The Late Bloomers' Club: A Novel

by Louise Miller

A delightful novel about two headstrong sisters, a small town’s efforts to do right by the community, and the power of a lost dog to summon true love

Nora, the owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner, is perfectly happy serving up apple cider donuts, coffee, and eggs-any-way-you-like-em to her regulars, and she takes great pleasure in knowing exactly what’s “the usual.” But her life is soon shaken when she discovers she and her free-spirited, younger sister Kit stand to inherit the home and land of the town’s beloved cake lady, Peggy Johnson.

Kit, an aspiring–and broke–filmmaker thinks her problems are solved when she and Nora find out Peggy was in the process of selling the land to a big-box developer before her death. The people of Guthrie are divided–some want the opportunities the development will bring, while others are staunchly against any change–and they aren’t afraid to leave their opinions with their tips.

Time is running out, and the sisters need to make a decision soon. But Nora isn’t quite ready to let go of the land, complete with a charming farmhouse, an ancient apple orchard and the clues to a secret life that no one knew Peggy had. Troubled by the conflicting needs of the town, and confused by her growing feelings towards Elliot, the big-box developer’s rep, Nora throws herself into solving the one problem that everyone in town can agree on–finding Peggy’s missing dog, Freckles.

When a disaster strikes the diner, the community of Guthrie bands together to help her, and Nora discovers that doing the right thing doesn’t always mean giving up your dreams.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Book Club, Audiobook, Adult

352 pages, Paperback

First published July 17, 2018

About the author

Louise Miller, a pastry chef and writer living in Boston, MA, is the author of THE CITY BAKER'S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING and THE LATE BLOOMERS' CLUB. Louise is an art school dropout, an amateur flower gardener, an old-time banjo player, an obsessive moviegoer, and a champion of old dogs.

You can find Louise posting pictures on Instagram-
https://www.instagram.com/louisetheba...

get book updates on Facebook and Tumblr-
https://www.facebook.com/louisemiller...
http://louisemillerauthor.tumblr.com

read her bio, sign up for her newsletter, and all other book news at http://www.louisemiller.net/

and chat with her on Twitter-
https://twitter.com/louisethebaker

Reviews

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Late Bloomers’ Club by Louise Miller is a 2017 Pamela Dorman Books publication.

A Charming story about friends, family, small- town secrets and the bonds of community-

I love stories centered around small towns. The characters tend to be a little quirky, and the secrets are usually a lot juicier!! Not only that, the sense of community, as trying at it can be at times, often reminds me of how rewarding small- town life can be.

This story has all those lovely qualities and is the sort of story that can sand away life’s hard edges for a while. These types of books are good for the soul, and I think everyone should take a break from dark and heavy books every now and then to indulge in something a little fluffy and sweet.

For Nora, life has always been centered around the diner she inherited from her parents. She’s content- or thinks she is. She hasn’t known anything more or different and she’s comfortable doing what she knows. But, when Peggy, the town’s ‘cake lady’, dies in a terrible car accident, and Peggy’s dog, Freckles’ who was in the car at the time, disappears, it sets off a domino effect for Nora and the entire community.

Peggy, a single woman, with no close friends or relatives, left her land, home, and business to Nora and to Nora’s unsettled sister, Kit. It also comes to light that Peggy was selling her land in increments and was thinking of selling everything lock, stock and barrel to a big box store corporation.

With the sell now hanging in the balance, Nora is under pressure to make a choice that will best benefit the town. With Kit being part of the equation, Nora must also cope with her feel wheeling sister, who has no real conception of the sacrifices her sister has made for her, and continues to remain very self-absorbed. Naturally, Kit needs money and plans to vote in favor of the big box development.

In the meantime, as Nora delves more into Peggy’s life and estate, she discovers a few long -buried secrets about the cake lady and many hidden treasures on her estate, making Nora feel even more sentimental about the land. Complicating matters further, the man representing the big box store, happens to be a very nice person, one Nora finds herself attracted to.

There is something a bit whimsical about this story. I loved the way the town kept their eye out for Freckles, the way the debate over allowing the big box store felt so authentic, and of course, I also loved the focus on sisterly bonds and the importance of family and community. Peggy’s story, which appears to run in the background is also significant. While Nora feels her life is far from exciting, she is not impulsive, and hasn't pursued big pipe dreams, or lived by the seat of her pants like Kit, her loyalty to the town, the friends and family she has supported over the years, pays off in a wonderfully uplifting way.

