So many times I wish I could give things half stars. This is about a 2.5 for me. I wanted to like this book so badly. It seemed right up my alley. Librarian in a small town joins a group of women and eventually makes friends. It sounded so great, but it ended up just feeling tedious and a jumbled mess.

The beginning started out a bit slow and the main character got on my nerves with her inability to stand up to a woman who just seemed to be steamrolling her. Then, the first part of the road trip, it seemed to get better. I enjoyed the first part of the road trip and enjoyed the adventures they had. However, the longer the road trip went on, the more tedious it became. It was like everything you can EVER think of to go wrong during a road trip went wrong on this one. It just became too much. I got to the point where I was thinking, "Really? ANOTHER disaster? Really?" Some people who have reviewed this book found that portion of it to be funny. Unfortunately, I found it to be boring and felt it slowed down the story line. The ending, however, I felt was pretty good. I enjoyed the last chapter and the epilogue.

This book has a lot of potential, I just personally felt that it needed less drama and more interpersonal interactions. We hear a lot about what's happening to the ladies, but we don't see enough interaction between them and the others in the story. What characters we had were not as rounded as I would've liked to see. We get some background and see some growth and vulnerability in them but not as much as one would hope to see in a book this length. Perhaps as the series goes on we'll learn more about them, but unfortunately, I'm not sure I'll be around for it which is disappointing given how much I really wanted to like the book when I went into it.

*** I received a free copy of the e-book from NetGalley in exchange for my fair and honest review. All opinions are my own. *** ( )

It is the rare book that makes me laugh out loud. Hats off to Ms. Kelman, who achieved that with her remarkably refreshing The Rejected Writers' Book Club. I started and finished the book in one sitting and loved it.

The POV narrator is Janet, mild-mannered librarian in a small-town on an island in Puget Sound, Washington. She is content in her comfortable life with her husband, who is obsessed with defeating the raccoons pillaging their trashcan at night. And then she gets pulled into the orbit of one Doris, the leader and force of nature behind the Rejected Writers' Book Club. Soon, she finds her roadtrip to visit her pregnant daughter in San Francisco co-opted into a madcap journey to confront a publisher who had the affront to actually accept Doris's novel about a time traveling Jane Austen for publication.

This book is quirky. It is wacky. It is full of oddballs and misfits, and--most importantly--a lot of heart. It's a book about accepting and celebrating not only our successes, but our failures, and of living and enjoying life, and laughing. Like a roadtrip, the plot moved in unexpected ways and I had no idea what zany situation the characters would encounter, or what harebrained idea Doris would talk the others into. The unpredictability was lovely and a welcome change to some of the practically boilerplate plots of other books I've read. I loved every minute I spent with these ladies and I'm so very grateful to Kelman for giving them to us.

Review copy courtesy of the publisher via Netgalley. ( )

This wasn't what I expected but it was a fun and good time to read. There aren't many books written where women of my age get together and have adventures without romance or murder so I enjoyed it. ( )

I absolutely hate DIY projects. If there is a way to fall off a ladder, spill an entire can of paint on myself or otherwise cause harm.....it will happen to me. With my son turning 13 this summer, it was definitely time to update his room. It's been the same two shades of blue since he was 3 -- the last time I gathered up the courage to paint the walls in there. Before I could come up with an excuse to not do it, I took my son to the local home improvement store and let him pick out his colors. Dark red with a medium tan for the trim. Brushes, little plastic paint cups, wooden stir sticks, plastic drop cloths, holy water, first aid kit....brought it all home and prepared for slow torture. I am decidedly NOT Bob Villa.

What does this have to do with a book review?? I'm getting to it! :)

I had to find the perfect audio book to keep me company while I tried to complete this painting project without hurting myself, or destroying anything. I chose The Rejected Writers Book Club.

So glad I did! It was the perfect choice!

Silly, light-hearted and fun, this book was wonderful to listen to as I painted the walls (and myself) red and tan. I looked like a murder victim who fell into melted chocolate ice cream -- but I was smiling! So I figure that's a win! (And I didn't spill any paint! a few drips here and there...but no large Ooooops moments)

The audiobook version of this novel (Brilliance Audio) is narrated by Tanya Eby. I have hearing loss and at times I have trouble understanding female narrators. But, Tanya's voice is clear and her pace is perfect. I didn't have any trouble understanding her. Her tone and inflection was perfect for this humorous, fun book. I soon lost myself blissfully in the story as I worked for hours painting out my son's childhood, morphing his room to a teenager lair.

The basics: small town librarian Janet Johnson is invited to a local women's book club meeting. When she gets there, she is surprised to find that the group is centered around rejection letters from publishers. Every member has had their writing rejected for publication....most multiple times. They have a special book filled with these rejection announcements. They proudly meet each time another is received. Just short of the 500 letter mark (which they plan to celebrate with a big party), disaster strikes. Their leader, Doris, has her book accepted for publication! Oh the horror! They beg for Janet's assistance to get the manuscript back. Janet, who is heading to San Francisco to help her pregnant daughter, tries to refuse...but it just so happens that the publisher they need to contact is located in San Francisco. The ladies embark on the most ill-fated road trip ever......car trouble, rock slides, and many troubles await them as they fight to save their fearless leader from the horrors of publication.

Now, there were just too many pitfalls in this trip for it to seem even remotely realistic. But, I don't care. The story was just hilarious and fun to listen to. I don't give a hoot whether it was realistic or not. It got me through hours of painting with a smile on my face! Sometimes you just need a simple, funny story -- and for me, this book was perfect. I loved it! Janet Johnson is a fun, slightly snarky, main character. And the group of ladies are all quirky and fun. Add in the silly things they have planned to get the manuscript back (including chaining a member to a toilet until they get what they want) is just complete zany fun.

The Rejected Writers Club is the first book in the Southlea Bay series. I can't wait to read book 2: The Rejected Writers Take the Stage. :) Suzanne Kelman has also published a book of verse, Big Purple Undies. For more information on the author and her writing, check out her website: http://www.suzannekelmanauthor.com/ ( )

Fun read. I laughed and cried. Not a bad way to spend 261 pages. ( )