This is the story of MJ, a New York-based editor who's retreated to her California doctor boyfriend's beach house to contemplate her career's future, and three other women who've been tricked by four older women to take over their book club. It isn't a great book, but it's fun enough.

I've picked up and put down this book several times. The premise held huge promise for me--I adore a great "girl friends" novel and was hoping to get lost in this story of friendship, but that unfortunately didn't happen. I struggled to connect with MJ and the rest of the book club. Was baffled by some of their discussions, choices, etc. and put it aside for the final time at about 40%.

Lisi Harrison’s The Dirty Book Club is a sublimely well-crafted story and incredibly fun; it is a wonderful story of friendship and is an all-round great read!

This book was very hard to get into. However, once I did I was unable to put it down. This book is an entertaining and engrossing story primarily about love and friendship. If you like character driven stories, then this one’s for you. It’s perfect for the beach, on a weekend getaway, or anytime at all..

The Dirty Book Club was my first novel by Lisi Harrison, and if the rest of her novels are anything like this one... well then I'm going to need to read them all. Within the first few pages, I was totally hooked. M.J. is such a tragic character and I found myself instantly hoping she would find fast friends and bond to a group just like Gloria's. This novel pulled at my heart and made me think of my best friends constantly. It reminded me so much of an adult/rated R version of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, so I immediately gushed to my three best friends about it and promised to buy them a copy for Christmas.

The story follows along as M.J. trades in her Jimmy Choo's for flip flops and her board room for the beach. We meet lots of interesting characters along the way and watch as friendships are formed. I laughed, cried (a little) and became super attached to all of the characters in this novel. I wasn't super happy about how it ended, but the other 99% of the novel was fast paced and fun. I would highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy women's contemporary fiction.

Rule Number One: Tell no one.
The title of this book might be a bit off-putting, or confusing. But I promise you this, the book itself is not dirty. Well, mostly not. Sure, there are a few questionable scenes with a vibrator, possibly a few hot incidents with a bald Brazilian, some sexy bathroom antics and a tub that falls through the ceiling of a bookstore after a dare. But, really, it’s not *that* kind of book. It is a charming story, though, of life, love, responsibility, and friendship, and how women have been coping with all of those for decades.

The premise of the book is cute. Four women, friends since childhood, gather weekly in alternating homes, during the 1960s. They exchange potato salad recipes, and talk about cleaning products, wifely responsibilities and a variety of other appropriate topics. Until at one gathering, the most liberated member of the group shares some insights about a risqué book she picked up while in France. With the help of some alcohol, the women slowly start to open up- about issues with men, questions about their sexuality, and more. And so, the Dirty Book Club is born. And when they seal their initial meeting with a smoke-filled ritual, they promise that when each of their significant others have passed, the original four will relocate to France and live out their days together.



As the book opens, the last of the four spouses has passed away. The original DBC founders are making their plans for relocation. But they have many secrets to pass down. So four replacement members are chosen. These successors are women in their thirties. They are incredibly different from one another- a recently relocated NYC writer, a healthy junkie mom/real estate agent, an event coordinator/makeup artist and a self-obsessed women’s clinic worker. But all share one similarity- they are basically without friends. Without a core group with whom they can share feelings, find a shoulder to cry on, vent to, drink or even perhaps share a dirty book with. The invites go over, at first, like a lead balloon. The chosen ones are too busy- some focused on jobs, others on motherhood and exercise, one concerned mostly with herself. But as time passes, the women begin to count on each other. For little things, like sharing burnt bagels, or Minnie Mouse nightgowns. And then eventually, some bigger things, you know, like, borrowing a brand new Mini-Cooper, or taking five or six pregnancy tests together. They hit snags, as any friendships do, but they also, with some late arrivals, actually discuss several kinkier books, and then read letters from the founding members. And mostly, they at least make a start in figuring out their own lives, through their confidences in and discussions with one another.



