Sheila Roberts newest women's fiction book is centered around Karissa Newcomb and her daughter who moved to a new town to start over after a particular devastating divorce and Karissa struggles to let her guard down after she was betrayed so horribly by her husband. A fresh start, a new job and soon new friends as her neighbors make her and her daughter feel at home in their new home and city. I love this author's past books and found her newest book, THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB, to be full of heart, friendship and more within the pages. It started out slow for me to get into the book but by midway, I was thouroughly enjoying the characters immensely and found myself rooting for everyone to get their own happy ever after. The writing is swift and entertaining, filled with some intriguing though at times predictable moments but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of the story of Karissa and her new friends adventures.

The reader meets Karissa, her daughter, Macy, with her neighbors, Alice, Margot and Alice's sister, Josie, soon all become close friends and when they start a book club the fun begins even as each character finds their own issues coming unpacked and learn how to jump start their lives in a way that brings them happiness...if they are brave enough to grab a hold of it. I got to admit, I loved Josie the most. She had a caustic wit about her that hid a tender heart and had me snickering several times throughout the book. Margot and Alice are really fun and interesting women that befriends Karissa and her daughter. What I loved the most about these characters are how they built up one another whenever the other was beaten down with insecurity and doubts. That tribe of friends was a perfect for me to rally behind as they learned to find joy and purpose again as their lives moved in ways that left them wondering what was going on. The books they read and discussed became part of their story individually and collectively which made me eager to see within the story if these characters took heart to what they learned from them even as they scoffed over it all in private. The author does an amazing job in keeping each character unique and so different from one another that I never felt like they were just 'dialing it in' so to speak. The characters were wildly entertaining and kept my attention through out the book.

THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB is more than a story about friendships but about each person's journey in life as it tosses curveballs that can make those weaker curl up and whimper. Ms. Roberts delivers a powerful story about the magic of friendship, family love and more as each of the main characters finds their true purpose in life and a friendship that delivers more than a superficial moment of emotion but a richer and much deeper love between all four of them that makes the reader keep reading till the very end. This is such an uplifting story that I was sad to see it end. I can't wait to see what else the author has in store for her readers as we discover Gig Harbor and the residents there that make me long to visit. If your looking for a perfect spring book club book or read, then I highly recommend THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB that delivers, laughs, promises, friendship and more within its pages.

I think I will always be drawn to books about books and book clubs since I’m such a bibliophile. I really wanted to like this one but unfortunately that wasn’t the case.
Karissa and her 8 year old daughter, Macy, have moved 50 miles away from their home since Karissa’s husband, Mark, cheated on her with her best friend and next door neighbor. Both Karissa and Macy are scared to start over, but their new neighbors are friendly and Karissa has gotten a job working for a small publication company. Soon enough both have made friends and Karissa starts a book club with her neighbors and the sister of one of them. They books they read are self help and nonfiction and each finds something within the pages to help them grow as a person and better their lives.
While real books and authors are mentioned, the books Karissa’s book club reads are all fictional. Each chapter opens with a quote from one of the book club reads which means the quotes are not actually self help quotes but advice Ms. Roberts either gives to others or has been given. Regardless I felt like it wasn’t really needed since the reader not only hasn’t read the book from which the quote came but can’t ever read it since it doesn’t exist. I appreciate Ms. Roberts attempt to make this book more realistic, but it just added to the annoyance factor for me.
I normally enjoy books with multiple character voices but this jumps from character to character without any discernible difference that all it adds is a level of confusion.
Taking place over a year thing I enjoyed was the character development. With the exception of one rushed character, the development that take place amongst the others is actually quite interesting.
With the way this is written, I find it hard to believe that Ms. Roberts has nearly 50 books on her repertoire. WIth such dull writing and insipid characters (despite their great development) this read like a novice writer wrote it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for an advanced copy of this. The Best Life Book Club hit the shelves on May 7th.

The Best Life book club follows Karissa and she tries to restart her life after her husbands infidelity. She soon realizes she’s not the only one in town needing a refresh. Together the women create a book club to spend time together, get to know each other, and leave their troubles behind.

I was a bit envious of this small but close-knit book club/friendship group. But I enjoyed seeing how they worked together to help one another have new beginnings and new loves while reading great books along the way.

Karissa Newcomb is still reeling from her husband cheating on her with her ex-best friend. As she and her young daughter try to start over in a new place, Karissa meets some great neighbors, Alice and Margot.

They decide to start a book club, especially since Karissa’s new job is with a small publishing company. Alice invites her grumpy sister Josie to Book Club, and the four women turn the page to see what could be the best chapters of their lives yet.

