| Title | : | The Banned Books Club |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 0778369595 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780778369592 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 352 |
| Publication | : | First published September 1, 2024 |
Despite their strained relationship, when Gia Rossi’s sister, Margot, begs her to come home to Wakefield, Iowa, to help with their ailing mother, Gia knows she has no choice. After her rebellious and at-times-tumultuous teen years, Gia left town with little reason to look back. But she knows Margot’s borne the brunt of their mother’s care and now it’s Gia’s turn to help, even if it means opening old wounds.
As expected, Gia’s homecoming is far from welcome. There’s the Banned Books Club she started after the PTA overzealously slashed the high school reading list, which is right where she left it. But there is also Mr. Hart, her former favorite teacher. The one who was fired after Gia publicly and painfully accused him of sexual misconduct. The one who prompted Gia to leave behind a very conflicted town the minute she turned eighteen. The one person she hoped never to see again.
When Margot leaves town without explanation, Gia sees the cracks in her sister’s “perfect” life for the first time and plans to offer support. But as the town, including members of the book club, takes sides between Gia and Mr. Hart, everything gets harder. Fortunately, she learns that there are people she can depend on. And by standing up for the truth, she finds love and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.
The Banned Books Club Reviews
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The Banned Books Club by Brenda Novak
Contemporary romance.
Gia Rossi walked away from a college scholarship and backpacked to Alaska. She’s now a co-owner of a helicopter adventure company and hasn’t spent but a weekend occasionally back home with her family. But her sister Margot is calling, asking Gia to come home. Their mother is sick and it’s Gia’s turn to be the caregiver.
The residents of Wakefield aren’t all that happy to have Gia back. Most blame her for getting one of her high school teacher’s fired for sexual misconduct. Since Gia left town and he’s still blaming her for ruining his life, there used to be a rumor that Gia ‘s story wasn’t true. Even though the court, and his wife, believed Gia.
Now with Gia home and helping to care for their mother, Margot takes off with her children but no explanation. The neighbor saw her loading the suitcase so they know it was voluntary but this leaves a lot of questions on what Margot was hiding. Her husband is blaming and threatening Gia. Fortunately Gia is learning that there are people that believe and support her and that she can depend on.
Heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time. Both Gia and Margot’s lives are changed with this trip home. Both are standing up for themselves and becoming stronger than ever. Especially with the support of family and friends.
I admit I cried a few times. In particular with a “you’re smiling more” comment.
Loved the small town feel, the romance, and the feeling of family.
I received a copy of this from NetGalley. -
I absolutely LOVED The Banned Books Club! I had been picking up and setting aside several books, none capturing my attention and then I started it and was hooked from the very first page!
Gia loved reading, part of that passion was ignited by her favorite teacher, Mr. Hart, but then he crossed boundaries. Gia reported him and things changed when he lost his job. Some believed Gia and some believed Mr. Hart and so Gia left town after graduating and rarely came to visit. However, she can’t avoid her hometown anymore since her mother is losing her battle with cancer and Gia doesn’t want to miss the precious time she has left with her. Plus, her sister Margot has appealed to Gia to come back and help, which is uncharacteristic. Gia’s worried something’s off with her sister, but Margot is mum on the subject.
Margot has her own story, and I was worried for her! She was clearly in danger, and I wondered how it would be resolved!
The Banned Books Club was part romance, and that was a messy situation but so good! It was also emotional on so many levels and suspenseful with a situation that had me on the edge of my seat! I started the story and read straight through in one day! Five stars all the way!
I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of MIRA. These are my honest thoughts and opinions. -
• ARC REVIEW •
Release Date: tomorrow !! 9/17
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5
I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK. It blew me away the entire time with how each character’s story and development. I had no idea what this book was truly about + my expectations were surpassed. This book broke my heart in many ways but also healed it all at the same time. It was such a beautiful and redemptive story that was hard to put down. I am team Cormac + Gia for lifeeeee 🤝🏼 Please read trigger warnings below!
