Che bello essere noi

by Robyn Carr

Non c’è nulla che non si possa affrontare quando hai un’amica al tuo fianco. Marni McGuire è una donna di successo: il programma tv di cucina che va in onda da casa sua è uno dei più seguiti di sempre. Ma non era così una volta: la sua vita è costellata di anni complicati, in cui si è barcamenata tra mille lavori pur di non far mancare nulla alla sua bambina. E di uomini che spesso, alla prova dei fatti, si sono rivelati deludenti. La sola certezza in quei momenti sono state le amiche: sono loro il suo punto fermo, la famiglia del cuore, indispensabile e rassicurante. È la mano di Ellen, la sua socia, che ha trovato ogni volta che ha avuto bisogno di ripartire. E poi c’è Sophia, la più giovane del gruppo, e Bella, la figlia di Marni, spiritosa e inquieta. Ma adesso, all’improvviso, come se tutte insieme avessero un appuntamento con il destino, ognuna di loro si trova di fronte a una sfida e a una decisione cruciale da prendere, in amore e nella vita. E quando il gioco si fa duro… le amiche cominciano a giocare.

p.s.: i traduttori sono pregati di completare il loro lavoro in maniera professionale, inserendo i dati su Goodreads corretti e completi e di associare il titolo al libro originale come ulteriore edizione.

Genres: Romance, Fiction, Audiobook, Womens Fiction, Contemporary, Chick Lit, Friendship

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 23, 2024

About the author

Robyn Carr is a RITA® Award-winning, eleven-time #1 New York Times bestselling author of over sixty novels, including the critically acclaimed Virgin River series and Sullivan's Crossing series. Robyn's new women's fiction novel, THE FRIENDSHIP CLUB, will be released in January 2024. The new hit Sullivan's Crossing TV series (season 1) inspired by Robyn's book series was released in the USA in the fall of 2023! Plus, season 5 of the worldwide fan-favorite Virgin River TV Series is now streaming on Netflix (July 2023) with two holiday episodes coming November 30, 2023. Both TV series have been renewed for another season!
Robyn is a recipient of the Romance Writers of America Nora Roberts Lifetime Achievement Award 2016, and in 2017, VIRGIN RIVER was named one of the HarperCollins 200 Iconic Books of the past 200 years. Robyn currently resides in Las Vegas, Nevada. You can visit Robyn Carr's website at https://www.robyncarr.com/.

Reviews

[Jonetta · Rating 4 out of 5]

the setup…
Marni McGuire is a highly successful, long-term host of cooking show who’s pretty satisfied with her life now that she’s in her mid-fifties. Her only daughter Bella is pregnant with her first child and somehow thinks her mother needs love in her life, though she’s struggling in her own marriage because her hormonal emotional rollercoaster is driving her husband (and her) crazy. Marni was widowed when Bella was an infant and is divorced from her second husband. Her best friend Ellen who’s also her show’s extremely talented producer is equally content living a single life after having been her late husband’s caretaker for years. Unfortunately, Sophia, their promising young intern is in a relationship that is scary but she’s hiding that from them and her father. When Marni and Ellen find themselves in friends-to-lovers romances, they not only keep them secret but question whether they should disrupt their contentment.

the heart of the story…
The thing I liked about this story is how all of these women were talented, successful and had strong senses of self and self worth. Marni and Ellen’s reluctance to enter into committed relationships was born from their prior histories. Why take the risks when your life is working so well? It’s when they discover Sophia’s peril with a stalker crazy man she dated briefly that the women form a bond, opening up about their pasts that provide wisdom and insights, secrets they’d not shared before. Poor Bella was going crazy and needed her mother’s guidance.

the narration…
Plummer is a wonderful storyteller and I liked the voices she gave to these four women.

the bottom line…
I enjoyed this story about four strong women who form a bond as they face new crossroads in their lives, sharing with and supporting each other without judgment and always with respect and admiration. Sophia’s issues were a frightening illustration of what so many women face today and it has nothing to do with being weak or strong. I also liked the honesty of their relationships with the men in their lives who were a reflection of their own great choices (excepting Sophia). It was all highly relevant and insightful.

