Blog

A friend of Carol Fitzgerald's wants to start a book group for working mothers and is looking for titles that would be perfect for them. She says, “We are a group of working moms of young kids (mostly). We have a love of reading, but not a lot of time to do it (and we’re tired most of the time!). So it needs to be something that isn’t too heavy, but has some depth to it for discussion.” We asked our readers for their feedback, which garnered a HUGE response, and you can see their suggestions in our special blog post. Many thanks to all who took the time to share their recommendations and give Carol's friend the guidance she was looking for!

Kate: I HIGHLY recommend THE FAMILY NEXT DOOR by Sally Hepworth. It's awesome! It's a domestic thriller but not scary. Also, anything by Steena Holmes or Cathy Lamb (JULIA’S CHOCOLATES or HENRY’S SISTERS).

Jennifer: Here are my suggestions from the list we’ve read in my book club over the last eight years:

• SHELTER ME by Juliette Fay
• THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
• THE CINDERELLA PACT by Sarah Strohmeyer
• NECESSARY LIES by Diane Chamberlain
• THE ROSIE PROJECT by Graeme Simsion
• Any of Liane Moriarty’s books
• ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman
• WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple

Brenda: I thoroughly enjoyed SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Beth Hoffman, and it is a quick read.

Beth: The best book my book group read last year was I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS by Iain Reid. It's a short book so it’s a quick read, and it led to lots of discussion.

Raylene: WONDER by R. J. Palacio

Donna: Here are a few I would recommend:

• ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman is an easy and fun read with quirky characters and much to discuss about loss, love and new beginnings.
• I just finished ETERNAL LIFE by Dara Horn and found it to be a fascinating novel that wrestles with a thought-provoking question: What would it really mean to live forever? It’s a  short read (less than 200 pages; good for busy moms!) packed with interesting characters, questions of faith, and the bonds that tie people and generations together.
• I saw that ETERNAL LIFE was recommended by Geraldine Brooks, whose work I love and whose titles might also be good for the club, such as PEOPLE OF THE BOOK, CALEB’S CROSSING and MARCH. They are imaginative retellings of historical events, and Brooks’ writing is so compelling.

Elaine: I am no longer a young mom, but my group just read THE RED NOTEBOOK by Antoine Laurain. We loved it because it was Paris and romantic and a break from the heavy reading we’ve been doing the past few months. I think they would enjoy this quick, light read before any heavier topics.

Marilyn: ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman

Roe: My picks are BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate and THE STOLEN MARRIAGE by Diane Chamberlain.

Karen: I suggest THE NIGHTINGALE by Kristin Hannah, THE GIRL WHO WROTE IN SILK by Kelli Estes, and THE CHARM BRACELET by Viola Shipman.

Jennifer: Here are my suggestions:

• THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
• THE GARDEN OF LETTERS by Alyson Richman
• RADIO FREE VERMONT: A Fable of Resistance, by Bill McKibben
• THE SECRET, BOOK & SCONE SOCIETY by Ellery Adams

Karen Day: Can I be so bold as to suggest my recently published novel as a good choice for the working mothers book group? I’LL STAY is about four young women on vacation together and the fallout after one suffers an assault (I do NOT show this). This is a story of intense female friendships, guilt, loyalty, mothers and daughters, and the consequences of bad choices. In the book groups I’ve attended recently (they’ve read my book), the conversations have been intense and fascinating. Could you leave your friend in a compromising situation, as the main character does? Why did the girls stay silent about the assault? How much do we owe the people we love? What does it mean to live an examined life? This book is especially timely in the #MeToo era.

Elizabeth: Three great (short but interesting) reads for the young gals:

• CITY OF THIEVES by David Benioff is rich, historical and pacey. You learn interesting things while reading it, and it feels allegorical (though I was not clever enough to figure out what it might be referencing). Loved it.
• STRING THEORY by David Foster Wallace is a collection of essays that are nominally about tennis but are actually very meditative on many other topics. As the mother of three rabid athletes, it was fascinating for me to read Wallace’s musings on what it takes to be a top-level athlete. This book is also short but rich, with lots to discuss.
• MONKEYS by Susan Minot is a collection of linked essays about a large New England family that I adore. It is a short but emotional book, and I always recommend that people follow it up with THE TINY ONE by Eliza Minot (Susan’s youngest sister) and THE BLUE BOWL by George Minot (a brother). All three are fictional accounts of their collective childhood, with a central true tragedy, and it is fascinating to read all three siblings’ perspectives. Quick and evocative reads, and ripe for book club discussion.

