I loved this BUT the title is misleading!

This book had very little to do with banned books other than a few topical references and the mention of a banned books club that some of the characters joined. Despite this, I really enjoyed the book, but the title really doesn’t fit.

I loved that it’s part women’s fiction, part romance, and part suspense.

There is good commentary on how victims of SA are treated after coming forward. Gia handled her situation with grace and compassion, especially after returning to her hometown so many years later. Shoutout to Cormac for fighting for the truth and his unwavering integrity.

There is a lot going on in this book and several plot lines, but it’s easy to follow and I was thoroughly invested. Some parts were admittedly a bit clunky or even superfluous, but overall I really enjoyed it.

***Please be sure to review trigger warnings, which include SA and DV.

Thank you HTP and The Hive for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I love books about books. This was such a wonderful book. I would definitely recommend reading it, if you also enjoy reading books about books.

I expected a bit of a lighter read but was pleasantly surprised that it was a bit loaded with heavy subject matters. Gia needs to go home to help her sister with the care of their mom who is dying of cancer but her hometown is filled with ghosts. Her sister, Margot needs her there to help with their mom but also for her own personal reasons.

The book has themes of forgiveness, emotional abuse and assault.

This book is a wonderfully crafted romance, with suspense built in along with family drama. With two storylines centered around the Rossi family, the complicated plot was well-woven and included some thrills, chills and a heart throb or two. Gia Rossi is an adventurer, striking out on her own in Alaska and now living in a small town in Idaho where she has a successful business. She doesn’t want to return to her home town of Wakefield but when she is called home due to her mother’s terminal illness, Gia reluctantly and dutifully shows up. She knows that her return will mean facing her past there, but she is courageous and determined to do the right thing. Her sister Margot is in a troubled marriage with a controlling spouse and really wants to escape. Gia’s return offers her that opportunity if she has the boldness to pursue her freedom. The story line is absolutely mesmerizing, with multiple characters chiming in with their opinions about Gia’s past and Gia continuing to stick to the truth and not apologize for what happened to her. The story is extremely powerful and deals with some gripping topics. With escalating tension as well as a sparkling romance that develops, this novel captured my heart and my imagination and was almost impossible to put down. It was thought-provoking as well as relevant in the topics that were front and center in the plot, and I definitely related to the characters and their dilemmas. This is a cleverly written page-turner, with a little steam and a lot of edgy and brilliant insight. Having been a fan of the author for years and having read almost all of her books, I can honestly say that this is the best one so far. The depth and insight were profoundly moving and memorable.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I was invited to participate in the blog tour for this book by the publisher. It is not my typical genre, but I'm a sucker for anything that addresses the topic of banned books and thought it would be a quick end easy read. Unfortunately, it just didn't work for me. I didn't enjoy the writing style or the family drama and found the whole thing to be slower moving than I anticipated. This just wasn't for me. She's apparently a very popular author though, so I suspect this is just a matter of the wrong book for the wrong reader...

First- know that this isn't about a book club nor is it the rom com you might be expecting from the cover. Know also that it's a well written and thoughtful look at what happens after a teen reports a teacher for inappropriate behavior and the ripples that go on for years because no one except a judge believed her. Gia left town 17 years ago and built a big life elsewhere but she's come back because her mom is dying and her sister Margot asked for her help. Margot is at the end of her rope in her psychologically abusive marriage. Gia knew things wouldn't be easy but she didn't expect that Cormac would be her backyard neighbor or the extent to which people, especially his sisters, blame her for their father's fall. This moves between Gia, Margot, and Cormac as they work toward positive futures- and you'll feel for all three of them. If I have a quibble, it's the insta-love but that's balanced by the portrait of Gia as caregiver for her mom. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. This is much more than I thought it would be and it's a very good read.

While the title hints at a focus on a banned book club, the story primarily centers around family drama, personal growth, and romance. Gia Rossi's return to her hometown following a scandal uncovers complex relationships and past traumas. The characters are well-written, though some may come across as insufferable, and the multiple POV shifts can be confusing, detracting from the flow of the story. The themes of family loyalty and redemption are compelling, but readers might find the misleading title and underdeveloped subplots a bit disappointing. Fast-paced, yet underwhelming for those expecting more about the book club.

There's so much to this book! When Gia comes back home to assist with her mother who is dying from cancer, she knows she will have to face the town who still harbors feelings about her molestation by a trusted high school teacher. Meanwhile, her sister Margot is stuck in a controlling and emotionally abusive marriage. There's some romance but I wouldn't call it a romance book. There's just so much more. I read this book on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was only the second book I have read by this author but I would probably read more.
I really enjoyed the development of the relationship between the two characters. There was little reference to banned books except in passing so the title is a bit misleading. Overall it was an entertaining read.

I really wanted to like this book more than I did. The premise seemed interesting, but I just felt like the book didn't settle into a genre or style. And the book club was such. small part of the plot, I almost felt like I was snookered into reading this. I have never read Novak before, and not sure that this will get me to read her books in the future. In fact, if this is an example of her style, I will definitely pass on any future or previous volumes. It just wasn't for me.

