Thank you to netgalley and publishers for allowing me to read an early copy of this book for my review. In this story we meet Grace who is still deeply grieving the loss of her husband. To try and encourage her to get out and meet people, her grandson suggests Grace attends the bookclub her husband started. The bookclub turns out to be a silent reading club, which Grace thinks is not for her, but she is warmly accepted into the group by the wonderful members and soon settles in and strikes up friendships. The book touches on several topics including grief, depression and adhd all of which give the reader food for thought.

This book is an eye opener. An emotional and uplifting look at coping with unseen
issues. Kindness and acceptance re paramount.

3.5 Stars
One Liner: Heartwarming but a bit too strong on the message

Grace hasn’t been a reader but supported her husband, Frank’s passion for books. However, his death left her in deep grief and with no idea about what to do with his books. Her grandson suggested she join Frank’s book club.
However, the book club is not how she imagined it to be! Uncertain and stressed, Grace flees the place only to be stopped by Anne, who wants her to give them a second chance. As Grace brings new life into the book club, she makes new friends and a lot more!
The story comes in Grace’s third-person POV.

My Thoughts:
I’ve quite enjoyed the author’s previous book, so when I was provided access to this one, I was hopeful of grabbing it (after checking a few initial reviews).
The book deals with grief (loss of a loving partner), but the central focus is on community, found family via the book club, reading, and ADHD.
ADHD is the core theme of the book, though the book club is supposed to be the one based on the title and premise. While I totally appreciate the intent and the details provided, the execution seemed too in the face at times. Yes, it is necessary to create awareness, but it shouldn’t affect other parts of the story. Yes, neurodivergent people need a space like this book clu,b but an iron hammer isn’t an effective tool to spread the message.
Apart from that, I quite liked the range of side characters we met. Everyone stands out and has something to offer. They are not just stereotypes but people with backstories, which we learn as the story progresses. This makes it easy to root for them.
The relationship between Grace and Rosie and Rosie and Jude is heartwarming. Yay for showing positive parent-child relationships and dynamics. Of course, it doesn’t feel unrealistic or perfect. It is just happy (which is what we want).
There are many references and book recommendations, which makes sense since this is about a book club. I’m not sure about the spoilers, though. Can’t say!
I would like to remind people that the world is not the white man’s burden. I mean, a character has lost their job and can’t find another, is depressed about many things in their life, has financial problems… but takes time to worry about the events in the Middle East? Are you kidding me? Sort your front and backyard first if you can. Don’t we know where the UK is spiraling into? Ridiculous!
That said, the ending was sweet and hopeful. All developments are positive (and easy). I don’t mind that in fiction, so that’s cool.
And oh, we have an adorable cat, Earnest. He is such a smart fella, I tell you! I love how the cat is integral to the book club, though it belongs to only one member.

To summarize, The Forgotten Book Club has a heartwarming premise, nice characters, and a worthy message. While it does get heavy-handed, it is still a good read that’ll leave you warm and hopeful.
Thank you, Jessie Whitehead, NetGalley, and Avon Books UK, for eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

3.75 ⭐️

Thank you so much to Avon Books UK and NetGalley for giving me a free advance review copy of this book, The Forgotten Book Club, in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was a cozy and enjoyable read about Grace's story of grief after the loss of Frank, her husband of 46 years, and how she learned to cope and move on. Her journey to acceptance—that she had more to live for—while also discovering parts of her husband's life that she didn't know about, made her question their life as a couple and whether she really knew her husband and her whole family. Going through the five stages of grief with the help of her newfound family through the silent book club that Frank founded was such a blessing. Grace is a representation of many older people who have trouble accepting the new ideologies of today but are making a great effort to learn and change. This book tackles ADHD in a profound manner that may be off-putting to some readers. It's a great topic to discuss in a book, and even greater if you feel represented by some of the characters, but it felt a little too educational for me that the whole book just revolved around ADHD. If that's how the author intended it to be then she did a really good job. Honestly, we need more of this representation anyway, I’d just like it to be more of a theme and not the whole topic, because I would like to know more about the silent book clubs and their members and how Grace will move forward instead. On the other hand, I love how there are so many good book recommendations inside a book and I love that they mentioned my favorite book here, The Anxious People by Fredrik Backman.

Overall: This book revolves greatly around ADHD awareness, it's good if you want to learn more about it. I love the diversity of the book club members and the inviting cozy setting of this book while discussing the importance of community, overcoming loneliness, and helping each other. It is at a bit of a slower pace than I would like it to be, but not hard to read at all.

Trigger Warning: grief, loss of a loved one, mental health struggles.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for the advanced reader's copy of The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey.

I really enjoyed this novel about grief and finding one's self on the other side of it. Grace has lost her husband Frank who had a book club. Through her grief her grandson suggests she attend it to feel closer to his spirit. It turns out to be a "silent book club" where everyone reads quietly. It takes her by surprise and she almost gives up on the idea. However, she's talked into staying and we read the development of various friendships.