I really liked the concept of the book. Every woman should have a tribe that they can count on for everything. And those women should support each other through thick and thin. And if a dirty book discussion becomes part of the friendship, well, all the better. There are important themes running throughout the book; don’t live to work, work to live, don’t take your significant other for granted, keep lines of

communication open, think about what it is you really want to do with life. A lot of wonderful ideas. And I really *wanted* them to be fully developed. But I felt like they fell short of the mark. The book started out strong, had some high points, but it faltered in other places, and fell short at the end. I was left feeling unfulfilled and hoping for a stronger conclusion. Overall, a great idea that needed a few tweaks.

The first Clique novel came out when I was 11 years old and I indulged in that series, convincing myself I would've fit right in with Massie Block and the rest of the girls (no matter how bratty they were). So, when I saw that Lisi Harrison was releasing her first adult novel, I knew that I had to check it out. Well....she's done it again! As I read The Dirty Book Club, I truly felt like I was a member of the Dirty Book Club, as if I was reading and discussing along with them. And that's a pretty powerful thing.

Four totally different women are brought together as 'heirs' of the Dirty Book Club and told to take it or leave it, but it's all of them or none of them - it can't be a partial book club. Each of them have their own thirty-something issues, but could they possibly have more in common with each other (and their predecessors) than they think? This book will make you laugh and cry, compile a list of books you NEED to read, and leave you rooting for each and every one of the girls at the end (even if you don't agree with their decisions along the way). However, I will say that I think the book was cut a bit short which, in my opinion, was the only negative thing. The chapters at the end seemed like they were quickly compiled together and threads were loosely tied. I definitely would've loved a slower conclusion and more time with these characters. *I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was a slow start for me. It was a few chapters in before I felt connected to the story or characters. From there I really enjoyed the friendships that developed. The ending was a bit abrupt and not as well laid out as I would have enjoyed best, though I understood.

I was provided a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest and fair review. This book tells the story of M.J. Stark, a woman still recovering from the tragic death of her family three years earlier. M.J. works for The City as an editor and is looking forward to an upcoming promotion. When she finds out that she will have to share her position with another employee though, she runs off to be with her boyfriend while she figures out what to do. Her boyfriend is a doctor opening a practice in California and is happy to have her there, but their up til now long-distance relationship is tested when they start living together. M.J. befriends their neighbor, an older woman named Gloria, who soon after meeting M.J. moves away and leaves a legacy behind. The Dirty Book Club, where they gather to read scandalous books. M.J. doesn't have girlfriends and welcomes this chance to be a part of a group. But with such different women, can they really come together as friends and survive the drama that is life? 

Overall I did like this book a lot, it was really interesting and I really connected with M.J.'s character with all her odd quirks. I loved the author's dive into women's relationships and how they're formed and how they struggle. All the characters in this story were flawed but the reader still ends up liking them (for the most part). I loved how brave M.J. was and how much she was willing to risk for her friendships and her relationship. The story line was not too graphic despite the title and it was actually heart-warming and very sweet, but there were some holes and things that didn't quite add up. By the time we get to the end especially there were a couple scenes that I found somewhat anti-climactic, like when Jules "finds out" Britt's secret. Other than these few things though it was a good book and I enjoyed it a lot.

The Dirty Book Club by Lisi Harrison
Source: Netgalley
My Rating: 4½/5 stars

In the wake of her family’s deaths, M.J. Stark has buried herself in her work. To be sure, she has risen to the top of her field and is in line for a HUGE promotion, but there’s more to life than just work. Or so her seriously long-distance boyfriend keeps telling her. With no intentions of significantly altering her life beyond the promotion, M.J. is blown away when the promotion offer is not at all what she expected or worked for. In a moment of pure rage, M.J. quits her job and leaves he beloved NYC for a sunny beach town in California.

