Happy WEDNESDAY, friends!
I have an extra pep in my step because…
…it’s time for BOOK CLUB #26!
Woohoo! I love when we get to talk books 🙂 .
Today, we have this book post as well as a second blog post on COMMUNITY, so make sure you check that one out too.
Just to recap before we begin…
Here are the books we discussed in 2024 along with my own personal “star ratings”…
The Last Love Note by Emma Grey 4 STARS
The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon 5 STARS
The Heiress by Rachel Hawkins 3 STARS
The Many Lives of Mama Love by Lara Love Hardin 3 STARS
Darling Girls by Sally Hepworth 4 STARS
The Paris Novel by Ruth Reichl 2 STARS
Swan Song by Elin Hilderbrand 3 STARS
Husbands & Lovers by Beatriz Williams 3 STARS
By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult 4 STARS
Madwoman by Chelsea Bieker 4 STARS
Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout 2 STARS
Here are the books we discussed in 2025 along with my own personal “star ratings”…
The Secret Book of Flora Lea by Patti Callahan Henry 5 STARS
Brooke Shields is Not Allowed to Get Old by Brooke Shields 2 STARS
The Crash by Freida McFadden 3 STARS
One Good Thing by Georgia Hunter 5 STARS
All That Life Can Afford by Emily Everett 3 STARS
Maine Characters by Hannah Orenstein 2 STARS
My Friends by Fredrik Backman 5 STARS
The View From Lake Como by Adriana Trigiani 4 STARS
Broken Country by Clare Leslie Hall 5 STARS
Buckeye by Patrick Ryan 4 STARS
The Widow by John Grisham 4 STARS
And here are the books we’ve read so far this year along with my own personal “star ratings” as well…
The River is Waiting by Wally Lamb 3 STARS
The Bright Years by Sarah Damoff 4 STARS
The Boys in the Light by Nina Willner 5 STARS
If you want to check out all of my Book Club posts, they are all HERE!
Before we get to today’s book, let’s revisit the “rules” of Shay’s Book Club:
Here are the details:
1: On the 22nd of each month, I will share a BONUS blog post that is only about the book we read together that month. So, if it falls on a weekend, look for it that day, if it falls on a Tuesday, expect a food post, a normal lifestyle post AND third post just for the book review discussion.
2: I picked the 22nd because I want this post to come out BEFORE our normal monthly BOOK REVIEW POSTS. I will still share my normal monthly book reviews (where I average 4 to 6 books a month) at the end of each month. I will reference said “book of the month”, but I will not be reviewing it on that post, I will be linking back to the BOOK CLUB POST. Why? Because I want all of the content about the one specific book club book in one spot instead of spread out over multiple spots.
3: Each month at the end of the Book Club blog post, I will share what the book will be for the following month. This will give everyone one month to read this one particular book.
4: Let’s be real, I’m going to try to pick new/popular/relevant books every month, but I’m also going to pick books that speak to me. If you have any suggestions, please feel free to share them with me. I’m going to *try* and make the books different genres each month. I would love for us to read a variety of fiction, non-fiction, memoirs, chick lit, thrillers, etc this year. That’s the *goal*.
5: What are the rules of the book club? I know a lot of book clubs have rules and perhaps I’ll add some as we go, but basically, if you want to read along with us, we’d love to have you and on the 22nd we’ll dive a little deeper in the comment section here about that one particular book. Easy as that! That post is the one place where we’ll discuss the book so that all thoughts/opinions/questions/etc can be in one location.
6: In this blog post and in the comment section, WE WILL BE DISCUSSING SPOILERS. If you are interested in reading this book, you might not want to read below this line. In APRIL’S BOOK REVIEW later this month, I will give a quick recap and let you know if I recommend the book or not, so if you haven’t read it, you might want to wait until that official BOOK REVIEW because there will be no spoilers and based on that, you can decide whether or not to read the book. Anything below this though will include spoilers as everyone commenting here has already read the book.
Make sense?
Here we go!
This month’s novel was…
…This is Not About Us by Allegra Goodman.
So, I clearly didn’t love it.
Agh!
I feel so blah about this book that I don’t even want to recap it, BUT let me say this…one of the main reasons I love our little book club (probably the main reason!) is that it forces me to read books that I would never have picked up otherwise. If you look back over many of the books I’ve given 5 STARS to over these last two years, SEVERAL of them are books that I only read because you made me. And then I loved them 🙂 .
Even if I didn’t love this month’s book, it introduced me to an author I have never read. Plus, I’m positive that we will have a lively conversation today to give me a perspective I wouldn’t have otherwise.
Did I want to quit this book and throw it in the trash? Yes. Did I finish it though and now I get to chat about it with you? YES! I’ll call that a win.