Posted on Blue Mood Café

[Jennifer (not getting notifications) · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's really a bummer when the GR app crashes... I'll try writing this review again
For the second time this year (it's only January!), I am in the minority. I had a hard time connecting with the characters in this book. Also, I'm not a big fan when a book tells you what happened and how it felt, I'd rather read about the event/story as it unfolds. For me, it makes for a better reading experience.

[Carrie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Friendship Club by Robyn Carr is a contemporary novel and it does have a touch of romance but really fits best in the women’s fiction category. The story in The Friendship Club really centers most on friendship and support while following a group of four women and telling their stories.

Marni McGuire is a celebrity chef in her mid fifties who has been married twice in her lifetime resulting in being widowed and divorced and feels as if she has been through it all. Marni keeps busy working most of the time with the help of her longtime friend, Ellen, who is happiest behind the scenes of the show and is also a widow.

Marni and Ellen both are happy with where they are in life but Marni has to do a lot of convincing of that fact with her daughter, Bella, who insists Marni needs to date. Bella is pregnant and confides in Marni that her marriage may not be as happy as she would like so she finds herself needing the women to lean on. Along with Marni, Ellen and Bella there is Sophie, who is interning for Marni who has found herself in a rocky relationship and needing the friendship all the women find with one another.

Robyn Carr is probably one of those authors that really doesn’t need an introduction to any fans of the women’s fiction genre but if you haven’t read her yet I would highly suggest doing so. This new novel is a good example of how deeply her stories are filled with family and friendship and it was so nice to see the characters supporting one another. All the characters in The Friendship Club had their own stories and unique situations that made getting to know them enjoyable and made the pages fly by. I know I will definitely return to this author in the future and recommend others do too.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/

[Katrenia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I did not finish this book. After torturing myself to get through 20%, I decided life is too short and my TBR list too long to force myself to the end. The dialogue is stilted and unnatural. Some of the characters, especially Bella, are unlikeable. It’s just not an enjoyable book to read. If I didn’t know this is a successful author with many books under her belt, I would guess this to be a first attempt at publication.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book prior to publication.

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Confused by how the cover of the book connects to the book? Wouldn't a cover in a kitchen with the 4 women surrounded by good food make more sense?

I liked the relationship the women have, but I guess I hadn't read other books by this author, so I didn't expect the graphic parts. Figured more like Elen Hildebrand books. But I picked up the book because it was recommended on Hoopla and because it looked like fun.

Extremely predictable. *Redeeming quality - all the good food discussed. The thought of eating so healthy, growing good foods, taking care of the earth and our bodies, eating fresh fruits and vegetables, and savoring good food and sharing it with others. That's something I wish I could do.

I liked the idea of women being happy without men, thinking at the beginning that they would enjoy their lives and friendships and not need men, but that changes quickly, and then it's all about relationships - the older women finding love, and the younger ones being either unhappy/frustrated in marriage, or not realizing an unkind/almost abusive relationship.

I do think the book broached a few important topics - standing up to verbal or physical abuse, supporting other women through hard times, caring for spouses with physical disabilities, hormones during pregnancy. The issues the women dealt with are common to so many.

While I love the Virgin River show, I don't think I'll read the book series. Didn't know there was one, but I think this will be it for me and this author. I felt like I was being a little entertained but not much suspense or real plots.

[Corrie · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book was crap. I usually love me some Robyn Carr but it seemed poorly written without transitions into next character scenes and I didn’t find any of the older age/second chance romances endearing

[♥Rachel♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Marni McGuire is a famous cooking show host, married twice, widowed and then divorced, she is now happily single. Her life is filled doing a job she loves, cooking and styling food, with her best friend and production manager/chef, Ellen, and regular visits with her sister and daughter. Her pregnant daughter, Bella, worries that her mother isn’t as happy as she could be though, and arranges a date for her. However, Marni strikes up a friendship with a man on her own and the sparks of chemistry fly between them.

Bella, Marni’s daughter has her own issues being overloaded with pregnancy hormones, her emotions are all over the place and her marriage is suffering because of it.

Marni’s best friend, Ellen, married later in life to an older man. He suffered an aneurysm two years after, severely crippling him mentally and physically, and she ended up a caregiver for many years before he died. Widowed and happily single as well, she’s surprised when her neighbor, a retired firefighter, invites her over for dinner.