Expect:
-enemies to lovers
-slow burn
-protective MC
-dual POV
-domestic violence *trigger warning*
-sexual abuse references from the past *trigger warning*
-small town
Thank you NetGalley, the author and MIRA/Harper Collins publishing for this ARC in exchange for my honest review ✨ -
What to expect:
Multiple POV
Family drama
Small town scandals
Past trauma
A bit of romance
🔥Steam level: Open door but no descriptions
On a side note, I feel like I should mention that this title doesn’t really speak to what this book is about. There was next to no discussion of banned books and only brief moments moments when the “Banned Book Club” met, but no real discussions as a group or incorporation of the harm from banning books. Basically, banned/banning books did not play a part in the plot.
3.5 stars
Full review coming soon -
The Banned Books Club really has very little to do with banned books, but a lot to do with how society treats victims of sexual and domestic violence/abuse. Gia was molested by her high school English teacher, and he was convicted and sent to jail, but many of the people in her hometown believe his claim of innocence. She left town after high school and rarely came back. Her sister, Margot, is in a marriage with an emotionally abusive and controlling man, who is from a “pillar of society” family and feels powerless to truly escape him without losing her children. While their mother is nearing the end of her life because of terminal cancer, Margot asks Gia to come home and help their father, and Margot, with their mother’s care. Gia does come home, but can feel the townspeople’s disapproval of her return. Margot takes the opportunity, when her husband goes away for his annual week long hunting trip, to take her boys and leave town forever, since she knows her sister is there to help their father. What I love about Brenda Novak’s books is that her stories are not cookie cutter and always have several layers of relationships & situations. Thank you to Harlequin Trade Publishing, MIRA and NetGalley for an advance reader’s ebook to review.
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2.5 stars
The title was a bit misleading. The “banned books club” part made up about 3 % of the book; the other 97% was family drama, with some romance thrown in.
Trigger Warnings:
Sexual harassment by a teacher of a minor child; spousal abuse
Steaminess Rating:
❤️🔥❤️🔥❤️🔥
(Check my profile for my “Steaminess Rating” chart!) -
Everyone has always encouraged me to read Brenda Novak, and I never have until now. The Banned Books Club has left me a huge fan of her work. I mean what book lover is not going to love a book about a book club? This one had mystery and romance both- I was not expecting the romance. Compelling story lines and lovable characters made this an easy 4 star read for me. I highly recommend both this book & the author!
Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing, & MIRA for the ARC copy of this book. -
3.5 ⭐️? It’s hard to write a review of this book because, on the whole, I really enjoyed it! It was a page turner, I liked the characters, wanted to know what was going to happen with the romance and the disappearance and the conflicts and the darling elderly parents… The overall plot was compelling and tight.
The first third of the book, the dialogue felt forced and amateurish, trying to squeeze backstory into dialogue into ways that felt stilted and unrealistic. But once the story was underway, the dialogue became more natural and I stopped being distracted by that.
The thing that really hung me up throughout is that this book has absolutely the wrong title! The Banned Book Club itself is an underdeveloped plot line that, at best, was meant to tell us something about the main character’s rebellious nature, relationship with an English teacher, and tie her back to a group of former classmates in her hometown. But there wasn’t enough development to make that real. There was next to no discussion of the books themselves, no commentary or illustration of what book banning does/what is wrong with it, and zero big picture relationship between what was happening in the main plot and the overall concept of book banning (except maybe an inference from the author’s note that this is the kind of story that might be banned because it touches on some difficult subjects?).
It almost seems like it was added later so it could catch people’s eye and sell books. If so, it worked on me! I requested this ARC because I was excited to read another book about banned books (read two great ones this year:
Lula Dean’s Little Library of Banned Books by
Kirsten Miller and middle grades book
Ban This Book by
Alan Gratz). So for me, this distracted and detracted from what was otherwise a really great book! I’d still recommend it - just don’t expect something like Lula Dean. -
4.5 ⭐️
Let me start by saying this: the cover is very deceiving compared to what you are about to dive into. This book had me on the edge of my seat once Gia went back home to see her sick mother. I had to know how everything would play out. I did predict some things as the story went on, but I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It evoked strong emotions, leaving me heartbroken and angry as I read more about Margot’s story with her husband and her plan to free herself from her situation, as well as her sister Gia’s situation with her old school teacher. Both women were strong and went through so much throughout this book, and they both even have a HEA. I couldn’t put this book down, and this is my first read by this author. If you love suspenseful and emotional reads, this is the one.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing, for this ARC in exchange for my honest review. -
1.5⭐️ thank you NetGalley and HA for this advanced ebook.
