The main themes of this story are grief, ADHD, mental health, and acceptance, but despite the seriousness of these issues the overall story was positive and hopeful. I liked that they were dealt with sensitively. I particularly love how she doesn't show us her characters' personalities immediately but slowly draws them out throughout the story. Our first impressions of people in real life aren't always an accurate reflection of who they really are and I thought the author translated this well into the story. The idea of a silent book club appeals to me and I liked how the members became a found family for each other thanks to Grace bringing them all closer to each other, and that they became a second family for Grace and her own family. This is the second book I have read by Kate Storey and I will be looking out for her next one!

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Avon and Kate Storey for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!

This book is the ultimate cozy read for spring time. I can honestly say that it felt like receiving a warm hug. The best thing about it is how it targets many different age ranges, as it explores the lives of the old and young through the eyes of our protagonist, Grace.

Grace is grieving the loss of her wonderful husband Frank, and this book explores the depth of grief at the heart of its narrative. Before he passed, Frank created a book club with the owner of a local bookshop, Books En Parade. This story navigates how Grace reconnects to Frank through the legacy of this book club and stops it from falling apart by connecting with the wider community through the themes of grief and mental health. It definitely encapsulates the theme of found family.

I absolutely love pieces of writing that focus on breaking the fourth wall of adoring books. Some of my favourite reads have been about how a book can affect a reader and the profound feelings that can stem from the words on a page. Storey’s way of writing is so eloquent and there were many sentences that I had to go back and re-read, as I was so stunned at how beautiful the wording was.

I just adore how simple the narrative was and yet how effective. Each character had their own personality that shines through the page - particularly Earnest! ‘The Forgotten Book Club’ is a vital read for those that wish to learn more about ADHD, as this is a very present thread throughout the book.

I thoroughly enjoyed this and it was the perfect pick me up! I would definitely recommend it to anyone that feels like they need a heartwarming story.

This was a lovely, gentle, uplifting novel exploring mental health, depression, grief, and ADHD which I received a copy of. The story features Grace (70) a quiet widow of a year, who lacks a social life, whose world without her beloved husband has shrunk to the "rain spattered glass walls" of her home, with each day a "chasm of time without him", which she has no choice "but to fill by going on long lonely walks". Through a book club which Frank set up ( a silent book club which at first is overwhelming daunting in its silence), Grace slowly becomes more social and finds a purpose and focus and expansion to her life.
This book begins filled with melancholy, illustrating how easy it is to become without noticing ur how insular, content and overreliant we can become within a relationship, that when one half is no more, the overwhelming loneliness, lack of focus and interaction with the outside world it is possible to experience. But in the book, there is hope and an expanding beyond isolation so that Grace doesn't "die of a broken heart" once the initial sympathy and condolences ebb away.

Grace was married to Frank for forty six years and when he suddenly dies of a heart attack and her world falls apart and on the anniversary of his passing Grace knows she has to get on with life without him and she has no idea how? Frank was an avid reader, the house is full of his books and her daughter Rosie and grandson Jude suggest she should join her late husband’s book club.

Grace arrives at the Book En Parade, the bookshop where Frank held his meetings and it’s not at all what she’s expecting. The members are a variety of ages and they start reading for an hour, it’s a silent club and everyone picks something different. She feels out of place, the quietness is odd and what it's like being home on her own and she decides to leave and Annie asks her to stay and she's happy to meet Frank’s Gracie and so are the others. Grace and group decide they want to ensure Frank’s love of reading and legacy lives on, boost the numbers which have dwindled since he passed away and all the need is to come up with a plan and they do.

I received a copy of The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey from Avon Books UK and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The narrative includes two of the things I love, reading and books and despite being an avid reader I find the thought of joining a book club daunting, and many people do for various reasons and obviously I’m not the only one.

A story full of diverse characters and age groups, and about loss and grief, friends and forming new relationships, second chances and helping others and giving them a hand up and it covers topics such as depression, anxiety and ADHD and Grace discovering what she's capable of and she's more than she imagined.

The perfect choice for readers and book lovers and I've added a few to my long want to read list as many are mentioned throughout and why Frank read and recommended them and five stars from me.

I'm an avid reader, I read any and everything because I love to learn and can absorb a story through words and pages. My husband is not a recreational reader. his interests are very targeted and he reads only a few books a year, but he understands why I always have a book or reader with me. The differences in the characters was very real to me, Kate Storey could have been writing about my life.
When Grace's husband dies, her grief is overwhelming. She cannot move past the fact that he is no longer by her side everyday. While she is not an avid reader, her grandson suggests she may find solace in joining her husband's book club. What she discovers is not so much a club as a "circle" where readers enjoy each other's company as they read silently. Grace will come to understand the family of people her husband shared this small piece of his life with. This could have been every avid reader's story told through the eyes and voice of Grace. I enjoyed this book not only for the story but for the pieces of myself I see in many of the characters. A beautiful read that I'll gladly give 5 stars.

Grace is grieving the death of her husband, Frank. Her daughter and grandson encourage her to visit Frank's old book club. Grace is unsure at first, but the club soon becomes very important to her.
This is a lovely story about friendship, grief, and neurodiversity. The book club is made up of a variety of interesting characters, each with their own struggles going on in the background. As Grace gets to know them, she understands just how life-changing Frank's book club can be.

