Let’s jump into this by saying the the title of this book is so VERY misleading. Despite it having an actual ‘banned book club’, it’s not the focus of the story. My guess is that the themes in the story are supposed to make it eligible to be banned ? I’m not too sure, that’s just my take.
The plot itself was really good and for the most part, I really enjoyed it! The characters are well written (although some are downright insufferable), I found myself rooting for the two main sisters and wanting to protect them.
Here’s where I had the issues. Within a single chapter, it jumps multiple POV’s with no clear distinction of whose viewpoint we’re reading. I’m talking between one paragraph to the next it changing who’s viewpoint we’re getting. It made for an awkward read sometimes and for people who aren’t used to reading a book with multiple POV’s, this book might be too confusing. If the author just threw in the name of whose viewpoint we were getting before it changed, everything else can stay the same style wise.
Spoiler time ‼️ If you don’t want spoilers, don’t read past this ‼️

When the main character was 17, she was SA’d by her English teacher which is one of the main focal points of the story. She’s now 35? And has pretty much healed and moved past that time of her life which is great. My issue is mainly with the fact that she proceeds to sleep and get together with the English teachers son???? I don’t know, that just doesn’t sit right with me at all. I was disturbed a bit by that, I could never get with my assaulters family but that’s just me.

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Another great story from Brenda Novak. I thought the book would be more about banned books given the title, but she surprised me by addressing sexual harrassment/violence and how it has a ripple effect for all of the people around the accused and the accuser. This story has strong emotions in it, however in the end, forgiveness and empathy are the two that come out on top. I highly recommend this read as it kept my interest from beginning to end.

This book was not at all what I expected. I expected it to focus on a banned book club which given the situation with banned books currently in this country would have been very timely. However, the banned book club was such a minor portion of this story. But the rest of the storyline was unexpected and enjoyable. From the way the story started, and I don't want to give it away, I was definitely not expecting the romance pairing! Brenda Novak did a great job of handling issues of abuse, both mental and physical and showing the repercussions for all involved. And how the damage extends beyond the victim.

I only read the first five pages, because in the first few pages, there was domestic violence / abuse in the book. There was no trigger warning!! I was hoping to read a fun, casual book before bed, and I did not want to read about domestic violence. I am a domestic violence survivor and a therapist, working with domestic violence survivors, so I want to be mentally prepared and purposely choose when I read about this. One in three people have experienced abuse in a relationship! Trigger warnings are essential!!
I don't know how to give this an accurate star rating since I chose not to continue reading it, so I will choose three since it is in the middle.

I thought the first couple chapters where slow, it was hard to get started reading, but once I got in a flow, I couldn’t put the book down. I was anxious to finish it, and could not put it down. Brenda Novak has another winner.

Gia Rossi is 35 years old and left the town of Wakefield, IA 17 years ago. After having accused her ex-favorite English teacher Mr. Evan Hart of sexual misconduct where he was found guilty, Gia couldn't escape out of town fast enough. Now she finds herself in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho running a helicopter business with her friend Eric Cheung. When Gia's sister Margaret "Margot" Rossi begs her to return back home because of their ailing mother, Gia reluctantly goes.

Trying to keep to herself, word spreads quickly that Gia is back in town. Even seeing her friends, Ruthie and Sammie that she has kept in contact with through their Banned Books Club, things are just different. When a confrontation with Evan Hart's daughter's escalate, a surprising alliance comes her way....Cormac Hart, the local veterinarian, and son of Evan. He ends up living in the house right behind Gia's parents. This unique companionship starts to develop into more and before they know it, Gia and Cormac cross that line.

At the same time, Gia's sister, Margot suddenly disappears, not telling anyone where she went, even her family. Her husband, Sheldon just left for a week long hunting trip and she thought this was her best chance to get away from him. Of course her family is mad, worried and overall sad.

As Gia is trying to keep her life from completely falling apart, between her mom's health, her sister's disappearance and spending time with Cormac she comes to realize that maybe she should just lay low. Of course life has other plans. When everything starts blowing up, Gia realizes that she has to stand up and face all the chaos if she ever wants her life to be normal again.

Just when things start to become dangerous, Gia finally has the upper hand. When everything settles down, Gia realizes that she has something special with Cormac and maybe living in Wakefield wouldn't be so bad after all.