While some moments are somber and a little emotional, or angsty, the story never becomes too heavy or overly sentimental. It’s very light and easy, a ‘feel good’ story, with a lovely, charming conclusion that left me feeling hopeful, a little less burdened, with a more positive attitude- and unrelenting craving for cake!!

4 stars

[Jenny (Reading Envy) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you have ever wanted books that felt like Gilmore Girls, Louise Miller is the author for you. From a small northeastern town, to town meetings, to quirky characters and magical romance, to food and small-town festivals, Guthrie is the perfect place to spend a reading afternoon.

I don't read many books like this, I guess I'd call them "contemporary women" or dare I even say "chicklit" without the negative connotations. But I was drawn to Louise Miller's debut novel, The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, which I adored, and I've been following the author in Instagram ever since. Because the author is an actual pastry chef, and since I will forever and always see baking in a tiny town's special bakery as my imaginary alternative life, I was hoping for more of the world of her first novel.

So I have good news/bad news. This novel is set in the same small town in Vermont, but the Sugar Maple Inn is only mentioned as a setting for one of the characters in this novel. The owner of the inn is mentioned but I don't remember Livvy being mentioned. I guess I was attached to her as a character if I was hoping for an update!

I think Miller has stepped back a bit to let more of the town of Guthrie into this novel. There is romance here, but it's not the only important relationship. It's not just a woman baking in a solo kitchen either (which can also be a relationship, if you really understand bakers and pastry chefs!) The most important relationship is between the two sisters who have been living their adult lives separately since their parents passed away and they had to sell the family home. Nora owns the family diner and has not left Guthrie, and has also gone through a divorce. Her sister, Kit, shows up when an older woman in town leaves her home to the two of them. She also brings her boyfriend, Max, who meditates and teaches Nora to bake.

The central plot circles around the property left to the sisters. If they have to sell it, a big-box corporation wants to buy it and put one of their stores there. This gives something for the town to come together on, but creates conflict for the sisters. There's an art storyline, an older romance story, and late bloomer starts taking on several meanings by the novel's end.

Personally, I can't wait to try making these cakes:

1-2-3-4 Cake
Burnt Sugar Cake with Maple Icing

Thanks to the publisher for providing early access to this title via Edelweiss. It comes out July 17, 2018.

[Louise Miller]

I just finished reading the first pass pages of my book. I’m so excited for The Late Bloomers’ Club to make its way out into the world this summer!

[PorshaJo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sometimes you just need a read to clear your mind....and this one served that purpose for me. I was reading a heavy book about being dopesick and just needed something that would 'cleanse the palate' or just make me relax. I read the authors first book, The City Baker's Guide to Country Living (aargh, why isn't the link function working today) and really enjoyed it. I also got my 'foodie' fix from her first book, since the author is a baker, as she weaves food into her story. So when my library got the audio for this one I grabbed it immediately and jumped right in.

This one follows two sisters in a rural setting in Vermont. Nora, the older sister, is owner of the Miss Guthrie diner. Peggy, a woman is town, is the cake lady. She bakes all the cakes for the town folks and the diner. But Peggy suddenly dies and so the story begins. The sisters inherit Peggy's house and land, but there is a corporation who wants to buy it, possibly changing the outlook of this quaint Vermont town. They inherit Peggy's cake business, but being an owner of a diner, Nora has no idea how to bake. And there's more...a lost dog, her whacky sister and odd boyfriend, a love interest, an elderly woman in a nursing home, bills, bills, and more bills, sculptures in the woods. There was a lot going on. There was also a tie-in to the authors first book as they both took place in the same town and had some of the same businesses. (This does not mean you have to read her first book before this one. Just a fun little quirk is all.)