I originally was drawn to this book because of the title. The topic of banned books is definitely prominent in the world today and I was curious to see an authors approach to discussing it. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me.
I’ll start with what I enjoyed: it had a good mix of classic characters of mystery, romance, and litfic books. I think the premise of the story was intriguing.
However… this story wasn’t executed well in my opinion. So many plot points felt underdeveloped and messy. Truthfully, I also don’t feel that the topic of SA and DV was approached with the sensitivity that it deserves. Additionally, the dialogue felt so unnatural. Like painfully so. And that detracted from the emotional connection the characters. Lastly, this book quite literally has nothing to do with banned books other than the mention of a Banned Books Club that came up minimally.
Overall, I don’t think I’d recommend this book to any one of my reader friends. -
After reading the description and seeing the cover for this book, I definitely had a false idea of it stuck in my head. This whole book was just not at all what I was expecting and was very much unexpected. I do worry for some jumping into this that there are so many triggers so please look up all the trigger warnings before reading.
Overall, it was a really interesting read and had a lot of great build up, but the only issue I really had was the ending. It felt like all of these moments were building and building and then was just wrapped up in what felt like 5 minutes. I also felt left with some questions so I really didn’t find complete closure at the end. -
More than just a simple women's fiction beach read type of story, rather this one tackles tough topics like domestic abuse (emotional) and sexual harassment/misconduct between a high school teacher and his student, plus a parent dying from cancer. Gia reluctantly returns to her hometown when her sister Margot calls to tell her their mother doesn't have much time left. There are a lot of bad memories though that get dragged up by Gia's return. Moving and full of emotional depth. I really enjoyed the Banned book club part of the story (although it is a minor subplot) and the romance between Gia and Cormack (the son of the man who blew up her and his family's life by his misconduct). Great on audio and definitely worth a read!
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The Banned Books Club is the first book I’ve read by this author. The title intrigued me since it’s a hot topic across the country. The core of the book doesn’t deal that much about banned books but it does set the premise for the story. The author thoughtfully explores the topic of sexual misconduct by a teacher and the lives of both the teacher as well as his student 17 years later. It’s a book where the present and the past powerfully collide. The issue of mental abuse by a husband is thoughtfully written into the story. Both Gia and her sister Margot are strong women as they move forward with their lives. Although these are topics might not be for everyone, the author writes them in such a way that you can’t put it down. It’s thoughtful with romance intertwined!
Thank you to HQ and NetGalley for an advanced ebook. All opinions are my own and I will be enthusiastically recommending this book!
#TheBannedBooksClub #BrendaNovak #NetGalley -
This book is a wonderfully crafted romance, with suspense built in along with family drama. With two storylines centered around the Rossi family, the complicated plot was well-woven and included some thrills, chills and a heart throb or two. Gia Rossi is an adventurer, striking out on her own in Alaska and now living in a small town in Idaho where she has a successful business. She doesn’t want to return to her home town of Wakefield but when she is called home due to her mother’s terminal illness, Gia reluctantly and dutifully shows up. She knows that her return will mean facing her past there, but she is courageous and determined to do the right thing. Her sister Margot is in a troubled marriage with a controlling spouse and really wants to escape. Gia’s return offers her that opportunity if she has the boldness to pursue her freedom. The story line is absolutely mesmerizing, with multiple characters chiming in with their opinions about Gia’s past and Gia continuing to stick to the truth and not apologize for what happened to her. The story is extremely powerful and deals with some gripping topics. With escalating tension as well as a sparkling romance that develops, this novel captured my heart and my imagination and was almost impossible to put down. It was thought-provoking as well as relevant in the topics that were front and center in the plot, and I definitely related to the characters and their dilemmas. This is a cleverly written page-turner, with a little steam and a lot of edgy and brilliant insight. Having been a fan of the author for years and having read almost all of her books, I can honestly say that this is the best one so far. The depth and insight were profoundly moving and memorable.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.” -
This was a great book!
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Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the free eARC in exchange for an honest review !
