Warm-hearted, poignant and feel-good, The Widows’ Wine Club is a superb debut novel by Julia Jarman.

Janet, Viv and Zelda have lost their significant others and find themselves attending the same dreary bereavement group in a dingy church hall week in, week out. The support group is supposed to make them feel better, but the reality is far different. If anything, these sessions are making them even more miserable! Luckily for them, the three women have struck a tight bond that has enabled them to devise a system that instantly cheers them up: wine!

Although the three of them are in their sixties, they are not quite ready to throw in the towel and give up just yet! They might have to go through the next decades unaccompanied, but they vow to do their utmost to find joy and fulfilment as single women. As the three women encourage and help one another, Janet, Viv and Zelda begin to unshackle themselves from their grief and their insecurities and start seizing the day. From taking up new hobbies to embarking on exciting new adventures, the women find the strength and courage to even dip a tentative toe in the dating world again.

The world is their oyster until reality intrudes and one of them receives devastating news. The women need each other more than ever and as they close ranks, the three members of The Widows’ Wine Club vow to always be there for one another and to help each other out come what may because there is absolutely nothing in this world they cannot conquer – as long as they have each other.

The Widows’ Wine Club is such a delight. A fun read that made me laugh out loud, this brilliant debut is a gorgeous love letter to women’s friendships and to female resilience, courage and humanity that cannot fail to strike a chord with readers everywhere. Julia Jarman writes with humour, honesty, sensitivity and heart and readers are sure to cheer on Janet, Viv and Zelda and keep their fingers crossed that everything works out for these three wonderfully drawn characters.

Keep an eye out for Julia Jarman because after this fantastic debut, I am sure that she’s going to become a force to be reckoned with in the world of contemporary women’s fiction.

Julia Jarman's "The Widows' Wine Club" is a heart-warming and witty tale that captures the essence of friendship, resilience, and the pursuit of joy in the face of loss. With a brilliant premise that promises both laughter and tears, this novel is a delightful exploration of life after loss, anchored by the spirited camaraderie of its three central characters: Janet, Viv, and Zelda.

Jarman’s writing shines with wit and warmth, bringing to life the distinct personalities of Janet, Viv, and Zelda. Each woman is navigating her own journey of grief and renewal, but their collective mission to find fulfilment as single women in their sixties binds them together. Their escapades—from exploring new hobbies and adventures to cautiously re-entering the dating scene—are depicted with a blend of humour and poignancy that makes the narrative both engaging and relatable.

The novel excels in portraying the strength of female friendship. When one of the women receives life-changing news, the trio closes ranks in a heart-warming display of solidarity. The motto "one for all and all for one" encapsulates their unwavering support for each other, underscoring the idea that together, they can overcome any obstacle.

Jarman's characters are richly drawn and endearing, each bringing her own quirks and strengths to the group. Janet, Viv, and Zelda are depicted not as mere survivors of their husbands' deaths, but as vibrant individuals reclaiming their identities and passions. This portrayal is particularly refreshing and empowering, emphasising that life after sixty can be just as full of excitement and growth as any other stage of life.

A delightful, easy read that shows the power of friendship and sticking together in difficult times.

I love how the characters are depicted in this book; all very different in personality and perspective and yet bound together by the deaths of their husbands. It is, in fact, their differences that allow them to support each other, learn from each other and make significant changes to their lives and outlook.

Despite bereavement being the thing that draws the widows together, this is a lighthearted story which is peppered with humour throughout, with plenty of mix ups and one liners to make the reader chuckle.

With thanks to the author, Rachel at Random Resources and Boldwood Books for the opportunity to participate in the tour.

Cute book with a well done story. Loved all the characters in this one and how well written it was. I really enjoyed the whole book.

A group that no one wants to be part of is a widows group but 3 strangers come together to form their own version of the group, one that is not dull! Viv, Janet and Zelda form a friendship together, build upon the new versions of their life with some fun along the way. A heart warming read showing there is life after death and giving the reader some laughs as they go through their new life.

What a delightful read on a very sensitive subject that the author has managed so well. It is filled with much sadness as you would expect but also lots hope, humour and good friendships made when emotions are running high. It showed how important all of this is when trying to navigate a new reluctant path. Would highly recommend

a bit too chaotic and jumpy for me. i feel like in the beginning we’re meeting so many new characters, but we’re not really given the time to get to know them. i was continuously messing up the names and characters which wasn’t nice whilst reading. i also lost track of the story quite a lot of times which could also just be me, but i feel like this book could have done with another round of editing.

In this heartwarming tale, three widowed women in their sixties forge a lively friendship after meeting at a local church group for widows. Disenchanted with the group's monotony, Viv, Janet, and Zelda decide to create their own adventures, leading to the blossoming of a strong bond. As they navigate life's challenges together, the camaraderie between these women shines through, offering a sense of support even in difficult times. The book captures the essence of friendship, portraying the uplifting moments, humor, and the importance of friends who provide different perspectives. Amidst life's trials, the story emphasizes the significance of finding joy, hope, and laughter. With its spirit-lifting narrative, the book stands out as a celebration of life, love, and the enduring power of friendship, offering readers an enjoyable and optimistic experience.

This story invites you into their group to witness the highs and lows, ups and downs, good times and bad, stumbles and growth, and everything in between... while making you one of their own.

