This was a very warm-hearted read primarily about Grace who is still deeply grieving her husband one year after his sudden death and is encouraged to go to his book club to try to socialise more. The members are all very unique characters who over time reveal their own individual talents but the format of the book club with an element of silent reading is initially too much for Grace. Annie is a long term book club who has had her own struggles recently while Grace’s interest in her husbands book collection leads her to make a discovery that forces her to rethink if she knew her husband. Although the story is based around the book club and efforts to increase it’s members the real storylines are about ADHD, anxiety and depression so there’s some strong and relevant subjects within this too which are all given a decent amount of pages rather than just being touched on which made it a different read to what I’d anticipated but certainly not in a bad way. This is a thoughtful read but with laughs and plenty of uplifting moments too.

3.5 ⭐

I absolutely loved The Memory Library and was looking forward to another bookish read!

When Grace’s husband, Frank, dies after 46 years of marriage, she joins his book club as a way to work through her grief. Shocked that it’s ‘Frank’s Silent Book Club’, believing that it isn’t what she needs when she’s so isolated, and realizing that she needs to mix and communicate with others, she decides not to return.

In reading through his books and book reviews in his personal library, Grace learns more about Frank than in their decades of marriage. Furthermore, she discovers that he’d never want her to feel isolated or alone…so she heads back to the book club. It’s the best gift Frank could have left the grieving 70-year-old!

I’ll admit to being overwhelmed and frustrated with the constant reminders of ADHD throughout the book.

My takeaway: Look for opportunities to share the load.

I was gifted this copy by Avon Books UK and NetGalley and was under no obligation to provide a review.

This book had me crying from the very beginnig.
Was an extremely moving read about losing a loved one and navigating the works without him. Instantly I thought of friends who this book would help. This book was extremely moving , emotional! And I shed lots of tears!

I Ioved all of Kate’s other books so I had high expectations of this one. It did not disappoint!

As an avid book reader I really resonated with the characters feelings around books and what they mean to them. I now want to join a silent book club and sat for ages thinking what my Desert Island Reads would be.

The book also represented mental health, grief and ADHD beautifully. I have ADHD and the experiences of Frank and Jude really resonated with me.

If you’re looking for an emotional, heart warming and inspiring read then this is for you. Books have been my best friends for a long time and this was like a love letter to them

They always say never judge a book by its cover but how about judging a reader by its books..

When Grace's husband dies she is griefstricken. She decides to attend his book club and while learning the books he read she uncovers things about him..did she really know him at all?


I adored this book.. it is warm and sad but also uplifting and insightful

The characters are lovable and the story flowed beautifully

I loved it

The Forgotten Book Club focuses on Grace after her husband, Frank, passes away and she has to find a way to navigate the grief she's feeling. She's also realizing how much of her recent life was centered around him. At the suggestion of her daughter and grandson, she reluctantly joins the unusual book club he created and finds a second family and a way to make sure her husband's legacy lives on.

Honestly, this story has me written all over it. I happen to love stories about grief and older people trying to move on when the partner they've spent almost their entire life with passes on. I also LOVE books about books. There's some great neurodivergent representation in this book as well. Some of it was a bit cliche but I can forgive that.

Overall, this is a really sweet story with some fun and relatable characters. It made me laugh and of course, it made me cry.

Thanks so much to Net Galley and Avon for providing me with an advanced copy of this book! :)

The Forgotten Book Club is a story about human connection: the importance of community, finding friendships, overcoming loneliness, helping each other through various life stages and disruptions, and expressing and processing grief in a positive way. But this novel is also about mental health. It focuses quite heavily on ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Through the characters’ discussions, we hear about the public perceptions and misinformation about the condition. Plus the struggles of those who have it. They often suffer from self-imposed limitations and lack of confidence. And sometimes the feeling it is unfair to have a romantic relationship with a person who does not have ADHD due to the challenges of the disorder. These are just a few of the areas covered on this topic that take precedence.

