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The Quitters Club
Listening Length: 10 hours
A hopeful and empowering novel about the messy beauty of female friendship and the deep courage it takes to rebuild a life at any age.
When four ride-or-die friends reunite for a getaway, they’re desperate for a break, a chance to reconnect. But each is hiding a deeper reason why. Marie feels like an impostor teaching “How to Say No” seminars while her marriage has evolved into something she never said yes to. Brooke’s most heartfelt goal—motherhood—is proving out of reach. Lucy’s dream career has broken her spirit, possibly for good. And Collins feels trapped in grief by her late husband’s legacy.
All their lives, they’ve encouraged each other not to give up—but they can’t do this anymore. Now, at a breaking point, they make a Quit. And help each other through the fallout.
At first, it’s positively liberating. A husband gets a much-needed wake-up call. A singles retreat is a widow’s perfect escape. A very public career exit becomes a never-too-late return to college. And a childless life becomes a bold new plan to travel the world. But letting go will be more complicated than they imagined. Confronting hard truths about love, loss, and starting over, these four women must discover what’s worth fighting for—and what’s truly best left behind.
A hopeful and empowering novel about the messy beauty of female friendship and the deep courage it takes to rebuild a life at any age.
When four ride-or-die friends reunite for a getaway, they’re desperate for a break, a chance to reconnect. But each is hiding a deeper reason why. Marie feels like an impostor teaching “How to Say No” seminars while her marriage has evolved into something she never said yes to. Brooke’s most heartfelt goal—motherhood—is proving out of reach. Lucy’s dream career has broken her spirit, possibly for good. And Collins feels trapped in grief by her late husband’s legacy.
All their lives, they’ve encouraged each other not to give up—but they can’t do this anymore. Now, at a breaking point, they make a Quit. And help each other through the fallout.
At first, it’s positively liberating. A husband gets a much-needed wake-up call. A singles retreat is a widow’s perfect escape. A very public career exit becomes a never-too-late return to college. And a childless life becomes a bold new plan to travel the world. But letting go will be more complicated than they imagined. Confronting hard truths about love, loss, and starting over, these four women must discover what’s worth fighting for—and what’s truly best left behind.
10 pages, Audible Audio
First published June 1, 2026
About the author
Jessica Strawser
9 books1,771 followersJESSICA STRAWSER is the USA Today bestselling author of seven suspenseful book club novels featuring strong women put to the test, including ALMOST MISSED YOU, NOT THAT I COULD TELL (a Book of the Month selection), A MILLION REASONS WHY, and THE NEXT THING YOU KNOW (a People Magazine Pick). Her two most recent novels, THE LAST CARETAKER (a 2023 Amazon Editors First Reads Selection) and CATCH YOU LATER (new in October 2024) have both become instant bestsellers on the USA Today charts.
She is Editor-at-Large for Writer’s Digest, a contributing editor for Career Authors, and a popular speaker at writing conferences at reader-focused events.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times' Modern Love, Publishers Weekly, and other fine venues. She lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is the recipient of a 2024 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award. She is a member of Tall Poppy Writers, Fiction Writers Co-op, and Women's Fiction Writers Association. Connect with her on Twitter @jessicastrawser and Facebook and Instagram @jessicastrawserauthor. Visit jessicastrawser.com to learn more.
She is Editor-at-Large for Writer’s Digest, a contributing editor for Career Authors, and a popular speaker at writing conferences at reader-focused events.
Her work has appeared in The New York Times' Modern Love, Publishers Weekly, and other fine venues. She lives with her husband and two children in Cincinnati, Ohio, where she is the recipient of a 2024 Ohio Arts Council Individual Excellence Award. She is a member of Tall Poppy Writers, Fiction Writers Co-op, and Women's Fiction Writers Association. Connect with her on Twitter @jessicastrawser and Facebook and Instagram @jessicastrawserauthor. Visit jessicastrawser.com to learn more.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 860 reviews
July 19, 2026
When four “40” year old friends reunite for a ladies getaway, they realize that the lives they THOUGHT they wanted might no longer be the lives that they want now.
Marie teaches a popular College elective in gender studies called “How to Say No” but she feels like a hypocrite who hasn’t set boundaries with her own husband, Kyle.
Brooke grew up saying she wanted to be a “mother” but infertility treatments have taken their toll on her, and she isn’t sure that she can endure any more.