Sophia, Marni’s college intern has found herself in a passionate relationship that quickly turns into a frightening situation when the guy turns obsessive. She’s reluctant to share, feeling embarrassed and somehow responsible, but Marni, Ellen, and her father, Sam all step in to help. I was frightened for her and all involved!

The Friendship Club was part women’s fiction, part romance, with a surprising amount of suspense thanks to Sophia’s storyline! I loved the strong, supportive female friendships portrayed here, as well as the two mature romances! Don’t even get me started on all the mouth-watering food mentioned! There’s a reason Robyn Carr is so popular. Her stories are completely engrossing from the first page, and I was fully invested as these women navigated the ups and downs in their lives!

I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy courtesy of MIRA. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Laura Wonderchick · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I’m a huge fan of RC and especially Virgin River, this one just didn’t do it for me. I felt like I had read it before. Kind of repetitive in spots. A good story about friendship. Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for this copy for read and review

[Carla · Rating 5 out of 5]

Robyn Carr's newest book, The Friendship Club, was a wonderful story of friendship, family, loyalty and more. This is women's fiction at its best. Although there are a couple of romantic relationships, it is not a romance. Widowed, then recently divorced Marni McGuire, is a celebrity cook with her own show. Her best friend, Ellen works with her as well as a young intern Sophia. The fourth woman in the story is Marni's daughter, Bella, who is married and expecting her first child. Bella is trying to convince Marni to start dating, and find a man. Marni is happily single and so is Ellen. Sophie begins dating a man, but it turns out he is abusive and when she breaks it off with him, he begins gaslighting her. Bella is worried that her husband might be having an affair. These four women form The Friendship Club and support one another as they come to a crossroads in their lives.

I really liked all four women in this story. They all had their strengths, as well as their weaknesses. Each one had a distinct personality and their own issues they were dealing with. I loved how they supported each other and found some humor sprinkled throughout the book. Dating over 60, issues of being single as you age, pregnancy and the issues women deal with during that time, grief, secrets, stalking and more. More than anything, this is a book of friendship, and women supporting women. This story deals with abuse, how it is hidden, what the police and and will do, therapy and how it helps and the aftermath of it. (there are no scenes of actual abuse) If this is a trigger for you, you may want to skip this one. I enjoyed the ending of this story, even though it didn't end the way I was hoping. All the stories were tied up nicely. I did a read/listen with this book and very much enjoyed the narration by Thérèse Plummer. She gives the characters their own voices and adds expression to the story, making it even more enjoyable.

[Julie · Rating 1 out of 5]

edit to add: I came back to downgrade this book to one star. I remember this author perpetuates harmful diet culture in her other books. In this book, as a major plot point, a pregnant character is so worried about gaining weight after an offhand comment by an a-hole medical provider, that she puts herself on a nearly 100% salad diet. And then she obsesses over food and what she can eat. This diet culture mindset contributes to problems in her marriage but the whole book acts like NONE of that is problematic. This is so gross, so harmful. IT IS THE YEAR OF OUR LORD 2024. I do NOT CARE what generation you are. This is so outdated. In such poor taste. I think that because of that, I’m done with this author for good.


This book was so bad in so many ways. 1.5 🙁 (I can’t give any stars. I can give sad faces).

[Andrea · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robyn Carr’s books are such comfort reads to me. I miss the relationships, community and escapism of the Virgin River, Thunder Point and Sullivan’s Crossing series. Sadly, this this book lacked all those things and evolved into a train wreck you couldn’t pull your eyes from. I’m guessing this is just a blip, and I will certainly show up for her next book.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Friendship Club is an all grown up Robyn Carr women's fiction novel. Four women from different age groups are centered around Marni, a television/media chef. Over the course of the story these women find their true selves.
I mostly enjoyed this book although, in my reading tastes, the plot centered a bit too much on the psychology of stalking and gaslighting. My heart ached for Sophia and i can appreciate the caring towards her from Marni, Ellen and Bella.
Although it was easy for me to set this book aside and not rush to pick it up again I would give it 4 stars. I enjoy Robyn Carr's writing style..

Thank you to #NetGalley and #Harlequin for the opportunity to early read this book for giving a fair and honest review.

