The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery – a Review

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Description:
The rules of summer book club are
•          No sad books 
•          No pressure 
•          Yessssss, wine! 

Besties Laurel and Paris are excited to welcome Cassie to the group. This year, the book club is all about fill-your-heart reads, an escape from the chaos of the everyday—running a business, raising a family, juggling a hundred to-dos. Even the dog is demanding (but the bestest boy).

Since Laurel’s divorce, she feels like the Worst Mom Ever. Her skepticism of men may have scarred her vulnerable daughters. Cassie has an unfortunate habit of falling for ridiculous man-boys who dump her once she fixes them. Paris knows good men exist. She’s still reeling after chasing off the only one brave enough—and foolish enough—to marry her.

Inspired by the heroines who risk everything for fulfillment, Laurel, Paris and Cassie begin to take chances—big chances—in life, in love. Facing an unwritten chapter can be terrifying. But it can be exhilarating, too, if only they can find the courage to change.

Review:

The Summer Book Club by Susan Mallery is another one of her wonderful heartwarming stories revolving around a friendship between three ladies. The main characters are Paris, who is divorced and owns a farm stand; Laurel, is also divorced, and resells items from thrift and estate stores, making a profit; and Cassie, who recently moved to town.  Paris and Laurel have been best friends since they were seven years old.  Cassie is the newcomer, as her family pushed her to travel to Los Lobos, California to learn about her uncle’s inheritance, as well to get past her struggles to move on in her life.  When Paris and Laurel stop at the wine bar, they meet Cassie, and invite her to their book club.

Laurel’s marriage ended when her husband left her, and took all her money.  Her two daughters, who play a major part in this story, have different feelings toward their father, who rarely calls.  The oldest hates her father, as she knows what he did to her mom, and never visits. One day, Laurel is called to school, and shocked that her oldest constantly puts boys down, and now she needs to prove to Jagger that all men are not terrible. Laurel needs to find a man friend to show her daughters that all men are not bad.

Paris had a rough childhood, with an abusive mother, with her inability to control her anger. After her divorce, she finally with help from Laurel, goes to therapy and anger management. Ten years later, her ex-husband, Jonah is in town to help his mom, and Paris learns that he has a son, and a wife that is now deceased.  Cassie will find the inheritance to be a large land, as well as acave, with some surprising finds.  She only intends to stay for six months, but with her close friendship with Paris and Laurel, as well as the daughters, she is very happy and loving Los Lobos.   The three women bond and help each other thru their dealing with not only emotional baggage, but issues from meeting the men now in their lives.  I really loved all three ladies, Laurel, Paris and Cassie, as well as Laurel’s two daughters.  The male characters were also very good, Jonah, Rapheal, Colton.  I loved loved Bandit, Paris’s dog.

The Summer Book Club was an amazing and heartwarming story, that was so very well written by Susan Mallery. I loved this story, with each of the ladies being wonderful, even with difficult situations, which they were there for each other.   The Summer Book Club was a terrific story, which I suggest you read. 

Reviewed by Barb

Copy provided by Publisher