 2023.

I call this book, a light, fun, engaging, feel good book. There’s lots of holiday spirit, and Christmas nuances throughout the book and the characters are all very likable. It was quite the refreshing touch to help me get through the dog days of summer! Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read copy.

This is exactly the book I needed. A story of friendship and family and not being afraid to find what makes you happy. Hattie is running the Maple Sugar Inn in Vermont and she is exhausted. She has been trying to make it exactly what her husband, who died in an accident, envisioned but she is struggling. Erica plan a weeklong book club trip to the Inn with her closest friends in December and they are shocked. Erica does not like Christmas or the country so why did she pick here? Claudia and Anna are intrigued by the Inn and why Eric chose it but they are both struggling with their own issues. Will the week at the Maple Sugar Inn be just what they need?

The Book Club Hotel is a enjoyable story of family and friendship. It revolves around four women who end up sharing time at the hotel. Three of them are long time friends who get together once or twice a year for a stay in a hotel somewhere to discuss a book they have chosen. This year they chose the Maple Sugar Inn which is owned by a young widow with a pre-school age daughter. Each of the women has an agenda and those become apparent as the story evolves. This is a well-written story of people finding connections and happy endings. Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to read this book in return for my honest review.

I want to go spend a week at Maple Sugar Inn! I want to spend time in the beautiful, well-stocked library. Hattie, recently widowed and trying to live out her husband's dream of owning the inn, all the while juggling too many things at one time. She has a five-year-old daughter, a conceited chef, and a housekeeper who thinks she runs the world as well as the inn.

Hattie's three book club friends always spend one week together, and this year, they choose to come to the Inn in December. They arrive in time for all sorts of chaos, the chef quits, the housekeeper is fired and the Inn is full - how on earth can Hattie manage all these things.

This story would be the perfect Hallmark movie.

Another emotionally satisfying, heartfelt story from Sarah Morgan. This is one of her Christmas stories, which readers are always looking for -- so double bonus! Hattie, a recently widowed mother of a little girl is soldiering on, running the Maple Sugar Inn, an establishment she started with her late husband. It is very difficult for her. When three old friends schedule their annual Book Club getaway for the week before Christmas at Hattie's inn, things start to change, for her, and for the three women who have been lifelong friends.

I truly enjoyed reading this book! The story is rather unique and not something I have read before, which I really enjoyed. It felt very cozy reading it and left me feeling good after reading. The changing viewpoints can sometimes be confusing, but that was not the case for this book. I wish I could visit this town and hotel for real!!

The Book Club Hotel by Sarah Morgan was so adorable! A charming little library with a picture perfect inn is the best set up for a cozy winter read. I also have to menion how much I love the beautiful cover! It was a very uplifting and feel good story. I loved the bond and friendship between the three girls, along with the alternating POV’s. They all had challenges in life that they were able to overcome and follow their dreams.

Friends since their college days, Claudia, Anna, and Erica meet annually for a book club week, where they temporarily escape the demands of their busy lives. Claudia is a chef at a top-notch restaurant, Anna is a stay-at-home mom of twins who will soon be off to college, and Erica is a high-powered businesswomen. While their trips usually involve discussing a romance novel in the summertime at a Caribbean beach resort, this year they are meeting at a quaint inn in snowy Vermont just before Christmas. Little do they realize that the changes in locale, timing, and genre are all harbingers of major changes to come. While these friends appear to have it all, nothing could be further from the truth. Each is at a crossroad, grappling with unsettling situations in their seemingly perfect lives, which leave them uncertain of what lies ahead.

The Book Club Hotel is an engrossing story with characters who learn what it means to be true to yourself and follow your dreams. Their strong, supportive bonds of friendship--and new personal relationships--demonstrate that second chances and new beginnings are not only within reach--they can lead to a more enriching and fulfilling future for each of them.

Story about a woman who is running an inn in Vermont with a young daughter after the passing of her husband. She has a temperamental chef and housekeeper hired by her husband who are making her life miserable. Then, 3 women book for a week long stay just before Christmas.