Here are a few reasons why this one wasn’t my fave…
#1: I was optimistic about the plot because it was about three sisters (and I live with three sisters!), but it really made my heart sad that the youngest would die and the other two would spend the rest of their days in a tiff.
#2: I thought the secondary characters were the only redeeming part of this novel. I was happy that Richard found Heather and was able to have a relationship with his daughters and start again with her and their new baby. A little closure and joy in the middle of two women squabbling about a cake.
#3: I understood the resentment and built up animosity between Sylvia and Helen…but I didn’t love that they had lost Jeannie and decided the best way to handle their last years was in a feud. Didn’t they see how little time they had left? How precious and fleeting life was? Why must they not speak for such a long time when they both clearly missed the other?
#4: The last chapter gave me just enough hope and optimism at the briss that I just knew reconciliation was right around the corner. But no. I tapped my Kindle to go to the next page and found myself staring at the acknowledgment section. Where was the reconciliation? Where was that much needed next chapter? How could we not get closure after all of the turmoil? I know a reunion is implied…sort of…but come on, I suffered many a long chapter just to see them finally get together again and we didn’t.
I don’t know…the whole thing just felt heavy and sad.
It was a melancholy book, and I don’t mind a little sadness and grief if we can have resolution. There was zero resolution. When it was over and done with, I did not feel satisfied. Urg.
Those are my thoughts. If you loved this novel, I would love to know why.
Next month is one of my very favorite months and to celebrate, we are going to read a novel by one of my VERY favorite authors…
…Mad Mabel by Sally Hepworth!
Woohoo! I have only heard the best, best reviews about this one, friends! I hope you all read it along with me.
Alrighty, let’s head to the comment section to chat all things This is Not About Us!
I can’t wait to read your thoughts and opinions, AND make sure you check out today’s second blog post on COMMUNITY too.
Happy Book Day! I’ll see you all here tomorrow! xx
Susan Jeffries says
I ordered this one because I knew you were reading it. It’s on my kindle but I haven’t started it yet. I may just delete it now lol. I decided that I won’t waste time reading books that I don’t love. Thanks for the review!!
Elspeth Mizner says
I love that your reviews are genuine! I’m looking forward to reading mad Mabel too!
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Becky says
I just finished This is Not About Us. Occasionally I liked the stories, but it moved slow. I agree, I did not like how there was no resolution between the sisters. I was surprised as well about the ending. It was interesting to read about the Jewish customs and traditions as I am not familiar with them.
The book I read before that was Mad Mabel. I am part of Book of the Month and received it before it was released in stores. It was a fun read!
Katie Compton says
Shay!! I’ve been patiently waiting for
book review day b/c I was dying to know what you thought! I could have written your review word for word. This book was so blah for me. I wanted to quit so bad. But then I found myself reading it faster to just get to the end where I KNEW the sisters would reunite. And then just like you… I tapped my Kindle and NADA. Womp, womp, womp.
Oh well… it’s done and now I’m super excited about May’s book club choice b/c I’m a huge Sally fan and I saved this one to my list a few days ago. Yay!
Mix and Match Mama says
womp, womp, WOMP! Urg.
Michele says
I totally agree with your review! I was so disappointed in the story! I do have a friend who is a lot like Helen (I think) who speaks without really considering the consequences of her words and then wonders why people find her abrasive!
Vincy George says
I couldn’t agree with you more! I did like the writing style and the way she strung words together but other than that, not much else about this book. Almost felt like I was wasting my time reading it but I forced myself to get through it hoping it would get better towards the end and that was just not the case. Oh well! On to the next one, looking forward to reading Mad Mabel! Sally Hepworth is one of my favorite authors!
Brittany says
Mad Mabel is so, so good!!! I loved every single page. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts.
Jennifer Crawley says
I felt the same way! I was excited to read this book and had high hopes. But overall, it was just a disappointment.
Leslie Maxey says
Mad Mabel is sooooo good! You will enjoy it!
Krista says
You’re better than me because I quit reading it about 20% of the way through. I read before bed and it just made me feel anxious and not relaxed and just wasn’t interested. On to the next 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I’m jealous you quit 😉
Joy says
Oh my goodness! I felt the same exact way. I have never commented on your reviews until this one. I have been waiting for this….I kept wondering, am I nuts? This book is terrible!? I kept hoping for more depth in the sisters’ relationships and feud, but it wasn’t there. I was listening on audible and actually sped it up to get through it faster. I am so relieved to know that I wasn’t alone here. Since we are on the same page here, I’m going to continue on and download next month’s book. 🙂 I always look forward to your book reviews!!
Sil says
I listened to this book and it was a hard one to to get through, but I didn’t want to give up! I kept thinking it would get better. I’m glad I am not the only one who thought it ended abruptly without the conclusion I needed.