Rating : 3/5⭐️
TW: SA of minor, verbal abuse, cheating, vandalism, murder attempt, intense aggression
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Let’s jump into this by saying the the title of this book is so VERY misleading. Despite it having an actual ‘banned book club’, it’s not the focus of the story. My guess is that the themes in the story are supposed to make it eligible to be banned ? I’m not too sure, that’s just my take.
The plot itself was really good and for the most part, I really enjoyed it! The characters are well written (although some are downright insufferable), I found myself rooting for the two main sisters and wanting to protect them.
Here’s where I had the issues. Within a single chapter, it jumps multiple POV’s with no clear distinction of whose viewpoint we’re reading. I’m talking between one paragraph to the next it changing who’s viewpoint we’re getting. It made for an awkward read sometimes and for people who aren’t used to reading a book with multiple POV’s, this book might be too confusing. If the author just threw in the name of whose viewpoint we were getting before it changed, everything else can stay the same style wise.
Spoiler time ‼️ If you don’t want spoilers, don’t read past this ‼️
When the main character was 17, she was SA’d by her English teacher which is one of the main focal points of the story. She’s now 35? And has pretty much healed and moved past that time of her life which is great. My issue is mainly with the fact that she proceeds to sleep and get together with the English teachers son???? I don’t know, that just doesn’t sit right with me at all. I was disturbed a bit by that, I could never get with my assaulters family but that’s just me.
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I loved this book!
The title is somewhat misleading, as it's not a book revolving around a banned book club. While there is a banned book club one of the MCs brings back after not having one since high school, it's not the center of the book. However, this book is about two sisters who are dealing with small town life. I love that Novak brings in some harder issues that come up in life; abuse, sexual and verbal, harassment, bullying among others. Both Margot and Gia do their best to handle things. One flees and it's not the one I would've expected it to be.
All the characters were well written for their parts. Gia, Margot, Cormack, Ida, Leo all extremely lovable. This was a perfect little HEA that I wouldn't have thought would have come about with how the beginning of the book started.
Novak did a wonderful job with this one. 100% will recommend. -
I picked this book for today because Sunday is the official start of Banned Books Week, but the blog tour ends Saturday so this was as close as I could get. So here we are. Or rather, there Gia Rossi is, back home in Wakefield, Iowa. Pretty much the last place on Earth she wants to be.
There isn’t exactly an actual Banned Books Club in this book, but once upon a time, back when Gia and her sister Margot were in high school, there was. Before all the shit hit all the fans in town, and Gia left and tried her damndest not to look back.
However, it could be said, and it would be absolutely true, that everything that happens in this book, even though it takes place nearly 20 years later, is a ripple effect of that long ago club.
Gia started the club because she was seemingly a natural-born iconoclast, a person who never met a windmill she didn’t want to tilt at, someone who, when told by her parents and everyone around her explicitly NOT to make waves, would make the biggest waves she could manage to churn up.
Her high school banned The Catcher in the Rye, The Outsiders and The Handmaid’s Tale from the Honors English reading list. Not that this happened officially, exactly. The PTA browbeat the teacher, who was the head of the English department, into dropping the books. That teacher, Mr. Hart, didn’t stand up for either the books or the students.
If Gia had been a bit older – or a bit more cynical – she would have seen that as a sign. But she wasn’t and she didn’t and thereby hangs half this tale.
But only half because this isn’t just Gia’s story. It’s the story of both Gia and her sister Margot. The rule breaker and the rule follower. The wild child and the golden. The one who left – with the town practically lighting her way with torches and pitchforks – and the one who stayed and did everything she thought she was supposed to do.
Until their mother was diagnosed with cancer and both of their houses of cards came tumbling down.
Escape Rating A-: As I said at the top, this isn’t really a story about that high school banned books club. Very much on the other hand, this is a book that in certain ways fits right in with the kind of books that have been banned.
It tells not just one but two stories that make people uncomfortable – which is what really lies behind all of the book bannings. (Purported reasons for that discomfort certainly vary – but the fact of the discomfort remains the same) The three books that were removed from Gia’s high school reading list have all been repeated targets of challenges and bans for the past 30 years if not longer.
The Banned Books Club combines two stories that make people uncomfortable, stories that some people would prefer not to read about. Gia’s story is about her sexual molestation at the hands of a teacher – and the way that the town divided among itself in the aftermath and literally makes it psychologically damaging for her to remain.