I received an electronic ARC from Harlequin Trade Publishing through NetGalley.
Morgan knows how to build a scene and wrap her characters in love and support. Readers meet three friends who are forty or close enough to forty; they met in college and have maintained their friendship since. Each year they connect and spend a week together as a book club. Events in their lives have moved their summer adventure to December and to an unusual location. Erica has booked a comfortable inn in Vermont. Anna and Claudia are surprised but thrilled as this is more their style. It's only after they check in that the reason is revealed and the story builds from this.
The chapters are told in rotating POVs from the three women and from one more woman - Hattie runs the inn and is coping with her own issues. An unexpected bond connects Hattie to one of the three and they find their way to being a family. Morgan slowly reveals more about each of the four as reader build capacity with them. They are flawed women who overcome life challenges and find ways to grow from them.
I appreciate the main characters being this age as they have experienced so much in their lives. This offers richer female character who have baggage and tragedy in their pasts and still move forward.
Lovely light read for a cold winter day. Humor, romance, female friendships, family.

Another great story from Sarah Morgan. The story contains many twists and turns which holds your interest from start to finish. With a library, a quaint inn, three long time friends and a young innkeeper trying to swim instead of sinking, this book has all of the emotions and good feelings that you are looking for. There are both laugh out loud moments and tearful moments which combine to make this story an amazing read. Thank you to Net Galley for the advanced copy of this book.

I have just started this NetGalley review title, and I already know it's a winner. What's not to love when you have a widowed, single parent mother, struggling with grief, and raising her child and keeping her late husband's dream alive. Then add a lovely inn, a wonderful library in the inn, a book club of longtime friends, and Christmas. I can't put it down! Finished! wonderful, fun read. Highly recommended. Plan to read more by this author.

I've enjoyed a couple of author Morgan's back-list, so happily requested "The Book Club Hotel" based mostly on the title & blurb. I was pleased & quite entertained with this tale of a young widow, Hattie, running an Inn & the three book-club guests she has over the holidays. Loved all the bookish references & the inn was quirky & charming! Recommend! My sincere thanks to Net Galley & the publisher for a complimentary DRC - my sincere pleasure to review it!

I thought The Book Club Motel would be right up my alley, but I ended up feeling disappointed. There was so much exposition that it felt like the story would never really start. Not a big fan.

This was an enjoyable story about friendship and leaning on others to help guide you through life. Hattie is a recently widowed mother of Delphi, age five. She is left to run the Maple Sugar Inn, a business that she and her husband dreamed about and made into a reality. Hattie is struggling to run the inn on her own and in the way her husband had wanted it. Meanwhile, Erica, Anna, and Claudia decide to meet for their annual book club vacation at the Maple Sugar Inn at Christmastime. Each one is going through her own struggles and this vacation allows them time to support one another. The location choice was made by Erica with a specific reason in mind, which we learn as the story unfolds.

This was a happy, east-to-read story and I highly recommend it!

Although I thought it started out slow, I quickly became invested in the lives of the characters. This book is a satisfying read to the end.

I am drawn to novels about books, bookshops, friendships and meeting challenges. So, I was excited to receive a copy of The Book Club Hotel after reading the blurb describing it as a novel about “the power of books to heal, and the enduring strength of female friendship”. I have belonged to a book club for many years, and am fortunate to have several life-long friends so felt this story would resonate on those levels.

However, from page one The Book Club Hotel read more like a romance novel, a genre I don’t read. Erica, Claudia, Anna and Hattie are nice women, the men in their lives were as expected and the challenges they faced were complicated enough that I found it unrealistic they would all be solved in one week. I found the story line predictable and that what I thought was going to happen did happen, well before it appeared in the book. I will add that the Book Club Hotel, as described, is a hotel I'd love to visit.

I would have rated this 5 stars if I read romance novels or liked Hallmark Movies. I gave it 3 stars as The Book Club Hotel is a nicely written quick read, filled with lovely descriptions of Vermont in winter.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin for the ARC ebook in exchange for my honest review.