Domesticity isn’t all M.J. thought it would be, and though she enjoys (not loves!) being with her boyfriend, she doesn’t enjoy being bored and having to face her real life when she’s alone. As she is struggling to adjust to her new reality, M.J. meets her somewhat eccentric neighbor, Gloria who opens up almost instantly about her life and best friends. With Gloria nearby, M.J. is certain she can make her new life work, and then, one day, with nothing more than a note, Gloria is gone and M.J. is utterly lost. Except, Gloria’s note came with more than an abrupt goodbye, it also came with an invitation to join an exclusive club, a club that has, over the decades saved Gloria’s life and sanity on more than one occasion.

To have a club, there has to be more than one member and M.J. quickly finds herself in a private room with three other somewhat lost ladies, each hand-picked by one of the original club members. The rules of the club are simple, be open, honest, and supportive of one another, tell no one outside of the club about the club, and be prepared to read and discuss a dirty book at each month’s meeting. While the rules seem simple and clear, the women chosen to carry on this next version of the club are anything but simple. M.J. is floundering in both her personal and professional life, Britt is a highly successful real estate agent stuck in a marriage she isn’t sure is at all viable any longer, Jules is a supremely naïve matchmaker whose husband is absent more than he’s present, and Addie is a bold and brash nurse who wants nothing more than to get the hell out of town. Their personalities are disparate, their lives are complicated, and they each have no idea if they can trust the others gathered. All that’s left to do is follow the rules and choose a dirty book to read 😊

As the weeks and months go by, each woman is profoundly affected by her individual and club life. As individuals, the women experience a huge range of ups and downs, betrayals and successes. As club members, they learn to trust one another with their fears and troubles, hopes and dreams. While the friendships don’t necessarily form quickly, they are strong friendships designed to last a lifetime. As each new book is read and discussed, the new members/friends are also directed to read a letter left by one of the original club members. The letters as much as the secrets and books bond the new club members, and help them to truly understand the history and intention of The Dirty Book Club. Turns out, their predecessors were right . . . . about a lot of things!

The Bottom Line: The Dirty Book Club had such an intriguing synopsis, I immediately wanted to read it, and then I damn-near DNF’d it thanks to how truly unlikeable M.J. is. Though I never changed my opinion of M.J., I am so glad I didn’t give up on this book. The other three women, Addie, Britt, and Jules more than made up for M.J. and I became completely invested in the story. Each woman has so many issues, issues that would likely crush an individual, but are more easily dealt with when there are friends to support you. The Dirty Book Club is about so much more than a group of women reading erotic novels. The Dirty Book Club is about friendship, trust, companionship, strength, love, the trials and tribulations of life, and the successes that come when there is a strong support system in place. While the lives of the new generation are certainly interesting, it is in the letters of the original members that I found the most enjoyment in this read. The weaving of the past and present is one of my favorite tropes, and The Dirty Book Club certainly delivers on this front. There are a few surprises along the way that really liven up the story and keep the reader guessing. In all, a delightful standalone!

This book gives us a look into women's lives and the stories that they have kept hidden for years. Each one can relate their story to the book the Dirty Book Club is reading. Well written!

The Dirty Book Club is a story within a story. The book begins in the early 1960’s and centers around a group of women, their lives, their families, their friendship and how books brought them together. The story continues to present day bringing in another group of women whose story also focuses on their lives, families, their friendship and the women who brought them together.

The characters within the story are well-defined. Each holds that one key item that brings them to the forefront of your mind. While their home lives, social status and careers each differ, they find a common ground that brings them together. Every character holds a secret that slowly comes to life as their friendships develop.

The Dirty Book Club sheds light on everyday struggles, both internally and externally. It provides the experience and wisdom of the women from the ’60’s while weaving in the hardship, surprises and emotions of the present. I enjoyed how the author mixed the memories of the past so beautifully into present day. Woven into the story in such an interesting way it was something I looked forward to in each chapter.

The Dirty Book Club is a unique story of family, friendship and love. It sheds light on the ups and downs of life. The turns that went left when you were expecting to turn right. It allows the characters to grow and realize that the path of life they had planned for themselves isn’t necessarily the path they should take. A story of friendship told thru stories from authors old and new.