But as the title states, a book club is the vehicle that carries all the concerns presented in The Forgotten Book Club. Here in this book community with its inviting cosy setting, major plot things happen. Any story that focuses on books, bookstores or writers, always grabs my attention and gets me inside the front cover! And this one has a unique book club that offers its members more than just books. It is here where friendships are forged and worthwhile projects are born. Without knowing much about this special book club, our main character Grace supported her husband’s interest in it. Even though she wasn’t a big reader, she knew Frank drew great joy from his activities in this friendly setting. Later she discovers how much he has contributed to others’ lives in this group setting. While she learns about his passion, her heart starts beating with new purpose and meaning.

After Frank dies, Grace struggles with the grief of her loss. Finding herself alone (and lonely) she is not quite sure how to go forward without him. So she turns to his interests—in hopes it will make her feel closer to him in his absence. Prompted by her grandson, she appears at Frank’s favourite Book club. But she does not tell anyone who she is at first. Her first encounter is a confusing one. For this book club operates very differently from what she expects a book club to be. Isn’t it a place where its members pick out a book, read together and then meet to discuss the pros, cons, merits and magic (or lack of) of their selection? Not this one! It runs on silence but that is all I will say! As Grace slowly gets to know the people and system her husband created, she sees its value and wants to add even more to what he has left behind.

There are some lovely wise lines in the novel such as ‘good friendships share life’s load between them.’ How true! Other discussions include the importance of libraries and authors’ payments from books that are loaned. And when Grace decides to help out and expand the book club into other areas to reach more people, then the plan of fund raising begins. Plus she weaves her interest of ADHD awareness into the book club activities to help those like her husband and grandson.

This novel is a lot about what it is like to be human and sharing the earth with others who may be different from you. Everyone is doing their best to live, learn, love and survive. I liked many aspects of the novel. Although The Forgotten Book Club was different from the author’s previous book, the delightful topic of books is shared! I enjoyed the mentions and thoughts on various fiction titles, the uniqueness of the book club and why it was started. I also loved Frank’s beautiful journal entries that really helped Grace move forward. Other intriguing characters and their various interactions kept the plot hurdling along. The mental health topic, though, is quite dominant which some readers may find overwhelming. But give the story a go as there are some touching moments, amazing truths and uplifting discoveries to behold. 4 Stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thanks to Avon Books and Netgalley for a review copy.

A very moving read about losing a loved one and trying to make sense of the world around you. A woman grieves her husband and through what he read and what books he had allows her to get to know him in a way she never did. Books bring healing and warmth and this story shows just what books can do and what their power is. Moving and emotional!

Grieving over the death of her beloved husband Frank, Grace resolves to move forward. Joining the book club frank used to attend opens up a circle of support and friends.
Not a traditional book club but important even essential in some of the members lives.
Finding Frank's reading journal opens Grace to a different path. Promoting the new style book club and neuro Diversity sets up a new interest.
A heart warming story about books, joy, friendship, love and perception.
It will touch your heart in many ways as you get to know the characters and their lives

I was drawn into Grace’s story from the very few pages. Her isolation from everyone but her family since being widowed was poignant and palpable, her determination not to be a burden to them the force which would drive her to change.
Her late husband Frank had been an avid reader and Grace stumbles into joining his book club – a silent one, not what she had expected at all – and once which initially left her feeling even more lonely. But encouraged by her grandson and by the friendliness of Annie, a book club member, she perseveres. And once she discovers Frank’s reading journal has unfinished business too.
As well as grief, and friendship, the book explores themes of mental health, something which sadly isn’t brought out in the blurb, and gives the supporting characters’ journeys real depth.

I have a soft spot for books about books and anything that shows humanity within the struggle for mental health. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Kate Storey's last novel <i>The Memory Library</i>. So it was a pleasure to get the opportunity to read an ARC of this one.

