I found this to be an enjoyable, entertaining, thought provoking and informative book. I knew very little about ADHD but this features a lot and wasn't what I expected from the book description but I did enjoy it and feel that I've learned a lot about this condition and the huge numbers of people affected by it. I really liked all but one of the characters and loved what a caring and close community they became. I love the idea of a silent book club and wish there was one near me as I'd definitely join! I belong to book clubs but the idea of one where you don't all have to read the same specially chosen one that might not be your own personal cup of tea and instead members read any book of their own choice and discuss it afterwards really appeals to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and my thanks go to Netgally and the publisher for a pre release copy in exchange for my honest review

This was a nice read about family, loss, dealing with grief and moving on.

The story is about Grace, who recently became a widow and decides to join a book club. It is the very one that her husband Frank used to run. She struggles at first and decides to read some of Franks personal journals. By doing this, she learns more about Frank than she ever did whilst they were married.

I enjoyed the way the book club mentions all different genre of books and why they were important to the characters. The way the members all came together to support each other was lovely to read also. The only part I didn’t enjoy very much, was that the storyline centres around ADHD and this was mentioned throughout the story.

Overall, a nice uplifting read.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely, heartwarming book! This book covers neurodivergence, grief, mental health and how a book can solve anything! Grace is in the throes of grief and when she joins Frank’s old book club, she meets new friends and finds a propose. The characters are all likeable (apart from one!), short chapters and I love how the story developed. It’s made me want to join a silent bookclub now! Perfect for someone who wants an uplifting book!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book.

Following the death of her husband Frank, Grace is finding it hard to deal with the loss.

Her daughter as well as her grandson suggest that she joins the book group that Frank set up.

But, when she attends, she finds that no one talks and it’s a “silent” book club, finding it not right for her she leaves. But then she’s talked into attending again.

She meets people that are from different backgrounds and soon they become friends and slowly begins to live her life again, wanting to do something for others.

Her plan is to carry out the work her husband wanted to grow the book club, so that others can also find support. As well as to raise awareness of ADHD, this is what Frank, her daughter and grandson each have.

I recommend this book.

I loved this. It starts as a fairly simple story about a widow who is struggling with the loss of her husband, until she is persuaded to join a book club that he helped found in a local book shop. But it soon becomes so much more than I expected. With themes of loneliness, mental health and neurodivergence this is almost a gentle self help book. It’s an easy read with a cast of very different characters, but all with their own little quirks.

Briefly, when Grace joins Frank’s book club she little realises just how close and how special the members will become. This is a book club with a difference. It’s a Silent Book Club where the members sit and read quietly for an hour, any book they choose, and then if they wish to, they can discuss it afterwards. Grace finds this concept hard as silence is one of the things that she is struggling with but she perseveres and the journey she goes on, in understanding her family and helping others, really is wonderful.

I loved how all the different genres of books were included in the book and did wonder if they were particular favourites of the author. Certainly a few of mine were mentioned. The characters were great, I particularly loved Annie and of course Earnest the cat. Anyone with a love of books is going to lap up this beautiful story, in fact for me it was almost perfect - books and cats, all I needed was a dog! But it’s not just for book lovers this is a books for anyone who loves a good heartwarming story. I’m not a weeper but my eyes were a little damp once or twice so keep the tissues to hand! A wonderful story of friendship and the strength to be found in the support of others. Fantastic.

An uplifting celebration of stories, sisterhood, and second chances – 5⭐️

The Forgotten Book Club is a truly special read—comforting, cosy, and quietly powerful. From the very first page, I was swept up in Grace’s journey as she rediscovers not only a long-lost book club but also a sense of purpose, connection, and courage she thought she’d lost. Kate Storey beautifully captures the magic of books and how they can bring people together across generations.

The writing is warm and engaging, the characters feel real and relatable, and the narrative effortlessly balances heartache with hope. I especially loved the dual timelines and the way stories from the past echoed through Grace’s present. This is a book for anyone who’s ever found themselves in the pages of a novel—or longed to.

On a more personal note, this story spoke to me on a deeper level. I was born in the 70s, long before ADHD was widely understood, and in recent years I’ve come to recognise that many of my lifelong traits are in fact signs of a neurodiverse brain. Add to that the challenges of living with an inoperable brain tumour, and you can imagine how powerful it felt to read about women navigating uncertainty, embracing their individuality, and finding strength in community and stories. Grace’s quiet bravery and the bonds she builds reminded me that we’re never alone in our chapters—even the hard ones.

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey

Grace is grieving for her husband of 46 years, Frank. Persuaded by her grandson Jude to attend the bookclub Frank founded and loved, she meets a group of people and her life changes immeasurably.

What a beautiful story, I absolutely loved this book! Great characters and really informative about grief, ADHD, mental illness and a whole raft of other themes, I raced through it. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I was recommended this title as a ‘book about books’, and it meets that brief to perfection. They say that writers should always ‘write what they know’ and this author feels like someone who is absolutely in her element with the themes she has chosen, which results in a fantastically engrossing read. What I really loved was how she references a wide range of titles rather than just literary classics, which is just one of the ways you feel invited into this lovely story. Another big pull is the characters. From Crush, the reticent bassist-turned-bookseller, to grieving Grace, who discovers a whole other side to her late husband through the journals he left and the book club he created, these are people quirky enough to entertain, yet real enough that you’ll almost certainly wince just a little in recognition of a shared experience or emotion. Finally, there’s a sensitive portrayal of neurodiversity, viewed from the perspective of those trying to understand the condition in their loved ones, which was refreshingly direct and honest in the questions it raised. And if these human stories don’t move you, there’s always Earnest the cat! Above all, The Forgotten Book Club is a satisfying tale of people power and shared joy in an increasingly disconnected world, reminding us that there’s strength in diversity as well as in numbers. If you’re looking for something that’s thought-provoking as well as feel-good, this is one for you.

