It took me a bit to get into the book, I found the writing to be a little stiff but the further I went the more I couldn't put it down. I fell in love with the story and truly appreciate that there was no big drama added in. So many books like this tend to throw in something that will try to pull the characters apart in a misunderstanding that often shouldn't have happened. This book doesn't do that, it gives you things to think on and lets the characters figure it out without too much assumption. I really loved it in the end.

Carolyn Brown has become on of my favorite authors, for her simple, feel good stories full of rich characters, strong dialogue and fun storylines. This one hits all those marks. Another great story featuring a girl who is starting over in a town with a group of well meaning ladies who take an interest in seeing her happy. Loved this. thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I had trouble getting in to this book to begin with and nearly gave up, but after a few chapters I couldn't put it down. Lovely characters in a nice place. As someone who lives near London UK, I think I forgot just how hot it would be in Texas in the summer. Thoroughly enjoyed this book and managed to read it in a week even though I had a very buys week at work. Just wanted to read it whenever I got home.

"The Sawmill Book Club" is an adorable story of love and friendship that will make you laugh, cry and warm your heart.
The synopsis of this book really caught my attention , and I was not disappointed. It is one of those stories that make you feel like you are part of the people in the book. The characters have enchanted me, also the way the author writes is something that has captivated me page after page.
It is the first novel I read by Carolyn Brown and the truth is that I need to read more of her.
This kind of stories, of starting over are the kind of stories that I consider very necessary, they are a ray of light and hope that it is never too late to start again, and this story makes it very clear that it is possible.
Thank you Netgallery for the opportunity to read this wonderful novel.

I pleasant read, Nothing too exciting - could have gone into a little more detail about her upbring and the contents of the box.

Enjoyed the book and would recommend it. Easy read

Thank you NetGalley and Montlake for this ARC.

Elizabeth, aka Libby, is moving to Sawmill, TX to take on a job at an antique shop owned by a stranger named Benny and is being offered an apartment.

She quickly becomes acquainted with 2 elderly women, Minilee and Opal, who invite her to join their book club, and lucky for them, Libby loves to read! 

I loved the small town romance of boy meets girl with a twist. Libby will uncover many family secrets along the way and the book club is a way to help her navigate life, which I thought was unique. She learns to deal with her past and erases the negativity with the support of the Sawmill community. Family is not always chosen by blood. Such a heartfelt story for a cold day and gives you all the butterflies!

The sawmill book club is a wholesome romance. Libby grew up an unwanted girl. But now she must trust in herself and others to find love and friendship

Carolyn Brown books never fail to brighten my day, and The Sawmill Book Club was no exception. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

A sweet small town romance from Carolyn Brown is like a warm blanket on a cold day. When Libby comes looking for a job she finds just what she's been look for all her life. While growing up at her grandmother's antique store she learned a lot but was always looking for love and acceptance something she never received at home. But once in Sawmill, Texas she begins to see just how much she missed out on when she meets the sweet old ladies, Opal and Minilee. With their help a long with a budding relationship with Ben she begins to heal and finds what a family really looks like. The cute little book club these ladies have accepts Libby right into their group. They proved her encouragement while also picking books that help lead Libby in right direction with problems her life has brought her. If you are ever in need of a warm hug a Carolyn Brown is exactly what you're looking to read.
(Thanks Netgalley for an advance reader copy)

A cute little read that I very much enjoyed.
Poor Libby. Verbal abuse is the same as actually inflicting it in my opinion.
I've been through what's going on only except it was a parent.
I loved going to antique sales with herband Benny though. It was fun seeing what they might find!

Enjoyed this one. Small town Texas romance, that was hard to put down. With dogs, antiques and romance, what is not to like? Highly recommend.

The story was good and kept me invested. I felt that some of the main characters issues were redundant and that the story could be summed up in fewer pages. Overall good read.

the Sawmill Book Club by Carolyn Brown is like a guilty pleasure!
It's the kind of book you want to read after reading something "heavy".
It's delightful although somewhat of a familiar trope.

A young woman leaves the big city for a job in an ultra-small town, and her new boss is a total hottie.
Two older women "adopt" her as a surrogate grand-daughter, and although there are some bumps in the road, all turns out well in the end.