I loved this second chance at life story. Gia was put into a crappy situation but has come out winning in the end. She was such a strong willed character, you couldn't help but root for her. Cormac is the man you wish for. Sweet, caring and loyal even when it may not have been in his best interest. These two found something wonderful together and it made for a wonderful story.

The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak is a page-turner of a story replete with such courage and heart that it is difficult to put down.
Novak addresses sensitive topics handled skillfully so as not to overpower the overall story of healing and romance. The main character, Gia Rossi, is faced with unique challenges when she returns home to help care for her ailing mother, and the skill and grace with which she faces those challenges is so well-written it is inspiring to read. At the same time, her sister Margot also faces her own challenges, and draws on strength she had begun to believe she had lost forever; her story is also inspiring as she faces those challenges.
The underlying theme of the strength of women in the face of different forms of abuse is an important one, as is the power of lies over people's lives, and how various characters overcome their ingrained prejudices when the truth is finally exposed.
Novak has created a tale that brings to light important issues but never loses sight of the healing power of love, family, and friendship. And she does it all around the framework of a banned books club, that helps to bring people together.
I am happy to have been sent an ARC of #TheBannedBooksClub from #NetGalley, and highly recommend this book.

Gia has returned home despite avoiding going back for years. Now she has to step up because her Mother is dying. Her sister is facing issues in her marriage which she has kept secret. This book is the story of a family trying to support each other. I loved the story and most of the characters, although some made me angry. I had a hard time putting the book down. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
Once again Brenda Novak writes a winner! After a scandal Gia’s senior year she moves away. When her mother is dying her sister begs her to come home, She returns to the hostility she left. And - if that isn’t enough her sisters husband is violent after her sister took the boys and left him,
You won’t want to miss this book! A great read!

This was a great read. I was expecting a romance book with some touches on banned books and why they are harmful for society. While the novel does touch on banned books and I loved that aspect, it also deals with misconduct between a teacher and a student and how that situation destroyed lives for all parties involved. It also deals with a woman trapped in a bad relationship, family grief, loss and so much more. For a book with such heavy topics, it had lots of lovely moments, was heartwarming and funny.
I fell in love with Gia’s character and how she handled situations she was put in.
Overall a well written and enjoyable book.

I've had "Brenda Novak" on my list of authors to read for quite some time, so I was very excited to receive this eARC.

Gia returns home at the request of her sister, Margot, to help care for their mother as she is dying. Gia doesn't come home all too often, and there ends up being so many multifaceted reasons that Gia is requested to come home.
We LOVE a rebellious reader - and Gia's 'banned books club' is still going strong when she comes home.

This story had true depth, and sheds light on some serious subject matter.
Would definitely recommend!!

Thank you to NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, and Author Brenda Novak for an eARC of this story in exchange for my honest review.

Super sweet and fun but also with more depth and serious subject matter than you would realize at first glance. Novak combines romance with mystery and deftly explores the impacts of sexual abuse and emotional manipulation. You'll be pulling for both of the sisters! These are characters who step up when the situation demands it, and I applaud that.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance e-galley; all opinions in this review are 100% my own.

Popular author here at my library so I thought I'd give it a try. Loved the premise and sister storyline but overall the writing style and tone was not for me. Thank you NetGalley for the advance ecopy..

This is one of the best books I have read this month. I always enjoy Brenda Novak. This one was definitely deeper than her usual fare. My biggest problem with this book is the title and cover. This book is so much more than the "Banned Books Club" founded by Gia. Gia left town after being victim-shamed by everyone and now she is back to deal with all of it head on - including the teacher she accused of sexual misconduct. The characters in this book really shine from Gia to her sister Margot (who is dealing with major family problems). I consider this a highly recommend with a note to everyone who reads it that the title and cover do not represent the depth of this book. As always, I look forward to the next book from Brenda Novak - she does not disappoint.

I loved this story! Gia gets called back home by her sister to help with their mom who is dying, there is really a lot more to why she is called back . She doesn't come home often and when she does its only for a quick weekend and she doesn't really go out on the town. Gia stared a book club in high school that read banned books! They continued when she moved away just not in person. I love this book clubs are awesome and no books should be banned!!! She book club is not a main focus in the story.

Cormac doesn't have it easy, he had to deal with fall out from situations out his control from high school on. His family has been destroyed by Gia so they aren't thrilled to find out she is back for a few months.

Will the real truth come out. Will Cormac and his family be left more united or more destroyed in the end? Will Gia be relieved that she is finally believed or will she finally be caught in a web of lies.