With a sprinkling of sweet romances, parenting struggles, and female friendship, I loved spending time with these ladies. They all had hurts and past wounds: widowhood, divorce, family strife, job loss, etc. Together, as friends, they supported one another and moved forward.

This was heartwarming, and the characters were so endearing. I loved all the book talk about publishing, writing, and reading - I definitely wanted to join this book club!

Thank you @uplitreads and @sheilarobertswriter for a spot on tour and a gifted book.

This is my first time reading any of Shiela Robert’s novel. I must say I can’t wait to read more novels from her! I definitely recommend!

The Best Life Book Club is a wonderful story about new friendships, lost loves, new loves and new beginnings. Sheila Roberts is a great storyteller with enjoyable, well rounded characters. The Best Life Book Club is an enjoyable read that made me rethink some of my actions and relationships.

Who wouldn’t want to read a sweet story of a book about books? I did and I so enjoyed this book. The thought of. Books club and the women becoming part of each other’s lives is great. I wish I could find a local book club where I live. I love the story of Karissa moving to a new place to start over and finding such a wonderful group of women that all become friends and support each other. I totally got lost reading this book. This is a great story and well worth the read.

After her husband leaves her for her best friend and neighbor, Karissa is distraught, but determined to make a better life for heroes fan her daughter Macy. She is cautious of trusting people and making new friends after the betrayal, but her neighbor Alice finds a way into her heart, bringing along Margot and Josie. The four decide to start a book club. Each has things in their life they need to overcome, and having a crew and books to light their way, they each begin to face their issues.

This is such a beautiful book about the joy and value of great friendships! While each of these ladies had something to face and/or tackle in their lives, the bond of their friendship helped them through it every step of the way! I really enjoyed that Karissa worked at a publishing house and fun that comes with that, including terribly mean authors. Overall this was just a wonderful feel good book about a very unique set of women in a book club! What could be better?

The Best Life Book Club, by Sheila Roberts, is a story of new beginnings as recently betrayed and newly divorced Karissa Newcomb settles into her new little Victorian house in a lovely neighborhood in Gig Harbor, Washington. Betrayed by her husband Mark and best friend and neighbor Allegra, Karissa wanted to move as far away as she could from their uppity Seattle neighborhood. So once the family home was sold, Karissa found employment running the office for Heron Publishing in Gig Harbor and moved her daughter Macy across the Tacoma bridge to a new life.

Settling in was not easy for either mother or daughter. Macy was fearful of beginning at a new school where she knew no one and had no friends. Karissa was somewhat fearful of new neighbors period after her recent experience. And beginning at a new job was intimidating all on its own. However, it was only a few days before Macy settled in and made a new best friend, Lilith Edwards. Soon after moving in, first Alice, a 50 something widow, then Margot, an early 40s divorcee, took their new neighbor under their wings and the group became fast friends.

Working at Heron Publishing proved to be an interesting new position that Karissa was quite well suited for with a wonderful staff with which to work. In fact, her love of books led Karissa to form a book club with her new friends, Margot, Alice, and Alice’s slightly older sister Josie, also a widow. Taking turns choosing books, this newly close knit group read self-help and fiction, mystery and romance, and found ways of allowing the stories to lead them forward as they each find new directions and futures.

This is such a well crafted story with point on character development. As the cast of characters journeys through their initial year together the reader is invited to go along for the ride. I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

The Best Life Book Club is told in alternating points of view of women looking for new starts in life. A divorce, a death, aging...these women need one another and the camaraderie that happens when they form a book club. There is some romance too, and the background of Puget Sound, to make this an entertaining and heartwarming story.

The love of books helps us in many ways like bringing readers together and that’s something I appreciated here. Dealing with life and navigating issues from work or family problems really brought these people together. The new life Karissa builds alongside her friends is a better one because they’re no longer alone.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing is so cozy and detailed and I felt as if I was part of the story. I loved watching Karrissa rebuild her life with her daughter and the help of her new neighbors turned friends. The idea of forming a book club was so wonderful. This book has heart and soul and the gift of not giving up! I recommend this book to anyone who likes women's fiction, found family, book clubs and second chances. Sheila Roberts is a wonderful storyteller.

Thank you NetGalley and Sheila Roberts for this ARC.