Lucy’s dream job of being a “writer” isn’t bringing her the success or joy that she envisioned.
And Collins feels trapped in grief after losing her husband to a fire.
Would MOVING ON to new chapters in their lives be IMPULSIVE or EMPOWERING? They make a pact to find out, calling it “The Quitter’s Club”.
I liked the MESSAGE of this story, a bit more than the execution. While it was wonderful that these four “self aware” women were there to support one another and to pick each other up when life let them down, it felt too dialogue heavy-with one ENLIGHTENED CONVERSATION after another!!!
My favorite part of this story was when we were in Marie’s classroom hearing about the assignments she gave to her students to teach them that it is more than okay to say NO.
I have read all EIGHT of Jessica Strawser’s novels, so clearly I AM a fan, but this was probably my least favorite of her books. Will I be picking up her next? Absolutely!
Book Club Questions are provided at the end of this story, which is AVAILABLE NOW!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Did she find this story more engaging than I did? Be sure to watch for her review!
Marie teaches a popular College elective in gender studies called “How to Say No” but she feels like a hypocrite who hasn’t set boundaries with her own husband, Kyle.
Brooke grew up saying she wanted to be a “mother” but infertility treatments have taken their toll on her, and she isn’t sure that she can endure any more.
Lucy’s dream job of being a “writer” isn’t bringing her the success or joy that she envisioned.
And Collins feels trapped in grief after losing her husband to a fire.
Would MOVING ON to new chapters in their lives be IMPULSIVE or EMPOWERING? They make a pact to find out, calling it “The Quitter’s Club”.
I liked the MESSAGE of this story, a bit more than the execution. While it was wonderful that these four “self aware” women were there to support one another and to pick each other up when life let them down, it felt too dialogue heavy-with one ENLIGHTENED CONVERSATION after another!!!
My favorite part of this story was when we were in Marie’s classroom hearing about the assignments she gave to her students to teach them that it is more than okay to say NO.
I have read all EIGHT of Jessica Strawser’s novels, so clearly I AM a fan, but this was probably my least favorite of her books. Will I be picking up her next? Absolutely!
Book Club Questions are provided at the end of this story, which is AVAILABLE NOW!
A buddy read with DeAnn. Did she find this story more engaging than I did? Be sure to watch for her review!
May 6, 2026
From a detached reader perspective, The Quitters Club is well written and really dives into the nitty gritty of mid-life, choices that are both professional and personal, and the benefits of having a good support system. I appreciated the overarching theme of the story, even if at times it hit a little too close to home.
As an invested reader, someone who relates closely with one of the women, this was a tough read emotionally. It validated a lot of feelings I've experienced and right when I got to a point of almost solidarity, things took a surprising turn that left me honestly annoyed... Again, something I could relate to in real-life, but was bummed I had to witness it again in fiction. This is what makes books so awesome, in my opinion. Even though at times this was hard for me to read, I'm glad I read it. I'm glad books like this are out there that can help people feel a little less alone in life.
As an invested reader, someone who relates closely with one of the women, this was a tough read emotionally. It validated a lot of feelings I've experienced and right when I got to a point of almost solidarity, things took a surprising turn that left me honestly annoyed... Again, something I could relate to in real-life, but was bummed I had to witness it again in fiction. This is what makes books so awesome, in my opinion. Even though at times this was hard for me to read, I'm glad I read it. I'm glad books like this are out there that can help people feel a little less alone in life.
May 9, 2026
great idea, didn’t like some details
It’s not the book, it’s me, my opinions and everyone has them so others can disagree. I loved the idea and the storyline itself is well developed and thought out. But the political slant throughout the book takes a side which means that you’re always going to not satisfy half of all people. And at times the political slant even feels random like the author tried to hard to insert it just to have it. It could have been easily been a great book by staying neutral. Instead it ends up being an OK book. None of it had me at the edge of my seat, unable to put it down, but even at the end of the book I wanted to lecture some characters. So at the end of the day if someone asked if it was worth the read I probably wouldn’t say yes.
It’s not the book, it’s me, my opinions and everyone has them so others can disagree. I loved the idea and the storyline itself is well developed and thought out. But the political slant throughout the book takes a side which means that you’re always going to not satisfy half of all people. And at times the political slant even feels random like the author tried to hard to insert it just to have it. It could have been easily been a great book by staying neutral. Instead it ends up being an OK book. None of it had me at the edge of my seat, unable to put it down, but even at the end of the book I wanted to lecture some characters. So at the end of the day if someone asked if it was worth the read I probably wouldn’t say yes.
