Librarian Janet Johnson is puzzled when she is invited—and practically dragged—to her first meeting of the Rejected Writers’ Book Club. This quirky group of women would much rather celebrate one another’s rejected manuscripts over cups of tea and slices of lemon cake than actually publish a book. But good friends are exactly what Janet needs after moving to the small town of Southlea Bay, … Washington. Just as the ladies are about to raise a teacup to their five hundredth rejection letter, they receive bad news that could destroy one member’s reputation—and disband the group forever. To save the club, Janet joins her fellow writers on a wild road trip to San Francisco in search of the local publisher who holds the key to a long-buried secret. As they race to the finish line, they’ll face their fears—landslides, haunted houses, handsome strangers, ungrateful children—and have the time of their lives.
Revised edition: This edition of The Rejected Writers’ Book Club includes editorial revisions.
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I received this book from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.
I didn’t get a chance to review this book right after I finished, and I’m kind of glad it worked out that way. Because I realized – I haven’t been able to get this book out of my mind!
The author did a great job of creating memorable and zany characters, and putting them on a road trip adventure that was one wild ride. But, what was great is that it was still realistic. I appreciate when authors take you just to the edge of what is possible without going over the top.
I look forward to future books in this series.
The characters were so well developed I felt like I knew them. This was a fun romp across the country that included characters beyond a “certain age” which made the whole trip even more fun.
A small town librarian, Janet Johnson is persuaded to attend a gathering of local eccentric lady writers known as “The Rejected Writers Bookclub,” she gets pulled into crazy adventures she never thought she would be involved in. The club collects publisher’s rejection letters like trophies, this quirky society cares nothing for being in print and instead meets to celebrate in style its members’ mutually spurned manuscripts. They are just shy of their 500th letter and a huge club celebration so the women in the club go on a trip to get the rejection letters they need and leave on a crazy cross-country trip.
If I started a club like this it might be called “The Procrastinator’s Not Finishing Story Club”. I’m stopping after each chapter I write to read or listen to another book.
Great fun! Suzanne Kelman’s humour makes you want to call some girlfriends and plan to get together. Friendship is a major theme in this story and I’m all about that! The premise is certainly not to be taken seriously … even more reason to laugh … of course all writers want to have their work recognized! Light, quirky, and heartwarming. I’m looking forward to book 2!
I really enjoyed this book. Suzanne is a master storyteller and did such a good job with character development that when I was finished with the book I actually missed all the wacky ladies from the story. They became my best friends and I cannot wait for the second book to come out.
Everything from the concept of women celebrating their rejection letters to the quirky adventure they took to save an important member of the group was engaging, humorous and heartwarming. You will love this book. I think I read this in record time because I could not put it down.
On the fence about buying this? Seriously, just do it. You will not regret it.
This is a peek into a tiny town where Janet and Martin retire to live quietly. However, Martin is besieged by the raccoons in his yard and Janet is overtaken by a formidable woman named Doris. The repartee between Janet and her husband Marin is priceless, as it is so spot on.
Doris and her band of rejected writers are a hoot. You have to loosen up and just enjoy the situations they get into …and they get into a lot! Nothing like a group of older women on a mission and dragging some of the others into their adventures. The driving scenes to get to San Francisco and the people they encounter on the way are hilarious. Janet is the straight man for this group of misfits. There is one scene with the ladies stranded in a snowstorm and a vagrant tells them a scary ghost story…and it really is a perfect ghostly story!
You”‘ll meet Janet’s daughter and see their relationship with all its flaws and moments of joy. And you may not see much of Martin, still dealing with the pesky raccoons, but hear him listening to Janet and all her adventures with the ladies. And Martin, in those moments, is a husband that dearly loves his wife and their exchanges are sweet. And Janet becomes one if the group and finds her place in this world….and loves it.
I love these ladies! Their characters are “characters” in deed. They are well developed and a wonderful assortment of backgrounds and delightful complexities! Plainly, a fun read with something for everyone: a little suspense, daring, and delight!
This was an interesting story with creativity throughout and mini stories within. The Narrator did a great job. It was a story going nowhere in particular. In its basics it’s about a couple that is new to this neighborhood/area and how she adjusts and gets to know a group of ladies and comes to love them. There are lots of adventures in between.
I chose the book based on its title and wasn’t disappointed. Cleverly written and highly improbable story line but I liked it anyway. Light-hearted reading and laugh out loud funny in parts. Good for by-the-pool this summer!
A great adventure! I loved this book. It was a fantastic story of friendship, new experiences and seeing how people grow and change. I loved every one of the characters. They all had their own quirks and strength and really brought the story to life. It is a beautifully written humorous, fun read.
A wonderful light hearted read that I couldn’t put down. I chuckled my way thru it, the characters were well developed and such a fun story. A perfect make you smile book!
Something different
Librarian Janet Johnson has been invited to a meeting of the Rejected Writers’ Book Club. This group of unique and charming ladies grew on me. I could not put the book down. I had to keep reading to find out what outrageous event would happen next. This story is an easy, fun read.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy women’s fiction with fun characters.
I borrowed a copy through Kindle Unlimited. All views expressed are my honest opinion.
This is a very funny book! I thoroughly enjoyed the characters and their road trip. Of course the chain of events is pure fantasy, which makes it such a lovely lighthearted and easy read. A little bit over-sugary for me in places, but the giggles it gave me more than made up for the schmaltz.
Don’t read in a public place unless you want people staring at you when you suddenly laugh out loud.
Oh my, my cat hated this book!
There she was, happily napping when I interpreted her rudely by laughing out loud. And I kept at it so much that I had to rush off to the little girl’s room before anything shook loose!
And just as she settled in for some more catnapping, giggles erupted from my reading chair. Again and again I interrupted her peaceful evening doze… Yup, she really, really didn’t like this book at all.
But loved it!
Quirky and Entertaining. A small group of writers have just invited the town librarian to join them as they gather to celebrate yet another rejection letter. However, the real adventure starts when a member of the group actually receives an acceptance letter and has second thoughts about having the story published. That prompts a road trip where they encounter car trouble, romance, and sharing a cabin with a strange old man who can tell a pretty good ghost story. Humorous, fun and well paced. Love the cover!
This is the first book in a new series and I liked it. These writers formed a club for themselves and are collecting rejection letters; they must donate to a fund for each of these letters to benefit a local group of kids. It’s a delightful book and their quest for these letters leads them into trouble at every turn.
Did not ‘grab’ my attention. Cute story with some fun characters and comments. An easy to read without too much thought story.
Not a well written book and very boring