It seemed like I read this book before...(The Friday Night Knitting Club?). It was a rather formulaic story about the challenges faced by a 50ish group of women: death, divorce, children, illness, sex, marriage problems,money, grey hair etc. Oh, yes...overweight as well. I could see the author with her scorecard trying to get all the issues in so we could identify with the characters. She forgot alcoholism (although one character drinks too much wine so she sorta got that in). It wasn't an unpleasant read, and raised life issues we all need to think about, but it was obvious where it was going. When I got to the repeated phrase, "You go, girl!" toward the end I gagged.

Recommended for people who like really light chick-lit type books.

It did give me a chuckle to think that the Book Club in the book would have never read this book. :)

What a great story about friendship. Laughed, cried and couldn't put it down!

Nicely written, relatable characters. Enjoyed reading this book.

It was just barely okay. Trying to cover so many issue lead to shallow treatment and resolutions that were not satisfying. Disappointing

Moving story of friendship

Excellent and moving read! This book kept right on going and drawing me in closer to all the likable characters. I feel like I was a part of their book club. Just when I started thinking about how one of the ladies was doing, the story took a turn in her direction. Very well written and a most enjoyable read! I recommend it to anyone who needs a reminder that life is a series of choices and our reactions to these choices are what matters most.

This is the story of five women who are in a Book Club together. They are friends, but just barely. There is Eve, whose husband sudden death sends her entire family into a tailspin and upends her very cozy lifestyle. There is Annie, who is an attorney, who is trying to have children a little later in life, and it isn't going well. Doris views the Book Club as a support group - she is trying to save her marriage until she is faced with her husband's betrayal. Gabriella is the sweet innocent nurse whose husband loses her job, and instead of helping herself, she takes extra shifts to support her family while her husband stays out of work for a year. And there is Midge who is an artist who is not married and has no kids, but has to deal with her over barring mother who decides to move back to Chicago to be near her daughter.

These five women come from different walks of life, but in the end, they see how much they need each other. It becomes more than a book club - it is a support group for these ladies at the turning points in their lives.

I liked this book. My mom deemed it "just okay", and I agree with her. It was a nice easy read during a busy holiday month. The writing was just so/so, but it passed the time.

If you are looking for a beach read, this may be a good one for you.

Special note: This is a combination of two reviews from 2018 (reading independently) and 2022 (book club pick).

I can see why people like this book. It's full of diverse characters--different socio-economic backgrounds, cultures, sexual orientations, etc. Like any book club, everyone is different and everyone's opinions/contributions are discussed. I like the fact that everyone draws strength from one another.

In 2018, I could not relate to any of the characters. I was simply too young. Fast-forward to 2022, I still don't identify with these women because I'm not married, trapped in a bad marriage, widowed, or divorced. I don't have kids, but I did find myself relating a small bit to Midge and her mother because I know what it's like to have mother-daughter issues.

In 2018, I said I had no plans to re-read this, and I didn't! But it was my book club's pick for the month, so here I am...reading this again in 2022. I'm ready to move on to something more relatable. Personal issues aside, I love book clubs, so a book about a book club usually gets my attention. I'm curious to know what my book club friends have to say at our next meeting.

I really enjoyed learning about these ladies personal stories. Being in a Book Club myself, I know how we rally around eachother when needed and when the 'chips are down'. Great quick read!