Grace is floundering after the death of Frank her husband of forty-six years. She knows she needs to stop isolating and work on joining the world again but finds it easier said than done. Especially, given that she's an introvert. Her grandson suggests a visit to the book club that meant so much to Frank. Grace agrees despite not being much of a reader. She attends expecting a normal book club format, but Frank's book club is anything but. Each member of the club faces unique challenges, and the sense of community and acceptance was uplifting.

I have a heartfelt appreciation for mental health rep in novels because many lives and much quality of life has been sacrificed due to stigma. However, a little subtlety would have gone a long way in this case. The impact was watered down because the approach was heavy handed. Perhaps more showing through characterization and less telling through info dumps would've been more effective.

Otherwise, this is a lovely novel about the importance of connection and glorious books.

Thank you to NetGalley and Avon UK for providing an Advance Reading Copy for review. All opinions are my own.

One of my books of 2025. Brilliant and sad. Grace had lost her husband and it is her story of rebuilding her life with books and people. I think I like the idea of a silent book club. The journalist was terrible. The bookshop building was lovely. Lots of amazing characters. I really loved it , kept you gripped . Did not want it to finish. Read it .

I really enjoyed this book. Nice gentle read but with some interesting insights - Frank sets up a "silent book club" for people who don't necessarily want to be part of a more conventional one. He can't get his wife Grace to join, that is until he dies. Then, Grace becomes involved and enjoys meeting the other members and this helps her with the grief of losing Frank. Several of the characters are neurodivergent including Grace's daughter and grandson and she finds out that Frank was too.
Definitely recommend this book. Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Grace is finding it hard coming to terms with her husband Frank's death. Her grandson Jude persuades her to join Frank's book club where she finds it's a silent book club. She doesn't think it's for her but she gets involved with the members and it seems to be changing her life

If there is a book with the word "book" in the title, chances are great that I am going to read it. The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey was such a good book.

What a beautiful read. I absolutely,loved Grace's story it takes her a year for her to find the courage to enter her late husband Frank's library and she learns about his love of his book club which he started and how it had lost lots of members since his passing and when her beloved grandson asks to go along she reluctantly agrees but things don't go well and she quickly leaves.but when a member Annie befriends her things start to get better and she is determined to try and make sure Frank and the book club are not forgotten. A lovely story for anyone who loves books full of joy with really interesting characters and beautifully written a real gem

I absolutely loved this book from the first word. The characters were so real. The way the author describes their quirks and foibles helps make them so. Grief and neuro diversity in the form of ADHD are two main topics of the book. Both are dealt with with knowledge and sensitivity. The idea of a silent book club where everyone can read a different book is just brilliant. My main bugbear with book clubs is I don't like half the books they make you read. The ending of the book was perfect. I was in floods of tears. A really wonderful read everyone should try.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read an advance copy. All opinions are my own.

Grace's husband of maybe years, Frank, passed away suddenly more than a year ago and she really hasn't moved on. She's started taking long walks so her daughter thinks she's found a social life.

The truth comes out and her grandson convinces her to try attending the book club Frank had started. She shows up and discovers that it's a silent book club. How odd! She slowly changes her mind and finds new friends in this wonderful group.

Grace's husband Frank was an avid reader, Grace not so much. When he passes away, their grandson Jude persuades Grace to visit the book club Frank set up. Here Grace finds friendship and reconnects to Frank in a way she didn't think possible. A lovely story about not judging a book by it's cover and accepting the hand of friendship.

I loved the way the book club ran in this story - everyone silent reading was a fabulous idea (where can I find a club like this?!) The mix of characters was great too, from the confident to those needing help. I particularly like Annie and Jude, and of course the travelling cat Earnest! The reference to other literature throughout was also great to read.

The amount of references to ADHD was a little overwhelming and felt a bit preachy at times, although it was clear that it was Grace working through her own thoughts and feelings.

A lovely read.

