The Rejected Writers' Book Club (Southlea Bay, #1)

by Suzanne Kelman

Librarian Janet Johnson is puzzled when she is invited—and practically dragged—to her first meeting of the Rejected Writers’ Book Club. This quirky group of women would much rather celebrate one another’s rejected manuscripts over cups of tea and slices of lemon cake than actually publish a book. But good friends are exactly what Janet needs after moving to the small town of Southlea Bay, Washington. Just as the ladies are about to raise a teacup to their five hundredth rejection letter, they receive bad news that could destroy one member’s reputation—and disband the group forever. To save the club, Janet joins her fellow writers on a wild road trip to San Francisco in search of the local publisher who holds the key to a long-buried secret. As they race to the finish line, they’ll face their fears—landslides, haunted houses, handsome strangers, ungrateful children—and have the time of their lives.

Revised edition: This edition of The Rejected Writers' Book Club includes editorial revisions.

• ISBN10: 1503934144
• ISBN13: 9781503934146
• Publish Date: 29 March 2016 (first published 2 October 2014)
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: Amazon Publishing
• Imprint: Lake Union Publishing
• Format: Paperback (US Trade)
• Pages: 272
• Language: English

Reviews

[Sam@WLABB]

"Selected for rejection
Wreath for true connection
Choosing a path of celebration
As we bond with true affection."

This is the opening oath the women of the Rejected Writers' Book Club, and it pretty much tells you the essence of this book. This, to me, is a book about friendship. These women were able to bond over their failures. They supported each other in all endeavors, and they genuinely loved each other.

Our MC, Janet, was missing her life in California, where she had her daughter and her friends. She was struggling to find her "tribe" on the island, and raccoons were stealing her garbage cans. Then she was pulled in to this group of women, and although, she resisted at first, eventually, she found that they were her people.

"Somewhere between being snowed in with Ronald the homeless billionaire and bouncing Ethel through a bathroom window, I actually started to bond with this group, and I was having too much fun."

This book was so much fun. I really enjoyed all the rejected writers, and they were all very different from each other, with so many quirks and facets to their personalities. There were so many hilarious moments, but there were also many heartfelt moments. That peek into young love, a 20+ year marriage, a new romance, sibling love, mother-daughter love. There were so many different types of relationships explored in this book, and I enjoyed them all.

That road trip was a laugh riot too! If you are looking for a charming and funny read about a cross generational group of women, this is a good book for you.

[tweetybugshouse]

I loved this book so much it reminded me of a twist between Shopaholic and blossom street series which are both fun filled women stories that draw you and want you to know more about the characters and places they are from and will go. I was laughing so hard in a just a few chapters i was hooked and on the adventure to get those rejection letters. I think this would make a wonderful hallmark movie and is a wonderful light read that i definitely want more from.