I so wanted to like "The Best Life Book Club." I usually enjoy novels about book clubs. I was also looking for a palate cleanser from mysteries and thrillers when I decided to read this book. It was the first book I had ever read from this author.

The writing style was a little too saccharine for me. Additionally, the dialogue, at times, did not seem realistic to me. Especially the conversations Karissa had with her mom. I also struggled with some of the plot points that were used.

Overall, this book did not quite work for me. Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my ARC.

This was just a meh of a book. The characters were cute enough but everything was so surface level that I didn't really care one way or another, and despite everyone's very real problems, they all seem to magically go away in the end. This wasn't enough to make me want to keep picking this book up, and more I felt I had to force my way through it. However, if you're looking for a feel-good, brain break, this will entertain you.

In' The Best Life Book Club, Sheila Roberts delivers a heartwarming tale of friendship, healing, and second chances. Set against the picturesque backdrop of Gig Harbor, Puget Sound, Roberts introduces us to Karissa Newcomb, a woman determined to start fresh after her divorce and forge a new path for herself and her daughter.

Karissa settles into her new life and encounters her neighbors, Alice and Margot, who also grapple with their struggles. Together with Alice's sister, Josie, the four women form an unlikely bond through a book club.

Roberts' storytelling introduces the reader to richly drawn characters and heartfelt dialogue, exploring themes of loss, forgiveness, and learning to embrace the future. As the women delve into their reading selections, they find solace, inspiration, and the courage to confront their fears and embrace new beginnings.

With its blend of wit, warmth, and wisdom, Sheila Roberts' latest novel is a testament to the enduring power of friendship and the transformative magic of literature.

My thanks for the ARC goes the NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA. I'm voluntarily leaving a review.

Genre: Romance, Women's Fiction, Book about Books
Spice Level: Sweet
Language: I don't remember any swearing
Format: Multiple-POV

THE BEST LIFE BOOK CLUB draws us into four women's lives. They're different ages and at different stages of life except that they're all single. The book club brings them together, and they learn from the books they read. (There's a bit more to that, but I don't want to spoil it for you.)

Karissa is the first woman introduced, and I felt like she is the primary protagonist. A single mom who has just moved, and her trust is shattered. She's rebuilding for herself and her child. I felt like her kiddo was almost always at her dad's because she wasn't on the page much.

Alice, Karissa's neighbor, lost the love of her life and has somewhat shut down her life. She is sweet and demure.

Josie is Alice's sister, and also a widow, though she doesn't miss her husband. She is brusque.

Margot is another neighbor, but she and her husband divorced equitably. She's managing her life and figuring out her relationship with her mom.

I wanted to feel more deeply connected to the characters. Mind you, I knew how each one felt, but it didn't seem as interior as I expected. I cheered for the women as they made strides to improve their lives. This was a fun book that centers around self-improvement and change, and I recommend it. The literary bent of it is fun.

Happy reading!

Unfortunately this was not for me. The characters and plot were very surface level. All the references to praying made me uncomfortable. I think part of the issue is the generation gap between the author and myself as the reader. Fans of this author’s prior works will probably enjoy it, but as a newcomer to this author, she’s not one I will read again.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC of The Best Life Book Club. I wanted to enjoy this book as the premise hooked me, but the actual book was a bit tough to get through. I don't know if it was the format of the e-arc, but it was tough to decipher whose storyline/POV we were following as it suddenly switched (what felt like) without any formatting change. I thought the romance element was sweet, but it felt rushed/forced/not thought through. The characters were lovely, but their language/dialogue felt a bit dowdy to me. Overall, one that was a bit of a struggle to get through and not one that I'd necessarily read again/recommend.

The Best Life Book Club by Sheila Roberts is a story about a fresh start, trust, friendship, and feeling better about yourself. I have been reading Sheila Roberts novels for seventeen years, and this is the first story by Ms. Roberts that I did not find to be an enjoyable reading experience. The point of view switches between the characters. The switch is abrupt (can change from one paragraph to the next). The bouncing around can give you whiplash (and it can be hard to tell who is currently speaking). It is also hard to keep the women and their journeys straight. With the various storylines and characters, I found there to be plot holes and missing details. The romance between Karissa and Edward felt forced and rushed. Personally, I wish the story had focused on the women and their journeys. I did not feel that romance was needed. I liked seeing the women come together. They encouraged and helped each other. Together they created something special. I enjoyed the book discussions and the book references. I could tell that the author is familiar with Gig Harbor, Washington based on her beautiful descriptions. The depictions allowed me to visualize the town. The Best Life Book Club had an ending that will leave you smiling. Better times were ahead for the Karissa, Alice, Margot, Josie, and young Macy.