A thought provoking story about Grace who is grieving after her husband passes away. Grace is trying to prove to her daughter and grandson that she's fine by being out walking the streets when they call to visit her, in reality Grace is not fine but very sad and lonely.
Her grandson encourages her to visit the book club in a local bookstore which was set up by her husband. Grace is reluctant at first but then gives it a try but is surprised and horrified that they are expected to sit and read in silence and silence is the last thing Grace needs.
I enjoyed this story and how everyone gets together to help the book club and support each other. Lots of mentions about ADHD which I know very little about so an informative story as well.
Good read.

A year on from her beloved husband, Frank's, death and Grace is still struggling with her loss. Her grandson Jude,suggests she joins the bookclub that Frank founded with local bookshop owner. Grace has never really been a reader, and especially not one as avid as Frank was, but decides to go to please Jude. She's surprised to find that everyone is reading a different book to each other and that most of the session is spent in silence. She learns from the others this is what Frank wanted. On finding his journal she learns more about her husband than he had told her, his worries and anxieties laid bare within the cover.
To fulfill his final wishes Grace enlists the help of the members to make the club bigger and more inclusive. In doing this she realises that there is a life after grief.
Reading has always been my thing, I can get lost in a good book. The characters can feel like friends as you go through lifes ups and downs with them, this novel is no exception. Books and reading have an impact on our lives without us even realising. This novel has stayed with me long after i finished it.

I can do no better to explain the book than to quote from it “This book is about love, loneliness and grief, and it’s about the building of a community of disparate people who all have their humanity in common”. There is also a recurrent theme of neurodiversity.

I found it an enjoyable read but the constant discussion of ADHD felt forced and unnecessary at times. The exploration of grief and loneliness was well done and the different perspectives added positively to the storyline.

I am grateful to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the ARC

Way out of my comfort zone but a thoroughly good read, enjoyed reading about Grace although it was a sad and heartbreaking journey with excellent characters.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon Books for this very poignant ARC which I can recommend.

This was a lovely and very moving story about Grace, who had recently lost her husband, Frank, and who was struggling with grief and loneliness. She discovers Frank’s old ‘silent’ book club and finds herself surrounded with new friends and a new life. There is a neurodivergent storyline running through this book which is handled so beautifully, showing both the challenges as well as the many positive aspects too. Really enjoyable!

The Forgotten Book Club explores themes of grief, mental health, and neurodivergence in an accessible format. Grace begins attending the book club that her late husband, Frank, started a decade prior. Through meeting his friends and reading his journals, Grace comes to understand additional facets of her husband and decides to continue progressing the goals he'd set out for himself. The power of community and reaching people where they're at are resonate themes of this book.

As an ADHDer myself, I found the content about neurodivergence accessible and in a story format that I can see recommending to others in my life to better understand my lived experience. I especially appreciated Grace exploring how her grandson's diagnosis has threads back into her daughter and husband's behaviors as well. Additionally, I liked how the discussion centers adult experiences and not just childhood impacts of ADHD.

Thanks to Avon Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this title for my review.

Kate Storey’s new book is an emotional and moving tale of one woman’s attempt to deal with her grief at losing her husband through the books that he loved. I thoroughly enjoyed The forgotten book club and would definitely recommend it. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review this novel

“The Forgotten Book Club” is a delightful and emotive read. The book has a strong sense of belonging and community which rings out loudly through the pages. Reading it was life affirming and comforting for me.

Grace is recently bereaved and struggling to go out and even consider socialising. Her late husband, Frank, a book lover, was more outgoing and had set up a popular book club in a local bookshop. Grace is persuaded by her family to go to the book club and is horrified to discover it is a “silent” book club where everyone reads their own choice of book. She attempts joining in but hates the silence, feeling more alone and judged than anything and doesn’t wish to stay. What she doesn’t count on is the kindness and warmth of her husband’s chosen family. A ragtag bunch of readers all with hearts of gold who help her understand the silent book club concept, and that the social chat can be at the beginning not end and she can leave before the reading part if she feels uncomfortable.

