Book Review: The Lonely Hearts Book Club

By Melissa Amster

Sloane Parker lives a small, contained life as a librarian in her small, contained town. She never thinks of herself as lonely…but still she looks forward to that time every day when old curmudgeon Arthur McLachlan comes to browse the shelves and cheerfully insult her. Their sparring is such a highlight of Sloane's day that when Arthur doesn't show up one morning, she's instantly concerned. And then another day passes, and another.

Anxious, Sloane tracks the old man down only to discover him all but bedridden...and desperately struggling to hide how happy he is to see her. Wanting to bring more cheer into Arthur's gloomy life, Sloane creates an impromptu book club. Slowly, the lonely misfits of their sleepy town begin to find each other, and in their book club, find the joy of unlikely friendship. Because as it turns out, everyone has a special book in their heart—and a reason to get lost (and eventually found) within the pages.

Books have a way of bringing even the loneliest of souls together... (Synopsis courtesy of Amazon.)

A close friend of mine recommended The Lonely Hearts Book Club a lot last year, so I added it to my wishlist. Then I won a wishlist giveaway and the person running the giveaway sent me this book. I'm so glad because I really enjoyed reading it. It's uplifting, heartwarming, and delightful from start to finish.  I loved how books brought these characters together and how it was easy to follow the discussions, even if I hadn't read those books. (The closest I came was seeing the movie of one of them and that was a long time ago.)

I really liked all five narrators and seeing everyone else through their perspectives. Maisey felt especially relatable to me. Even though her relationship with her daughter is different than mine is with my kids, I could relate to the feeling of having a child leave the nest, which is something I'm going to have to face later this year. 

There was a nice balance of humor and sentiment, with genuine dialogue throughout. It kept me engaged and turning the pages quickly. My only concern is that some stuff felt vague to me. I had to read paragraphs more than once to understand what was going on at times. 

I didn't know what to expect from this novel, but I was totally pleased. I already want to read Lucy's next novel, which is also about books!

Movie casting suggestions:

Sloane: Mary Mouser

Arthur: Anthony Hopkins
Maisey: Elizabeth Banks
Mateo: Vincent Rodriguez III
Greg: Noah Centineo

More by Lucy Gilmore:

The Library of Borrowed Hearts (coming in April)

I Hate You More

Puppy Love

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

Sara and Melissa Talk About...What Our Kids Are Reading

We've been running a column series (for over three years now!) to get more personal with our readers. This month, we are talking about the books our kids are into (or have been into in the past).

We're always open to topic suggestions, so please don't hesitate to share those in the comments. We'd also love to know if you can relate to anything we've said or hear your own thoughts on the topic. So don't be shy. :) We look forward to getting to know you as much as we're letting you get to know us. You can find our previous columns here, in case you missed them. 

Sara Steven:

For National Family Literacy Month, I wanted to focus on what my two sons have been reading. For most of their lives, libraries and books have been a huge intricate part of their childhoods. Spending time with them with a book or two at bedtime is a wonderful tradition that I will always cherish, and although their habits have changed a lot, I love that they still show an interest in reading.   

From 2016

My eighteen year-old is currently reading:

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski: This is a book a friend had recommended to me when I was in my early twenties. I thought it was funny when my son showed this recent purchase to me–also recommended to him by a friend. 

Dante’s Inferno by Dante Alighieri

Blame by Tsutomu Nihei

American Prometheus: The Triumph and Tragedy of J. Robert Oppenheimer by Kai Bird and Martin J. Sherwin: My son has become very attached to the recent Oppenheimer movie. He has seen it six times! So it wasn’t a surprise to me to see this on his book pile.

What my thirteen year-old is currently reading:

Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Dog Man book series by Dav Pilkey: I’m fairly certain he’s read every single book that is in this series.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney: The same could be said for this series, too. He has every single book on his reading table in his bedroom right now.

Melissa by Alex Gino: My son’s English class had a list of books the kids could choose from to read for a book report, and he chose this one. After looking it up on Goodreads, it looks as though our very own Melissa has read it, too.

Melissa Amster:

A while back, I obtained a collection of Baby-Sitters Club books, hoping that my daughter would devour them like I did. I think this may have been pre-pandemic, that's how long they have been sitting on her shelf...untouched. We even watched the TV series on Netflix and she loved it. I thought that would inspire her to read the books. I tried reading one of them to her to get things started and she lost interest quickly. She keeps saying she will read the books, but so far, that hasn't happened. And she has moved on to other books that I also enjoy: Young adult rom coms (including those that are LGBTQ+ themed). So I can't totally fault her for not wanting to connect with the BSC, even though I still do. (And no, I haven't showed her the graphic novels, but I feel like that takes away from the excitement I felt from reading the chapter books when I was her age.) 

This also applies to the Sweet Valley Twins books, which I think she would probably ignore in favor of Sweet Valley High, if I could get my hands on those. I have to wonder if they'll be too "eighties" for her. I also recall that she didn't read the Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary that I enjoyed as a kid. (Same for Ellen Tebbits.) Nor has she picked up a Judy Blume book, even though she loved the Margaret movie.

Over the summer, she and I were talking about historical fiction and I told her about the Sunfire Romance novels I loved at her age. I even found a bunch on some websites and purchased the ones that were reasonably priced. 

Not pictured: Laura, which arrived later. Original post can be found here.

Has she read them yet? No. They are sitting on her dresser and she says that she'll get to them. Just having them in my house makes me feel so nostalgic. The ones I really loved were way too expensive to purchase for someone who may or may not eventually read them. 

As I mentioned above, my daughter enjoys YA rom coms a lot. She's a fan of Dahlia Adler, Robbie Couch, and a few others I also love. And even though it's middle grade, she and I both enjoyed The Chance to Fly by Ali Stroker and Stacy Davidowitz, and we are so excited to read Cut Loose soon. I thought she'd like the Heartstopper books more, but she is lukewarm on those. She did enjoy Loveless a lot. I think her friend is trying to get her to read the Summer I Turned Pretty series since they both enjoy the TV show. We'll see if that happens though. 

