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. ( )

I had seen some excited tweets about this book and, as a self-confessed chain tea drinker, how could I resist a cover with such fabulous teacups on it? It's a book club with a difference; every member has written a book and received a rejection letter which is just cause for a get together and celebration. Then disaster strikes...one of the ladies receives an offer from a publisher!

Janet works in the local library and, after receiving a call from her 'ice child' daughter in distress, decides to visit her daughter in California. Janet is afraid of flying so she is planning to drive from Washington to California. This links in nicely with the book club ladies as they need to go to San Francisco to convince the publisher to reverse the offer letter, and as Janet is going anyway they invite themselves along. As the ladies go off on a road trip, Janet leaves her husband to hilariously cope with the raccoons that visit their garden at night to play dustbin piñata.

The Rejected Writers' Book Club is a fun read that reminded me of the Golden Girls as the ladies get into so many hilarious scrapes as they attempt to recover the manuscript. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Janet and her daughter; seeing it develop over the course of the book into something a little less strained. I read this whole book with a smile on my face; although there were some worrying moments I knew there would be a smile right around the corner.

I do hope Suzanne Kelman allows us to visit Southlea Bay again soon. I'll certainly be in the queue to read the next book.

I received this e-book from the publisher, Lake Union Publishing, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ( )