Looking forward to Mad Mabel!!
Kat says
Ugh, I felt the same way. I was looking forward to your review thinking maybe I missed something great but it was slow and sad, and not in a good way. It was really kind of depressing with no resolve at all. I was hopeful but it didn’t hit the mark for me.
Mary says
This is exactly how I felt about this book! I kept waiting for something BIG to happen!
Sheila says
I liked the writing style and the stories of each family, but wanted them to come to some kind of resolution (happy or otherwise). The part that really bugs me is that I can’t figure out how the chapter about the dog walker fits with the rest of the book?? Who were those characters??
Katie Compton says
I had totally forgotten about that part! But you’re right… that was so random! Was it one of the granddaughters jobs? Like the one that traveld in the van and played the violin? I seriously can’t remember. Ha!
YOLANDA MCLEAN says
Is there a negative star rating? I tried, but I could not finish this book. So slow and boring. On to the next!
Mix and Match Mama says
Bahahaha! I don’t judge a negative star rating on this one 😉 .
Keisha Dawson says
I was so nervous to see your review on this book, becuase I feel like our reading styles are very similar, and I rated this book 2 stars. I was so relieved to see that you felt the same way. I just didn’t love it at all!
Jessica says
Oh this makes me feel better. I kept waiting and waiting for it to get better. I keep thinking there would be a big reunion at the end that would wrap things up wonderfully. And nooooo……. didn’t happen. Nothing happened, really.
Oh well…. on to the next.
Shay, you got me hooked on Sally Hepworth books. I cannot wait for this read!
Mary Jacques says
I loved Goodman’s other books Sam and Isola. I hated this one and couldn’t wait to read your review. For me it was more than just blah. What a cast of unhappy, unlikable characters!! And I was so confused by the chapter on Sheba and the dog walker. How was that connected at all??!! I’m sort of happy Richard found Heather, but I think he’s just going to end up making her miserable too!! And the ending?! I hated the ending with no resolution. I now can’t wait to read Mad Mabel. I’ve heard great things.
Mix and Match Mama says
Do I need to consider reading Sam and Isola?
Mary Jacques says
Yes! Isola especially- great historical fiction!!
Jen says
I agree! Isola was wonderful!!
Leticia says
I was skimming the comments to ask the same thing – where does Sheba fit in this story??? I have not finished the book, that’s the one thing that has kept me going LOL
Gina Holmes says
I had to go back because I was confused about the dog walker chapter too. I believe that she is Heather’s sister because it mentioned her name, Jamie, I think, when she attended the baby’s bris. I don’t know why we needed the backstory for such a minor character though. It was among the many strange things about this extremely dull book. Two stars for me too!
Kareylou says
I also think that Jamie passed Phoebe and Wyatt busking. At one point she passes a girl playing violin and a boy/young man playing cello, who I took to be Phoebe and Wyatt. I haven;t read far enough to see if they have any further encounters.
I agree that Jamie is Heather’s sister; it is stated in the Sheba chapter, but I don’t think we even know who Heather is yet at that point in the book.
I enjoyed the book more when I thought of it as a collection of short stories. It was easy to pick it up and read a chapter when I had a few minutes. I think I would give it 3 stars.
Kay says
I actually did like this book! Not my top read of the year but I’m glad I read it for what it’s worth. Totally would have loved a better ending too but I liked the writing.
Sooo excited for next book-love Sally!!!
Emily Firko says
I couldn’t finish this book! Made it like 3/4 of the way and gave it one star ha.
Amber says
Mad Mabel is one of my all-time favorite books!! I absolutely LOVED it!!
Rebecca says
I agree, I was optimistic that it sounded good, but loathed it! I even thought about not finishing it, but hoped it would get better! It was so, so slow, I didn’t ever love the characters, & felt like it didn’t give me that wrap up/redemption at the end. I was very disappointed in it.
Oh well, that’s part of being a book lover, reading different books, liking, loving, & disliking books,
I’m very excited for next month bc I’ve really enjoyed all of Sally’s books! This was my first month to participate, so fun!🩷
Linda says
I very rarely don’t finish a book but I stopped at 100 pages. I love Sally Hepworth’s books, looking forward to Mad Mabel!
Christin says
Totally agree! I feel like 2 stars is generous. I try to stay away from negativity but I felt like this whole book was negative. A little redemption, forgiveness, or reunion would have gone a long way. And then there was the random dog walker chapter?!?!!! Who was that? I kept waiting for her to pop up later. Weird.
Alesia says
I have been waiting for this to see what everyone thought. I rarely don’t finish a book, but I did not finish this one. I made it half way and decided life was too short. haha, Looking forward to the next pick!