I found all the characters delightful. I was surprised that the book spent a great deal schooling readers about ADHD.

I have read one of Kate Storey’s books previously so I was looking out for more, and this one didn’t disappoint. Dealing with such difficult subjects as bereavement, ADHD, unemployment and depression, this book manages to skilfully and sensitively handle the topics whilst producing a fun, interesting and heartwarming novel.

Grace’s beloved husband passed away and Grace was struggling. Grace knew that he loved his fortnightly book club, but Grace had never gone as she wasn’t really a reader. When her Grandson Jude persuades her to go along, she was very surprised to see that there weren’t that many members, and that the evening was spent with them all reading their own books, silently. Grace can’t cope with the solitude and quiet, and runs, vowing to never return. Annie from the book club persuades her to return, and slowly with the help of her new book club friends, and her family, she reconnects with her late husband in a way she didn’t think possible, and spreads the book club message far and wide.

I really enjoyed this novel. The themes were handled so sensitively, and well, and I will definitely be looking out for more of her books.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/7428973415

https://maddybooksblog.blogspot.com/2025/04/the-forgotten-book-club-by-kate-storey.html

I found this to be an enjoyable, entertaining, thought provoking and informative book. I knew very little about ADHD but this features a lot and wasn't what I expected from the book description but I did enjoy it and feel that I've learned a lot about this condition and the huge numbers of people affected by it. I really liked all but one of the characters and loved what a caring and close community they became. I love the idea of a silent book club and wish there was one near me as I'd definitely join! I belong to book clubs but the idea of one where you don't all have to read the same specially chosen one that might not be your own personal cup of tea and instead members read any book of their own choice and discuss it afterwards really appeals to me. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and my thanks go to Netgally and the publisher for a pre release copy in exchange for my honest review

This was a nice read about family, loss, dealing with grief and moving on.

The story is about Grace, who recently became a widow and decides to join a book club. It is the very one that her husband Frank used to run. She struggles at first and decides to read some of Franks personal journals. By doing this, she learns more about Frank than she ever did whilst they were married.

I enjoyed the way the book club mentions all different genre of books and why they were important to the characters. The way the members all came together to support each other was lovely to read also. The only part I didn’t enjoy very much, was that the storyline centres around ADHD and this was mentioned throughout the story.

Overall, a nice uplifting read.


Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

What a lovely, heartwarming book! This book covers neurodivergence, grief, mental health and how a book can solve anything! Grace is in the throes of grief and when she joins Frank’s old book club, she meets new friends and finds a propose. The characters are all likeable (apart from one!), short chapters and I love how the story developed. It’s made me want to join a silent bookclub now! Perfect for someone who wants an uplifting book!

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

I loved reading this book.

Following the death of her husband Frank, Grace is finding it hard to deal with the loss.

Her daughter as well as her grandson suggest that she joins the book group that Frank set up.

But, when she attends, she finds that no one talks and it’s a “silent” book club, finding it not right for her she leaves. But then she’s talked into attending again.

She meets people that are from different backgrounds and soon they become friends and slowly begins to live her life again, wanting to do something for others.

Her plan is to carry out the work her husband wanted to grow the book club, so that others can also find support. As well as to raise awareness of ADHD, this is what Frank, her daughter and grandson each have.

I recommend this book.

I loved this. It starts as a fairly simple story about a widow who is struggling with the loss of her husband, until she is persuaded to join a book club that he helped found in a local book shop. But it soon becomes so much more than I expected. With themes of loneliness, mental health and neurodivergence this is almost a gentle self help book. It’s an easy read with a cast of very different characters, but all with their own little quirks.

Briefly, when Grace joins Frank’s book club she little realises just how close and how special the members will become. This is a book club with a difference. It’s a Silent Book Club where the members sit and read quietly for an hour, any book they choose, and then if they wish to, they can discuss it afterwards. Grace finds this concept hard as silence is one of the things that she is struggling with but she perseveres and the journey she goes on, in understanding her family and helping others, really is wonderful.

I loved how all the different genres of books were included in the book and did wonder if they were particular favourites of the author. Certainly a few of mine were mentioned. The characters were great, I particularly loved Annie and of course Earnest the cat. Anyone with a love of books is going to lap up this beautiful story, in fact for me it was almost perfect - books and cats, all I needed was a dog! But it’s not just for book lovers this is a books for anyone who loves a good heartwarming story. I’m not a weeper but my eyes were a little damp once or twice so keep the tissues to hand! A wonderful story of friendship and the strength to be found in the support of others. Fantastic.

An uplifting celebration of stories, sisterhood, and second chances – 5⭐️

The Forgotten Book Club is a truly special read—comforting, cosy, and quietly powerful. From the very first page, I was swept up in Grace’s journey as she rediscovers not only a long-lost book club but also a sense of purpose, connection, and courage she thought she’d lost. Kate Storey beautifully captures the magic of books and how they can bring people together across generations.