I can't believe I am doing this, but this is a Do Not Finish for me. I don't like to do this with ARCs because I was gifted a book in return for my review. I feel it is my obligation to see it through to the end and give it a fair chance. But I just couldn't make myself go another page deeper. This is my first book by this author. I was about 20% in and really struggling when I looked her up. Immediately I knew what my problem was with this book. She is an older author at 71 years old. I just don't care for the writing styles of most older adult authors in this genre. I find them stiff and old-fashioned.

I am honestly having a hard time finding a positive here. I liked the setting…anything Pacific Northwest usually draws me right in. Outside of that, I have nothing. I felt the plot and the characters were both sorely lacking. The plot was shallow. Scenes were skimmed over. There wasn't a lot of detail. The transition between character perspectives was clunky and it threw off the flow of the story. There would be a lot of time spent on mundane parts that really made no contribution to the story, such as detailed accounts of Karissa's work day; however, other parts were glossed over, often jumping from one day to several days later. I just didn't get it.

I felt that most of the characters lacked a true identity. They had little to no personality. They felt stiff and formal and their portrayed age did not match up with their actual age. When Alice was introduced, I assumed she was in her late 60’s or early 70’s, so imagine my surprise when the author tells me that she is 57…only 10 years older than I currently am. On the other hand, Macy is supposed to be a 9 year old but she comes off as much younger. Her first day of school scene had me thinking she was in kindergarten or first grade. Karissa also treated her as if she was much younger. I also felt that the interactions between the characters just did not feel authentic. They felt superficial and forced. The dialogue felt unnatural and did not have an easy flow to it. No one under 60 talks like the characters in this book. No one says things like "doofy dog" or "posse" or "I didn't mean to frighten the whiskers off of you." What does that even mean? I also hated the names of some of these characters. They sounded like medications...Allegra, Lystra, Emerald. I felt like the author was trying to be young and hip but it did not work for me.

I made it to chapter 7 - 24% and just couldn't do it anymore. This might be the perfect book for someone else but this reader is not the right audience for this book.

The beginning did not grab my attention, and it felt like extra detail was given on things that didn't matter. Couldn't finish.

After a betrayal by her husband and best friend, Karissa and her daughter Macy move to a new town to start over. Alone and sad they both need a new beginning. Slowly they each find new friends.
They now have a sense of purpose, they learn forgiveness, the power of shared comradery through literature and begin to take control of their lives. Moving on is tough but true friendships make life better.
This is a story of self-discovery and a journey personal growth.
Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for my ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Best Life Book Club is a heartwarming tale that celebrates the power of friendship, community, and the joy of reading. Roberts crafts relatable characters and a cozy setting that will make readers feel right at home. With its uplifting message and charming storytelling, this book is a delightful reminder of the magic found within the pages of a good book and the bonds formed through shared stories. Perfect for book lovers everywhere, it's a feel-good read that leaves a lasting impression.

The Best Life Book Club is my first Sheila Roberts book and I enjoyed it.

We meet four women who are in different chapters of life who come together to form a book club. The four of them become friends and help each other through the struggles they’re dealing with.

I loved all the characters but didn’t relate to any of them. I’ve never gone through any of the situations they were, but not relating to them didn’t take away from the story.

I loved the quotes at the beginning of each chapter.

The only thing I didn’t care for was the change of POV in the same chapters. It was hard for me to keep track of who was speaking because it wasn’t noted whose POV we were reading.

Other than that, the story was great. The character growth and individual stories was great, too.

A book club that brings four women together who are all in different phases of life and navigating hard things. Something so simple that ends up being so life changing. I am a sucker for a good feel-good book and anything about a book club. Thank you so much for the ARC of this sweet read!!