In the end, this one was OK for me. Not being rude...but it was just a bit fluffy for me, a bit predictable. I did not get enough 'foodie' in the book either, though the recipe at the end for the burnt sugar cake with maple icing was a treat. I'm glad I read this one, but overall, I much more enjoyed the authors first book. Then again, maybe this one did work for me....I got a break from a tough read and it inspired me to bake.....an awesome cinnamon sugar swirl bread with a vanilla glaze (which my husband promptly ate half of it in one sitting, ha). I will be looking forward to what Louise Miller gives us next. I just ask, more recipes please! :-)

[Katy O. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to Pamela Dorman Books for this free review copy!
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One of my top books of the summer of 2018, and actually on my list of favorites of ALL of 2018! This was a heartprint book for me ~ I will love it forever and will recommend it over and over and over again, and it has earned a place front and center on the top of my living room bookshelf.
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Small town + FOOD + farms + sisters + a love interest + a BORDER COLLIE + a female character over the age of 40 + art + just all my favorite things = LOVE.
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I laughed and I cried and I just straight up swooned. This is the return to the town of Miller's last book, A CITY BAKER'S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING, but is not in any way a sequel. If you read that one, you'll recognize a few favorite people, but you can 100% read this on its own. I would highly recommend CITY BAKER though if you haven't read it yet - I adored it.
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If you need a book to help you regain your faith in humanity, this is it.

[Lisa (NY) · Rating 3 out of 5]

[2.8] This was OK as a brain vacation but a bit too twee for me.

[Dale Harcombe · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora runs the Miss Guthrie Diner that she inherited from her parents and she enjoys her life, mostly. She is astounded when Peggy Johnson, known in Guthrie as the cake lady, dies and leaves her house and large plot of land to Nora and her younger sister Kit. Kit is an aspiring and broke filmmaker. She thinks her money problems can be easily solved by selling the Johnson land to a developer, as it appears Peggy intended to do before she died. Nora is not convinced. Nora, and others in the town are not sure how this change would affect the tenor of the town. Then Nora learns the Johnson legacy also involves a lot of debt and outstanding bills. And what about the sculptures Nora finds in the woods, on the Johnson land? Where did they come from and who is responsible for creating them? Eventually Nora comes to realise there was a lot about Peggy that she didn’t know and neither did too many other people in the town. As Nora’s situation and debt escalates, she finds herself drawn to Elliot, the developer’s rep. Peggy’s dog Freckles who has gone missing brings her and Elliot closer together. The town rallies to find Freckles. When disaster strikes, what will it mean for Nora and the town?
Stories about small towns often seem to have a certain appeal. This is no exception. It is easy to get caught up with Nora, is steady of two sisters and I admit I had more than a few problems with the flighty Kit. Although she seems to have the knack of drawing people to her, she is also used to thinking far too often of herself and getting her own way. Burnt Sugar Cake with Maple icing plays a significant role in the book. For those inclined to give it a go there is a recipe for Burnt Sugar Cake with Maple icing at the end of the book.
I enjoyed this story. Characters and setting were interesting enough to keep me reading. It’s a bit of a feel good story and sometimes that’s all I want as a reader.

[Cassidy (Cassidys.Bookshelf) · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Late Bloomers' Club takes place in small town Vermont centering around two sisters and their family diner. Throw in town meetings, a fall festival, a debate on whether a big box store is the right thing for their town, burnt sugar cake, and a search for a lost dog and you have the epitome of a cozy fall read. If you love Gimore Girls add this one to your TBR.

[Bkwmlee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

After a slew of emotional, heavy, intense reads, I needed a “palette cleanser” of sorts, something light-hearted and not too long, a book that would be a perfect wind-down to summer -- Louise Miller’s The Late Bloomers’ Club fit the bill nicely! This is a charming story set in a small town in Vermont, with characters so endearing that I found myself taking to them almost immediately. I grew up in the hustle and bustle of a big city where everyone was always so busy trying to meet the demands of city life that it was often hard to develop friendships with others in the same neighborhood, let alone the community at large. Because of this, I’m often attracted to books about small towns where everyone in the community know each other and the natural inclination is to band together and help each other out in times of trouble – this is the exact type of community at the center of this story, which revolves around Nora Huckleberry, owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner, her free-spirited sister Kit, and cake lady Peggy Johnson who bequeaths the sisters with her home and property upon her death. While the sisters are tasked with having to decide whether to sell the land to the big-box developer that Peggy was in talks with prior to her death, they also have their own personal issues to deal with – add to that the differing opinions from everyone in the community, some of whom want the growth opportunities that the developer would bring, while others oppose any change that could potentially threaten their livelihoods. These various conflicts were incorporated into a narrative that featured many elements of a heartwarming, “feel-good” story – small town atmosphere with ordinary people living ordinary lives, close-knit friendships, sisterly and family love, plenty of descriptions of mouth-watering foods and desserts, lush depictions of farms, orchards, country houses, a light touch of romance, and yes, Freckles the dog (one of the characters I adored the most, lol). The result was a well-balanced story with just enough depth to keep things interesting, but still maintain a light, warm tone that made this an easy, fun read. While it’s true that much of the plot was predictable and the ending was tied up a little too nicely, that was to be expected with this story, so not much of an issue there. If I had one “complaint,” it would be that the narrative was told entirely from Nora’s first person point of view, which made the writing a little bit clunky in some parts – I think the story would’ve been better told in third person, especially since the other characters aside from Nora also factored into the story in significant ways.