May 11, 2026
A truly beautiful book
This was a chance encounter, a deal where I could pick one of a group of books, and this sounded the most interesting, but it is really a life changing book. It gives you so much to think about. The characters aren’t perfect. They’re just trying to get through life, like all of us. They make mistakes and they work through them. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it to friends.
This was a chance encounter, a deal where I could pick one of a group of books, and this sounded the most interesting, but it is really a life changing book. It gives you so much to think about. The characters aren’t perfect. They’re just trying to get through life, like all of us. They make mistakes and they work through them. I really enjoyed it and will recommend it to friends.
June 21, 2026
DNF AT 53% I really tried to make it through, but I hit the 53% mark and just couldn't do it anymore. Ironically, the book is about four women who make a pact to quit the things in life that no longer serve them. I guess I took their advice to heart and decided to become an honorary member of the club by quitting this book. The pacing just didn't hold my interest, and life is too short to force my way through a story that isn't clicking. No regrets!
May 5, 2026
For women who want a change.
The best thing about fiction is it teaches you how to do something without giving advice.
Jessica Strawser has written a book for everyone who knows they need to change something and needs some girlfriends to go along for the ride. I read this book in two days. I wanted to know how each of the characters changed their life and how they coped with the aftermath. I devoured this book.
The best thing about fiction is it teaches you how to do something without giving advice.
Jessica Strawser has written a book for everyone who knows they need to change something and needs some girlfriends to go along for the ride. I read this book in two days. I wanted to know how each of the characters changed their life and how they coped with the aftermath. I devoured this book.
June 25, 2026
I loved the premise of this one. The idea of quitting things in life that no longer make you happy is something that really resonated with me.
As a woman in my 40s who has lost touch with many high school and college friends simply because life took us in different directions, I found the female friendships especially refreshing. Even when those friendships become infrequent, the people who knew you in your younger years often know you better than almost anyone else, and I enjoyed seeing those connections explored throughout the story.
The book is full of emotion, realistic relationship struggles, and family drama. While it sometimes felt like a lot of challenges were happening all at once, the characters and their experiences still felt relatable.
Unfortunately, the pacing didn’t quite work for me. The story seemed to drag in the second half, and by the end it felt more like a self-help book.
Overall, I appreciated the themes of friendship, personal growth, and learning when it’s okay to let go, but the slower pacing kept this from being a favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon First Reads for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
As a woman in my 40s who has lost touch with many high school and college friends simply because life took us in different directions, I found the female friendships especially refreshing. Even when those friendships become infrequent, the people who knew you in your younger years often know you better than almost anyone else, and I enjoyed seeing those connections explored throughout the story.
The book is full of emotion, realistic relationship struggles, and family drama. While it sometimes felt like a lot of challenges were happening all at once, the characters and their experiences still felt relatable.
Unfortunately, the pacing didn’t quite work for me. The story seemed to drag in the second half, and by the end it felt more like a self-help book.
Overall, I appreciated the themes of friendship, personal growth, and learning when it’s okay to let go, but the slower pacing kept this from being a favorite.
Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon First Reads for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
July 17, 2026
3 1/2 Stars “Maybe it’s because we all fantasize about quitting things from time to time,” she offered. “And if someone else goes through with it, that reminds us it doesn’t have to be fantasy.”
“Quitting big stuff can be scary even when we want to, like leaping without a net. Maybe those reactions are more about other people’s fears and not about you at all.”
“Then I read that grief is really love without anywhere to go, and that resonated.”
“The current is weaker now, but it’s carried me so far, I can’t see shore anymore. I know I need to start swimming again, but I’ve forgotten how. Or maybe I’m just too scared I’ll go the wrong way, and it feels safer to float indefinitely.”
“Quitting big stuff can be scary even when we want to, like leaping without a net. Maybe those reactions are more about other people’s fears and not about you at all.”
“Then I read that grief is really love without anywhere to go, and that resonated.”
“The current is weaker now, but it’s carried me so far, I can’t see shore anymore. I know I need to start swimming again, but I’ve forgotten how. Or maybe I’m just too scared I’ll go the wrong way, and it feels safer to float indefinitely.”