Encouraged slightly, Grace tries again. She discovers how important Frank was to all the members. She slowly begins to feel comforted and enjoys attending the club. In the meantime, she also discovers Frank’s book journals which open her heart to changes in her as she hears his voice again through his notes.

In essence “The Forgotten Book Club” is all about overcoming grief and adversity. The love of family and friends and finding true belonging.

Each character is written in an understanding way some colourful characters some appearing more mundane but each with their own struggles very real, lovable and important to those that know them. The members of the book club are from different walks of life, a diverse bunch of readers that I enjoyed getting to know.

Throughout the text different books are described including what they meant to each reader. It not only warmed me to each character but added to my own book wish list. The genres chosen Frank and the book club members are as varied as the people themselves illustrating that you can’t judge a book by it’s cover or content. A love of books of every kind with no snobbery or judgement is made clear as each member tells us more about their own choices and a glimpse into their own stories.

Such an emotional read and so well written. I loved the storyline and the well developed characters. Very enjoyable

I am voluntarily leaving my honest review.

Kate Storey has the most beautiful way of writing conflict, heartbreak, healing, and inclusion. This story is a 10 out of 10 for me. As I read this book, I relived the death of my father and how my sisters and I attempted to get my mother back into society, and how difficult it was to watch her grieve. Also, being the mother of a child that has been diagnosed with ADHD without hyperactivity, I felt a lot like Gracie. I did not want him to be dependent on the meds that the doctor had given him. However, watching him blossom with a little assistance has been such a joy.

Kate has an amazing finesse with words that I do not believe I have seen before. The way her characters come to life and her attention to detail regarding each scene are absolute music.

Kate will always be an auto purchase for me!

Thank you so much to Netgalley, Avon Books UK | Avon, and Kate Storey for this beautiful ARC.

When grief hits hard there's always that longing to find that connection to the one you have lost. When Frank died Grace made it her mission to understand his life and his love of reading. A lovely story of jew friendships and understanding. The author taps into the mental health struggles of family and friends and makes it her aim to help those around her.

The storyline had me hooked from start to finish. A lovely story written so well covering many issues in an informative way along with great characters.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for an honest review.

There is a quote that says, "reading for pleasure is one of life's great joys", and I do believe that. I have always been knows as an introvert, and many people don't understand introverts, but I found friends here that understood. This was a story about grief, and Grace realizing after her husband passed away, she was feeling lonely, and isolated from everyone. She also discovered after going to the book club that her husband started, but she never went to, it was hard to get back into life after staying at home for a year.
I learned a lot from this story, and many times I felt this book was written for me to read, so I can understand things. Since the pandemic, I think loneliness and isolation is still here, and I highly recommend this story. There was another part in the story, that after they started the book club, that you don't feel lonely, when you are reading books, that you connect to, that you understand them, and they understand me, and you can feel the hugs coming through the book. This was one of those books and I highly recommend it.
I received an ARC from Avon through NetGalley. It will be a book I will always keep and never forget.

This is a book that I wouldn’t typically read but something about the title intrigued me to want to give it a go. I gave this book a solid 4 stars as it was beautifully written and touched on common themes of grief, ADHD, anxiety, and depression. There were times I felt the mention of ADHD was a bit strong and over focused on however the book did its job of getting readers to understand what ADHD is and how people diagnosed with it cope. I enjoyed the story and was captivated from the very beginning!
Thank you for the opportunity to read this story! It’s one I will remember.

This is a lovely book about loss, grief, family and the power of friendship. I was a little worried when I started to read about the grandson having ADHD, as my son has a diagnosis since he was seven, and I get cross when it is misrepresented. However, it is dealt with really well and would be informative for people who do not understand the condition. I love the idea of a silent book club, where you can all read whatever book you like. If there was one near me, I would definitely be there.

What a beautiful and wonderful book. 'Life can begin with a single story. You just have to Bring Your Own Book…' I love that and I loved this book. The story of Grace, her husband loved books, her not so much. But when her husband dies and she eventually joins husbands old book club things change for her.