With all that said, I did enjoy this one overall and actually would like to read this author’s first book, The City Baker’s Guide to Country Living , which it sounds like is a companion piece to this book (same setting and some of the same characters). Overall, a worthwhile, recommended read!

Received ARC from Pamela Dorman Books via Penguin First to Read program.

[Jennifer S. Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

When Nora Huckleberry, owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner, inherits the house and land of "the cake lady" Peggy Johnson, it sends her life into a tailspin. The land is left to both her and her sister, Kit, an impetuous filmmaker perpetually out of money as she plans her next big project. To complicate things, Peggy had put into works a potential sale of her land to a big box retailer that could disrupt the small town feel of Guthrie, Vermont. And, tugging at the heartstrings, Peggy's dog, Freckles, has run off and Nora is on a mission to find him (and to reassure those who are nervous reading about dogs for fear of them coming to harm, Freckles is well cared for by the community as he escapes capture).

This book charmed me straight through. Life is complex for Nora--the representative of the big box corporation is awfully cute, her finances are struggling, and her ex-husband is dating a woman half his age--but she's funny, works hard, and I was pulling for her the whole way through. Her relationship with her sister is occasionally tempestuous but always amusing, and the family drama felt real and heartwarming. This book took turns that surprised and delighted me and that were completely unexpected.

While this is a stand-alone novel, fans of The City Baker's Guide to Country Living will take pleasure in revisiting the town of Guthrie and catching a glimpse of a few residents who we already know and love. And if City Baker made you hungry for pies, watch out! The Late Bloomers' Club will have you craving cake and lots of it! Late Bloomers' is an absolutely delectable pleasure! (Thanks to Netgalley for the advanced review copy)

[Leigh Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This may only be Louise Miller’s second novel but let the record reflect: if she’s writing it, I’m reading it. I feel right at home in the contemporary worlds she creates. The Guthrie townspeople we met in The City Baker’s Guide To Country Living feel like old friends so I was delighted we got to return in The Late Bloomers’ Club. The books are standalone but I love when authors set their novels in the same universe and allow readers to hunt for Easter eggs from book to book.

Nora runs the diner her parents started. It’s not just her job. It’s her identity. Her whole life is oriented around it, even the dream she set to the side. She is a steady presence, always taking care of everyone else.

Her sister Kit, on the other hand, is a wild spirit. She left town to pursue her dreams and hasn’t looked much back.

When Peggy the Cake Lady dies and unexpectedly leaves her house to Nora and Kit, the sisters are split on what to do about it. Nora is drawn to the house and the land and wants to protect Guthrie from HG, the corporation that wants to build a superstore there. Kit, however, wants to sell so the money can fund her film.

If there’s a Rorschach test based on which sister you prefer, consider me Team Nora. It’s not so much that Nora and I have a ton in common but my heart really went out to her as she dealt with disappointments and dreams deferred and the way she wanted more for her life but somehow settled for less.

In the middle of all this friction and difficult decisions, Nora is keeping an eye out for Peggy’s dog Freckles who went missing after Peggy’s accident. She’s also spending time with Elliot, the HG representative who isn’t quite as corporate as she expected.

