Books set in bookshops are always going to be on my reading list, and this was another fun story to add to the mix! And in Maggie, the author has created a character who is really relatable and really fun to read about!

Maggie finds herself filling in for a friend while she's on maternity leave, and so she's taking over the local bookshop but it's a shop with a difference as it's focused on the local hero 'Edward Bell'. Which means a very restricted sales list! this really bothers Maggie as her time is spent watching people walk past, or visit the shop and buying nothing! So she goes on a secret mission to overhaul the fortunes of the bookstore!

I love how she picked up on what books sell in the world and centres the shop around the most successful genres - despite the snobbery of the owners! She's never really settled in a job before and found herself almost drifting through life, but this shop seems to spark something in her and gives her that buzz and enjoyment as she also starts up a secret book club to find new books for new readers in the area.

There's also new information coming to light about the revered Edward Bell, and some aren't so keen on his past being revealed but Maggie is a woman on a mission to right the wrongs!! Really enjoyed my time with this book and characters and something a little quirky and different to the normal bookshop offerings!

The secret book club 3⭐️ 1.5🌶️

Contemporary Fiction
Bipoc FMC
Small Town
Book Clubs for Banned Books
Town Secrets
Found Family


This was an interesting story about a woman, unable to find her place, so she offers to run a bookstore during a friend’s maternity leave. the book store only sells books from a certain time period because of a historical society that owns and runs a lot of the town. To rebel against the strict rules, she forms a bookclub and sells banned books so the bookstore can make a profit.

While the premise of the story is great, and I wanted to like the characters… for some reason it fell flat for me. Maybe it’s because of the juxtaposition of a bookseller that isn’t a reader? Maybe it was hard to believe that a small town author kept this tiny tourist town on the map? Maybe it was the FMC being (kinda accurately) compared to Lydia Bennet? Or maybe a lot of the conflict could have been avoided with a little communication and action.

Thank you NetGalley, Harper Collins UK and One More Chapter for an Advanced eReader Copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

So I super loved this book. The story is emotional and relatable, the narrative is impactful.

But.

Through no fault of the author I have discovered that apparently, secret keeping and guilt give me heart burn and I spent the first 2/3 of this book anxiously waiting for Maggie to be on surer footing EVEN THOUGH THE ACTUAL TITLE PREPARED ME FOR THE SECRECY PART.

That’s very much a me problem. Absolutely loved the redemption arc, the non traditional path and the love story unfolding on the page and between the narrator and the power of reading.

Really want a Catward Bell photo tho.

Thank you NetGalley and One More Chapter for this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I wasn't hooked from the very beginning, but the more I read the more the story came together and managed to keep me interested.
I found it very intriguing that the story was set in a small town where the bookstore was only allowed to sell certain books while contemporary literature was banned. At the same time, I liked how it stressed that every book is valuable and that classics aren't automatically better.
Even though I'm a huge fan of romance, I liked that it wasn't a big part of this book and that the story rather focused on Maggie and how she found a community and purpose in her life. I also enjoyed how she, as a non-reader, found love for books. Still, Malcolm was a sweet guy and I liked how he opened up and started to try out new things because of Maggie.
The conflict at the end was resolved very quickly and while I get that some people would've wished for more drama, I liked there wasn't any unnecessary one.

All in all, I'd recommend this book to everyone who's a bookworm, likes bookish themes and is looking for a cute story in a small town setting.

Maggie is helping her pregnant friend out by looking after her secondhand book shop in Bell River. She soon discovers that the whole town is ruled by the selfish descendent of a famous author and goes rogue by ordering in banned books and hosting a book club that attracts more people than she ever imagined.

Soon Maggie has amassed an army of like-minded people who support her thoughts on this tyrant and the way he is running things. Armed with evidence, she goes in fighting to save many jobs and the reputation of the town.

A well-written novel with a different twist to the usual book club story. I felt the ending was all a bit "nice" though, it would have been fun to have a bit more of a fight on their hands to get the results they wanted.

What's not to love with this book? Such a refreshing storyline. Finally, a book that could do without the sizzling scenes, but still was able to convey that *it* happened. This is definitely a breath of fresh air from the typical romance books.

Contemporary Fiction

I'm a sucker for anything with book in the title. I love books about books, librarians, etc. Unfortunately, this was not a book I loved. I didn't really even like it.

It has all the ingredients, but the recipe does not come together. Maggie has no prospects and isn't living her best life. Her best friend asks for help. Maggie travels to Bell River to run her friend's bookstore. After one day, Maggie causes trouble with the head of the town and disrupts the finances of her friend's bookstore. While searching for alternative ways to make the store profitable, Maggie meets many of the townspeople. She finds that they all have things in common and don't like the running of the town. Maggie finds a way to bring them all together with a secret book club. An author writes a spin on a classic and reads it to the group. Maggie sells banned books at the club and passes it off as legitimate sales from the bookstore. She is having so much fun and gaining a positive sense of self, for the first time in a long time. She makes a misstep that causes all the town secrets to be revealed. She is desperate to save her friends and ultimately the town, as well.

Is there a positive moral to the story - yes. That's about all I can say I liked about this novel. I didn't connect with the characters or most of the plot. This one was a struggle to get through.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for my copy of this novel.

I loved how Maggie’s journey and finding herself were the focal point of the plot, it made the book unique and more meaningful. This book didn’t really hook me right away and I wasn’t super excited to pick it up until about halfway through. I felt like the relationships between the characters and Maggie felt disconnected until this point, especially with Malcolm. I wanted more from their relationship, or that it didn’t exist at all. The secret bookstore meetings were so cute and I loved how Robinson slowly ramped up the stakes with the Bell society, as well as Maggie’s personal life.