My sons read, but my younger son hasn't been as much into it as he used to. He'll read books for school assignments and sometimes I'll "catch" him reading for fun. When he was younger, he enjoyed the treehouse series by Andy Griffiths. My older son also reads a lot for school, but he enjoys young adult novels in his spare time (not that he has much of it these days). He likes TJ Klune's fantasies a lot and couldn't wait to read each one when it became available. When he was younger, he loved the Land of Stories books by Chris Colfer. All the kids would read the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, but now I think my daughter may be the only one interested in the latest one. Same goes for the Dog Man and Cat Kid books. 

One author I will not share with my kids is V.C. Andrews. They know about her books (and have some idea of what happens), but I am not deliberately putting them into their hands. If they want the books, they know how to find them and can get them on their own. So far, none of them have had the desire to read them and that doesn't bother me. 

Overall, I'm glad my love for reading has rubbed off on my kids, but I don't think it's to the same level as it is for me. 

If you have kids, what are they reading? If you don't, what books did you enjoy while growing up?

Enjoyed this post? Never miss out on future posts by following us.

Listen to this book on Speechify!

December Reader Spotlight: Susieqlaw

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Our guest today is one we know pretty well. She's a regular at CLC, but also a bit of a mystery. Since we respect her privacy, we have no idea what she looks like. She also doesn't wish to share her real name or location with anyone, but you can only be so safe online these days, so her privacy wishes are respected once again! Anyway, Susieqlaw is really sweet and we enjoy checking out her blog to see her latest book recommendations. Visit Susieqlaw at Twitter and Instagram.

Susieqlaw is an avid reader and writer. She learned to read at an early age and spent serious time at the library...eventually organizing all the books in the house with library cards guided by the Dewey Decimal system. Next, in elementary school, she started a family newsletter.

Susieqlaw went on to contribute to poetry publications, to contribute to life writing pieces. and to contribute to non fiction publications mainly concerning US relations in the Middle East.

Susieqlaw's favorite book so far this year is The Passenger by Lisa Lutz. Susieqlaw's favorite show this year (no spoilers) has been the return of The Gilmore Girls. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, reading, writing, exercising, playing the piano, singing, drawing, and painting.

Susieqlaw just received the best compliment from her piano professor yesterday who called her "a positive light in a crazy world."

What book were you hesitant to pick up but then loved once you read it? 
Goodnight June by Sarah Jio.

What does the term "chick lit" mean to you?
Chick lit means fiction reading materials that are lighter than a suspense or thriller. Chick lit contains at least one main character but more often more than one character. Humor and relationships are included. Chick lit is one of my favorite genres.

What are the next three books in your TBR pile? 
Always by Sarah Jio, Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult, and Falling by Jane Green. I am currently reading Hungry Heart by JenniferWeiner and love it so far.

What is your favorite song to listen to during the winter holidays? 
"The Peace Carol" by John Denver and performed with The Muppets. Also, I love "All is Well" and "Joy to the World."

What is the best holiday gift you have ever received?
My uncle gave me this huge teddy bear when I was eight. Best gift ever!

What is your favorite treat that only comes out during the winter holidays? 
Diet Sierra Mist CRANBERRY, Joy tea by Tazo, so many!

November Reader Spotlight: Stephanie Quinn

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Our guest today is here to tell us her favorite things from the '80s and '90s. This takes us back...

Stephanie Quinn is a K-12 School Librarian in a sleepy town on the edge of Lake Michigan. She has a loving husband that allow her is fill the house with books and two, almost grown sons who are ready to make their mark on the world. She dreams of being a writer when she grows up but will settle for serious discussions with Kindergarteners about why goblins are green and the importance of Batman. Visit her on Facebook.

The '80s

1. The movie The Lost Boys- I was out on a date with a friend and tried to get my 16-year-old self into a rated R movie. I left my ID in the car, hoping to make my case, but I couldn’t lie when asked my birth date. I had to console myself by blaring The Lost Boys soundtrack on my Walkman.



2. Big Hair- High School Graduation with my giant hair sprayed within an inch of it’s life with hairspray. I’m surprised I could get my graduation cap to stay on the stiff cloud of perm that laid no where near my scalp.

3. Miami Vice- Friday nights in our house were dedicated to Domino’s Pizza and Miami Vice. The thrill of taking over the basement family room and burying a week of high school under gooey cheese, pastel shirts and sock-less loafers.



4. Kangaroo the Video Game-Mother Kangaroo is trying to save her baby from apple throwing monkeys, boxing her way to victory. This game symbolizes lazy summer days spent in the local arcade with other neighborhood kids. Pac Man, Donkey Kong and Q-Bert music swirling in a cacophony of youth.

5. Bon Jovi Hair-I spent many a day lusting over curly locks no man should have. Being naive, I just assumed his hair grew that way. My wiser self says-hair products and stylist, anyone?


The '90s

1. Sleepless in Seattle- A friend took me to see this romantic movie while my soon-to-be husband ended his bachelorhood with questionable activities. The drunken serenading of AC/DC started much later that evening.



2. White Nylons- I was feeling very fashionable at my college graduation wearing a black dress with a white lace collar, my signature white nylons and black heels that I teetered in only a bit.

3. Blue’s Clues- My oldest watched this show endlessly even owning a green, striped shirt. One day on the playground, I heard some boys yell, “Steve, Steve, come play with us.” My small son went running by with a giant smile to catch up. His name is Tyler, but not on that day. Not in his “Steve” shirt.



4. Braveheart- You know that feeling when something you watch or read just speaks to your soul? Braveheart was this for me. And don’t even get me started on blue woad on a young Mel Gibson. *fans face.

5. Harry Potter Books-This was a phase in my house that lasted years. YEARS. Both of my sons knew every detail of this series to the point when a Harry Potter discussion started, my eyes would glaze over and I would secretly plot the demise of the boy wizard.

October Reader Spotlight: Stephanie Burns

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Melissa A met this month's featured reader through Great Thoughts' Great Readers on Facebook and they immediately hit it off, messaging back and forth with book recommendations. 

