The Dubrovnik Book Club

By Eva Glyn

This book!

I love the title and subject.
The cover is appealing.
Glossary includes Croatian words.
Descriptions give a peek into the beauty of the country and the joy that comes from a delicious pastry.

You would think I would love this book, but I just couldn’t relate to or want to read about the circumstances that plague the characters. Four characters are consumed with paralyzing fear:
Long Term Covid
Gay
Abused by Wife, accused of murder
Refugee PTDS and survivor guilt.

The author does manage to weave their stories together through the book club. While I sympathize in general with their situations, I found that I had no empathy for any of their attempts to get over their problems. A main motif throughout the book is “fake it until you make it.” The conclusion, however, was quite satisfactory.

I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Rating: 3/5

Category: Fiction, Women’s Fiction

Notes: There is a lot of swearing in English. There is also a lot of swearing in Croatian, but without the glossary, which generalizes the level of offensiveness, who would know?

Publication:  March 8, 2024—One More Chapter (HarperCollins UK)

Memorable Lines:

“There is just one rule; a simple one. As its name implies, this shop is for everyone and so is the book club, so all I ask is that you leave any prejudices you may have about people and their reading choices outside. Let’s learn from each other.”

“And perhaps it does not have to make sense in your head when it is about how you feel in your heart.”

That was the biggest irony of all. That now she felt ready to leave and to see the world, all she wanted was to stay.