This one hit a little to close to home with different setting but still same situation.

Thank you NetGalley, Brenda Novak and Publisher for the advance reader copy

#NetGalley #TheBannnedBooksClub #BrendaNovak #NoBookBans

I’ve read 66 of Brenda Novak’s books several of them more than once. She’s got another good one here.

Gia moved away from home 10 years ago, but agrees to come home when her sister Margot tells her their mom, who’s fighting cancer, is getting worse. There was a scandal involving Gia when she was in high school that left the town divided and she’s not looking forward to coming home. “The Banned Books Club” she started in school when the PTA wouldn’t allow certain books to be read is still going strong. When her sister leaves town without telling anyone Gia finds out things are as perfect in her sister’s life as she thought. Gia finds support from an unlikely source and realizes sometimes you can come home again.

This book was more, to me anyway, about family, and taking a stand for the truth than it was about the book club but I thoroughly enjoyed reading it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book from NetGalley.

I can’t wait to find more Brenda Novak books if they are anything like this one!
A book that reaches you on so many levels. There is Romance, mystery and a powerful message about society takes totally different sides on victims of sexual/ domestic abuse.
2 sisters who have lived their lives on totally different levels. One sister who runs away from the turmoil of a small town when she accuses a teacher of sexual misconduct and abuse of power. The town basically doesn’t believe her and wants her to recant her story.
And the second sister who marries a powerful man who uses emotionally abuse as a form of control.
When their mother cancer has come down to close to the end the sisters must face a hard battle. One comes home to help her dying mom and face the town she ran from all those years ago. And the other finally decides to run away from the abuse and end the cycle of control from her husband. A family journey of coming together and pulling for each other in times of need.
If you are looking for a powerful book this is one for you. Grab a glass of wine or a tea and a cozy place and enjoy this book.

With Margot strained relationship with her sister Gia Rossi Margot still asks Gia to come home to Wakefield, Iowa to help with care of her ailing mother. Gia knows that she has no choice but to come home. After Gia’s at times tumultuous teen years Gia left town and never wanted to look back.

As expected Gia’s homecoming is far from welcomed. She started a banned books club after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list. There was Mr. Hart her favorite teacher where she publicly got him fired after sexual misconduct. This made Gia want to leave right away at age eighteen. This was the one person Gia never wanted to see again.

Without explanation Margot leaves town with her kids and never looks back. This prompted Gia to see the cracks in Margot and Sheldon’s “perfect” relationship. Gia planned to offer her support. But as the town including members of the book club take sides between Gia and Mr. Hart everything gets harder for her. Quickly she learns which people she can count on. She stands up for the truth and finds love and a future in the town that rejected her.

The story was such an original story. There were many twists and turns. There were great characters and realistic personalities! Loved how Brenda Novak portrayed Margot’s new life away from Sheldon and how Gia dealt with him back home. Loved how Brenda tackled the issue of sexual misconduct and domestic violence/abuse. She made you feel like you really knew the victims and what they were going through. There were a number of dealt with personal issues going on throughout the book. Of course, I was happy that there was a HEA! Highly recommend! Brenda Novak never disappoints!

The Banned Books Club deals with a lot of really hard topics (including terminal cancer, sexual and domestic abuse, and trauma) with a lot of grace and truth. The book follows the rocky relationship of two sisters who don't realize just how much they need one another. The characters were well-written and mostly believable and the plot was engaging with hints of both mystery and romance.

Thank you Netgalley for the eARC. <3

This was my first Brenda Novak book, but it definitely won’t be the last. I asked to read the ARC based on the title (I’m all about reading, and supporting “banned books,” especially in the schools), and the brief description. Well, this book was so much more intense and enjoyable than I expected! Honestly, it took a little bit to get going, but once it did, I couldn’t put it down.

Two sisters, Gia and Margot, face both their pasts and their present lives, including trauma and sexual and domestic abuse while their mother fights terminal breast cancer. Novak doesn’t shy away from any of that. Gia had left their town while Margot stayed. What you’ll get with this story is several layers, including the sisters’ relationships (including their own often fraught relationship), some romance, and very well-written and immensely engaging characters—who certainly had their share of baggage, but were relatable just the same. This is about family ties, forgiveness, and new beginnings. Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/MIRA for the ARC copy of this book, and for providing me with the opportunity to write this honest review. #TheBannedBooksClub #NetGalley