June 2, 2026
First book I read with my eyes in forever. Such a good one. Made me super grateful for the college friends I still keep in touch with. I loved each of the four story lines uniquely. Super well done and would definitely read something else this author has written.
May 7, 2026
Friendship at Its Best
This was a great First Reads choice! It tackles a number of issues - infertility, unresponsive spouses, widowhood, career change, etc. You’re left wishing you had a group of friends just like this to see you through all of the challenges. Plus, it makes you think about choices and what a valid choice quitting can be. It was entertaining AND thought provoking.
This was a great First Reads choice! It tackles a number of issues - infertility, unresponsive spouses, widowhood, career change, etc. You’re left wishing you had a group of friends just like this to see you through all of the challenges. Plus, it makes you think about choices and what a valid choice quitting can be. It was entertaining AND thought provoking.
June 13, 2026
just not my kind of book
It was free so I read it but I should have known it would bore me. I just don’t love these kind of women group friendship life stories. To me they are kind of boring and predictable and overly sappy and/or dramatic. Eek. I sound so cynical. Just not my type of book and I knew better.
It was free so I read it but I should have known it would bore me. I just don’t love these kind of women group friendship life stories. To me they are kind of boring and predictable and overly sappy and/or dramatic. Eek. I sound so cynical. Just not my type of book and I knew better.
June 7, 2026
Really enjoyed rhis book. Love the bond rhese ladies have and watching rhem as rhey help one another throughout the book. There for each other in the good times and the bad times. Ride or die friendships.
June 18, 2026
⭐️3.5 ⭐️
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of The Quitters Club! This book follows four friends who are each in very different but deeply relatable stages of life. A professor struggling in her marriage, an author facing career burnout, a woman navigating IVF and a grieving widow. Together, they make a pact to quit what no longer serves them and the story follows the fallout, the healing, and the rebuilding that comes after letting go. The way these women showed up for one another was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their support, honesty and vulnerability made the story feel warm and real.
Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of The Quitters Club! This book follows four friends who are each in very different but deeply relatable stages of life. A professor struggling in her marriage, an author facing career burnout, a woman navigating IVF and a grieving widow. Together, they make a pact to quit what no longer serves them and the story follows the fallout, the healing, and the rebuilding that comes after letting go. The way these women showed up for one another was one of my favorite parts of the book. Their support, honesty and vulnerability made the story feel warm and real.
June 10, 2026
The other books I’ve read by Jessica Strawser have been more in the suspense genre. This one departs from that, but was still very entertaining. I loved going along on the journeys of Marie, Lucy, Brooke and Collins.
June 6, 2026
4🌟
Life is messy, and 4 friends get together and make a pact to quit the things in their lives that aren't working for them anymore.
At times this was almost a mini therapy session for me. It's thought provoking and brings light to a time in life when many women start to acknowledge their needs and find what brings them joy. Who needs therapy when you have a group of ride or die friends who offer support and love.
I really enjoyed the acknowledgement of how time and life interact. It's a concept that is layered throughout the story in many ways. Everyone's timeline is different. It's never too late to change your mind, to start over, to pick something new, to grow into the you that you want to be. And while its great to enjoy the big things in life, the little things matter just as much, like 30 seconds in a group chat with your friends.
Did not like the author calling a group of 40 ish year old women old. They are not. Probably my only gripe with this book.
This would be a good book club book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Jessica Strawser for sending for me an Arc to review.
Life is messy, and 4 friends get together and make a pact to quit the things in their lives that aren't working for them anymore.
At times this was almost a mini therapy session for me. It's thought provoking and brings light to a time in life when many women start to acknowledge their needs and find what brings them joy. Who needs therapy when you have a group of ride or die friends who offer support and love.
I really enjoyed the acknowledgement of how time and life interact. It's a concept that is layered throughout the story in many ways. Everyone's timeline is different. It's never too late to change your mind, to start over, to pick something new, to grow into the you that you want to be. And while its great to enjoy the big things in life, the little things matter just as much, like 30 seconds in a group chat with your friends.
Did not like the author calling a group of 40 ish year old women old. They are not. Probably my only gripe with this book.
This would be a good book club book.
Thanks to Lake Union Publishing and Jessica Strawser for sending for me an Arc to review.
