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St. Jude's Book Club
A club for readers who like to discuss books
Our Current Read
Meeting on Dec 2, 2025 @ 12pm
The Messy Lives of Book People by Phaedra Patrick
Have you ever wished you were someone else?
Mother of two Liv Green barely scrapes by as a maid to make ends meet, often finding escape in a good book while daydreaming of becoming a writer herself. So she can't believe her luck when she lands a job housekeeping for her personal hero, megabestselling author Essie Starling, a mysterious and intimidating recluse. The last thing Liv expected was to be the only person Essie talks to, which leads to a tenuous friendship.
But when Essie dies suddenly, a devastated Liv is astonished to learn of her last wish: for Liv to complete Essie's final novel. But to do so Liv will have to step into Essie's shoes, and as Liv begins to write, she uncovers secrets from the past that reveal a surprising connection between the two women--one that will change Liv's own story forever...
St. Jude's Book Club
What we have read and are planning to read next...
| Date | Title | Author | Rating | Comments |
| Feb 2026 | A Death in the Parish | The Reverend Richard Coles | ||
| Jan 2026 | Jennifer's Vow | Kevin R Coleman | ||
| Dec 2025 | The Messy Lives of Book People | Phaedra Patrick | ||
| Nov 2025 | Coronation Year | Jennifer Robson | ||
| Oct 2025 | Family Family | Laurie Frankel | 4/5 | This was an emotional read for many of the group. While this story ended positively for all the characters, we discussed how adoption can be very difficult for some families as well. |
| Sep 2025 | The Book of Lost Names | Kristin Harmel | 4.5/5 | We considered what bravery means, the importance of a name, and the ways people resist injustice in both big and small ways. While many of us felt that there were a few too many coincidences to make Eva's story 100% believable, it made each of us consider how our own small acts of resistance can combat the injustices we see today. |
| Aug 2025 | In The Upper Country | Kai Thomas | 5/5 | In the Upper Country gave us a lot to think about - not just through its characters and plot, but through the history and themes it brought to life. We explored ideas of freedom, belonging, and justice, and we considered how the stories within the novel connect to our own understanding of the past. While many of us will likely have to read it a second or third time to be able to follow all of the stories, we all learned so much about both the untold history of Canada and ourselves. |
| Jul 2025 | The Clementine Complex | Bob Mortimer | 2.5/5 | Members were very split in their feelings about this book. Some thought it was hilarious, with many laugh-out-loud moments. Others found it impossible to connect with the characters and didn't enjoy the frequent swearing in the dialog. We were all able to appreciate the detailed descriptions and silly moments with the squirrels. |
| Jun 2025 | The Jane Austen Society | Natalie Jenner | 5/5 | We were incredibly priviledged to be joined by author Natalie Jenner for this meeting. She shared the story of how this book came to be, and inspired us all. The group definitely wants to read the next book in the series. |
| May 2025 | The Reading List | Sara Nisha Adams | 5/5 | We were all really touched by this book. It brought up some incredible discussions about loneliness, grief, mental health struggles, and the importance of community. |
| Apr 2025 | The Rose Code | Kate Quinn | 5/5 | This book was loved by everyone, even those who were reading it for the second and third time! |
| Mar 2025 | Anxious People | Fredrik Backman | 3.5/5 | This was a re-read for some of the group, which gave us the opportunity to discuss what a second reading of a book can bring. The way that the narrator omitted descriptions of many of the characters until later in the book added to the mystery and caused some confusion. |
| Feb 2025 | The Lost Apothecary | Sarah Penner | 4.5/5 | Another big hit with our group! This book spawned a lot of discussion about difficult marriages, women's roles in society, and when/if murder is ever acceptable. |
| Jan 2025 | Remarkably Bright Creatures | Shelby Van Pelt | 4.5/5 | This was a great choice for our first book. Many people in the group said that this isn't something they would normally pick up, and they were pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoyed the book. |
Our ratings:
5 - Loved it! A new favourite!
4 - Really liked the book. Would recommend to others.
3 - It was a good book but not my favorite.
2 - It was just okay.
1 - I really didn't enjoy this book at all.