From the moment this trio meets in the funeral home, and then again at the supposed support group, you just knew they were destined to share in each other's lives. Some friends are made over time, others by circumstance; this group was a little of both. The serendipitous meeting started the foundation, but late night chats, weekly emotional weigh ins, shared adventures of the heart and mind, heart scares and triumphs, all went into making the Three Muscateers what they really were... best friends through thick and thin. They'll need that bond too because although they've all been touched by loss, life has a lot more in store for each of them... for better or worse.

If you're looking for a book that greets you like an old friend, while still delivering surprises, twists, and turns, this is one title you should check out!

When I picked up The Widows' Wine Club, I was looking for a fun story about three supportive friends who are now alone after the loss of their husband. In this book, I got some of that, but also some jealousy, sleeping around and things that I wasn't looking for. Janet, Viv and Zelda met at a group for widows and decided that the group was not what they were looking for, but enjoyed each other's company. They became their own group, The Three Muscat-eers, sharing a bottle of wine and company. It all sounds fun, until their needs and wants took different directions. As one begins dating and fooling around, there were some disagreements and when one of the men in their building was trying to date more than one of them, there was some jealousy. As with good friends, when they are needed, they come running and close rank to support one of their own.

The story is told from all three of the women's point of view. Each woman has a different background and situation, but they still become friends and confidants. After being widowed in their 60s, this group helps each woman survive and flourish with each other's support. There was humor, some sadness, points where I got angry, and some joy. You can see that my emotions were all over the place. I did like all the women and they were realistic and relatable. The problems they had in life could happen to anyone and that made me relate to them more. Being a widow in my 60s, I know how important it is to have friends to do things with and I loved that part of the book. Overall, I enjoyed this one, just not as much as I had hoped.

Such a delightful book! Three senior women who try to reinvent, start over again. New friendships, new hobbies, new romantic experiences. I am also a senior so I could relate and liked the lightheartedness of the story.

Princess Fuzzypants here: Three very dissimilar widows cross paths at the funeral home after the deaths of their husbands. Janet, Zelda and Viv have had different marriages but no matter how good, or how bad, they are all going to experience shock at the things they did not know. It is a good thing that they meet again and form a support group that leads to deep friendship and loyalty.

It will be tested by illness and secrets and ghosts from the past but each, in her own way, finds her path and happiness and fulfillment after many trials and tribulations. The women are so well drawn that the reader is familiar with them very quickly and becomes invested in their challenges. It is a satisfying read filled with humour and pathos. I was riveted from beginning to end.

Five purrs and two paws up.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publishers and of course the author for gifting me this advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

What a lovely book that was such an enjoyable read and follows the lives of three widows in their 60s - Janet, Viv and Zelda, who help each other face the world again.

Such a wonderful contemporary read that really makes you realise the priceless gift of friendship.

This is a book that at times is serious and at times quite humourous and the balance worked well. It was a good read but at times I struggled to keep up with all the characters and their stories. It would have worked much better with less characters I think,.

But having said that Janet, Viv and Zelda’s friendship made for a good story and I loved the way their friendship developed. All in all a good read and one I enjoyed for what it was. I'd give it 3 1/2 stars.

Thank you NetGalley and Boldwood Books for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book was really not for me. I had a hard time finishing it. It was slow for me but that might have been just me. It has great reviews on Goodreads and I did write the same thing there. This follows 4 women who become friends after loosing their husband's and navigating life after losing your loved one. I did finish it and I'm glad I did though.

This book strives to find the balance between humor and some serious issues. I struggled to keep all of the characters & their potential mates straight not to mention all the story lines, but I did enjoy the story, their camaraderie, their support for one another. There is a lot going on in this book beyond a widow support group... a potential murder, a possibly life-threatening illness, assault, secrets, elderly adults looking for even more elderly adult parents, widow's finances, well, you get the idea! Pair this book with a glass of your favorite wine and enjoy the ride.

I loved this! I kept wanting to read it everytime I put it down. It was so good. Yes it shows grief, heartaches, the different stages of grief and even some humor thrown in. This was so good.
I just reviewed The Widows' Wine Club by Julia Jarman. #TheWidowsWineClub #NetGalley
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I have mixed feelings about this book.
Times, it drove me crazy because each character got her own story, and about the time I finished one lady's story, it jumped right into the others. I had a difficult time keeping up with who what why went where.
I do know that I didn't like Alan Lovejoy. I didn't like his attitude, and I thought he was just plain self-centered.
I did like the 3 ladies, however, and I loved how they came together. I did enjoy the friendships between the ladies
I will recommend this book to other people who may like it, but I just felt that this book wasn't my cup of tea.
I'll be honest. I did finish it because I don't like to leave a book unfinished.
The cover does have my favorite color and it looked really darling.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thanks to Netgalley and the Publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
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I loved the three FMCs, Viv, Zelda, and Janet. I loved their uniqueness and differences. I liked the author's portrayal of them, and it was realistic, and they were enjoyable characters. However, as much as I liked the characters, I didn't like the storyline, I felt it was all jumbled up. There were always different things happening, and it felt like a sit-com tbvh. I was disappointed because I was expecting what I read in the synopsis, and I didn't get that.
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This book had a nice premise, but it didn't live up to it. But, I still enjoyed it because of the characters.

When Viv, Zelda and Janet meet at a club for newly bereaved women, they quickly realise that it's not for them and instead decide to share a bottle of wine, thus forming The Three Muscat-eers. What follows is a friendship of supporting each other as they navigate single life.

I really enjoyed this - the friendship between the three women had its ups and downs which made it more realistic than some stories when everyone is best friends straight away. You see each woman navigating their lives in different ways, working out the path that is right for them.