Margot’s story is about domestic abuse. Her angry, controlling husband hasn’t hit her – yet – but the emotional and psychological abuse he dishes out with every breath is even more damaging. But he’s good buddies with the local cops – to the point where they turn a blind eye to his harassment. Even though by this point his wife has fled so he’s not harassing her – his harassment to the point of vandalism is directed at his wife’s family – including her cancer-stricken mother – after Margot flees.
(While some readers may be thinking that the themes of this book are considered fairly tame stuff today and are common plots in women’s fiction, it’s fair to say that some will view Gia’s story as “woke” because the (very young) woman was believed instead of the male authority figure. Margot’s story could also be condemned because it challenges the integrity of the “thin blue line”, and because there’s suddenly a whole lot of nostalgia for the 1950s when divorces were considerably fewer because women had no other options – going all the way to the point where the idea that women should remain even in violent marriages is getting a lot of airplay these days.)
Neither of their stories make for light reading, but they are both important as they are stories about standing up for oneself in spite of the still, small voice in the back of many of our heads telling us not to rock the boat, that things could always be worse.
So, as a book, I found both Gia’s and Margot’s not exactly fun to read but compelling in the way that each of them worked out a way forwards – no matter how desperate in Margot’s case. However, she planned expertly in spite of her many, justified fears and executed that plan brilliantly – and I always give points for competence especially in desperate situations.
In the end, I did feel like there was a lot of unpleasant crap in the family dynamics between Gia and Margot and between the sisters and their parents that contributed to pretty much everything – especially the way that Gia left town and stayed virtually gone for nearly two decades. Those issues didn’t so much get resolved as swept under the rug in the wake of their mother’s death. Which is exactly what families do, but it left this reader feeling like there was a bit of a loose end that I’d like to have seen resolved – or at least acknowledged – before the end.
But I did like that Gia decides to move back to Wakefield and open a bookstore – a store she plans to name, of course and fittingly for a happy ending that brings the story around full circle, the Banned Books Shoppe. A place where banned books will be loved and recommended, bought and sold, available and read, but never, ever banned!
Originally published at
Reading Reality -
I absolutely loved this book. I went in blind so the title was slightly misleading but other than that this book was perfect.
Two different sisters going thru two completely different life events. One who was running away from her past and one who needed to escape from the present all while going thru a major family event.
This book has a little bit of mystery and romance. Everything you would expect from a Brenda Novak title. -
4 stars
I truly appreciate that Brenda Novak took on the topic of banned books! I enjoyed this story, but the ending seemed a bit rushed. Also, some of the dialogue was stiff. Nonetheless, I am a Brenda Novak fan and glad she used her platform to bring attention to the topic of book banning.
Thank you Harlequin Trade Publishing and NetGalley for the digital ARC in return for an honest review. -
This book is a little weird to rate. So I am thinking I am gonna go with 3.5 stars rounded up because it is high 3.5 rather than a low.
On the one hand, I liked the messy family stuff and all soapy elements. I really liked Gia and Margot, the two sisters who are the main characters in this.
But the other hand, there were some frustrating elements about the story that pulled me out one in awhile. And the romance piece was rather, eh.
And, oh yeah, the title had NOTHING to do with the storyline. Sure, Gia started a Banned books club when she was in high school, but we only get a couple of tangential mentions of a book or two and two meetings of the club where they didn't really talk about books and both were just set pieces to act as a backdrop for messy character drama.
The story follows the two sisters, Gia who when she was 17 accused a popular teacher of sexual misconduct. It went to trial, he was found guilty, was fired and had to register as a sex offender. As is often the case with stuff like this, there are people who believed her and there are people who did not. The non-believers tend to be more vocal, blaming her for ruining a good man's life. Gia also feels like her family didn't stand as ten toes down for her as they could, so as soon as she could she got out of town and forged a life on her own, only seeing her family rarely.
The other sister Margot, was the quieter, well behaved daughter who married well, had two lovely kids and has been a dutiful wife.
But their mother is dying of cancer and Margot has asked Gia to come home and help with their mother's care.
