Marnie, widowed young and with a cheating ex, has built a successful cooking show while guarding her heart. Her daughter Bella is five months pregnant after IVF, and her emotional rollercoaster is giving her husband whiplash. Ellen, creative chef and producer, widowed after 27 years of caretaking, is worrying herself sick about a possible dinner with her neighbor. Intern Sophia has a very interesting father, and her new boyfriend is triggering her warning instincts. Together the women face transitions and opportunities.

Carr is skilled at creating relatable and sympathetic characters. Perspective switches between the women and Bella’s husband. I appreciated that two of the women were in mid-life and enjoyed learning about hydroponics. The food writing made me hungry. It is an unfortunate fact that many women deal with unwanted attention and its aftermath, and that issue is one of the threads running through the story. The depth of understanding and insight Carr brings to this topic is what takes the story from good to memorable. Sure to be in high demand. Recommended.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a review eARC. All opinions expressed are my own.

We all wish for best friends who will be there for us when we need them the most! For Marni, Bella, Ellen and Sophia, friendship and love was the glue that kept them together. Ellen had been Marni’s assistant and then producer for her cooking show. Sbe created delicious and appealing dishes for Marni to prepare for her millions of fans. Marni could not exist without her, and Ellen was in her glory being by her side. The two women are as close as sisters and would often share a glass of wine after taping where they could relax and throw around ideas for future episodes. Sophia is a young college student who is interning on Marni’s show and she looks up to the older women and values their experience and motherly advice. Sophia will need Marni and Ellen’s help when a personal problem is just too hard for her to handle alone. Bella is Marni’s daughter who is pregnant with her first child. Bella's emotions are all over the place and she finds herself relying on her mom for her wisdom, delicious meals, and warm hugs that take away all her fears. Romance is in the cards for Marni and Ellen, with both women hesitant to trust their hearts to the possibility of love and happiness. Throughout the book the four women experience heartbreak, the joy of falling in love, and the realization that you can have it all.

A celebration of the strength of women friendship and how they can support each other.
A poignant and life affirming well plotted story that feature well rounded characters
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

“The Friendship Club” by Robyn Carr
FOUR compelling stories all in one read
I found the gas-lighting story line the most intense.. and I had to take a couple of breaks to calm myself down. The other three story lines I was able to just enjoy and go with the flow, letting my emotions carry me along through the character’s journey. I enjoyed the way the all the events were woven together. Yes another really good Robyn Carr story. Happy Reading ! !
Note: This review expresses my honest opinion..
I received an ARC of this story from the publisher via NetGalley.

No surprise here, the book is great. Robyn Carr always hits it out of the park. Engaging characters, tough topics but she brings it all together.

Typical Robin Carr. Several friends reacting to different things. Even though they do not want to marry they still find love later in life. Nice read.

Four women from different age groups are centered around Marni, a television/media chef. Over the course of the story these women find their true selves. Friendships, knowledge, life lessons, family relations, domestic violence, mental health, and second chances and insight provide a solid foundation for this book. Marni is the star of one of the most popular cooking shows on TV, Marni Cooks. Marni was widowed after having her daughter, Bella, so she made ends meet by handing out food samples at grocery stores before being discovered by the local morning show to do cooking demonstrations. From there, she was discovered by network TV. Cheated on by her second husband who took more than he earned from her empire and went off with the girl he was having an affair, Marni learns to forgive but not forget. This book is about giving back when one has flourished with hard work as well as finding yourself and understanding that love changes through life but people need others. Enjoyed this book by Robyn Carr and would recommend it for all age groups.

Thank you to #NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the early edition of #TheFriendshipClub

This is another ready for streaming story! However, I thoroughly enjoy and prefer good stories through my own lens. The Friendship Club delivers as a good read but I wouldn't be surprised to see it on tv. As a reader of a certain age, I appreciate the fact that companionship and all that can go with it never goes away. Very well done (again) Robyn Carr!

I’m a big fan of Robyn Carr. I’ve read many of her series novels, and many of her standalones. While I enjoyed this book, it was just average for me. The characters are likable, the story is pleasant, and it moves along in a safe and predictable way. This is a great book to pick up as a palate cleanser between heavier reads.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own

Friendship Club by Robyn Carr brings women of various ages together as they deal with their challenges. They display understanding and support for each other.

