This was just an 'ok' book. There were interesting parts to it; enough that I read through to the end instead of giving up. But not interesting enough to read through quickly as you can see from the fact that it took me 3 months to finish it. I really had expected to like the book and picked it up because it was about a book club. I guess I was expecting another [b:Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons|16249|Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons|Lorna Landvik|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166720227s/16249.jpg|507242]. It absolutely was NOT! At the start, one of the book club members is recovering from the unexpected death of her husband. There is some jealously among the friends; kind of like HS...whose your BEST friend kind of thing. The book follows the women though problems in their lives. It only covers about 4 months but feels like several years. Even after all that reading, there is still so much of the story untold and unresolved.

Spoiler

Do Midge and her mother come to an understanding? Does Eve let her relationship with Paul develop and do the children accept this? Does Annie survive her cancer, and do she and John relocate from Chicago? Does Gabriella's husband find a good job?

This story mostly tried to cover the bonds of friendship the women had, but really didn't do that very well. If you are looking for a good book about women, friendship, and book clubs, take a pass on this one and read [b:Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons|16249|Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons|Lorna Landvik|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1166720227s/16249.jpg|507242] instead!

It was okay.... not my cup of tea

I enjoyed these five middle-aged women in a book club.

Incredibly difficult to finish for me. I kept sitting it down because nearly all the characters were insufferable.

I really enjoyed this but ended up a bit unsatisfied since I wanted more from at least 2 of the storylines. It felt like the end got rushed and some things it would have been good to explore got dropped.

Probably if I was older I would have enjoyed this more. It was one of those books that doesn't have one definitive problem, but follows the lives of five women over the course of about a year. The main character was Eve, who's husband suddenly dies from a heart attack at the beginning of the book. Another character gets cancer, another has to deal with a cheating husband, etc. Typical problems you would expect to find occurring in a book like this. One point of contention is that two of the main characters got significantly less page time focused on them than the other 3, and their was no explanation for that. Whatever I guess. But it has a happy ending, so yay. I guess. I give it a C.

*4 stars*


I really enjoyed this book. It was a light, easy read, but still managed to keep me suckered in.



The 5 ladies included Eve Porter, Annie Blake, Doris Bridges, Gabriella Rivera and Midge Kirsch. The last two were only minor characters in the scheme of things, and parts of me wish that Monroe develed deeper into their characters.



Midge is an artist who has perpetually been single. This is not forgotten by her mother, who suddenly decides to move in with her. At first the dynamic between mother and daughter is like you would expect, I mean what 50+ woman wants her mother telling her what to do. The perpetual singledom had Midge question her sexuality as well. Again, this isn't really a main character, so she was only added as a filler in most cases.



Gabriella seems the most relatable of the 5. Mother of a few too many kids and a wife to a husband who just got laid off, turns into the sole breadwinner. She tries to keep it all together and to put out a positive front to her friends, and I mean what person hasn't had to act all together when their home life is chaotic.



Doris Bridge. What a bitch. Well she starts off bitchy. She needs to have everything perfect, friends, family, house parties, etc. But she doesn't really think she needs to take care of herself, she's 'let herself go' and well her husband cheats on her. Through the book club and the support of the other 4 women, she realizes this has been the best thing for her and its given her new life.



Eve Porter, husband finally dies. She doesn't take it well, mainly from the guilt. They weren't the Happy in love couple they put out. But, still your husband dies, it hurts. She withdraws, but with the book club, and friends she allows her self to heal. Eventually finding new love- which her kids oppose.



Annie Blake is the go-getter lawyer. Her and her husband seem to have this perfect, sexy relationship. Then they decide they want kinds. Turns out, its harder to get pregnant than one thinks. They face some challenges and all that stuff.



I liked how the book club, while it was a prominent feature in each of the women's daily life, it was more so the friendship that they acquired through it. They felt safe and accepted in this circle, some more tight knit than others, but again, what big group of friends are all equally close? This is the part I enjoyed the most. Also it was interesting (and not surprising, as we all do it) to see that every women tried to put on a mask that everything was hunky-doorie and great. That they never faced any problems. We all do that. And its sucks. We should feel comfortable enough with our friends to be like 'you know what my life is shit, that's why I'm acting like a shitty friend right now, but thanks for being there for me regardless'



I do recommend this book, nothing to go buy immediately, but if you happen to see it in line at the check-out, pick it up.