I liked the idea of a book about friendships and being loyal to each other. It was a good read with some humor, some difficult decisions, some unexpected circumstances and lots of secrets.
I received this book free of charged from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

I received this from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I really tried to enjoy this book, but for me it was just not happening. MJ is a workaholic who is trying to adapt to her boyfriend's life. We also have the story of four ladies in the sixties who began a book club. It had its quirky and funny moments and there will be and audience for this book.

A fun, humorous and relatable book. Most friend groups have a variety - the by the book girl, the wild child, the in betweener. It's what makes friendships fun all of the time. A fantastic book about female friendships.

Received an advanced reader copy of this book.

Enjoyed the writing style, liked the characters, a lot. I like reading about strong women who are there for each other, and develop true friendships. It's not easy, honestly.

There were a couple of editing mistakes that sort of put me off the book, I seem to obsess over them. And the ending was not my favorite at all. I wish it had ended before the last chapter, in fact.

Dirty Book Club was an interesting read for me. It was a slow start for me, meeting the women involved in the story and specifically the Dirty Book Club. We meet four different women, though the story undoubtedly belonged to MJ, who’d given her life a complete overhaul after being passed over for a promotion she thought was hers.
The women of the DBC have all arrived at different points in their lives when we meet them, so we can learn right along with them, why they were invited to be part of the club. Lisi Harrison has written a beautiful story about female friendship—real female friendship—completely with brutal honesty, support and love. More than anything this was a story about how the right friendships can go a long way in help you achieve your goals, personal, professional and romantic.
But with all that being said, I didn’t love Dirty Book Club. It had all the elements that usually get to me, but for some reason this book didn’t hold my attention and I didn’t really feel anything for the characters. Despite the well written story and well developed characters.
There’s definitely a lesson in this story, but the story itself didn’t really light my fire. A solid effort.

While I liked the overall premise of this book, I didn't really enjoy the characters in the story. With the exception of MJ, everyone else in the book seemed interchangeable. Even towards the end of the book, I was getting character names confused. The overall story, however, was quite enjoyable.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased opinion.

This is a well plotted book that ultimately fits all the women, suburban, urban, country that have book clubs that are so much more...

There are a few things I dislike:

Watching any season of American Horror Story without The Supreme Jessica Lange.

A PSL with no whipped cream on top.

Waiting for a new season of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills.

And most importantly . . . being super excited about a book, loving the first few chapters and then . . . hating the rest.

I began The Dirty Book Club on a wonderfully quiet Tuesday night. I grabbed my pint of Peanut Butter Swirl Ben & Jerry’s, put the baby to bed, took my bra off, and snuggled into my king-sized bed complete with vibrating and adjustable mattress. I pulled my iPad over to me and called up the new book I was scheduled to read and review. I’d been looking forward to this one. My last few months of reading have been mostly mid-grade novels and some dark YA thrown in, a few heavy books with even heavier content, and one superbly convoluted thriller. I needed a nice and easy chick-lit book full of steamy romance and secrets, and I was sure this was it.

The first few chapters went by so fast, it was a blur. I was on a roll. My husband popped his head in at some point to ask me a question and all he got was a grumbling mumble in response, as I was set on shoveling ice cream in my mouth while sliding the pages of this intriguing book onward, desperate to know what would happen next.

The premise : a group of girlfriends who have known each other since they were teenagers. Now in their 20’s, a few are married, children are on the horizon, and life is becoming a big stagnated. The women meet as often as they can around the heavily pie-laden tables of their Pearl Beach, California homes, and they spend time catching up on the ins and outs of their lives over drinks. They share stories of grief, rejection, love, hope, and promise. At the suggestion of one friend, they begin a book club. A secret book club . . . because at the time, the 1960’s were full of oppressing weights for women, and books as dirty as their martinis were seriously taboo. So, covering their dirty books with prim-and-proper jackets to hide their insides, the women vow to meet once a month at the full moon and discuss the books and effects each novel has. They also make a pact: that once the men in their lives kick the bucket (because men always go before the women), they will jet-set it off to Paris and spend the rest of their lives together among the handsomely French and eloquently decadent.