The writing is warm and engaging, the characters feel real and relatable, and the narrative effortlessly balances heartache with hope. I especially loved the dual timelines and the way stories from the past echoed through Grace’s present. This is a book for anyone who’s ever found themselves in the pages of a novel—or longed to.

On a more personal note, this story spoke to me on a deeper level. I was born in the 70s, long before ADHD was widely understood, and in recent years I’ve come to recognise that many of my lifelong traits are in fact signs of a neurodiverse brain. Add to that the challenges of living with an inoperable brain tumour, and you can imagine how powerful it felt to read about women navigating uncertainty, embracing their individuality, and finding strength in community and stories. Grace’s quiet bravery and the bonds she builds reminded me that we’re never alone in our chapters—even the hard ones.

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey

Grace is grieving for her husband of 46 years, Frank. Persuaded by her grandson Jude to attend the bookclub Frank founded and loved, she meets a group of people and her life changes immeasurably.

What a beautiful story, I absolutely loved this book! Great characters and really informative about grief, ADHD, mental illness and a whole raft of other themes, I raced through it. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

I was recommended this title as a ‘book about books’, and it meets that brief to perfection. They say that writers should always ‘write what they know’ and this author feels like someone who is absolutely in her element with the themes she has chosen, which results in a fantastically engrossing read. What I really loved was how she references a wide range of titles rather than just literary classics, which is just one of the ways you feel invited into this lovely story. Another big pull is the characters. From Crush, the reticent bassist-turned-bookseller, to grieving Grace, who discovers a whole other side to her late husband through the journals he left and the book club he created, these are people quirky enough to entertain, yet real enough that you’ll almost certainly wince just a little in recognition of a shared experience or emotion. Finally, there’s a sensitive portrayal of neurodiversity, viewed from the perspective of those trying to understand the condition in their loved ones, which was refreshingly direct and honest in the questions it raised. And if these human stories don’t move you, there’s always Earnest the cat! Above all, The Forgotten Book Club is a satisfying tale of people power and shared joy in an increasingly disconnected world, reminding us that there’s strength in diversity as well as in numbers. If you’re looking for something that’s thought-provoking as well as feel-good, this is one for you.

A fab unexpected read,I was attracted to it of course by the title and blurb and it did live up to what I expected
Loved how it showed people need books and how people can help a range of situations and problems via books
Good characters and well written and enjoyable

Grace learns about her deceased husband Frank and, equally importantly, herself, when she joins Frank's book club which, as it turns out, is silent. But not for long and thanks to Annie, who reaches over to Grace. Yes this is about grief and mental health issues (as well as ADHD) but it's also about how books can help build a village. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

I loved this author's book The Memory Library, so I jumped at the chance to get this from NetGalley, and I wasn't disappointed. This is a heartfelt story of grief and healing and what it means to be a community. The story will resonate with anyone who has found solace in a book and a group of friends, and it was very compelling.

The book is filled with emotional depth and delicately handles grief. I especially appreciated the way the character of Grace was written. It's hard for me to read very emotional stories without feeling like the author is trying to manipulate me emotionally. Storey does it with sensitivity and authenticity.

The characters were very charming and diverse. Everyone had their own story to tell and struggles to deal with. The author developed them subtly, and they were very distinct. She made them feel like real people. The changes in Grace, as she deals with her grief and begins to connect with the other members of the club, are very well written.

This is a love letter to the written word, and the author captures the joy that books bring and their ability to bring people together beautifully. Even though many of the topics are sad, I found the book uplifting in many ways and felt hopeful after reading it. Kate Storey has created a beautiful story that is sure to touch the hearts of many readers.

A book about books ; what’s not to love for a keen reader?!
I loved this book so much.
Thanks for the opportunity to read & review it.

A book that shows the power of reading for individuals and how the camaraderie from a group of individuals can help people heal and move on with their lives. There is the undercurrent of how ADHD affects individuals and the difficulties it brings with it along with the positives

The Forgotten Book Club features a recent widow, Grace , who has been oblivious to the goings on around her until she is pushed to join a book club, the one her late husband, Frank, used to run. When she decides to finally look at Frank’s personal library and notes, what she discovers is perhaps the greatest gift.

This is a charming and uplifting story of found family, second chances and the healing power of books. The writing is warm and inviting, and at times it felt like I sitting in the cozy bookshop, turning the pages of an old favorite. There are many books mentioned in the story and I’ve actually read many of them.

I will say, there is a bit of a heavy focus on ADHD here and I found it a bit too much and it overpowers the main message I think. So for this reason, it didn’t resonate with me as much as The Memory Story. 3.5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley, Avon Books UK and Harper Collins for the ARC