Stephanie Burns is a writer obsessed with her dog, pop culture, cupcakes, and the smell of old books. She enjoys talking about these things with anyone who will listen. She has an MFA in Creative Writing from Emerson College and wishes she could get a PhD in Jamie Fraser from Outlander University. She lives on Boston’s South Shore with her smiling, puzzle-obsessed beagle, Riggins, named for the legendary Friday Night Lights fullback. She blogs about all things books at bookperfume.com, and loves talking lit on Facebook and Twitter.

What book were you hesitant to pick up but then loved once you read it?
I can’t believe I’m going to admit this because I have lived and breathed these books for years, but before I picked up Outlander, I wasn’t sure if it would be for me. The book series kept being recommended to me but I thought, “Time travel? I don’t know.” (Although why I felt that way, I have no idea. I grew up watching Marty McFly.) My curiosity won out and all I can say is thank G-d it did because I can’t imagine my life without Jamie Fraser.

What does the term "chick lit" mean to you?
I think of chick lit as the world’s most delicious cupcake, and I mean that as the highest compliment I can bestow. (I’m a cupcake addict.) It’s tasty, indulgent, and I want to consume it all in one sitting. I crave it, and, most importantly, underneath its pretty, pink-frosted cover, it's filled with so many complicated layers of flavor that speak straight to the heart. Never underestimate the power of chick lit! (Or cupcakes.)

What are the next three books in your TBR pile?
My house is filled with TBR piles that resemble the leaning tower of Pisa, and usually I find myself making a spur of the moment decision of what I’m going to read next, depending on what mood I’m in and if I want a shake-up from the tone of the last book I read. Right now, I’m leaning towards Beth Kendrick’s Once Upon a Wine (I’ve got to get back to Black Dog Bay!), Jane Green’s Falling, and Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale.

What is your favorite thing about autumn?
Um, everything! Autumn is my absolute favorite time of year, and not just because my birthday happens to fall in September. (But it helps.) I’m a born and bred New Englander, and fall really is a magical time here, filled with big fat pumpkins and apples begging to be baked and gorgeous foliage crunching under your feet. To top it all off, you’ve got fall fashion! I wait all summer for chunky sweaters, cute coats, and my personal favorite, BOOTS. Plus, my dog, Riggins, gets to wear his favorite sweater. It has a pocket square. He looks incredibly dapper in it.

What is your theme song?
I’d like to say something super cool and trendy, but honestly, it's probably the 1983 Midnight Star hit “No Parking on the Dance Floor” because this girl loves to bust a move.

What TV show were you too young to appreciate in the past but would totally watch if it were around now?
I’ve always been a bit of an old soul when it comes to TV. When I was a kid, we used to have to rush home from my grandparents’ house on Sunday nights so I could watch It’s Garry Shandling’s Show and The Tracey Ullman Show. Half of the jokes went over my head, but I thought they were hilarious. I was also addicted to Nick at Nite. I’m pretty sure there weren’t many other teenagers in the ‘90s making Welcome Back Kotter references. Now, thanks to Netflix, I’m having a grand old time re-watching shows that I loved as a kid and seeing them through a new lens. I never knew until recently that I’m a total Diane Chambers, but these are the things you realize when you binge-watch Cheers all weekend long.

September Reader Spotlight: Cy Creed

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

We have our previous Go-To-Gays, Wade and Gary, to thank for this month's reader finding us and becoming a regular follower.

Cy Creed is a humor writer who lives outside of Buffalo, NY. Her day job is that of a Sr. Manager of Talent Acquisition for a Recruiting firm which allows her to work from home and sneak off to write from time to time.

She was the second runner up in the 2014 Robert Benchley contest for her article, "Just The Socks, Please. Nothing But The Socks" and was honored by the National Society of Newspaper Columnists as a top ten finalist in the 2008 Will Rogers Writing Competition for her article “The Side Effects Of Advertising”. She has also been a Finalist and Semi-Finalist several times over in Humor Press along with having been recognized with numerous Honorable Mentions from 2007 to the present.

Cy was introduced to Chick Lit Central several years ago when she was a participant in a Wade Rouse/Gary Edwards Workshop and is thankful for the opportunity to a part of the Chick Lit community.

She is finishing up a book for children called "Pyramids and Whiskers" while also working on a bittersweet book about aging parents. She can be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Studies Show

Studies show families who eat meals together are closer, encounter less problems in life and have better hair days. I asked my children if they could remember the last time we all ate together as a family. Actually sat a table. With no cell phones. Where food was prepared in an oven. With plates that don’t bend and silverware that actually goes in a dishwasher. And with manners. None of this twirling ones foot in a grapefruit half. Or seeing who can belch the loudest. Also not included is trying to balance a soup bowl on one knee and a cracker on the other as you’re watching “Jeopardy”. No, I’m talking about a meal which requires preparation. A meal where we discuss current events and politics. Kind of like the Kennedys but without all those pesky servants hovering about.

“Was it Easter?” my son asked.

“No, I think it was Christmas,“ my daughter replied.

“Remember that Pop Tart I toasted for you last May? I think that counts,” I noted.

Both kids nodded in agreement; though I caught them rolling their eyes at each other silently acknowledging Pop Tarts probably wouldn’t count in the definition of a meal and last we knew, did not require an oven.

The decision had been made. I talked it over with my children and it was unanimously agreed. We would prepare and eat a meal together. There would be vegetables and everything. No trying to pretend Doritos constituted a food group. Or that a box of Lemonheads would be considered legumes.

Once inside the grocery store, I made the mistake of choosing a shopping cart the size of a Mack truck complete with a kiddy car attached to the front of it. Maneuvering the thing required the precision it takes to land a Navy jet onto an aircraft carrier or trying to back a Boeing 747 into my driveway. I looked around to see if anyone had seen me knock over a display of Beef Jerky and wished I had worn my trench coat and fake mustache I find useful in situations like this.

The woman at the meat counter looked me over as I asked for a roast.

“How much do you know about cooking a roast?”

“Oh, I imagine it goes into an oven, right?”

“Here’s a guide to the roasts we offer and how to cook them. Review it and come back later.”