Bev: No contest. It has to be I AM PILGRIM by Terry Hayes.

Claire: I just finished reading KEEP YOU SAFE by Melissa Hill. This would be a great discussion for young mothers and is a quick read. I can’t wait for our book club meeting to hear what others think about the subject of immunization.

Donna: NEWS OF THE WORLD by Paulette Jiles is a quick story to read. It is great for discussion, and the description is surprising given the title. I never would have guessed that the novel takes place in the 1800s and features a frontiersman who brings --- and reads --- news to folks who gather in large groups just to learn what's going on "back east" and in other parts of the world. However, it's what else he carries on one such circuit of what would become Texas that is the main story.

Myrna: When my book club members and I were all still working, we enjoyed ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS by Lorna Landvik. At our meeting we had a phone chat with the author, which was a lot of fun!

Joyce: The Miss Julia series by Ann B. Ross and any book by Jan Karon

Andrea: How about THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV by Elizabeth Berg? It’s short, and a great discussion was had by our book club. Also, we have some young working mothers in our neighborhood who suggested starting a book club that discusses a magazine article. Everyone had time to read an article when sometimes a book is just too long.

Mary Beth: I have been in a book club for almost 20 years, and earlier this month we had one of our best discussions ever with BEFORE WE WERE YOURS by Lisa Wingate. I would highly recommend this for the young moms’ book club that is looking for a book recommendation. Plus, Random House put out a book club kit for the book that is awesome.

Alice: Usually, right after I’ve read a book that I liked, I will recommend it. If just generally asked to recommend a good read, I give a list of some of my favorite authors whose books will make for good conversation. So here it goes, in no particular order: Elizabeth Berg, Alice Hoffman, Ann Hood, Anne Tyler, Anna Quindlen, Liane Moriarty and Jacqueline Winspear.

Kathy: My suggestions for some picks for the young moms book club would be anything and everything by Sophie Kinsella (quick, sweet, romantic reads) and Liane Moriarty (plot-twisting, surprise-ending reads that hook you right in!).

Jayne: I definitely agree on anything by Jodi Picoult, especially SMALL GREAT THINGS, NINETEEN MINUTES and MY SISTER’S KEEPER.

One book that we read as new young mothers that has stayed with me is ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS by Lorna Landvik. Since they are working, they will enjoy the stay-at-home moms who have plenty to do, too. Plus, the books they discuss will open new doors to other books they may want to choose.

Erin: Here are titles from my book club that we all have enjoyed very much. Some are lighthearted, others are a little heavier, but I think each and every one would be great for a mom book club:

• BE FRANK WITH ME by Julia Claiborne Johnson
• BETWEEN, GEORGIA by Joshilyn Jackson (or any of her books really!)
• DOLLBABY by Laura Lane McNeal
• THE SWANS OF FIFTH AVENUE by Melanie Benjamin
• THE MAPMAKER’S CHILDREN by Sarah McCoy
• WHERE’D YOU GO, BERNADETTE by Maria Semple
• EIGHT HUNDRED GRAPES by Laura Dave
• THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
• LOVE AND OTHER CONSOLATION PRIZES by Jamie Ford
• WHISKEY AND CHARLIE by Annabel Smith
• MISS YOU MOST OF ALL by Elizabeth Bass

Lori: Here's my suggestion: YOUNG JANE YOUNG by Gabrielle Zevin. It is funny, and very timely, with lots to discuss. And it has amazing reviews!

Debra: I so vividly remember where these moms are, even though my children are now adults. I sadly gave up reading for several years, so I applaud their efforts! The book I’d recommend for their book club is THE RED NOTEBOOK by Antoine Laurain. It is a very short book but lends itself to a lively discussion. The owner of a Paris bookstore finds a purse with no ID or cell phone, yet he is determined to find its owner. He uses the “clues” available in the purse. It’s very entertaining and nicely written. My book club enjoyed it, and it led me to read other books by the author.