Shauna Robinson’s ability to write a bookish romance that explores real-world relatable themes for 20-somethings, navigating the world, is unmatched. Much like ‘Must Love Books’, ‘The Secret Book Club’ is a heartwarming emotional rollercoaster set in the land of book lovers.

I really enjoyed this book, the blossoming romance, the sense of community and watching Maggie find her place. Such a joy, thank you to the publishers for the chance to read this! I love Shauna Robinson.

A secret underground book club?!?! Yeah sign me up. This was extremely heartfelt and makes you fall in love with reading all over again. A must buy for sure.

After the first ten pages, I realized this is the same as "The Banned Bookshop of Maggie Banks". I loved Maggie's story when I first read it and would recommend this book to anyone who loves books about books! Thank you Net Galley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Creating a bookstore or a book club in our small village initially seemed like a daunting task, a mission impossible, if you will. However, driven by a profound love for literature and a desire to foster a reading community, I embarked on this journey with optimism and determination.

The quaint bookstore stands as a testament to the power of shared stories and the magic they bring into our lives. It's not just a place to purchase books; it's a haven where villagers come together to explore the vast realms of imagination that literature offers.

In nurturing my daughter's love for reading, I've discovered the incredible bond that can be forged through the pages of a book. Trusting her ability to distinguish between fiction and reality has opened the door to countless adventures and life lessons found in the written word.

This literary venture is not just a business; it's a source of inspiration and motivation. Seeing the joy on faces as they delve into a new novel or engage in lively discussions at the book club fuels the passion to continue this endeavor. It's a reminder that even in a small village, the love for literature can create a vibrant community, connecting minds and hearts through the magic of storytelling.

I received a free copy of, The Secret Book Club, by Shauna Robinson, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Maggie decides to start an underground book club, when she is not able to sell the books she wants to because of the literary society in town. This is a good read, a lot of good books have been banned. Books should not be banned.

This was such a cute read. As a book lover, it’s so easy to relate to the characters who love books. The author did a fantastic job at building this small town and showing the importance of community. I absolutely loved reading this book and enjoyed my time with the characters

Thank you NetGalley for a free e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review.

"The Secret Book Club" by Shauna Robinson is a delightful and heartwarming story that celebrates the love of books and the power of community. Set in the quaint town of Bell River, the novel follows Maggie Banks, a passionate book lover who faces the challenge of running a bookstore in a town with strict literary rules. Maggie's decision to start an underground book club, selling forbidden modern books and dodging the town's conservative literary society, sets off a charming and uplifting narrative.

Robinson’s writing is engaging and full of warmth. She captures the essence of a small town with its quirks and charm, making Bell River a character in its own right. Maggie's character is relatable and endearing; her enthusiasm for books and her determination to bring contemporary literature to her community are infectious. The book club members are a diverse and likable cast of characters, each contributing to the rich tapestry of the story.

The plot is well-paced and filled with humorous and heartwarming moments. The secret nature of the book club and the challenges Maggie faces in keeping it under wraps add an element of suspense and excitement. The exploration of themes such as the importance of literature, the joy of shared reading experiences, and the impact of community involvement is skillfully woven throughout the narrative.

However, readers looking for a more complex or dramatic storyline might find the book's focus on the joys and trials of running a book club a bit light. The novel's primary emphasis is on the uplifting aspects of book lovers coming together, which may not appeal to those seeking a more in-depth exploration of serious themes.

Content warnings for themes of community, literature, and mild conflict with societal norms are appropriate. "The Secret Book Club" will appeal most to readers who enjoy feel-good stories about books, community, and the celebration of reading.

In conclusion, "The Secret Book Club" by Shauna Robinson is a charming and uplifting novel that offers a delightful escape into the world of books and the magic of a close-knit community. Its engaging characters, cozy setting, and celebration of the power of literature make it a perfect read for fans of heartwarming and book-centric stories.

This book was a very exciting read set in the best place - a bookshop! I enjoyed it overall, I loved the characters and they added to my enjoyment of the book.

I am an avid reader so reading a book about a bookstore - perfection! I loved the storyline for the book - Maggie goes to help her friend at her bookstore. However upon her arrival she realizes they only sell certain books. So to boost sales, she creates a secret book club - reading and selling current books. As the book went on, I felt uncomfortable with how long she lied to her friend.

However I loved the romance and how real the book felt.....hit a bump in the road but kept on going.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, One More Chapter, for this book

The characters of grumpy Vernon, Maggie (a nonreader) and Malcom (the classic book reader) are fun and interesting.

The story is engaging and clearly developed. I fell in love with the New England town and the Cobblestone Book shop.

When Maggie finds herself running the bookstore while her friend is on maternity leave she uses her creative ideas to help boost book sales while becoming invested in the Bell River community.

The book is an entertaining quick read.

Recommend.

The Secret Book Club is the story of Maggie, a non-reader who flits from job to job, and has moved to a new town to fill in at her friend’s book store. Struggling with sales due to the limitations on what books can be sold (classics only), Maggie starts a literary speakeasy of sorts, to increase revenue. Along the way, she discovers reading, romance, a new community, and a literary mystery.

This was such a fun read. I loved the messages about finding yourself and your people through books, and reading what makes you happy.

Maggie was endearing and uninhibited, and I enjoyed the friends she made in her new community. Her relationship with Malcolm initially seemed so unlikely, but I really enjoyed the way they forced each other to explore new horizons. All of the characters were engaging and interesting, and the story felt like an ode to books and the communities they inspire (for better or worse!).

Thank you One More Chapter and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy of this book.

The story flowed well and the characters were well developed. I recommend this book and look forward to more from this author.


****Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for my honest review****