“But I don’t have time.”

“You don’t have time? Do you think this is something you approach with little preparation and knowledge? You think you can just waltz in here and ask for a roast- all willy-nilly like?”

“Well, no but..”

“Take for example this roast. If I were to let you buy it- and I’m not saying it’s a go at this point- you would have to promise me you’ll follow the instructions. Gently rub it with olive oil and garlic. Massage it with herbs de provence. Bake it in a….”

“How much is a roast that size?”

“How much is it? Is this a question about money?”

“Well, kind of.”

“If you have to ask how much it costs, you can’t afford it.”

“I promise. I just want to know if I need to delay paying my mortgage this month.”

“Sorry. You aren’t getting this roast.”

“I’ve managed to raise two fine children to adulthood. I think I can take on a roast.”

“Not with that attitude you can’t.”

I texted my kids to tell them we’d have to go to plan B.

As we sat down to eat, a calm embraced us. We were together and that was all that counted. Our meal may not have been as planned but it’s amazing what one can do with a bag of Doritos and a box of Lemonheads.

August Reader Spotlight: Jen Cannon

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Melissa A connected with this month's featured reader a while back after seeing her participate in a lot of giveaways. Since then, she's enjoyed sharing book recommendations with this reader. 

Jen Cannon is a thirty-something mother of two girls and is a most-of-the-time SAHM, but part time server/bartender in the town she lives (hey, she needs some adult conversation outside of FB sometimes, even if it is while serving brie and martinis). She is book lover of epic proportions, always with a book in her hand. While some people have Netflix, shoe obsessions and Starbucks, Jen has her reads. She is a soccer mom, a PTO mom, a wine lover, a wife and a skimmbassador to keep her hip. She reads her books, still watches Gilmore Girls and FRIENDS, and continues the fight against getting a minivan. Visit Jen on Goodreads. She writes and posts about funny mom stuff at Real Honest Mom over at Facebook and Twitter.

What does the term ‘chic lit’ mean to you?
To me, ‘chic lit’ is books written for women, by women, with [usually] a female protagonist. This lead has or had a tough time of it and powers through. I think this genre is evolving more and more every year into historical fiction, suspense, beach reads and more. Don’t underestimate the power of ‘chic lit’.

What book were you hesitant to pick up but then loved once you read it?
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo comes to mind. Both my in-laws insisted I read it, but I think I started it five different times. I just couldn’t get into it. But I kept on truckin' through the beginning of the first book and then couldn’t stop until the series was done.

What are the next three books in your TBR pile?
In no particular order…
Karma Brown’s The Choices We Make
Kristin Harmel’s When We Meet Again
Celeste McHale’s The Secret to Hummingbird Cake

What is the strangest movie you've ever cried from?
I can’t think of a specific movie because I swear the only things I get to watch anymore are kid’s movies. But hey, I truly enjoyed Zootopia! (Inside Out may have teared me up a smidge as well.) The thing that comes to mind is that Super Bowl commercial where the kid is dressed like Darth Vader. Remember that? He was trying so hard to use “the force” and then dad beeps his little key fob and the kid thinks he started the car? Yea, I got choked up. The things we do for our littles.

What is your favorite month and why?
I’m going to go with…September. Originally from Cleveland, now in Western PA, fall is just GORGEOUS up here. But it’s still early fall, where the days are still warm enough to have the windows open and the nights are just cold enough for a hoodie. And driving through the foothills when the leaves change? Heaven.

What is your biggest addiction or obsession at the moment, aside from books?
Mead, a wine that predates cider/beer and made solely from honey. Mm-mm-good.

July Reader Spotlight: Amy Bezbatchenko

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

This month's featured reader is a new follower and has been participating a lot in our giveaways. Her responses to winning books have always been really friendly and enthusiastic, so we thought she'd be fun to learn more about. Her answers to the Loaded Questions we chose prove that we were right!

Amy Bezbatchenko was born and raised in Akron, Ohio. She graduated from Miami University of Ohio and began working for a Big Four CPA firm, where she's worked in a variety of tax related fields for the past seven years, now specializing in taxation of expatriates and foreign nationals. She is the proud mother of Lilly Belle, a six month old Havanese puppy, as well as a lover of books, sunshine, good friends, running, pools, and Sunday family dinners. Visit Amy at her blog, Twitter, and Instagram.

Name one common food item you refuse to eat. 
Unfortunately, I developed an allergy to shellfish and seafood a couple years ago, so I have to refuse to eat any sea related food or brandish my EPI pen in self defense!

What one television show are you embarrassingly addicted to? 
Real Housewives franchise, Southern Charm, Below Deck, Flipping Out - really anything on Bravo TV! What did we watch before Andy Cohen came along?

What song reminds you most of the disco era?
"Last Dance" by Donna Summer - a classic wedding reception song, too!

What book has had the most profound impact on your life? 
I would say there isn't one book, but the overall experience of reading, especially at a young age, profoundly impacted me. A favorite childhood memory is coming home from the library with a stack of books as tall as myself.

If you could dis-invent one thing, what would it be? 
 Work e-mail on phones, so that we could better disconnect after working hours.

What is the nicest thing you have ever bought somebody? 
My parents' spent their honeymoon in Tampa, FL and Disney World, so for their 30th anniversary, my siblings and I surprised them by sending them back to Disney World to recreate it!

June Reader Spotlight: Jodi Marinich

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

This month's reader has been a follower of CLC for quite some time, so we wanted to get to know her better. 

Jodi Marinich is a stay-at-home mom of two children. She is a former underwriter for a large auto insurance company, but left when she had children. Jodi enjoys helping out at her childrens' school (which she finds being in everyday), and relaxing while reading a good book. She lives in New Jersey.

What does the term "chick lit" mean to you?
I have to say that to me "chick lit" means a book written with a love story in mind that combines love, hot men, some angst, and hot scenes thrown in for good measure.

What book were you hesitant to pick up but then loved once you read it?
I didn't want to jump on the band wagon, but the first time I picked up Fifty Shades of Grey, I found myself loving it and wanting to read more and more. I read all kinds of genres but two of my favorite authors are Marie Force and Nicole Edwards.