The beauty of this story lies in the characters. They are fully realized: charming, quirky, hopeful, cynical, wry, dour, kind, compassionate. Sometimes all at once. Nora and Kit are opposites who share a foundation. Charlie and Fern at the diner who are more like Nora’s family. All the townspeople in their glory. Kit’s boyfriend Max pretty much stole the show for me, from his leading ladies tattoos to his Zenisms to his enthusiasm for baking even though he’s vegan.

I loved watching Nora figure out what to do about the house and in turn, her life. The inheritance forces her to ask herself some hard questions and Kit’s return forces them both to face the past. It really made me think about how we form our identity and the ways life can shift our passions and interests. But mostly, I was lost in the twists and turns of Nora’s unfolding days as she searches for Freckles, runs the diner, and figures out what she feels for Elliot.

This was a well-written, lovely story. It pulled on my heartstrings and the ending left me with a profound sense of satisfaction. I don’t know if Miller will return to Guthrie in her next novel but for now, I can rest knowing the townsfolk are doing the best they can and taking care of one another in the process.

Disclosure: I received an advance copy from Pamela Dorman Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Kelley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Novel received courtesy of publisher

I loved this book! If you look forward to Fanny Flagg or Sandra Dallas books, this is for you! The characters are quirky and fun. You know someone in your life that is one of these characters. The story is set in very small town Vermont. The town becomes another character in the novel.

Nora and her sister Kit inherit Peggy the cake lady's property after Peggy is killed in a car accident. Nora already owns the town diner and is an integral part of this little town. Nora is approached by the spokesman for a big box store that wants to buy Peggy's land. Nora needs the money but also wants her town to stay the same.

This novel explores what it means to be a part of a community; how to do your part to keep your community whole. A lesson so many are sorely lacking! There's also a recipe for a cake that Nora learns to bake.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

*4.5 stars*

[Kelsey · Rating 2 out of 5]

2 Stars DNF at 40%

I have a low tolerance for selfish, bratty side characters. Especially when the MC knows said side character is a selfish brat but takes it, takes it, takes it anyway. It’s a constant irritation. It also felt exceptionally out of place in a novel about quaint and cute small town charm. I was done when the MC thought to herself, ‘how many times had kit put herself and her needs before my own? The diner was everything to me, who I was,’ but then continued to consider putting it up for collateral for 50k towards yet another impulsive interest of her younger sister. That’s just stupid.

[Letty · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I found out Louise Miller had a new book coming in July, I knew I had to have a copy as I loved her first book, and now having read it, I have to say it's another "favorite reads" for me. I so wanted to read The Late Bloomers' Club in one or two days without interruptions but, of course, that didn't happen. But you know what? That was okay because I got to spend more time with the beautiful people of Guthrie, Vermont, a community that seemed so real, so giving, and so charming that I didn't want to leave. LM has written another wonderful book that is heartwarming, witty, and full of a great cast of characters. I especially loved Nora who had such a kind heart and was always wanting to do the right thing and to help others out. Sometimes it's difficult reading such a good book because you fall so in love with it that you just don't want to see it end.

[Elin · Rating 5 out of 5]

5-stjärnig i sin genre! Mysigaste jag läst på länge.

[Lisa Leone-campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora is the owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner. Her sole purpose in life is to take care of everybody else. Even her ex-husband who has certainly moved on. She has a sister, Kit, who is a free spirit who depends on the kindness of everybody, especially her sister, and lives life moment to moment without a care in the world.

When there is a death in the small town of Guthrie, Nora and Kit are shocked to find the local cake baker has left her property to them, which includes a dog named Freckles who goes missing and although there are sightings, has yet to be apprehended. But the inheritance comes with a hefty price. There are back taxes owed on the property and a development company had been in talks to buy up all the land and create a huge store.

In the meantime, Kit has decided she wants to become a filmmaker and wants Nora to take out a loan so she can buy equipment.

Nora must try and figure out how to handle all these situations without putting her diner in jeopardy. Then things go from bad to worse and Nora begins to lose hope in herself and those around her.

Louise Miller writes about small town life seamlessly. How many of us wish we could live...in a community with friends who are always there and where everybody knows everybody. As I read the Town Meeting scenes, I had flashbacks to old Gilmore Girl episodes.

Although not a sequel to her first book, The City Baker's Guide to Country Living, some of her previous characters make guest appearances.

