Welcome to a very special book club – where stories are shared, secrets kept, and friendships found.
Howard, newly retired to Dorset, joins because he can’t sleep; the weekly sessions give him an opportunity to connect. Margot logs in only after her husband’s fallen asleep – her life has grown small, and the club is the one place she can still be herself. And on the other side of the world, Faye joins to escape her sister’s latest crisis and feel, for an hour, that she belongs somewhere.
For each of them, the book club is more than a hobby – it’s a lifeline.
So when Howard suddenly disappears from the meetings, everything changes. Determined to be there for their friend, Faye and Margot must step out of their own troubled lives and travel to Dorset – where the truth behind Howard’s silence may turn out to be the most unexpected story of all…
Review: I’m sure I am like most readers in being pleased to find a new book by a favourite author. So I was delighted to see this new release from Helen Rolfe. The cover as well as the title made me anticipate a good story in a lovely setting. I listened to the audio version of the book and found it compelling from start to finish.
The story, as the title suggests, concerns members of a rather special book club. It is actually known by its members as the midnight book club, since that is the time it convenes in the UK. It is an international book club held over zoom, with contributors from Australia as well as England. Originally started by Faye, who lives in Australia, members include Howard, an elderly man who runs a bookshop in Dorset, and Margot, a wife and mother who is trapped in an unhappy marriage. Each of them relies on the club as an escape from the reality of life. However, when Howard suddenly stops attending their sessions, the others become concerned, and turn up at his bookshop to investigate. What they find is disturbing, but it turns out to have far reaching consequences for their lives.
I very much enjoyed this heart-warming story about a slightly unusual book club and some determined women. As well as a strong storyline and some interesting characters, the author introduces readers to some beautiful coastal scenery and a marvellous community. The main characters each had their own back story and were certainly not without their problems, including bereavement, coercive control within a marriage and family disruption, but acted together to change their lives. I would have loved to meet them all and visit Howard’s bookshop. I can definitely recommend this summery read.
To order your copy now, just click here!
No comments:
Post a Comment