Shelf Indulgence Book Club

Emily Barr joined us from across the pond to discuss   Things to Do Before the End of the World . First, we caught up. Emily’s kids are prepping for exams, and we discussed what life is like in these post-Covid (although still very much raging) times. Some of us have Covid-arrogance, having yet to get it despite constant exposure, some of us have already had and know better, and some of us are still protecting loved ones (or ourselves) with compromised immune systems. It turns out everything is the same in England as it is here in the US, just with a different accent. Pleasantries sorted, we jumped into the story. Emily actually went to a psychic course with her husband while researching this book. Turns out, cheesy, creepy men like to attend these courses to learn how to read palms or tarot cards as a way of picking up women. It didn’t take Emily a crystal ball to see into the future of her fellow course mates! Luckily she learned what she needed and got out. She can still do...

  What would you do when you hear the news that humans have done such damage to the earth that there might only be a limited amount of safe air left – a year’s worth at most? You’d work through your bucket list, heal rifts, do everything you’ve never been brave enough to do before? Olivia is struggling to do any of this. What it is she truly wants to do? Who do she wants to be? Then out of the blue comes contact from a long-lost cousin Olivia didn’t even know existed. Natasha is everything Olivia wants to be and more. And as the girls meet up for a long, hot last summer, Olivia finds Natasha’s ease and self-confidence having an effect on her. But Natasha definitely isn’t everything she first appears to be . . .  Discussion Questions:  What would you do when you hear the news that humans have done such damage to the earth that there might only be a limited amount of safe air left – a year’s worth at most?  Is there anything in particular on your bucket list, or any ri...

We were so lucky today to have Emily Barr here with our book club to join us for our discussion of Things to do Before the End of The World. We wanted to share the discussion with those that couldn't make it but may have loved the book as much as we did:  Play Video   Enjoy!  P.s. here are those dresses if you were curious 😊  

There’s an odd alchemy to book club discussions. When members have different reactions to a book, the discussion is livelier. Wrobel’s dark tale of a cult leader on a remote island brought out our personal demons, not unlike the guests who took the ocean journey to Wildwood.  We had questions. How do you create a cult leader? Well, you do your homework on illusionists, and cults, and, yes, even Tony Robbins.  You learn more about the performances of Marina Abramovic and Derren Brown. And then you create your own very singular character.  Our group nimbly navigated the intricately plotted puzzle of three perspectives and shifts in the timeline. However, when a book is about a cult based on facing your fears, physical and psychological, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Wrobel is an author who is, well, fearless herself. There are striking images of (intentional) self harm. There is the psychological abuse of children.  This is not a book that is going to be sold as...

  From the Sunday Times and USA Today bestselling author of Darling Rose Gold comes a dark, thrilling novel about two sisters—one trapped in the clutches of a cult, the other in a web of her own lies. Welcome to Wisewood. We’ll keep your secrets if you keep ours. Natalie Collins hasn’t heard from her sister in more than half a year. The last time they spoke, Kit was slogging from mundane workdays to obligatory happy hours to crying in the shower about their dead mother. She told Natalie she was sure there was something more out there. And then she found Wisewood. On a private island off the coast of Maine, Wisewood’s guests commit to six-month stays. During this time, they’re prohibited from contact with the rest of the world—no Internet, no phones, no exceptions. But the rules are for a good reason: to keep guests focused on achieving true fearlessness so they can become their Maximized Selves. Natalie thinks it’s a bad idea, but Kit has had enough of her sister’s cynicism and vol...

We were so lucky today to have Stephanie Wrobel here with our book club to join us for our discussion of This Might Hurt. I've not been able to get Darling Rose Gold out of my head and this book surely lived up to that as one that will stick with us. We wanted to share the discussion with those that couldn't make it but may have loved the book as much as we did:  Play Video   Enjoy!