The Book Club

By Mary Alice Monroe

On the surface, it is a monthly book club. But for five women, it is so much more. For Eve Porter, whose husband's sudden death cheats her of every security she had planned on, the club is a place of sanctuary. For Annie Blake, a brilliant attorney intent on starting a family late in life, it is the chance to finally let down her guard and dream of other possibilities. For Doris Bridges, it is her support group as she acknowledges her dying marriage and finds the ultimate freedom in her husband's betrayal. For Gabriella Rivera, the "perfect" wife, mother and friend who offers support to everyone but is afraid to ask for it herself, it is a sense of community. And for Midge Kirsch, an artist who has always lived her life against the grain, it is a haven of acceptance.

They are five women from different walks of life, embracing the challenge of change. And as they share their hopes and fears and triumphs, they will hold fast to the true magic of the book clubfriendship.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
• Release date: Aug 15, 2012
• ISBN: 9781459248311

Mary Alice Monroe

Mary Alice Monroe is the New York Times bestselling author of twenty-seven books, including the bestselling The Beach House series. Monroe also writes children’s picture books, and a middle grade fiction series called The Islanders. She is a member of the South Carolina Academy of Authors’ Hall of Fame, and her books have received numerous awards, including the South Carolina Center for the Book Award for Writing; the South Carolina Award for Literary Excellence; the SW Florida Author of Distinction Award; the RT Lifetime Achievement Award; the International Book Award for Green Fiction; the Henry Bergh Children’s Book Award; and her novel, A Lowcountry Christmas, won the prestigious Southern Prize for Fiction. The Beach House is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, starring Andie MacDowell. Several of her novels have been optioned for film. She is the cocreator and cohost of the weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction. Monroe is also an active conservationist and serves on several boards. She lives on the South Carolina coast, which is a source of inspiration for many of her books. 

Reviews for The Book Club

[hobbitprincess · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The lives of 5 women who have their own book club are the center of this novel. It was ok. I wanted to strangle a couple of the women for being stupid, and I thought some things were left hanging in the end. The overarching theme here is that men are basically bastards and that only women can be a woman's true friend. Also, as is often typical of this type of book, the characters are generally beautiful, successful, and rich. I can so relate . . .

[cherybear · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Five friends go through challenges in their lives, loves, and friendships, as they meet regularly to talk about each month's book selection.

[susan0316 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is one of Mary Alice Monroe's earlier books originally published in 1999 before she started writing Southern fiction. There's no ocean and no low country scenery but she still gives us a wonderful plot and well written women facing problems that their friends help them work through.This is a book about a book club. In the beginning, they were just a book club but over time the women became best friends. The five women areEve - her doctor husband has just died as the novel begins and she is left with two children and no idea of how to handle bills and money.Annie - a lawyer who is happily married and decides that she wants a baby despite the fact that she is over 40.Doris - has poor self esteem and a husband who seems to be away from home more and more.Gabriella - has to support her family after her husband loses his job.Midge - is single and an artist but wants to fall in love.All of the women are at a critical point in their lives and help each other get through the bad times. It is always fun to read books about the importance of women's friendships. This is a light read with everyone getting their happily ever after ending.

[delphimo_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe shows the life of five women: Annie, Doris, Eve, Midge, and Gabriella. What does the reader enter in this emotionally charged story? Women need the friendship and understanding and love of other women to traverse life. This book shows all the problems that women encounter such as cheating husbands, dead husbands, unemployed husbands, and no husband. A book club brings the five women together and cements their friendship. The books read and discussed by the women follow the feelings and hardships of the ladies: A Christmas Carol, Moby Dick, Madame Bovary, The Call of the Wild, The Awakening, and Pride and Prejudice. I have read all of the books but would consider rereading to understand the story and emotion contained in these classics. I strongly recommend this book and have suggested this book for future book club selections.

[smik_3 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Another departure from my usual crime fiction fare.Five women have belonged to this book club for years and the events of this story show how it is about much more than just reading books. Each of the women go through life changing events and the monthly book club provides a point of stability when all around is rocky.The primary voice is Eve whose husband dies suddenly while he is away on a regular trip. Her life is shattered and all her security is destroyed. For some months she feels unable to meet with the Book Club but eventually finds her way back to them as a group.The action takes place over nearly 18 months and each of the women goes through a crisis where the support of the others becomes pivotal.A good read.

[caslater83 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

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.

I could not relate to any of the characters. I am simply too young.

Having said all this, I don't think I would re-read it.

[moonshineandrosefire · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

On the surface, it is a monthly book club. But for five women, it is something infinitely more precious: a lifeline to hang on to and a chance to share their hopes, fears and triumphs. There is Eve, whose husband's sudden death has turned her safe little world upside down; cheating her out of every security that she had assumed was hers. Annie is a brilliant attorney who at 43 decides to have a baby, but all the determination in the world cannot change the cold reality of nature. Doris, forced to acknowledge her dying marriage, will find the ultimate freedom through her husband's betrayal. Gabriella, the "perfect" wife, mother and friend, is afraid to ask for support for herself even as she offers such support to those around her. Finally, there is Midge - an artist who has always lived her life against the grain - but she suddenly feels like a stranger to the very people who should know her the best. These five women are women in transition and as they embrace the challenge of change, they will hold fast to the true magic of their book club - friendship.Mareena was the one who found this book for me at our local library's book sale. I was intrigued by the book's plot because I love books that delve into people's relationships and the intricacies of women's friendships. This is the first time that I read The Book Club by Mary Alice Monroe and I am delighted to discover that she has written more books. I give this book an A+! and am immediately going to put Mary Alice Monroe on my TBR pile.

[nancynova · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

rabck from T02S03B11D20; Five women joined by a single thread - their book club. The book explores each of their different paths as they all hit their 50th year.

[impudentangel · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

A nice book about women's challenges and friendships. Light reading.

[smithsj01_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I took a chance on this book in a charity shop and I was so pleased I did. It was delightful. It is a cross between `Desperate Housewives' and `The Friday Night Knitting Club'. I genuinely expected to open it, begin reading and think hmmm maybe this isn't for me and I was surprised. I loved it from the outset. The characters are easy to imagine and I agree with the other reviewer that Gabriella and Midge always seem to be hovering on the outside and yet Midge is one I wanted to follow in closer detail. Doris is the one we get to know the most about and possibly the one I liked the least. The chapters are a satisfactory length whereby you feel you've read sufficient if you want to put it down to do something else, however I'm certain you'll find yourself wanting to read more. You may even find yourself reading the books they discuss or even just nodding in agreement with some of the points they make during their get-togethers. I did feel a touch disappointed at the end as I felt I could have read a little bit more about the five women I'd grown attached two over the space of a few nights. An enjoyable read after a heavier book beforehand (`The Dante Trap') and therefore very welcome. The epilogue concludes the book nicely and is written in first person by one of the characters whereas the rest of the book is in third person; a nice touch that really brought everything to an end.

[debavp · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I felt like I was reading a dressed down version of Angry Housewives Eating Bon Bons. A little too much romance novel for my taste. Some characters were totally left by the wayside in development which was a shame because they would have much more interesting than the sterotypical Eve and Annie.

[cindyloumn · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Liked it alot!! Good women charcters. Never knew what would happen.