July 14, 2026
2026 page turners book club pick #7
super tender and way more emotional from every perspective than i anticipated! love a book about girlhoood & life in general
super tender and way more emotional from every perspective than i anticipated! love a book about girlhoood & life in general
June 18, 2026
I had such PROMISING HOPES for this book, but ultimately I took a chapter from them and quit what doesn’t serve me.
This book felt so inspiring and thoughtful until it wasn’t. Almost every persons life went to shit and then just kept being shit and it was sooo long of everyone struggling through the muck and I’ll google where everyone ends up bc I cannot do this anymore.
This book felt so inspiring and thoughtful until it wasn’t. Almost every persons life went to shit and then just kept being shit and it was sooo long of everyone struggling through the muck and I’ll google where everyone ends up bc I cannot do this anymore.
June 21, 2026
4.5 rounded up
I rarely pick up women’s fiction, as mostly romance and occasional thriller reader, but the premise of this book sounded very interesting.
It’s about female friendship and various mid-life challenges. Having 4 main characters facing different life situations, everyone will find something relatable in this story. There is major career change situation, loss of spouse, marriage troubles, and problems conceiving representation. To top it all there is also life threatening situation, all mixed with strong female friendship which brings its own struggles as well.
The writing and pacing was good, I was hooked, wasn’t bored for even a minute, and couldn’t stop reading/listening. I’m not a fan of 3rd person narration but it worked very well here.
It can be emotional for some readers and reflective.
The fact that there are 4 main characters, each having different struggles, kept the story interesting for the whole time.
Highly recommend this book, not only for women readers!!!
🎧🎧🎧
11h
Narrated by Andi Arndt
The narration was very good! Despite one narrator for 4 main characters and all secondary characters, I had no problem following the dialogues. The narrator did a very good job, I was able to listen with my usual speed of 2.0x and it was easy to follow and understand everything.
The narration brought the story to life magnificently.
~~some of my highlights~~
“Families don’t have to look the way other people expect them to. They don’t even have to look the way you expected. And it’s okay to feel sad about that. But I think it’s great to have two parents willing to try different things to find out what works best for all of you. Whatever that ends up being, how it feels to you is a million times more important than how it looks to other people.”
“Having kids doesn’t mean you’ll stop wanting other things. And wanting other things doesn’t mean you won’t be wonderful at raising kids.”
“Parenting involved inevitable sacrifices—little daily concessions and big, life-altering compromises.”
“That’s why building your life around parenthood is a slippery slope,” she said. “But building parenthood into your life, people find new ways to do that all the time.”
“sometimes the best friends were the ones willing to say the hard things. That they cared and remained on her side.”
/from my highlights you may think this book is mainly about parenthood but it’s not, it’s just what made it to my highlights/
I rarely pick up women’s fiction, as mostly romance and occasional thriller reader, but the premise of this book sounded very interesting.
It’s about female friendship and various mid-life challenges. Having 4 main characters facing different life situations, everyone will find something relatable in this story. There is major career change situation, loss of spouse, marriage troubles, and problems conceiving representation. To top it all there is also life threatening situation, all mixed with strong female friendship which brings its own struggles as well.
The writing and pacing was good, I was hooked, wasn’t bored for even a minute, and couldn’t stop reading/listening. I’m not a fan of 3rd person narration but it worked very well here.
It can be emotional for some readers and reflective.
The fact that there are 4 main characters, each having different struggles, kept the story interesting for the whole time.
Highly recommend this book, not only for women readers!!!
🎧🎧🎧
11h
Narrated by Andi Arndt
The narration was very good! Despite one narrator for 4 main characters and all secondary characters, I had no problem following the dialogues. The narrator did a very good job, I was able to listen with my usual speed of 2.0x and it was easy to follow and understand everything.
The narration brought the story to life magnificently.
~~some of my highlights~~
“Families don’t have to look the way other people expect them to. They don’t even have to look the way you expected. And it’s okay to feel sad about that. But I think it’s great to have two parents willing to try different things to find out what works best for all of you. Whatever that ends up being, how it feels to you is a million times more important than how it looks to other people.”
“Having kids doesn’t mean you’ll stop wanting other things. And wanting other things doesn’t mean you won’t be wonderful at raising kids.”
“Parenting involved inevitable sacrifices—little daily concessions and big, life-altering compromises.”
“That’s why building your life around parenthood is a slippery slope,” she said. “But building parenthood into your life, people find new ways to do that all the time.”
“sometimes the best friends were the ones willing to say the hard things. That they cared and remained on her side.”