The plot was almost rambling, and I wanted things to happen so much faster. Especially where Margot was concerned. I get that she has to set things up in order to do what she has to, but that part of the story just felt so forced and unnecessary. It didn't really do anything to build character other than to pull attention away from Gia and her story. Maybe if Novak had focused only on Gia, we would have had a book club that felt more substantial. As it was, it was brief to the point of not really needing to be there at all.

Gia was problematic for me because she was both strong and weak. She stood up for herself in a very critical way at a very difficult time in her life, and she stuck to her guns. And that was admirable for sure. I also felt like she reacted the way a victim would or could both as a teen and later on in life. That being said, the way she handled herself with the Hart kids was disappointing because she didn't really show the same strength of character.

For me, the characters were not well developed, the story had too many plots trying to carry us to the end, and the writing just felt overly detailed and yet missing parts at the same time. Novak should have stuck with the banned books club and Gia's story, rather than making this into a story about Gia's mom, her sister, the Hart family, etc. And then maybe we would have had more book club to sink our teeth into and to live up to the title.

A definite miss for me, but I gave it a two star because I'm sure it will appeal to some readers. It wasn't horrible.

This book is perfection in so many ways. The topics discussed in the plot are current and timely. The discussion is done in such a way to allow readers to see the topics in its entirety. The characters are dynamic and interesting. Gia is a force to be reckoned with as she fights for herself and others. Margot is a quiet force who has to work hard to find her strength. It is also a romance that ends with a happily ever after. More than anything else it is a family drama that exudes love and caring.

I really feel that The Banned Book Club is a misleading title because it is so much more than about banned books. This book deals with sister and family relationships, emotional abuse, sexual abuse, and some romance. I really enjoyed the story so much that I didn’t want it to end. The novel had great writing; one could picture each character and it was easy to read.

Wow, wow, wow!
What a powerful message. So many important topics approached and successfully discussed.
Loved every minute of this read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of The Banned Books Club in exchange for an honest review.

The book deals with some serious and deep themes, such as emotional abuse, sexual abuse, abuse of power, and gaslighting. I was surprised because the cover and title make it seem more lighthearted. IMO, it needs a different cover and title because of that and trigger warnings. I read the book quick because I was invested in the characters' stories but it was hard at times to read because of these serious matters.

It's a solid book that makes you care about the characters. The plot is well-developed. I would have loved a longer epilogue to see more of Gia and Cormac's relationship but I loved Margot's ending. Initially, I wasn't sure where her story was going to go. Yet, I appreciated the structure of the plot where Gia's story was the fulcrum for Margot's. We get 3 POV's in the book: Gia, Cormac, and Margot. The latter was a surprise, which told me that it was not just a romance. I wouldn't classify it as such, but rather a work of women's literature.

The "Banned Books Club" does not play a large part in the book. I expected it to be central to the story but it's more like a side character that I suppose helps the plot along - definitely, for Gia's backstory but it didn't seem relevant to me. The book would have been fine without the aspect of the Banned Books Club.

Angsty and so much more than I was expecting! There are certain books that grab onto your heart and pull on it very quickly when based on the blurb you weren't even sure you were going to like the storyline and this is indeed one of those. This book is about so much more than banned books, and the heart of the story is very attention grabbing and heartfelt. I loved Gia from the start and her connection with Cormac winds up being very endearing regardless of the drama surrounding them from the start. Her sister has her own problems and is guarding her secrets even from those who love her. The characters are attention grabbing, the turmoil is on point and the resolution to their problems is satisfying. I loved their story and highly recommend it to anyone who loves a women's fiction novel that is very family centric as life's problems and unresolved issues grab your attention and won't let go until that happily ever after comes along.

Thank you Netgalley and Harlequin/Mira for the chance to read The banned books club by Brenda Novak. I had read and enjoyed the author's romantic suspense series The last stand years ago, and so was eager to start reading The banned books club. I found the beginning a bit slow, as it seemed to be more about Gia's sister Margot, than Gia. The story picked up as I continued to read, and ended up enjoying the tale of two sisters; one who left home to run away from her past, and the other running away from her present life to get away from spousal abuse. While the story talks about the book club Gia created as a teenager, it is not the focus of the story. Overall a good story, but I felt the ending was a bit rushed.

This is an amazing story of sisters, family love, family drama, finding yourself, and finding love. I loved this story and it's characters so much I didn't want it to end. I would live to see a sequel in the future. Hint hint Mrs. Novak

It is always interesting to read about a book club in any story and any reader will surely love it. This story has the mystery and the romance aspect in it. It has a very interesting story and lovable characters and it is centered with two sisters named Gia and Margot and their everyday struggles in life. It is a solid four-star for me; I highly recommend this book.

Thank you to HTP (Harlequin Trade Publishing) and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Judging by the title I was expecting a book about books. However it was completely different and so good! I liked Gia, she’s tough even after everything that’s happened to her. Margot is too and deserves a lot of credit for what she did. It’s another good book by this author. Definitely recommend

This is not about a book club, nor about books in general- banned or otherwise.
Instead this is a tale of two sisters, one of which is back in her hometown dealing with a traumatic event from her childhood and the other is dealing with her marriage. Overall a good plot, but some of the dialogue was awkward and the romantic relationship was out of nowhere and strange.