I loved every minute of this story and cannot wait for Miller's next!

[Aura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely love this easy, comfortable novel about two sisters living in a small town in Vermont. This novel is the kind you sit down and enjoy for a big long while and you want to read because it is sweet and not complicated. I love Hallmark movies and I can see it made into a movie for the channel.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was the perfect book for my mood the past few weeks. It is simple, yet complex, and full of niceness. It is set in a small town in the Northeast Kingdom, otherwise known as northeastern Vermont. A development company has set its sites on acquiring property in fictional Guthrie, and is determined to install a big box store. At the same time, Nora, owner of the local diner, inherits a piece of property that the developer is interested in when it's owner, Peggy the cake lady dies. Nora's sister is part owner, and her vote is to sell the property, take the money, and run. Nora has spent her life caring for people; her mother when she became, ill, her father when he could not fathom how to live without his wife, her younger sister, Kit. She has to learn how to juggle all the demands on her time and resources, but at the same time, she wants to keep her small town intact and not let the developer interfere with "keeping Guthrie small."

It is a satisfying book, with characters I came to truly like and appreciate. I found myself sad when the book came to an end. A true feel-good book, I am so pleased to have been able to read it in advance from Net Galley in exchange for a review.

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nora owns the Miss Guthrie Diner in a small town in Vermont. Her father lovingly restored the diner and Nora took it over upon his death. She enjoys serving the needs of her customers and being an integral party of the community. She is surprised by the arrival of her free spirited younger sister, Kit. She is in town to hopefully cash out on the unexpected inheritance of Peggy Johnson's, the "cake lady", farm to fund the film she and her boyfriend Max are making. Peggy had been in negotiations with a big box store to sell her property. Nora is not so sure that a big box store is a good fit for their small town. She does though find herself drawn to Elliot, the big box developer's rep. Together they discover some hidden treasures on Peggy's property and launch a search for Peggy's dog Freckles.
Nora is steady, reliable, cautious and a caretaker of anyone in need. Kit is impulsive, outgoing and a bit self absorbed. But they are sisters and bonded by love and loss. Can they come to an agreement on what is best for the town they grew up in?
A delightful, charming look at what makes a small town the heartbeat of America.

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a welcome return and welcome escape to Guthrie, Vermont, home to The Sugar Maple Inn from THE CITY BAKER'S GUIDE TO COUNTRY LIVING, Miller's first novel. THE LATE BLOOMERS' CLUB turns the focus to town, the Miss Guthrie Diner, and Nora Huckleberry, born, raised and destined it seems to stay in Guthrie. When local cake lady, Peggy Johnson, literally take a turn for the worse, everything gets tossed upside down. Peggy's will designates Nora and her kooky sister Kit as heirs to her expansive property which a big-box store has had its eye on developing. The developer Eliot seems sweet and thoughtful, especially as he and Nora share a keen interest not just in making the best decision for town and property, but in locating Freckles, the dog that went missing when Peggy Johnson hit the old oak tree. Sweet mysteries are baked into this charming and satisfying novel. And, the cake baking! I wish this novel was scratch-and-sniff because I could practically smell and taste that Burnt Sugar Cake.

[Debbie Hathaway · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book touched my heart. It is a story of family, community, and discovery and brings back memories of living outside a very small town in South Dakota. It is full of unique and delightful characters that care for each other and their community. Nora finds out just how much she, her family, and her diner mean to the community when disaster strikes. It is a beautiful and warm tale of belonging, relationships, and not letting your dreams pass you by.

[Carol Reich · Rating 5 out of 5]

No sophomore slump here! This blend of comfort food, baking, heartwarming relationships, and small town life, along with dashes of artistic discovery and family interplay, yields a tasty and satisfying concoction. Grab a piece of cake and settle in for a very enjoyable read. (And, hey, the main character is much closer to 50 than 20, so that was a plus for me, too,)

[Kelli Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a treasure! Reading this book was like going home to hang out with my family and high school girlfriends again. I figured that everyone would have their happy ending, and loved the journey to find out what their choices would be and how they'd get there. Louise Miller has become one of my go-to comfort authors.

