“Books —and the words that form them— have gotten me through a lot of things I’d like to forget.” // “Just thinking about book club and how warm and welcoming a group it is, I feel lighter.”
If you have ever been part of a book club, you will know that more often than not, they are a lot more than just a book club. This is illustrated perfectly in Wendy Wax’s new novel, The Break-Up Book Club, which is a multigenerational story told by four women that are part of the same book club, whom are all at different stages of their lives and trying to get by after being hurt by the men they loved. However, the book club is more than a place where they discuss books over food and wine; it’s also a place where people from different backgrounds and ages can come together, no matter if they have read the book or not, a place to find comfort and not feel judged. Ultimately, The Break-Up Book Club depicts how a group of strangers can become friends and also family.
The story has four narrators: Judith, Sara, Jazmine, and Erin. Judith is an adult woman whose kids don’t live at home anymore and who’s husband is away on a business trip. She is crushed and starts questioning her marriage when her husband accidentally calls her and she overhears a conversation in which he says she is boring and they are just used to each other at the moment. Sara is a teacher and is forced to take care of her mother-in-law (who can’t stand her) whilst her husband works out of town. She is also crushed after making a devastating discovery regarding her husband’s life. Jazmine is a single mother, a former tennis player, and a sports agent who tries so hard to keep her life balanced whilst she starts dating again (enemies to lovers fans… you will love this). Erin is Jazmine’s new assistant and has just been dumped days before her wedding by her long-term boyfriend. The whole set of characters are lovable and quirky and each goes through a big character development by the end of the book! It’s amazing to see how they find themselves again and find the courage to delve into new chapters of their lives after going through so many hardships.
At first, it takes a while to get used to this multiple-narrator POV and get a sense of who is who and what their relationships and stories are like. It also takes a little bit for the book club to make an appearance and start seeing how each character connects with each other and the other members of the book club. However, once you get the storyline figured out, it’s hard to put the book down as you want to know how each of these four strong women’s personal stories develop. Wax did a wonderful job intertwining these four stories and moving from one to the other as the reader gets through the book.
The pace of the book is neither fast nor slow, it’s the perfect pace to dive into these stories without feeling like you’re rushing through them or that they’re dragging. And, even though the plot was predictable at times, this is still a fun read! The book club bits are very enjoyable as well and it’s funny to see all the shenanigans this diverse group gets up to. If you are part of a book club, you will probably understand and if you aren’t, well this will definitely make you want to try joining one or at least it will spark some curiosity in you! There is never a dull moment and like it is stated in The Break-Up Book Club, it’s always very interesting to see how differently people experience the same story.
It’s also worth mentioning that the message from the author at the beginning of the book is actually heartbreaking, which is why it’s impressive how she was able to pour herself into this book and produce such a heartwarming and comforting read when she must have been struggling so much.
Overall, The Break-Up Book Club is a fun and feel-good story about the power of books, book clubs, and friendships. It’s the perfect book to lose yourself in for a little while and find comfort in the way people can come together and form strong friendships through shared experiences and books.
The Break-Up Book Club is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of May 18th, 2021.
Will you be picking up The Break-Up Book Club? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
Breakups, like book clubs, come in many shapes and sizes and can take us on unexpected journeys as four women discover in this funny and heartwarming exploration of friendship from the USA Today bestselling author of Ten Beach Road and My Ex-Best Friend’s Wedding.
On paper, Jazmine, Judith, Erin and Sara have little in common – they’re very different people leading very different lives. And yet at book club meetings in an historic carriage house turned bookstore, they bond over a shared love of reading (and more than a little wine) as well as the growing realization that their lives are not turning out like they expected.
Former tennis star Jazmine is a top sports agent balancing a career and single motherhood. Judith is an empty nester questioning her marriage and the supporting role she chose. Erin’s high school sweetheart and fiancé develops a bad case of cold feet, and Sara’s husband takes a job out of town saddling Sara with a difficult mother-in-law who believes her son could have done better – not exactly the roommate most women dream of.
With the help of books, laughter, and the joy of ever evolving friendships, Jazmine, Judith, Erin and Sara find the courage to navigate new and surprising chapters of their lives as they seek their own versions of happily-ever-after.