What are the next three books in your TBR pile?
What's Left of Us by Michele Tucker
Sexiest Couple Alive (Book Two) by M. Clarke
Taxi by Cambria Herbert

Which TV show, book, or movie reminds you most of your own life?
This is a tough question. I would say there isn't one TV show, book or movie reminds me of my life...It would be a hodgepodge of many..

What is your longest friendship?
My longest friendship is with my BFF that I met at work. He and I clicked so well and have been friends ever since. So I would say we are going on almost 20 years now. He is and always will be part of my family.

If you could take us on a tour of your home, where would we go first?
I would take you to my family room. It is where my family spends most of our time. It has a big screen TV (thanks to my husband) and all the kids toys that we try to contain. My home is definitely lived in and I love it.

May Reader Spotlight: Tatum Rangel

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

We've noticed Tatum commenting on our posts and we enjoy her frequent visits to CLC. We're glad to have her here today to talk about this month's theme: Regression. Read her interview to find out what she was like as a kid.

Tatum Rangel lives in Los Angeles, California. She is a volunteer literacy tutor for the Adult Literacy Service, at the Los Angeles Public Library. When she learned that millions of adults have struggled with reading and writing—and because reading has been a life-saver for her—she knew she wanted to give back by becoming a tutor. She enjoys reading various genres, such as spy fiction, chick lit, thrillers, suspense, etc. She loves to promote literature on her social media pages. Her blog is all about book reviews, including other reading- and writing-related topics. She’s been a journal-writer since her childhood and is currently an aspiring novelist. Libraries and bookstores are her favorite places to visit, and she loves good coffee. Follow her on Twitter and visit her blog.



What did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be so many things, I suppose. Although I don’t remember how old I was, I’d wanted to be a model. There were occasions when I’d sneak into the bathroom to sample my mom’s make-up. I liked the smell of her make-up and moisturizers, as well. My mom would tell me I was too young to wear make-up, at that time, but I still enjoyed trying it out.

What was something you found funny?
What I found funny were the times my dad would create his own song parodies. Anytime we’d go out for a drive and whatever familiar song played on the radio, he’d just throw in his own lyrics. It amazed me how he did that, because the lyrics were so random, but it was always good for a laugh.

What was your favorite TV show?
My favorite TV show was The Simpsons. I loved watching it every week. Every now and then, I like to watch their reruns.

What was your favorite food?
Although I was a picky eater, I’d have to say that burgers and fries were my favorite food.

Who was your celebrity crush?
To be honest, I didn’t really develop any crushes on celebrities when I was a kid; however, I admit I did have a bit of a crush on Matthew Broderick. It was his voice I also found attractive. And I like him as Ferris Bueller.

What was your favorite thing to do?
When I received my first diary, I wrote all the time. That became my favorite thing to do.

April Reader Spotlight: Rebecca Hill

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Introduction by Melissa Amster

It's not often I get to meet our featured readers in person, but it just so happens that this month's reader, Rebecca Hill, moved to a town about an hour from where I live. So my family and I recently went to the hotel where she and her family are currently residing and we all hung out at the pool and went to dinner together. We had a great time. Rebecca is so easy to talk with and has a great sense of humor. Of course, the first thing we talked about was books! Her sons got along especially well with my younger son and our husbands hit it off too.

I'm going to let her introduce herself now, since changing her introduction to third person does not do it justice! Once you've gotten to know her a little better, check out her guest post about surviving deployment through books. You may learn something new, as well!

My name is Rebecca Hill, and I just moved to Maryland with my husband and two sons! We are a military family all the way, (Go Army), and love to find new adventures! I am in the National Guard currently, and moving to the Army Reserves to gain my commission. I teach online college courses in Social Sciences AND blog books for a great military page! I love staying busy! Being a mom is crazy, add in wife and then working from home, life stays hopping! I received my undergraduate degree in History from Harding University and then my Master’s degree from Arkansas State University. We enjoy traveling in the areas that we live in and exploring hidden gems in different states. You never know what you might find! We love to be outdoors, so there are not many recreations that we have NOT tried!

I have been teaching online for five years now and LOVE it! I love to share new insights with students and listen to the click of the bulb! I can’t see it since most of my contact with them is through phone and email, but hey, when they get it I am happy!

I started blogging books for MyMilitarySavings.com two years ago! Running a book club has had its challenges, but that makes it even better! Why stop when something gets a little difficult? You just learn to change tactics and try again!

My Links:
Goodreads
Twitter
Book Like
M*M*S Book Club Blog

Surviving Deployments Through Books

Deployments are something that not everyone deals with. It is a very unique situation, but if you are affiliated at all with the military, then you know how crazy they can be! If not, the best way I can describe one is like this: Place yourself in a square, add everything that you do on a daily basis. Now shake it up and watch it all go nuts! Then add in the normal stuff that your spouse does (lawn care, car upkeep, etc.) and shake it again! The amount of stuff might just drive you insane if you do not have a plan! You have to have a plan! Don’t go into ANYTHING thinking that you can “just wing it”.  Get your support system in place, hire that neighborhood teenager to mow your grass and remember; it’s all going to be ok, just breathe and take it a day at a time!

 There are several ways of surviving deployments, and all of them revolve around one thing: KEEP YOURSELF BUSY! Staying busy, not only with your hands, but your mind as well will keep you from going insane. Kids, jobs, house, etc., all will drive you crazy if you do not moderate yourself. By combating the empty space from the beginning, you create your own rules. As a military spouse, as well as a service member myself, there are whole new rules to the ballgame. I do not allow myself a lot of down-time. By having that down-time, I allow my mind to wander, and let’s face it ya’ll, this is not always a good thing. Before your spouse leaves, I suggest putting together a “TO DO” list. Target anything that you want to get done, and special projects that you have been eyeing. Make sure that these are something that you can do either by yourself or with your best friend. But even more important, get that book list together for the days and evenings! You are going to need something to occupy that time that you are relaxing. Go ahead and put that book list together!