[Mary Jackson _TheMaryReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another hit by Carr. This one should be on you TBR pile for sure.

[Deacon Tom (Feeling Better) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well written! The emphasis on characters is the spice of the plot.

A fast read.

[LianaReads blog · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Friendship Club" by Robyn Carr is a heartwarming tale that explores the unbreakable bonds of friendship among four diverse women facing life's challenges. Centered around celebrity cooking show host Marni McGuire and her friends, the novel delves into the complexities of love, loneliness, and the resilience of the human spirit.
Robyn Carr masterfully crafts characters with distinct personalities and life experiences. Marni, a widow turned TV personality; Bella, Marni's pregnant daughter navigating the complexities of marriage and career; Ellen, Marni's devoted assistant seeking a quiet life after caring for her ill husband; and Sophia, entangled in an abusive relationship. The narrative skillfully weaves their stories, addressing serious issues like domestic abuse and loss with sensitivity.
As the women form an informal friendship club, Carr beautifully portrays the strength that arises when friends support each other through life's twists and turns. The novel is a celebration of the power of friendship, offering a poignant reminder that, even in the face of adversity, having a solid support system can make all the difference.
Carr's storytelling, however, captivates, delivering a compelling narrative that resonates with the realities of modern life and the enduring strength found in genuine connections.
Very grateful to the publisher for this review copy, opinions are my own.

[Diane Saul · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a story about friends and family and the hardships and joys in their lives. If you are looking for a predictable fun read this is the one. The book has a cast of likeable characters that will draw you into their stories. Thank you to net galley for an advanced readers copy.

[Kara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Maybe this just isn’t the genre for me but I found this book to be somewhat dull and found myself skimming so I could finish it more quickly. The writing did not hold my attention and I wasn’t invested in any of the characters. For me, this was a dud.

[E-Reader Addict · Rating 3 out of 5]

There really is a shortage of stories that feature romance for women in their 50s and 60s, and even though the love stories weren’t the primary focus of the book, they were well done and lovely here.

But now that I think about it, there really wasn’t a main point to this book. Which I guess is okay. I enjoyed the stories of the four women. As always, Robyn Carr is an engaging storyteller.

And as usual, Therese Plummer did an excellent job with narration. She always does a fantastic job bringing Ms. Carr’s books to life!

[Vicky Sp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Una bellissima storia che parla di amore e di amicizia.

Una lettura gradevole che regala emozioni perché decanta in maniera appassionata quel legame puro e sincero che tutti vorremmo avere nella nostra vita come un dono prezioso.

Mi sono piaciuti tantissimo sia l’ambientazione che il filo conduttore che lega le donne che si raccontano nel libro. Storie di tutti i giorni che possono sembrare scontate ma che racchiudono esperienze di vita che fanno riflettere.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fabulous book which, at its core, is about the importance of female friendships and the empowerment of women.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sweet story of friendship, family, and romance that also dealt with some difficult topics.
3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

[Megan | _The.Brunette.Bookworm_ · Rating 5 out of 5]

ʙ ᴏ ᴏ ᴋ • ʀ ᴇ ᴠ ɪ ᴇ ᴡ

📖 The Friendship Club
✍🏻 @robyncarrwriter
⭐️ 5
🌶️ 1
🫶🏻 ARC #10 of 2024
📚10/100

This book was the easiest 5 ⭐️s I’ve given in 2024 yet.

🤝🏼 best friends / friendship
💔 loss, divorce, abuse and stalking
🫶🏻 second chances
🥹 family over everything
🥗 FMC is a chef/tv star
🐶 golden retriever MMC
💣 drama
🌶️ a very little bit of spice

There were multiple FMC and MMC to follow, but for the first time in a while..they were easy to differentiate and follow.

I absolutely LOVED Marni, Ellen, Sophia and Bella’s stories! They each had their different tropes, struggles, story lines and dramas. And it was 🤌🏻 @robyncarrwriter was able to make you feel every emotion with every character and root, cheer, cry, fear and feel for them all individually!

This is book #10 so far in 2024 and my fourth 5 ⭐️ rating!!

I absolutely LOVED this book and will absolutely be looking into the Sullivans Crossing series now!