S.A.: Here are my recommendations:

• THE SECRET WIFE by Gill Paul
• THE LITTLE PARIS BOOKSHOP by Nina George
• THE HUSBAND’S SECRET by Liane Moriarty
• THE UNLIKELY PILGRIMAGE OF HAROLD FRY by Rachel Joyce
• THE NEST by Cynthia D'Aprix Sweeney
• ETERNAL ON THE WATER by Joseph Monninger
• ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline
• THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M.L. Stedman
• SWEET SALT AIR by Barbara Delinsky
• ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS by Sheila Roberts
• THE TENTH GIFT by Jane Johnson
• THE FIRST ANNUAL GRAND PRAIRIE RABBIT FESTIVAL by Ken Wheaton
• THE HELP by Kathryn Stockett
• THE GLASS CASTLE: A Memoir, by Jeannette Walls
• HOTEL ON THE CORNER OF BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford
• THE GUERNSEY LITERARY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows
• THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak
• ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS by Lorna Landvik
• MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA by Arthur Golden
• TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by Harper Lee
• THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd

Debbie: Here are some books that our book club has read that I think the working moms book club may enjoy. They aren’t too long and are enjoyable reads with enough depth to them to inspire good discussions.

• THE BOOKSHOP ON THE CORNER by Jenny Colgan
• THE CURIOUS CHARMS OF ARTHUR PEPPER by Phaedra Patrick
• OUR SOULS AT NIGHT by Kent Haruf
• THE STORIED LIFE OF A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
• ORPHAN TRAIN by Christina Baker Kline

Deb: Great suggestions and discussions: THE RED THREAD by Ann Hood, THE SECRET LIFE OF BEES by Sue Monk Kidd, WHAT ALICE FORGOT by Liane Moriarty, THE LIGHT BETWEEN OCEANS by M.L. Stedman, SARAH’S KEY by Tatiana de Rosnay. These all have younger people and/or children as central characters. They are also easy reads that are hard to put down when you are busy!

Mary: I recommend ANGRY HOUSEWIVES EATING BON BONS by Lorna Landvik. A group of young women, most with husbands and small children, form a book club and spend the next 30 years reading together and supporting each other through good times and bad.

Barbara: I suggest that they read THE EX by Alafair Burke. It’s a great fun read that I couldn't put down, and I read it in one day.

Betty: I immediately thought of RULES OF CIVILITY by Amor Towles. The book's dialogue just sparkles off the page. Just what a weary woman needs.

Donna: Here are my recommendations:

• THE CURIOUS INCIDENT OF THE DOG IN THE NIGHT-TIME by Mark Haddon. What a fabulous story told by a boy who most would consider handicapped. We all should be handicapped like him!
• THE MEMORY KEEPER’S DAUGHTER by Kim Edwards. How one child can change so many lives.
• PENROD by Booth Tarkington. FUNNNNNNY!
• SWAMPLANDIA! by Karen Russell. Magical!
• THE MOTHERS by Brit Bennett. A real winner. Watch this author because I hope we will be reading LOTS more of her work, which is FANTASTIC.

Patricia: LIFE AFTER LIFE by Jill McCorkle is set in a rest home, but there are messages of hope and redemption, and quite a bit of humor, which makes this "not too heavy."

Jan: I would suggest NEED TO KNOW by Karen Cleveland. A mom with four young children is torn between her job and being home with her kids. I think any working mom will relate to this book --- and it’s a great mystery as well.

M.J.: Since I’m sure many other readers will respond with ideas for the working moms book club, I’ll try to limit myself to just a few. I hope the young women just beginning their book club find pleasure not only in discussing books, but also in their support and enjoyment of each other’s company. Here are some book suggestions:

• TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE by Mitch Albom: So much love and so much wisdom in this true story.
• THE STORY OF ARTHUR TRULUV by Elizabeth Berg: A simply lovely story of three people who wandered into each other’s lives and gave each other the support they needed.
• THE ALL-GIRL FILLING STATION’S LAST REUNION by Fannie Flagg: Quirky, warm, realistic characters and a bit of history thrown in about the all-female group (WASPS) who flew support missions for the troops in WWII.
• THE WOMAN IN CABIN 10 by Ruth Ware: A quick read with a lot of suspense.
• ELEANOR OLIPHANT IS COMPLETELY FINE by Gail Honeyman: A joy to watch this socially awkward young lady come out of her shell and find she really is okay.

Jane: My recommendations are a mix of older and newer novels:

• THE ROSIE PROJECT by Graeme Simsion
• NEWS OF THE WORLD by Paulette Jiles
• THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS by Vanessa Diffenbaugh
• THE MUSIC SHOP by Rachel Joyce
• WONDER by R. J. Palacio (their children may be reading it if they’re in middle elementary school levels)
• THE BOOK THIEF by Markus Zusak