Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

“Life can begin with a single story. You just have to bring your own book…”

If you follow me on Instagram, you may have seen I was in a bit of a reading slump recently and that my usual genre wasn’t doing it for me. So I picked out some books from different genres, things that were a bit more lighthearted than my usual crime/thriller, and made an Instagram poll for other book people to choose my next read. This one won by a mile, and I can see why. It’s fixed whatever slump I was in and it is an utterly gorgeous read. Full of hope, love, loss, overcoming loneliness and finding yourself again. I’m so thrilled to be sharing my review of The Forgotten Book Club!

About the book

For three decades, Grace supported her husband Frank’s passion for books, despite not being a reader herself. Since his passing, their shelves echo longingly, and Grace’s heartache has only grown.

When Grace’s grandson suggests joining Frank’s old book club to feel closer to him again, Grace reluctantly agrees. Yet, upon arrival, she discovers this isn’t a typical book club: here, members settle in for an hour of reading… in silence.

Disappointed by the sparse attendance and confused by the lack of chatter, Grace flees. But when fellow member, Annie, convinces her to stay, Grace is determined to ensure that neither Frank – nor his beloved book club – are forgotten.

And as she breathes new life into the group, Grace might just find this is where she truly belongs. Because this next chapter of life could just be the beginning of her story…

The beginning

I was really excited for my first taste of this author’s writing (it’s been a long time coming!) and I wasn’t disappointed in the slightest. What a treat it was! Her words were so easy to read and sink into, and I was instantly transported to Grace’s world. Sixty-nine-year-old Grace had sadly lost her husband, Frank, a year ago, and it was clear she still felt this loss so profoundly, as anyone would. My heart ached for her knowing how lonely her life felt without him in it. She does her best to hide her loneliness from her daughter, Rosie, and I just wanted to pull her from the pages and give her a massive hug. (My eyes were already tearing up, so God help me for later!) A big thing we learn about her husband early on was that he loved books. He was a big reader, and of course, we can all relate to this part of him. Grace however, never really shared that same love of books. When her grandson, Jude, suggests she attend the book club that Frank set up, just for a bit of company, she’s not sure at all. But she reluctantly agrees to try just one session. I knew, even now, that it would change her life for the better.

“Say you like graphic novels, yeah, or romantasy? You might not find a book club where everyone has the same taste as you, especially locally. And that’s not cool, is it? Here, everyone reads what the hell they like, that’s the vibe. Anything goes. There’s no pressure to perform here. You can just be.”

I was completely obsessed with how much of a ‘book about books’ this one was. I adored it, especially how this book mentions and celebrates modern day authors that many of us know well (I’m looking at you Jennie Godfrey and Clare Mackintosh!) Of course, classic books and authors are celebrated too, but there was something about the former that really warmed my heart and made me smile. And not only this – the book also touches upon more sensitive topics such as a new ADHD diagnosis (something I’ve never seen represented in a book until now) as well as mental health awareness. Of course, grief is also explored so deeply which really tugged at my heart. As Grace starts to attend more and more book club sessions, she slowly sees the benefit of being surrounded with other people, even though at first, it was way too overwhelming for her. The silence in the room made her brain work over time, allowing that sadness to take over. Over time, she becomes curious to learn their own stories, where they’ve come from, and what reading and their silent book club does for them personally.

The middle

I loved how we could see Grace’s personal progress as the book went on, from spending time alone with so many feelings, to meeting new people, having meaningful conversations, giving advice and talking about her experiences. She also finds herself reading more, and I found myself so eager to see which book she’d pick out next from Frank’s extensive collection! Throughout her book browsing, Grace finds one of Franks journals, and some of the content inside puts some questions in her mind. Was there something he was keeping from her, their marriage? She experiences complex new feelings after reading his journal which, when combined with the grief she still felt, was a lot for one person to carry. The author expertly tackles all this in her writing and I loved her portrayal of such complex emotions. The book really dives deep into ADHD and how much it affected Grace’s family, even where there wasn’t a diagnosis, and I so appreciated this representation. I also appreciated Grace’s new book club friend, Annie. She’s the voice of reason when Grace needs it the most.

“My Jack says one day my to-be-read pile will topple over and bury me, but I told him there are worse ways to go.”

With plans to expand the book club and the aim to complete Frank’s goals he unfortunately couldn’t carry out himself before his passing, there was a real nice, feel-good sense of community and friendship. The fact the book club members were doing something good, to help other people, really gave me that dopamine hit. It was so heartwarming, and I loved how this group of strangers who knew her husband so well were now friends with Grace. She was one of them now, as were her family. And even when they hit some hurdles, they pick themselves back up and carry on. I just loved it! And speaking of Grace’s family, what a beautiful bond they all share! They’re funny, don’t take themselves too seriously, yet they always look out for one another, and I love how the author has created this close-nit family unit. How they’re normal in their own ways, yet each of them have different quirks that make them unique. Such wonderful character creation – I could read about them all day long and never be bored! I couldn’t wait to see the positive changes to their book club.

The end

As part of the growth of the club, the group do some promo work, which involved each member being interviewed about their top three “desert island reads”. I did not expect to wiping tears from my cheeks at this point, but here we are! Their reasons for choosing their particular books really spoke to me. These book had been important parts of their lives, had helped them in some way, reminded them of years gone by or of lost love ones. And that’s why we all love reading, right? Because our favourite books speak to us when we need them the most. We crave that escapism, or that feeling of familiarity, or we want to reminisce or feel a particular way. This part of the book was my favourite for so many reasons, and I think every book lover will just get it. It’s just so beautifully written! And when a book club member is in need of desperate help over a very serious matter, of course Grace and everyone else steps up to help and do all they can. Despite some upsetting themes, I just adored these people, how kind they were, how they’d do anything to help each other when they needed it.

“Friends like you are never a burden. And good friendships share life’s load between them.”

As their book club expands even further and new big plans are discussed, I couldn’t help but share their excitement. I honestly felt like I was a part of it all! The joy I felt reading about their successful fundraising event was truly off the scale. There was fun and laughter, but also a serious message at the heart. I felt so genuinely proud of each of these characters and everything they had created together, and it really felt like one of those books you never want to end. There is so much hope, kindness and community spirit and I couldn’t get enough of it. This book has the perfect ending, one so thought-provoking and wonderfully written, and even though I could have happily read about these characters forever, I could really imagine how their futures would be. I’d never say no to a sequel one day, though! My first read from this author has really made me want to read every single book she’s written (and in every genre!) But if you love feel-good, book club fiction, this is absolutely one to add to your list. Let me know if you’ve read this one already, or plan to!

Overall thoughts

The Forgotten Book Club is one of those comforting books you always look forward to picking up, and I absolutely adored it. It’s a story about one woman’s grief after losing her husband, and the way a very unique book club he set up changes her life for the better. It explores grief and loss, mental health awareness and neurodiversity, family and newfound friendship. It’s also a book for the book lovers, and I guarantee you’ll see a little bit of yourself inside its pages. The characters are all so brilliantly quirky, so different and lovable, people you’d love to call your own friends. Despite the upsetting themes (keep the tissues handy, you’ll need them!) there is so much hope laced through the pages, and it’s definitely one of the most uplifting books I’ve read in a long time. Emotional and heartwrenching, yet inspiring, uplifting and fun. A must read!

Huge thanks to my book friend, Sharron (@wonky_littlelendinglibrary) for sending a copy of this book my way, and to Avon Books for Sharron’s giveaway prize! You can grab your own copy of The Forgotten Book Club right now on Amazon or wherever you buy your books. Make sure you’re following the author on Instagram, X and Bluesky for more updates!

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