When my husband found out that he was deploying again, my book mountain grew! I started researching the books I wanted to read, got on a first name basis with my local librarians, and made sure that my list was together. Having those go –to reads that I enjoyed is also a plus! I also joined a book challenge! There are many places to do these! You can either get with a friend or find a list online that you like, or create your own! I decided to customize mine as following something that has already been done can get boring really fast. My sister and I sat down and worked out a list. We had 50 topics that we had to fill in, and then we found books that fit that topic. We also decided to see who could get done first! When I was not working on the house or having fun with the kiddos, I was reading! I also got books that I could read aloud to the boys at night. We started reading at bedtime, and working through several books that way. We found that we looked forward to that hour of reading together at night, and half the time they ended up in my room at night, so we just hunkered down in the covers and read. There are so many good books out there!! Start with authors that you are familiar with and see where they can take you! I always check out WHO my favorite authors are recommending! You just might be pleasantly surprised with a new favorite! There are a couple of suggestions to this however. Do NOT read anything super sappy!! You don’t want to end up in a teary mess! I am not a fan of the dark when I am alone, and so reading something by Stephen King was not the way I needed to end my night. Although, on that note, I did get the entire linen closet organized AND four new projects completely lined out and prepped for starting. I did get through the entire Outlander series in a week, and started in on reading the Welsh series by Sharon Kay Penman again. I guess I forgot to mention at the start, that I DEVOUR books! I love to read! Reading not only helps me to keep my thought process coherent, it helps me to continue learning. I read books about Yellow Fever, the underground in London, True Crime, a ton of historical fiction, and completely rewrote the approved book list that I have for students! By pushing myself to learn something new, I chose to invest into an area that I had never really studied before, but always allowed myself to read something that I had on my mountain when I finished a new book. By the end of the deployment, I had read 59 new books and added about ten thousand more to the mountain of “wish to reads.”

Any situation you find yourself in can be fixed with a good reading session!! Keep a good book or ten on stand-by for those moments when you need to relax, but want to keep your mind busy. Having that “thing” can really make a difference in EVERYTHING!

Happy Reading!!

March Reader Spotlight: Savana Charter

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Today we are pleased to introduce Savana Charter, who is here to talk about her favorite season.

Savana Charter is employed full time as a hospital liaison and she works as a freelance editor and copywriter in her spare time. She will soon be graduating with her BA in English and Professional Writing. Savana grew up in a military family where having books and time to read were just about the only thing that stayed consistent in her life for many years. Her favorite genres include Sci-fi and fantasy/fiction, but she is willing to read anything she can get her hands on! When she is not working, Savana is an avid Netflix enthusiast that enjoys the occasional trek in the crisp Colorado outdoors. She loves trying new recipes and organization tricks that she finds on Pinterest, and testing them out on either her boyfriend or new apartment.

Please feel free to visit Savana’s personal blog, The Reality Bug, where you will find low carb and healthy recipes, book reviews, inspirational stories, and more. You can also follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

Favorite season: Springtime

Favorite thing about this season overall: My favorite thing about springtime would have to be that everything is brand new. In a sense, it’s the physical “new year” for nature. There are animals of all kinds being born, gorgeous buds blooming on fresh green bushes and trees, the mornings are cool and the days are getting warmer in preparation for summertime. There’s nothing comparable to seeing fawns in the field and baby birds in the trees.

During this season...

Favorite thing to eat: My favorite food when springtime rolls around would have to be all of the fruits and veggies that are in season! I live in a very large farming community in Southern Colorado, so come spring all of the farmers start opening their stands with fresh picked green beans, peas, lettuce, rhubarb, strawberries, etc. It’s fantastic because it’s so much tastier, cheaper and organic than buying them from the store!

Favorite thing to drink: Come springtime, my absolute favorite refreshment would have to be ice-cold sweet tea. It’s a classic through the summer too, but in the spring when it starts to get warmer there’s no reason not to enjoy a glass!

Favorite thing to wear: I am one of those people that wears jeans and hoodies all the way through the middle of the summer. If you ask me, springtime is still too chilly for summer dresses and shorts! On occasion though, if it’s a nice warm afternoon, I will throw on some patterned leggings and a long tank top with sandals. It’s perfect with a light cardigan in the morning too.

Favorite holiday that occurs: I come from a religious background, so of course Easter is a very important holiday for my family and I. It is a time to gather, celebrate, and praise the Lord for the beautiful things that we are gifted in life. To me this includes everything I’ve mentioned thus far! The beauty of nature, the fruits that we are able to produce from the earth, and so much more. Easter is absolutely one of my favorite holidays during the year.

Favorite thing to do: I have this little personal tradition. In the spring, I like to drive up to the mountains and walk around. There are lakes up there, fields, trails in the trees, and so much more. It’s the prime time to do so because the snow has started melting, but it’s still cool and crisp up there. It’s a rush that you don’t get in the valleys below, and it’s not the same during any other time of the year. You can hear the birds singing and the water flowing down the streams, there are even places that you can go spelunking. (I have yet to try that, it’s on my bucket list for sure though!)

February Reader Spotlight: Hailey Fish

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Today we are pleased to introduce Hailey Fish, who is answering some questions for us. She's also celebrating her birthday, so send good wishes her way!

Hailey is a 25 year-old voracious reader with a reading list that will never end! She lives at home with her parents and 14 year-old Maltese that acts more like a cat and she's the youngest of four siblings. She's on the autism spectrum but you'd never know it because she's smart, funny, and always willing to try new things. Hailey aspires to be a writer, even though she's suffered from writer's block for years! She reads anything from chick lit to women's fiction to crime fiction to mystery suspense to romantic suspense. Hailey has a book blog but not nearly as active with it as she'd like to be. She enjoys hanging out with her girls, going to bingo, being a loving auntie to her three nephews (one is her best friend's son!) and two nieces. She's a young girl at heart because she still enjoys watching Disney movies. Hailey has met a lot of authors in her 25 years of life and hopes to meet many more. She works as a valet dispatcher at a casino and hopes to attend college for creative writing. She loves kids so she thinks she would be good at teaching preschoolers or teaching language arts or even English class. Visit her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

What book were you hesitant to pick up but then loved once you read it?
The book I was hesitant in picking up was The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult because of the tough subject matter. I read the first few pages but didn't think I could read it alone. I ended up reading it with my mom and am so glad we read it together. She was able to explain certain passages that I had trouble understanding.