A fab unexpected read,I was attracted to it of course by the title and blurb and it did live up to what I expected
Loved how it showed people need books and how people can help a range of situations and problems via books
Good characters and well written and enjoyable

Grace learns about her deceased husband Frank and, equally importantly, herself, when she joins Frank's book club which, as it turns out, is silent. But not for long and thanks to Annie, who reaches over to Grace. Yes this is about grief and mental health issues (as well as ADHD) but it's also about how books can help build a village. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I loved this author's book The Memory Library, so I jumped at the chance to get this from NetGalley, and I wasn't disappointed. This is a heartfelt story of grief and healing and what it means to be a community. The story will resonate with anyone who has found solace in a book and a group of friends, and it was very compelling.

The book is filled with emotional depth and delicately handles grief. I especially appreciated the way the character of Grace was written. It's hard for me to read very emotional stories without feeling like the author is trying to manipulate me emotionally. Storey does it with sensitivity and authenticity.

The characters were very charming and diverse. Everyone had their own story to tell and struggles to deal with. The author developed them subtly, and they were very distinct. She made them feel like real people. The changes in Grace, as she deals with her grief and begins to connect with the other members of the club, are very well written.

This is a love letter to the written word, and the author captures the joy that books bring and their ability to bring people together beautifully. Even though many of the topics are sad, I found the book uplifting in many ways and felt hopeful after reading it. Kate Storey has created a beautiful story that is sure to touch the hearts of many readers.

A book about books ; what’s not to love for a keen reader?!
I loved this book so much.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

A book that shows the power of reading for individuals and how the camaraderie from a group of individuals can help people heal and move on with their lives. There is the undercurrent of how ADHD affects individuals and the difficulties it brings with it along with the positives

The Forgotten Book Club features a recent widow, Grace , who has been oblivious to the goings on around her until she is pushed to join a book club, the one her late husband, Frank, used to run. When she decides to finally look at Frank’s personal library and notes, what she discovers is perhaps the greatest gift.

This is a charming and uplifting story of found family, second chances and the healing power of books. The writing is warm and inviting, and at times it felt like I sitting in the cozy bookshop, turning the pages of an old favorite. There are many books mentioned in the story and I’ve actually read many of them.

I will say, there is a bit of a heavy focus on ADHD here and I found it a bit too much and it overpowers the main message I think. So for this reason, it didn’t resonate with me as much as The Memory Story. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Harper Collins for the ARC

I loved this book - a 5 star rating from me.

Grace is struggling following the sudden death of Frank, her book lover husband. Her daughter and grandson worried about her well-being suggest she joins the silent book club he helped to set up at their local independent bookshop.

Here she meets a group of disparate characters who take her in and become her friends. Here she finds acceptance, support and is able to rebuild her life so much so that she wants to give back. She plans to carry out two tasks Frank set himself - to raise awareness of ADHD - a condition he, his daughter and grandson shared and to expand the book club to benefit others.

A lovely heartwarming book - full of hope and love.

One to be recommended.

What a delightful gem of a book. Every so often a nov comes around and you meet a cast of characters that you wish you could be a part of in your own life. Story has done a brilliant job of creating characters that you root for, feel for and want to be friends with, in this charming story of grief, love, and books. I am always drawn to books about books and the love of books. Storey does that by naming specific titles but also allowing readers to understand the love of these books from the characters. Storey does an excellent job of description of location and the coziness of the story as a whole. What starts as a grief stricken widow who has lost her husband but turns to a group of characters who become her family. It was a gem of a book to read.

A book about books. Yeh, I'm in! This was a snuggly read.
Grave is dealing with such huge grief and loss. She's struggling. Her late husband, a book lover had a book club. So why not give it a go? But on arrival she realises to her shock and horror that it is a "silent one". No this doesn't fit well. She came for company not more silence and feeling more alone.
But persuaded to give it a chance is the best decision she could have taken. Becuase the group she meets,learns about are a fantastic bunch. They all have their own book choices and all their own uniqueness. But amongst them she finally finds what she'd been hoping for.
A sense of belonging,support and care might just be her own tale of healing and growth.
A soft and tender book full of books. Brilliant.

this is a heartfelt story about human connection, community, and self-discovery. At its core, the novel explores themes of friendship, overcoming loneliness, processing grief, and raising awareness about ADHD. The book club at the heart of the story is unlike any other—offering not just a love for books but a space for healing, purpose, and support.

Grace, the protagonist, struggles with grief after losing her husband, Frank. Though never a big reader herself, she finds solace in the book club he loved so much. Initially unsure of its unconventional format, she gradually embraces its unique approach and discovers the impact Frank had on others. As she learns more about his passion, she finds new purpose in continuing his legacy—expanding the club’s reach and incorporating ADHD awareness.

With beautiful reflections on friendship, literature, and mental health, this novel is a touching journey of healing and personal growth.

The Forgotten Book Club was an enjoyable enough read, but it hasn't really stayed with me as much as I thought it might. Kate Storey's writing was engaging and the plot was well-handled (although I still want to know what Lee's job is), but I found I couldn't care deeply about any of the characters, well-drawn as they were.

Great characters good storyline. Hooked from the first chapter. Thanks for letting me review. Would continue the series