I really liked this one, it had good storylines, good characters and of course I always like a book set at the beach. I liked the relationships that form during this book, and the way they look after each other. It felt a little forced and slow in the middle, but overall a really good read.

Nice!

This book was a great story about women, their friendships and relationships, and strength. 5 women, from different backgrounds all brought together because of 1, Marni. Nettie is Marni’s sister and close friend. Ellen and Sophia work for Marni, Ellen for 20 years and Sophia for a much shorter internship. Each of the 4 have gone through different struggles over the years, but have managed to come out stronger.

I love that Marni is a self-made tv star, having started out handling samples at the grocery store. She was a single mom for part of the time, but also made some bad man choices. Bella, her daughter, is about to have her own baby, another hard fought but won battle. Ellen feels past her prime, but is brave enough to take a look around and likes what she finds next door. Sophia has a scary experience and needs recovery time.

All these women are strong and stand on their own, even though some discover that sometimes it’s nice to have a man around. Women holding up and supporting other women is a theme we need more of these days.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

*****Publishing January 23, 2024****

Robyn Carr writes a heartfelt and touching book on friendships, family relations, domestic violence, mental health, and second chances! Definitely not an uplifting book, but it draws in you wanting to read more.

Marni is the star of one of the most popular cooking shows on TV, Marni Cooks.
Marni was widowed after having her daughter, Bella, so she made ends meet by handing out food samples at grocery stores before being discovered by the local morning show to do cooking demonstrations. From there, she was discovered by network TV.

Marni’s relationships in her life just haven’t worked out. Her daughter, Bella, wants her to date, but Marni is not so sure. Bella has her own challenges with her husband while being pregnant. Jeff, Marni’s ex, keeps resurfacing and Marni’s intern, Sophia, is tangled up in an abusive relationship. Can Marni and her friends rely on each other for support and help each other out during the most trying times? Will they all eventually find happiness?

Even though this book will bring out all kind of emotions, it will leave you feeling hopeful at the end! Perfect for book clubs as a lot of good discussions will come from reading this book.

Thanks to Harlequin Trade Publishing (MIRA), I was provided an ARC of The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Friendship Club is about three friends that work together and how their lives connect .
Marni has a cooking show and Sophia & Ellen work with her. They are friends and often spend time together as well. They help each other through the good times and the bad .
This book is another great Robyn Carr book that leaves you with all sorts of emotions. Thank you NetGalley and publisher for a copy for my opinion.

The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr takes its time to unfold, but once it does, it weaves a compelling narrative about love, friendship, and the complexities of modern relationships. Marni McGuire's journey, filled with humorous mishaps in the dating scene, resonates with authenticity. While the pacing may be a bit slow initially, the depth of the characters and the exploration of love's various dimensions make it a rewarding read.

Robyn Carr is one of my favorite authors! I enjoyed this book!!! The Friendship Club follows four women/friends as they face different crossroads, challenges of dating, marriage, love, and also, loneliness. Thankfully, they have each other to lean on during these times throughout the book. This book made me realize how precious our friendships can really be. The important ones are the ones who will stick by you no matter what. I want to say thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for this ARC of The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr! I would totally recommend this book! Cannot wait to read Robyn's next book!!! 🥰🥰🥰

I love Robyn Carr books, this one is about four friends as they navigate the course of their lives. It was hard to put down.

I really enjoyed this book because it reminded me the power that a friendship truly has. I consistently thought about my own friendships throughout the book, and I found it extremely heartwarming and a great read. I loved all the characters and found I could relate to them all.

Robyn Carr has crafted a warm and wonderful story in The Friendship Club.. “It’s the battles we fight that make us stronger.”and “It’s important that women talk, that we share our experiences, that we learn to be candid and open.” Thanks, Marni!

I really enjoy Robyn Carr's books and this one was no exception. The Friendship Club follows a group of four friends through the trials of their lives over the course of the book. There is some heavy content in this story so be sure to look into trigger warnings, if you think you might need it.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for providing me a copy of the e-book before the publication date.