This is a sweet read. Four women are navigating changes in their lives. They each need to figure out how to move on and take risks to engage in new opportunities and experiences. Life changes are hard but at least they have each other!

While I love any book about books, book clubs, or libraries this book just seemed extra slow to me and I don't feel like the characters were very well established. Its a 3 star for me.

"It Started as a book club. It became a way to build a better life together."
The Best Life Book Club is about four friends who explore life and relationships in the book club they have. The author has wrote an amazing book that will have you turning pages till the very end. The overall theme in this book is friendship and how important friendship can be. I enjoyed reading this book and look forward to reading more books by this author. This book would be a great fit for any book club or reader. Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and the Author for this ARC read in exchange of my honest review of The Best Life Book Club.

First off, thank you, NetGalley, Sheila Roberts, and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this book for my honest review.

First off, the cover is adorable. The premise of this book was so interesting and I was excited to see it play out.

There were some great messages in this book about personal growth and moving on after life drags you down. I loved that.

Unfortunately, this book was not for me. I struggled to get into it. There were some great points and some cute moments that I really enjoyed, but overall, I wasn't immersed in the story. I struggled to follow along when it jumped from one POV to the next between the 4 main characters.

I also struggled to connect with any characters. Margot was my favorite, as she had the most personality.

Perhaps because I haven't been in any situations like these women, I couldn't relate enough.

I hope other readers are able to connect with this story and these characters more than I did.

The Best Life Book Club
Sheila Roberts
May 7, 2024

Karissa Newcomb was overcome when her husband announced his intent to end their marriage. He told her he had fallen in love with Allegra Gray, her best friend and neighbor. Karissa and Mark’s daughter, Macy is friends with her daughter, Charlotte. After a long binge of reflecting, she felt it was best to sell the house and move away from Seattle. The realtor helped with the search and together they found a smart home in Gig Harbor, Washington. She’d found a terrific job with a small publishing company. Now settling into the house and finding new friends was the tough part. Neither she nor Macy were comfortable starting their first day at work or at school.
The Best Life Book Club will be published by Mira Books of Harlequin on May 07, 2024. I was able to read the ARC by Sheila Roberts via NetGalley. I appreciate their allowing me to read this delightful novel. It tells a tale of three women who are alone due to divorce or becoming a widow. These ladies are all in the same neighborhood. They welcomed Marissa with open hearts. From start to finish it is superb. I thoroughly enjoyed this work from start to finish. Find a copy of Roberts latest book and do enjoy!

Four woman, all struggling with something in their lives, will form a book club and help each other face their challenges. Karissa is trying to start her life over in a new neighbourhood post divorce with her little girl. After being betrayed she is having a hard time feeling confident and trusting anybody. Alice lost the love of her life and instead of spending her retirement having adventures with him her world has slowly gotten smaller. Josie and her daughter haven’t spoken in months, she misses her but is insistent her daughter needs to make the first move for reconciliation. Margot was laid off and didn’t realize how hard it would be to find another one. Finding friendship and advice in their book club the four women will come together to improve their lives.

I like parts of this book. I really like each of the woman, they all have great storylines. I love all the book references, nothing gets readers excited like seeing an author reference their favourite titles. On the whole I would say I liked it.
That being said, it did feel a little repetitive and disorganized at times. It felt like there was a bit too much crammed into this story, and a few less plot points giving space to flesh out the other ones would have been great.
But it is a lovely story about female friendships and books.
Thank you to @_mira_books_ and @netgalley for letting me have a copy early to review. Look for #thebestlifebookclub May 7 2024.
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3.5 🌟 a touching read following four women who have undergone significant life changes and find solace in their book club 🫶🏼 honestly such a feel good book with pretty quick pacing! I loved the project the women took on together and how they all went from strangers to the best support system. Also, I’m a sucker for an older, crotchety person who has a lot of growth! I think the two things I struggled with were how much we jumped around in POVs with no clear signal that we were switching and would have to switch gears quickly. Having shorter chapters with a POV for each chapter would have made the reading experience easier for me. Second, I really didn’t need the focus to be on the romances as much. It would have been nice to not have as perfect as an ending and having the women find contentment anyways. But overall, I had a good time with it and will be recommending it!