/from my highlights you may think this book is mainly about parenthood but it’s not, it’s just what made it to my highlights/
September 1, 2026
I LOVED THIS BOOK! You know it’s a good one when it lives rent free in your mind 24/7 🙌🏼
The journeys that each character went on were so healing and beautiful. They were rough and bumpy, but sometimes the best things come from tough times. This book has helped my heart heal after a breakup. I loved seeing the relationships between all of the friends, and it made me so grateful for the friendships I have in my life 🥹
It was also a great reminder that we can “quit” anything that doesn’t light us up anymore 💡
———
“First rule of the Quitters Club: Sometimes, it really is easier to start from knowing what you didn’t want.”
“Maybe it’s because we all fantasize about quitting things from time to time… and if someone else goes through with it, that reminds us it doesn’t have to be fantasy. Quitting big stuff can be scary even when we want to, like leaping without a net. Maybe those reactions are more about other people’s fears and not about you at all.”
“We’re your shore,” Lucy said. “Swim toward us.”
“What Lucy had said about realizing the thing you thought you wanted was making you miserable . . . Brooke related. Strongly.”
“No wonder she’d never talked to her friends about things falling apart until now: There was no big thing to blame—no infidelity or jaw-dropping betrayal. Only a million little things that sounded like nothing at all.”
“Because we have never been taught how or when or why to quit. People want validation that it’s okay to draw a line, and proof hard things can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. They’re looking for justification, for permission.”
The journeys that each character went on were so healing and beautiful. They were rough and bumpy, but sometimes the best things come from tough times. This book has helped my heart heal after a breakup. I loved seeing the relationships between all of the friends, and it made me so grateful for the friendships I have in my life 🥹
It was also a great reminder that we can “quit” anything that doesn’t light us up anymore 💡
———
“First rule of the Quitters Club: Sometimes, it really is easier to start from knowing what you didn’t want.”
“Maybe it’s because we all fantasize about quitting things from time to time… and if someone else goes through with it, that reminds us it doesn’t have to be fantasy. Quitting big stuff can be scary even when we want to, like leaping without a net. Maybe those reactions are more about other people’s fears and not about you at all.”
“We’re your shore,” Lucy said. “Swim toward us.”
“What Lucy had said about realizing the thing you thought you wanted was making you miserable . . . Brooke related. Strongly.”
“No wonder she’d never talked to her friends about things falling apart until now: There was no big thing to blame—no infidelity or jaw-dropping betrayal. Only a million little things that sounded like nothing at all.”
“Because we have never been taught how or when or why to quit. People want validation that it’s okay to draw a line, and proof hard things can turn out to be a blessing in disguise. They’re looking for justification, for permission.”
August 3, 2026
4.5 - “This kind of synergy didn't come from knowing things would turn out okay. It came from messing up, and losing yourself, and trying again, and rediscovering your worth in the process. It came from lifting each other up, and letting each other down despite your best intentions, and being brave enough to say sorry. It came from telling the truth, even when it hurt, and reserving the right to change your mind, and not settling for less than you deserved. Only then, it seemed, could such a beautiful ending become a new beginning too.” Such a beautiful read…
August 8, 2026
Four friends, all recently turned 40, have a reunion weekend and make a pact to quit things not making them happy. Each chapter is either Marie( trying to decide whether or not to stay married), Lucy ( trying to decide to stop writing novels), Brooke( trying to decide to stop IVF), and Collins, who is still mourning the death of her famous artist husband. Most of the story is a LOT of “ but what-ifs” and self- reflecting with a fairly predictable ending.
May 3, 2026
uplifting novel on the power of friends
Mature friends realize they are overwhelmed with personal challenges and are frustrated that they are allowing themselves a loss of themselves. And so a pact to quit being doormats and complacent in their lives. The result is a heartwarming story that friendship heals and does so in unexpected circumstances. It’s not predictable, and it is thoughtful.
Mature friends realize they are overwhelmed with personal challenges and are frustrated that they are allowing themselves a loss of themselves. And so a pact to quit being doormats and complacent in their lives. The result is a heartwarming story that friendship heals and does so in unexpected circumstances. It’s not predictable, and it is thoughtful.
May 3, 2026
How to say No
Liked the characters. They were just like real friends who connect,get upset, learn to accept, and learn to say no when too much is going on in your life.