There is a huge focus on ADHD throughout this book and I thought it was handled really sensitively.
I also loved all the book references, this is a love letter to readers everywhere!

I really expected to love this book based on the synopsis but in the end it was just okay. I might borrow it from the library but I wouldn’t spend money on it.

What a lovely comforting story covering grief, loss, mental health, ADHD, friendship, families & the importance of friends. One I'm already thinking of who I'll be buying for as well as recommending to my book club!

I loved Kate Storey's book The Memory Library and was excited to be approved for the arc of her new book The forgotten Book club.
This book was a very sweet story that I wasn't sure how it would play out when it first started. I was so glad that Grace went to check out the silent book club that her deceased husband started. It was the best thing she could do to help her deal with the grief, start seeing happiness in her life, bring her closer to her daughter and grandson and open her heart to new and fabulous friends. I have already sent a copy to my mom.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

A simple and heart-warming story of discovering joy and friendships after loss, with added themes of loneliness and mental health this story touches on the very heart of human emotion and how unexpected life can be, with a beautiful message of community and how the simple act of reading can change your whole view on life.

i loved everything about The Forgotten Book Club, it's heartbreakingly beautiful with a steady gentleness which melts the heart. The characters are wonderful, an eclectic mix of personalities which bring their own magic to the story, I adore the simplistic story of how Grace finds life again after the death of her husband by joining a book club, a decision that opens her heart and her eyes to possibilities and adds love and firm friendship to her life once more, it's a truly gorgeous story and I can't recommend this enough and will definitely be re-read many times!

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

Grace has been a widow for a year. Encouraged by her daughter and grandson, Grace finally has the courage to enter the study that her husband Frank had spent many hours reading. Surrounded by his books, journals and notes, she remembers that Frank loved going to a book club.

Grace decides to join the book club and soon discovers the book club is a silent book club, where members read in silence and spend a short time discussing what they are reading. Gradually, Grace starts to make new friends, who help her discover the love of reading.

This was about grief, ADHD, secrets and reading. I loved the descriptions of books and authors throughout the novel and the way Grace discovers her husband’s secret.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher Avon a Division of HarperCollins for a chance to review this E-Book. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I really enjoyed this book. The story of loss and moving forward was very well written. I liked the inclusion of ADHD but did feel it was over emphasised in some places and took a bit away from the story. Overall a lovely read.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins | Avon for gifting me a digital ARC of the latest book by Kate Storey. All opinions expressed in this review are my own - 5 stars!

Grace is mourning the sudden loss of her beloved husband, Frank, and one year later is still struggling. Her daughter and grandson encourage her to get out and suggest that she attend the book club that Frank started. But this is no ordinary book club - it's a silent book club that is respectful of the fact that not everyone has the time to read or wants to talk. Grace soon finds herself wanting to help build up this small group as a tribute to Frank.

I loved this author's previous book, The Memory Library, and once again we find relatable characters dealing with issues, but finding support and love through community. This is definitely another love letter to books, and I found myself making notes of books to add to my never-ending TBR list and considering what my Desert Island Reads would be. There's also lots of discussion on ADHD and neurodivergent issues, all handled respectfully and informatively. The characters are great and I became emotionally attached to their journeys. Another fabulous book!

This is one of the best books I have read this year. The characters are totally believable the book tackles loneliness, bereavement andADHD

The further you get into the book the more you realise that this tackles things which go on in everyday life and through the bookclub lasting friendships are forged through a range of diverse characters. I want to read another book by this author.

This book was slow to start but ultimately I enjoyed it. A lovely story about the journey grief takes you on.

Book clubs are a source of joy for many, but Grace never understood her husband’s connection to his club. After he passes away, Grace finds answers in a journal her husband left behind. I found that the book got off to a slow start but became more interesting when Grace begins attending the book club and discovers why her late husband felt so connected to this community of readers.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for this eCopy to review

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey is a heart warming and uplifting story about love, loss, and the power of books to bring people together.

The novel follows Grace, a widow who has spent years supporting her late husband Frank’s passion for books, despite not being much of a reader herself. After Frank’s passing, Grace feels adrift, her home filled with books that now echo with memories. When her grandson suggests she join Frank’s old book club to feel closer to him, Grace reluctantly agrees. However, this isn’t your typical book club—members gather for an hour of silent reading, which initially leaves Grace feeling disconnected and disappointed.

But as Grace begins to connect with fellow member Annie, she finds herself determined to breathe new life into the group. Together, they transform the club into a vibrant community, rediscovering the joy of shared stories and forging new friendships. Along the way, Grace embarks on her own journey of healing and self-discovery, proving that it’s never too late to start a new chapter in life.

The Forgotten Book Club is a beautifully written celebration of books, community, and second chances. The emotional depth and tender moments made it a truly memorable read.

What a lovely portrayal of human connection this is - through Grace, struggling through the treacle that is grief we get to know a disparate group of people who are all part of a rather special book club with a difference. It covers some of lives most significant trials but also celebrates difference, acceptance and what it is to be human. Chuck in a love of reading as well and I couldn't help but enjoy this rather gorgeous book.

The Forgotten Book Club is not a book I soon forgot:) Most readers will really enjoy the many, many references to books, as I did. The insights to Grace's grief are spot on. Her family and the secondary characters are all enjoyable to read about. I agree with some others that while I didn't mind reading so much about ADHD, I did sort of wonder why it was emphasized so often.. Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.