#booksta #bookish #booksbooksbooks #booklover #bookworm #booknerd #arc #netgalley #arcreader #loved #robyncarr #thebestfriendsclub

[Amy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never miss a chance to read a Robyn Carr book, her style is one of my absolute favorites and I’m always drawn into the stories she creates in an effortless way. I loved that this centered on a group of women during all stages of life. You have Marni, a fifty something celebrity chef who may finally be ready to renter the dating world, then there is her daughter, Bella a smart and ambitious woman pregnant with her first child, then there’s also Ellen, Marni’s coworker who leads a solitary life but may also be ready for love again and finally Sophia, their young intern who finds herself in a bad relationship. The support these women offered each other was so beautiful and I adored all their friendships. While it may seem like they’re an unlikely bunch, they truly brought out the best in each other. With four storylines there’s never a dull moment which made this such a fast read for me. I was caught up in their lives and rooting for them all every step of the way. If you like books about strong female friendships this was really wonderful.

[Joy Powers · Rating 3 out of 5]

A beach read. So very predictable.

[Dottie Legatos · Rating 4 out of 5]

So glad I ended my 2023 reading with such an enjoyable book. This was such a positive book in spite of the pitfalls some women face. Strong women with equally strong friendships made this a very uplifting story. Robyn Carr doesn’t disappoint. Thanks to Netgalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

The Friendship Club followed four women and their lives together. Marni had a syndicated cooking show. After the death of her first husband, she found a way to find success through food. Marni’s only child, Bella, was pregnant with her first child and was a successful attorney. Helen was a gifted chef who never wanted to work in a restaurant or other large kitchen. She was very happy working with Marni on the recipes for the show. Finally, Sophia was in college working toward a degree that would hopefully lead to a job in television production. She worked behind the scenes with Marni and received college credit for her work. All four women were close and got together often to check in on each other’s lives. During the story, each one had to make decisions that would bring a big change to their life. Some were open to the change, others fought the change, and others were unsure if the change would bring what they wanted in their life.

I have read many books by Robyn Carr and I was disappointed in this one. While I liked the characters, it didn’t have much of a plot other than here are these successful women and this is their story. I much prefer those types of books to be about real people. This book’s plot was like on Tuesday, this is what they did. I was kinda bored. I wish there had been more substance to it. Marni and Helen both were involved in interesting community projects toward the end of the story. I would have loved having more of that content and seeing where those projects went as time passed.

Content warning: Two of the women were in relationships that involved emotional and physical abuse.

[Cammie Purtell · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was not for me. Something about the writing just felt juvenile and drawn out. And for the title being about friendship I felt that the focus was more on each girl’s romantic relationships than their friendship with each other.

[Nicole]

I feel like this book abruptly ended.

[Kathleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Friendship Club gives us 5 women of varying ages and careers. Marni who is a chef/TV/Media star, Ellen who is the production/program director for the Marni, Sophie who is Marni's intern, her daughter Bella, who is pregnant with her first child and is a lawyer and Marni's sister Dottie, who is a college professor. They have bonded over food, friendship and family.
For some one of the women they are at a crossroad in their lives, weather it be, career, love life, or motherhood. One thing is always clear, when it comes to the five they are always there for each other in the good times of the not so good time and times of crisis.

This was an awesome read. Robyn Carr knows how to bring the best to women's fiction with her characters and her story line. It combines women's fiction and some romance and gave us food for thought about what happens in women's lives when they feel control is being taken from them. It brings a subject that will have you wondering, "Can that happen to me". This book puts you through a gambit of emotions and will have you smiling and maybe even a little chuckle and then in the next moment brings tears to your eyes and makes you feel anger of what is happening in the women's lives. You will also feel hunger as the food discussed in this book sounds yummy and appetizing. What more could you want from a book.
But all in all this book will leave you with a warm feeling and a sigh of having reading a fantastic read and by the end will you will want to read it all over again.

[Melanie McGrade Davidson · Rating 4 out of 5]

The realities of modern love are far from easy…

I read this gem in ONE DAY! I loved the strong female characters and the psychological relationships between them. Each character had a lot going on in their own respective lives, yet they formed a bond to help strengthen and motivate each other, creating very special relationships. This would make a great movie!

#thefriendshipclub #netgalley #bookreview