What does the term "chick lit" mean to you?
Girl meets boy, girl falls in love with boy, something bad happens but then there is a happily ever after.

What are the next three books in your TBR pile?`
Luckiest Girl Alive by Jessica Knoll (reading it with my mom when she comes home from Australia) Those Girls by Chevy Stevens and The Night Sister by Jennifer McMahon

What is your favorite thing about having a birthday in February?
When I was in school, I was always out of school for winter break! Also because I'm a Pisces and the description of it fits me to a T!

Which celebrity do you admire most?
The celebrity I admire most is Melissa McCarthy because even though she's a "big girl" she doesn't let the fat-shamers bring her down. She is funny, beautiful, creative, talented, an all around great woman!

What is something nice that someone did for you recently?
The other day I went to a book signing and met Lisa Gardner and Joseph Finder. The nice thing was the fact my book friends Rachel and Cory bought me Joseph's newest book even though it was a little pricey. Rachel had also bought all of us dinner which happened to be expensive.

January Reader Spotlight: Barbara Khan

We're doing a new series at the blog for readers to do either guest posts or interviews. One reader will be featured each month, and if it's a theme month, that will be the focus. 

Today we are pleased to introduce Barbara Khan, who has written a guest post on the topic of beauty.

Barbara Khan is employed full time as a travel adviser, which she has enjoyed doing for the past 25 years. She is a married mom with a 20 year old daughter who is a junior in college. Barbara loves to sing and was a member of a ladies singing group for many years as a mezzo soprano. She loves Broadway musicals. She is still trying to find an outlet for singing since her move to northern Florida in 2014. Barbara is a lifelong lover of books who reads most mornings and evenings. She is the person that people turn to for book suggestions. Barbara organized a book club for many years.

You are invited to join Barbara's Facebook group, Baer Books, where she shares her love of all things literary. You can also find her at Twitter and her blogs Baer Books and beautyntravel.

SOS, Save Our Skin!

I consider myself a beauty junkie. I have eye shadows and liners that rival the color spectrum, curling mascara, thickening mascara and 32 lipsticks on display on my bathroom vanity. I carry around 3 or 4 lipsticks in my purse, along with 2 types of lip balm. I use BB's and CC's, BHA's and AHA's. I subscribed to Allure almost from its very inception. I exfoliate, hydrate, and protect. I am also a fanatic about avoiding the sun, so I definitely know my SPF's . The last time I actively tanned was 1986. My friend Jenny came to visit me in Houston, where I had moved to start my new adult life after high school in Ohio. We drove to Galveston Island and spent the whole day on the beach. I applied sunscreen exactly once, but I wasn't really concerned, because it was overcast and we were having such a good time. When it got to be evening we stopped at an old fashioned ice cream parlor and that's when the effects of my day could be felt.

The next day as got out of bed to make my way to the bathroom, I collapsed in a faint, my friend Jenny got my older sister with whom I was living to come check on me. My sister Denise is a nurse and she was sure I had sun poisoning. My whole backside was bright red, my legs felt like they were on fire, and I was in excruciating pain. I took pain relief around the clock and soaked in many tepid baths with oatmeal over the next few weeks. I risked a reprimand at work for not wearing pantyhose to my job in the hospitality industry.

This experience scared me as you can imagine. This was well before people started talking about the effects of the sun. We were all still applying baby oil to our skin, spending hours laying in the sun, trying to become bronze beauties with the St. Tropez tan, even if we were in Mansfield, Ohio or Houston, Texas!

Fast forward a year and I got my first job in the beauty industry, working on the Estee Lauder counter. I completely immersed myself in the beauty culture. I was using all the anti-aging products, educating my customers on SPF and even trying out the newest product, Advanced Night Repair, on my 20-something skin! I was hooked and still am.

I lived in Boston for 13 years after that and it was easy to steer clear of the sun. Even after starting my job in travel that allowed me to see a lot of the Caribbean I was very strict with sunscreen use. From Boston I moved to Key Biscayne in the Miami area, but I didn't spend much time at the beach and if I did I was shaded by an umbrella and slathered in SPF 50+. My dermatologist in Miami was very impressed with my skin at age 32. She said I had minimal sun damage and asked if her nurses could come into the exam room and see my skin. I felt like a lab rat!

Now, I'm coming up on 50, alright I still have two more years, but I am happy in my skin. I am not obsessive in any way. I can be as lazy as the next beauty queen and fall asleep in a full face of makeup, but I do try to be consistent with my skincare routine. I ALWAYS exfoliate, I moisturize with products that contain Retinol, hyaluronic acid, Vitamin C and niacinamide. I use my AHA's and BHA's at night and during the day, I layer on my products containing SPF. One of the best beauty products to hit the market in recent years is the BB cream. I love anything that makes getting ready simple. If you're not familiar with BB cream it's short for beauty balm. They contain multiple products all in one formulation. You get an anti-aging moisturizer, sun protection, and foundation all in one tube. They are available at any price point from Target and CVS to Nordstrom and Sephora.

I love cruising through the makeup counters at the department stores almost as much as I love cruising the shelves of my favorite bookstores. The beauty industry can seem like a lot of fluff, but there have been some major discoveries in the last few years. It's not just full of snake oil sales people. I like that it's products are accessible at all price levels, no need to shell out big bucks to stay beautiful. My advice to all you strong women, stay out of the sun, wear your SPF and exfoliate, exfoliate, exfoliate!

Reader Spotlight: That's Entertainment!

This year, we've been doing "Reader Spotlight" posts on a bi-weekly basis. We want to feature readers who have been actively following CLC for a while. We're hoping you can get to know some new friends this way. One of the joys of having CLC is that readers have connected with each other, as a result. That's one of the reasons it was started up in the first place...to bring chick lit fans together from all over the world! We've made some amazing friends because of this blog and we hope you'll get to do so too!