Loved this book and especially the detailed info on the antique business.

This novel was a pleasant, entertaining read with likeable characters (with one exception for a little dramatic flair). I enjoyed the storyline, particularly the focus on the antique business, until the very end when the romantic dialogue felt stilted and saccharine.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

Cute small town romance read. The story between Libby and Benny is sweet and fun to read. There is no explicit scenes, which helps focus on the love not the lust.

The plot feels rushed at times through certain dialogue. The title seems odd because although the book club is referenced numerous times, it certainly is not a main focus. Some aspects of Libby’s internal dialogue gets repetitive and tiresome.

Overall, it was a cute and fairly innocent romance read. Perfect if you’re looking for a fun and easy book.

Thank you to NetGalley for allowing me early access to this book.

The Sawmill Book Club
By Carolyn Brown
Published by Montlake, Seattle
Review by Glenda Toews

Carolyn Brown introduces us to Libby and Ben and just the right amount of supporting characters in a gentle southern drawl. I appreciate that she was able to include romance without resorting to ‘smut’.

I had difficulty with repetition. Libby needed to remind me far too often that her grandmother left her alone. I was informed abundantly that Ben had money. The ache of trust issues with Libby carried on longer than needed.
An abundance of overused cliches and descriptions are used, some readers may find these as a point to resonate with, I had difficulty with them and would have loved to have been introduced to something more original.
The storyline dragged at some points and was common but was enough to pull me through to the end. I’m a sucker for a happy ending but this one was too predictable. I probably would have enjoyed it more if the author tucked in a stronger plot twist, and added more.

I loved the title of the book which is why I selected to read it and the cover was appropriate for the story. I did appreciate the southern voice of the characters and the way the author pulled this charm into the storyline.

I rate The Sawmill Book Club 3 out of 5 and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys a simple romance story that doesn’t get bogged down in smut. As well as to anyone who just needs to escape the real world for a quick simple read.

Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

It's my first time reading from the writer, but I really liked her humor and the kindness with which she brings the characters to life. Libby aka Elizabeth is a character with a difficult background, whose heart is open and accepting despite the many difficulties. He moves to a new town, where he starts working in an antique shop and gets to know the town's few but nicer residents and his boss, Benny. In this novel, the past and the present, the old and the young meet beautifully. A charming romantic story about love, friendship and starting over. The language of the novel is easy to understand even for those reading in a foreign language - like me.
I highly recommend Carolyn Brown's novels to fans of the genre.
Thanks to NetGalley for the novel!

I have never read this author before, but I have heard fairly good things about her books. The story was enough to keep my attention and was a good idea for a story however the relationships didn’t seem realistic to me. The characters who I really wanted to love seemed very blah. Like hitting a wall. I knew the MC were probably going to end up together but I couldn’t feel the chemistry. Even the friendships seemed flat. It was about 70% through the book before the MC even seemed to show interest in one another. The women friendships also had so much lost potential. For as good of a story idea as it was I guess I just hoped for more depth. I received this book to review through netgalley.

Reading a Carolyn Brown book is like having a party. There's a lot of work to be done beforehand, but oh, what a good time was had by all. I received this book through NetGalley and it will be released on July 9, 2024. The story's main character, Libby goes through a lot in her life until she makes a change and moves where meets her new boss, Benny. He's rich but comes from a small town where everyone knows your name.

If you need a feel-good book, then please put this one on your TBR list. It makes you believe in fairy tales that do come true. It makes you believe that we can overcome obstacles with just a little bit of faith, good friends of some self-forgiveness.

Let me start by saying that I never miss the opportunity to read Carolyn Brown. Every novel I've read, I love! That having been said, this one is another hit. Libby is a sweet girl with memories that she's having a hard time getting past. After losing her job, her elderly neighbor lets her know of an antique shop in a small rural community. Not her choice of employment since antiquing is part of her memories but necessity gets the best of her. She meets the proprietor, Benny. After some knowledge tests and passing the approval of his surrogate grandmothers across the road, Libby takes the job which also comes with a small apartment. Soon, Libby has reorganized the office and proved invaluable on the shop floor. She confides in the older women and finally, comes to grip with the past and how she's not defined by it. She and Benny become friends and that leads to dating. It's a wholesome story about friends and finding love.