Gia returns and Margot waves her husband goodbye as he leaves for a week-long hunting trip, packs up her kids, and gets the hell out of dodge leaving no tracks.
So a lot is going on: Gia coming back, the old scandal getting fresh life, new scandal as Gia gets involved with the son of the teacher she accused, lot of public chest beating. And then there is Margo's entire deal. And her husband, who is a nasty piece of work. It is all a delicious mess.
So where's the frustration?
First there is constant yelling at Gia for ruining a man's life. It is believable that people still wouldn't believe her, but during the constant confrontations you'd think Gia would point out that she had nothing to gain by accusing him. Also some of the people who are loud and wrong claim to be her friends. yikes.
And then there is Margot. Now granted, I am not from Iowa, so I don't know how people from Iowa act. But you can't tell me, in the Year our Lord Beyonce, 2024, that there would not have been way more whispering and uncomfortable side-eying that what we actually got?
Anyways.. the ending/vindication for both sisters was nice. The Epilogue was sweet. -
FINAL DECISION: A thoughtful exploration of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, though the multiple storylines, lessened the impact of any of them. Too much was going on, and the story was too superficial sometimes.
THE STORY: Gia Rossi reluctantly returns to her hometown of Wakefield, Iowa, at the request of her sister Margot to help care for their dying mother. Seventeen years after leaving town following a painful accusation of sexual misconduct against her teacher, Mr. Hart, Gia finds herself confronting old wounds and divided loyalties. As she navigates the town's lingering judgment and her past, Gia discovers unexpected allies in her old Banned Books Club. Meanwhile, Margot seizes an opportunity to escape her emotionally abusive marriage, leaving Gia to face the challenges of her homecoming alone. Through standing up for the truth, Gia finds a path to healing, love, and a future in the town she thought had rejected her.
OPINION: THE BANNED BOOK CLUB showcases Novak's ability to tackle complex themes, but there are too many storylines for any of them to really resonate. While the book offers a nuanced exploration of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse, the "women as victim" narrative, which has become prevalent in contemporary women's fiction, felt overdone to me.
Novak's strength lies in her thoughtful portrayal of complex subjects. The parallel stories of Gia's past trauma and Margot's current struggle with emotional abuse are handled with sensitivity but lack depth. The author doesn't shy away from showing the complicated aftermath of Gia's accusation, illustrating how such events can divide a community and have long-lasting effects on all involved, but I wish that the story had focused on Gia's story. Margot's was not needed and ended up distracting from Gia story. Not only does the book deal with the harassment story and domestic abuse but also adds the impending death of the mother. For me, there was just too much drama going on, and I was disappointed because I really enjoyed Gia's story and thought that a deeper, more intense focus on her life and budding romance would have made this a better book.
While the book tackles heavy themes and offers moments of hope and healing, the persistent focus on trauma and victimhood may be draining for me. The drama, while realistic, becomes worn over the course of the novel.
One of the book's strengths is its refusal to offer easy answers. Instead, it presents a realistic portrayal of the messy, complicated nature of healing from trauma and the challenge of confronting long-held beliefs. However, the multiple traumatic storylines just don't give enough space for the story to breathe and be the most impactful.
WORTH MENTIONING: The title of the book is somewhat deceptive if readers are expecting a focus on banned books. While there is a book club group in the story, it is not as prominent as one might expect from the title. The book primarily deals with themes of sexual misconduct and domestic abuse rather than literary censorship.
CONNECTED BOOKS: This is a standalone book.
STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars. -
Brenda Novak is an auto-read author for me, and this book was another excellent story. Gia Rossi loved to read and when she was just a teenager, she started "The Banned Books Club" where she and her friends would read and discuss books that had been banned over the years for various reasons. She loved English and admired her teacher, Mr. Hart. When he became predatory towards her, she told the principal in order to get out of his class. He was charged and convicted, lost his job and his wife. Many people in town did not believe Gia, so she moved away for college and never returned, until now. Her sister called to tell her that her mother's cancer was advanced and that Gia needed to come home and see her, as well as help with her care in her last days. Gia agrees with trepidation. Meanwhile, what she doesn't know is that Margot is planning to leave her husband when Gia gets there. What will Gia's reception in town be? What is going to happen to Margot? Will the Banned Books Club get together while she is there?