During the course of the book club’s meetings, the women are forced to face issues that they’ve hidden just as well as the forbidden books they’ve been reading. It’s funny how a silly book can change you, can help you delve into the deepest parts of yourself and face some serious realities. Infidelity, homosexuality, feelings of “I’m not good enough” and domestic violence are topics that make their way steadily around the table. The women all vow to share everything with one another with in the strictest of confidence, and to let no stone go unturned when it comes to their confessions.

But, this is only the first couple of chapters.

Fast-forward – and readers are introduced to M.J. She’s a New York blonde living to work, instead of working to live. After the tragic death of her entire family (of which she blames herself), M.J. has thrown herself into her job as an editor of City Magazine and is looking forward to her impending promotion as editor-in-chief. The only real connection she has to the outside world is her boyfriend, Dan, who is a doctor and an adventurer . . . and who consequently lives on the opposite side of the country. After her promotion takes a turn for the unexpected and worse, M.J. follows Dan out to California and his newly purchased cottage in Pearl Beach. She’s floundering in depression and anxiety, and has no idea what to do with herself.

Dan encourages her to make friends and so she travels as far as next door where she meets Gloria, a spicy Jewish housewife who enjoys a good martini and an even better slice of gossip. But soon after their meeting, Gloria hitches a plane to Paris with her girlfriends, leaving M.J. without the neighborly advice she’d wanted to become accustomed to, leaving a gift propped up on her doorstep instead.

Gloria has left her spot in the Dirty Book Club to M.J., just as her friends have left their spots to a woman of their own choosing. There are a couple of rules, the first one being — you’re either all in or you’re all out, and it takes some convincing to get everyone to stay on board. But secret meetings in a curious bookstore partnered with prosecco and hidden letters placed delicately in each book means M.J. will have something to get her out of the house at least one night a month, and she’s not willing to let the other girls just give up without a fight.

Addie, the promiscuous bombshell who’d rather spend her time flagging down her latest conquest really hates the idea. Britt, the real-estate agent with twins and a lazy husband dragging her down doesn’t see the point. Jules, an event planner and liaison of love for a hotel, who can’t seem to solidify love for herself, could be on board if the others were there with her. It takes a little persuasion and a lot of alcohol, but M.J. plows ahead.

The four women grudgingly agree to meet once a month on the full moon and discuss their books, and maybe allow their fellow girlfriends into a slice of their lives.

The Dirty Book Club is the first adult novel by famed YA author, Lisi Harrison. The self-proclaimed participant in a dirty book club of her own, Harrison is best known for her mid-grade series The Clique and Monster High.

While I absolutely adored the premise and the beginning promises of the book, I found myself so let down as the chapters began to melt into one another. The characters were at times so hard to relate to and sometimes to even like. I found myself baffled at more than a few of their choices, which were a combination of predictable and non-sensical, almost as if the author could tell that she was making the women too mundane and as a result, fruitlessly attempted to spice them up with subplots that went nowhere. I was most interested by the first group of women, the founders of The Dirty Book Club, but despite the hint that there would be more of them and a greater depth to their stories, it all fell short. Deciding to throw in unemotional and disconnected letters by way of forming relationships with their predecessors seemed silly, and at times made a mockery of real issues. The ending felt rushed and forced, which was really a shame, as I felt that there was so much to dive into with the characters and their lives were so worthy of a build, to just end it the way it did seemed strange and realistically unresolved.

In the end, so much was left on the table and to be desired, and so I was left disappointed. I have to regretfully give this book 3 out of 5 stars. I had such high hopes those first few chapters, but The Dirty Book Club didn’t grow the way I so desperately wanted it to.