Liked the characters. They were just like real friends who connect,get upset, learn to accept, and learn to say no when too much is going on in your life.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4.5/5
This book hooked me from the beginning. Old friends, beach getaway, reconnecting and venting. I loved that these were mature women with real life issues. I found something relatable in each woman, two in particular hit close to home. Friendships ebb and flow. What’s right for one isn’t right for another. It’s a joy to find a book where you love all the characters, I found it in this one. It starts out as a fun, semi-lighthearted read, but life happens and each woman is tested. If you’re looking for a friendship book with depth, this book is for you. This is not the first book I’ve read by Ms. Strawser, but it’s definitively my favorite. I look forward to her next book. If you haven’t picked your Prime First Reads for May yet, I highly recommend picking this book!
Thanks to Jessica Strawser, Tall Poppy Writers and Amazon Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
This book hooked me from the beginning. Old friends, beach getaway, reconnecting and venting. I loved that these were mature women with real life issues. I found something relatable in each woman, two in particular hit close to home. Friendships ebb and flow. What’s right for one isn’t right for another. It’s a joy to find a book where you love all the characters, I found it in this one. It starts out as a fun, semi-lighthearted read, but life happens and each woman is tested. If you’re looking for a friendship book with depth, this book is for you. This is not the first book I’ve read by Ms. Strawser, but it’s definitively my favorite. I look forward to her next book. If you haven’t picked your Prime First Reads for May yet, I highly recommend picking this book!
Thanks to Jessica Strawser, Tall Poppy Writers and Amazon Publishing for this ARC. This is my honest opinion.
May 26, 2026
There are two things that I took from this story:
1. life is better with good friends
2. dealing with the consequences of our actions (and inactions) is rough
A thought provoking book, overall.
1. life is better with good friends
2. dealing with the consequences of our actions (and inactions) is rough
A thought provoking book, overall.
June 15, 2026
3.5- I liked the friendship and the individual stories of each character but it was too mid life crisis for me as a 25 year old
May 26, 2026
5+ Stars for this heartfelt book
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This book was such a good read. As a 40-year-old with close friendships, I really connected with a lot of the themes in this book. It had friendship, secrets, personal struggles, and enough twists to keep me wanting to keep turning pages. The characters felt real and relatable, and I found myself thinking about how friendships evolve and show up during different stages of life. It pulled me in quickly and kept me interested the whole way through. Definitely a book I’d recommend! 🥹
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐This book was such a good read. As a 40-year-old with close friendships, I really connected with a lot of the themes in this book. It had friendship, secrets, personal struggles, and enough twists to keep me wanting to keep turning pages. The characters felt real and relatable, and I found myself thinking about how friendships evolve and show up during different stages of life. It pulled me in quickly and kept me interested the whole way through. Definitely a book I’d recommend! 🥹
May 2, 2026
Not to be missed!
This book is especially for those of us who find ourselves overcommitted, making it work, keeping all the balls in the air somehow, and exhausted from carrying it all alone (or feeling like we are). I related to each character in some way—a woman carrying the full weight of the family plus working full time, another frustrated by her inability to conceive after years of extreme measures, a third struggling with disappointment in her writing career, and a fourth sinking under depression. Spoiler alert—together the four friends prevail, supporting one another as they each find their way back to themselves. This is a heartening story that reinforces the importance of true friends and found family. Highly recommend.
This book is especially for those of us who find ourselves overcommitted, making it work, keeping all the balls in the air somehow, and exhausted from carrying it all alone (or feeling like we are). I related to each character in some way—a woman carrying the full weight of the family plus working full time, another frustrated by her inability to conceive after years of extreme measures, a third struggling with disappointment in her writing career, and a fourth sinking under depression. Spoiler alert—together the four friends prevail, supporting one another as they each find their way back to themselves. This is a heartening story that reinforces the importance of true friends and found family. Highly recommend.
May 15, 2026
I’m a big fan of quitting. Quitting is healthy boundaries, quitting is clarity, quitting is alignment and presence, quitting is courage, quitting means trusting yourself and quitting especially means loving yourself. This book is timely and I hope it inspires a whole lot of quitting.
May 14, 2026
Quite possibly the whiniest most self serving book I have ever read. I finally gave up @71%.
These women are supposed to be life long best friends instead they are awful to each other most of the time.
These women are supposed to be life long best friends instead they are awful to each other most of the time.
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