A solid 3.5 stars! It's not quite 4 stars, but I rounded up because I enjoyed the women so much. The character development is fabulous. We get to see different sides of the friends and through the tough exteriors of some of them. This is a feel-good story that focuses on new friendships, new beginnings and supporting each other. Karissa Newcomb, a 34 year old single mother of 8 year old Macy, moves to Gig Harbor, WA after her marriage ends. She quickly becomes friends with some of her neighbors, and together, they start a book club. The club is so much more than just reading books. It's about growing their relationships, inspiring each other, stepping out of their comfort zones and moving forward in life, all with the support of their group. There are some great mantras and good advice in the book club picks, and many of the chapters start with quotes from some of the self-help readings. As the book nears the end, the storyline seems a bit contrived as different pieces fall into place a bit too easily, but it still made me smile. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing MIRA for the digital ARC.

I really enjoyed this book! It is set in my home town so it was a lot of fun to read about it and she the creative liberties taken with my small town. The writing was incredible and I went Out right after I finished The book and preordered it so I could have it on pub day. The sweet author will actually be coming to a bookstore near me in a few weeks so I’m looking forward to having her sign it!

The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts is a sweet story of friendships, second chances, and for that every reader who takes something from every book they read.

Karissa is starting a new life with her daughter after she has been cheated on by her husband. She moves into a new neighborhood where she makes new friendships. Alice, Margot, and Josie and Karissa bond over books, and maybe this is what gives these women the second chance of happiness.

I enjoyed reading this book. It's a very sweet and happy story of friendships, though there's some sadness underneath. The discussions of the books, though some are fictional, and how books make an impact on the readers were really fun. This book is perfect for just lounging on the patio with an iced tea! That's what I did :)

Thank you, Harlequin Trade Publishing @htpbooks and The Hive @htp_hive , for this book.

This is a really lovely book celebrating the joy of friendship and learning how to move ahead and move on.

It centers on four women, but mostly on Karissa, a recently divorced woman with a young daughter. She has moved to Bainbridge Island after her divorce and is starting over with a new job with a small publishing company. She forms a book club with her neighbors, Alice, who is a widow and Margot, who is also divorced and has recently lost her job. Rounding out the group is Alice's sister Josie, who is a brash, opinionated woman, widowed and estranged from her adult daughter. The four choose books that help them to see their lives in different ways as they navigate various joys and troubles.

I enjoyed this heartfelt look at these women's lives. I loved their friendships and how they supported one another. It's not an overly deep novel, but it's entertaining and delightful. I liked each of the characters, although they weren't all focused on equally. There's some romance, but it isn't overpowering and fits naturally within the story. Everyone gets a "happily ever after," although it doesn't always look like what might be expected. Plus there's the addition of a sometimes naughty dog named Lucky which keeps things very lighthearted.

This is the first book I've read by this author and I will definitely look for others in the future.

After her husband cheats on her with her neighbor/best friend, Karissa Newcomb is desperately in need of a fresh start. Her and her daughter Macy move to Gig Harbor, where she’s gotten a job as an assistant at a small publishing company. After meeting her neighbors Alice and Margot, the three, along with Alice’s sister Josie, decide to form a book club. As the women grow closer, they strive to support one another, in both reading and life.

This was such a feel-good, heartwarming story of friendship, starting over, and the power and beauty of books. I really loved each of the characters, and I think they were dynamic and well-developed, each showing growth throughout the novel. Sheila Roberts always delivers comforting, Hallmark-esque stories {and fun fact—a few of her books have been developed into Hallmark movies!} and I really enjoy reading her work. I’d definitely recommend this book for those looking for an optimistic, heartfelt read!

FAVORITE QUOTE: “The one thing we can always count on in life is change, and that’s not always for the best. But you got to keep truckin’.” {pg. 137}

Thank you UpLit Reads, NetGalley and MIRA Books for my gifted physical + e-ARC!

I enjoyed reading. the Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts. You will fall in love with all the characters. I received an ARC of this book courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher. All opinions expressed in this review are my own and given freely. Happy Reading!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the advanced copy. This is my first book by Sheila Robert’s and it won’t be my last. The Best Life Book Club follows four women during major changes of their lives. Karissa and her daughter are starting over in a new town, Margot is struggling after losing her job, Alice is terrified to drive, and Josie’s relationship with her daughter is nonexistent . The one thing that brings them all together is book club. I enjoyed the stories of each of the for characters, even if they were predictable.

A heart tugging emotional read that I thoroughly enjoyed through laughter and tears. An unlikely book club of neighbors that become fast friends even though they have nothing in common. I loved how they supported each other on their journey in their present lives. Enjoyed the relationships that developed for two of the women. So many good quotes that we can live by in our own personal lives. I highly recommend this book!!