There was a lot happening in this book, yet it is all realistic. My heart broke for the seventeen year old Gia and what happened to her. She is a strong woman, one who stood up for herself and did what was right. Mr. Hart, on the other hand, is a lying you know what. I can't believe he stayed in town. His children also made Gia's life terrible, but they believe their father. The storylines of spousal abuse (verbal), fear, family, friendship, moving one, selfishness/narcissism, dying family members and more were all well presented and tied together so well. There is a romance, but boy is that a sticky situation that must be kept secret for various reasons, but I did like the way it turned out. When the author adds some suspense near the end, it brought this book up to 5 stars easily. This is a story that grabbed me from the start and didn't let go until a satisfying conclusion. I listened to the audiobook and enjoyed it. My one issue is that Amy McFadden has narrated the last few Brenda Novak books I have listened to. The voice she uses for Gia is the same one that was given to the female main characters in the other books, so it took me awhile to stop picturing them. -
This was quite different than I had expected. Based on the title, I thought this would be an excellent fit for me considering I’m on my school districts book review committee that reviews books parents want banned.
The title had very little to due with the book. The story is about Gia who owns a wildness excursion company in Idaho with a partner. She returns to her hometown when her sister Margo calls saying she needs help with their mother who was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.
Gia fled after high school due to the fallout of her accusations of a beloved English teacher molesting her when she was a senior. He was found guilty which ended his marriage and negatively affected his three children, one of whom was a year younger than Gia.
Little does Gia know that Margo called her sister home for very different reasons than their mother’s illness. She’s planning to leave her abusive husband, taking her two children with her.
I gave this three stars because I felt there were multiple story lines going on with several main characters. And again, based on the title, the novel had very little to do with any kind of banned book club.
This book is available now and as always, while this was a three star read for me, I’m sure it could be someone else’s favorite book of the year. I can’t wait to read more from Brenda Novak. -
4.5 stars
Another fabulous book by Brenda Novak. She's definitely one of my favorite authors. Her books pull me in from the beginning and this one was no different.
Gia is torn. She has a thriving business that she has responsibilities to, and yet her sister is asking her to return to her home town, where bad memories from her childhood rear their ugly head, and her mother's health is failing; and just for a few days or weeks, but for several months! She loves her family but going home is always a challenge.
Since her business partner has her back and she wants a chance to reconnect with her family, she decides to go home.
Immediately, several different issues force Gia to deal with everything all at once, making her homecoming less than ideal. Knowing that more than half the town believes lies about her, she tries to lie low. When her sister, Margot starts acting strange, she doesn't know what to think.
Things may get worse before they get better, and she vows to do anything she can to protect and be there for her family.
The banned books club she formed back in highschool, plays a part in her current life, as the group is still active.
I thought the Brenda's note regarding banned books was expressed perfectly. -
Novak’s latest takes on series subjects, including domestic violence and sexual abuse, which will not be for everyone (take the content warning seriously). This is a heartwarming story about facing your past and moving forward into your own future.
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5 ⭐️’s
This book was so beautiful and complex and just really well done. I’m so curious to read more of Brenda’s books! -
Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for a copy of The Banned Books Club in exchange for an honest review.
The book deals with some serious and deep themes, such as emotional abuse, sexual abuse, abuse of power, and gaslighting. I was surprised because the cover and title make it seem more lighthearted. IMO, it needs a different cover and title because of that and trigger warnings. I read the book quick because I was invested in the characters' stories but it was hard at times to read because of these serious matters.
It's a solid book that makes you care about the characters. The plot is well-developed. I would have loved a longer epilogue to see more of Gia and Cormac's relationship but I loved Margot's ending. Initially, I wasn't sure where her story was going to go. Yet, I appreciated the structure of the plot where Gia's story was the fulcrum for Margot's. We get 3 POV's in the book: Gia, Cormac, and Margot. The latter was a surprise, which told me that it was not just a romance. I wouldn't classify it as such, but rather a work of women's literature.
The "Banned Books Club" does not play a large part in the book. I expected it to be central to the story but it's more like a side character that I suppose helps the plot along - definitely, for Gia's backstory but it didn't seem relevant to me. The book would have been fine without the aspect of the Banned Books Club.