This is a story about healing, friendship, a new life and it is a gorgeous, emotional and heartfelt read. If you love books you will love this uplifting story. Well written and the characters are a treat, easy to read and it will have you turning the pages.

Thank you NetGalley and Avon Books UK for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I received a free copy of, The Forgotten Book Club, by Kate Storey, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Grace is a widow after losing her husband Frank. Frank loved books, and was in a book club, before he died. Graces decides to try out Franks; book club, but it is not whats he expected. This was a great read, I loved all the characters.

Thanks Netgalley and the Publisher. I really enjoyed this book, liked all the characters and the storyline and would recommend to other readers.

The Forgotten Book Club is an upcoming novel by Kate Storey, author of The Memory Library. In this story, we follow seventy-year-old Grace, who, after the death of her husband Frank, decides to visit the book club he created. Frank was a voracious reader and book collector, but when Grace attends her first meeting, she’s surprised to discover that it’s a silent book club where members bring their own books and read together in quiet companionship.

It’s rare for me to read books with a protagonist in their seventies, but I really enjoyed this perspective. I loved reading about the books discussed in the novel, some I’ve read, while others are now on my TBR. I especially appreciated the exploration of ADHD, as multiple characters navigate life with it in ways that felt authentic and well-researched.

My only critique is that the book club members felt underdeveloped compared to Grace, Frank, and her family. I would have loved to learn more about them. That said, this was another stellar novel from Kate Storey, and I highly recommend it.

Absolutely loved this beautiful book filled book. Covered many thought provoking topics in a sensitive way, both educating and informative. Had damp eyes a few times. Happy to recommend

Another winner from Kate Storey! I was excited to get my hands on and read this touch novel after loving her last release “The Memory Library.” While it wasn’t quite to the level of Memory Library it was a sold 4⭐️ read.

I went into this book completely blind so I was pleasantly surprised to read about a “silent book club” as I just started a local chapter of one in my area. From. Selfish personal stance, it actually gave me some ideas for future meetings!

One thing that Storey does well is explore the intricacies of relationships and how people can get a deeper understanding of a loved one.

This book also relies heavily on neurodiversity awareness; specifically ADHD. It is a little preachy at times but it didn’t bother me over all. The one thing that was a bit odd, and maybe this is a geographical area difference since the author is from and the books setting is in England, is that in the US ADHD is quite common. While I’m sure there are areas in the US where it has a harsher stigma, overall I don’t think the stigma portrayed in the book matches reality, at least in the US. I almost feeling like underneath it was more explaining the autistic experience of adult individuals with low to moderate support needs. Regardless it brought a spotlight to neurodivergence and mental health in general which is always a good thing.

The book was a page turner from beginning to end and leave the reader with feel-good fuzzy warmness in the end. I can’t wait to share this with my mother who also loved The Memory Library after I suggested it.

This book comes out April 10, 2025 so get it on your TBR today as you’ll be glad you did!

I am thankful to have gotten the eARC for free from Avon Books UK through NetGalley to read which gave me the opportunity to voluntarily leave a review.

My rating system since GoodReads doesn’t have partial stars

⭐️ Hated it
⭐️⭐️ Had a lot of trouble, prose issues, really not my cup of tea (potentially DNF’d or thought about it)
⭐️⭐️⭐️ Meh, it was an ok read but nothing special
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Really enjoyed it! Would recommend to others
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Outstanding! Will circle back and read again

