- BookBrowse
- Posts
- Discussing Grief, Friendship, and Extraordinary History
Discussing Grief, Friendship, and Extraordinary History
A letter from Libby Page, female friendships reading guides, and more ...
Book Club News: March Issue
Hello Book Clubbers,
In this issue, we bring you discussions of two books that have received high praise in our reader reviews. The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland is a unique story about group grief therapy with a twist, and Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez fictionalizes the real-life history of a kingdom in the Carolinas built by formerly enslaved people.
We also have a letter to readers from Libby Page, author of This Book Made Me Think of You, a heartwarming bookish novel of love and loss.
Explore reading guides for books featuring female friendships, and check out all the upcoming discussions and Ask the Author interviews in our community forum!
Thanks for reading,
The BookBrowse Team
Book Club Discussions
Discussions are open to all! If you’d like to participate, you can do so by creating an account here. Please note that discussions can contain spoilers.
The Seven O’Clock Club by Amelia Ireland
From the Jacket Four strangers are brought together to participate in an experimental treatment designed to heal broken hearts in this surprising and heartfelt debut novel from author Amelia Ireland. From the Discussion “I would recommend this book to those who enjoy storylines that are original and ‘different.’ Also, for those readers who enjoy reading books with in-depth character development. I found the book very thought-provoking and also very emotional.” —Melissa_C |  |
“Absolutely enjoyed this book. It had unique and unusual twists that I never saw coming.” —Jill_Mercier
See what people are saying in response to this question: Do you think it would be more or less difficult to share these stories of loved ones lost with strangers? Is there a safety in relative anonymity?
Happy Land by Dolen Perkins-Valdez
From the Jacket A woman learns the incredible story of a real-life American Kingdom—and her family's ties to it—in this enthralling novel from the New York Times bestselling, NAACP Image Award-winning author of Take My Hand. From the Discussion “The story pulled me in from the first pages and held me to the end…I learned about a new part of history and did so in an enjoyable and engaging way.” —Laura_D |  |
“I was really captivated by it. The story, the characters, the interlaced generational chapters all worked for me. I read it in a very short period of time and think Perkins-Valdez is a gifted writer with an important story to tell.” —Rosemary_Coffman
See what people are saying in response to this question: Nikki wonders if her mother abandoned Mother Rita. She also asks herself if “Southern mothers feel a particular betrayal when their children go north.” What’s your take on children leaving home, particularly those that move far away from their parents?
A Letter from Libby Page
In addition to regular Ask the Author interviews in our community forum, BookBrowse offers supplemental content for readers and book clubs on our Author Interviews page.
Below is a letter from writer Libby Page to readers of her novel This Book Made Me Think of You.
Dear Reader, There's not much more I'd rather do than curl up with a good book. I might be an author, but I consider myself first and foremost a reader. Reading has brought me endless joy and inspiration. Books have also helped me through some of the toughest moments in my life. In 2023 while grieving the loss of two people I loved dearly, I turned to books. … continued |  |
Female Friendships Reading Guides
Libby Page’s This Book Made Me Think of You is one of more than 160 featured books in our Female Friendships reading guides category, all with handy discussion questions for you and your book club. Focus on the particular qualities of friendship among girls and women, at significant moments and over a lifetime. This is one of 100+ themed reading guide categories available to BookBrowse members. |  |
Non-members can browse a limited number of reading guides by theme, while members can access the full selection of titles in this category using the button below.
Discussions & Ask the Author Interviews
Discussions are open to all, so please join us! If you would like to receive a message when a particular discussion opens, you can sign up for a one-time notification. You can also find inspiration for your book club among our more than 200 past discussions. Currently, we’re discussing Women of a Promiscuous Nature by Donna Everhart, among other books. |  |
Starting March 26, we feature The Moonshine Women by Michelle Collins Anderson.
BookBrowse regularly hosts Ask the Author sessions in our community forum. We invite you to follow along and post your own questions in any interviews that interest you. See our recent conversation with Annelise Ryan, author of the Monster Hunter mystery series, including Beast of the North Woods. |  |
About BookBrowse
BookBrowse offers a cornucopia of resources for book clubs, including recommended books by genre, time period, setting, and a wide range of themes; advice on starting and running a book club; and much more!
Reply