See our previous Reader Spotlight posts.

UPDATE: This is our last (but certainly not least) post in the Reader Spotlight series. Thanks to everyone who participated and everyone who commented on the posts. We enjoyed learning new things about each participant and we hope you've made some new book loving friends in the process!

We're always looking for new ways to include our readers. You're welcome to write guest posts/reviews and we're even considering some reader assistance with our interviews, to get in new and interesting questions. There may be more surveys coming, as well. In the meantime, we have a giveaway going on for those of you who take our current survey about themes for 2015!

Note from Melissa A: I connected with Suzy after seeing all her comments on our various giveaways. She's just as sweet as can be and I love chatting with her about books. I hope you will take the time to get to know her, as well! Follow her on Twitter.

Name: Suzy
Age: Never ask a girl her age
Location: Southern California (The OC)

How did you find Chick Lit Central? If my memory serves me well, I believe it was via Twitter. I saw various people I was following mention it or retweeting information, so I started following as well.

What are your top FIVE favorite chick lit novels of all time?
Being an avid reader, it’s so hard to pick only five books, but here goes…

A Vintage Affair by Isabel Wolff
The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger
Animal Husbandry by Laura Zigman
Emily & Einstein by Linda Francis Lee
The Department of Lost and Found by Allison Winn Scotch

What do you do when you’re not reading?
When I’m not reading, I’m usually at work. My background is in entertainment public relations. I did PR for TV and film in Los Angeles for over 8 years. I got out of it for a while, but I’m now back into it doing freelance PR for authors, DJs, etc. In my free time, I love going to the movies, watching TV shows - especially dramas, going to concerts, seeing Broadway musicals, visiting museums, and attending author signing events. I am basically a lover of the arts.

Reader Spotlight: Book Queen

This year, we're doing "Reader Spotlight" posts on a bi-weekly basis. We want to feature readers who have been actively following CLC for a while. We're hoping you can get to know some new friends this way. One of the joys of having CLC is that readers have connected with each other, as a result. That's one of the reasons it was started up in the first place...to bring chick lit fans together from all over the world! We've made some amazing friends because of this blog and we hope you'll get to do so too!

See our previous Reader Spotlight posts.

Note from Melissa A: I can't resist an opportunity to connect with someone named Melissa who likes chick lit. It's like we're instant soul sisters. After seeing a rather interesting answer to one of our bonus questions, I e-mailed her to ask more about it and we ended up sending e-mail novels back and forth, even if a month goes by between each one. Melissa is a total sweetheart and she posts the funniest things on Facebook, where her friends call her the "Book Queen." (That even goes along with people calling me a "Book Fairy." See...soul sisters!) You can also reach out to her on Twitter and Goodreads. I hope you all get a chance to connect with her!

Name: Melissa Seng
Age: 39
Location: Morris County, NJ

What are your top FIVE favorite chick lit novels of all time? 
1) Getting Over It by Anna Maxted 
2) Good in Bed by Jennifer Weiner
3) Bitter is the New Black by Jennifer Lancaster
4) Bridget Jones's Diary by Helen Fielding
5) This is actually a 3-book answer, all by Wendy Markham: Slightly Engaged, Slightly Settled, and Slightly Married. I can't decide which of the three I liked the best, so I'll just say the trilogy.

What do you do when you're not reading?
When I'm not reading, I'm either eating, sleeping, or sipping on an iced chai latte from Starbucks. Seriously. I'm currently unemployed. Three years ago, I very severely broke my leg and went out on disability. When I finally had recovered, my position could no longer be held open for me. Then I had a whole barrage of other illnesses and injuries happen, all within the last two years...yes, there's a black cloud right outside my window. (kidding) -- So, when I'm not reading, I'm doing all that I can to keep busy, find a new job, and make some money for books...I mean, bills!!!! I enjoy crafting. My Mother is a Stampin' Up rep, so I am busy making greeting cards, book marks, and invitations with her. Something I really, really enjoy is editing and proofreading. I started a little side gig within the past two years. I edit research papers for friends, college students, high school students, etc. My latest project is helping a doctor I used to see edit a novel she is currently writing. I'm finding that I really, really enjoy doing that, which is kind of why I found your site and Jennifer's and have befriended tons of authors, etc. via Facebook. I want to get my name out there, and maybe read, review, write summaries and reviews, or even help edit new manuscripts and books for authors. It's a stretch, but who knows what will happen. Prior to all of this, I was a life insurance underwriter...zzzzz! Throughout high school and college, I was a nanny and pre-school/pre-k teacher. I try to spend as much time as possible with my two beautiful nephews, as well.

Reader Spotlight: The Right Prescription

This year, we're doing "Reader Spotlight" posts on a bi-weekly basis. We want to feature readers who have been actively following CLC for a while. We're hoping you can get to know some new friends this way. One of the joys of having CLC is that readers have connected with each other, as a result. That's one of the reasons it was started up in the first place...to bring chick lit fans together from all over the world! We've made some amazing friends because of this blog and we hope you'll get to do so too!

See our previous Reader Spotlight posts.

Note from Melissa A: I met Amy after she won one of our big giveaways from our Facebook page. She seems very nice and I love her enthusiasm for books. I'm glad I got to know her better this way.
See what's she's reading now at Goodreads and visit her on Twitter, as well. She even has her own book blog!

Name: Amy Mays
Age: 28
Location: Virginia

How did you find Chick Lit Central?
I saw a post mentioning the website on Twitter.




What are your top FIVE favorite chick lit novels of all time? 
My favorites are constantly changing but right now they would be:
1. Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
2. Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
3. Four Friends by Robyn Carr
4. One Plus One by JoJo Moyes
5. The Matchmaker by Elin Hilderbrand

What do you do when you're not reading?
I'm married to Paul and we have three fur-babies: Tucker, Bentley and Brooks. I'm a college student getting my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice, business owner of a convenience store and a licensed pharmacy technician. I also love to work out, drink wine and watch movies.