[Dana (dana_reads_books13) · Rating 5 out of 5]

All the stars for this story of Nora. I loved her, the small town and the writing. It never felt bogged down, melodramatic, or too perfect. It was jussssssssssstttttt right! :)

[DeB · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming tale, feel-good characters - reminded me of “Our Town”, which actually became part of the plot. A sweet book to enjoy cozy hours with.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

In 2016, Louise Miller arrived on the scene with her debut novel, The City Baker's Guide to Country Living. It was an instant favorite of mine, so I was thrilled to check out her sophomore novel. Seeing that her debut set the bar, this one lived up to my expectations.

Louise takes us back to the fictional town of Guthrie, Vermont. The descriptions make the town come to life and everything is easy to visualize. I could practically taste all the food as it was being described. The diner setting gave off the feel of the movie Waitress.

I really enjoyed the relationships and dynamics between the characters, whether it was Nora and Kit, Nora and Max, Nora and Elliot, Kit and Max, Nora and Fern, Fern and Charlie, etc. There were some great intimate moments, whether they were about family, friendship, or romance. Even though Peggy passes away at the beginning of the story, her presence is felt throughout. Nora is a very sympathetic character whom I found instantly relatable. I could easily see us hanging out as friends.

With all the surprises being thrown into the story, I didn't feel that it was predictable at all. I enjoyed not knowing what was in store. Although the ending tied up nicely, I enjoyed where everything led and was glad for the ending Louise gave us. I enjoyed being back in Guthrie and revisiting with characters from City Baker. However, you should definitely read that novel first (and you will be glad you did), as there are some spoilers in regards to what Livvy is up to these days.

Overall, another delicious comfort read. I already can't wait for whatever Louise comes up with next. Perhaps she'll take Kit's story even further...

Movie casting ideas:
Nora: Emily Deschanel
Kit: Alison Brie
Elliot: Paul Adelstein
Max: John Patrick Amedori
Charlie: Nick Offerman
Fern: Cara Buono
Sean: Oliver Hudson

[Catherine Elcik · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will leave the plot summary to the many reviews that have already tread that ground and talk instead about my heart.

There's a moment in THE LATE BLOOMERS' CLUB where Nora Huckleberry, owner of the Miss Guthrie Diner (and more importantly the owner of a cavernous heart and a creative drive life has demanded she put on hold), shares her vision of a perfect life. Part of that vision includes a house with a room for her painting that's big enough for large canvases and space to contemplate her works in progress.

"Seeing takes time," Nora tells us.

The world of this novel is peopled with late bloomers who harbor dreams they stubbornly refuse to allow to fade away--a film maker, a painter, romantics looking for their perfect partners, a writer, a conservationist, lonely hearts craving community, and even a lost dog trying to find his way home. This novel reads like a a love letter to those of us holding out for a late bloom, a testament to the power of the communities we build with our kindnesses, and a transfusion of hope in these hopeless times.

I'm calling it: Louise Miller is the Frank Capra of feel-good novels.

[Carol (Reading Ladies) · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars
Although chick lit isn’t my preferred genre, I always have FOMO when I read the newest reviews. What I liked best is that The Late Bloomers’ Club features a 40+ year old main character and is engaging and smartly written with thoughtful themes. Miller accomplishes what she sets out to do very well, and the happy ending is expected in the genre. The most interesting part of the reading experience for me was reading it back to back with The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim…. 1920 chick lit vs 2019 chick lit! The two reads provided an interesting comparison and was thought provoking. The Late Bloomers’ Club is recommended for readers who appreciate lighter women’s fiction and stories of independent, determined women creating a meaningful and purposeful life on their own terms.

For the full review and a comparison to The Enchanted April, follow this link:
https://readingladies.com/2019/01/25/...

[Linda Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A language curator would have the words for Miller's second novel. Place names, time words, seasonal quality of light words. Small Northeast Kingdom town words for Corn and Tomato Festival Sunday. How it feels to find a sculpted yellow warbler in a tree when the sunlight flashes on a wing. The heart flutter of a surprise swim in a hidden pond when the person you jumped in after turns to smile at you. I finished this book on a Sunday in late September with the windows open and sunlight streaming through the blinds onto the light-striped pages, in my new reading chair in my pajamas because why get dressed when you have this lovely day to read a heartwarming tale told by a caring and compassionate author? I wish you the same joy, next reader.