The Forgotten Book Club by Kate Storey is a book about grief and so much more. Grace is mourning the loss of her beloved husband Frank with the help of her daughter Rosie and beloved grandson Juan and at their suggestion she agrees to go to the book club he founded despite not being much of a reader. Once there she is surprised to find that it is nothing like she was expecting, instead it is a silent book club where a diverse group of members gather together once a week to read whatever books appeal to them . Grace struggles with the silence, it gives her too much time to think of Frank and so she rushes away only for one of the members, Annie, to follow and convince her to try again. Annie and Grace strike up a friendship and slowly but surely Grace embraces the silent book club and its members, and they in turn are overjoyed to welcome her. New found friendships are not the only thing that Grace finds as she embarks on this new adventure, she also learns more about her husband and the legacy that he has passed on to his daughter and grandson.
This is such a sweet and wholesome read, and one that many book lovers will enjoy. Each member of the group has their own story to tell and I really felt like I got to know and love them over the course of the book. There is so much compassion and empathy displayed by these characters that it really was a feel good read, but that being said the author is not afraid to tackle some difficult and heavy subjects head on including depression but with a strong emphasis on the value of connection and community. There is also a lot of discussion about neurodivergence and several neurodivergent characters and I think the author did a good job of pushing beyond the typical stereotypes and showing that it is a spectrum of experiences even if it did seem a little heavy handed in places. Finally I found myself making a TBR list of some of the recommendations that the characters made when discussing their favourite books, as someone who loves books about books this one ticked so many boxes for me.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

What a lovely read. When Grace was widowed she struggled for a year to open her husband’s study where he stored his most precious books. Concerned about her welfare her family encourage her to join her husband Frank’s book club. Not a typical book club where people read a shared book Grace discovers this to be one of silent reading where people can escape for an hour a week. As the members become her friends she is enveloped in their warmth and becomes part of their caring community. Bringing new life into the book club Grace finds herself confidence to live again.
A brilliant read. Full of emotion, compassion, friendship and love. If you love books you’re in for a treat.

This is the 1st book I have read by the author and i am going to read the rest of the authors books as I adored this book and loved the story of the characters with grace being my favourite and loved the meaning behind the book club and I loved all the books mentioned in this book

I wish the author all the best with this book

Many thanks to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for this review

This was a great book! It was heartwarming, and it pulled on the heartstrings for sure! I like the cozy feeling it gave off, and it felt comfortable. I do love books about books, and it kept up and stood up to the good reviews I was reading about it!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This was both a heartwarming and heartbreaking read at times and I went through a whirlwind of emotions whilst reading it. A really lovely story

What a lovely story about books, book clubs and bookshop. I really enjoyed this sweet story as much as I enjoyed the other book Kate wrote. Very addictive and I was desperate to find out the ending. More please. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.

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

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

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.

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.

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

Grace is still grieving from the loss of her husband Frank who died twelve months earlier from a heart attack, married for forty seven years they were everything to each other and she is struggling to carry on without him. Her grandson Jude suggests she join the book club that Frank set up at a local bookshop years earlier, she doesn't have the same love of books that he did but she reluctantly agrees, when she arrives she discovers it's not what she expected, where members all read the same book and then discuss in the group, this is a silent group where they can read what they want but in an hour of silence, she can't cope with any more solitude and flees the shop. Fellow member Annie persuades her to give it another chance, from that moment she pledges that neither Frank, or his book club, will be forgotten and this, along with Frank's hidden journals could actually be just what she needs to help her through her grief.

This latest novel by Storey, although it centres around the bookclub and the legacy that Frank created, is about so much more than their love of books. This quirky group of people, who i absolutely adored from the beginning, were a little community of people that relied on each other and their love of books to escape reality for an hour every fortnight and this is exactly what Frank wanted from his silent book club, a place where they could go and not be judged by others for who they were and what genre of book they enjoyed. This story covers a range of subjects such as grief, depression, the understanding of neurodivergency and probably most important of all is friendship and how someone reaching out that hand of friendship can change another persons life in so many ways. I loved this author's first book, The Memory Library, so was excited when I heard about this one which was everything her debut novel offered and then some. This is another heartwarming, emotional story from one of my go to authors, which i highly recommend, but you will need tissues!

I'd like to thank Avon Books and NetGalley for inviting me to read this, I will post by review on Goodreads now and Amazon on publication day.

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.